Cornerstone Church

Paul had something in his life that he wanted gone—a thorn in the flesh. He pleaded with God to remove it, but God’s response was clear: “My power is made perfect in weakness.” What if we stopped resenting our weaknesses and started partnering with God in them? The very thing that you think disqualifies you may be what God reveals His power through.

Sadly, Christians have been experts in giving love that looks and sounds like everything but love. We create a definition of love that justifies coldness, distance, and cruelty. But the love Jesus modeled was full of both grace and truth—not one at the expense of the other. We must confront our distorted definitions of love and rediscover what true love looks like.

Here’s the truth of the matter—following Jesus will cost you something. And oftentimes? It’s a cost we’re not willing to pay. Honestly...are you willing to be misunderstood? To love people who may never love you? To put your preferences aside so others can meet Jesus? Or will you settle for a faith of loopholes—a faith only going as far as your comfort zone?

Something is happening at Cornerstone. You can feel in worship services. You can see it in our groups. You can hear it in our stories. We’re experiencing a moment—God is at work, and His moves are undeniable. So what now? How do we manage this moment and partner with God to turn it into a movement—one that will help advance the Kingdom in our city?

At the end of his letter, Paul gives more than just farewells—he gives a charge: “Guard the unity of the Church.” His warning? Division and false teaching are real threats. Unity doesn’t mean uniformity—it means staying rooted in truth, loving one another well, and refusing to let secondary issues divide what Jesus died to unite. Unity isn’t optional. It’s mission critical.

What does a Spirit-led life actually look like? Paul gives a portrait of a life that is not about rigid rule-keeping, but about a transformed heart that overflows with love, humility, and grace. Living by the Spirit means offering ourselves as living sacrifices, serving others with joy, and overcoming evil with good. And it means letting love—not law—shape our lives.

When it looks like the story isn’t going as planned, we can wonder: “Has God changed His mind?” But Paul reminds us that God doesn’t forget His promises or abandon His people. He is not random or reactive. He is intentional, faithful, and sovereign. What He starts, He finishes. His promises don’t expire, and His plans don’t fail. Our God always keeps His word.

In Adam, we’re stuck—slaves to sin, bound by the law, and headed for death. But in Jesus? Everything changes. We have freedom to live how we were meant to live—as true image bearers of God, filled with the Holy Spirit, walking in victory, and secured by grace. No more chains and no more regret. It’s a new day, and we’ve got a new identity—and it ain't Adam!

Salvation isn’t something that we earn—and neither is the transformation that follows. Paul makes it clear...righteousness doesn’t come by effort, heritage, or performance. No—right standing with God comes by faith. That means that there’s no room for boasting in the Gospel—only room for us to agree with what Jesus says is true and to trust in His work. Scriptures Romans 3 & 4

In the opening chapter of Romans, Paul paints a picture of a world spiraling into sin—and the religious crowd who nods along in agreement. They see the World and say: “It’s those people who are the problem.” Now here we are—2,000 years later with the same mindset. But what if the problem that lies in the World also happens to live within each of us, too? Scriptures Romans 1 & 2

The Church is the ongoing chapter of the Story of Scripture where we get to play a part! We are now the body of Christ, called to spread the Gospel, love one another, and bring God’s Kingdom. Though we’re living in the "now" of God’s story, the work isn’t finished. Each of us has a role to play in advancing God's purpose until the final, glorious chapter of restoration. Scriptures Matthew 16:13-18

Jesus of Nazareth—the climax of God’s plan of redemption. In Jesus, all of God’s promises, prophecies, and hopes of the Old Testament find their fulfillment. Jesus is the long-awaited Messiah, the perfect Son of God who came to save humanity from sin and death. Jesus is the turning point of the story where God’s rescue operation meets its powerful conclusion. Scriptures Jeremiah 31:31-34 & John 1:1-5

After the Fall, God chose a people to reveal His heart and His plan for redemption—Israel. Through this nation, God would demonstrate His faithfulness, show the world His holiness, and foreshadow the coming of the Savior. Israel’s journey points to the ultimate hope: a Messiah who would bring true freedom and restore mankind’s split relationship with God. Scriptures Genesis 12:1-3

The Fall...the moment everything broke. Humanity was created to rule with God, but in a tragic act of rebellion, we chose sin over Him. That choice shattered creation, bringing separation from God. But even in the Fall, there was a whisper of hope—a promise that one day, a Rescuer would come to crush evil, break our chains, and restore what was lost. Scriptures Genesis 3:1-13

Betrayal, criticism, and unspoken expectations can take a toll on pastors. And if we’re not careful, resentment creeps in. We’re called to forgive, but some wounds are hard to let go. And bitterness is a poison that doesn’t just affect pastors—it affects anyone who lets unresolved issues fester. But Jesus offers a better way—of not holding on, but of letting go. Scriptures Colossians 3:8 & 12-13

It’s easy to put pastors on a pedestal...but the truth? We struggle with sin just like everyone else. We fight pride, impatience, and unhelpful thoughts we wish we didn’t have. The title “pastor” doesn’t make us immune to temptation or failure. But the good news is, our hope isn’t in our own righteousness—it’s in Jesus. None of us is excluded…we all need His mercy. Scriptures Romans 3:10-24

Pastors feel the weight of expectations—preach well, lead well, shepherd well. But beneath it all lurks a fear: What if I mess up? What if I let people down? What if I’m not enough? Does that sound familiar? Of course it does! And the truth is, we will fail at times. But our calling from God isn’t to be perfect—it’s to be faithful. God doesn’t see our success the way we do. Scriptures Psalm 37:23-24 & Psalm 40:1-5

Pastors are surrounded by people...yet there are times when we feel completely isolated. The expectation to be strong, to have the answers, to always be “on” can be overwhelming. Admitting struggles can feel very risky, so it’s easier to keep them hidden. But loneliness thrives in silence. And the truth is, none of us were meant to carry burdens by ourselves. Scriptures Hebrews 4:15-16 & Isaiah 53:2-5

Pastors are expected to have unshakable faith—but the truth is, we wrestle with questions, too. There are moments when God feels distant, prayers seem unanswered, and we wonder if we’re getting it wrong. But doubt isn’t the enemy of faith—unchecked doubt is. When we bring questions and doubts to Jesus? We find out He always meets us with grace. Scriptures John 20:24-29

The Cross of Christ wasn’t just a sacrifice—it was a showdown, a rescue mission, and the greatest liberation effort in history. Through the death and resurrection of Jesus, we don’t just escape sin—we get to step into a new life, a new kingdom, and a new promised land! It’s Easter Sunday, and the Enemy has been defeated! The path to freedom is now open! Scriptures Exodus 3:7-8 & John 16:33