Cornerstone Church

It’s the book behind it all! So what is it that makes the Bible trustworthy? What does it really mean when we call it “God’s Word?” How do we read it responsibly without twisting it or taking it out of context? We’re diving into Scripture to see how it was formed, why it matters, and how to study it in a way that leads to transformation—not just information.

Cornerstone Church exists to help people find the Father, a family, and a fulfilling future. This sermon was preached at Cornerstone Church located in Akron, OH on June 6, 2026.

In a culture obsessed with control, influence, and being right, Jesus redefines what power actually looks like. Instead of lording authority over others, He calls His followers to a posture of humility and service. This message confronts our tendency to control people, win arguments, and assert dominance—and invites us into the upside-down Kingdom where true power is expressed through surrender, love, and servanthood.

Jesus’ words in Matthew 7 cut straight to the heart of our tendency to judge others while ignoring our own brokenness. Before we speak into someone else’s life, we are called to examine ourselves. This message challenges the culture of criticism and outrage by calling us to personal responsibility, humility, and discernment—learning when to speak, when to stay silent, and how to correct others with wisdom and grace only after dealing with our own “plank.”

In a culture fueled by outrage, offense has become a way of life—but not for followers of Jesus. At Cornerstone, we believe we can be deeply convicted without being easily offended. People may misunderstand us, disagree with us, or even mock us, and that’s OK. Jesus has shown the Church a better way marked by humility, patience, and resilient love.

We have a guiding mindset at Cornerstone: “Is Jesus at the center?” We believe Christ is the fullest revelation of God—which means our theology, worship, mission, and relationships all orbit around Him. Churches lose their way whenever Jesus is replaced with preferences, personalities, or agendas. But when Christ is central—everything else finds its proper place.

Church isn’t for people who have it all figured out—it’s for people who are still wrestling. At Cornerstone, we’re not afraid of doubt, failure, questions, or messy stories because Jesus never avoided broken people...He moved toward them. We believe honesty is safer than pretending and that nobody stands on the outside looking in when grace is at the center.

Social media has expanded the reach of comparison beyond anything previous generations could’ve ever imagined. We measure ourselves not just against our neighbors—but against an infinite feed of filtered success and curated joy. That kind of comparison pulls us towards inferiority or superiority—and neither reflects the identity we’re given in Christ.

We assume we’re informed—but most of us are only seeing half the story. Algorithms work to confirm our fears, preferences, and assumptions—while filtering out anything that might challenge us. We’re in parallel worlds where people live side-by-side but don’t understand each other. How can followers of Jesus live faithfully in a world that keeps pulling us apart?

Social media has erased the space between thought and speech. What used to be filtered through wisdom, prayer, and relationship now goes straight from the heart to the screen. Our darkest, most reactive thoughts no longer have to mature before being shared. With the press of a button, they’re public and permanent—doing more damage than we know.