Sermon Text: Ephesians 4:25-27
Old Testament Reading: Psalm 51:9-15
Prayer of Confession:
LEADER
Holy God who purifies us,
You are the Righteous Judge. You feel indignation over sin every day. Yet we confess before You now that we rarely feel that same indignation. How far the values of the world have gone in replacing Your values in our hearts!
ALL
We have grown comfortable with many sins. Our hearts are easily drawn to love, and be entertained by, the things You hate! How many times do we laugh at the very things we should mourn over? We quickly accept things like pride, greed, anger, and selfishness in our own lives and in the lives of our brothers and sisters.
LEADER
We confess with sorrow that even when we recognize sin as sin, we have been reluctant to speak truth to one another. We know it’s Your loving command, but we are not eager to, and often even refuse to obey.
ALL
Fear. Laziness. Pride. Insecurity. Apathy. False humility. We confess that these things keep us from loving one another as we love ourselves. We have allowed satan to fog our minds and blind us to the truth.
LEADER
Holy Spirit, open our eyes, sweep away the fog of lies! Enable us to see the slow-creeping tentacles of sin that would drag those we love down into the pit. Jesus, make us like You, speaking words of truth from hearts of sincere love.
ALL
Father, forgive us for our disobedience, because we come asking for it through Your sinless Son, who died for us. It’s in His name alone that we pray. Amen.
We’ll respond to the riches of God’s grace in Christ by singing these songs:
(Click on titles to listen)
Be Thou My Vision (Arr. Audrey Assad)
Jesus Loves Me (Arr. Shane & Shane)
How Great Thou Art
In Our Place (The Journey Collective)