Worship: Why We Do What We Do (The One Where We Talk About Confession & Repentance)

Welcome to another “Why we do what we do” in Christian worship episode.  In the last two weeks we’ve discussed the Call To Worship and expressions of adoration, which is in some ways one single movement (with “adoration” being our response to the call).  This week we talk about, arguably, one of the most controversial parts of church liturgy — periods of confession and repentance.  If not controversial, it sure is counter-intuitive to many of us.  “What, me confess?  What did I do wrong?  I’m a good guy.  I love Jesus.  I got saved years ago.”

My interview subject is Sojourn Worship Leader Lorie King, who has led worship in a many contexts around the world.  She completed a Master’s program in Worship from the School of Church Music and Worship at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, and has been in Pastor Mike Cosper’s Sojourn worship ministry since shortly after our launch in 2000.

Click “play” below to listen now, or download the episode from our podcast, Sojournmusic.com Radio, available at iTunes and other podcast directories.  And come back next Thursday for part four.

What you’ll hear in this short audio interview:

What exactly is meant by “corporate confession” as an act of worship?

Isn’t confession and repentance something we do at conversion, and then we get past it?

If the Holy Spirit is living inside us, shouldn’t we get to the place in our hearts where we have nothing further to confess?

Hear The One Where We Talk About Expressions Of Adoration And Praise

Hear The One Where We Talk About The “Call To Worship”

for examples of various worship service prayers of confession, free for you to use and adapt in your own worship services, visit theopensourcebook.org

view the artwork above, “Confession,” along with other original liturgical art from the Sojourn community at sojournvisualarts.com