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*Call to Worship | 2 Corinthians 1:3 | Blake Arnoult
God invites and calls us into his presence to worship him.
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort.
*Song of Adoration | Shout To The Lord
We begin by responding with praise to God for who he is and for what he does.
My Jesus, My Savior,
Lord, there is none like You;
All of my days
I want to praise
The wonders of Your mighty love.
My comfort, my shelter,
Tower of refuge and strength;
Let every breath, all that I am
Never cease to worship You.
Shout to the Lord, all the earth,
Let us sing
Power and majesty, praise to the King;
Mountains bow down and the seas will roar
At the sound of Your name.
I sing for joy at the work of Your hands,
Forever I'll love You, forever I'll stand,
Nothing compares to the promise I have in You
Music and Lyrics: Darlene Zschech
*Confession of Faith | Psalm 34:1-3
With the church in history we confess a basic statement of what Christians believe.
1 I will bless the LORD at all times;
his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
2 My soul makes its boast in the LORD;
let the humble hear and be glad.
3 Oh, magnify the LORD with me,
and let us exalt his name together!
*Song of Confession | Give Us Clean Hands
Psalms, hymns, spiritual songs are simply prayers that are sung. We respond in repentance and praise for God’s redemptive work in Christ.
We bow our hearts, we bend our knees
Oh Spirit come and make us humble
We turn our eyes from evil things
Oh Lord we cast down our idols
/ Give us clean hands
Give us pure hearts
Let us not lift our souls to another /
And O God, let us be
A generation that seeks
That seeks Your face
O God of Jacob
Music and Lyrics: Charlie Hall
Confession of Sin | Agnus Dei, Lamb of God | 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.
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, grant us your peace.
Assurance of Pardon | 2 Corinthians 4:17 | 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.
17 This light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison.
*Song of Response | Isaiah 43
We respond in repentance and praise for God’s redemptive work in Christ.
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you,
And the waves will not overcome you.
Do not fear, for I have redeemed you,
I have called you by name, you are Mine.
For I am the Lord your God (I am the Lord your God),
I am the Lord your God (I am)
The Holy One of Israel
Your Savior
I am the Lord (do not fear)
I am the Lord (do not fear)
I am the Lord (do not fear)
I am the Lord (do not fear)
When you walk through the fire you’ll not be burned,
And the flames will not consume you.
Do not fear, for I have redeemed you,
I have called you by name, you are Mine.
Chorus
I am the Lord
Music and Lyrics: Anonymous
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 | Jesus Loves Me
As we offer our prayers so we also offer up our thanks in song.
Jesus loves me, this I know.
For the Bible tells me so.
Little ones to Him belong.
They are weak, but He is strong.
Yes Jesus loves me.
Yes Jesus loves me.
Yes Jesus loves me.
The Bible tells me so.
Jesus loves me, He who died.
Heaven's gates to open wide.
He will wash away my sin,
Let His little child come in.
Yes Jesus loves me.
Yes Jesus loves me.
Yes Jesus loves me.
The Bible tells me so
The Bible tells me so
The Bible tells me so.
Music and Lyrics: Anna Bartlett Warner, Philip Percival, William Batchelder Bradbury
Prayer for Christ’s Church
We lift up our requests to God knowing that he hears us when we pray.
*Reading of Scripture | 2 Corinthians 11:12-13, 30; 12:1-10 | Blake Arnoult
God reveals himself and his work and speaks to us his people through his Word.
11:12 And what I am doing I will continue to do, in order to undermine the claim of those who would like to claim that in their boasted mission they work on the same terms as we do. 13 For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ.
30 If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness.
12:1 I must go on boasting. Though there is nothing to be gained by it, I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord. 2 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows. 3 And I know that this man was caught up into paradise—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows— 4 and he heard things that cannot be told, which man may not utter. 5 On behalf of this man I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except of my weaknesses— 6 though if I should wish to boast, I would not be a fool, for I would be speaking the truth; but I refrain from it, so that no one may think more of me than he sees in me or hears from me. 7 So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 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.
Pastor: The Word of the Lord
People: Thanks be to God
The Preaching of the Word | Rev. Blake Arnoult
“Weak Boasting”
2 Corinthians: The God Of All Comfort
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 | Great Are You Lord
We celebrate our communion in faith and song.
You give life, You are love
You bring light to the darkness
You give hope, You restore
Every heart that is broken
Great are You, Lord
It's Your breath in our lungs
So we pour out our praise, We pour out our praise
It's Your breath in our lungs
So we pour out our praise to You only
All the earth will shout Your praise
Our hearts will cry, these bones will sing
Great are You, Lord
Chorus
Music and Lyrics: David Leonard, Leslie Jordan
Departing Song | What A Friend We Have In Jesus
We begin to end in faith and song.
What a friend we have in Jesus,
All our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry
Everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit,
O what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry
Everything to God in prayer.
Have we trials and temptations?
Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged;
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful
Who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness;
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Are we weak and heavy laden,
Cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our refuge;
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Do thy friends despise, forsake thee?
Take it to the Lord in prayer!
In His arms he’ll take and shield thee;
Thou wilt find a solace there.
Music and Lyrics: Charles C. Converse, Joseph M. Scriven
*Benediction | Philippians 4:7 | 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.
7 The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
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 water slide for the kids! Dress casually that Sunday, bring your favorite beverage, and invite your friends!
Bible Studies
Weekly on Wednesdays and Thursdays
Women’s Morning Study beginning on September 7: Women will be meeting on Wednesdays at 9:30am at the Wade home to study Nancy Guthrie’s 8-week series, God Works Best With Empty. Sign up through your email or online if you would like to attend!
Women’s Evening Study beginning on September 8: Women will be meeting together at 7pm on Thursdays for fellowship and study! Location to be determined.
Men:
The men will be meeting at 6:30am at the Buffalo Grille on the corner of Voss and Woodway. Come study the word with us!
Adult Teaching
September 11, 4-6pm
Join us at the home of Tim and Frances Arnoult on Sunday, September 11 for the first session of our adult teaching series!
Youth Teaching
September 18, 11:30am - 1pm
5th-12th graders! Join us at the Erwin home for pizza, fellowship, and teaching by Pastor Blake!
Children’s Sunday School
September 18 - October 23, 9:15-9:45am
This fall we will begin Sunday school for our K-4th graders before each service! Kids will gather every Sunday for 6 weeks to learn a song, pray, and hear a lesson from Pastor Blake! Parents are encouraged to stay with their children.
Visit our events page for more information!