Our Father and God, You have established Your Church as a royal priesthood in this world, and so we intercede for the nations of men now, confessing on their behalf so that the grace of Your forgiveness will soon be extended to them all.
We acknowledge that we are nation of flatterers, and that we mostly flatter ourselves. We confess this sin on behalf of our people and ask that You would give us a spirit of true humility, not an aw shucks false humility. Father, we acknowledge that we are too concerned for the good opinions of others, and we know that this is inescapable so long as we are not consumed with what it means to have Your good opinion. We know that a good opinion of sinners is impossible outside of Christ, and we lament and confess the fact that our people want to have a public identity outside of Christ. We confess this as a grievous sin.
We know, Father, that if we in the Church regard iniquity in our own midst, or in our own hearts, this prayer will be ineffectual.
Â
Father, we confess that we in the Church have been flatterers of the non-believers, and instead of prophetic courage, we have devised theological systems that allow them to have arenas to live and work in that are not under the authority of Jesus. We pray that You would forgive us for this deceitful flattery, and that You would pour out a spirit of truth and courage upon Your people.
And Father, we confess our individual sins to You now—and Selah . . . We do this in the strong name of Jesus, and amen.
Hear the gospel declared. You have humbled yourself before God, and You have appealed to His mercy through Jesus Christ. And so as a minister of His new covenant I declare that your sins are forgiven through Christ.
Congregation: Thanks be to God!