Cornerstone Message Podcast

Jesus includes people who wouldn't normally be included, and blesses them beyond what could be expected. Now that we've seen how Jesus' habit was to include outsiders and outliers, we'll see what he gives to them as he makes them the ultimate insiders in part two of "Included."

We all want to be included. It feels good. But it becomes meaningless if everyone is included. So our world looks for ways to draw lines and build walls to clarify who's in and who's out, who's special and who's not. The people of Jesus' day did the same thing. But how are Jesus' people, his followers, supposed to treat the outsider and the outlier? From the very star...

How do we handle differences without causing division? Jesus' followers have been unified in him; our job is to protect and maintain that unity. Even though there will always be people who are divisive, it doesn't have to divide the church. The Apostle Paul gives Titus a clear, simple process for dealing with division and divisiveness. And in this message we'll see what unifies beli...

Pastor Brian explains the Advent season is a season of waiting and anticipation.

Does it seem as though there are always some people screaming for our attention about things that distract and divide? Do I need to pay attention? Will I miss out if I tune out? You can know what is important and what can safely be ignored with the criteria laid out in today's Scripture passage. Don't be derailed by fruitless arguments or man-made rules. The fruit will tell you all you n...

How do you handle passages in the Bible that seem to be outdated, out of touch, or simply wrong? Believe it or not, there are logical, helpful , and consistent answers to the challenge of difficult passages. Overcome objections. Understand what the Bible is really saying. Learn how to apply ancient prescriptions to today's situations. The key? To apply, use R.O.I.

What qualifies a person for leadership? In our study of the New Testament letter to Titus, the church was in danger of taking their cue for what was acceptable from the average person around them rather than from the standard of Jesus and the Gospel. How can we be sure to take our cue from Jesus and the Gospel, and surround ourselves with people who will "spur us on toward love and good deeds...

Listening to this message qualifies as attending "NEXT–Welcome to Cornerstone Community Church" and prequalifies you for membership at Cornerstone for the 2022-2023 ministry season. // Get clarity about what it means to participate in the life of our church, and how God wants to include you in what he's doing in the world today.

God's plan to finish his work is to include us in his work. We too often disqualify others from being involved in God's plans. Sometimes we even rule ourselves out. But Jesus is always including the most unlikely of people to do his most important work.

Ever wonder if your story is over before its time? When dreams are delayed or die, or when things don't go according to plan, it's natural to wonder if God is still at work in your life. But the Scriptures we'll look at in this message are full of God's unfinished business for his people, assuring us that we're not done yet. Discover what's next on God's agenda f...

You might think it's too late, the moment has past, or you've blown it too big, but God just may not be done with you yet. "Unfinished Business" is a study in the New Testament letter to Titus. Get encouragement. Find hope. God's not done yet!

Since things are not as they should be, and sometimes it can feel like we're facing opposition on every side, how can we find hope and truly make things better? If we fight life's battles in the wrong way or on the wrong battlefield we'll lose every time. But if we understand that a spiritual battle is raging, we'll acquire the spiritual weapons we need to prevail. Help is avai...

If we're going to accomplish our mission, the story of Jesus has to be told. But most people find it hard to find their voice when it comes to matters of faith. In Psalm 145 we see the process that leads to unleashing our tongues and get great encouragement for our lives too!

What does God want for me, and how do I get on the path to where he wants to lead me? Often religious practice focuses on what God wants from me: do this; don't do that! But have you ever wondered what God wants for you? In this famous psalm we'll see God's hopes for us and the starting point to the path he has for us.

What makes for a great church? It might not be the things you are thinking about when you start shopping for a church. See how Scripture defines a great church and see how it lines up with your experience.

Need a turnaround? In Psalm 40, the psalmist celebrates the drastic changes in direction the Lord has effected in the past; and uses that track record as the foundation for a prayer for a change needed desperately right now. Is there someone or somewhere in your life that needs a reversal, a u-turn, or a turn of the tables, and no amount of talking or toiling seems to move the needle? The Lord can...

No one likes to fail, but everyone enlists in the fail army at some point. The question is not if but when. So when we face failure, how do we overcome it (and avoid it when possible)? In this dive into one of the historical psalms we'll find a failure recovery system you can implement today.

Discouragement. Disappointment. The Dumps. Down times are an inevitable part of life. In Psalms 42 & 43, the psalmist is honest about his troubles and how he feels about them. But is that the end of the story? Discover practical steps everyone can take to deal with the valleys of life in this edition of Permission to Be Real.

When things start to go sideways in your life or in the world around you, what do you do? There are things you can do that make things worse, make things better, or do nothing at all. What will you choose? In the Psalms, there are two model prayers that give us insight on what to do and the right approach when things are going wrong.

How do you get a blessed life? The introduction to the book of Psalms lays out the keys in the first two Psalms. And you can apply the lessons of these psalms this week to make life better and you better at life.

How do we reconcile Jesus’ teaching which prescribes loving our enemies and imprecatory Psalms which call down curses on our enemies? A study of these jarring psalms can snap us out of our complacency and teach us to care about what God cares about, all while emphasizing leaving the future of those who do us wrong in his hands. See how in this episode of Permission to Be Real.

How can I have peace in a dangerous and difficult world? There are always things that threaten our sense of security. In Psalm 23, one of the most well-known and beloved psalms, we see how the Lord, as our shepherd, is the answer to our insecurity.

No one likes to be overwhelmed with opposition. We wonder if we'll make it. We wonder if God will rescue us. Questions arise as to why justice is delayed and evildoers prevail. Where do we find hope when the opposition is overwhelming? How do we respond to those who are fierce in their opposition? Reflection on the insights in the Psalm in today's message gives us helpful approaches to o...

The Psalms are true to feeling, and by including them in the Bible, God gives us permission to be real! One of the worst feelings we can have is when we know we've blown it. But the good news is that because of who God is we get treated better than we deserve--even when we've blown it, big time!

Does it pay to do the right thing? If you've ever wondered, you're not alone. In the ancient psalms of the Hebrew Bible (our Old Testament), is the story of a person who wondered, and almost lost his faith because of it. There, you'll find permission to be real about your doubts, and answers that will place your faith on a firm footing.