Call to Confession: 

As we enter into a time of confession together, a way we regularly take seriously our sin and lay it before God, let’s prepare our hearts by hearing these words from Isaiah 53:

All we like sheep have gone astray;

    we have turned—every one—to his own way;

and the Lord has laid on him

    the iniquity of us all.

Prayer of Confession: 

Loving Heavenly Father, how often our rebellious hearts turn us from you. We want to value your wisdom above our own, and yet too often we are blinded by our own sin. We try to comfort or distract ourselves instead of turning to you. Forgive us.

Jesus, thank you for the way you followed your Father so closely, never straying even though you also were tempted in every way. Holy Spirit, press the good news of Jesus deep into our hearts, that we might be strengthened to follow his ways above our own. We love you Lord, Amen.

Assurance of Pardon: 

In the scriptures we find assurances of our forgiveness and encouragement in our walk.  So hear these excerpts from John 10 and rest in their truth for us:

[Jesus said] I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep… My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.  I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.