Cornerstone Video Podcast

Click/tap here to view the Sermon Reflection Guide. A higher vantage point changes everything. What once felt overwhelming begins to make sense. What felt hopeless begins to open toward possibility. When God gives us a glimpse of the bigger picture, it doesn't just change how we see the world—it changes how we live in the world. Isaiah 49:1-7 and Matthew 1:18-23, though separated by centuries, belong to the same story. What God promises in Isaiah—the calling of a servant to bring hope and salvation—begins to take flesh in Matthew with the birth of Jesus. God's people are given a vision for the future so that they can live with hope in the present. Through Scripture, God gives us a view from the top, allowing us to see His unfolding plan across time. From the promises of the prophets to the fulfillment in Christ, God reveals His Son has come to save us from our sin by being with us—Emmanuel. We are invited to lift our eyes above our immediate circumstances and see the bigger picture of God's redemptive plan. With this vision, we can be confident that God is at work and His promises are true, giving us hope for the future and informing the way we live today.

Click/tap here to view the Sermon Reflection Guide. The Bible's temple imagery reveals the unfolding story of God's glory—a story He has been writing from the beginning and continues through His people today. God's presence once dwelled in the temple, then took on flesh in Jesus, and now God's Spirit dwells within us, making the church the living temple He sends into the world. In this week's sermon, we explore passages from both the Old and New Testaments to better understand who we are and what we are called to do. With his last words in 2 Samuel, David depicts a life shaped by God as dawn's first light and refreshing rain, a presence that renews and helps others flourish. Romans 8 shows how this life becomes possible. We are children of God and have been made heirs with Christ, invited to participate in his mission and embody his character. The story of God's glory continues through us today as He forms us into people who reflect His goodness and carry His presence wherever we go.

Click/tap here to view the Sermon Reflection Guide. When David faced Goliath, he wasn't the strongest, tallest, or most experienced warrior on the battlefield. He wasn't even supposed to be there—he was just delivering supplies to his brothers. But David showed up. And when the moment came, he offered what he had: a sling, a few stones, and a heart confident in God. David didn't try to wear Saul's armor or fight with someone else's weapons. He knew who he was and trusted that God could use his own unique gifts and experiences for a greater purpose. What seemed small in the world's eyes became powerful in God's hands. The story reminds us that God isn't asking us to be someone else. He's asking us to show up with what we have—regardless of the odds. Our gifts, our stories, and our faith can all be used by God when we step forward in trust. Victory doesn't come from our strength but from our willingness to let God work through us.

Click/tap here to view the Sermon Reflection Guide. In 1 Samuel, God sends His prophet to anoint a new king. Everyone assumes the next leader will look impressive—someone strong, tall, and commanding. But God reminds Samuel, “The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7). When God chose David, the youngest and least expected son of Jesse, He revealed something essential about His Kingdom: God's concern is not appearance, status, or performance—it's the condition of our hearts.  Later in life, having faced his own failures, David prayed in Psalm 51:10, “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.” The same man chosen for his heart learned that a heart for God requires continual renewal. Our hearts are shaped not by perfection, but by repentance—a willingness to be remade by God's grace. This week's sermon challenges us to ask: How's your heart? Is it teachable, humble, and open to the leading of the Spirit? God still searches hearts today—raising up people who are less concerned with outward appearances and more devoted to His presence and purposes.

Click/tap here to view the Sermon Reflection Guide. Jesus began his public ministry with a clear and urgent message, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near” (Matthew 4:17). The kingdom is not distant—it is God's reign breaking into the world through Jesus. When we pray, “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done,” we are aligning our lives with his mission. Jesus' ministry of teaching, preaching, and healing shows that God's kingdom is holistic—addressing spiritual as well as physical needs. As his church, we are called to embody that same mission, praying for and working toward God's will in our lives, our church, and our city. To pray “Thy kingdom come” is to offer ourselves as God's hands and feet. Much like the first disciples, we are invited to step out in faith and step into the story, joining his transforming work in the world around us. In the year ahead, may we be a people devoted to seeking God's will and living on mission.

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Click/tap here to view the Sermon Reflection Guide. We all face moments in life when we feel uncertain, overwhelmed, or simply unsure of what to do next. Whether it's a major decision, a season of suffering, or a quiet struggle, those moments can leave us feeling stuck or unprepared. In this week's sermon, we learn what it looks like to couple wisdom with action to navigate the difficult seasons of life. It's not enough to just know what's right—we need the courage and capacity to live it out. What we need is wisdom to know what to do, strength to actually be able to do it, and hope to know God is with us no matter what.

Click/tap here to view the Sermon Reflection Guide. Have you ever experienced a moment when things didn't work out the way you thought they would? You expected the situation to go one way, but it went in a totally different direction— and you were left wondering, “What just happened?” Maybe it was a job you thought for sure you'd get, but didn't. Or a relationship that fizzled out when you believed it would go the distance. Or a business deal that showed every sign of success, but failed unexpectedly. What do you do in these moments when life seemingly veers off course? In this week's sermon, we unpack a story about two brothers— one in particular who faces a moment like this. Things don't go the way he'd hoped, and he's left with a choice to make about how to respond. As we hold up this story, we'll discover wisdom and guidance for what to do when we find ourselves in the same boat, navigating uncharted waters.  

Click/tap here to view the Sermon Reflection Guide All year, we've explored what it looks like to cultivate a life with God, where the Holy Spirit grows good things in us and around us. You know the yield: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Who doesn't need more of these blessings in their lives? While we recognize that only God can grow us in these areas, it does require our participation. As we seek to keep in step with the Spirit, we must tend to our soul by spending time in the garden, cultivating lives that yield the fruit of the Spirit.  

Click/tap here to view the Sermon Reflection Guide. Family can be messy and complicated. In this week's sermon, we look at the story of Sarai, Abram, and Hagar in Genesis 16. Sarai tries to control God's timing, Abram goes along without resistance, and Hagar finds herself exploited and abandoned. Yet, God shows up, reminding us that God does not ignore the suffering of the vulnerable. In fact, the first person in Scripture to name God is Hagar—a pregnant, runaway servant. Being in the middle of a mess—whether it's a family struggle, personal failure, or broken relationship—doesn't mean God does not see us. He meets us there, not after we've cleaned everything up, but right in the middle of the chaos.