Prayer of Confession, E4A

Call to Confession 

For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
    nor are your ways my ways, says the Lord.
For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
    so are my ways higher than your ways
    and my thoughts than your thoughts.  (Isaiah 55:8-9)

Leader: Come, let us worship the God whose wisdom confounds the world.
People: We come, trusting not in human strength, but in the grace of God.

Prayer of Confession 

Holy and merciful God,
you have revealed your wisdom
in ways we do not expect,
yet we confess
that we still seek what the world calls
powerful, impressive, and wise.
We place our confidence
in human strength,
we admire influence, success,
and certainty,
and we are drawn to voices
that promise control
rather than transformation.
We confess that we boast
in our own understanding,
our accomplishments, our affiliations,
and even our righteousness--
forgetting that everything we are and have
comes from you.
Forgive us for dismissing the way of the cross
when it appears weak, slow, or foolish to us.
Reorient our hearts toward Christ,
who is our wisdom,
our righteousness,
our sanctification,
and our redemption.
Strip away our pride,
and teach us again
to trust in your grace alone.
We pray this in the name of Jesus Christ,
the power of God and the wisdom of God.
Amen.

Assurance of God's Grace 

... God is why you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification and redemption, 31 in order that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in[a] the Lord.”  (1 Corinthians 1:30-31) Hear the Good News: In the name of Jesus Christ, we are forgiven, thanks be to God! 


Since God has forgiven us in Christ, let us also forgive one another.
The peace of Christ be with you.
Please extend the peace of Christ to all whom you encounter this week.