Cornerstone Message Podcast

Why is the Gospel story, in which the Resurrection is the culminating event, Good News? And is it just a story? After all, how many people that you know who have died and then sprung back to life on the third day? So is our core belief believable? And if so, what makes it such good news? In this message Pastor Brian tackles these crucial questions and see how the reality of Resurrection can change your life dramatically, for the better!

Is it possible to feel God's absence, even when he is near and at work? In this Good Friday meditation Pastor Brian focuses on the darkness that fell while Jesus was on the cross. Does the darkness in our lives mean God's absence and abandonment?

Have you ever adjusted your behavior because of the crowd you're in? Why? It's only natural to want to be thought well of by others, but what's the line between authenticity and image management? In today's section of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus shows us how to uncover our true motivations for what we do, change our methods if necessary, and in the process enjoy the rich reward of deeper fellowship with our Heavenly Father.

Ever notice that it's much easier to like people like you who like you? But Jesus presents a different standard: "Love your enemies." Jesus prescribes taking our cue not from what is easy or common, but from the heavenly Father, who "sends his rain on the just and the unjust alike." Sound difficult? It just may be impossible, but for one bit of Good News...

"Life isn't fair!" Ever heard that one or felt it deeply before? We all have. Yet there's something inside all of us that longs for justice, even in a world full of unearned injuries. Is it possible to be at peace and ensure justice in an unfair world? In this week's message in the Sermon on the Mount series, Jesus presents an alternative to tooth-pulling paybacks, and eye-gouging retaliation. In the Kingdom of God which Jesus initiated paybacks can become blessings, and contagious generosity can displace cascading violence. Find out how.

Want to destroy a relationship as quickly and as completely as possible? Introduce dishonesty, distrust, and unfaithfulness into the equation. Why is that? Because trust is the currency and foundation of every relationship. Build trust, and you've got a solid foundation and relationship. Erode it, and the whole thing will come down in sinking sand. In today's passage in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus presents the solution to a world full of conflicting messages, manipulative lies, and shady characters. His kingdom will be made up of people with absolute integrity.

Many inside and outside of the church have wondered if the Biblical sexual ethic is right, realistic, or fair. Even committed Jesus-followers can harbor doubts and guilty consciences when this topic arises. Clear up the confusion and your conscience as we face up to the realities of the power of sex, the nature of the marriage, and the hope provided by the cross. Get real and get ready to experience the ideal in part six of the Sermon on the Mount.

How do I break the patterns that lead to broken relationships? If you've ever said something you regret, let your anger, rage, or fear make you do or say something that you wish you hadn't, there's good news. You can move from being controlled by your fear and anger to having your emotions under control. You can move from being a rage monster to being at peace with yourself and the world. Jesus taught us how, and it's all in part five of the Sermon on the Mount series today.

What is our relationship to the Old Testament laws for us as followers of Jesus? Confused by the apparent conflict in the Bible between Jesus' teaching that seems to set aside the OT law, and this passage in the Sermon on the Mount where Jesus ramps up the call to observe and teach every "jot and tittle" (What are those, anyway?) in the law? Don't settle for dead religion observed out of obligation; instead experience a vibrant relationship with your Creator God. It's all in "Full Filled," part four of the Sermon on the Mount series.

What is the point of you? For Jesus' followers, he makes our point very clear. In Part Three of the Sermon on the Mount Series, we'll unpack the images of salt and light that Jesus uses to illustrate who we are and how we are to impact our world. Are you made of the stuff that changes the world?