Resource Archives - Cornerstone Church of Ames: Recent Episodes
Cornerstone Church of Ames
Podcast by Cornerstone Church of Ames. This podcast provides recorded archives from past Equipping Ministry events including semesterly Equip Weekends and monthly Crash Courses.
From toddlers to teens, parenting takes all sorts of shapes through the years. This crash course will help you understand the nature of each stage of your child’s development, and how this impacts all aspects of your parenting approach for the purpose of cultivating a meaningful and lasting relationship. Taught by Jill Thomas, therapist at Heartland Christian Counseling.
Other details:
- Crash Course handout
- Parenting Resources handout
This crash course gives practical tools and biblical insights for you and your spouse to assess your marriage, enhance communication and intimacy, and prioritize one another amidst the busyness of life. Taught by Joel Jorgenson, therapist at Cornerstone Counseling Center.
Grandparents play a unique and profoundly influential role in the lives of their grandchildren, but often grandparents themselves don’t understand their enormous potential as spiritual influencers. This crash course is designed to encourage and equip Christian grandparents by teaching biblical principles that will encourage you to leave a legacy of faith to your grandchildren. It will help you overcome obstacles, equip you with best practices to implement in perpetuating your faith, and offer opportunities to learn from other like-minded grandparents. You’ll leave full of inspiration, ideas and practical tools to help you be more intentional in your grandparenting. Taught by Jon Ness with Legacy Coalition.
Transitioning to post-college life presents a new stage of life with excitement and challenges. From first jobs and paychecks, to moving (or staying!) and navigating friendships, dating, marriage and singleness, there are many things to anticipate. This crash course is designed for almost-college grads to recent grads (1-3 years) to discuss how to transition into post-grad life wisely and live faithfully in this unique stage of life. Taught by Alanna Sellinger with Matt and Bethany Snyder, Jacob and Elle Johnson, Carson and Elle Gardner, and Allie Frank.
Other Resources:
- Next Steps and Local Church handout
- 5Hs Reflection Guide handout
This crash course provides staggering data and research on how technology affects your child's brain during critical developmental stages, and the practical (and urgently important!) steps you can take as a parent to monitor, filter, and oversee your teens' technology use and screen time. Taught by Laura Wifler with Ryan and Danielle Hill, Mark and Mandy Stenberg, Peter Miller, and Rainer Erani.
Other Resources:
- Teens and Tech Resources handout
- Sample Phone Agreement letter and plan
- Family Technology Plan handout
As anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues increase in frequency and intensity among teens and adolescents, how can you as a parent navigate these challenges and crises with your teenagers? This crash course provides you with resources and support, practical tools, and helpful perspectives on mental health issues from therapists actively working with children and teens. Taught by Steve Jones (T-LMHC) with Ed Ruppert (MA, LISW), Sidney Barker (LISW), and Jill Thomas (LISW, PMH-C, RPT-S).
This crash course provides gospel-centered principles to implement with your teens during the often chaotic and challenging years of parenting teenagers. Parents will learn how to seize the countless opportunities to deepen communication, learn, and grow with their teenagers in this critical and formative stage of your child's life. Taught by Steve Jones.
This crash course provides an overview of the origins of deconstruction, why people deconstruct, and ways to deconstruct that lead to a healthy reconstruction of the Christian faith rather than deconversion. Taught by Graham Spruill and Alanna Sellinger.
Other Details
- Theological Triage handout
The Challenge of Pseudo-religions: Exploring the rise of the unaffiliated and the various pseudo-religions and intuitional spiritualities people are turning to as traditional religious adherence falls away, along with opportunities to bear gospel witness in a world of “do-it-yourself” spirituality. Taught by Trevin Wax.
This session is a part of Equip Weekend: Four Challenges Facing the Western Church in America (Spring 2024).
The Challenge of Christian Morality: Exploring the implications of the sexual revolution and societal views of Christian teaching on sex and marriage, along with opportunities to minister in a world of sexual revolution refugees. Taught by Trevin Wax.
This session is a part of Equip Weekend: Four Challenges Facing the Western Church in America (Spring 2024).
The Challenge of Personalized Faith: Exploring the relegation of religion to morality, and to personal and private expressions of spirituality, along with a challenge to proclaim the gospel as public truth. Taught by Trevin Wax.
This session is a part of Equip Weekend: Four Challenges Facing the Western Church in America (Spring 2024).
The Challenge of a “Be True To Yourself” Culture: Exploring the predominant worldview of our society and how the gospel provides a better vision for humanity.Taught by Trevin Wax.
This session is a part of Equip Weekend: Four Challenges Facing the Western Church in America (Spring 2024).
This crash course provides a Christian perspective on the human bodies – how and why they matter to God, how Christians can care for their bodies, and how to address and face the common challenges, ailments, addictions, and struggles we experience in our bodies. Taught by Alex Tuckness, Corrie Patten, and Steve Jones.
How to Engage in Politics in the 21st Century: Models for public witness in a supercharged political climate. Live Q&A is a part of this session. Taught by Dr. Patrick Schreiner.
This session is a part of Equip Weekend: The Political Gospel (Fall 2023).
Becoming Submissive Citizens: Christians are called to submit to the state and be innocent and righteous citizens. Live Q&A is a part of this session. Taught by Dr. Patrick Schreiner.
This session is a part of Equip Weekend: The Political Gospel (Fall 2023).
Becoming Subversive Prophets: Christianity is a disruption, a challenge, to the political order. Live Q&A is a part of this session. Taught by Dr. Patrick Schreiner.
This session is a part of Equip Weekend: The Political Gospel (Fall 2023).
Christians Need to Be More (Not Less) Political: Christianity not only has political implications but is itself a politic. Taught by Dr. Patrick Schreiner.
This session is a part of Equip Weekend: The Political Gospel (Fall 2023).
This crash course unpacks a biblical framework for women as image-bearers, how Christ’s life and ministry gives dignity and significance to women, and how women lead in the church from a complementarian viewpoint. Taught by Alanna Sellinger and Mark Vance.
More Resources:
- "Jesus, Justice, and Gender Roles," book by Kathy Keller
- "God's Good Design," book by Claire Smith
- "Jesus Through the Eyes of Women," book by Rebecca McLaughlin
- "Developing Female Leaders," book by Kadi Cole
- "Half the Church," book by Carolyn Custis James
This crash course provides a 30,000-foot overview of world religions, provide you with clarity and curiosity for non-Christians around the world, and instill courage and confidence when engaging in gospel conversations with those of different faiths and worldviews. Taught by Eric Warren with guest panelists.
Other Details:
- World Religions handout
- David Platt's Secret Church and Radical ministry resources
This crash course walks through the biblical framework necessary for parents to accomplish the God-sized task of preparing teenage children for adulthood. Taught by Steve Jones.
Additional Resources:
- "Age of Opportunity," book by Paul David Tripp
This crash courses discusses the history of technology and considers how technology shapes us with practical tools to become people of virtue in a tech-saturated world. Taught by Nick Harsh with Alanna Sellinger.
More Resources:
- "God, Technology, and the Christian Life," book by Tony Reinke
- "Analog Christian," book by Jay Kim
- "Competing Spectacles," book by Tony Reinke
- "Social Sanity in an Insta World," book by Sarah Eekhoff Zylstra, et al.
- "12 Ways Your Phone is Changing You," book by Tony Reinke and John Piper
- "The Social Dilemma," documentary
Our life stories have tremendous impact on who we are and how we live, view, and interact with the world around us. This crash course will utilize Blueprint tools to help identify pivotal moments and people, along with personal narratives and disruptions. These factors help to clarify emerging life patterns and chapters to better understand how our unique stories fit into the larger story that God is writing. Taught by Mark Duvick.
Other Details:
- Blueprint Story Tools handout
This crash course discusses the “last and longest” phase of parenting adult children, including foundational principles and helpful ways to navigate with your adult children through singleness, marriage and in-laws, grand-parenting, and more. Taught by Steve Jones and guest panelists.
More Resources:
- "Parenting Your Adult Child," book by Gary Chapman and Ross Campbell
- "Doing Life With Your Adult Children," book by Jim Burns
- "How To Really Love Your Adult Child," book by Gary Chapman and Ross Campbell
Considering the motivations of truth and love applied to doctrine for pursuing unity. Taught by Alex Tuckness.
This session is a part of Equip Weekend: Doctrine (Spring 2023).
A breakout session exploring the return of Christ, the judgment of all people, the consummation of all things, including heaven, hell, and the new earth. Taught by Mark Vance.
This session is a part of Equip Weekend: Doctrine (Spring 2023).
A breakout session exploring the church's origins, who the church is and her distinct marks and works, including the role of sanctification for believers. Taught by Alanna Sellinger.
This session is a part of Equip Weekend: Doctrine (Spring 2023).
Other notes:
- Breakout Handouts
A breakout session discussing the context and need for salvation, the life, death and resurrection of Christ, theological terms surrounding salvation, and the implications of salvation for every person. Taught by Dan Johnston.
This session is a part of Equip Weekend: Doctrine (Spring 2023).
Other notes:
- "Getting the Gospel Right," book by RC Sproul
- "The Gospel of Jesus Christ," article from TGC
- "Systematic Theology, Vol 3: Sin and Salvation," book by Norman Geisler
A breakout session exploring the humanity as image bearers and the condition of total depravity. Taught by Ross Harmon.
This session is a part of Equip Weekend: Doctrine (Spring 2023).
A breakout session exploring God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit as three distinct persons in one divine essence. Taught by Nick Harsh.
This session is a part of Equip Weekend: Doctrine (Spring 2023).
Other notes:
- Breakout Handouts
A breakout session exploring the inspiration, inerrancy, canonicity, authority, and sufficiency of Scripture. Taught by Graham Spruill.
This session is a part of Equip Weekend: Doctrine (Spring 2023).
Exploring why theology matters for loving God with our minds. Taught by Alex Tuckness.
This session is a part of Equip Weekend: Doctrine (Spring 2023).
This crash course explores a biblical framework Christians can have for disabilities, including the image of God and the sovereignty of God. Additionally, we discuss the history of disabilities in the United States, and practical ways kids, adults, and the church can move toward people with disabilities with love and honor. Taught by Dan Johnston and Laura Wifler.
More Resources:
- "Walking with God through Pain and Suffering" bookby Tim Keller
- "A Place of Healing" bookby Joni Eareckson Tada
- "Suffering and the Sovereignty of God" bookby John Piper and Justin Taylor
- "The Life We Never Expected" bookby Andrew and Rachel Wilson
- "The Unseen Realm" bookby Michael Heiser
- "Like Me" bookby Laura Wifler
This crash course is designed for almost-college grads to recent grads (1-3 years) to discuss how to transition into post-grad life wisely and live faithfully in this new and unique stage of life. Taught by Alanna Sellinger with guest panelists.
Other Details:
- Local Church Resources handout
This crash course discusses how Christian men and women can pursue purity in a culture obsessed with sex and addicted to pornography. Through personal experiences and research data of pornography’s danger and addictive nature, this course also focuses on practical steps to finding freedom, healing, and redemption through Christ and gospel-centered community. Taught by Mark Vance and Lance Dewein.
Other Details:
- "The Great Porn Experiment," by Gary Wilson
- "The Demise of Guys," by Philip Zimbardo
More Resources:
- Covenant Eyes filter software
- Plucky filter software
- Canopy filter software
- Brain, Heart, World docuseries
This crash course unpacks the major covenants of scripture and the ways in which the Kingdom of God unfolds through the promises God makes with His people. Taught by Dr. Tom Niehof and Dr. Alex Tuckness.
Other Details:
- Covenants handout
More Resources:
- "God's Kingdom through God's Covenants" book
- "The Whole Story of the Bible in 16 Verses" book
- "Far as the Curse is Found" book
- "Covenant and God's Purpose for the World" book
Addressing the latest challenges to scientific evidence for God as proposed by critics of theism -- including audience Q&A. Taught by Dr. Mike Strauss.
This session is a part of Equip Weekend: God and Science (Fall 2022).
Exploring insights and life applications about God’s character, including His transcendence and divine purposes based on what we know about His creation from science. Taught by Dr. Mike Strauss.
This session is a part of Equip Weekend: God and Science (Fall 2022).
Interpreting the Genesis creation account including its compatibility with modern scientific discoveries. Additionally, this session compares views about creation held by Christians and biblical teaching, along with an exploration of evolution and current scientific challenges with the theory -- including audience Q&A. Taught by Dr. Mike Strauss.
This session is a part of Equip Weekend: God and Science (Fall 2022).
Explaining how the discoveries of modern science give evidence for God with emphasis given to scientific observations -- including audience Q&A. Taught by Dr. Mike Strauss.
This session is a part of Equip Weekend: God and Science (Fall 2022).
This crash course grapples with the implications of faithfully holding to a biblical theology of sexual morality in a modern world. Taught by Mark Vance.
Other details:
- Romans 1, Homosexuality, and Society Questions podcast
- Romans 1, Homosexuality, and Personal Questions podcast
- Romans 1, Homosexuality, and Bible Questions podcast
- Sam Allberry's website
This crash course discusses types of doubt and sources of lack of assurance of salvation leading Christians to feel fear, despair, and inner turmoil. Learn practical ways to face, and even embrace, doubt as a Christian with a renewed sense of confident assurance as a believer in Christ. Taught by Dr. Alex Tuckness.
Other details:
- Doubt & Assurance handout
This crash course provides an overview of the textual, historical, biblical and theological, and Christological contexts of Bible study methods that can help to provide practical steps and resources for you to read, understand, interpret, and apply the Bible. Taught by Mark Vance.
Other details:
- Grasping God's Word Interpretive Journey and workbook
- How to Read the Bible videos from Bible Project
- Bible Training resources
- Cornerstone's 2022 Bible reading plans
This crash course addresses the invitation for all Christians, not just missionaries, to evangelize, along with practical resources and examples to share your faith thoughtfully and confidently. Taught by John LaRavia and Ben Riner.
Other details:
- The Bridge tool handout
- Have an exciting gospel conversation to share about? We'd love to hear about it!
This crash course addresses the reality of loss, grief, and lament along with ways to increase self-awareness related to personal experience of loss, feel a sense of validation and empathy related to grief in self and/or others, and learn how to honor very difficult stories. Taught by Ed Ruppert, MA LISW.
Other details:
- Class notes handout
- Writing a Psalm of Lament handout
- Cornerstone Counseling Center
- Cornerstone Celebrate Recovery group
- Cornerstone GriefSharegroup
This crash course explores the fatherly nature of God, ways our earthly fathers can help and hinder us from believing this reality, and how we might move toward greater clarity of seeing God as the true and perfect Father. Taught by Kip Hamby and Nathan Barker.
A crash course looking at at gospel hope, healthy community, and the practical ways we can increase our awareness of those struggling with suicide ideation. Taught by Steve Jones and Sophia Bauman.
Other Details:
- Crash Course notes handout
- 2019 U.S. Suicide Statistics handout
- National Suicide Prevention hotline: 1-800-273-8255
- Iowa Mobile Crisis hotline: 1-855-581-8111
A closing session to identify the sweet spot of your gospel-centered life design, along with goal-setting practices to implement.
A crash course discussing how to transition into post-grad life wisely and how to live faithfully in this unique stage of life. Post-grad is a life stage full of excitement and challenges: first jobs and paychecks, to moving (or staying!) and navigating friendships, dating, marriage and singleness. This crash course is designed for almost-college grads to recent young professionals (ages 20-25). Taught by Alanna Sellinger with guest panelists, Jacob & Elle Johnson, Bennett & Ali Ford, Graham & Jess Spruill, Ben Riner, and Allie Frank.
A theological overview of the kingdom of God, humanity as image-bearers, and our expressions of calling.
A closing session to identify the sweet spot of your gospel-centered life design, along with goal-setting practices to implement.
Part two of two crash courses exploring the role and responsibility Christians have to faithfully fulfill the Great Commission and the obstacles that can hinder us. Taught by Mike Easton and Shannon Boman with special guest, Marlin Rice.
Other Details:
- Part two notes handout
- Video (at 1:32) from Poverty Cure, Episode 1: Charity that Hurts
- Missions resources handout
Part one of two crash courses exploring the biblical basis and strategies in global missions, particularly the ways you can be involved in Cornerstone's collective vision to reach the nations. Taught by Mike Easton and Shannon Boman.
Other Details:
- Part one notes handout
- State of the World video (at 1:28:21)
- Unreached People Groups video (at 1:34:24)
- Missions resources handout
A crash course providing practical tools for stewarding and managing money with biblical principles, wisdom, and generosity. Taught by Justin Bennett.
Other Details:
- 7 Biblical Principles of Finance handout
- Sample Budget Sheet handout
- Finance Playbook handout
A crash course honoring MLK Day by examining the imago dei (Image of God) and the way image-bearing impacts humanity’s call to compassion, mercy, and justice. Taught by Dr. Matt LaPine.
Other Details:
- Crash Course manuscript
- Texts on Justice for the Afflicted
- "Segregated by Design" video
- "King: A Filmed Record of Montgomery to Memphis" video