Cornerstone Equipping Archive

How Should I Think About Sex?:  This session looks at why God even cares about things like this, and why it's good news that he does. Taught by Sam Allberry.

This session is a part of Equip Weekend: Gender & Sexuality (Spring 2025).

Let’s be honest: Sometimes Jesus says things are just downright confusing, a this course will delve into some of the challenging and often misunderstood sayings of Jesus. Participants will gain tools for interpreting tough biblical texts, addressing questions and concerns that arise from passages that seem confusing or troubling. With a focus on clarity and sound biblical interpretation, we’ll explore how these hard sayings reveal profound truths about the character of God and the nature of the Kingdom of Heaven. Taught by Alex Tuckness and Alanna Sellinger.

Other Details:

• Interpretive Journey and study resources handout

This crash course explores what the Bible says about diversity and how the church can cultivate a rich, all-encompassing theology of diversity that reflects God’s heart for all people. We’ll go beyond just race and ethnicity to examine how aspects like socioeconomic status, marital status, disabilities, and family makeup contribute to a fuller understanding of God’s design for community. Participants will be challenged to consider how embracing holistic diversity can foster spiritual growth, deepen relationships, and help believers mature in their faith. We’ll also address the dangers of elevating any single aspect of identity above our identity in Christ and explore how exclusion from diversity can hinder spiritual maturity. Taught by Alex Tuckness with guest panelists.

This crash course dives into the addictive nature of social media and how it’s designed to keep us hooked. Participants will learn how to identify harmful habits, build healthier practices, and find ways to use social media with purpose, so you can connect meaningfully and show up as a faithful presence and fruitful witness online. Taught by Jill Thomas (LISW), Laura Wifler, and Alanna Sellinger.

Other Details:

• Social Media Personal Survey, Symptoms, and Playbook Handout
• "Facebook Files," podcast on Spotify
• "The Social Dilemma," documentary and website

Which Battles are Worth Fighting?:  This session discusses lessons from the Fundamentalist-Modernist controversy. A great need in the church today is theological triage: which issues are worth fighting over? Going back 100 years into church history provides helpful perspective on which doctrines we should be willing to divide over—and which are not. Despite the negative connotations of the word “fundamentalist,” the early fundamentalists can actually help us consider how to prioritize the gospel amidst our theological disagreements. This session provides an overview of what the early fundamentalists stood for, and how their legacy relates to contemporary conversations. Taught by Gavin Ortlund.

This session is a part of Equip Weekend: Church History (Fall 2024).

Overcoming Anxiety:  This session discusses how the Puritans can help with anxiety, one of the most acute and prevalent modern struggles. We have resources in our theological traditions that can speak to this struggle, as the Puritans excelled at applying the gospel as a balm to the human heart. Special attention is given to the role of the Holy Spirit in providing assurance of the love of God. Taught by Gavin Ortlund.

This session is a part of Equip Weekend: Church History (Fall 2024).

Tales of Martyrs:  This session discusses faithful courage from forgotten stories-- inspiring and often neglected stories of faithfulness amidst suffering in church history. Special focus will be given to how Christians responded to persecution in the early church, and the courage of missionaries and martyrs who brought the gospel into Northern Europe in early medieval history. Taught by Gavin Ortlund.

This session is a part of Equip Weekend: Church History (Fall 2024).

How to Thrive in a Hostile Culture:  This session discusses lessons from the early church-- how the early Christians responded to a hostile and ungodly surrounding culture with neither retreat nor attack. Special attention is given to the early Christians’ attitude toward entertainment (gladiator games, theater, etc.), which provides many lessons for how Christians today should respond to television and social media. Taught by Gavin Ortlund.

This session is a part of Equip Weekend: Church History (Fall 2024).

This crash course tackles some of the most troublesome texts of violence in the Old Testament so we can better understand how to make sense of God for ourselves and others. Taught by Rudy Hartmann.

Other Resources:

• Crash Course Notes & Handout

From toddlers to teens, parenting takes all sorts of shapes through the years. This crash course will help you understand the nature of each stage of your child’s development, and how this impacts all aspects of your parenting approach for the purpose of cultivating a meaningful and lasting relationship. Taught by Jill Thomas, therapist at Abounding Hope Counseling.

Other details:

• Crash Course handout
• Parenting Resources handout