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*Call to Worship | Ephesians 2:8-9 | Blake Arnoult
God invites and calls us into his presence to worship him.
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
*Song of Adoration | How Deep the Father’s Love for Us
We begin by responding with praise to God for who he is and for what he does.
How deep the Father’s love for us
How vast beyond all measure
That He should give his only son
And make a wretch His treasure
How great the pain of searing loss
The Father turns His face away
As wounds which mar the Chosen One
Bring many sons to glory
Behold the Man upon the cross
My sin upon His shoulder
Ashamed I hear my mocking voice
Call out among the scoffers
It was my sin that held Him there
Until it was accomplished
His dying breath has brought me life
I know that it is finished
I will not boast in anything
No gifts no power no wisdom
But I will boast in Jesus Christ
His death and resurrection
Why should I from His reward
I cannot give an answer
But this I know with all my heart
His wounds have paid my ransom
Music and Lyrics: Stuart Townsend
*Confession of Faith | Westminster Confession of Faith, Ch.14 Of Saving Faith
With the church in history we confess a basic statement of what Christians believe.
By this faith, a Christian believeth to be true whatsoever is revealed in the Word, for the authority of God himself speaking therein; and acteth differently upon that which each particular passage thereof containeth; yielding obedience to the commands, trembling at the threatenings, and embracing the promises of God for this life, and that which is to come. But the principal acts of saving faith are accepting, receiving, and resting upon Christ alone for justification, sanctification, and eternal life, by virtue of the covenant of grace.
*Song of Confession | Abide With Me
Psalms, hymns, spiritual songs are simply prayers that are sung. We respond in repentance and praise for God’s redemptive work in Christ.
Abide with me; fast falls the eventide;
The darkness deepens; Lord with me abide.
When other helpers fail and comforts flee,
Help of the helpless, abide with me.
Thou on my head in early youth didst smile;
And, though rebellious and perverse meanwhile,
Thou hast not left me, though I oft left Thee,
On to the close, Lord, abide with me.
I need Thy presence every passing hour.
What but Thy grace can foil the tempter’s power?
Who, like Thyself, my guide and stay can be?
Through cloud and sunshine, abide with me.
I fear no foe, with Thee at hand to bless;
Ills have no weight, tears lose their bitterness.
Where is thy sting death? Where, grave, thy victory?
I triumph still, abide with me.
Hold Thou Thy cross before my closing eyes;
Shine through the gloom and point me to the skies.
Heaven’s morning breaks, and earth’s vain shadows flee;
In life, in death, Lord, abide with me.
Music and Lyrics: Henry Francis Lyte, William Henry Monk
Confession of Sin | Psalm 86:1-4
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.
1 Incline your ear, O LORD, and answer me,
for I am poor and needy.
2 Preserve my life, for I am godly;
save your servant, who trusts in you—you are my God.
3 Be gracious to me, O Lord,
for to you do I cry all the day.
4 Gladden the soul of your servant,
for to you, O Lord, do I lift up my soul.
Assurance of Pardon | Psalm 86:5 | 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.
5 For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving,
abounding in steadfast love to all who call upon you.
*Song of Response | Thy Mercy, My God
We respond in repentance and praise for God’s redemptive work in Christ.
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.
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.
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.
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
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 | Revelation Song
As we offer our prayers so we also offer up our thanks in song.
Worthy is the Lamb who was slain.
Holy, holy is He.
Sing a new song to Him who sits on
Heaven's Mercy Seat.
Holy, Holy, Holy is The Lord, God Almighty.
Who was and is and is to come.
With all creation I sing, "Praise to The King of Kings,
You are my everything. And I will adore You".
Clothed in rainbows, of living color.
Flashes of lightning, rolls of thunder.
Blessing and honor, strength and glory and power be,
To You, the only wise King.
Chorus
Filled with wonder, awestruck wonder,
At the mention of Your Name.
Jesus, Your Name is power, breath and living water.
Such a marvelous mystery.
/Chorus/
Music and Lyrics: Jennie Lee Riddle
Prayer for Christ’s Church
We lift up our requests to God knowing that he hears us when we pray.
*Reading of Scripture | Mark 7:24-30 | Blake Arnoult
God reveals himself and his work and speaks to us his people through his Word.
24 And from there Jesus arose and went away to the region of Tyre and Sidon. And he entered a house and did not want anyone to know, yet he could not be hidden. 25 But immediately a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit heard of him and came and fell down at his feet. 26 Now the woman was a Gentile, a Syrophoenician by birth. And she begged him to cast the demon out of her daughter. 27 And he said to her, “Let the children be fed first, for it is not right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.” 28 But she answered him, “Yes, Lord; yet even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.” 29 And he said to her, “For this statement you may go your way; the demon has left your daughter.” 30 And she went home and found the child lying in bed and the demon gone.
Pastor: The Word of the Lord
People: Thanks be to God
The Preaching of the Word | Blake Arnoult
“Typical Stories of Jesus”
The Gospel of Mark: A Mosaic of Jesus
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 | How Great Thou Art
We celebrate our communion in faith and song.
O Lord my God, When I in awesome wonder,
Consider all the worlds Thy hands have made.
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder
Thy pow'r throughout the universe displayed
Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to Thee
How great Thou art! How great Thou art!
Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to Thee
How great Thou art! How great Thou art!
And when I think of God, His Son not sparing
Sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in
That on the cross, my burden gladly bearing
He bled and died to take away my sin
Chorus
When Christ shall come, with shouts of acclamation
And lead me home, what joy shall fill my heart
Then I shall bow in humble adoration
And then proclaim, My God, how great You are!
Chorus
Music and Lyrics: Carl Gustav Boberg, Stuart K. Hine
Departing Song | Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee
We begin to end in faith and song.
Joyful, joyful, we adore Thee,
God of glory, Lord of love;
Hearts unfold like flow’rs before Thee,
Op’ning to the sun above.
Melt the clouds of sin and sadness;
Drive the dark of doubt away;
Giver of immortal gladness,
Fill us with the light of day!
All Thy works with joy surround Thee,
Earth and heav’n reflect Thy rays,
Stars and angels sing around Thee,
Center of unbroken praise;
Field and forest, vale and mountain,
Flow’ry meadow, flashing sea,
Chanting bird and flowing fountain
Praising Thee eternally!
Always giving and forgiving,
Ever blessing, ever blest,
Well-spring of the joy of living,
Ocean-depth of happy rest!
Loving Father, Christ our Brother,
Let Thy light upon us shine;
Teach us how to love each other,
Lift us to the joy divine.
Mortals, join the mighty chorus,
Which the morning stars began;
God’s own love is reigning o’er us,
Joining people hand in hand.
Ever singing, march we onward,
Victors in the midst of strife;
Joyful music leads us sunward
In the triumph song of life.
Music and Lyrics: Henry Van Dyke
*Benediction | 2 Peter 1:2 | 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.
2 May grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Youth Teaching
Today, October 16, 11:30am - 1pm
5th-12th graders! Join us at the Erwin home for pizza, fellowship, and teaching by Pastor Blake!
Adult Teaching
November 6, 4-6pm
Join us at the home of Tim and Frances Arnoult on Sunday,
November 6 for the third and final session of our series!
Bible Studies
Weekly on Wednesdays and Thursdays
Women’s Morning Study: Our morning study meets Wednesdays at 9:30am at the Wade home to study Nancy Guthrie’s 8-week series, God Does His Best Work With Empty. It’s not too late to join us!
Women’s Evening Study: Our evening study meets at 7pm on Thursdays for fellowship and study at the Najjar home! We are working through Nancy Guthrie’s 8-week series, God Does His Best Work With Empty. It’s not too late to join us!
Children and Youth Sunday School
September 18 - October 2; October 16 - 30, 9:15-9:45am
Join us each week for Sunday school for all ages (pre-k too!) before each service! 4th grade and younger will gather in the lobby to learn a song, pray, and hear a lesson from Pastor Blake. Youth will gather upstairs for prayer and a lesson from Amy Kitchel. Parents are encouraged to stay with their children under the age of 5.
Cornerstone Christmas Parties - Save the dates!
Adult Party: December 4, 6-8pm, Home of Blake and Ryan Arnoult
Children’s Party: December 11, 11:30am-1:30pm, Donovan Home