As a new year approaches, how should Christians think about goals, habits, and productivity—without slipping into hustle culture or empty self-improvement?

In this episode, Mark offers a pastoral framework for goal setting that prioritizes faithfulness over frenzy. Rather than chasing vague resolutions or cultural pressure, he encourages listeners to think carefully about how they steward their time, energy, and attention as followers of Jesus. Drawing on biblical wisdom and pastoral experience, Mark contrasts surface-level goal setting with intentional rhythms that shape who we are becoming.

Mark also introduces the Spiritual Workout Plan (SWP) as a practical tool to help believers grow in grace through daily and weekly practices like Scripture reading, prayer, silence, and intentional rest. This episode invites listeners to move from pressure-driven productivity to Spirit-formed faithfulness as they plan for the year ahead.

Episode Highlights

00:00 — Why goal setting matters—and why most approaches fall short
02:12 — Faithfulness vs. hustle: rethinking success as a Christian
04:35 — Time, energy, and attention as spiritual stewardship
07:18 — The danger of vague resolutions and cultural pressure
09:50 — Forming rhythms instead of chasing outcomes
12:40 — Introducing the Spiritual Workout Plan (SWP): what it is and how it helps
15:22 — Daily and weekly practices that shape long-term faithfulness
18:10 — From discipline to delight: how habits form loves
21:05 — Planning your year with wisdom, margin, and dependence on grace

Resources

• Cornerstone Church Sermons: Listen online
• The Spring Spiritual Workout Plan
• James Clear, Atomic Habits
• Justin Whitmel Earley, Habits of the Household
• David Mathis, Habits of Grace

How should Christians navigate real-life questions about faith, family, dating, and church differences—especially when Catholic and Protestant worlds overlap?

In this Q&A episode, Emily joins Mark to wrap up the “Why Protestantism?” series by moving from theology to wisdom. Mark responds to practical questions that surface after discussing Catholic and Protestant differences, particularly for those who grew up Catholic, have Catholic family members, or are navigating close relationships across traditions. Throughout the conversation, he emphasizes starting with the gospel itself—personal faith in Christ—before addressing church affiliation, practices, or tradition.

Mark also tackles sensitive topics like honoring Catholic parents, engaging family conversations with humility, dating across theological traditions, and how to approach disagreements with both clarity and charity. He concludes by addressing questions about biblical authority and the Catholic canon, explaining how Protestants understand Scripture, canon formation, and the ongoing need for reform within the church. The episode closes with a hopeful reminder that Christian unity matters deeply, even as real differences remain.

Episode Highlights

00:00 — Introducing the Q&A: moving from theology to pastoral wisdom
02:00 — The foundational question: what truly saves a person?
03:30 — Can someone be a genuine Christian within the Catholic Church?
05:50 — When gospel clarity matters for spiritual growth and church health
06:45 — Honoring Catholic family members without compromising conviction
08:00 — “Show and tell” vs. “argue and yell”: a wiser approach to family conversations
10:05 — Dating across traditions: when differences become directional conflicts
11:00 — Mark’s 0–5 dating framework and why long-term direction matters
15:30 — Why Mark advises against serious dating between Catholics and Protestants
16:45 — Do Catholics have a different Bible? Understanding the Apocrypha
18:30 — How the church recognized Scripture—and why Protestants affirm sola Scriptura
23:40 — Learning from church history: where Protestant churches can drift too
26:00 — Why Protestantism allows for reform and self-correction
28:30 — The danger of trivializing worship and doctrine in modern evangelicalism
30:15 — Charity, clarity, and Christian unity in a secularizing culture

Resources

• Cornerstone Church Sermons: Listen online
• Gavin Ortlund, What It Means to Be Protestant (Truth Unites)
• Michael J. Kruger, Canon Revisited
• Michael J. Kruger, Christianity at the Crossroads

If both Catholics and Protestants believe we’re saved by grace through Jesus Christ, why do they still disagree so sharply about the gospel—and how we actually receive it?

In this episode, Mark continues the “Why Protestantism?” series by focusing on how grace is applied to the believer. He explains how Roman Catholicism understands grace as being mediated through the Church’s sacramental system—especially baptism and the Eucharist—and why the sacraments are seen as the ordinary channels through which God dispenses saving grace. Using a vivid “pop machine” illustration, Mark unpacks how this shapes Catholic views of salvation, assurance, and the Christian life.

Mark then contrasts this with the Protestant conviction of sola fide—that we are justified by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone, with the preached Word at the center. He highlights areas of real agreement with Roman Catholics (salvation by grace, the transforming work of the Spirit) while also showing where the systems diverge, especially on how grace is received. Finally, he explores how these differences show up in Sunday worship and why gospel clarity matters deeply for ordinary Christians.

Episode Highlights

00:00 — Intro to the Equip Podcast and the “Why Protestantism?” series recap
02:28 — Sacramental system vs sola fide and why gospel clarity is at stake
03:22 — Is the gospel present in Roman Catholicism? Where Protestants and Catholics genuinely agree
06:00 — Grace, transformation, and assurance: why Catholics don’t say “saved by works,” and where Protestants often misunderstand
09:37 — The “pop machine” illustration: how Catholic theology sees grace flowing through the Church and its sacraments
11:27 — Walking through the seven sacraments: initiation, healing, and service—and why baptism and Eucharist are central
15:49 — The Protestant response: sola fide, justification by faith alone, and sacraments as signs and seals rather than the source of saving grace
17:22 — Romans 10 and the primacy of the preached Word: faith comes by hearing, not by ritual performance
20:25 — Sunday in the pews: how a Catholic Mass and a Protestant service reveal two different centers—Eucharist vs sermon
21:53 — Why Mark believes the gospel is present but often unclear in Catholicism—and why personal faith in Christ must be emphasized
22:22 — Preview of next week’s Q&A with Emily Jensen: dating a Catholic, real-life conversations, and practicing clarity with charity

Resources:

• Cornerstone Church Sermons: Listen online
• Gavin Ortlund, What It Means to Be Protestant (Truth Unites)
• Matthew Barrett, The Reformation as Renewal
• Michael Svigel, RetroChristianity: Reclaiming the Forgotten Faith
• Chad Van Dixhoorn (ed.), Creeds, Confessions, and Catechisms: A Reader’s Edition
• Catechism of the Catholic Church (Vatican)

Advent is here, which means an opportunity to slow down, refocus, and remember who Christmas is really about. In this bonus episode, Mark Vance and Emily Jensen walk through why Advent matters, how this season forms us, and how families and individuals can use Cornerstone’s Advent Guide to cultivate simple, meaningful rhythms that point to Jesus.

They remind us that Advent isn’t about adding pressure or performing traditions, but about creating space to behold Christ: his first coming in humility and his promised return in glory. Whether Advent is brand-new for you or a longtime rhythm, this conversation will help you see the bigger picture of why waiting, hope, and intentional practices shape a deeper faith.

Episode Highlights:

• 00:00 — Introduction and overview of the Cornerstone Advent Guide
• 01:41 — What Advent is and why Christians practice it in a post-Christian culture
• 04:28 — How the Advent Guide and Kids Connection help families engage with weekly themes
• 05:04 — Simple, realistic ways to weave Advent rhythms into everyday family life
• 10:51 — Navigating Santa, secular traditions, and keeping Christ central at Christmas

Resources:

• Digital Advent Guide: Download
• Advent at Cornerstone: Schedule and Resources
• Cornerstone Church Sermons: Listen online

Why do Catholics look to the Pope and the Magisterium for ultimate authority, while Protestants look to Scripture alone—and what does that mean for everyday faith? 

Mark continues the “Why Protestantism?” series by examining the heart of the authority debate. He explains how Roman Catholicism understands the Pope, apostolic succession, sacred tradition, and the Magisterium, and why Catholics believe these provide an infallible guide for the Church. Mark then contrasts this with the Protestant conviction that the Bible alone is the final and sufficient authority for faith and life.

Mark explores where these two systems diverge, why the Reformers rejected papal infallibility, and how the question of authority shapes everything—from doctrine, to worship, to the clarity of the gospel itself. This episode sets the stage for next week’s focus on gospel clarity and why authority matters for every Christian.

Episode Highlights

00:00 — Framing today’s question: who speaks with final authority in the Church?
02:14 — How Catholicism understands authority: Scripture, tradition, and the Magisterium
04:41 — Apostolic succession and why Catholics believe the Pope is Peter’s successor
06:58 — What papal infallibility actually means (and what it doesn’t)
10:08 — Ex cathedra teaching: when the Pope speaks infallibly
12:15 — Protestant concerns: where is the biblical basis for an infallible papacy?
14:02 — Why the Reformers insisted on sola Scriptura (Scripture alone)
16:40 — The practical implications: how these differences shape the Christian life

Resources:

• Cornerstone Church Sermons: Listen online
• Gavin Ortlund, What It Means to Be Protestant (Truth Unites)
• Matthew Barrett, The Reformation as Renewal
• Michael Svigel, RetroChristianity: Reclaiming the Forgotten Faith
• Chad Van Dixhoorn (ed.), Creeds, Confessions, and Catechisms: A Reader’s Edition
• Catechism of the Catholic Church (Vatican)

Why do Protestants and Catholics differ so sharply on authority, Mary, and the nature of the true church—and why does it matter for following Jesus today?

In this episode, Mark Vance continues the “Why Protestantism?” series by examining some of the most significant theological differences between Roman Catholicism and Protestant belief. With clarity and charity, Mark explains how Catholic teachings on Mary, the papacy, and church authority developed—and why he believes they obscure the clarity of the gospel.

Mark walks through the “four Marian doctrines,” the Catholic understanding of sacred tradition, and the claim of papal infallibility, showing how these teachings shape the Catholic view of the church. He contrasts this with the Protestant conviction that Scripture alone is the final authority and that salvation is grounded solely in the finished work of Christ. This episode lays crucial groundwork for understanding why the Reformers believed a return to biblical authority was necessary for the health of the church.

Episode Highlights

00:00 — Why Protestantism? Continuing the series and framing today's topic: authority
 02:47 — How Catholic doctrine develops: tradition, councils, and magisterial teaching
 06:10 — The four Marian doctrines (Immaculate Conception, Perpetual Virginity, Assumption, and Mary as Mediatrix)
 11:52 — Why these Marian teachings matter for understanding the gospel
 14:30 — How Catholicism understands the church’s teaching authority (magisterium)
 16:44 — The logic behind papal infallibility and ex cathedra teaching
 19:55 — Protestant concerns: where is the biblical warrant for these doctrines?
 22:18 — Scripture vs. tradition: which has final authority?
 24:12 — Why Mark believes the Catholic view of authority obscures gospel clarity

Resources

• Cornerstone Church Sermons: Listen online
• Gavin Ortlund, What It Means to Be Protestant (Truth Unites)
• Matthew Barrett, The Reformation as Renewal
• Michael Svigel, RetroChristianity: Reclaiming the Forgotten Faith
• Chad Van Dixhoorn (ed.), Creeds, Confessions, and Catechisms: A Reader’s Edition
• Catechism of the Catholic Church (Vatican)

Why are some Protestants drawn toward Roman Catholicism—and how should we think about the “one true church”? In this episode, Mark Vance launches a five-part series on the nature of the church, explaining why he remains a Protestant while seeking to speak with both clarity and charity about Catholicism.

Mark walks through why historical rootedness feels especially compelling in shaky cultural moments, how true Christianity exists within the Roman Catholic Church, and yet why he believes certain teachings and practices obscure the gospel. He also introduces the four major reasons he’s a Protestant: the nature of the true church, the history of the church, the question of authority, and the clarity of the gospel—setting the stage for the rest of the series.

Episode Highlights:

• 00:00 — Launching a five-part series: “Why Protestantism?” and why people are asking about Catholicism
• 03:19 — True Christianity within Catholicism—and how some teachings can obscure the gospel
• 08:55 — Overview of the four major reasons Mark remains a Protestant
• 11:25 — The Protestant view of the “one true church” and the visible/invisible church distinction
• 17:43 — How the Roman Catholic Church understands itself as the one true church (one, holy, catholic, apostolic)
• 22:51 — Protestantism as a renewal movement within the one true church, not a competing “true church”
• 24:19 — Are all Catholics saved? Visible membership vs. being born again by faith in Christ
• 26:03 — Why Mark says Rome is “not Catholic enough” and how Protestantism offers a broader catholicity

Resources:

• Cornerstone Church Sermons: Listen online
• Gavin Ortlund, What It Means to Be Protestant (Truth Unites)
• Matthew Barrett, The Reformation as Renewal
• Michael Svigel, RetroChristianity: Reclaiming the Forgotten Faith
• Chad Van Dixhoorn (ed.), Creeds, Confessions, and Catechisms: A Reader’s Edition
• Catechism of the Catholic Church (Vatican)

What does the Tenth Commandment have to do with Target runs, Amazon carts, and Instagram ads? In this episode, Mark and Emily explore “Do not covet” and talk honestly about living in a world designed to stir desire and fuel discontent.

They discuss why coveting runs deeper than wanting stuff — it’s about wanting someone else’s life — and why modern advertising, comparison culture, and curated online lifestyles make contentment both harder and more essential. With practical ideas like 24-hour purchase rules, fasting from buying, gratitude habits, and learning to rejoice in others’ good, this conversation invites us into a lifestyle shaped by worship, simplicity, and joy in God’s provision.

Resources:

• Cornerstone Church Sermons: Listen online

Should Christians think differently about what we post, share, and say online? In this episode, Mark and Emily explore the Ninth Commandment, “Do not bear false witness,” and apply it to the age of social media, political outrage, and public discourse.

They talk about the temptation to exaggerate, misrepresent, or dehumanize those we disagree with — and why followers of Jesus should be people who speak truth, pursue peace, and resist the pull of conspiracy, sarcasm, and slander. From political ads to Instagram comments, this conversation invites us to reflect Christ not only in what we say, but how we say it.

Resources:

• Cornerstone Church Sermons: Listen online

Should I splurge on Burgie’s coffee? Can I buy the nice toilet paper? In this episode, Mark Vance and Emily Jensen take a closer look at what the eighth commandment, “Do not steal”, teaches us about generosity, stewardship, and spending.

They talk about why the opposite of stealing isn’t just “not stealing,” but intentional generosity. From local purchases to thoughtful spending, this conversation dives into how everyday financial decisions can reflect love for God and neighbor.

Episode Highlights:

• 00:00 — Introducing the commandment against stealing
• 04:08 — Why the opposite of stealing is generosity
• 08:19 — Can frugality become unloving?
• 12:23 — How spending can serve others
• 16:10 — Practicing intentional generosity in daily life

Resources:

• Cornerstone Church Sermons: Listen online