June 25, 2023

*Call to Worship | Hebrews 4:14, 16 | Blake Arnoult

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

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14 Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession… 16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

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*Song of Adoration | Amazing Grace (My Chains are Gone)

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

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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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T'was 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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My chains are gone. I've been set free

My God, my Savior has ransomed me

And like a flood His mercy reigns

Unending love, amazing grace

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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 us home.

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Chorus

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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.

Chorus 

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/Unending love, amazing grace/

Music and Lyrics: John Newton, Chris Tomlin, Louie Giglio

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*Confession of Faith | Westminster Confession of Faith, Ch.20, On Christian Liberty

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

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The liberty which Christ hath purchased for believers under the gospel consists in their freedom from the guilt of sin, the condemning wrath of God, the curse of the moral law; and, in their being delivered from this present evil world, bondage to Satan, and dominion of sin; from the evil of afflictions, the sting of death, the victory of the grave, and everlasting damnation; as also, in their free access to God, and their yielding obedience unto him, not out of slavish fear, but a childlike love and willing mind. 

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*Song of Confession | Slow Me Down

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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Slow me down, O Lord

Slow me down

Help my heart to hear Your sound

Speak into my life, Lord speak now

Slow me down, O Lord

Slow me down

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Clear my mind, O Lord

Clear my mind

Bring me peace that I cannot find

Take my worried thoughts, break my pride

Clear my mind, O Lord

Clear my mind

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Wake my soul, O Lord

Wake my soul

With this mess I’ve made make me whole

Of this life called mine, take control

Wake my soul, O Lord

Wake my soul

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Chorus

Music and Lyrics: Robby Seay Band

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Confession of Sin | Based on Romans 3

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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Our great and glorious God, you who know and judge the secrets of every human heart; we do acknowledge and confess that we have followed our father Adam in revolting against your commandments. We have turned from your ways and from your blessed Presence, and have reaped the misery of turning away from you, the very Author of life. None of us is righteous, no not one; none of us has understanding, none of us seeks God. Our throats are opened graves; we use our tongues to deceive. Our mouths are full of cursing and bitterness. Our feet are swift to shed blood; ruin and misery are in our paths, and the way of peace we have not known. There is no fear of God before our eyes. We appeal to you, through your great mercy made manifest in Jesus Christ your obedient Son, that you would forgive our sins for his sake; that you would make many righteous through his one act of obedience; that where our sin has increased, your grace would abound. Just as Christ was raised from the dead by your glory, so also may we walk in newness of life. Amen.

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Assurance of Pardon | Romans 8:1 | 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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1 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

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*Song of Response | Guide Me O Thou Great Jehovah

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

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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 stream doth 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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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 | When I Survey the Wondrous Cross

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

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When I survey the wondrous cross

On which the Prince of glory died,

My richest gain I count but loss,

And pour contempt on all my pride.

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Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast,

Save in the death of Christ my God;

All the vain things that charm me most,

I sacrifice them to His blood.

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See from His head, His hands, His feet,

Sorrow and love flow mingled down;

Did e’er such love and sorrow meet,

Or thorns compose so rich a crown?

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Were the whole realm of nature mine,

That were a present far too small:

Love so amazing, so divine,

Demands my soul, my life, my all.

Music and Lyrics: Isaac Watts

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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 13:8; 14:1-12 | Rev. Blake Arnoult

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

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13:8 Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law…

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14:1 As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions. 2 One person believes he may eat anything, while the weak person eats only vegetables. 3 Let not the one who eats despise the one who abstains, and let not the one who abstains pass judgment on the one who eats, for God has welcomed him. 4 Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand.

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5 One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. 6 The one who observes the day, observes it in honor of the Lord. The one who eats, eats in honor of the Lord, since he gives thanks to God, while the one who abstains, abstains in honor of the Lord and gives thanks to God. 7 For none of us lives to himself, and none of us dies to himself. 8 For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s. 9 For to this end Christ died and lived again, that he might be Lord both of the dead and of the living.

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10 Why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God; 11 for it is written,

“As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me,

and every tongue shall confess to God.”

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12 So then each of us will give an account of himself to God.

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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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“Christians in the Church with their Master”

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 Sweet the Name

We celebrate our communion in faith and song.

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How sweet the Name of Jesus sounds in a believer’s ear!

It soothes his sorrow, heals his wounds, and drives away his fear.

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It makes the wounded spirit whole, and calms the troubled breast;

’Tis manna to the hungry soul, and to the weary, rest.

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Dear Name, the rock on which I build, my shield and hiding place,

My never failing treasury, filled with boundless stores of grace!

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By Thee, my prayers acceptance gain, although with sin defiled;

Satan accuses me in vain, and I am owned a child.

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Jesus, my Shepherd, Brother, Friend, my Prophet, Priest, and King,

My Lord, my life, my way, My end, accept the praise I bring.

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Weak is the effort of my heart, and cold my warmest thought;

But when I see Thee as Thou art, I’ll praise Thee as I ought.

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’Til then I would Thy love proclaim with every fleeting breath,

And may the music of Thy name refresh my soul in death.

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Music and Lyrics: John Newton, Alexander Reinagle

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Departing Song | It Is Well With My Soul

We begin to end in faith and song.

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When peace like a river, attendeth my way;

When sorrows like sea billows roll;

Whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say:

“It is well, it is well, with my soul.”

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It is well (it is well)

With my soul (with my soul)

It is well, it is well with my soul

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Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come’

Let this blest assurance control;

That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,

And hath shed His own blood for my soul!

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Chorus

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My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought;

My sin, not in part but the whole;

Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more!

Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, o my soul!

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Chorus

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And Lord, haste the day when the faith shall be sight,

The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;

The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,

Even so, it is well with my soul.

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//Chorus//

Music and Lyrics: Philip Bliss, Horatio Spafford

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*Benediction | Romans 15:5-6 | 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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5 May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, 6 that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

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ANNOUNCEMENTS

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Nursery Unavailable

Sunday, July 2

Our nursery will be unavailable on Sunday, July 2nd for the 4th of July holiday weekend! Have a happy 4th of July! 

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Fall Kick-Off Pool Party

Sunday, August 27, 11:30am-1:30pm

Everyone is invited to join us at the Byrd home on August 27 for our annual fall gathering! This is a BYOB event. Lunch will be provided!

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Cornerstone’s 5th Anniversary Celebration

Friday, September 15, 7-9pm

Cornerstone is celebrating it’s 5th year anniversary this September! Adults are invited to the home of Blake and Ryan Arnoult to celebrate 5 years of ministry and fellowship! 

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Cornerstone is updating it’s member directory! 

Members! Please email emily.mcewin@cornerstonehouston.com with a family photo for our member directory! Our goal is to complete the directory this summer!