Sermons on The Big Story

Sermons on The Big Story

The Big Story of the Bible can be divided up into four parts: creation, fall, redemption, and restoration.

Hope Fulfilled | 1 Thessalonians 4:13 – 5:11

Mark Pender encourages us with this message about hope from 1 Thessalonians. Discussion Questions Paul uses a literary technique of contrasts in this section.  Some examples – Light contrast Dark, Sober contrast Drunk, Asleep contrast Awake.  Is Salvation the contrast of wrath (v9)? Martin L King Jr said “We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope.”  How did Paul model this?  In what ways have you seen others model this? We’re not the church in Thessalonica, but how…

The Triumphant Entry | Matthew 21:1-11 & 15

This Palm Sunday, we received a message from Mark Maclean to help us understand how Jesus was perceived and who he really was and what he came to do. Discussion Questions 1. When Jesus rode into Jerusalem, the crowd treated him like a king. What were they expecting of him? 2. What was correct about the crowd’s description of Jesus? What was incorrect (or incomplete)? 3. What kind of Jesus am I following? One of my own devising or one…

A Reason Not To Be Apathetic | Malachi 4:1-6

Andy Bradshaw, one of our elders here at Cornerstone, finishes our series in the book of Malachi by giving us reasons not to be apathetic. Discussion Questions 1. What is the significance of the promises of healing and turning the hearts of people to each other in Malachi 4? 2. Is Malachi prophesying about the first coming of Jesus, the second coming of Jesus, both, or neither? 3. Is there a difference between having apathy and being lukewarm? Is there…

Does God Care? | Malachi 2:17 – 3:6

Our view of justice may not always align with God’s justice. Listen to this message as Pastor Ron continues his series in Malachi. Watch here Discussion Questions 1. Are there ways and times when we “project” our attitudes and viewpoint upon God?  How can we avoid this? 2. Do we sometimes confuse satisfaction with justice? 3. How do we know from this passage that God’s love for us precedes His exacting justice for breaking covenant with Him?

Hope’s Accomplishments | Isaiah 11:1-9

On this first Sunday of Advent, Pastor Ron shares with us a message of Hope. Watch Here Discussion Questions 1. What is christian hope? 2. What affects does hope have on believers? 3. What are some ways God has awakened or stirred your hope? 4. Why is Christmas critical to our hope?

Jesus’ Achievements | Hebrews 2:5-18

Pastor Ron shared this message reminding us of Jesus’ achievements and how that relates to our faith journey. Discussion Questions 1. What are some signs of drifting? 2. What does “being careful” look like for you? 3. How does Jesus help us in our suffering?

Gracious | Colossians 1:11-22

Dave Astolfi shared a message called “Gracious” to wrap up our series on Grace. Watch Here Discussion Questions Can you recall a time when someone extended grace to you? (Not just mercy or forgiveness, but they went the extra mile?) Which of the salvation metaphors do you identify with? How does that impact the way you see yourself? What is in your spiritual diet that keeps you reminded of God’s love?

Saved By Grace | Galatians 1:1-9

Bernie Michaud shared a message reminding us that we are all saved by God’s grace. Discussion Questions Ice breaker: What religion did you grow up with? How far from shore were you when God saved you? What pull do you still have from religion? What do you think about this statement? When you question your salvation you are not asking if you are good enough, you are actually asking if God is good enough. What drops of poison do you add to the…

Praise the Storyteller | Psalm 105:1-7

Two weeks ago, Terry Shanahan preached on Psalm 8 a message called “Praise the Creator,” which was really encouraging. I thought it would be good to continue our time in the Psalms with a Psalm of celebration, thanksgiving, and praise that I’ve entitled “Praise the Storyteller.” My hope is that we will look back and see the story God has been writing, and it will draw our hearts to praise and glorify him. Today is not just a day to…

Lord of the Storm | Mark 4:35-41

This Rembrandt painting is called “Christ in the Storm on the Lake of Galilee.” It depicts Jesus calming the storm on the Sea of Galilee. While most of the painting is black and dark grays and blues, you can see golden-light and light blue skies in the distance. Two thieves disguised as police officers broke into the Isabella Steward Gardner Museum in Boston and stole it in 1990. If you know where it is, let the FBI know. Jesus has…

Praise The Creator | Psalm 8:1-9 (Terry Shanahan)

Terry Shanahan, our CCCC Regional Ministry (soon-to-be retiring) preached on Psalm 8 on Sunday, June 5th, 2022. Enjoy. You can listen to all of his Cornerstone sermons here. Discussion Questions Ice Breaker: What is your favorite thing to do when you have leisure time? Get outdoors? Take a hike? Go camping? Prayer: Do you have a prayer or praise you would like to share? Let’s pray for one another. Reread Psalm 8: When was the last time you experienced God’s majestic…