CALL TO CONFESSION: GENESIS 3:6–7

So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate. Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths.

PRAYER OF CONFESSION

O God, our Father, Forgive us for our many sins. Like Eve, we are easily captivated by the objects that our eyes desire. We fall so often, and when we do, we run and hide in shame instead of running to you to confess our sin and find joy and forgiveness in the cross. You have given us your most cherished treasure, yet we prize many other things more highly than Christ. Forgive us for trusting in our own strength more than in his power to save us completely. We live each day with hearts full of our own desires, minds full of our own agendas and plans for our own self-promotion. Forgive us, Lord.

Jesus, you are our strong salvation. Thank you for invading our world to rescue us from ourselves. We cannot fathom the humility, love, and commitment to your Father’s glory, which led you to give up heaven for us. When the Holy Spirit took you into the desert to be tempted by Satan, you kept your eyes fixed firmly on your Father, your soul devoted to serving him in perfect obedience, and your mind saturated with Scripture. You gave up your own glory to be stripped, humiliated, and shattered in death, so that you could serve us and be our substitute. The joy of your life was fixed firmly upon the will of God, and now we find the joy of our lives to be your obedience for us and your death in our place. How can we ever thank you adequately?

Holy Spirit, fill us with everlasting wonder that the gospel is true. You kept your promise to send a Savior; help us to stop trying to rescue others and ourselves. When we are tempted to sin as Eve did, remind us of Christ, who kept all your laws for us, and fix our eyes on him. Whether we give in to temptation or resist, show us Christ, our only hope for the perfect obedience that we require to stand before you. Give us the kind of heart that serves you with peaceful abandon, unconcerned about our own welfare and reputation, submissive and quiet before you. Cause us to cherish Christ above all our other desires, so that we will be satisfied in him for all eternity. In his name we pray, amen.

ASSURANCE OF PARDON: JOHN 3:16 –17

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.”

HYMNS

“All My Heart This Night Rejoices”, “Jesus, Priceless Treasure”