September 10, 2023

*Call to Worship | John 11:25-26 | Blake Arnoult

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

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25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life.[a] Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, 26 and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?”

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*Song of Adoration | He Is Exalted

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

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He is exalted, the King is exalted on high And I will praise Him

He is exalted, forever exalted and I will praise His Name

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For He is the Lord; forever His truth shall reign.

Heaven and earth rejoice in His holy Name.

He is exalted, the King is exalted on high.

Music and Lyrics: Twila Paris

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*Confession of Faith | Kyrie Eleison

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

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Lord, have mercy.

Christ, have mercy.

Lord, have mercy.

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*Song of Confession | From The Depths Of Woe

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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From the depths of woe I raise to Thee the voice of lamentation;

Lord, turn a gracious ear to me and hear my supplication;

If Thou iniquities dost mark our secret sins and misdeeds dark,

O who shall stand before Thee? (Who shall stand before Thee?)

O who shall stand before Thee? (Who shall stand before Thee?)

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To wash away the crimson stain, grace, grace alone availeth;

Our works, alas! Are all in vain; in much the best life faileth;

No man can glory in Thy sight, all must alike confess Thy might,

And live alone by mercy (Live alone by mercy)

And live alone by mercy (Live alone by mercy)

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Therefore my trust is in the Lord, and not in mine own merit;

On Him my soul shall rest, His word upholds my fainting spirit;

His promised mercy is my fort, my comfort and my sweet support;

I wait for it with patience (Wait for it with patience)

I wait for it with patience (Wait for it with patience)

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Though great our sins and sore our woes, His grace much more aboundeth;

His helping love no limit knows, our upmost need it soundeth.

Our Shepherd good and true is He, who will at last His Israel free

From all their sin and sorrow (All their sin and sorrow)

From all their sin and sorrow (All their sin and sorrow)

Music and Lyrics: Martin Luther, Richard Massie

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Confession of Sin 

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 of mercy, you sent Jesus Christ to seek and save the lost. We confess that we have strayed from you and turned aside from your way. We are misled by pride, for we see ourselves pure when we are stained and great when we are small. We have failed in love, neglected justice, and ignored your truth. Have mercy, O God, and forgive our sin. Return us to paths of righteousness through Jesus Christ, our Savior. Amen.

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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 | O Help My Unbelief

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

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How sad our state by nature is! Our sin, how deep it stains!

And Satan binds our captive minds Fast in his slavish chains

But there's a voice of sov’reign grace, Sounds from the sacred word:

“O, ye despairing sinners come, And trust upon the Lord.”

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My soul obeys the almighty call, And runs to this relief

I would believe thy promise, Lord; O help my unbelief!

To the dear fountain of thy blood, Incarnate God, I fly;

Here let me wash my spotted soul, From crimes of deepest dye.

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Stretch out Thine arm, victorious King, My reigning sins subdue;

Drive the old dragon from his seat, With all his hellish crew.

A guilty, weak, and helpless worm, On thy kind arms I fall;

Be thou my strength and righteousness, My Jesus, and my all.

Music and Lyrics: Justin Smith, Isaac Watts

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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 | Rock of Ages

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

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Rock of Ages, cleft for me,

Let me hide myself in Thee;

Let the water and the blood,

From Thy wounded side which flowed,

Be of sin the double cure,

Save from wrath and make me pure.

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Not the labors of my hands

Can fulfill Thy law’s commands;

Could my zeal no respite know,

Could my tears forever flow,

All for sin could not atone,

Thou must save, and Thou alone.

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Nothing in my hand I bring,

Simply to Thy cross I cling;

Naked, come to Thee for dress,

Helpless, look to Thee for grace:

Foul, I to the fountain fly,

Wash me, Savior, or I die.

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While I draw this fleeting breath,

When mine eyes shall close in death,

When I soar to worlds unknown,

See Thee on Thy judgment throne,

Rock of Ages, cleft for me,

Let me hide myself in Thee.

Music and Lyrics: Augustus Montague Toplady, Thomas Cotterill, Thomas Hastings

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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 | Matthew 5:21-26 | Rev. Blake Arnoult

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

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21 You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ 22 But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire. 23 So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. 25 Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are going with him to court, lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you be put in prison. 26 Truly, I say to you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny.

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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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“On Anger”

Matthew: The Sermon on the Mount

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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 | The Church’s One Foundation

We celebrate our communion in faith and song.

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The church’s one foundation

Is Jesus Christ her Lord,

She is His new creation

By water and the Word.

From heaven He came and sought her

To be His holy bride;

With His own blood He bought her,

And for her life He died.

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Elect from every nation,

Yet one over all the earth;

Her charter of salvation,

One Lord, one faith, one birth;

One holy Name she blesses,

Partakes one holy food,

And to one hope she presses,

With every grace endued.

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Though with a scornful wonder

Men see her sore oppressed,

By schisms rent asunder,

By heresies distressed,

Yet saints their watch are keeping;

Their cry goes up, "How long?"

And soon the night of weeping

Shall be the morn of song.

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The church shall never perish,

Her dear Lord to defend

To guide, sustain and cherish,

Is with her to the end

Though there be those that hate her,

And false sons in her pale

Against a foe or traitor,

She ever shall prevail

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Mid toil and tribulation,

And tumult of her war,

She waits the consummation

Of peace forevermore;

’Til, with the vision glorious,

Her longing eyes are blessed,

And the great church victorious

Shall be the church at rest.

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Yet she on earth hath union

With God the Three in One,

And mystic sweet communion

With those whose rest is won.

O happy ones and holy!

Lord, give us grace that we

Like them, the meek and lowly,

On high may dwell with Thee.

Music and Lyrics: Brian Moss, Samuel John Stone

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Departing Song | We Will Feast in the House of Zion

We begin to end in faith and song.

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We will feast in the house of Zion.

We will sing with our hearts restored.

“He has done great things!”, we will say together.

We will feast and weep no more.

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We will not be burned by the fire;

He is the Lord, our God.

We are not consumed by the flood;

Upheld, protected, gathered up.

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Chorus

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In the dark of night, before the dawn;

My soul, be not afraid.

For the promised morning, oh, how long?

Oh, God of Jacob, be my strength!

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Chorus

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Every vow we've broken and betrayed;

You are the Faithful one.

And from the garden to the grave;

Bind us together, bring shalom!

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//Chorus//

Music and Lyrics: Sandra McCracken, Joshua Moore

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*Benediction | Jude 1:24-25 | 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 Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, 25 to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.

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ANNOUNCEMENTS

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Bible Studies

Women’s Morning Study: Weekly on Wednesdays at 9:30am from August 23 - November 8 at the Wade home.

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

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

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Sunday School

Sunday mornings at 9am from September 10 - November 5!

Pre-K through 12th grades are invited to join us for Sunday school for an 8-week study in Eschatology! Children and youth will gather separately for age-appropriate lessons. 

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Cornerstone’s 5th Anniversary Celebration

Friday, September 15, 7pm

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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Women’s Retreat - Save the Date!

Saturday, October 21

More information to come! 

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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! 

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Supper Club groups have been emailed!

If you signed up to participate in a supper club your group has been emailed! The goal is to gather at least three times between September 1 - November 30. Connect with your group to decide when and where you will gather!

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