September 24, 2023

*Call to Worship | Titus 1:2-4 | Blake Arnoult

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

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2 In hope of eternal life, which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began 3 and at the proper time manifested in his word… 4 Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior.

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*Song of Adoration | Holy, Holy, Holy

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

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Holy holy holy

Lord God Almighty

Early in the morning

Our song shall rise to Thee

Holy holy holy

Merciful and mighty

God in three persons

Blessed Trinity

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Holy holy holy

All the saints adore Thee

Casting down their golden crowns

Around the glassy sea

Cherubim and seraphim

Falling down before Thee

Who wert and art

And evermore shalt be

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Holy holy holy

Though the darkness hide Thee

Though the eye of sinful man

Thy glory may not see

Only Thou art holy

There is none beside Thee

Perfect in power

In love and purity

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Holy holy holy

Lord God Almighty

All Thy works shall praise Thy name

In earth and sky and sea

Holy holy holy

Merciful and mighty

God in three persons

Blessed Trinity

Music and Lyrics: John Bacchus Dykes, Reginald Heber

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*Confession of Faith | 2 Timothy 2:11-13; 2 Corinthians 1:20; Romans 15:8

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

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2 Tim 2:11 If we have died with him, we will also live with him;

12 if we endure, we will also reign with him;

if we deny him, he also will deny us;

13 if we are faithless, he remains faithful— 

for he cannot deny himself.

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2 Cor 1:20 For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory.

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Rom 15:8 For I tell you that Christ became a servant to the circumcised to show God’s truthfulness, in order to confirm the promises given to the patriarchs,

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*Song of Confession | Thy Mercy My 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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Thy mercy, my God, is the theme of my song, 

The joy of my heart and the boast of my tongue; 

Thy free grace alone, from the first to the last, 

Hath won my affections, and bound my soul fast. 

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Without Thy sweet mercy I could not live here; 

Sin would reduce me to utter despair; 

But, through Thy free goodness, my spirits revive, 

And He that first made me still keeps me alive. 

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Thy mercy is more than a match for my heart, 

Which wonders to feel its own hardness depart; 

Dissolved by Thy goodness, I fall to the ground, 

And weep to the praise of the mercy I’ve found. 

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Great Father of mercies, Thy goodness I own, 

And the covenant love of Thy crucified Son; 

/ All praise to the Spirit, Whose whisper divine 

Seals mercy, and pardon, and righteousness mine. /

Music and Lyrics: John Stocker, Sandra McCracken

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Confession of Sin | 1 John 1:5-6, 8, 10

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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5 This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth… 8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us… 10 If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

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Assurance of Pardon | 1 John 1:7, 9 | 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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7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin… 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

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*Song of Response | It Is Well with My Soul

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

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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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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 | Be Thou My Vision

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

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Be thou my vision, O Lord of my heart.

Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art.

Thou my best thought, by day or by night,

Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.

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Be Thou my wisdom, be Thou my true word;

I ever with Thee, and Thou with me, Lord.

Thou my great Father and I, Thy true son;

Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one.

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Be Thou my breast plate, my sword for the fight.

Be Thou my dignity, Thou my delight,

Thou my soul’s shelter, Thou my high tower

Raise Thou me heavenward, O Power of my power.

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Riches I heed not, nor man’s empty praise;

Thou mine inheritance, now and always.

Thou and Thou only, first in my heart,

High King of heaven, my treasure Thou art.

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True Light of heaven, when victory is won,

May I reach heaven’s joys, O bright heaven’s Sun!

Heart of my heart, whatever befall,

Still be my vision, O Ruler of all.

Music and Lyrics: Mary Elizabeth Byrne

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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 5:31-37 | Rev. Blake Arnoult

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

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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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33 “Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform to the Lord what you have sworn.’ 34 But I say to you, Do not take an oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, 35 or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. 36 And do not take an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. 37 Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this comes from evil.

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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 Oaths”

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 | Jesus I My Cross Have Taken

We celebrate our communion in faith and song.

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Jesus, I my cross have taken, 

All to leave and follow Thee. 

Destitute, despised, forsaken, 

Thou from hence my all shall be. 

Perish every fond ambition, 

All I’ve sought or hoped or known. 

Yet how rich is my condition! 

God and heaven are still my own. 

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Let the world despise and leave me, 

They have left my Savior, too. 

Human hearts and looks deceive me; 

Thou art not, like them, untrue. 

O while Thou dost smile upon me, 

God of wisdom, love, and might, 

Foes may hate and friends disown me, 

Show Thy face and all is bright. 

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Man may trouble and distress me, 

’Twill but drive me to Thy breast. 

Life with trials hard may press me; 

Heaven will bring me sweeter rest. 

Oh, ’tis not in grief to harm me 

While Thy love is left to me; 

Oh, ’twere not in joy to charm me, 

Were that joy unmixed with Thee. 

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Go, then, earthly fame and treasure, 

Come disaster, scorn and pain

In Thy service, pain is pleasure, 

With Thy favor, loss is gain

I have called Thee Abba Father, 

I have stayed my heart on Thee 

Storms may howl, and clouds may gather; 

All must work for good to me. 

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Soul, then know thy full salvation 

Rise o’er sin and fear and care 

Joy to find in every station, 

Something still to do or bear. 

Think what Spirit dwells within thee, 

Think what Father’s smiles are thine, 

Think that Jesus died to win thee, 

Child of heaven, canst thou repine. 

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Haste thee on from grace to glory, 

Armed by faith, and winged by prayer. 

Heaven’s eternal days before thee, 

God’s own hand shall guide us there. 

Soon shall close thy earthly mission, 

Soon shall pass thy pilgrim days, 

Hope shall change to glad fruition, 

Faith to sight, and prayer to praise.

Music and Lyrics: Henry Lyte, Bill Moore

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Departing Song | All Must Be Well

We begin to end in faith and song.

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Through the love of God our Savior, all will be well

Free and changeless is His favor, all is well

Precious is the blood that healed us

Perfect is the grace that sealed us

Strong the hand stretched forth to shield us

All must be well

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Though we pass through tribulation, all will be well

Ours is such a full salvation, all is well 

Happy still in God confiding 

Fruitful if in Christ abiding 

Steadfast through the Spirit's guiding 

All must be well 

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We expect a bright tomorrow; all will be well 

Faith can sing through days of sorrow, all is well 

/ On our Father's love relying Jesus every need supplying 

Yes in living or in dying 

All must be well /

Music and Lyrics: Mary Bowley-Peters, Matthew S. Smith

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*Benediction | 2 Thessalonians 3:3 | 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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3 The Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one.

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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 - Sign up today!

Saturday, October 21

Women are invited to join us from 8:30am - 5:30pm on Saturday, October 21 for a day trip to the Plank’s farm in New Ulm, TX. Please let us know you are coming by clicking HERE or visiting our website to sign up!

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Youth Gathering at Speedy’s Fast Track!

Next Sunday, October 1, 11:30am-2pm

All 5th-12th graders are invited to join us at Speedy’s Fast Track for food and fun after the service next Sunday! 

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Adult Christmas Party - Save the date!

Sunday, December 3, 7pm at the Plank home.

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Children’s and Youth Christmas Party - Save the date!

Sunday, December 10, directly after the worship service at the Donovan home.

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