Cornerstone Church, S.C.

Christmas often brings tension alongside joy, mirroring the difficulties present in the original nativity story. Just as Mary and Joseph faced unexpected challenges, we too encounter wilderness seasons - times of spiritual dryness, relational strain, or emotional struggle. The prophet Elijah's experience teaches us that these difficult periods often follow spiritual highs and serve important purposes in our faith journey. Rather than seeking quick fixes or temporary relief, wilderness seasons invite us to trust God alone and listen for His voice. These challenging times ultimately reveal God's larger plan and develop our spiritual endurance, preparing us for the abundant life He promises.

Dealing with difficult people is a universal challenge that requires a biblical approach rather than worldly solutions. We must first distinguish between difficult people who make life hard and dangerous people who make life unsafe. Moses provides an example of leading complainers with patience and intercession. Paul's blueprint in Colossians 3 offers three key steps: pray for Holy Spirit power to develop compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience; learn to bear with one another by enduring and tolerating challenging relationships; and extend grace by remembering how much we have been forgiven. This approach transforms our perspective and enables us to respond with Christ-like love rather than self-protection.

Life can be difficult. What do we do when life seems like more than we can bear? Let's take a look at what the Bible has to say about times just like that.    watch the message

John's Gospel reveals Jesus as the eternal Word who became flesh to dwell among us, serving as the light of the world in our spiritual darkness. Many claim to follow Jesus while walking in darkness through subtle sins and false faith patterns. True believers receive Jesus as Lord and Savior, allowing His light to shine through transformed lives. God desires to dwell within us as His temple, making His presence central rather than peripheral. Walking in God's light produces visible fruit and distinguishes genuine faith from mere religious activity.

Modern society has embraced moral relativism, with most Americans rejecting absolute moral truth. Even within Christian churches, majorities doubt the existence of unchanging moral standards. However, Scripture teaches that moral absolutes exist and remain true regardless of personal opinions or cultural shifts. Like King Solomon, whose heart was turned from God through worldly influences, believers today face the danger of compromising biblical standards. God's moral requirements and His promises are inseparable - we cannot fully embrace one while ignoring the other. Guarding our hearts through Scripture and maintaining consistent moral standards is essential for spiritual strength and maturity.

Spiritual gifts are supernatural tools the Holy Spirit gives to every Christian believer for practical ministry purposes. Unlike the fruit of the Spirit which develops over time, these gifts are given by God to spread the Gospel, lead the church, and serve communities. Every believer has spiritual gifts, ranging from wisdom and healing to prophecy and tongues. Paul instructs Christians to actively pursue love and desire spiritual gifts, not wait passively for them. The key is approaching these gifts with humility and love, using them to serve others and advance God's kingdom rather than for personal recognition.

Salvation is God's supernatural rescue from three enemies: the world's corrupt systems, Satan's deception, and our own sinful desires. It involves spiritual resuscitation from death to life, divine intervention that changes our story, and rescue that transforms us into God's instruments. This salvation comes by grace through faith, not through works or religious efforts. While we cannot earn salvation, those who are truly saved will naturally desire to serve God, read Scripture, pray, and share their faith. Every believer should have a 'But God' testimony of how Jesus supernaturally intervened in their life.

Modern culture swings between two extremes: materialists who deny anything beyond the physical world, and those unhealthily obsessed with spiritual forces. As Christians, we must find biblical balance, recognizing that we are both physical and spiritual beings living in a world where supernatural reality exists. Scripture teaches that we are engaged in real spiritual warfare, not against flesh and blood, but against spiritual forces of evil. While Christians cannot be possessed, we can experience spiritual oppression through persistent negative thoughts, compulsive sin patterns, and various forms of spiritual attack. The good news is that victory belongs to Christ, who has already defeated our enemy. We fight spiritual battles through ordinary Christian practices like prayer, Scripture memorization, worship, generous giving, forgiveness, and faithful church attendance.

Raising children of honor requires teaching them to value God, themselves, and others appropriately. Parents must establish clear rules with consistent consequences while understanding their evolving role from caretaker (ages 0-8) to coach (ages 9-15) to consultant (ages 16+). Children who honor God bring their best, not leftovers, recognizing everything as His gift. Balanced self-honor means avoiding both selfishness and self-hate, while honoring others involves teaching forgiveness and sibling protection. Most importantly, children learn by example—what they catch from parents matters more than what they're explicitly taught.

Life rarely follows our plans, especially regarding family. When facing unexpected family situations, we must guard against resentment, which can poison future blessings and become generational. Jacob's family illustrates how favoritism and jealousy create destructive cycles, while Ruth and Naomi's story demonstrates how God can redeem broken situations. The key is trusting God for future restoration, remembering that He can build beautiful things from broken pieces. With Christ as our ultimate redeemer, even our most painful circumstances can become part of God's redemptive plan, working together for good for those who love Him.

Fighting for your marriage requires recognizing the real enemy isn't your spouse but the temptations that threaten your relationship. These temptations mirror what 1 John 2 describes as the lust of the flesh (seeking fulfillment outside your marriage), the lust of the eyes (materialism and discontentment), and the pride of life (self-sufficiency). When we give in to these temptations, we experience separation, shame, fear, and blame-shifting in our relationships. To build a healthier marriage, be careful about where you get advice, avoid entertaining tempting thoughts, take responsibility for your actions, communicate expectations clearly, apologize sincerely, and practice forgiveness.

Family relationships bring both our greatest blessings and our toughest battles. Generational strongholds—patterns of sin or brokenness that pass through family lines—can trap us in destructive cycles. These strongholds manifest in various ways: emotional baggage, manipulation, destructive coping mechanisms, family dysfunction, and misplaced priorities. The good news is that these patterns can be broken through recognizing we're in a spiritual battle, using the weapons of truth and discernment, acknowledging our own role in the problem, and taking intentional steps to change. By identifying strongholds, confessing, repenting, and choosing what values to pass down, one generation can change a family's trajectory forever.

God's original design for family remains relevant despite cultural shifts that question its value. Research confirms that married people with children report higher happiness levels, validating the biblical teaching that humans thrive in family units. The family is central to God's plan, established in Genesis as His first creation after the world itself. God's blueprint includes being created in His image, distinct male and female identities, sex within marriage, meaningful work, spiritual leadership, partnership between spouses, and the formation of new family units. As both our greatest blessing and battleground, family relationships require intentional effort to align with God's design.

Jesus declared that His church would stand against the gates of hell, requiring courage, worship, and mission. Being on mission means recognizing that Jesus came not just for personal salvation but to establish God's kingdom on earth. The Great Commission calls us to go, make disciples, baptize, and teach as we extend this kingdom. This mission isn't optional—it's central to following Jesus. The church is God's plan for spreading His kingdom, and despite our failures, it will not fail. We must remember our calling through regular reminders and embrace courage, worship, and mission in our daily lives.

Worship is the fuel that sustains a courageous church, extending far beyond Sunday songs to encompass our entire lives. We were created with a space that only God can fill, and when we worship anything else, we diminish ourselves. True worship involves both mind and body, as Romans 12 teaches us to present our bodies as living sacrifices while being transformed by the renewing of our minds. Modern idols like money, body image, and entertainment compete for our devotion, but corporate worship recalibrates our hearts and anchors us to God's truth. By examining what we truly worship and realigning our lives accordingly, we become more fully who God created us to be.

God's plan for changing the world centers on the local church, which Jesus promised would prevail against the gates of hell. Christians are called to be salt and light, preserving culture and illuminating darkness through courageous action. Fear, however, often paralyzes the church as it did the Israelites at the edge of the Promised Land. A courageous church preaches the whole Bible, confronts spiritual darkness, challenges people to change, and speaks truth when culture demands silence. This courage manifests personally when we stay in difficult situations, speak truth at personal cost, live by God's wisdom, and help those who cannot reciprocate.

Building a legacy of faith requires intentional discipleship across generations. Drawing from Deuteronomy 6 and Joshua's example of creating stone memorials, we learn that our testimonies of God's faithfulness should be shared openly with future generations. Research shows that young people are more likely to maintain their faith when they have multiple adult mentors and participate in intergenerational worship. Rather than allowing social media to disciple our children, we must actively share both the gospel and our lives with them. Every believer, regardless of age, has a vital role in passing on faith through authentic relationships and shared experiences.

God's vision for the church includes three key characteristics: diversity that reflects heaven, intergenerational community, and functioning as a true Christian family. Churches fulfill their mission through the 'C3 wheel': connecting people to God, caring for one another, and cultivating powerful faith. When believers understand their 'why' - both personally and collectively - they gain clarity about their direction and can better fulfill God's calling. As churches navigate transitions, they must remember God goes before them, preparing the way for new seasons of ministry. Every believer has a responsibility to move beyond being a spectator to becoming an active participant in building God's kingdom.

The concept of giving to God begins in Genesis with Abel's first fruits offering, while tithing (giving a tenth) first appears with Abraham. While the Old Testament established specific tithing requirements, the New Testament emphasizes generous, cheerful giving that flows from a transformed heart. Early Christians actually shared everything they had, going beyond the 10% standard. We give because we believe God's promises, to support Kingdom work, and because generosity actually blesses us spiritually, emotionally, and even physically. Though some may abuse religious giving, true biblical generosity isn't about rules but relationship with a generous God.

In this sermon, the pastor addresses the question 'Why should I trust the Bible?' by examining both historical evidence and personal application. He explains that the Bible is a collection of 66 books written over 1500 years by approximately 40 authors, with the New Testament written within 15-60 years after Jesus' death by eyewitnesses. The pastor contrasts this with other historical figures whose biographies were written hundreds of years after their deaths. He discusses the remarkable preservation of biblical texts, including over 5,800 Greek manuscripts and the Dead Sea Scrolls which demonstrate textual consistency over thousands of years.

In this episode of the Cornerstone Church podcast, Pastor Dustin Bates kicks off a thought-provoking series titled "Summer Road Trip: Navigating the Hard Questions." The first question tackled is central to the Christian faith: "What does it mean to be a Christian?" Pastor Dustin uses the analogy of a summer road trip to explore intricate and challenging theological concepts. He outlines the importance of "right thought" and "right action" as foundational to the Christian life, offering a formula that equates to genuine Christian faith. Throughout the sermon, Pastor Dustin delves into the historical context of Christianity, touching on the formation of key doctrines such as the Nicene Creed to address critical misconceptions and heresies. He highlights the essence of Jesus as both fully God and fully man, and the significance of the Holy Trinity. Through vivid analogies and impassioned teaching, listeners are encouraged to distinguish true Christian beliefs from cultural and religious misconceptions. The message concludes with a call to action: what it truly means to confess faith in Jesus Christ and the assurance of salvation through belief and right conduct. Pastor Dustin invites listeners to reconsider their understanding of Christianity, urging them to embrace the biblical truth guarded by the historical boundaries of faith. Join us as we journey through these profound questions that define and deepen our understanding of the Christian lif

Thanks for joining us on the Cornerstone Church Podcast! Find the sermon notes here Connect with us here Partner with us financially here

Thanks for joining us on the Cornerstone Church Podcast! Find the sermon notes here Connect with us here Partner with us financially here

Thanks for joining us on the Cornerstone Church Podcast! Find the sermon notes here Connect with us here Partner with us financially here

Thanks for joining us on the Cornerstone Church Podcast! Find the sermon notes here Connect with us here Partner with us financially here

Thanks for joining us on the Cornerstone Church Podcast! Find the sermon notes here Connect with us here Partner with us financially here

Thanks for joining us on the Cornerstone Church Podcast! Find the sermon notes here Connect with us here Partner with us financially here

Thanks for joining us on the Cornerstone Church Podcast! Find the sermon notes here Connect with us here Partner with us financially here

Thanks for joining us on the Cornerstone Church Podcast! Find the sermon notes here Connect with us here Partner with us financially here

Thanks for joining us on the Cornerstone Church Podcast! Find the sermon notes here Connect with us here Partner with us financially here

Thanks for joining us on the Cornerstone Church Podcast! Find the sermon notes here Connect with us here Partner with us financially here

Thanks for joining us on the Cornerstone Church Podcast! Find the sermon notes here Connect with us here Partner with us financially here

Thanks for joining us on the Cornerstone Church Podcast! Find the sermon notes here Connect with us here Partner with us financially here

Thanks for joining us on the Cornerstone Church Podcast! Find the sermon notes here Connect with us here Partner with us financially here

Thanks for joining us on the Cornerstone Church Podcast! Find the sermon notes here Connect with us here Partner with us financially here

Thanks for joining us on the Cornerstone Church Podcast! Find the sermon notes here Connect with us here Partner with us financially here

Thanks for joining us on the Cornerstone Church Podcast! Find the sermon notes here Connect with us here Partner with us financially here

Thanks for joining us on the Cornerstone Church Podcast! Find the sermon notes here Connect with us here Partner with us financially here Find Jonathan online here

Thanks for joining us on the Cornerstone Church Podcast! Find the sermon notes here Connect with us here Partner with us financially here

Thanks for joining us on the Cornerstone Church Podcast! Find the sermon notes here Connect with us here Partner with us financially here

Just because something: SEEMS True FEELS True STATED True Doesn't Mean it's true… New Series: A TWISTED TRUTH A twisted truth contains SOME TRUTH but is still a lie What is truth? Truth aligns with how God created the world; falsehood contradicts God's reality, even if it still “exists” in some sense within this fallen world. Truth Is: More than just facts and appearances Knowledge of what is right in God's sight, rather than man's alone. Human beings have been created to seek the truth But we cannot know all truth in ourselves, and so we need God to lead us to the Truth We can easily be led astray by falsehood. The devil is the “father of lies” (John 8:44), and he is behind every lie circulated in the world today He can only be defeated by God's Truth.   Truth = Order, Flourishing, Joy, Hope Lies = Chaos, Pain, Confusion, Suffering What does the Bible Say about Truth?   John 1:14 The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. We observed his glory, the glory as the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. Jesus is the FULLNESS of Truth John 4:24 God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in Spirit and in truth.” We worship God when we submit to the truth John 8:31-32 31 Then Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you continue in my word, you really are my disciples. 32 You will know the truth, and the truthwill set you free.”   Freedom is FOUND in the truth   John 14:6 Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. Jesus is the TOTAL EMBODIMENT of the Truth John 16:13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth. For he will not speak on his own, but he will speak whatever he hears. He will also declare to you what is to come. We are FILLED with the SPIRIT OF TRUTH (Holy Spirit) Satan, as the father of lies, uses TWISTED TRUTHS to lead people astray For Every Truth of God – The Enemy of God has a Counterfeit Enemies Of God: Satan Culture Mind Genesis 3 Now the serpent was the most cunning of all the wild animals that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You can't eat from any tree in the garden'?” 2 The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat the fruit from the trees in the garden. 3 But about the fruit of the tree in the middle of the garden, God said, ‘You must not eat it or touch it, or you will die.'” 4 “No! You will certainly not die,” the serpent said to the woman. 5 “In fact, God knows that when you eat it your eyes will be opened and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” 6 The woman saw that the tree was good for food and delightful to look at, and that it was desirable for obtaining wisdom. So she took some of its fruit and ate it; she also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. 7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves. A Twisted Truth -> Temptation to doubt -> Sin -> Shame TEMPTATION OF JESUS Here are a few things to keep in mind: 1: Jesus was BOTH fully God and FULLY MAN 2: Satan's lies were to distract and derail his purpose of Death and Salvation 3: Jesus' temptations we ENTIRELY REAL 4: We have a Lord who UNDERSTANDS us Hebrews 4:15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in every way as we are, yet without sin. We will discover 3 DISTINCT Twisted Truths the enemy uses Tactics Matthew 4 1 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 After he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 Then the tempter approached him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” 4 He answered, “It is written: Man must not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.” Temptation 1: PHYSICAL Temptation (Doubting God's Goodness) This twisted Truth asks… “If God really loves you, He would want you to do what feels right to you” “Do what feels right” always speaks to: Our Needs Our Weakness Never where we are strong BACK TO JESUS: Jesus was Hungry Tired It didn't come at the beginning, but at the end, when he was most tired   Jesus answers with SCRIPTURE = GOD'S TRUTH   How to tell the difference between God's Truth and Satan's lies   The enemy always speaks to your needs, whereas God speaks to your potential   This twisted truth is trying to get us to… Satisfy what God can ONLY satisfy Physical lusts and desires How to spot this TWISTED TRUTH in our culture… If God is good, then… Do you feel right Do what makes you happy Matthew 4 5 Then the devil took him to the holy city, had him stand on the pinnacle of the temple, 6 and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down. For it is written: He will give his angels orders concerning you, and they will support you with their hands so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.” 7 Jesus told him, “It is also written: Do not test the Lord your God.” Temptation 2: EMOTIONAL Temptation (Doubting God's Faithfulness) This twisted Truth asks… “Does God Love me?” Satan uses SCRIPTURE… A twisting of the truth Ps 91:11-12 Tempting Jesus to say… “If God loves me, then He'll protect me.” The Need for CONSTANT REASSURANCE God Already said at Jesus' baptism that he is pleased with Him This twisted truth makes us question that all the time Allow our feelings in a moment to override our knowledge of God's love for us “If God really loves you…” If God must MEET your demands for you to know that He loves you, then you don't understand His Love Our emotions don't dictate what God should be doing How to spot this TWISTED TRUTH in our culture… Feelings over facts “If God is all loving, then I can…” “I asked God for something, and he didn't do it so he must not exist” Matthew 4 8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 9 And he said to him, “I will give you all these things if you will fall down and worship me.” 10 Then Jesus told him, “Go away, Satan! For it is written: Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.” 11 Then the devil left him, and angels came and began to serve him. Temptation 3: CONTROL Temptation (Rejecting God's Authority) This twisted Truth says… “I can be in charge” “I can take a shortcut to what I want” “Only you should sit on the throne of your life.” Tempting Jesus to Take the easy way to AUTHORITY Don't have to go through suffering and death Take what you want without God's approval Just like in the garden Wanted wisdom on their own terms When you choose to take over the throne of your life, you become RESPONSIBLE for everything in your life We are not capable of handling that responsibility God created us to be led by him Away from him, we destroy ourselves and others You cannot sin your way to a blessing Can't have things God says no to and expect good to come Can't shortcut his process to his provision/protection/blessing How to spot this TWISTED TRUTH in our culture… “You do you…” “It's you life, live if like you want…” No one can tell you… Who you are What you can be How you can live Who you love “No one's in charge of my life but me”   How do we overcome the TWISTED TRUTHS of Satan, Culture, and our hearts? 1: Recognize the pattern News days, Old lies 2: Respond with God's Word Real Truth 3: Resist in the power of the Spirit 4: Pursue the Will Of Your Father

All In Easy to be “All In” when you're winning No “Fair Weather Fan” All in means: You trust the Player's talent The coaches call The schedule etc You have “FAITH” in these things How you determine if you are ALL in or not is: It's NOT how you handle WINNING; it's how you handle LOOSING Blame others Fly off the handle or You win some; you lose some   Reclaiming Abundant Life John 10:10 A thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come so that they may have life and have it in abundance. Week 1: An Abundant life is a life full of the spiritual gifts of God's Holy Spirit given to His faithful followers Week 2: An Abundant Life is a PURPOSEFUL LIFE Today… An Abundant Life is a FAITH-FILLED Life What is Faith? Hebrews 11:1 (ESV) Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. Faith Is… 1: To be ALL IN on something Truth and Expectation CONVICTION – Deeply helps belief Not constantly questioning: Intent/motives Believe the person and their strategy 2: Not Living In the Moment Hoping in/for something even if you haven't seen in yet Assusance – Something in the future The “DISCIPLINE” of Faith It is more difficult for us because we are trained to be “LOCK INTO THE MOMENT”   Joseph Story: Sold to slavery Lied on and sent to prison Interprets dreams in prison Cupbearer Chief Baker This is a real test for Joseph's FAITH IN GOD Family In Egypt Father Dies Brothers worry about what Joseph will do Genesis 50 19 But Joseph said to them, “Don't be afraid. Am I in the place of God? 20 You planned evil against me; God planned it for good to bring about the present result—the survival of many people. Abundant Life was not in his: Position Authority But his ability to: His FAITH Allowed Him To See God's Goodness IN ALL THINGS This is what it means to be ALL IN Choosing to TRUST and SEE God's Goodness In your circumstances In your challenges In your heartbreak In you disappointments In your dreams and purpose In ALL THINGS God tempered Joseph with TIME He was not ready for the WEIGHT OF RESPONSIBILITY Each hard season gave him training for the next House – Prison – Kingdom   Only Possible when NOT living in the moment   ALL IN/Not Living in the Moment Examples Marriage – Do you trust God enough to stay Singleness – Do you trust God to be enough Job – Do you trust God to be faithful Youth – Do you trust God enough to give him your future and identity (compromise) Do you trust God enough not to compromise on whom He says you are? Your environment does not justify your compromise   An Abundant Life is a FAITH-FILLED Life Declarations of FathFILLED abundant life: I Believe The Lord is FOR ME, not against me I Believe that my Father's way is the Best way I Believe God's best for me is yet to come, whether in this life or the next I Believe Jesus' sacrifice is for ME I Believe My Heavenly Father keeps His promises I Believe the Holy Spirit is working in me and through me