Cornerstone Conversations

The words "godly," "godliness," "ungodly," and "ungodliness" recur throughout English translations of the Bible. Sadly there is often a misunderstanding of these terms that understimates both the human problem and the divine solution through Christ. In today's podcast, our pastors work toward a more accurate and contextual understanding of the concept that magnifies the kindness of God. 

All around us are reminders of our mortality. We can often feel senses of hopelessness and dread as we navigate through this broken world. Sadly, even with all the mental health resources available today, levels of anxiety and depression are on the rise. Suicide remains an alarming and growing trend in our society. The Gospel announces to us the good news that there is hope for our fallen minds and bodies and for this fallen world. On today's podcast our pastors talk about how we can find true, solid hope in the person and work of Jesus Christ. 

On today's podcast, our pastors continue their conversation on the Light of Jesus and what it looks like to walk in His Light together as fellow believers. Fellowship with God and each other is the greatest gift we have and it is only possible because of the truth and love of God. We hope you are encouraged by today's discussion.  

Jesus is "The Light of the World." As believers in Him, we are called "children of light" (Jn 12:36), and we are invited to "walk in the light" (Jn 12:35; 1 Jn 1:7-10). This involves two main realities: Seeing who God is clearly through Jesus, and seeing who we are apart from Him. It is also an invitation to appreciate our great God for who He is, to trust Him, and to walk in His light. It is to live with humility, honesty, and trasparency in our relationship with Him and with one another as we endeavor to love as we've been loved by Him. 

Life is filled with ups and downs and twists and turns. It's not predictable and certainly not controllable, including our spiritual life. There can be unexpected twists there as well, as God shows us that He is in control, that He is parenting us, shepherding us, etc. Sometimes we will see growth, or change, and other times we will not. But, He is still God and He is still up to good in our lives, in His patient, loving way, putting to death our old way of life and raising us to new life in Christ. On today's podcast, our pastors discuss the Christian life as a sort of living by dying. 

We are living in troubling times. Every day there seems to be some news headline that has us thinking, “Wow, are we heading toward the end of the world…like soon?!” Believers and Non-believers alike have strong feelings about what could be coming. For Christians, we cannont help but think about Jesus' return. Could it be soon? It seems so. On the other hand, we cannot know for sure. So, how ought we live in light of the possibilities? What does readiness for the King's return look like? In today's podcast, our pastors talk about how a careful look at Christ's first coming helps us prepare for His second coming. 

As we close out 2023 and begin 2024, our pastors sit down to reflect on things to be thankful for when looking back and things to be hopeful for when looking forward. For most of us, entering a new year brings a mix of both eager anticipation and nervous apprehension. There are things we are excited for and things we are concerned about. Lamentations 3 tells us that God's mercies are "new every morning" (v. 23). Whatever lies ahead of us in the new year, we can have confidence that our God is for us and that He has new mercies waiting for us each day. 

It is Christmas 2023. We are one year farther from the occurance of Christ's birth, but no farther from its relevance. Because we humans are so naturally plagued by our pride, our reaching upward, God humbled Himself and reached downward. Jesus came in the most lowly way to rescue us from our toxic pride. In today's conversation, Pastors Rob and Jeff talk about the incarnation and how amazing it is that God has so loved us. They talk about how these truths of Christmas connect with all of us, whether we are having a great and fun Christmas or a not-so-great and painful Christmas.

In our John series, we recently encountered a passage in which Jesus said, "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me" (10:27). What does it mean to follow Jesus? What does His invitation to follow Him say about His pursuit of us? Are there ways in which our following of Jesus differs from the disciples of the first century? Are there ways in which it is the same? In this week's Cornerstone Conversation, Pastors Rob and Jeff talk about this important New Testament principle and its manifestation in our daily lives. 

In a world filled with sinners, there's arguably nothing more necessary than forgiveness. Without it, every relationships is doomed to some kind of failure. It is only a matter of time before offenses, whether intentional or not, whether minor or major, drive a wedge between people. In this episode, our pastors talk about the importance of forgiveness, where it comes from, what it looks like, and what it doesn't look like.