Downtown Cornerstone Church

Today we are considering the role of the local church in God's unfolding story. What is the point of the local church? Is there a point? Wrestling with these questions is, if you will, essential. The local church is God’s Plan A for the advancement of his purposes in the world and in our lives. If we want to participate in the fullness of his purposes, we must embrace his chosen vehicle for advancing them.

This morning we continue our new year essentials sermon series. This four-week series addresses important themes we must repeatedly return to for the glory of God, the good of others, and our ongoing transformation. Today we will consider how to reboot our prayer life at the start of a new year. We know prayer is important, but there is a lot that wars against us to keep us from praying. So, how do we move forward? That’s what today is all about.

This morning we are continuing our new year essentials sermon series. This series addresses important themes that we must repeatedly return to for the glory of God, the good of others, and our ongoing transformation. Today we are going to consider what it means to be a gospel-forged people in a politically divided age. The big question before us is simple, yet profound: as Jesus’ people, how do we not mirror the divisions in the world, but heal them?

This morning we are beginning a set of annual sermons we refer to as our new year essentials. These sermons address subjects and important themes that we must repeatedly return to for the glory of God and the transformation of our inner and outer lives. These are not, of course, the same sermons. Rather, they are different sermons, taking different angles, on issues we need to come back to again and again. We begin our year, and our series, by considering the nature of the Bible and the irreplaceable value of storing it up in our hearts.

The passage of time has perennially called God’s Image Bearers to assess and aspire. A new year calls us to consider past experience and future expectations. God, in His wisdom, has given the Church Titus 2 in part so that we may orient ourselves within the reality renewing good news of Grace and the blessed hope of Glory. Today, in Titus 2:11-14, we will consider the nature of this present age and the transformative work preparing us for the appearing of the glory of our Great God and Savior Jesus Christ.

The Bible describes God as an all-good, all-powerful, just, merciful, and loving creator. How are we to understand our lives in view of this God? Through Psalm 34, David shows us that the fear of the Lord is the posture of heart that we should take to understand our experiences. We can praise God in all seasons and trust him to be who he says he is, which is exactly what we need him to be.

This evening we are wrapping-up our Advent series, The Songs of Christmas, in which we’ve explored the gospel wonders of Christmas. Each week we considered a different song that emerged around the arrival of God-in-the-flesh, Jesus Christ. Today we reach the climactic close with Heaven’s song, recorded in Revelation 5. This song doesn’t originate in Jesus’ coming, but it does explain why he came—and that makes it a great Christmas song.

We are currently in a month-long Advent series, The Songs of Christmas, in which we are exploring the gospel wonders of Christmas. Today we reach Jesus’ Song. Of course, we don’t have an actual song recorded that Jesus sang, but if he had a song it would be Psalm 110. This psalm is one of the most important psalms that points to the long-awaited, much anticipated Messiah—whose arrival we are celebrating this week.

We are currently in the midst of a month-long Advent series, The Songs of Christmas, in which we are exploring the soul-thrilling wonders of Christmas. Each week we are reflecting on a different biblical song that emerges around the arrival of God-in-the-flesh, Jesus Christ. Last week, we considered Zechariah’s Song (Lk. 1:67-80). Today, we will look at The Angels' Song (Lk. 2:14) sung by a multitude of the heavenly host declaring God's glory and peace. Let us consider what this means for us this season.

We are currently in the midst of a month-long Advent series, The Songs of Christmas, in which we are exploring the soul-thrilling wonders of Christmas. Each week we are reflecting on a different biblical song that emerges around the arrival of God-in-the-flesh, Jesus Christ. Last week, we considered Mary’s Song (Lk. 1:46-55). Today, we will look at Zechariah’s Song (Lk. 1:67-80) which reveals a new day has dawned for those living in darkness—and anyone can get in on it.