Cornerstone Church

When the Widow approached Elisha, she focused on everything she had lost. But Elisha shifted the conversation with a simple question: "What do you have?" Before God provided anything new, He invited her to recognize what He had already placed in her hands. You see—fear focuses on what's missing. But faith? It begins with seeing what's already there.

We all know what it feels like to wonder whether we're enough. Whether as children dreaming about who we'd become or as adults comparing ourselves to others, the temptation is to believe that purpose belongs to someone else. Yet Scripture reminds us that before we ever accomplished anything, God created us intentionally and prepared good works for us long ago. Our calling isn't to become someone e...

The story of Scripture doesn't end where it began. What was lost in the Garden of Eden is fully restored in the New Creation—where sin, sorrow, death, and the Curse are finally erased forever. The story that began with humanity's greatest failure ends with God's greatest victory. In the end—shame, sin, regret, and the Curse don't win—Jesus does.

If Jesus defeated the Curse—why does the world still feel so broken? Why do Christians still struggle with sin, suffering, and death? You see—while the victory has been won, the story isn't over. We’re living in an “Already-But-Not-Yet” reality. Because of Christ, we no longer have to live under the power of the Curse—even while we wait for the day it's gone forever.

The Cross was more than Jesus simply dying for our sins—it was Jesus stepping into the Curse itself and carrying what we could never overcome on our own. Every thorn, every wound, every moment of suffering points back to God's plan to reverse what began in Eden. The greatest curse ever spoken was broken by the greatest act of love ever shown.

Why does a good God allow pain, tragedy, and disease? Why does the Author of Life allow death? Why do things in our world often feel like it's not the way it's supposed to be? The Bible doesn't ignore those questions—it answers them by revealing a world that's been deeply fractured by sin. Even Creation itself is longing for the day everything is made new.

One choice. It only took one choice to change the course of human history. What began as Paradise quickly became a cursed world filled with shame, suffering, fear, and death. The brokenness we experience today? It isn't random. It has an origin story. And before we can properly recognize God's rescue, we have to understand what went wrong in the first place.

The Book of Obadiah is a prophecy against the nation of Edom—but underneath its warning? There’s a truth that reaches far beyond one ancient nation…our choices have consequences. But the good news is that repentance means we don’t have to keep walking down the same road—we can turn around and choose the way of Jesus.

Revelation 1 is literally the beginning of the end—it’s the opening chapter of the last book of Scripture! And John’s letter certainly opens with a bang. There is so much to digest in the first chapter...it feels like a disservice to not hit every part of it! So we’re going to take our time walking through the text—studying all the details we need to to know about the end.

Philippians 2:1–11 lays out one of the most deep, powerful passages about Jesus in all of Scripture—the words often called “The Christ Hymn.” But this isn’t merely a theological statement about who Jesus is—it’s a glimpse into the heart, mind, and posture of our King. And Paul’s challenge is that the posture of the King will become the posture of His people.

Psalm 10 gives a picture of the wicked—proud, violent, deceitful…they are convinced that God doesn’t see their awful actions. I mean, we would never be like those people…right? Or—is the sin I see in others also at work against me? Am I too in the Enemy’s sights as He works to distort my heart? The sin I see in others might be the same sin I won’t see in me.

Daniel 6 is usually remembered for what happened in the den—but the real story begins long before Daniel ever got there. When a new law threatens his life, Daniel doesn’t suddenly become a man of prayer—he simply keeps doing what he had already been doing. We see that the threat didn’t create Daniel’s faith…it revealed a faith that was already there.

It’s been almost six years—2,177 days to be exact—since we launched renewed ministry at Cornerstone Church. And in between August 30, 2020 and August 16, 2026, we have experienced nothing short of miracle after miracle. God has been so good for us—moving in our midst in a way that defies logic. And the most amazing part? He’s just getting started!

So if God isn’t always loud or obvious...how do you learn to recognize His voice? Often, we miss God not because He isn’t speaking—but because we’re listening for the wrong kind of voice. We need to reframe and refocus on what it means to hear from our Heavenly Father, who invites us to slow down enough to notice His presence in quieter, more personal ways.

What do you do when God doesn’t respond the way that you expect—or doesn’t seem to respond at all? Scripture actually gives us language for the moments just like this...when Heaven feels quiet and God feels distant. Instead of pretending everything is fine—we’re shown that we can build a faith that asks the difficult questions and still refuses to let go.

The Book of Jonah comes to an end…but not really. In fact—the book is well-known for the fact that it lacks any real ending. It just abruptly stops mid-conversation between Jonah and God. And this narrative device speaks volumes—showing us that our lack of grace, compassion, and mercy can hinder our connection with God just as easily as any other sin.

Jonah’s downward spiral ends in the most unexpected of places—a fish. But even in the belly of the beast...God is not absent. Jonah’s story shows us that God’s goodness and mercy often show up in what feels like confinement or consequence—and that things can change, not because our situation changes first, but because our posture is different.

Jonah hears from God and immediately runs in the opposite direction. This scenario is not so different from one that we often find ourselves in: “What do I do when God’s direction conflicts with my desire?” As we study Jonah’s story, we learn the truth that running from God never removes you from God’s reach—it just changes the experience of the journey.

One of the first things you’ll notice in your Bible is that it has two Testaments—but what’s the difference in the two? What changed when Jesus came? Do Christians still follow Old Testament laws? Does the Old Testament matter anymore? We need to unpack covenant and fulfillment—and how Jesus doesn’t erase the story of Israel but brings it to completion.

We say we love God—but who exactly is God? Christians believe in one God who exists as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—a mystery that’s often confusing but incredibly powerful. Are they separate? Do they have different roles? And how does the Trinity play out in everyday faith? We all want to better love our God, and we do that by better understanding our God.

We say we love God—but who exactly is God? Christians believe in one God who exists as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—a mystery that’s often confusing but incredibly powerful. Are they separate? Do they have different roles? And how does the Trinity play out in everyday faith? We all want to better love our God, and we do that by better understanding our God.

It’s the issue we all need to deal with—sin. And yet? Few of us really understand what it is or what it does to us. Is sin just breaking rules or is it deeper than that? How does it shape our hearts? If I’m struggling—am I condemned? Few areas have more misunderstandings than sin. It’s time to see sin and its effects for what they are—and see the hope we have in Jesus.

It’s the book behind it all! So what is it that makes the Bible trustworthy? What does it really mean when we call it “God’s Word?” How do we read it responsibly without twisting it or taking it out of context? We’re diving into Scripture to see how it was formed, why it matters, and how to study it in a way that leads to transformation—not just information.

Cornerstone Church exists to help people find the Father, a family, and a fulfilling future. This sermon was preached at Cornerstone Church located in Akron, OH on June 6, 2026.

In a culture obsessed with control, influence, and being right, Jesus redefines what power actually looks like. Instead of lording authority over others, He calls His followers to a posture of humility and service. This message confronts our tendency to control people, win arguments, and assert dominance—and invites us into the upside-down Kingdom where true power is expressed through surrender, l...