The call to confession invites us to honest expression within the context of our covenant relationship with God. God's grace comes to us, creating a relationship with us in Christ in which honesty about our sin is welcome and safe. We confess our sin not so that God will forgive us, but because God has already forgiven us in Christ.

When we write a call to confession, we can use scripture or write words that call the congregation to remember their need to confess and be forgiven.

The call to confession, therefore, is a word of grace like the assurance of pardon and not an exercise that shames us into confession. The reading of God's law—the Ten Commandments, the summary of the law from Matthew 22, or a similar text—may also serve as a call to confession. God's law helps us to recognize human sinfulness even as the law provides a trustworthy guide for Christian living.

Where are calls to confession in the Bible?

Psalm 32:1–6, "Happy are those whose transgression is forgiven"
Psalm 66:16, 18–20, "Come and hear, all you who fear God"
Psalm 139:23–24, "Search me, O God"
Isaiah 1:18, "Come now, let us argue it out"
Isaiah 30:15, 18, in returning and rest Israel shall be saved
Matthew 22:37–40, the greatest and first commandment
Romans 5:8, God proves his love for us
Romans 8:39, nothing can separate us from the love of God
Hebrews 4:14–16, we have a great high priest
Hebrews 10:19–22, let us approach God with a true heart
1 John 1:5–7, God is light
1 John 1:8–9, if we confess our sins, God will forgive
1 John 2:1–2, if anyone does sin, we have an advocate