Cornerstone Chapel Young Adults: Recent Episodes
Cornerstone Chapel
At Cornerstone Chapel, it is our desire that you see the love of Jesus Christ reflected through the systematic, verse by verse teaching of the Bible and through heart-felt, contemporary worship lifted up to God.
Some popular questions have been triggered from these chapters in Romans concerning government and personal liberties. Questions like: How do I respond if government violates my conscience? Is civil disobedience ever acceptable? And what about my personal liberties? What about activities that are not expressly forbidden in Scripture like getting tattoos or seeing certain movies? Open your Bible to Romans 13 and lets jump in.
God doesn't need your stuff, He wants YOU. He calls us to offer ourselves unto Him as "living sacrifices," and when we do, the benefit is that it helps us discern God's will for our lives. But what does it really mean to offer myself as a "living sacrifice"? Join Pastor Austin today in Romans 12.
Paul dedicates three chapters to explain God's special relationship with the Jewish people. Within these chapters, many big theologically questions have emerged concerning one’s free will, salvation, and whether or not the Church has replaced the Jews as God's chosen people. Join Pastor Austin today as he teaches from Romans 9-11.
To sanctify something means to set it a part for a specific, unique purpose. Paul says now that we are in Christ, we have been set apart from the world and set apart for the purposes of God. In other words, we belong to God, therefore our behavior and actions should reflect that. Paul says that we’re no longer slaves to sin, but slaves to righteousness; therefore, our lives, how we walk and talk, should reflect whose we are. Be both encouraged and challenged by today's Bible study in Romans 6-8.
Last week we talked about the bad news – we’re all sinners, we don't meet God's perfect standard required for heaven, and we're subject to God's righteous judgement and eternal punishment, but thankfully it doesn't end there! In today's study, we talk about the GOOD NEWS - that there is hope for sinners to be saved from experiencing God's wrath. How do we attain this hope? What do we need to do? Open your Bible to the book of Romans and lets find out together.
I've got some good news and I’ve got some bad news. What would you like to hear first? Paul presents this question to the church at Rome and chooses to give them the bad news upfront so that they can fully appreciate the glorious good news! This bad news affects us all, we are all subject to it, and are in danger of dying in it. What is this bad news? Join our Bible study today to find out.
Nearly 2,000 years ago, a man named Paul wrote a letter to a church in Rome – the largest city of the known world at that time. This letter would spread beyond the walls of that church and go on to change the course of history through men like Martin Luther and John Wesley. But why exactly did Paul write this letter, how has it carried so much power with it throughout the centuries, and does it still have relevancy for us today?
In this passage, Jesus gives two illustrations to communicate one message – that He came to do something NEW. He didn’t come to patch up an old system, but He came to bring a New Covenant. Jesus doesn't want to patch up your old life or your bad habits, He wants to do a completely NEW work in your life. But just like the process of making new wine comes through a process of crushing and pressing grapes, sometimes the Lord may use pressing circumstances in our lives to bring about the "new wine" He desires for us. Be encouraged by today's message.
In the Old Testament, God spoke to His people through His prophets; warning them of the consequences of sin and rebellion. How does God speak to us today? How are we to avoid falling in the same cycle of sin as the Israelites? Join us in Judges 6.
Could you use more patience in your life? More patience in your specific circumstance? More patience with people? More patience in your singleness or in your job search? James exhorts believers in his epistle to be patient in the midst of suffering because Jesus is returning soon! Patience is a discipline that won’t come easily or naturally, but the Bible commands us to clothe ourselves with patience. Join our Bible study as we learn the discipline of patience in daily life.
Loving others, and being supremely devoted and submitted to Christ are all marks of a true disciple of Jesus. These marks may be easier to hide; however, the most public mark of being a true disciple is the call and command from Christ to go and make more. Evangelism and sharing our faith can be scary and intimidating, yet Jesus calls us to spread His good news to every nation. Using the acronym S.A.L.T., Pastor Austin takes us through helpful ways to share our faith, as this should be an important mark of a disciple of Christ.
You may love others, the first mark of a disciple of Jesus. You may be supremely devoted to Him, the second mark. But have you learned what it means to fully and completely submitted to His ways, His will, and His Word? Becoming a devoted follower of Christ is like an intense training process. Are you willing to submit to God's process in making you more like His Son, Jesus?
In part 1 of the series, we talked about how "love" should be the first mark of a true disciple of Jesus. However, in Luke 14, Jesus tells his followers that unless they HATE their families and their own lives, they cannot be His disciples. Why the seeming contradiction? Is Jesus really saying that we should now hate others in order to be His true followers? Open your Bible to Luke 14 as we continue to learn what it means to be a true disciple of Jesus Christ.
In the early beginnings of the Church, believers in Jesus were first called Disciples before they were ever referred to as Christians. In today's American culture, it has become easy to hide under the label of "Christian" because the term is so broadly used and loosely defined. However, referring to yourself as a "disciple" of Jesus has much deeper implications. What does it mean to be a true "disciple"? What are the marks or attributes of a disciple of Jesus? Are you simply a cultural "Christian" or are you truly a disciple of Christ? Join Pastor Austin as we dive in to a new series called "Disciple" and attempt to identify different attributes of what marks a true disciple of Christ.
Why are we so afraid of commitment? We're often afraid of commitment because commitment means we are now obligated to follow through with something that we may no longer feel like doing. Just as we don't always feel like working out, we know it's best for our physical health. In the same way, spiritually speaking, we don?t always feel like working out the things of God in our lives, but we know that a commitment to following Christ will reap eternal benefits. In today's message, Pastor Austin challenges us to be committed to 3 specific things that will spur us on towards spiritual maturity and growth in the Lord.
Other than Jesus Christ, the prophet Elisha performed more miracles than anyone in the entire Bible. In 2 Kings 4, Elisha performs two miracles by the hand of God for two different women going through two different situations. One woman is desperate for a miracle, and the other is too afraid to ask for one. However, whether we are in desperate need or quietly content, God knows what we need and delights to "wow" us with His miraculous grace. Join our bible study today in 2 Kings 4.
In Galatians chapter 4, Paul warns the church not to return to the bondage of the law now that they are sons of God in Christ! In our lives, because of our sinful nature, we are tempted to return to the old ways and to the old things that once had us in bondage. Jesus said in John 8:36, "If the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed." Let us live by that promise and not be held by our old chains any longer.
Paul reminded the Philippian church of who he used to be - a respected, zealous, devout Jew. But what did this matter now that he was in Christ? According to Paul, absolutely nothing. This inclines us to ask ourselves a question: In who or what have we placed our identity? Where do we find our joy, our value and worth? Do we truly define ourselves as who we are in Christ, or have we begun to allow the world to make its claim over how we perceive ourselves?
In Matthew 16, Jesus begins to tell His disciples that He would soon suffer, die, and rise again. Peter rebukes Jesus, but Jesus then goes on to explain that one who wants to follow after Him must take up their cross and deny the self. Denying the self has become a lost spiritual discipline among young believers, but it's a discipline that is essential in pursuing after Christ with all we are. Tune in with us to today's message.
Asaph, the writer of this Psalm, expresses many different emotions within this passage. He goes from praying, to complaining, and then to questioning God because of a certain difficulty he was experiencing. In the midst of Asaph's frustration and confusion, God doesn't directly answer his questions. How does Asaph cope with this? By remembering the faithfulness and power of God on display during the Israelites exodus out of Egypt. Have you experienced similar feelings of frustration when you feel that God is not answering your questions? Join our Bible study today in Psalm 77.
The Bible often compares God to a "Refiner," and us to "silver or gold." Silver or gold cannot reach is optimum value without other by-products (like zinc, lead, or tin) being burned away. And the only way to separate the by-products is to put the precious metal in a furnace of intense heat. Sometimes God will use the intense heat of difficult life circumstances to cause the impurities of our lives to rise to the surface so that we can deal with those things that hinder us from maturing and growing in the Lord. God wants to purify and perfect us to make us more into His image and likeness.
Are you struggling to feel like you've truly receive God?s forgiveness from sin in your past? Are you currently a slave to a specific sin and you don't know how to get out of it? Do you still feel guilt and shame even though you've repented and sought forgiveness? David wrote Psalm 51 from a place of brokenness over the sin of his affair with Bathsheba. In today's message, using David's life as an example, we'll learn how to respond to sin in our lives, and how we might be free from its grip.
When, Where, Why, and How are all questions we've asked God concerning our future ? future goals, a future career, and a future spouse, to name a few. In the meantime, what are we to do when we are waiting upon the Lord for our future? Open up your Bibles to Psalm 37 and join us in our study entitled "Trusting, Waiting, Walking".
Did you know that God will sometimes allow us to have that which is not best for us? An example of this is found in 1 Samuel 8 when God gives Israel exactly what they ask for in an earthly king named Saul. But why would God do this? What is His purpose in giving what is not best? Grab your Bibles and join us as we learn important lessons regarding God?s heart and why he gives to His children.
Did you know that you are currently involved in a battle in the invisible world? Paul closes his letter to the church at Ephesus by telling them that there is a real battle going on in the spiritual realm, a battle that cannot be fought with physical weapons, but with spiritual weapons. Paul doesn?t tell them this in order to strike fear in their hearts but rather to equip and prepare them to withstand the attacks of the enemy. Are you prepared and equipped to fight this same battle?
If there's one way Satan loves to hurt the church, it's by promoting division and dissension within the body of Christ. Paul tells the church at Ephesus that unity won't come naturally; that they must make every effort to guard against division and to keep unity in the faith. Does this then mean that we all must be the same and agree on everything all the time? Open your Bibles to Ephesians 4 and join our study.
Paul tells the church at Ephesus that one is saved by grace through faith in the person of Jesus Christ, and we're not saved through our works. Jesus + Nothing = Everything! If this is so, what then is the purpose of good works in the life of a believer? Paul then explains that Jesus is the stone by which we are to build our lives upon. Are you building your life upon Jesus, or have you just "added" Jesus to your life? Open your Bible to Ephesians 2, and join us as we study this chapter together.
There has been this ongoing debate for a few hundred years on how to interpret God's sovereignty and man's responsibility regarding the doctrine of salvation. Is God all sovereign and man has no responsibility or will in the matter? Is man completely responsible and God has no sovereignty? Or is it somewhere that meets in the middle and the tension of which is somewhat of a mystery to us? Lets dive in to Ephesians chapter 1 and unpack this discussion together.
Is it always wrong to lie? What about little, white lies? Is it wrong to want what others have? Join our bible study as we conclude our 10 Commandments series by looking at the last 2 commandments.
Guest speaker Derek Carrier, Tight End for the Oakland Raiders, shares about his personal story and the importance of building your life upon the solid rock of Jesus Christ. Afterwards, he and Pastor Austin have a time of Q&A.
According to a recent Gallup poll, 92% of Americans think that adultery is "morally wrong." And yet, not as many people practice what they believe. How does this commandment apply to those of us who are single and not married? Besides the obvious "taking" what doesn't belong to you, have you ever considered the several ways that we "steal" from one another? Join us for our bible study as we seek to answer these questions from a biblical perspective.
I'm an adult, but still living at home - Am I still obligated to obey my parents? I didn't grow up in the best home environment concerning my parents, am I still expected to honor them? Is there a difference between murder and killing? These are some of the questions that will be answered in our bible study as we dive into commandments 5 & 6.
God reveals Himself in the Bible by more than 350 names and titles besides His proper name, Yahweh. He does this to express the vastness of His character and nature. Thus, when we misuse God's Name (or "take it in vain"), we malign, dishonor, and disrespect the character and nature of God. Pastor Austin shares three common ways we might be guilty of breaking the 3rd Commandment. In addition, we'll dig out God?s 4th Commandment and see why the Sabbath rest was implemented for our benefit and for His honor, but are we still obligated to keep the Sabbath? Join us for today's study as we grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord together.
Israel was surrounded by pagan gods of other cultures that had, unfortunately, influenced them away from the True and Living God. Today, our culture is similar - very pluralistic and polytheistic as well. We must examine our own hearts for ways that we have allowed false gods to enter in by asking ourselves: "Who or what in my life have I allowed to rule over me and sit enthroned upon the seat of my heart?"
The Ten Commandments express God's moral standard for human behavior toward God and toward others. They are not antiquated, irrelevant laws, but rather timeless, unchanging truth for every human society. Unfortunately, more and more, their guiding influence in America is being threatened in the courts and disregarded in our culture. Today begins a 6-week series on the Ten Commandments. Join Pastor Austin for this introduction from Exodus 19-20.
Did you know that God wrote a love letter to you? The Bible is filled with precious promises concerning God's thoughts for you. So often we seek to fill a hole in our heart by other means, and yet all the while, God has already expressed the fullness of His love for you that is yours to experience and enjoy if you simply receive it.
Jesus had a few things to say to the early churches after His ascension back into Heaven. The same message that was spoken to the churches of that day still rings true to us corporately as a church and individually as we strive to follow Christ. Get your Bible and dive into Revelation 3 with us as we grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord.
God called the prophet Jeremiah to call out the cities of Judah for their sin and rebellion and told Jeremiah to say everything that He would place upon his heart. Jeremiah listened to the call of God and was unwavering in his stand for truth no matter the cost. In a world that teaches that morality is subjective and truth is not absolute, we need to be people like Jeremiah who stand for what is right, regardless of the pressures we may face.
As the popular saying goes, "Imitation is the best form of flattery." Whether we realize it or not, we try and emulate and imitate the people we admire most. However, the danger is that we can often begin to emulate people's bad habits and poor character depending on the environment we choose to live in. Paul exhorts the Philippian church to make emulating Christ their highest aim in life. Join us in our bible study today as we learn how to walk, talk, and be more like Jesus!
Worry, anxiety, stress, and restlessness ? we can often allow these feelings to easily creep up in our hearts and minds due to the business of life and the trials that come our way. Is it possible to experience God's peace in the midst of the mess? Grab your Bible, and join us as we learn how to experience true, lasting peace.
In one recent study, more people in their 20s reported feeling lonely than did those 75 and older. Loneliness can often creep in during young adult years as relationships, friendships, and career paths are in a state of flux. What should be our response as believers when feeling overwhelmed by loneliness? Dive in to our Bible study tonight as we look at the person of Elijah in 1 Kings 19.
Do you feel burdened? Have you been feeling a heavy weight upon your shoulders? Maybe you?ve been burdened by work, school, family, fear, worry, sin or struggles. What are we to do and how are we supposed to deal with the burdens of life? Join us in today's study as we see what Jesus has to say in Matthew 11 about feeling burdened.
As Paul closes out his first letter to the Corinthians, he mentions the collection he is taking up for the church at Jerusalem. Paul was motivated to share Christ's love through the act of giving to those in need. Join us in today's study as we learn why it?s important to manage our money well and strive to understand God's heart concerning generosity.
Sporting events were big in Paul's day as well as in our own. This was especially meaningful to the Corinthians because their city was the center for the Isthmian Games, second in prestige to the ancient Olympics. Paul compares the Christian life to a sporting event - "I run? I fight". He says that the Christian life is like running a race. However, busy lives and misplaced priorities can lead to us being distracted and undisciplined while we run. Dive into today's bible study as we pursue the wisdom that is found in prioritizing our lives; helping us run the race to win the prize.
What kind of "freedom" does a Christian have? This was the question the church at Corinth asked Paul. They were curious to know - Is Christianity just a bunch of rules and regulations we have to follow? Or, because we're free in Christ, do we have the liberty to do whatever we want, whenever we want? These are the same questions many Christians struggle with today. Join us in our pursuit after wisdom to see how Paul addresses this topic.
As we make our way through Paul's letter to the Corinthians, Paul is now going to address the issue of sexual immorality that has plagued the church. Paul talks about the importance of purity regarding sexuality and how we are supposed to conduct our bodies as believers. Join us in today's study as Pastor Austin discusses the importance of understanding sexual expression through the lens of the Bible and the societal myths that have developed regarding sex in today's culture.
Joy, thanksgiving, peace - these things seem easy to come by when life is going well. But what about when life is difficult? What is the secret to finding joy and peace in the midst of hardship? And how do we find contentment when life seems unfulfilling and empty? In light of the Thanksgiving season, Pastor Austin takes a break from our 'Be Wise' series to answer some of these questions as we look into Paul's 'secret' to being content in all things.
Paul reminds the Corinthian church that God uses the 'foolish,' 'weak,' and 'lowly' things of the world to accomplish His great purposes. Have you ever felt this way? Have you ever felt inadequate, weak, or like you weren't enough? If so, you are exactly the kind of person God wants to use! Paul reminds the Corinthian church that true wisdom is found in our call to glorify God above all else, and the way we glorify God is by recognizing that His power is made perfect in our weakness.
The Corinthian church was divided in their fellowship, but Paul reminded them that they were to be united as part of God's family. And what was their unifying source? The cross of Christ. As we continue in our 'Be Wise' series, Pastor Austin talks about the importance of fellowship within the local church and why it's necessary in our pursuit after wisdom.