September 17, 2023

*Call to Worship | 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 | Blake Arnoult

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

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Pastor: The Lord said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”

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People: Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 

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All: For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

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*Song of Adoration | Let Us Love and Sing and Wonder

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

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Let us love and sing and wonder

Let us praise the Savior’s name

He has hushed the law’s loud thunder

He has quenched Mount Sinai’s flame

He has washed us with His blood (x3)

He has brought us nigh to God

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Let us love the Lord Who bought us

Pitied us when enemies

Called us by His grace and taught us

Gave us ears and gave us eyes

He has washed us with His blood (x3)

He presents our souls to God

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Let us praise and join the chorus

Of the saints enthroned on high

Here they trusted Him before us

Now their praises fill the sky

Thou hast washed us with Thy blood (x3)

Thou art worthy Lamb of God

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Yes, we praise Thee, gracious Saviour

Wonder, love, and bless Thy Name.

Pardon, Lord our poor endeavor

Pity for Thou knowest our frame

Wash our souls and songs with blood (x3)

For by Thee, we come to God

Music and Lyrics: Laura Taylor, John Newton

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*Confession of Faith | Westminster Shorter Catechism, Q.1

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

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Leader: What is the chief end of man?

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People: Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever.

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*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.

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Gracious God, great is our sin

But Holy Lord Great is Your love

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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

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Forgive what our lips tremble to name

And take what our hearts can no longer bear

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Chorus

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Lord grant us grace to be more like you

Through Jesus Christ, the light of the world

Chorus

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// 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

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Chorus

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The burden’s too heavy to carry

It burns like a fire inside

The judgment is too much to bear

Lord hear our cry

Music and Lyrics: Rivan Bennevendo

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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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Gracious God, our sins are too heavy to carry, too real to hide, and too deep to undo. Forgive what our lips tremble to name, what our hearts can no longer bear, and what has become for us a consuming fire of judgment. Set us free from a past that we cannot change; open to us a future in which we can be changed; and grant us grace to grow more and more in your likeness and image, through Jesus Christ, the light of the world. Amen.

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Assurance of Pardon | Romans 5:6-8 | 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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6 For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For one will scarcely die for a righteous person - though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die - 8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

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*Song of Response | Your Will Be Done

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

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Your will be done my God and Father

As in heaven so on earth

My heart is drawn to self-exalting

Help me seek Your kingdom first

As Jesus walked so shall I walk

Held by Your same unchanging love

Be still my soul O lift your voice and pray

Father not my will but Yours be done

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How in that garden he persisted

I may never fully know

The fearful weight of true obedience

It was held by him alone

What wondrous faith to bear that cross

To bear my sin what wondrous love

My hope was sure when there my Saviour prayed

Father not my will but Yours be done

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When I am lost when I am broken

In the night of fear and doubt

Still I will trust in my good Father

Yes to one great King I bow

As Jesus rose so I shall rise

In ransomed glory at the throne

My heart restored with all Your saints I sing

Father not my will but Yours be done

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As we go forth our God and Father

Lead us daily in the fight

That all the world might see Your glory

And Your Name be lifted high

And in this Name we overcome

For You shall see us safely home

Now as Your church we lift our voice and pray

Father not my will but Yours be done

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And in this Name we overcome

For You shall see us safely home

Now as Your church we lift our voice and pray

Father not my will but Yours be done

Father not my will but Yours be done

Father not my will but Yours be done

Music and Lyrics: Jonny Robinson and Rich Thompson

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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 | Amazing Grace

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

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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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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 5:27-32 | Rev. Blake Arnoult

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

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27 You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ 28 But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell. 30 And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell.

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31 “It was also said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’ 32 But I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of sexual immorality, makes her commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.

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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 Love and Chastity”

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 | Before The Throne Of God Above

We celebrate our communion in faith and song.

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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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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.

Music and Lyrics: C.L. Bancroft

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Departing Song | Doxology

We begin to end in faith and song.

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/Praise God, from Whom all blessings flow;

Praise Him, all creatures here below;

Praise Him above, ye heav’nly host;

Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

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Amen/

Music and Lyrics: Thomas Ken

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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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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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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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