I commend you for asking the question with clarity and directness. There is evidence that others have grumbled silently, grown bitter, and gone their separate way without giving anyone the chance to address their concerns.

Generally, it’s true

While there are exceptions, what you observe is true. Every worship service and every sermon among us has distinct reference to our sinfulness and natural unworthiness before God. The word “worthless” is not the most fitting way of expressing this, since, despite not deserving God’s love and favor, we remain of value to him and are deeply cherished. But sinners we are, with inherited and actual guilt, and we regularly highlight this in our private and public worship lives.

Furthermore, we freely confess that such reminders are neither pleasant nor designed to be so. We are echoing the frequent refrain of Scripture regarding our natural depravity, a message designed to crush and kill our sinful nature on a daily basis. Our sinful nature does not meekly submit to this ongoing execution, but files vigorous protest.

Hopefully, there’s more

There may be regrettable exceptions, but the message of sin and guilt should never be the primary message proclaimed in our services and sermons. The main part of the Confession and Absolution is the Absolution, and the dominant emphasis of law and gospel messages is God’s grace in Christ, not our sin. If this is not the case in typical sermons of a particular pastor, this issue should be addressed with the pastor sooner rather than later.

It is possible that the dominant emphasis may be on the gospel of grace but some listeners still walk away thinking all they heard was the message of law and sin. This phenomenon might stem from the Holy Spirit’s accentuating the law in a heart that has been hardening itself against divine truth. It might be simply a bad habit of not paying close attention. It may even come from a prejudicial aversion to any mention of sin and guilt. No matter. Our goal is to retain the combined use of law and gospel, with the primary emphasis on gospel.

Thankfully, we have both

Filling our services and sermons with vigorous declarations of human guilt plus promises of divine grace is more than a cherished desire. It is necessary for spiritual life and health. Law and gospel are woven through Scripture from cover to cover because this is the Spirit’s tandem tool to expose and kill the sinful nature and feed and nourish the new self in its life of faith. Embracing and enjoying the gospel follows being exposed and convicted of damnable sin. Leaving out the emphasis on our being poor sinners does us no favors. The unconditional gospel is meaningful to the humbled, not the haughty.