Cornerstone West Los Angeles » Sermons

Despite what many think, Los Angeles is a very spiritual city. While many do not consider themselves religious, most pursue spirituality in various ways. In Acts 17, Paul explores Athens, another very spiritual city. Instead of presenting Christianity as one spiritual option among many, he shows that their approach to spirituality cannot satisfy them. Only an unadjustable God who saves us by grace...

How do we know what is right or wrong, good or evil? Who has the right to say? God in His perfect goodness and authority speaks to a world so often confused about good and evil. Application Questions:  1. How does authority relate to morality? 2. How does truth relate to morality? 3. Why is the "I choose" approach to morality empty? 4. How does the "we choose" approach to morality fall short? 5. W...

Los Angeles is a city filled with people striving to find their own meaning in life. The options seem endless, and the idea of discovering our own purpose seems exciting. But can we really have the deep purpose we crave if we are making it up ourselves? Only Jesus can give us a stable purpose that we don't have to earn. Application Questions:  1. In what ways do you see those around you in our cit...

Easter is a time of generic hope ("after winter comes spring"), but Jesus says he brings hope into our lives now. We tend to downplay Easter so we can fit it into the ways we already understand the world, but Jesus bursts our categories. Dying for our sins and rising from the grave, Jesus opens the door to a new kind of life here and now, and ushers us into eternal life with him forever. Applicati...

Jesus famously calls us to "abide" with him as a branch abides in a vine. But what does that mean? What does it practically look like to live a life of abiding? And how do we know if we're abiding or not?  Application Questions:  1. How has the gospel already given you a vital connection with Christ? 2. How does your relationship with your phone (or the internet) inform what it might mean to live...

Everyone is searching for meaning, and purpose, and abundant life. Jesus makes it clear that the only way to the life we were created for is through Him. He is the way. He is the truth. He is the life. Application Questions:  1. What answers are you looking for from God that He doesn't promise to give you? 2. What promises can you cling to instead? 3. How does Christ being the "way" speak into you...

People in Los Angeles aren’t very familiar with sheep, but Jesus compares himself to a shepherd to help us understand who he wants to be in our lives. Shepherds know their sheep, love their sheep, and lead their sheep. When Jesus is your good shepherd you will follow him more closely than anything else.  Application Questions:  1. Jesus knows you even better than a shepherd knows his sheep. How mi...

In a passage where people are arguing with Jesus about his identity, we find his strongest claim to be God in the flesh. It leaves us with a radical choice: we must either follow Jesus as God in every area of our lives, or reject him entirely. Only when we understand these high stakes will we see the deep love Jesus shows for us by going to the cross in our place. Application Questions:  1. What a...

At the beginning of John 6, Jesus feeds almost 20,000 people miraculously. By the end of John 6, the only followers He has left are His disciples. Challenging His disciples, Jesus asks them if they will leave Him as well? Peter responds with a declaration of faith and desperation that is true for all Christians everywhere. Application Questions:  1. What does spiritual desperation look like in you...

Jesus is the light. He is the singular means by which we can truly comprehend and understand everything in the world. He allows us to understand ourselves, our lives, and the world around us as they truly are. And as his followers we have been given his light to illuminate the world around us. Application Questions: 1. In what ways does the gospel of Jesus help you understand the world (or yoursel...

A crowd that wants physical bread are met with Jesus, who tells them he is the true bread of life. When we understand what Jesus is saying, we find our deepest hungers exposed, the place those hungers are finally satisfied, and the way we savor Christ in our daily lives.  Application Questions:  1. What are the daily desires that occupy your mind the most? 2. How are those desires related to a dee...

In our lives, it is far too easy for us to remain focused on our shallow needs. Jesus invites us to see a deeper need that only he can satisfy. Application Questions:  1. Why is Jesus' determination to bring living water such good news? 2. In what ways are you pursuing water that does not truly satisfy? 3. How is Christ crucified for you something that satisfies your deepest thirst?

What can we learn from Jesus turning water into wine at a wedding? John tells us that it is a sign, pointing to a greater reality about who Jesus is and what he came to do. This sign shows us that Jesus is the true bridegroom, come to bring joy at a great price, drawing near to those he loves. Application Questions:  1. What can we learn from the connections between the major themes of this passag...

Our world views human life as either as the ultimate good (needing to be preserved at all costs) or as an instrumental good (only worth living if it maintains a certain "quality"). But God teaches us that, as image bearers of him, every human life is uniquely sacred and destined for eternity. Application Questions:  1. How do you see the world's understanding as human life being either the ultimat...

Sin brings about division in our world, the devaluing of the image of God in others. This is seen throughout the history of the world, and is felt presently and deeply in our world today. In Christ the walls of hostility can be brought down. In Christ we can be peacemakers. In Christ we can affirm and uphold the image of God in the midst of the dividing lines of the world. Application Questions: ...

Our city believes strongly that all people are worthy of dignity and respect, but what is the foundation for that belief? The Bible declares that all human beings are made in the image of God, apart from their background, culture, or ability. Yet we see this image is marred by sin in the ways we often ignore or use other people. Only through Jesus Christ can we be renewed to reflect the goodness a...

Beholding the Son of God begets following the Son of God. When we see Jesus for who he is and remember what he has done, our hearts are drawn to follow him and orient our entire lives around him. Even when we don't know what the future holds, we can have confidence in the one that holds the future. And, as we enter a new year, he invites us to "come and see" all that he has in store. Application Q...

On Christmas Eve, we consider the nature of the incarnation and behold the one who is the Word become flesh. As we do, John the Baptist provides us with an example of how we are each called to behold him and bear witness to him both on Christmas and throughout the year.

John’s gospel doesn’t have much of a Christmas story, but it does have the heart of Christmas: the doctrine of the incarnation. When we understand this staggering doctrine we can see the importance, joy, and hope of Christmas, and enjoy grace upon grace in our own lives. Application Questions:  1. How is the doctrine of the incarnation unique among other religions and philosophies? 2. Which of the...

The Light of the World comes into the world that He created, and is rejected. God invites us into His Light, and in the light we are exposed and vulnerable, but we are also accepted by Him, forgiven, renewed, and restored. Application Questions:  1. What is shocking about the rejection of Jesus Christ? 2. How do you hide from the Light in your own life? 3. What would it look like to confess and re...

Advent is a time to meditate on the coming of Christ at Christmas so we can sing the carols not just with our lips but with our hearts. In the first five verses of John’s gospel, we get a picture of Jesus before time began, which teaches us the significance of Christmas morning. Application Questions: 1. Why does John go so far out of his way to explain that Jesus, the Word, is fully God?  2. How...

Life in our fast-paced world keeps us constantly moving and doing things, with our minds usually focused on ourselves. But when we slow down and humble ourselves before our Good Shepherd, we discover a depth of purpose, peace, and pleasure, both now and on into eternity.  Application Questions:  1. Do you struggle seeing yourself as a sheep in need of a shepherd? Why or why not?  2. How does the s...

How do you respond when suffering hits? You may be familiar with the call to trust God in the midst of difficulty, but how are we supposed to do that? When it seems like God is against us, not for us, how do we respond in trust? In Psalm 56 David shows us the path forward in suffering and crisis.

David writes Psalm 51 after blowing up his life, and yet he sees a way forward from guilt to joy: repentance. The psalm teaches us to follow his lead, recognizing the reality of our guilt, the depth of our sin, and the size of God’s grace.  Application Questions:  1. How do you handle guilt in your life? 2. David sees himself as a sinner from birth. Do you think that is true of you as well?  3. We...

In our lives, we will face many hardships from which we need relief. It is only in God that we will find a refuge that relieves fears, provides peace, and gives comfort, no matter what storms may come. Application Questions:  1. What fears do you wrestle with most? How can meditating on the strength of God help you to calm those fears?  2. Where else are you tempted to go for peace instead of God'...