September 29, 2024

*Call to Worship | Psalm 73:24-25 | Rev. Blake Arnoult

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

24 You guide me with your counsel,

and afterward you will receive me to glory.

25 Whom have I in heaven but you?

And there is nothing on earth that I desire

besides you.

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*Song of Adoration | Blessed Be Your Name

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

Blessed be Your name in the land that is plentiful

Where Your streams of abundance flow blessed be Your name

And blessed be Your name when I'm found in the desert place

Though I walk through the wilderness blessed be Your name

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Every blessing You pour out I'll turn back to praise 

And when the darkness closes in, Lord Still I will say

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Blessed be the name of the Lord

Blessed be Your name

Blessed be Your name of the Lord

Blessed be Your glorious name

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Blessed be Your name when the sun's shining down on me

When the world's all as it should be Blessed be Your name

And blessed be Your name on the road marked with suffering 

Though there's pain in the offering blessed be Your name

Chorus

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/ You give and take away

You give and take away

My heart will choose to say

Lord, blessed be Your name /

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Chorus

_{Music and Lyrics: Beth Redman, Matt Redman}

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*Confession of Faith | Hebrews 12:18-24 

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

Leader: What have we gathered to?

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People: 18 You have not come to what may be touched, a blazing fire and darkness and gloom and a tempest 19 and the sound of a trumpet and a voice whose words made the hearers beg that no further messages be spoken to them. 20 For they could not endure the order that was given, “If even a beast touches the mountain, it shall be stoned.” 21 Indeed, so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, “I tremble with fear.” 22 But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, 23 and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, 24 and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.

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*Song of Confession | I Surrender All

^{Psalms, hymns, spiritual songs are simply prayers that are sung. We respond in repentance and praise for God’s redemptive work in Christ.}

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

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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Confession of Sin | Isaiah 53:3-6

^{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.}

3 He was despised and rejected by men,

a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief;

and as one from whom men hide their faces

he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

4 Surely he has borne our griefs

and carried our sorrows;

yet we esteemed him stricken,

smitten by God, and afflicted.

5 But he was pierced for our transgressions;

he was crushed for our iniquities;

upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace,

and with his wounds we are healed.

6 All we like sheep have gone astray;

we have turned—every one—to his own way;

and the LORD has laid on him

the iniquity of us all.

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Assurance of Pardon | Isaiah 53:11 | 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.}

11 Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied;

by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant,

make many to be accounted righteous,

and he shall bear their iniquities.

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*Song of Response | He Will Hold Me Fast

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

When I fear my faith will fail, Christ will hold me fast.

When the tempter would prevail, He will hold me fast.

I could never keep my hold through life’s fearful path;

For my love is often cold, He must hold me fast.

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He will hold me fast; He will hold me fast!

For my Savior loves me so, He will hold me fast!

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Those He saves are His delight; Christ will hold me fast.

Precious in His holy sight; He will hold me fast.

He’ll not let my soul be lost, His promises shall last;

Bought by Him at such a cost, He will hold me fast.

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Chorus

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For my life He bled and died; Christ will hold me fast.

Justice has been satisfied; He will hold me fast.

Raised with Him to endless life, He will hold me fast;

‘Till our faith is turned to sight, when He comes at last!

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/Chorus/

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He began a work in us; He began a work in us.

He’ll complete His work in us; He’ll complete His work in us.

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/He will hold us fast; He will hold us fast!

For our Savior loves us so, He will hold us fast!/

_{Music and Lyrics: Ada Ruth Habershon, Matthew Merker}

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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 | Because He Lives

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

God sent His son, they called Him, Jesus;

He came to love, heal and forgive;

He lived and died to buy my pardon,

An empty grave is there to prove my Savior lives!

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Because He lives, I can face tomorrow,

Because He lives, all fear is gone;

Because I know He holds the future,

And life is worth the living,

Just because He lives!

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How sweet to hold a newborn baby,

And feel the pride and joy he gives;

But greater still the calm assurance:

We can face uncertain days because He Lives!

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Chorus

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And then one day, I'll cross the river,

I'll fight life's final war with pain;

And then, as death gives way to vict'ry,

I'll see the lights of glory and I'll know He lives!

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Chorus

_{Music and Lyrics: Gloria Gaither, William J. Gaither}

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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 | 1 Peter 2:1-12 | Rev. Blake Arnoult

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

1 So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. 2 Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— 3 if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.

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4 As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, 5 you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 For it stands in Scripture:

“Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone,

a cornerstone chosen and precious,

and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.”

7   So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do 

not believe,

“The stone that the builders rejected

has become the cornerstone,”

8   and

“A stone of stumbling,

and a rock of offense.” 

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 They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do.

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9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

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11 Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. 12 Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.

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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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“Called to a Royal Priesthood”

1 Peter: Homesick and Hopeful

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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.

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 Paid It All

^{We celebrate our communion in faith and song.}

I hear the Savior say, “Thy strength indeed is small;

Child of weakness, watch and pray, Find in Me thine all in all.”

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Jesus paid it all, All to Him I owe;

Sin had left a crimson stain, He washed it white as snow.

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Lord, now indeed I find Thy power and Thine alone,

Can change the leper’s spots and melt the heart of stone.

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Chorus

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And when before the throne I stand in Him complete,

"Jesus died my soul to save" my lips shall still repeat

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Chorus

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Music and Lyrics: Elvina Mabel Hall, John Thomas Grape, Lari Goss

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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 | Romans 16:25-27 | 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.}

25 Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages 26 but has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith—27 to the only wise God be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ! Amen.

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ANNOUNCEMENTS

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Bible Studies

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Women’s Morning Study: Wednesday, October 2

Our weekly women’s study on Prayer meets each Wednesday this fall. Join us at 10am at the home of Marion Wade!

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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.

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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. 

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Kids’ Sunday School

Sunday, October 6, 9am

Cornerstone Kids’ Sunday School continues on Sunday, October 6 for the 5th lesson of our 10-week series on Justification! 

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Youth Bible Study

Sunday, October 6, 9am

Cornerstone Kids’ Sunday School continues on Sunday, October 6th for the 5th lesson of our 10-week series on Justification!

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Men’s Retreat

Saturday, October 5, 10am - 3pm

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. Try to carpool if possible and if you need a ride let us know! 

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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!

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