Transforming Lives Through Faith and Community
Summary
Starting the new year at Cornerstone, we are reminded of the unchanging nature of God, the same God who guided David, Moses, and Abraham. Our focus this year is to glorify Him in ways that transform not only our lives but also those around us. As a church, we begin by reaffirming our identity and purpose, ensuring we remain aligned with our core values and mission. Our mission is simple: to build lives for Christ by reaching the lost with the gospel, connecting them to a church, and nurturing their growth into mature disciples who serve others with their God-given gifts.
Our foundation is built on two immutable truths: Jesus Christ as the cornerstone and the Bible as our guiding scripture. Everything we do must align with Jesus, ensuring our ministries and actions reflect His desires for the church. We resist the temptation to mold Jesus into our image, instead allowing Him to transform us into His likeness. The Bible, our final authority, remains unchanged by time, guiding us in all aspects of life and faith.
The church is likened to a body, with each member playing a vital role. We are called to function interdependently, contributing our unique gifts to the work of Christ. This metaphor extends to the idea of family, friends, and guests within the church community. Family members are committed and involved, friends are welcome and contribute occasionally, and guests bring new life and energy. Our goal is to invite everyone into deeper relationships, moving from guests to friends, and ultimately to family.
Acts 2 provides a blueprint for how the church should function, emphasizing devotion to teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayer. These spiritual habits transform a house into a home, creating a sense of belonging and community. As we engage in these practices, we experience the fullness of life together, supporting one another through joys and challenges.
In conclusion, Cornerstone is a simple church with a clear foundation: Jesus Christ and the Bible. We invite everyone to become part of our family, to live out the principles of Acts 2, and to experience the transformative power of a spiritual home.
Key Takeaways:
- Unchanging God: As we enter a new year, we are reminded that God remains the same, faithful and good, just as He was for David, Moses, and Abraham. Our focus is to glorify Him in ways that transform our lives and those around us. [00:00]
- Foundation of Faith: Our church is built on two immutable truths: Jesus Christ as the cornerstone and the Bible as our guiding scripture. Everything we do must align with Jesus, ensuring our ministries and actions reflect His desires for the church. [27:18]
- Body of Christ: The church is likened to a body, with each member playing a vital role. We are called to function interdependently, contributing our unique gifts to the work of Christ. This metaphor extends to the idea of family, friends, and guests within the church community. [35:26]
- Spiritual Habits: Acts 2 provides a blueprint for how the church should function, emphasizing devotion to teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayer. These spiritual habits transform a house into a home, creating a sense of belonging and community. [44:46]
- Invitation to Belong: Our goal is to invite everyone into deeper relationships, moving from guests to friends, and ultimately to family. As we engage in these practices, we experience the fullness of life together, supporting one another through joys and challenges. [50:18]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [18:15] - Introduction to Cornerstone's Mission
- [20:10] - Understanding Core Values
- [21:09] - Building Lives for Christ
- [21:52] - Spiritual Growth and Maturity
- [22:39] - Vision for Long Island
- [23:15] - Cornerstone's DNA
- [24:19] - Foundation in Ephesians
- [25:19] - Building on a Solid Foundation
- [26:19] - Aligning with Jesus
- [27:18] - Jesus as the Cornerstone
- [28:16] - Aligning with Christ's Heartbeat
- [29:12] - The Unique Nature of Jesus
- [31:18] - The Bible as Our Foundation
- [32:32] - Authority of Scripture
- [35:26] - The Body of Christ
- [36:18] - Interdependence in the Church
- [38:38] - Family, Friends, and Guests
- [43:47] - Functioning as a Church
- [44:46] - Spiritual Habits in Acts 2
- [50:18] - Invitation to Belong
- [52:29] - Closing Prayer and Invitation
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- Ephesians 2:20-22
- 1 Corinthians 12:12-14
- Acts 2:42-47
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Observation Questions:
1. According to Ephesians 2:20-22, what is the foundation of the church, and how are believers described in relation to this foundation?
2. In 1 Corinthians 12:12-14, how does Paul describe the church, and what does this imply about the roles of individual members?
3. What spiritual habits are highlighted in Acts 2:42-47, and how did these practices affect the early church community?
4. How does the sermon describe the different roles of family, friends, and guests within the church community? [38:38]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. What does it mean for Jesus to be the cornerstone of the church, and how should this influence the church's activities and priorities? [27:18]
2. How does the metaphor of the church as a body in 1 Corinthians 12 help us understand the importance of each member's contribution?
3. In what ways do the spiritual habits mentioned in Acts 2:42-47 create a sense of belonging and community within the church?
4. How can the church ensure that it remains aligned with its mission and core values, as described in the sermon? [21:09]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your current role within the church community. Are you more like a family member, a friend, or a guest? What steps can you take to deepen your involvement? [41:52]
2. How can you align your personal life and actions more closely with Jesus as the cornerstone? Identify one specific area where you can make a change this week. [27:18]
3. Consider the spiritual habits from Acts 2:42-47. Which of these practices do you find most challenging to incorporate into your life, and how can you begin to address this challenge?
4. How can you use your unique gifts to contribute to the work of Christ in your church community? Identify one specific way you can serve this month. [36:18]
5. Think about a time when you felt a strong sense of community within the church. What contributed to that feeling, and how can you help create that environment for others?
6. How can you help someone move from being a guest to becoming a friend or family member within the church? Identify one person you can reach out to this week. [50:18]
7. Reflect on the sermon’s emphasis on not conforming to culture but transforming it. What is one cultural influence you need to resist, and how can you actively work to transform it with Christ’s love? [34:36]
Devotional
I'm ready to provide the 5-day devotional based on the steps outlined. Here it is:
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Day 1: The Unchanging Nature of God
As we step into a new year, we are reminded of the steadfast nature of God, who remains the same yesterday, today, and forever. This is the same God who guided David, Moses, and Abraham through their journeys. Our focus is to glorify Him in ways that not only transform our lives but also impact those around us. In a world that is constantly changing, God's faithfulness and goodness provide a solid foundation upon which we can build our lives. By aligning our actions and intentions with His eternal nature, we can experience a profound transformation that echoes through our communities. [00:00]
Psalm 102:25-27 (ESV): "Of old you laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. They will perish, but you will remain; they will all wear out like a garment. You will change them like a robe, and they will pass away, but you are the same, and your years have no end."
Reflection: In what ways can you actively glorify God in your daily life, allowing His unchanging nature to transform you and those around you?
Day 2: Jesus Christ as the Cornerstone
Our church is built on two immutable truths: Jesus Christ as the cornerstone and the Bible as our guiding scripture. Everything we do must align with Jesus, ensuring our ministries and actions reflect His desires for the church. We resist the temptation to mold Jesus into our image, instead allowing Him to transform us into His likeness. This foundation is crucial for maintaining the integrity and purpose of our faith community. By keeping Jesus at the center, we ensure that our actions and decisions are rooted in His teachings and love. [27:18]
Ephesians 2:19-22 (ESV): "So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord."
Reflection: How can you ensure that Jesus remains the cornerstone of your life, influencing your decisions and actions daily?
Day 3: The Interdependent Body of Christ
The church is likened to a body, with each member playing a vital role. We are called to function interdependently, contributing our unique gifts to the work of Christ. This metaphor extends to the idea of family, friends, and guests within the church community. Family members are committed and involved, friends are welcome and contribute occasionally, and guests bring new life and energy. Our goal is to invite everyone into deeper relationships, moving from guests to friends, and ultimately to family. [35:26]
1 Corinthians 12:14-20 (ESV): "For the body does not consist of one member but of many. If the foot should say, 'Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,' that would not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear should say, 'Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,' that would not make it any less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose."
Reflection: What unique gifts do you bring to your church community, and how can you use them to foster deeper relationships within the body of Christ?
Day 4: Spiritual Habits for a Transformative Community
Acts 2 provides a blueprint for how the church should function, emphasizing devotion to teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayer. These spiritual habits transform a house into a home, creating a sense of belonging and community. As we engage in these practices, we experience the fullness of life together, supporting one another through joys and challenges. By committing to these habits, we cultivate a spiritual environment that nurtures growth and unity. [44:46]
Acts 2:42-47 (ESV): "And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved."
Reflection: Which spiritual habit from Acts 2 can you focus on this week to deepen your sense of community and belonging within your church?
Day 5: Invitation to Deeper Relationships
Our goal is to invite everyone into deeper relationships, moving from guests to friends, and ultimately to family. As we engage in these practices, we experience the fullness of life together, supporting one another through joys and challenges. This invitation is not just about attending church but about becoming an integral part of a spiritual family. By fostering these relationships, we create a supportive environment where everyone can grow and thrive in their faith journey. [50:18]
Hebrews 10:24-25 (ESV): "And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near."
Reflection: Who in your church community can you reach out to this week to encourage and invite into a deeper relationship, moving from acquaintance to friend or family?
Quotes
Good morning, Cornerstone. It's a pleasure to be in the house of the Lord with you this morning for the first Sunday of 2025. What a better way to start the year than in God's house, worshiping with God's people, lifting up the name of Jesus, knowing that he carried us through last year and he will carry us through this year because we serve the same God in 2025, the God that David served and Moses served and Abraham served. Our God never changes. He is faithful. He is good. He loves us. [00:00:09]
And what we like to do, one of our traditions here at our church, and there's a purpose for it, is we like to open up our New Year's reminding ourselves who we are as God's people here at Cornerstone and why we're here. Because if we don't start out by doing that, if we don't remind ourselves, we end up slowly drifting and our church will start heading in the wrong direction. And I know this to be true because every church in the New Testament that we read about somehow lost their way along their way. [00:19:04]
So you may have seen this on our social media, on posters around the building. Maybe you heard about it, seen it on the app. This is our verse for our church. This is part of how we got our name. So Ephesians 2, starting in verse 20. Together, we are his house, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. The cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself. We are carefully joined together in him, becoming a holy temple for the Lord. [00:24:39]
Everything and anything we do here at Cornerstone, and every, I mean, this is not an exaggeration, is built on two immutable truths. Number one, Jesus Christ is the cornerstone, which means everything we build must be perfectly aligned with him. Him. If you know anything about building, you know this is how a building will last forever. When a cornerstone is laid, the whole point is that every other stone that is laid after must be in perfect alignment with that stone or it will not work right. [00:26:54]
We align every ministry, every event, every team, every program with Jesus Christ's desire for his church. So we are constantly looking at the work of our hands as we're designing things and saying, does this line up with the desire of Jesus Christ's heart? Because if it doesn't, we're not doing it. If it doesn't further the work of our hands, the heartbeat of Jesus Christ, we don't want to be a part of it because that's not our calling. [00:27:48]
We look at him, how he lives, what he does, what's near and dear to his heart, and then we simply model that behavior. And second, we lay the foundation of our faith, which is the scriptures. It's in our name. We are a Bible church. We are a Bible church because we believe the Bible. That may not sound profound to you, but it is. The word of God doesn't change with time. The word of God changes how we live all the time. [00:31:20]
The human body has many parts. But the many parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of Christ. Some of us are Jews, some are Gentiles, some are slaves, some are free. But we have all been baptized into one body by one spirit, and we all share the same spirit. Yes, the body has many different parts. Not just one part. But our bodies have many parts, and God has put each part just where he wants it. [00:35:01]
There's a reason why believers are called the body of Christ. because even though we've been given individual responsibilities, we are called into community to fulfill them interdependently. There are no lone rangers in the kingdom of God. There's no one that was called to do this alone. We were all called to do this together. Every single member of the body of Christ is expected to contribute. To the work of Christ. [00:36:02]
All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and fellowship, and to sharing in meals, including the Lord's Supper, which we will do today, and to prayer. A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders. And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need. [00:44:22]
The early church was home, because people did life together. They were devoted. to one another. And the word devotion means a continued, steadfast, single-minded commitment. They were united in spirit. They were united in goal and purpose. They studied the word, broke bread, took communion, celebrated milestones, cried together, saw miracles, got through tough times, went into the dining rooms and living rooms. They gave generously to those in need when they went through tough times. [00:49:39]
And then we want to be devoted, not to what the culture says church should be, to what the Bible says church should be. And that's how everyone here, I didn't mean everyone here, no matter what your age is, no matter what your culture is, no matter what you have in your bank account or what zip code you live in, none of that matters to me. If you live out Acts 2, 42 to 47, this will become your spiritual home, and it will change you. It will change your life. And you are welcome here. [00:51:43]
Father I thank you for the word you have given us I thank you for the clear direction you've laid out for us, Father I pray that we would be devoted to these spiritual disciplines as your family and I pray Father as we approach the communion table I pray that you would stir in the hearts and the minds of your people and draw people close to your heart in Jesus name, Amen [00:54:27]
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