January 26, 2025

*Call to Worship | Hebrews 1:10-12 | Rev. Blake Arnoult

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

10 “You, Lord, laid the foundation of the earth in the beginning,

and the heavens are the work of your hands;

11 they will perish, but you remain;

they will all wear out like a garment,

12 like a robe you will roll them up,

like a garment they will be changed.

But you are the same,

and your years will have no end.”

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*Song of Adoration | Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah

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

Guide me, O Thou great Jehovah, pilgrim through this barren land. 

I am weak, but Thou art mighty; hold me with Thy powerful hand. 

Bread of heaven, feed me now and evermore; 

Bread of heaven, feed me now and evermore.

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Open now the crystal fountain, whence the healing waters flow; 

Let the fire and cloudy pillar lead me all my journey through. 

Strong Deliverer, be Thou still my Strength and Shield. 

Strong Deliverer, be Thou still my Strength and Shield.

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When I tread the verge of Jordan, bid my anxious fears subside; 

Death of death, and hell's destruction, land me safe on Canaan's side. 

Songs of praises, I will ever give to Thee; 

Songs of praises, I will ever give to Thee.

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Land me safe on Canaan's side;

 bid my anxious fears, bid my anxious fears;

Land me safe on Canaan's side; 

bid my anxious fears, bid my anxious fears, goodbye.

_{Music and Lyrics: William Williams, Jeremy Casella}

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*Confession of Faith | Heidelberg Catechism, Q.1

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

What is your only comfort in life and death?      

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That I am not my own, but belong with body and soul, both in life and in death, to my faithful Savior Jesus Christ. He has fully paid for all my sins with His precious blood, and has set me free from all the power of the devil. He also preserves me in such a way that without the will of my heavenly Father not a hair can fall from my head; indeed, all things must work together for my salvation. Therefore, by His Holy Spirit He also assures me of eternal life and makes me heartily willing and ready from now on to live for Him.

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*Song of Confession | Sing To The King

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

Sing to the King who is coming to reign.

Glory to Jesus, the Lamb that was slain!

Righteousness, peace then His empire shall bring;

Joy to the nations when Jesus is King.

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Come, let us sing a song,

A song declaring that we belong to Jesus;

He is all we need!

Lift up a heart of praise,

Sing now with voices raised to Jesus;

Sing to the King!

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All shall be well in His kingdom of peace,

Freedom shall flourish and wisdom increase,

Foe shall be friend when His triumph we sing,

Sword shall be sickle when Jesus is King.

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Chorus

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Kingdom of Christ, for thy coming we pray.

Hasten, O Father, the dawn of the day!

With a new song Thy creation shall sing,

Satan is vanquished and Jesus is King!

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Chorus

_{Music and Lyrics: Billy Foote, Charles Gabriel, Charles Horne}

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Confession of Sin | based on Deuteronomy 6 and Hebrews 7

^{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.}

O great and everlasting God, who dwells in unapproachable light, who searches and knows the thoughts and intentions of the heart; we confess that we have not loved you with all our heart, nor with all our soul, nor with all our mind, nor with all our strength; nor our neighbors as ourselves. We have loved what we ought not to have loved; we have coveted what is not ours; we have not been content with your provisions for us. We have complained in our hearts about our family, about our friends, about our health, about our occupations, about your church, and about our trials. We have sought our security in those things which perish, rather than in you, God. Chasten, cleanse, and forgive us, through Jesus Christ, who is able for all time to save us who approach you through him, since he always lives to make intercession for us. Amen.

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Assurance of Pardon | John 3:16 | Rev. 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.}

16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

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*Song of Response | Grace and Peace

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

Grace and peace, oh how can this be

For lawbreakers and thieves, for the worthless, the least

You have said that our judgment is death

For all eternity without hope, without rest

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Oh, what an amazing mystery, what an amazing mystery

That Your grace has come to me

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Grace and peace, oh how can this be?

The matchless King of all paid the blood price for me

Slaughtered lamb, what atonement You bring!

The vilest sinner's heart can be cleansed, can be free

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Oh, what an amazing mystery, what an amazing mystery

That Your grace has come to me

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Grace and peace, oh how can this be?

Let songs of gratefulness ever rise, never cease

Loved by God and called as a saint

My heart is satisfied in the riches of Christ

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Oh, what an amazing mystery, what an amazing mystery

That Your grace has come to me

Oh, what an amazing love I see, what an amazing love I see

That Your grace has come to me

_{Music and Lyrics: Joel Sczebel}

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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 | He Will Hold Me Fast

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

When I fear my faith will fail, Christ will hold me fast.

When the tempter would prevail, He will hold me fast.

I could never keep my hold through life’s fearful path;

For my love is often cold, He must hold me fast.

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He will hold me fast; He will hold me fast!

For my Savior loves me so, He will hold me fast!

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Those He saves are His delight; Christ will hold me fast.

Precious in His holy sight; He will hold me fast.

He’ll not let my soul be lost, His promises shall last;

Bought by Him at such a cost, He will hold me fast.

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Chorus

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For my life He bled and died; Christ will hold me fast.

Justice has been satisfied; He will hold me fast.

Raised with Him to endless life, He will hold me fast;

‘Till our faith is turned to sight, when He comes at last!

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/ Chorus /

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He began a work in us; He began a work in us.

He’ll complete His work in us; He’ll complete His work in us.

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/ He will hold us fast; He will hold us fast!

For our Savior loves us so, He will hold us fast! /

_{Music and Lyrics: Augustus Toplady, Kevin Twit}

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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 | Luke 12:13-31 | Dr. Richard Lints

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

13 Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” 14 But he said to him, “Man, who made me a judge or arbitrator over you?” 15 And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” 16 And he told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man produced plentifully, 17 and he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’ 18 And he said, ‘I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. 19 And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.”’ 20 But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ 21 So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.”

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22 And he said to his disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on. 23 For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. 24 Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds! 25 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? 26 If then you are not able to do as small a thing as that, why are you anxious about the rest? 27 Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 28 But if God so clothes the grass, which is alive in the field today, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith! 29 And do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor be worried. 30 For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need them. 31 Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you.

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Pastor: The Word of the Lord

People: Thanks be to God

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The Preaching of the Word | Dr. Richard Lints

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“Parable of the Rich Fool”

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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.

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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.

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 | My Worth Is Not In What I Own

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

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.

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.

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

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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Departing Song | All Must Be Well

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

Through the love of God our Savior, All will be well

Free and changeless is His favor, All is well

Precious is the blood that healed us

Perfect is the grace that sealed us

Strong the hand stretched forth to shield us

All must be well

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Though we pass through tribulation, All will be well

Ours is such a full salvation, All is well

Happy still in God confiding

Fruitful if in Christ abiding

Steadfast through the Spirit's guiding

All must be well

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We expect a bright tomorrow; All will be well

Faith can sing through days of sorrow, All is well

On our Father's love relying

Jesus every need supplying

Yes in living or in dying

All must be well

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On our Father's love relying

Jesus every need supplying

Yes in living or in dying

All must be well

_{Music and Lyrics: Mary Bowly Peters, Matthew S. Smith}

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*Benediction | Philippians 4:19-20 | Rev. 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.}

19 My God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. 20 To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.

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ANNOUNCEMENTS

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Wine Tasting Event

Friday, January 31, 7pm

Adults are invited to join us on January 31 at the home of Jeff and Susan Arnoult for our annual wine tasting event, led by Ethan McEwin!

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Kids’ Sunday School

Sunday, February 2, 9am

Our spring Sunday school series for kids (K-4th) begins on Sunday, February 2 at 9am!

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Youth Bible Study

Sunday, February 2, 9am

Our spring Bible Study series for youth (5th-12th) begins on Sunday, February 2 at 9am!

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Bible Studies

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Women’s Morning Study: Wednesday, January 29

Our women’s weekly Bible study will begin their spring series on Wednesday, January 29. Join us at the home of Marion Wade at 10am!

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Women’s Evening Study: Thursday, February 6

Our women’s evening study on Prayer will meet on Thursday, February 6! Join us at the home of Susan Arnoult at 7pm.

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Men’s Morning Study: Friday, February 7

Our men’s study on Prayer will meet on Friday, February 7 at 7am at Bean and Bottle! 9655 Katy Freeway Suite 100.

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Women’s Gathering

Tuesday, February 11, 7pm

Join us at the Willson home on February 11 for our next women’s gathering! We will hear from Ann Lints this quarter!

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