Month of Prayer - Week 3
Fallen
Confessing Our sin
Opening Meditation
1 John 1:5-10
This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
Prayer of Confession
Holy God, we worship you,
Father, Son, and Spirit, righteous, perfect, and good.
You alone dwell in unapproachable light.
We confess that while you are blameless and pure, we are sinful and stained.
Have mercy upon us, O Lord.
Forgive us for the ways we have rejected your rule in our lives.
For our sinful thoughts, words, actions, and inactions.
For asking how close we can get to sin instead of how close we can get to you.
For blaming everyone and everything except ourselves.
For seeking to cover our guilt and shame with anything other than the blood of Jesus.
Create in us a clean heart, O Lord.
Wash us and we will be whiter than snow.
That sinners will return to you.
That your name will be praised.
In Jesus’ perfect name we pray, Amen.
Assurance Reading
1 Peter 2:23-25
Receive these words of comfort from God:
When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
Response
Sing or Pray these words
Rock of ages, cleft for me,
let me hide myself in thee
Let the water and the blood,
from thy wounded side which flowed
Be of sin the double cure,
save from wrath and make me pure
Not the labors of my hands,
can fulfill the law’s commands,
Should my passion never fade
and my efforts all be weighed
All for sin could not atone
You must save and you alone
Nothing in my hand I bring
Simply to the cross I cling
Naked come to thee for dress
Helpless look to thee for grace
Wretched to the fount I fly
Wash me Savior or I die
While I draw this fleeting breath
When my eyes shall close in death
When I soar to worlds unknown
See thee on thy judgment throne
Rock of Ages, cleft for me
Let me hide myself in Thee
Catechism
Confess what you believe while receiving instruction from the New City Catechism
Q13: Can anyone keep the law of God perfectly?
Answer: Since the fall, no mere human has been able to keep the law of God perfectly, but consistently breaks it in thought, word, and deed.
Q16: What is sin?
Answer: Sin is rejecting or ignoring God in the world he created, rebelling against him by living without reference to him, not being or doing what he requires in his law - resulting in our death and the disintegration of all creation.
Q18: Will God allow our disobedience and idolatry to go unpunished?
Answer: No, every sin is against the sovereignty, holiness, and goodness of God, and against his righteous law, and God is righteously angry with our sins and will punish them in his just judgment both in this life, and in the life to come.
BIBLE READING
Lord God, help us turn our hearts to you and hear what you will speak,
for you speak peace to your people through Christ, our Lord.
Amen. (based on Psalm 85:8)
• Read along in your Bible Reading Plan
• Or read the sermon text for this upcoming Sunday
• Or meditate on and memorize this week’s readings
PRAYERs OF INTERCESSION
Almighty and everlasting God, you hate nothing that you have made, and forgive the sins of all those who are penitent - create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we, worthily lamenting our sins, and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain of you, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ. Amen. (Book of Common Prayer)
FAMILY
Pray that your household and church family would have a deeper sanctifying conviction of sin and godly guilt leading to repentance.
WHO’S YOUR ONE?
Pray that your unbelieving family members, neighbors, and coworkers would be confronted with their personal sin and guilt and so be prepared to hear and receive the good news of Jesus Christ.
WORLD
Pray that missionaries would be called, raised up, and sent to the nations, and that a renewed sense of reverence, repentance, and rejoicing in Christ would fill the earth in our lifetime.
THE LORD’S PRAYER
Conclude with the prayer our Lord Jesus taught us to pray (Matthew 6:9-13)