Posts by Cornerstone Staff (Page 10)
The Great Commission & The Purpose of the Church
What is the purpose of church? It’s a question I’ve been reflecting on over the last several months, as “church time,” as my two-year-old calls it, has shifted to a digital experience. As we’ve had our normal rhythms stripped away, it’s given space to reflect once again on the purpose and nature of the gathered life of the church. This is a question theologians and Christian thought leaders have written shelves-worth of books about, so I in no way presume…
Everyday Incarnation and Waiting on Jesus (Luke 2:22-32 Devotional)
“Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the…
Advent Hope for the Valley (Christmas Devotional)
We find ourselves now in the season of Advent. It’s fitting, really, that we end our Through the Valley series during this season, for I believe it’s in the promise of Advent that we find hope as we walk through whatever valleys life may bring our way. Some, I suppose, may deem the topics we’ve covered over the last several weeks to be “depressing” or too heavy to dwell on for too long. We’ve waded into some deep waters: racism…
How to Survive Enduring Uncertainty and Transition
Rashad Clemons was in the middle of a major transition when the pandemic struck. He’d recently moved back to the east coast with his family to become the new pastor of Reality Church Boston. The plan was to do a one-year handoff, in which he would be the pastor-in-residence and slowly receive responsibilities and leadership as the planting-pastor transitioned out. When the pandemic hit in the middle of this year, the plan had to change. Rashad remembers that he and…
Passion Week Readings from the Gospel of John
Passion Week Readings from the Gospel of John: – Sunday: The Triumphal Entry of Jesus (John 12:12-19) – Monday: Jesus demonstrates His humility and love (John 13:1-14:7) – Tuesday: Jesus is the Vine (John 15:1-14) – Wednesday: Jesus prays for His disciples and us (John 17) – Thursday: Jesus is betrayed and denied (John 18) – Friday: Jesus is the crucified Savior (John 19:1-37) – Saturday: Sunday’s coming! (John 19:38-42) – Sunday: Jesus lives!! (John 20) Photo via: https://pixabay.com/photos/piece-religion-israel-holy-land-3241434/
Spiritual Formation in the Midst of Chronic Illness (Mary and Peter Frey – The Frey Life)
“Mary, how has having cystic fibrosis affected your relationship with Jesus?” This question from a summer camp nurse sparked Mary Frey’s curiosity years ago. Since then, part of her journey with a chronic illness has been learning how to ask how following Jesus fits into a broken situation. “The illness that I have does not define me, in the sense that it is not the entirety of who I am, what I am, and my purpose in life,” Mary says.…
Encountering God in Loneliness (Jason Gaboury Book)
Jason Gaboury says he’s wrestled with loneliness his whole life. He felt this sense of disconnection in a particularly powerful way when he was in his mid-thirties, with two young kids at home, doing campus ministry. His home was in a “constant state of relational connection,” but he still felt lonely. “My assumption was that if I was lonely, there was something wrong with me,” he says. “A lot of people assume that. They assume that if I’m lonely, I’m…
Walking with Others Through the Valley (Kim Findlay Story)
Content Warning: This post contains a story of loss and tragedy that may bother some. Fifteen years ago, I sat on a waiting room couch, frozen in fear as the doctor delivered devastating news. “The little girl’s daddy, he’ll be okay. The recovery will be long, but he’ll survive.” Time held its breath as my reality began to shift. “But the little girl? She’s not going to survive.” A few hours earlier, firefighters battled a blaze that engulfed our home,…