Cornerstone West Los Angeles » Sermons

In this letter Paul takes the values of the Kingdom of God and lovingly but firmly presses Philemon (and us) to reject the kingdom of this world and embrace the Kingdom of God. Application Questions:  1. Take some time to think deeply about yourself. What are some blind spots you may have in your life? Do you pray and ask God to reveal blind spots to you? 2. How can you daily remind yourself of yo...

In response to this week's tragic fires, we take time to hear God speak words of gentle comfort and love to each of us in this frightening and disorienting moment. Application Questions:  1. How does God's goodness bring you comfort in this moment? 2. How does God's power bring you comfort in this moment? 3. What "big questions" does this moment cause you to ask? Take time to ask them to God. 4. W...

The Apostle John wants to see the gospel grow and multiply throughout the world. And there are a few key ways the local church can facilitate that growth. By thinking of ourselves less and sacrificing for others more, we can all participate in the supernatural growth of the gospel. Application Questions:  1. Who are the brothers and sisters serving the kingdom who need your hospitality and support...

2 John is a small letter with a big message: the nature of truth and love. What we believe to be true shapes the way we live. The central truth of Christianity—that Jesus Christ came in the flesh—is what shapes us into loving people. For that reason Christians are careful to guard the truths of the faith, in the world and also in their own hearts. Application Questions:  1. Where in your own life...

As we reflect back on the book of Daniel, we discover one of the secrets of Christmas that frees us to enjoy the celebration like never before. The secret of Christmas is that Christmas is supposed to make you homesick. It's a story of exile promised to exiles in order to give hope in exile. And when we see it through the lens of exile, we find the true joy of what Christmas is truly all about. Ap...

The book of Daniel ends by talking about the end: what happens at the end of human history. We find that death isn't the end, for us or our world. There is a resurrection and a future for every human being, all based on what you do with Jesus Christ. This changes how we live today, as we orient our lives around a future much longer than the lives we live on earth. Application Questions:  1. How of...

Daniel’s final vision describes a chaotic future. Kingdoms rise and fall, with God’s people caught in the middle. Today most of Daniel’s vision is history, but it gives us stabilizers for life in today's chaotic world. Daniel 11 shows us how wisdom, hope, and the knowledge of God can give you firm footing in the whirlwind of modern life.  Application Questions:  1. How can you pursue wisdom by put...

The book of Daniel ends with a final vision detailing events in human history and God’s rule over them all. Before it begins, Chapter 10 turns our eyes to the spiritual world behind such events. This is challenging for modern people, but the spiritual world is more plausible than many expect. That spiritual world is also different than we often think, expanding our horizons and growing our sense o...

Daniel 9 is one of the most difficult passages in the Old Testament, and yet its central message is clear: God wants to bring his people home, and he will do it through Jesus Christ. The road home begins with God’s love for us, not our efforts or morality. And it leads to a home far better than we hoped: an existence free from sin, injustice, and pain, where all God’s promises are fulfilled. The w...

In the midst of visions, Daniel stops and reflects on the past seventy years of God's people in exile. Daniel's response is one of confession and petition – pouring out his heart in honesty, and pleading with God for mercy. Daniel's prayer shows us what it looks like to have a heart that seeks God. Application Questions:  1. What are your initial feelings about confession? Is this something you pr...

Daniel 8 records a vision of world empires clashing and God’s people suffering. This prophecy, written hundreds of years before the events took place, gave Daniel and his readers clarity for the chaos that was ahead of them—and it can do the same for us. God is at work even when things seem like they are falling apart. This makes you clear-eyed, firm footed, and warm-hearted as you walk through th...

Daniel transitions from stories to visions in chapter 7, using startling imagery that often leaves us confused and bewildered. The goal of these visions is to leave us comforted and hopeful, and as we look closer we see why: we find God’s kingdom juxtaposed against the kingdoms of earth, leading to a final clash that brings the kingdom of heaven to earth forever. When we have this grasp of human h...

Today we celebrate the 100-year anniversary of Cornerstone's sanctuary. Built in 1924, this building is filled with stories of God's provision, transformation, and the spread of his kingdom. As we commemorate this moment, we find that the reason this church has thrived throughout the generations is not a testament to our leadership, our character, or our vision - it is a testament to the mercy, po...

The famous story of Daniel and the lions' den concludes the narrative portion of the book of Daniel, and shows us how to navigate life in the midst of exile. In exile we must be wary of the world's agendas, we must seek faithfulness in our spiritual disciplines, and we must fix our hearts and eyes on God's glory. Application Questions:  1. Why should we be cautious when we encounter the world's re...

What happens when a young son is left in charge of the empire while his father is away for years and years? Predictably, nothing good. But, while Babylon begins to crumble from the inside out, God remains faithful to his people in exile, even when it seems like they've been forgotten.  Application Questions:  1. In what ways are you tempted to put your hope in the kingdoms of this world, even thou...

Life in exile always means dealing with pride—both the pride around you and the pride inside of you. In Daniel 4 we see a proud king humbled, showing us the nature and effects of pride in our city and our own lives. We also see God’s grace providing a cure for pride, pointing ultimately to Jesus Christ. When we look up to receive his grace, humility and joy are released into our lives during our t...

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego faced a moment of truth. While we may never be asked to bow down to a 90-foot statue, it was not unlike many moments of truth we will each face. And the same God who granted them peace and hope in the midst of that moment is the same God who has given us peace and hope as well. Application Questions:  1. Have you ever faced your own moment of truth? 2. How might you...

Nebuchadnezzar is at the top of the world, but he's restless and troubled by questions he can't answer. His experts can’t help, but Daniel can. Through Daniel, God reveals a mystery about where all of history is going. In the process, we see that the answers to the biggest questions are found in Christ and his eternal kingdom. Only when we build our lives on those answers will we have true peace....

Upon arriving in a new place, having been forced from their homes and compelled to learn the ways of Babylon, Daniel and his friends resolve to be different. But their resolution shows that they're a different kind of different. They are different not because they're out to prove anything. They're different because of what God has done for them and what he has promised to continue to do. Applicati...

Daniel is a story about four friends who are far from home, in a foreign place with different values and priorities. The Bible shows us that this is our story too: all of us are exiles, navigating life in a place different than our true home. Daniel teaches us to live lives of steady confidence in God, looking to serve the city around us without losing our identity as God’s people. We can do that...

It's safe to say that all Christians should be motivated to grow. We want to grow and be able to obey God for the rest of our lives, but sometimes we get stuck in our walk with Him. We've tried so many things and we're still stuck. If you find yourself struggling in your Christian life, my hope is that you'll realize that there's a better way to grow and obey God. Application Questions: 1. If Chri...

Last week we looked at Jesus' call to lose our life that we might save it. This week we look at his call to lose our life to save others. The mission of the church is to be Christ's ambassadors on earth. And as it did for our Savior, that will inevitably involve suffering. Application Questions:  1. Why did Jesus come to earth? 2. What is the mission of the church? 3. Why do we have to suffer as w...

There are times that Christians embrace suffering that they could have tried to avoid. What explains that impulse? Jesus' conversation with Peter and his disciples in Mark 8 shows us why Jesus moves toward suffering, and why following him means we do the same.  Application Questions:  1. Why does Jesus insist so strongly that he “must” suffer on the cross? How does this contrast with the way peopl...

God is the ultimate source of consolation and comfort. But how do we experience that comfort when he is invisible and intangible? Scripture teaches us how to truly bring God's comfort into one another's lives by being a means of his comfort, and a reminder that God alone is the only true source of the comfort we need. Application Questions:  1. Where, other than God, are you tempted to look for co...

The world is chasing after the ability to be resilient in the face of suffering. But, what does true resilience entail? And how does the eternal hope we have in Christ both produce resilience and give us something even greater? Application Questions:  1. How does remembering your inheritance change your view of the future? 2. How does your view of the future shape how you are experiencing sufferin...