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 the Gospel of Mark.

We confess that we don’t really want to follow Jesus in the way of the cross even though it leads to life more abundant in the resurrection. (Mark 8:34-9:1)

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.