Cornerstone Message Podcast

The early church understood and adopted the idea of the resurrection in surprising ways. Where did these new ideas about the resurrection come from? Were there some innovative and imaginative theologians that decided to make lemonade out of the lemon of their would-be Messiah's crucifixion? Or is there another explanation? Hear the surprising innovations on the resurrection that the early church embraced and how they can help give you rock-solid faith for today!

Discover Jesus' remedy for boring, self-satisfied, lifeless religion, today in the conclusion of 7 Letters to 7 Churches. In the seventh letter, Jesus addresses the situation in ancient Laodicea. Their self-satisfied complacency was robbing them of the richness of their relationship with Jesus in the present, and putting in peril the fulfillment of their purpose with him in the future. Don't fall to the same fate. Trade in your complacency for an energetic and vital communion with your Creator-God.

What would it be like to hear "You're doing great" from Jesus when you're worn out and getting to the end of your strength? Letter Six in the collection is unusual in that the church in ancient middle-eastern Philadelphia is actually doing well in Jesus' estimation! What characterized their church that led to this assessment by Jesus? Listen in and found out.

Have you ever been surprised in a relationship? You thought everything was going well only to find out the other person had major issues. Or perhaps as you got to know someone you realized they aren't who you thought they were. It's one thing to be surprised by someone else. It's a whole 'nother level when you discover you're surprised by...you! Today we again pick up the series in Revelation exploring the personalized letters from Jesus to seven unique churches. In today's letter, Jesus shocks the church of Sardis with the revelation that everything is not as it seems, and they are facing a peril they didn't see coming. Discover that Jesus knows your situation and knows what needs to be done to make every believer and congregation survive and thrive in Part Five of 7 Letters to 7 Churches.

Guest speaker Shanna Crowell continues our series on the post-resurrection appearances of Jesus with the story of the man famous for his doubts. The disciple Thomas found in Jesus someone who did not reject him for his doubts, but instead made allowances for them, provided the evidence he needed to overcome them, and gave us even more reasons to believe when we face the same kinds of doubts.

Have you ever had your expectations shattered? Struggled to make sense of your circumstances? While we know the end of the story, for Jesus' disciples the days after his crucifixion and death were among the most grievous and disappointing moments of their lives. Even when the reports of Jesus' appearing alive began coming in, the disciples were more bewildered than encouraged. We will see how compelling the evidence is for Jesus' resurrection, we'll also see how Jesus changed lives by showing up alive after he died…and is still doing so today.

If I'm aiming to accomplish God's will, does it matter how I go about it All of us have an incredible capacity to justify our actions based on our good intentions. In letter four of our series, Jesus directs his piercing gaze at our hearts so that we don't deceive ourselves into error and suffer the sobering consequences. We can avoid self-deception and receive all the good things God has given us through his Son. See how in letter four's message.

No one believes a lie on purpose. But it is possible to deceive ourselves unwittingly. In the letter to his church at Pergamum, the third of seven personalized letters from Jesus contained in the book of Revelation, Jesus deals with a bit of self-deception that had crept into the church. They were faithfully and publicly holding to their allegiance to Jesus, but they had deceived themselves into thinking bold allegiance was all that was needed. Isn't it?

In the second personalized letter from Jesus to a church in the opening chapters of the book of Revelation, Jesus gives only commendation and encouragement to the people of the church in Smyrna. They are facing economic, political, and existential threats that could leave them poor, unprotected, and perhaps even dead. But Jesus reminds them that he was once dead, but now lives forever, and promises that they too can be victorious regardless of the dangers they must endure because he has promised the crown of life to those who are faithful to the end.

Are you flagging? The dictionary defines flagging as growing weary, tired, or lacking enthusiasm. You could think of it not as active apostasy or gross sin but rather just running down in the race of faith. If so there's hope that will lift your spirits and fuel your fire as we begin our second series in Revelation, working through Jesus' personalized message to the seven churches who were the original recipients of book of Revelation.

What would it be like to lack for...nothing!??! Some of our needs are tangible. Stuff. Things. Others can't be bought at a store or put in a bag. Peace. Safety. According to the Scripture, all of them can be found in one source!

Much of the Bible is poetry; ancient Jewish meditation literature poetry. Reading this literature with understanding, let alone skillfully applying it to our lives today, requires understanding its structure and nature. But when you do, it unleashes wisdom and insight that leads to lives that flourish...as God intended.

Bible is not just a book, but a library of books whose primary genre is narrative, or storytelling. But many have a challenge making sense of some of the stories and especially how they can be accurately applied to our lives today. Don't get derailed by common mistakes that are made when reading the stories of the Bible. You can accurately and skillfully read and apply the Bible's narratives to your life.

A lot of people come to the Bible with a mix of anticipation, hope, and confusion. Anticipation because it is God's Word. Hope because if it's God's Word, it contains solutions to the problems we face in this world. But a little confusion too because we're jumping into a world that is very different from ours and is often hard to understand and sometimes downright troubling. So how do we mine the depths of God's wisdom without getting trapped in the cave of confusion? Thankfully, you can read the Bible with understanding, and the series we're in right now will equip you with the appropriate tools and greater skills so that you can be an accurate interpreter who makes appropriate applications of God's Word to your life.

Does your faith stand or fail based on a book? On a church? On your understanding? An experience? What is the foundation of your faith? If you want rock-solid faith, you may need something more. Discover the foundation of Christian faith in this bonus message that dovetails nicely with the How to Read the Bible with Understanding series.

The last book in the Bible, Revelation, has been misunderstood, misused, and misapplied perhaps more than any other book in Scripture. And it's no wonder. It's an ancient text far removed from our usual experience, filled with unfamiliar and frightful images. But it doesn't have to be that way. If you know the interpretive key to Revelation you can unlock its message, read it with understanding, and benefit from its practical and encouraging message.

If you don't see a danger ahead, it's unlikely you'll take the necessary precautions. Far to many fall into a trap on their spiritual journey that is described in the opening chapter of the book of Revelation, and that can derail them because their experience doesn't line up with their expectations. Be forewarned and forearmed, and less likely to be derailed by the realities of life in the Kingdom when you get a realistic expectation what it entails.

There are moments in our lives when we our circumstances prompt questions and our confidence is eroded. Given a choice, we would escape. But God can use these moments in our lives to reveal strengths, gifts, and callings that we never asked for or thought possible. Through Shanna's story we'll see how brokenness, suffering, and service have both hindered and propelled her journey of faith as part of our Voices series.

When we're in the middle of difficulty, questions arise that we may almost be afraid to ask. Where is God? Is he really in control? Does he care? Embedded in the opening lines of the book of Revelation, which is also a letter to churches in crisis, are the answers to the questions like these that they may be asking but may be afraid to voice. Find the encouragement and insights you need to keep going in faith when your faith is being shaken.

The start of a new series on the opening scene of the book of Revelation. Most people when reading Revelation are asking the question, "When?" Revelation focuses on "Who?" We'll address both questions in this series and discover that the answers to both questions are always relevant *now*.

When is a gift not a gift? Maybe it was given with a sense of obligation; the giver felt a gift was necessary or expected. Or maybe it felt more like manipulation, as though the giver was more interested in getting something from you than for you. These situations are unfortunate at best. When they carry over into our relationship with God, they can be tragic. In today's addendum to the Advent season, we'll see how to set aside guilt and entitlement in our relationship with our Heavenly Father and Gift Giver, and replace them with joy and gratitude that ends up being more enjoyable and productive.

To say someone is right out of central casting is to say they look the part. They're exactly what you would expect. Muscle-bound superheroes. Menacing villains. But when God casts parts for his Kingdom, right from the start at the Nativity he made some unexpected choices. Don't make the mistake of thinking you won't get the part, or overlooking others because they don't look the role. You just might be surprised at who makes the cut.

What if you missed out on what God wanted you in on? For generations, people had been longing for and looking for the advent of God's kingdom, heralded by God's anointed king. But when the kingdom came and the king arrived, many of them missed out on it entirely! How could this happen? God sent them an unexpected kingdom inaugurated by an unexpected king. Listen in and you won't miss out on what God wants to do in, through, and around you just because he's doing it in an unexpected way!

It makes sense, doesn't it: If we're doing what we should and trying our best to do what God wants, shouldn't we expect that life will get easier? So what are we to make of it when we're following Jesus wholeheartedly, and instead life gets bumpy?Today we'll look at one person's story. He does everything he should, but his life still gets very complicated. What are we to make of it when following Jesus takes us to unexpected places?

Few of us like it when our plans go awry. The delayed schedule. The unexpected expense. The shattered expectations. But what if you discovered that interrupted objectives often fall right in line with God's perfect plan? In the Christmas story we see that very thing! Join us as we embark on a journey of discovery, seeing how An Unexpected Christmas can take us to the places we really want to go.

Do you know where you stand with God? What prompts doubts or gives you confidence when that question is asked? In the last section of the Apostles' Creed we affirm “I believe in the Holy Spirit,” and then the creed seems to move on and wrap up with a short list of unrelated affirmations about everything from the church to forgiveness to the resurrection.But are they really unrelated? In reality, behind each affirmation in the last paragraph is a confidence-building fact that flows from the Holy Spirit's presence and power in every believer's life. See how in today's culmination of the Essential Christianity series.

How and when will we face God's judgment? In the Apostles' Creed we affirm that Jesus will return from his rightful place at God's right hand “to judge the living and the dead.” It seems reasonable to assume that standing before the God of the universe to give an account of ourselves from start to finish, inside and out, should fill us with a certain amount of trepidation. If it doesn't, perhaps it should. The unbelievable thing is that it's possible to know how this day will turn out for you long before it comes to you. Turn what would otherwise be a nightmarish scenario into a hope that fills us with eager anticipation, while fueling our desire to fulfill Jesus' mission between now and then.

What does Jesus' death, resurrection, and ascension mean for me? In the core of the Apostles' Creed, we see Jesus face the worst the world can throw at him, and see him rise from the lowest of lows to the highest heights. The kicker? His story is our story. His victory is our victory. See how Jesus' winning the ultimate battle gives his followers rock-solid confidence for whatever the world throws at us in part seven of Essential Christianity.

What does it mean when we affirm Jesus is God's Son and Our Lord? In these few short words we are pulling together a power-packed tradition that goes back thousands of years and clearly identifies who Jesus is and why he is uniquely qualified to make a way for us back to God and to lead us in God's ways. Don't be confused; get clarity on who Jesus is and why it matters.

In the Apostles' Creed when we affirm that Jesus is the Christ, we are saying that he fulfills all three of the anointed (“christened”) roles in the Hebrew Scriptural tradition: The prophet from whom we can hear from God, the priest through whom we can find our way back to God, and the king who leads us in God's ways. And that's exactly what we need…and have in Jesus the Christ.

That God is almighty and creator may seem like givens. But even in the lives of wholehearted followers of Jesus—not to mention those who don't affirm these convictions—confidence in the truth of these statements can sometimes be eroded. What's at stake? Related misunderstandings, questions, and errors can keep you and others you care about from really trusting in the God who is the Father of the Lord Jesus Christ. But it doesn't have to be that way. The better you know God, the more you'll trust God, and your confidence in God as almighty creator can be stronger than ever!

Who is this God in whom we believe? Not everyone believes in the same ‘God' and if what you believe about God doesn't line up with what is true about God, you're setting yourself up for frustration and disappointment, while missing out on the benefits and joys of knowing him as he truly is.

As Jesus followers, how should our speech be different from the norm? What should be the intent and effect when we open our mouths?

Does it matter what I believe, really? Is one just as good as any other, or do different creedal convictions lead to different real-world outcomes? This week we'll begin a new series dissecting the Apostles' Creed, the oldest statement of faith in Christianity (outside of the Scriptures themselves). You will gain a fresh understanding and appreciation of your faith, see why it matters, and how each element of your faith shapes and directs your life.

Most of us have at least a vague idea of what we want our lives to look like. Things like good relationships, meaningful & fulfilling work, etc. But do you know how to get from here to there? Do you ever feel stuck, or unable to get traction? There are answers to these questions and more. And they are the focus of today's message.

Get a simple, understandable, and applicable definition of forgiveness, directly from Jesus' teaching, that clears up the confusion and will give you the ability to move forward, knowing what to do to forgive and understanding how to know if you have forgiven.

What's my reason for waking up in the morning?Identifying your own clear sense of purpose, an aim, a reason for being, clarifies and focuses your life. It can alter your state from frustration to fulfillment. Get your reason for rising right, and your days will burst with purpose and possibilities.

We put a lot of effort into building the things that make up our lives: relationships, careers, accomplishments, goals, etc. But how will you know if you're succeeding? What defines a win? Today's message is chocked full of God-revealed, life-altering ideas from God's Word that can transform the way you think about “winning”—at church, in your relationships, and at life.

In this new series, we'll encounter God-revealed, life-altering ideas from God's Word that will change your perspective and change your life. We begin with a question you can ask in virtually any circumstance that will clear away the fog and give you clarity in your decision-making.

See how the big idea of the Sermon on the Mount can serve as a focus point for the self-examination that is prescribed for communion. And we'll celebrate communion together of course.

Everyone encounters storms. What is the difference between those who weather the storms and survive—and even thrive—and those who don't? In the final message of the Sermon on the Mount series we'll see that there are good reasons to listen to Jesus, but listening is only part of the solution.

Ever been taken in by a person or idea that seemed true but proved false? Someone who appears good and says all the right things, only to find out later that it was an act. As Jesus is wrapping up the Sermon on the Mount, he tells us we could completely miss out on what God has for us unless we know what to look for to reveal whether someone is on the up and up. Know how to avoid falling into the trap of deception others lay for us, or unwittingly deceiving ourselves!