Cornerstone Church With Dustin Bates

Last Week – Living in the tension We do that by understanding the NATURE of politics in this world… Politics are downstream of philosophy (how we think) and morality (what we do) Sum up of Daniel’s story Chapter 1: Captivity Introduced to Daniel and his friends Captives take from their home by invading Babylon and King Nebuchadnezzar Given new identities – Names of new pagan Gods Educated in the w...

We are looking down onto our current moment from a Biblical perspective If you are already offended, this conversation is not for you   Two-week series called: THRIVING IN BABYLON What is Babylon? Historical city of beauty, power, and evil God used the city as judgment on the People of Israel Destroyed Jerusalem and carried off much of its people Daniel and Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego Babylon...

Week 1… Know that you are in a spiritual battle Week 2… Walk in the light because the dark creates monsters Week 3… Wear the “uniform/armor” of the Christ Believer Week 4: Pray to know God and advance His kingdom   Ephesians 6:10-18 11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, aga...

Silence in your prayer life is hard… Many of us have laid prayer aside Prayer is a POWERFUL weapon against Darkness Series: FIGHT FOR YOUR LIFE Week 1… Know that you are a part of a spiritual battle Week 2… Walk in the light because there are monsters who destroy in the dark Week 3… Wear the “uniform” of the Christ believer Today, we are looking at how PRAYER plays a part in spiritual warfare The...

Uniforms have two purposes 1: Identity Emergency situations professional situations 2: Practicality Most are utilitarian – Serve a purpose Series: FIGHT FOR YOUR LIFE Week 1… We must know we are a part of a larger spiritual battle Week 2… We must walk in the light because there are monsters in the dark Today we are talking about… The “SPIRITUAL UNIFORM” of a Christian in the fight for their life  ...

Week 1, we learned that: We must know we are a part of a larger spiritual battle Today, we are looking at an important Biblical theme The theme is LIGHT AND DARKNESS Scripture uses several themes to separate the THINGS OF GOD and the THINGS NOT OF GOD Good and Bad Wisdom and Foolishness Righteous and Unrighteous Another of those themes is LIGHT AND DARKNESS An example of this is… 1 Peter 2:9 But y...

Not a PHYSICAL FIGHT — SPIRITUAL FIGHT Today’s Goal Know that we are a part of something bigger Knowing is half the battle This world is NOT WHAT IT SEEMS There is a behind the veil We live in BOTH… A PHYSICAL REALITY A SPIRITUAL REALITY More than just a body A soul/spirit Naturalistic vs. Theistic Worldview Naturalism – naturalism beliefs Naturalism: The belief that nature is all that exists and...

The final week of our series: Blueprints: God’s Design for Church and Family Week 1: Blueprints for God’s Design of Family A Healthy Family is God’s Blueprint for human flourishing Individuals and the church Week 2: Laying The Foundation For Healthy Families Biblical Values form a strong foundation for healthy families Week 3: Quality Framing for Quality Families Christian Maturity is the quality...

Week 1: Blueprints for God’s Design of Family The family is God’s blueprint for human flourishing Individuals and the church   Week 2: Laying The Foundation For Healthy Families Biblical values form a strong foundation for healthy families Individuals and the church Today is about: Quality Framing for Quality Families Framing is what gives the house… Structure Strength/resilience Holds up everythi...

Series: Blueprints: God’s Design for Church and Family   Last week: The family is God’s blueprint for human flourishing Immediate Family God’s Family of Redeemed Humanity (CHURCH) As the family goes, so goes the culture Place of Societal Stability The enemy Hates the Family Because it is a blessing from God God used marriage and family as a METAPHOR for his relationship with His Church Bride of Ch...

Blueprints set a STANDARD How it should be When blueprints aren’t followed, disaster happens   That’s what this series is about… Blueprints God’s design for church and family God is a God of design Psalm 8:3-4 3 When I observe your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you set in place, 4 what is a human being that you remember him, a son of man that you look after him?...

Usually, when we think of “COST,” it’s money a product “costs” us “Blank amount of dollars.” But there is a more profound COST What it takes to get the money in the first place Let’s look a place where Jesus explains the concept Luke 14:26-33 26 “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, and even his own life—he cannot be my dis...

Suffering we have all experienced it Some of us are going through it   Today – Going to approach it this way 1st: A Christian THEOLOGY of Suffering What does the Bible teach, and how is that different than other perspectives   2nd: A Pastoral Response How we can walk through really difficult times Let’s look at the IDEA of suffering When Bad people do bad things, bad things should happen to them K...

Cornerstone is a church “ON MISSION” We don’t exist to exist; we exist to accomplish something   Cornerstone’s Mission: We exist… To Help DISCONNECTED People to Find, Follow, and Be Like Jesus The word DISCONNECTED is key… As students of our culture, we must understand what is currently going on in our culture   One of the most significant issues facing Americans is: LONELINESS Facts on Loneliness...

Perspective: What we see based on our circumstances   The reason I bring up perspective is… This series has been all about “LIVING WITH PURPOSE” What that purpose is will be determined by your PERSPECTIVE   In the first week, we learned the important foundational truths concerning our PURPOSE God created the world ON PURPOSE and FOR A PURPOSE   The ULTIMATE PURPOSE for EVERYTHING and EVERYONE is t...

Last week… Started a new series LIVING WITH PURPOSE   Learned 2 important truths: God created the world ON PURPOSE and FOR A PURPOSE Which means… The ULTIMATE PURPOSE for EVERYTHING and EVERYONE is to GLORIFY GOD   Today, we are talking about the next step in purpose, which is… Finding Your Personal Calling   Separate into two parts: Part 1: What do we mean by “PERSONAL CALLING”   A personal calli...

The Power of Lullabies   Pastor of Underground Church in Iran (Muslim Country) “It seems to me that the church in the West is under some sort of satanic lullaby.”   New Series: LIVING WITH PURPOSE Next few weeks Looking at how we Discover our purpose Today, we will look at the Idea of Purpose from a 50,000-foot view Title: THE LULLABY OF FALSE PURPOSE   To know your part in the plan, you need to u...

A WILDERNESS SEASON IS WHERE WE LEARN WHO GOD IS, HOW HE LOVES US, AND HOW WE SHOULD INTERACT WITH HIM   All relationships have rules Friendship has rules Dating has rules Marriage has rules Parenting has rules Business partnerships have rules Employees and employers have rules Rules give identity and terms to relationships What are some common rules? No lying – Breaking trust breaks the foundatio...

Disappointment is more than a feeling – It’s a direction Leads you on a path This is important because our series is called “LOST” A WAY out of the wilderness A WILDERNESS SEASON IS WHERE WE LEARN WHO GOD IS, HOW HE LOVES US, AND HOW WE SHOULD INTERACT WITH HIM Part of this learning is learning HOW to handle Disappointment Especially disappointment with God   What is disappointment? Disappointment...

Choose Your Hard In your health In your relationships With your kids With your career Same with Following God Without God = HARD With God = HARD Choose your heard   Just because all things are difficult doesn’t mean all OUTCOMES are the same value Some things, while difficult, are worth more than others We’re talking about this because of the new series… >>LOST: A WAY IN THE WILDERNESS   Bei...

Key Question: What Is A Wilderness Season? A season of life where things are: Difficult Confusing Disorienting Uphill Out of the ordinary Wilderness Seasons are a MAJOR PART of the Christian Walk We anticipate them A WILDERNESS SEASON IS WHERE WE LEARN WHO GOD IS, HOW HE LOVES US, AND HOW WE SHOULD INTERACT WITH HIM   1 Peter 1:6-7 6 You rejoice in this, even though now for a short time, if necess...

The Anxiety Cycle Anxiety Avoidance/Obsession Short-Term Relief Long-term Anxiety Growth Over and Over….   This happens whether you are a Christian or Not But we should think of anxiety differently than the rest of the world   The Bible Has a lot to say about Anxiety and how we should face it   Some people struggle more than others We have patience and sympathy for those who do struggle Make sure...