Gracious and Merciful Father,                                                          

We come before you to confess our sin as Your redeemed and beloved children. May Your Spirit alone convict us of our sin and remind us of our pardon in Christ through repentance.  We pause now to silently confess our individual sins before confessing together as a congregation from the text in Joel.

We confess that we often divorce doctrinal accuracy from Christ-like love. (Revelation 2:1-7)

We confess that we quickly flee from persecution and suffering when our risen Savior is at work in hard places. (Revelation 2:8-11)

We confess that we neglect your truth, making way for our sinful desires and behaviors. (Revelation 2:12-18)

We confess we too easily pursue righteousness that is attractive to the world around us while tolerating and even encouraging the acceptable sins and idolatries of the culture around us. (Revelation 2:18-29).

We confess these things before You because You are faithful to forgive us in Christ. Bless us with the assurance of our pardon by Your Holy Spirit in Christ alone by faith alone through Your grace alone from Your Word.   

Amen