Cornerstone West Los Angeles » Sermons

Easter is the event that gives Christians hope that can't be taken away. When we look closely at the resurrection, letting it challenge our assumptions, and see what it means for our lives, we can be grounded and stable in a new way whatever comes next. In the midst of a global pandemic, the resurrection points a way forward, not just to this life but beyond. Application Questions: 1. How have you...

In times of uncertainty and crisis, more than anything we need to be reminded of the truth of who God. But we need to know more than justaboutGod. We need to know God himself. To know God is to be loved, because God is love. This week we look at exactly what that means, and how it gives us comfort and hope in the midst of any storm. Application Questions: 1. What sources, other than Scripture, ten...

As we begin our series on Knowing God, we look at one of the overarching attributes of God: his holiness. While we often diminish the idea of God being holy as though it's not a very big deal, Isaiah teaches us differently: the holiness of God is something that comes uncomfortably close to us and changes us when we are exposed to it. It's an overwhelming and undoing experience, and it leads us to...

Knowing God is what anchors Christians in good times and bad. As we begin a series on the attributes of God, we first have to learn what it means to get to know God. Instead of learning more about God, the Bible teaches us to learn more of God in relationship with him. When we see how deeply and widely we can know the God of the universe, we find stability in unstable times and joy in places we di...

As we wrap up the book of James, we find a closing exhortation to take what we've learned and strive to love those around us with it. In most sermons you would normally be encouraged to refrain from thinking about the person sitting next to you, and to instead make sure you're considering your own heart. But in today's passage we are called to take all that we have learned over the past six months...

James closes his letter exhorting us to pray—and not just when things are bad. Prayer is a recognition that we have a Father who gives good gifts, and who is available to us any time in any situation. What's more, prayer actually has effects in the real world. James invites us to experience the power of a relationship with God in our own lives as we bring everything to God in prayer. Application Q...

In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus tells us to "let our yes be our yes", and James reiterates the same command. In Jesus's day people would swear oaths on things of the earth in order to get out of their commitments, and in order to manipulate others. Christ calls Christians to keep their commitments (and only make commitments we plan on keeping), and He calls Christians to speak with humble truthfu...

James tells us that Christians are a waiting people, but we struggle to wait today. We are used to instant gratification, and so when things don't come quickly we are easily frustrated. But life is full of things that take time, and James shows us that anchoring ourselves in the future return of Christ can give us patience in the here and now. Application Questions 1. Where are some places you nee...

Navigating our world's economy can be confusing and frustrating. Sometimes we feel like we don't have enough money. Sometimes we feel like we shouldn't desire money as much as we do. Sometimes we feel oppressed and powerless under the thumbs of those that have more money than we do. But in this week's passage, God shows us the way forward by providing a stern warning for the rich, and a promise of...

James explains the way humility works itself out in our life in a surprising area: the way we plan. We are usually over-confident in our ability to plan our lives, even though our plans rarely work out as intended. James teaches us that the Lord's will is bigger and better than our will, and when we ground ourselves in the gospel our plans will be made from a place of security and peace. Applicati...

True Christian faith is lived out vertically (in relationship with God) and horizontally (in relationship with others). Judging others shows that we misunderstand who they are, who we are, and who God is. Application Questions 1. What are the subtle ways that you “speak evil against others” in your life? 2. What is the difference between “discernment" and "judging” ? 3. How does judgmentalism misu...

Almost every nativity scene includes three wise men bearing gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. But what's the real story behind these characters? Were they actually there at the scene in the stable? Where were they from? Why did they come? In taking time to consider the place of the Magi in the biblical storyline we can learn a surprising amount about how our own hearts respond to the news of...

We often go through the motions at Christmas, having gotten used to disappointments and the underwhelming nature of things most of the time. But the birth of Jesus Christ is a shot of much needed hope that pierces the hardness of our hearts to their core. Application Questions 1. In what ways have you allowed yourself to become disillusioned by disappointment? 2. How can you take the example of th...

Christmas is a season to ask: what do I really believe? In the story of the Nativity Mary shows us what true faith looks like. She yields herself to God'spromisesand holds fast to them. She trusts in God'scharactereven when those promises are hard to believe. And she remembers God'sactionthat affirms the trustworthiness of God's promises and character. Application Questions 1. Where in your life a...

James is about living faith—but what do you do when you aren't living your faith the way you should? In James 4:4-10, James confronts us with a truth about God's love that exposes how deep our sin runs. But then he points us to God's amazing grace, which leads us to repentance and newness of life. Application Questions 1. What does it mean to you that God loves you with the commitment and care of...

Do you ever wonder what causes you to say the things you say and do the things you do when you're in the midst of a fight or an argument? In the moment, the cause of our problems always seems so clear. But James helps us take a step back from the emotions of interpersonal conflict in order to really see what's going on inside. Our hearts contribute in a unique way to the instances of interpersonal...

James looks closer at the genuine Christian life as he broaches the topic of wisdom. Who is wise, and how do you tell? While we often evaluate wisdom based on how much someone knows, James evaluates wisdom based on how someone acts. False wisdom might sound good, but it produces disorder and conflict in life. True wisdom produces a beautiful life that creates harmony and peace in life. When we see...

How can we bless God and curse mankind made in His image and likeness? James exposes the sinfulness and hypocrisy of our words, their power and destructiveness, and their need to be transformed by the gospel. Application Questions 1. What are some ways that you are too casual with your words? 2. How have you seen words in your life (yours or other's) be destructive? 3. Are there ways your tongue p...

What is faith, and how does it work? James confronts us with a hard truth: faith without works is dead. And underneath his argument, he teaches us about the nature of faith. Far from something you just say, feel, or think, faith is a trusting response to God that always leads to a changed life. Application Questions 1. What are some different ways people define the word“faith” ? What do you think...

We all love others. As Christians we know it's our call to love our neighbor as ourselves. And all of us do so, one way or another. But James'concern here isn't that we might not be loving others, his concern is with the selection of who we choose to love. We tend to be selective with our love. We don't loveallof our neighbors as ourselves. We loveselectneighbors as ourselves. But in light of the...

When we think of“worldliness” we normally think about drunkenness or adultery. But James shows us that worldliness also means living according to the world's system of showing partiality. But showing partiality on the basis of wealth, or race, or ethnicity, or able-bodyness, or nationality, is evil. It elevates the glory of the world and undermines the glory of God, and it undermines the power and...

James teaches us that authentic Christian living is based on humbly receiving what God has said in his word. But how do you know if that's what you're doing? James shows us that receiving God's word means not just hearing it, but putting it into practice in our lives, such that we see a lifestyle that mirrors God's values and priorities. Application Questions 1. Why do you think it's so tempting t...

Anger in our hearts doesn't bring justice to our circumstances, nor does it produce godliness in our lives. The reason is that in our anger our hearts are not submitted to God above all. God's solution to this problem is for our hearts to receive His Word with a posture of humility, so that our lives can be transformed. Application Questions 1. What does anger look like in your life? Horizontal? V...

James teaches us about the goodness of God, and how we often doubt it—especially in times of trial. When we look closely, we find ourselves caught up in a lie about God's goodness, and therefore caught in a web of control, anxiety, and distraction. But James teaches us the truth—God is good, all the way down—and shows us the evidence of that goodness: the new birth, though the gospel of Jesus Chri...

Whenever we experience a trial, temptation always follows close on its heels. As a result, we tend to assume that the trial is the source of the temptation. Our kids'disobedience tempts us to be angry. The size of our home tempts us to discontentment. The response of our roommate tempts us to bitterness. But James teaches us that this is not where temptations ultimately come from. Temptation is ca...