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