This is a series of five confessions I wrote for an eschatological sermon series entitled “What’s Next?” Pastor Kelly’s five sermon topics (with Scripture readings) were: A New Heaven and a New Earth (Genesis 1-2:15), The Intermediate State (1st Thessalonians 4:13-5:11), The Great Multitude (Revelation 7:9-17), An Eternity of Worship (Revelation 5:11-14), and Angels (Genesis 1:26-27).
Each confession has a short Scripture reading (God’s Promises), a unison prayer of confession, an assurance of pardon, and a suggested hymn of response.
A NEW HEAVEN AND A NEW EARTH (GENESIS 1-2:15)
God’s Promises: Revelation 21:1-6
Unison Prayer of Confession
We repent, Lord, of all the ways we doubt your promises. Open our hearts to the reality more true than anything we can now perceive: There will be a New Heaven and a New Earth. God will dwell among his people and wipe every tear from our eyes. Help us to live our lives in anticipation of this sure conclusion. Let all our words and actions sow the seeds of God’s Kingdom, foreshadowing the perfect peace and justice that will prevail.
Assurance of Pardon (Revelation 21:7)
He who is seated on the throne promises us: “Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children.”
Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come.
Song of Response: “Jerusalem the Golden” (Lift Up Your Hearts #488)
THE INTERMEDIATE STATE (1st Thessalonians 4:13-5:11)
God’s Promises: Philippians 1:20-26
Unison Prayer of Confession
We repent, Lord, of all the ways we doubt your promises. Open our hearts to the reality more true than anything we can now perceive: When we die, we will be with Christ. And when Christ returns, we will be bodily resurrected and will live with him forever on the earth made new. Help us to live our lives in anticipation of this sure conclusion. Let our words and actions sow the seeds of God’s Kingdom, honoring God with our bodies and caring for his creation, foreshadowing restored bodies and a renewed creation more glorious than we can imagine.
Assurance of Pardon (John 14:2-3)
Jesus promises us: “My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.”
Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come.
Song of Response: “I Know Not Why God’s Wondrous Grace” (Lift Up Your Hearts #690)
THE GREAT MULTITUDE (REVELATION 7:9-17)
God’s Promises: Daniel 7:13-14
Unison Prayer of Confession
We repent, Lord, of all the ways we doubt your promises. Open our hearts to the reality more true than anything we can now perceive: We are members of a family of people from every nation, race, ethnic group, and language, spanning all of time and space. We are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses, and one day we will join them around God’s throne. Help us to live our lives in anticipation of this sure conclusion. Let our words and actions sow the seeds of God’s Kingdom, relinquishing lesser loyalties to nation, party, and race, seeking oneness with all who follow Jesus, caring for all people, and working for peace in all situations, foreshadowing the peace and unity of all who worship the Lamb through all eternity.
Assurance of Pardon (Isaiah 43:5-7)
God promises us: “Do not be afraid, for I am with you;
I will bring your children from the east and gather you from the west.
I will say to the north, ‘Give them up!’
and to the south, ‘Do not hold them back.’
Bring my sons from afar
and my daughters from the ends of the earth—
everyone who is called by my name,
whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.”
Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come.
Song of Response: “Amid the Thronging Worshipers” (Lift Up Your Hearts #511)
AN ETERNITY OF WORSHIP (REVELATION 5:11-14)
God’s Promises: Isaiah 45:22-24
Unison Prayer of Confession
We repent, Lord, of all the ways we doubt your promises. Open our hearts to the reality more true than anything we can now perceive: Our worship here today is just a foretaste of the eternal worship of God by all creation. Help us to live our lives in anticipation of this sure conclusion. Let our words and actions sow the seeds of God’s Kingdom, offering up our lives as a sacrifice of worship, joining with believers across the world for Lord’s Day worship, and adding our voices to the heavenly chorus praising God throughout all eternity.
Assurance of Pardon (Philippians 2:10-11)
God promises us: “At the name of Jesus every knee will bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come.
Song of Response: “Holy, Holy, Holy! Lord God Almighty” (Lift Up Your Hearts #538)
ANGELS (GENESIS 1:26-27)
God’s Promises: Matthew 18:10
Unison Prayer of Confession
We repent, Lord, of all the ways we doubt your promises. Open our hearts to the reality more true than anything we can now perceive: God has appointed angels as our fellow workers and worshipers. Though we cannot see them, angels are encamped around us. One day we will see them and worship with them throughout eternity. Help us to live our lives in anticipation of this sure conclusion. Let our words and actions sow the seeds of God’s Kingdom, trusting in God’s protection and joining in worship with the heavenly choir.
Assurance of Pardon (Psalm 34:7)
God promises us: “The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them. Taste and see that the LORD is God; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.”
Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come.
Song of Response: “Holy God, We Praise Your Name” (Lift Up Your Hearts #540)
What’s Next? Confession Series by David Schweingruber is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.