July 9, 2023

*Call to Worship | Revelation 5:11-13 | Blake Arnoult

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

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Pastor: Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice, 

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People: “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain,

to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might

and honor and glory and blessing!”

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Pastor: And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying, 

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People: “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb

be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!”

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*Song of Adoration | Holy is the Lord

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

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We stand and lift up our hands

For the joy of the Lord is our strength

We bow down and worship Him now

How great how awesome is He

And together we sing

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Holy is the Lord God Almighty

The earth is filled with His glory

Holy is the Lord God Almighty

The earth is filled with His glory

The earth is filled with his glory

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We stand and lift up our hands

For the joy of the Lord is our strength

We bow down and worship Him now

How great how awesome is He

And together we sing

Everyone sing

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Chorus

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/ It's rising up all around

It's the anthem of the Lord's renown /

And together we sing

Everyone sing

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Chorus

Music and Lyrics: Chris Tomlin, Louie Giglio

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*Confession of Faith | Colossians 1:15-20

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

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15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. 19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross. 

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*Song of Confession | Jesus Cast a Look on Me

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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Jesus cast a look on me, give me sweet simplicity

Make me poor and keep me low, seeking only Thee to know

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All that feeds my busy pride, cast it evermore aside

Bid my will to Thine submit, lay me humbly at Thy feet

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Make me like a little child, of my strength and wisdom spoiled

Seeing only in Thy light, walking only in Thy might

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Leaning on Thy loving breast, where a weary soul can rest

Feeling well the peace of God, flowing from His precious blood

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In this posture let me live, and hosannas daily give

In this temper let me die, and hosannas ever cry!

Music and Lyrics: John Berridge, Matthew Perryman Jones

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Confession of Sin | Agnus Dei (“Lamb of God”)

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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Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world, have mercy on us.

Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world, have mercy on us.

Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world, grant us your peace.

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Assurance of Pardon | Romans 1:16 | 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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16 For 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 Response | I Surrender All

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

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All to Jesus I surrender

All to Him I freely give

I will ever love and trust Him

In His presence daily live

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I surrender all

I surrender all

All to Thee my blessed Savior 

I surrender all

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All to Jesus I surrender

Humbly at His feet I bow

Worldly pleasures all forsaken

Take me Jesus take me now

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Chorus

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All to Jesus I surrender

Make me Savior wholly Thine

Let me feel the Holy Spirit

Truly know that Thou art mine

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Chorus

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All to Jesus I surrender

Lord I give myself to Thee

Fill me with thy love and power

Let Thy blessing fall on me

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Chorus

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All to Jesus I surrender

Now I feel the sacred flame

O the joy of full salvation

Glory glory to His name

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Chorus

Music and Lyrics: Judson Wheeler Van DeVenter, Winfield Scott Weeden

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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 | I Need Thee Every Hour

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

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I need Thee every hour, most gracious Lord

No tender voice like Thine can peace afford

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I need Thee every hour, stay Thou nearby

Temptations lose their power when Thou art nigh

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I need thee, oh, I need thee, every hour I need Thee

Oh, bless me now, my Savior, I come to Thee

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I need Thee every hour in joy or pain

Come quickly and abide or life’s in vain

Chorus

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I need Thee every hour, teach me Thy will

And Thy rich promises in me fulfill

Chorus

Music and Lyrics: Annie S. Hawks, Robert Lowry

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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 16:1-16 | Rev. Blake Arnoult

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

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1 I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a servant of the church at Cenchreae, 2 that you may welcome her in the Lord in a way worthy of the saints, and help her in whatever she may need from you, for she has been a patron of many and of myself as well.

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3 Greet Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, 4 who risked their necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks but all the churches of the Gentiles give thanks as well. 5 Greet also the church in their house. Greet my beloved Epaenetus, who was the first convert to Christ in Asia. 6 Greet Mary, who has worked hard for you. 7 Greet Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen and my fellow prisoners. They are well known to the apostles, and they were in Christ before me. 8 Greet Ampliatus, my beloved in the Lord. 9 Greet Urbanus, our fellow worker in Christ, and my beloved Stachys. 10 Greet Apelles, who is approved in Christ. Greet those who belong to the family of Aristobulus. 11 Greet my kinsman Herodion. Greet those in the Lord who belong to the family of Narcissus. 12 Greet those workers in the Lord, Tryphaena and Tryphosa. Greet the beloved Persis, who has worked hard in the Lord. 13 Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord; also his mother, who has been a mother to me as well. 14 Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas, and the brothers who are with them. 15 Greet Philologus, Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints who are with them. 16 Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ greet 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 | Rev. Blake Arnoult

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“Personal Greetings, Personal Church”

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 | Great Are You Lord

We celebrate our communion in faith and song.

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You give life, You are love

You bring light to the darkness

You give hope, You restore

Every heart that is broken

Great are You, Lord

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It's Your breath in our lungs

So we pour out our praise, We pour out our praise

It's Your breath in our lungs

So we pour out our praise to You only

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You give life, You are love

You bring light to the darkness

You give hope, You restore

Every heart that is broken

Great are You, Lord

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/ Chorus /

// All the earth will shout Your praise

Our hearts will cry, these bones will sing

Great are You, Lord //

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/ Chorus /

Music and Lyrics: David Leonard, Jason Ingram, Leslie Jordan

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Departing Song | What A Friend We Have In Jesus

We begin to end in faith and song.

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What a friend we have in Jesus,

All our sins and griefs to bear!

What a privilege to carry

Everything to God in prayer!

O what peace we often forfeit,

O what needless pain we bear,

All because we do not carry

Everything to God in prayer.

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Have we trials and temptations?

Is there trouble anywhere?

We should never be discouraged;

Take it to the Lord in prayer.

Can we find a friend so faithful

Who will all our sorrows share?

Jesus knows our every weakness;

Take it to the Lord in prayer.

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Are we weak and heavy laden,

Cumbered with a load of care?

Precious Savior, still our refuge;

Take it to the Lord in prayer.

Do thy friends despise, forsake thee?

Take it to the Lord in prayer!

In His arms he’ll take and shield thee;

Thou wilt find a solace there.

Music and Lyrics: Joseph Medlicott Scriven

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*Benediction | Numbers 6:24-26 | 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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24 The LORD bless you and keep you;

25 the LORD make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you;

26 the LORD lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.

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ANNOUNCEMENTS

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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!