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September 15, 2024
Resources and content for this Sunday.
*Call to Worship | Revelation 4:11 | Rev. Blake Arnoult
God invites and calls us into his presence to worship him.
11 Worthy are you, our Lord and God,
to receive glory and honor and power,
for you created all things,
and by your will they existed and were created.
*Song of Adoration | Great is Thy Faithfulness
We begin by responding with praise to God for who he is and for what he does.
Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father
There is no shadow of turning with Thee
Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not
As Thou hast been, Thou forever will be
Great is Thy faithfulness, great is Thy faithfulness
Morning by morning new mercies I see
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me
Summer and winter and springtime and harvest,
Sun, moon and stars in their courses above
Join with all nature in manifold witness
To Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love.
Chorus
Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth,
Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide;
Strength for today, and bright hope for tomorrow
Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside.
Chorus
Music and Lyrics: John Bacchus Dykes and Reginald Heber
*Confession of Faith | Westminster Shorter Catechism, Q.38
With the church in history we confess a basic statement of what Christians believe.
Leader: What benefits do believers receive from Christ at the resurrection?
People: At the resurrection, believers being raised up in glory, shall be openly acknowledged and acquitted in the day of judgment, and made perfectly blessed in the full enjoying of God to all eternity.
*Song of Confession | Gracious God
Psalms, hymns, spiritual songs are simply prayers that are sung. We respond in repentance and praise for God’s redemptive work in Christ.
Gracious God, great is our sin
But Holy Lord Great is Your love
The burden’s too heavy to carry
The pain is too real to hide
The sin is too deep to undo
Lord hear our cry
Forgive what our lips tremble to name
And take what our hearts can no longer bear
Chorus
Lord grant us grace to be more like you
Through Jesus Christ, the light of the world
Chorus
// Set us free from a past we can’t change
Lord grant us grace
Give us a future where we can be changed
Lord grant us grace //
Gracious God, great is our sin
But Holy Lord Great is Your love
Chorus
The burden’s too heavy to carry
It burns like a fire inside
The judgement is too much to bear
Lord hear our cry
Music and Lyrics: Rivan Bennevendo
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.
O God,
Injured, neglected, provoked Benefactor
When I think on your greatness and your goodness
I am ashamed at my insensibility
I blush to lift up my face
For I have foolishly erred.
I confess I have neglected you.
My mind is perplexed and divided.
My ways are perverse.
Yet I still desire you.
Let me not delay to come to you.
Assurance of Pardon | Revelation 5:6, 9-10 | 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.
6 Between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain… 9 And they sang a new song, saying,
“Worthy are you to take the scroll
and to open its seals,
for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people
for God
from every tribe and language and people and
nation,
10 and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our
God, and they shall reign on the earth.”
*Song of Response | How Deep the Father’s Love for Us
We respond in repentance and praise for God’s redemptive work in Christ.
How deep the Father's love for us
How vast beyond all measure
That He should give his only Son
And make a wretch His treasure
How great the pain of searing loss
The Father turns His face away
As wounds which mar the Chosen One
Bring many sons to glory
Behold the Man upon the cross
My sin upon His shoulder
Ashamed I hear my mocking voice
Call out among the scoffers
It was my sin that held Him there
Until it was accomplished
His dying breath has brought me life
I know that it is finished
I will not boast in anything
No gifts no power no wisdom
But I will boast in Jesus Christ
His death and resurrection
Why should I from His reward
I cannot give an answer
But this I know with all my heart
His wounds have paid my ransom
Music and Lyrics: Stuart Townend
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.
Song of Thanks | On Jordan’s Stormy Banks I Stand
As we offer our prayers so we also offer up our thanks in song.
On Jordan’s stormy banks I stand,
And cast a wishful eye,
To Canaan’s fair and happy land,
Where my possessions lie.
I am bound (I am bound),
I am bound (I am bound),
I am bound for the promised land.
All o’er those wide extended plains,
Shines one eternal day;
There God the Son forever reigns,
And scatters night away.
Chorus
No chilling winds nor poisonous breath
Can reach that healthful shore;
Sickness, sorrow, pain and death,
Are felt and feared no more.
Chorus
When shall I reach that happy place,
And be forever blessed?
When shall I see my Father’s face,
And in His bosom rest?
//Chorus//
Music and Lyrics: Christopher Miner, Samuel Stennett
Prayer for Christ’s Church
We lift up our requests to God knowing that he hears us when we pray.
*Reading of Scripture | 1 Peter 1:3-9 | Rev. Blake Arnoult
God reveals himself and his work and speaks to us his people through his Word.
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5 who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, 9 obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
Pastor: The Word of the Lord
People: Thanks be to God
The Preaching of the Word | Rev. Blake Arnoult
“Called to Heaven Obsession”
1 Peter: Homesick and Hopeful
Pastoral Prayer
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
Communion Song | Grace Greater Than Our Sin
We celebrate our communion in faith and song.
Marvelous grace of our loving Lord
Grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt
Yonder on Calvary’s mount outpoured
There where the blood of the Lamb was spilled
Grace, grace, God’s grace
Grace that will pardon and cleanse within
Grace, grace, God’s grace
Grace that is greater than all our sin
Sin and despair, like the sea waves cold
Threaten the soul with infinite loss
Grace that is greater, yes, grace untold
Points to the refuge, the mighty cross
Chorus
Dark is the stain that we cannot hide
What can avail to wash it away?
Look, There is flowing a crimson tide
Brighter than snow you may be today
Marvelous, infinite, matchless grace
Freely bestowed on all who believe!
You that are longing to see His face
Will you this moment His grace receive
Chorus
Music and Lyrics: Julia Harriette Johnston, Daniel Brink Towner
Departing Song | I’ll Fly Away
We begin to end in faith and song.
Some glad morning when this life is over, I'll fly away
To that home on God's celestial shore, I'll fly away
I'll fly away oh glory; I'll fly away
When I die hallelujah by and by,
I'll fly away
When the shadows of this life have gone, I'll fly away
Like a bird from these prison walls I'll fly, I'll fly away
Chorus
Oh how glad and happy when we meet, I'll fly away
No more cold iron shackles on my feet, I'll fly away
Chorus
Just a few more weary days and then, I'll fly away
To a land where joys will never end, I'll fly away
Chorus
Music and Lyrics: Albert E. Brumley
*Benediction | Revelation 22:20-21 | 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.
20 He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!
21 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Bible Studies
Women’s Morning Study: Wednesday, September 18
Join us for our weekly women’s study on Prayer each Wednesday this fall!
Women’s Evening Study: Thursday, October 3
Our women’s evening study on Prayer will meet on Thursday, October 3! Join us at the home of Susan Arnoult at 7pm.
Men’s Morning Study: Friday, October 4
Our men’s study on Prayer will meet on Friday, October 4 at 7am at Bean and Bottle! 9655 Katy Freeway Suite 100.
Kids’ Sunday School
Sunday, September 22, 9am
Cornerstone Kids’ Sunday School continues on Sunday, September 22 for the 3rd lesson of our 10-week series on Justification!
Youth Bible Study
Sunday, September 22, 9am
Cornerstone Kids’ Sunday School continues on Sunday, September 22 for the 3rd lesson of our 10-week series on Justification!
Men’s Retreat
Saturday, October 5
Cornerstone men are invited to join us October 5th for a day retreat just outside of Houston to the Plank farm in New Ulm. We keep it simple. Come rest in some open spaces and enjoy fellowship and friendship and good food and drink. Friends welcome.
Women’s Gathering
Tuesday, October 15
Cornerstone women are invited to join us at the Beaty Home on Tuesday, October 15 for our next quarterly gathering! Friends welcome!