August 7, 2022

*Call to Worship | Matthew 6:33 | Blake Arnoult

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

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33 Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

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*Song of Adoration | Holy Spirit

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

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/ There's nothing worth more, that will ever come close

No thing can compare, You're our living hope

Your Presence Lord

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I've tasted and seen, of the sweetest of loves

Where my heart becomes free,

And my shame is undone

In Your Presence Lord

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Holy Spirit You are welcome here

Come flood this place and fill the atmosphere

Your Glory God is what our hearts long for

To be overcome by Your Presence Lord

Your Presence Lord /

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/// Let us become more aware of Your Presence

Let us experience the Glory of Your Goodness ///

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Chorus

Music and Lyrics: Katie Torwalt, Bryan Torwalt

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*Confession of Faith | Luke 12:22-24

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

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22 Jesus said to his disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on. 23 For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. 24 Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds!

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*Song of Confession | Lord, I Need You

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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Lord, I come, I confess

Bowing here I find my rest

Without You I fall apart

You're the One that guides my heart

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Lord, I need You, oh, I need You

Every hour I need You

My one defense, my righteousness

Oh God, how I need You

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Where sin runs deep Your grace is more

Where grace is found is where You are

And where You are, Lord, I am free

Holiness is Christ in me

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Chorus

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Teach my song to rise to You

When temptation comes my way

When I cannot stand I'll fall on You

Jesus, You're my hope and stay

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Chorus

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You're my one defense, my righteousness

Oh God, how I need You

My one defense, my righteousness

Oh God, how I need You

Music and Lyrics: Christy Nockels, Daniel Carson, J. Reeves, K. Stanfill, Matt Maher

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Confession of Sin | Blake Arnoult

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 | Psalm 103:8, 10-12 | 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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8 The LORD is merciful and gracious,

slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.

10 He does not deal with us according to our sins,

nor repay us according to our iniquities.

11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth,

so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him;

12 as far as the east is from the west,

so far does he remove our transgressions from us.

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*Song of Response | Heal Us, Emmanuel

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

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Heal us, Emmanuel, here we are

We long to feel Thy touch

Deep wounded souls to Thee we fly

O Savior hear our cry

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Our faith is feeble, we confess.

We faintly trust Thy Word.

But, will You pity us the less?

Be that far from You Lord!

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Chorus

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Remember him who once applied,

With trembling for relief.

“Lord, I believe,” with tears he cried,

“O help my unbelief!"

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Chorus

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She, too, who touched you in the press,

And healing virtue stole,

Was answered, “Daughter, go in peace;

Thy faith has made thee whole.”

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Chorus

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Like her, with hopes and fears we come,

To touch You if we may.

O, send us not despairing home;

Send none unhealed away!

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//Chorus//

Music and Lyrics: Kevin Twit, Lucas Morton, William Cowper

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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 | A Debtor To Mercy Alone

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

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A debtor to mercy alone,

Of covenant mercy I sing;

Nor fear, with Thy righteousness on,

My person and offering to bring.

The terrors of law and of God

With me can have nothing to do;

My Savior’s obedience and blood

Hide all my transgressions from view

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The work which His goodness began,

The arm of His strength will complete;

His promise is yea and amen,

And never was forfeited yet.

Things future, nor things that are now,

Not all things below nor above

Can make Him His purpose forego,

Or sever my soul from His love.

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My name from the palms of His hands

Eternity will not erase;

Impressed on His heart it remains

In marks of indelible grace.

Yes, I to the end shall endure,

As sure as the earnest is given

More happy, but not more secure,

The glorified spirits in heaven.

Music and Lyrics: Augustus Toplady, Kevin Twit

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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 | 2 Corinthians 8:1-14; 9:5-7 | Blake Arnoult

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

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1 We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, 2 for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. 3 For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord, 4 begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints— 5 and this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us. 6 Accordingly, we urged Titus that as he had started, so he should complete among you this act of grace. 7 But as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all earnestness, and in our love for you—see that you excel in this act of grace also.

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8 I say this not as a command, but to prove by the earnestness of others that your love also is genuine. 9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich. 10 And in this matter I give my judgment: this benefits you, who a year ago started not only to do this work but also to desire to do it. 11 So now finish doing it as well, so that your readiness in desiring it may be matched by your completing it out of what you have. 12 For if the readiness is there, it is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have. 13 For I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened, but that as a matter of fairness 14 your abundance at the present time should supply their need, so that their abundance may supply your need, that there may be fairness…

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9:5 So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to go on ahead to you and arrange in advance for the gift you have promised, so that it may be ready as a willing gift, not as an exaction. 6 The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7 Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 

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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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“Our Offering of Grace”

2 Corinthians: The God Of All Comfort

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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 | God Really Loves Us

We celebrate our communion in faith and song.

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I’ve got a friend closer than a brother

There is no judgment. Oh, how He loves me

I’ve got a friend

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And He is my strength. He is my portion

With me in the valley with me in the fire

With me in the storm

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Let all my life testify

Hallelujah we are not alone

God really loves us

God really loves us

Hallelujah oh praise my soul

God really loves us

God really loves us

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His mercy’s enough. His grace is sufficient

So come if you’re needing forgiveness or healing

His mercy’s enough

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Oh, this is our hope. The cross it has spoken

Death is no more. Christ is the Lord

Oh, this is our hope

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Hallelujah we are not alone

God really loves us

God really loves us

Hallelujah oh praise my soul

God really loves us

God really loves us

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//And oh oh oh oh 

And oh oh oh oh //

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/ What a Father what a Friend

What a Savior He is /

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Hallelujah we are not alone

God really loves us

God really loves us

Hallelujah oh praise my soul

God really loves us

God really loves us

// What a Father what a Friend

What a Savior He is //

Music and Lyrics: Robert Robinson

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Departing Song | Jesus Paid It All

We begin to end in faith and song.

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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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/// Oh, praise the One who paid my debt

And raised this life up from the dead ///

Chorus

Music and Lyrics: Elvina M. Hall

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*Benediction | 2 Corinthians 9:8 | 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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8 God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.

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ANNOUNCEMENTS

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Fall Kick-off Party

August 21, directly after the service

Join us for our fall bash to kick off the start of our fall ministries! We will be gathering at the home of Blake and Ryan Arnoult for burgers, hotdogs, and a waterslide for the kids! Dress casually that Sunday, bring your favorite beverage, and invite your friends!

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Mailing Address Update

Our mailing address has changed! Please send any mail for Cornerstone to our new address below!

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Cornerstone Houston

1415 S Voss STE 110 #148

Houston, TX 77057

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Fall Ministries Are Starting Soon!

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Men and Women’s Bible Studies

Beginning Wednesday, September 7

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Adult Teaching

Sunday, September 11

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Youth Teaching

Sunday, September 18

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Children’s Sunday School

Sunday, September 18

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Visit our events page to subscribe to our calendar!