April 23, 2023

*Call to Worship | Romans 1:16 | Blake Arnoult

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

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16 I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

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*Song of Adoration | Father Long Before Creation

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

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Father, long before creation, Thou hadst chosen us in love.

And that love so deep, so moving, draws us close to Christ above.

Still it keeps us, still it keeps us; firmly fixed in Christ alone.

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Though the world may change its fashion, 

Yet our God is e'er the same;

His compassion and His covenant through all ages will remain.

God's own children, God's own children;

Must forever praise His name.

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God's compassion is my story; is my boasting all the day.

Mercy free and never failing, moves my will, directs my way.

God so loved us, God so loved us; that His only Son He gave.

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Loving Father now before Thee, We will ever praise Thy love.

And our songs will sound unceasing 'til we reach our home above.

Giving glory, giving glory; to our God and to the Lamb.

Giving glory, giving glory; to our God and to the Lamb.

Music and Lyrics: Andrew Osenga, Francis Johnson

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*Confession of Faith | John 16:33-17:5

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

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16:33 “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

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17:1 When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, 2 since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. 3 And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. 4 I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do. 5 And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.”

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*Song of Confession | Before the Throne of God Above

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

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Before the throne of God above

I have a strong, a perfect plea;

A great High Priest, whose Name is Love,

Who ever lives and pleads for me.

My name is graven on His hands,

my name is written on His heart;

I know that while in Heaven He stands

no tongue can bid me thence depart;

no tongue can bid me thence depart.

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When Satan tempts me to despair,

And tells me of the guilt within,

Upward I look, and see Him there

Who made an end of all my sin.

Because the sinless Savior died,

My sinful soul is counted free;

For God, the Just, is satisfied

To look on Him and pardon me.

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Halleluiah! Halleluiah!

Praise the One, Risen Son of God!

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Behold Him there, the risen Lamb!

My perfect, spotless Righteousness,

The great unchangeable I AM,

The King of glory and of grace.

One with Himself, I cannot die;

My soul is purchased by His blood;

My life is hid with Christ on high,

With Christ, my Savior and my God.

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Chorus

Music and Lyrics: C.L. Bancroft

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Confession of Sin | based on Colossians 3:5-13 | Blake Arnoult

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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God, our Father, help us to put to death what is earthly in us: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these your wrath is coming. In these we too once walked, when we were living in them. But now we must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from our mouths. We must not lie to one another, seeing that we have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of you, our Creator. Here, in your church, there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all. Help us to put on as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven me, so I also must forgive.

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Assurance of Pardon | Colossians 3:2-4 | 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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2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

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*Song of Response | Holy, Holy, Holy

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

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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

Which wert and art

And evermore shalt 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 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 | Before There Was Time

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

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Before there was time, there were visions in Your mind

There was death in the fall of mankind

But there was life in salvation's design

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Before there were days, there were nights I could not see Your face

But the night couldn't keep me from grace

When You came and You took my place

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So I cry holy only begotten Son of God, Ancient of Days

I cry holy only begotten Son of God, and sing the praises

Of the One who saved me, and the promises He made

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Before there was time, You counted the hairs on my head

You knew all the words that I've said

You purchased me back from the dead

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Before I was made, You searched me and knew my ways

You numbered all of my days, and You set forth the steps I would take

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Chorus

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You saved me

You raised me

You saved me

You pulled me from the grave

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Chorus

Music and Lyrics: Aaron Senseman; Caedmon’s Call

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Sacrament of Baptism | Rev. Brooks Harwood

Sacraments are visible signs of the invisible grace of God - what Christ does by his Holy Spirit within us. Baptism, as the administration of the element of water, symbolizes a flood. Baptism is a sign of death and judgment. That sign signifies that you experience death and judgment not by yourself but with Christ, and in being united to him in judgment he takes the curse we deserve for us and we come out of judgment to resurrection and eternal life. That sign signifies more than just the future judgment that is to come. The outward sign signifies the inner reality that sinners already experienced judgment by God in the Spirit with Jesus. The function of baptism is to be a ratifying seal to those who profess faith in Christ as Lord and Savior as their entrance into the covenant community as belonging to our Lord and his family. Therefore, as believing parents submit themselves to the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ, it is appropriate and expected that they bring their children who are under their parental authority under the authority of the Lord and that those children receive the sign of baptism as belonging to the covenant community.

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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 | Romans 9:6-29 | Rev. Blake Arnoult

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

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6 But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel, 7 and not all are children of Abraham because they are his offspring, but “Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.” 8 This means that it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as offspring. 9 For this is what the promise said: “About this time next year I will return, and Sarah shall have a son.” 10 And not only so, but also when Rebekah had conceived children by one man, our forefather Isaac, 11 though they were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad—in order that God’s purpose of election might continue, not because of works but because of him who calls— 12 she was told, “The older will serve the younger.” 13 As it is written, “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.”

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14 What shall we say then? Is there injustice on God’s part? By no means! 15 For he says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” 16 So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy. 17 For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.” 18 So then he has mercy on whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills.

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19 You will say to me then, “Why does he still find fault? For who can resist his will?” 20 But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, “Why have you made me like this?” 21 Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for dishonorable use? 22 What if God, desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, 23 in order to make known the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for glory— 24 even us whom he has called, not from the Jews only but also from the Gentiles? 25 As indeed he says in Hosea,

“Those who were not my people I will call ‘my people,’

and her who was not beloved I will call ‘beloved.’”

26 “And in the very place where it was said to them, ‘You are not my people,’

there they will be called ‘sons of the living God.’”

27 And Isaiah cries out concerning Israel: “Though the number of the sons of Israel be as the sand of the sea, only a remnant of them will be saved, 28 for the Lord will carry out his sentence upon the earth fully and without delay.” 29 And as Isaiah predicted,

“If the Lord of hosts had not left us offspring,

we would have been like Sodom

and become like Gomorrah.”

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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

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“The Plan and Purpose of Election”

Romans: The Power of God for Salvation

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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.

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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 | How Great Thou Art

We celebrate our communion in faith and song.

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O Lord my God, When I in awesome wonder,

Consider all the worlds Thy hands have made.

I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder

Thy pow'r throughout the universe displayed

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Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to Thee

How great Thou art! How great Thou art!

Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to Thee

How great Thou art! How great Thou art!

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And when I think of God, His Son not sparing

Sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in

That on the cross, my burden gladly bearing

He bled and died to take away my sin

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Chorus

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When Christ shall come, with shouts of acclamation

And lead me home, what joy shall fill my heart

Then I shall bow in humble adoration

And then proclaim, My God, how great You are!

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Chorus

Music and Lyrics: Carl Gustav Boberg, Stuart K. Hine

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Departing Song | Amazing Grace

We begin to end in faith and song.

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Amazing grace how sweet the sound

That saved a wretch like me

I once was lost but now am found

Was blind but now I see

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'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear

And grace my fears relieved

How precious did that grace appear

The hour I first believed

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Through many dangers toils and snares

I have already come

'Tis grace has brought me safe thus far

And grace will lead me home

Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail,

And mortal life shall cease,

I shall possess, within the veil,

A life of joy and peace

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The earth shall soon dissolve like snow, 

The sun forbear to shine;

But God, who called me here below,

Will be forever mine

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When we've been there ten thousand years

Bright shining as the sun

We've no less days to sing God's praise

Than when we've first begun

Music and Lyrics: John Newton

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*Benediction | 2 Peter 3:18 | 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.

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18 Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.

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ANNOUNCEMENTS

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Sunday School

Sunday school for kids and youth have resumed!

Kids pre-k through 4th grade and youth 5th-12th grade are invited to join us for Sunday school each Sunday morning at 9:15am! Kids will gather in the lobby and youth will gather upstairs. 

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Bible Studies

Women’s Morning Bible Study: 

Wednesday mornings, 9:30am at the Wade home

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Women’s Evening Bible Study: 

Thursday evenings, 7pm at the McEwin home

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Men’s Bible Study: 

Friday mornings, 7am at Buffalo Grille on Voss and Woodway

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Nursery Unavailable

April 30

Cornerstone’s nursery will be unavailable on April 30th because we will be worshipping in the lobby.

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Annual Wine Tasting Event!

May 7, 6-8pm - RSVP on our website!

Join us at the home of Jeff and Susan Arnoult for our annual wine tasting event! We’ll enjoy food and fellowship while also learning about wine! This is an adults only event. Please RSVP on our website so that we make sure to have enough food and wine for all!

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