Equip Podcast

What is an idol, really? In this episode, Mark Vance and Emily Jensen continue the Ten Commandments series by looking at God’s command to have no other gods before him. Together, they unpack what idolatry means, why it’s more than statues or images, and how it shows up in the everyday loves and pursuits of our lives. Drawing from Scripture and voices like Tim Keller, they discuss how easily good t...

How can something so old speak with so much power today? In this conversation, Mark and Emily look at the heart behind the current teaching series at Cornerstone, why God gave these commands, and how they point us toward a life of freedom with him. Together, they talk about connecting God’s truth to everyday life and share how this series is meant to shape us as a church family. Episode Highlights...

What does it look like to be deeply rooted in Christ in a world of cultural chaos? Pastor Mark Vance is joined by Emily Jensen, the new co-host of the Equip Podcast, to share her story and introduce a new season of Equip focused on the Ten Commandments. Show Notes: In this conversation, Emily shares her journey of faith—from growing up in church, to walking away during college, to surrendering her...

Episode 288 - 21 Days of Prayer: Fasting, hosted by Mark Vance. From 8/3-8/24, Cornerstone Church is setting aside 21 Days devoted to Kingdom Centered prayer. Fasting and Prayer are deeply connected in Scripture and in the practice of the church. What is fasting? Why do we fast? How do we fast? This podcast is designed to help you live a faithful and fruitful life where Jesus has called you. Conne...

Episode 287 - 21 Days of Prayer: Prayer Boosters, hosted by Mark Vance.  From 8/3-8/24, Cornerstone Church is setting aside 21 Days devoted to Kingdom Centered prayer. In this podcast, we cover several prayer boosting tools that can help to focus and sharpen your time in prayer.  This podcast is designed to help you live a faithful and fruitful life where Jesus has called you. Connect with Corners...

Episode 286 - 21 Days of Prayer: What is Intercessory Prayer?, hosted by Mark Vance. From 8/3-8/24, Cornerstone Church is setting aside 21 Days devoted to Kingdom Centered prayer. What is "intercessory" prayer? What are the key principles that can shape our prayers for God's Kingdom work? This podcast is designed to help you live a faithful and fruitful life where Jesus has called y...

Episode 285 - Liberal Christianity is NOT Christianity, hosted by Mark Vance. We often see churches who claim Christ, but teach very different doctrines and moral values. Where did the "liberal" church in North America come from and what can we learn from its departure from historic Christianity? This podcast is designed to help you live a faithful and fruitful life where Jesus has calle...

Episode 284 - Bitterness and Family Brokenness, hosted by Mark Vance. How can a necessary reflection on generational sins of our family avoid the trap of getting stuck in bitterness? This podcast is designed to help you live a faithful and fruitful life where Jesus has called you. Connect with Cornerstone Church Online at cornerstonelife.com . Subscribe to our "Sermon" and "Equip&qu...

Episode 283-  How much should I work out physically?, hosted by Mark Vance. 1 Timothy 4:8 says bodily discipline is of some value... but how much is too much? This podcast is designed to help you live a faithful and fruitful life where Jesus has called you. Connect with Cornerstone Church Online at cornerstonelife.com . Subscribe to our "Sermon" and "Equip" podcasts on iTunes a...

Episode 282- Can I be Patriotic as a Christian?, hosted by Mark Vance. How do we balance our love for our earthly country with our citizenship in God's eternal Kingdom? This podcast is designed to help you live a faithful and fruitful life where Jesus has called you. Connect with Cornerstone Church Online at cornerstonelife.com . Subscribe to our "Sermon" and "Equip" podca...

Episode 281- Spiritual Workout Plan: Coaching at the Halfway Point, hosted by Mark Vance. We are almost halfway through our summer spiritual workout plan. Mark shares helpful coaching on Bible reading, prayer, accountability and more.  This podcast is designed to help you live a faithful and fruitful life where Jesus has called you. Connect with Cornerstone Church Online at cornerstonelife.com . S...

Episode 280- Strategic Generosity 3: Where and how should I give?, hosted by Mark Vance. This podcast is designed to help you live a faithful and fruitful life where Jesus has called you. Connect with Cornerstone Church Online at cornerstonelife.com . Subscribe to our "Sermon" and "Equip" podcasts on iTunes and Spotify and follow us on Facebook and Instagram . Ask Mark a Questi...

Episode 279- Strategic Generosity 2: How much should I give?, hosted by Mark Vance. This podcast is designed to help you live a faithful and fruitful life where Jesus has called you. Connect with Cornerstone Church Online at cornerstonelife.com . Subscribe to our "Sermon" and "Equip" podcasts on iTunes and Spotify and follow us on Facebook and Instagram . Ask Mark a Question! S...

How does Jesus tell us to handle our money? Mark explores the gospel motivations that should drive the way we think about money and resources. While there’s wisdom in saving, writing wills, and caring for family, Jesus calls us to something deeper: using our earthly goods to store up eternal treasure and invite others into God’s kingdom. Mark challenges us to be even more intentional about plannin...

How should Christians prepare financially and legally for the end of life? Mark is joined by Tim Gartin, a local attorney and Cornerstone member, to talk about end-of-life financial and legal planning. Tim offers practical and godly wisdom on wills, estates, and stewardship, helping Christians think ahead with faith and responsibility. This conversation reminds us that preparing well isn’t just ab...

How do we navigate end-of-life medical choices with faith and wisdom? Mark is joined by his sister Megan, a cardiac nurse, and Val Bohlen, a longtime hospice caregiver. Together they share personal and professional perspectives on aging, medical interventions, and the difficult choices that often come at the end of life. This conversation explores the tension between preserving life and prolonging...

If life is short and death is certain, what story will you leave behind? Mark and guest panelists address the most important preparation for death: having a clear testimony of faith in Jesus. He challenges listeners to consider whether they have true confidence in Christ as the resurrection and the life, and explains why clarity in your own story is the foundation for passing on the gospel to othe...

Tony Lee is joining Cornerstone as our new Salt Company Director! Tony sits down with Mark to share his testimony of coming to faith in Christ and how God has led him into ministry. This conversation gives a glimpse into Tony’s heart for the gospel and his excitement for leading the Salt Company in Ames. This podcast is designed to help you live a faithful and fruitful life where Jesus has called...

Where do you even start when it comes to reading the Bible? In this episode, Mark coaches us through the Spiritual Workout Plan, focusing on the foundational discipline of Bible reading. He explains how to begin, what questions to ask as you study, and how to move toward memorizing and applying Scripture in daily life. This is practical guidance for anyone who wants to grow in biblical literacy—la...

Why don't we baptize infants at Cornerstone? Why do we re-baptize some people? Mark explains why baptism is central to the life of the church and addresses some of the most common questions people ask. From infant baptism to re-baptism to how baptism connects with salvation, this episode offers a clear and practical guide to why baptism matters so deeply in the Christian faith. This podcast i...

Episode 270- What is a Resurrection Body Like?, hosted by Mark Vance. This podcast is designed to help you live a faithful and fruitful life where Jesus has called you. Connect with Cornerstone Church Online at cornerstonelife.com . Subscribe to our "Sermon" and "Equip" podcasts on iTunes and Spotify and follow us on Facebook and Instagram . Ask Mark a Question! Suggest a topic...

Was the belief that Jesus is God an early conviction? Mark tackles one of the most common claims from skeptics: that the idea of Jesus’ divinity developed slowly over time. Drawing from the confession of Thomas and other New Testament witnesses, he shows how the earliest Christians worshiped Jesus as both Lord and God. Mark demonstrates why belief in the divinity of Christ is not a later theologic...

In a world full of noise and distraction, how do we keep ourselves grounded in God's word? Mark challenges us to think about theology like a workout — something we train in consistently, not casually. While it’s easy to fill our days with music, podcasts, and constant noise, he calls us to dig deep wells of biblical knowledge and awe for Christ. Mark celebrates the hunger he sees in college s...

How do we help our kids develop a lasting walk with God? Mark shares a practical vision for guiding children into daily devotion with the Lord. He challenges the tendency to overvalue spontaneous “deep” experiences while overlooking the power of steady, ritualized rhythms. Instead of aiming for memorable moments, the goal is consistent nourishment — helping kids learn to pray, read Scripture, and...

How do we help our kids pursue purity in a culture that pushes the opposite? Mark unpacks God’s design for purity and how parents can guide their children toward sexual faithfulness in a culture that resists it. This conversation is about shepherding children into a life shaped by the gospel, where purity is not about rules, but about following Christ. This podcast is designed to help you live a f...