January 14, 2024

*Call to Worship | Psalm 103:1-2 | Blake Arnoult

^{God invites and calls us into his presence to worship him.}

1 Bless the LORD, O my soul,

   and all that is within me,

   bless his holy name!

2 Bless the LORD, O my soul,

   and forget not all his benefits.

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*Song of Adoration | Nothing but the Blood

^{We begin by responding with praise to God for who he is and for what he does.}

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What can wash away my sin?

Nothing but the blood of Jesus;

What can make me whole again?

Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

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For my pardon, this I see,

Nothing but the blood of Jesus;

For my cleansing this my plea,

Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

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Oh! precious is the flow

That makes me white as snow;

No other fount I know,

Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

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Nothing can for sin atone,

Nothing but the blood of Jesus;

Naught of good that I have done,

Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

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This is all my hope and peace,

Nothing but the blood of Jesus;

This is all my righteousness,

Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

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Chorus

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Now by this I’ll overcome—Nothing but the blood of Jesus;

Now by this I’ll reach my home—Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

Glory! Glory! This I sing—Nothing but the blood of Jesus,

All my praise for this I bring—Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

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/ Chorus /

^{Music and Lyrics: Robert Lowry}

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*Confession of Faith | Westminster Confession of Faith, Ch.8.4 Of Christ the Mediator

^{With the church in history we confess a basic statement of what Christians believe.}

This office the Lord Jesus did most willingly undertake; which that he might discharge, he was made under the law, and did perfectly fulfill it; endured most grievous torments immediately in his soul, and most painful sufferings in his body; was crucified, and died, was buried, and remained under the power of death, yet saw no corruption. On the third day he arose from the dead, with the same body in which he suffered, with which also he ascended into heaven, and there sitteth at the right hand of his Father, making intercession, and shall return, to judge men and angels, at the end of the world.

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*Song of Confession | Here Is Love

^{Psalms, hymns, spiritual songs are simply prayers that are sung. We respond in repentance and praise for God’s redemptive work in Christ.}

Here is love, vast as the ocean,

Loving-kindness as the flood,

When the Prince of Life, our Ransom,

Shed for us His precious blood.

Who His love will not remember?

Who can cease to sing His praise?

He can never be forgotten,

Throughout Heaven's eternal days.

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On the mount of crucifixion,

Fountains opened deep and wide;

Through the floodgates of God's mercy

Flowed a vast and gracious tide.

Grace and love, like mighty rivers,

Poured incessant from above,

Heaven's peace and perfect justice

Kissed a guilty world in love.

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Here is love that conquered evil:

Christ, the firstborn from the grave;

Death has failed to be found equal

To the life of Him Who saves.

In the valley of our darkness

Dawned His everlasting light;

Perfect love in glorious radiance

Has repelled death’s hellish night.

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That same love beyond all measure,

Mocked and slain by hateful men,

Lives and reigns in resurrection

And can never die again.

Here is love for all the ages,

Radiant Son of Heav’n He stands,

Calling home His Father’s children,

Holding forth His wounded hands.

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Here is love, vast as the heavens;

Countless as the stars above

Are the souls that He has ransomed,

Precious daughters, treasured sons.

We are called to feast forever

On a love beyond our time;

Glorious Father, Son, and Spirit

Now with man are intertwined.

^{Music and Lyrics: Matt Giles, Vell Rives, Will Rees}

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Confession of Sin | 1 John 1:6, 8, 10

^{‍We fight the temptation to hide our sin and instead acknowledge it openly to God, but we do so in light of the grace offered in Jesus.}

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6 If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth… 8  If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us… 10 If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

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Assurance of Pardon | 1 John 1:7, 9 | Blake Arnoult

^{The good news of the gospel is that we are forgiven in Jesus Christ. This assurance is based on God’s words of promise and it is therefore certain.}

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7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin... 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

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*Song of Response | My Worth Is Not In What I Own

^{We respond in repentance and praise for God’s redemptive work in Christ.}

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My worth is not in what I own

Not in the strength of flesh and bone

But in the costly wounds of love – At the cross.

My worth is not in skill or name

In win or lose, in pride or shame

But in the blood of Christ that flowed – At the cross.

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I rejoice in my Redeemer

Greatest Treasure,

Wellspring of my soul

I will trust in Him, no other.

My soul is satisfied in Him alone.

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As summer flowers we fade and die

Fame, youth and beauty hurry by

But life eternal calls to us – At the cross

I will not boast in wealth or might

Or human wisdom's fleeting light

But I will boast in knowing Christ – At the cross

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Chorus

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Two wonders here that I confess

My worth and my unworthiness

My value fixed; my ransom paid – At the cross.

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Chorus

^{Music and Lyrics: Keith & Kristyn Getty, Graham Kendrick}

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Prayer of Thanksgiving

^{We offer our gratitude to God in prayer in response to his gifts and blessings to his people and ask that he make us faithful managers of these gifts.}

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Song of Thanks | Holy, Holy, Holy

^{As we offer our prayers so we also offer up our thanks in song.}

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Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!

Early in the morning our song shall rise to Thee;

Holy, holy, holy, merciful and mighty!

God in three Persons, blessed Trinity!

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Holy, holy, holy! All the saints adore Thee,

Casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea;

Cherubim and seraphim falling down before Thee,

Who wert and art and ever more shall be.

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Holy, holy, holy! Though the darkness hide Thee,

Though the eye of sinful man Thy glory may not see;

Only Thou art holy; there is none beside Thee,

Perfect in power, in love, and purity.

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Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!

All Thy works shall praise Thy name in earth, and sky, and sea;

Holy, holy, holy; merciful and mighty!

God in three Persons, blessed Trinity!

^{Music and Lyrics: John Bacchus Dykes, Reginald Heber}

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Prayer for Christ’s Church

^{We lift up our requests to God knowing that he hears us when we pray.}

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*Reading of Scripture | 1 Samuel 7:1-13 | Blake Arnoult

^{God reveals himself and his work and speaks to us his people through his Word.}

1 And the men of Kiriath-jearim came and took up the ark of the LORD and brought it to the house of Abinadab on the hill. And they consecrated his son Eleazar to have charge of the ark of the LORD. 2 From the day that the ark was lodged at Kiriath-jearim, a long time passed, some twenty years, and all the house of Israel lamented after the LORD.

3 And Samuel said to all the house of Israel, “If you are returning to the LORD with all your heart, then put away the foreign gods and the Ashtaroth from among you and direct your heart to the LORD and serve him only, and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.” 4 So the people of Israel put away the Baals and the Ashtaroth, and they served the LORD only.

5 Then Samuel said, “Gather all Israel at Mizpah, and I will pray to the LORD for you.” 6 So they gathered at Mizpah and drew water and poured it out before the LORD and fasted on that day and said there, “We have sinned against the LORD.” And Samuel judged the people of Israel at Mizpah. 7 Now when the Philistines heard that the people of Israel had gathered at Mizpah, the lords of the Philistines went up against Israel. And when the people of Israel heard of it, they were afraid of the Philistines. 8 And the people of Israel said to Samuel, “Do not cease to cry out to the LORD our God for us, that he may save us from the hand of the Philistines.” 9 So Samuel took a nursing lamb and offered it as a whole burnt offering to the LORD. And Samuel cried out to the LORD for Israel, and the LORD answered him. 10 As Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to attack Israel. But the LORD thundered with a mighty sound that day against the Philistines and threw them into confusion, and they were defeated before Israel. 11 And the men of Israel went out from Mizpah and pursued the Philistines and struck them, as far as below Beth-car.

12 Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen and called its name Ebenezer; for he said, “Till now the LORD has helped us.” 13 So the Philistines were subdued and did not again enter the territory of Israel. And the hand of the LORD was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel.

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Pastor: The Word of the Lord

People: Thanks be to God

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The Preaching of the Word | Rev. Blake Arnoult

“Samuel Judges Israel”

1 and 2 Samuel: Give Us a King

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Pastoral Prayer

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Sacrament of Communion

Sacraments are visible signs of the invisible grace of God - what Christ does by his Holy Spirit within us. Communion (also called the Lord’s Supper or the Eucharist), as the distribution of the elements of bread and wine, symbolizes a meal. Communion is a sign of fellowship. That sign signifies more than just the future heavenly fellowship that is to come. The outward sign signifies the inner reality that sinners already experience fellowship with God in the Spirit because of Jesus. Communion is not a meal for good people. It functions as a renewing seal to desperate sinners of that fellowship we have with our holy and gracious God.

You will be invited to come forward. If you are not a Christian we encourage you to spend this time in reflection on what you’ve seen and heard in the worship. Children who have not received their first communion are welcome and encouraged to come forward with their families to witness their partaking. We invite children who are ready to make a public profession of faith in Christ to arrange a meeting with the elders, and thus become “communicants” at the Lord’s Table.

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Pastor: The Lord be with you.

People: And also with you.

Pastor: Lift up your hearts!

People: We lift them up to the Lord.

Pastor: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

People: It is right to give him thanks and praise.

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Prayer of Thanksgiving and Words of Institution

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Pastor: Let us proclaim the mystery of the faith:

People: Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again. Hallelujah!

Pastor: Christ, our Passover, has been sacrificed for us. Hallelujah!

People: Therefore, let us keep the feast. Pastor: The gifts of God for the people of God.

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Please let an usher know if it is difficult for you to come forward. We would be happy to serve you at your seat. All communion bread is gluten-free. All communion wine is made from  grape juice.

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A communion prayer for those searching for the truth:

Lord Jesus, you claim to be the way, the truth and the life. If what you claim is true, please guide me, teach me, and open to me the reality of who you are. Give me the ability to follow you no matter what it might cost me. Give me an understanding for you that is coherent, convincing, and leads to the life that you promise. Amen.

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Communion Song | Praise to the Lord, the Almighty

^{We celebrate our communion in faith and song.}

Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of creation!

O my soul, praise Him, for He is thy health and salvation!

All ye who hear, now to His temple draw near;

Praise Him in glad adoration.

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Praise to the Lord, who o’er all things so wondrously reigneth,

Shelters thee under His wings, yea, so gently sustaineth!

Hast thou not seen how thy desires e’er have been

Granted in what He ordaineth?

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/ Alleluia, Alleluia /

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Praise to the Lord, who doth prosper thy work and defend thee;

Surely His goodness and mercy here daily attend thee;

Ponder anew what the Almighty can do,

If with His love He befriend thee.

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Praise to the Lord, who, when darkness of sin is abounding,

Who, when the godless do triumph, all virtue confounding,

Sheddeth His light, chaseth the horrors of night,

Saints with His mercy surrounding.

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/ Alleluia, Alleluia /

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Praise to the Lord, oh, let all that is in me adore Him!

All that hath life and breath, come now with praises before Him;

Let the Amen sound from His people again,

Gladly for aye we adore Him.

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/ Alleluia, Alleluia /

_{Music and Lyrics: Stralsund Gesangbuch, Joachim Neander, Catherine Winkworth}

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Departing Song | Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing

^{We begin to end in faith and song.}

Come Thou Fount of every blessing

Tune my heart to sing Thy grace;

Streams of mercy, never ceasing,

Call for songs of loudest praise

Teach me some melodious sonnet,

Sung by flaming tongues above.

Praise the mount! I’m fixed upon it,

Mount of Thy redeeming love.

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Here I raise my Ebenezer;

Hither by Thy help I’m come;

And I hope, by Thy good pleasure,

Safely to arrive at home.

Jesus sought me when a stranger,

Wandering from the fold of God;

He, to rescue me from danger,

Interposed His precious blood.

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O to grace how great a debtor

Daily I’m constrained to be!

Let Thy goodness like a fetter,

Bind my wandering heart to Thee.

Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it,

Prone to leave the God I love;

Here’s my heart, O take and seal it,

Seal it for Thy courts above.

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O that day when freed from sinning,

I shall see Thy lovely face;

Clothed then in blood washed linen

How I’ll sing Thy sovereign grace;

Come, my Lord, no longer tarry,

Take my ransomed soul away;

Send thine angels now to carry

Me to realms of endless day.

^{Music and Lyrics: Robert Robinson}

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*Benediction | Romans 12:2 | Blake Arnoult

^{God sends us out with his blessing. A benediction is not a prayer. We don’t bow our heads. We lift them up and even lift up our hands to receive his blessing as we are sent out as participants in his mission to the city of man.}

2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

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ANNOUNCEMENTS

Spring Calendar

Our spring events and programs are now on our website!  

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Nursery Unavailable

Next Sunday, January 21

Our nursery will be unavailable on Sunday, January 21 as we will be gathering in the lobby for worship. The nursery will resume on January 28.

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January 2024 Dates

Bible Studies

Women’s Weekly Study: Wednesday, January 24 at 10amOur weekly women’s study of the Book of Hebrews will begin at 10am on January 24 at the home of Marion Wade.

Men’s Morning Study: Friday, February 2Monthly on the first Friday of each month, 7am at Bean and Bottle. 9655 Katy Freeway Suite 100.

Women’s Evening Study: Thursday, February 1Monthly on the first Thursday of each month at 7pm at the home of Susan and Jeff Arnoult.

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Women’s Gathering

January 23, 7pm

Ladies, gather with your cornerstone sisters on January 23 at the home of Kim Willson to discover how we can grow together in God's grace through intergenerational relationships.

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Youth Gathering

January 28, 11:30am

Cornerstone Students (5th - 12th), join us for a lunch out after the service at Himalaya, one of Houston’s must eat restaurants! Food and Fellowship, friends welcome!