Cornerstone Simi Audio Podcast

Todd, Christian and Spencer begin this podcast with a conversation about what they believed the Apostles actually understood about what Christ was saying when He told them He would be “with you always, to the end of the age”. They discuss that although the Apostles had a lot of illusions from their time with Christ about what was coming, it would not be possible for them to fully understand what the future would hold. Additionally, Jesus was asking them to take on an insurmountable task, to go to all nations, for all time, and to live like Jesus always, and they couldn’t do it without Jesus! And neither can we! Jesus’s statement is meant to empower us to be faithful always, acknowledging that God is with us, has prepared a way ahead of time for us, and we are simply joining Him in the work that He has already begun.

Our pastors cover 2 teachings in this one podcast - discussing both baptism and the command to teach new disciples, all that Jesus taught. They speak of baptism as being initiated into Jesus, and a transition into our new identity. If you’ve ever struggled about being baptized before you have straightened out your life, you will love the guys' candid discussion that will free you to commit to Jesus before you’ve actually “nailed it”. They describe it as “making a promise (now) to work it out with God with a longing to make this promise real (in the future)”. Then they move on to discussing what it means to embrace the teachings of Jesus, which will lead to our allegiance to Christ strengthening over our lifetime with Him.

Continuing in the Summer series on The Great Commission, Todd points out that after Jesus declares His authority over Heaven and Earth, He immediately commands us to “go and make disciples”. But in order to do this we must remember two things - making disciples will not be possible without the power of the Holy Spirit within us and secondly, this command comes, not unexpectedly, but as a result of all the instructions given previously in the book of Matthew. Our pastor’s acknowledge that this is hard but go on to explain how discipleship happens within the local church and among the church body in simple day-to-day activities and relationships. If you are overwhelmed by the prospect of discipleship you will find encouragement and hope in this straightforward discussion.

In this Summer Series on The Great Commission, Todd, Christian, and Spencer focus on Matthew 28:18 where Jesus declares His authority over all things. With Christian taking the lead in the discussion he explains how God uses His power and authority for good in contrast to how our culture frequently uses power and authority wrongly for our own purposes, not the purposes of God. The discussion with Spencer and Todd over the significance that Jesus was “given” His authority connects to God giving authority in the Garden to Adam and Eve before sin enters the world. Quoting from the book, Playing God, by Andy Crouch, Christian explains that like God creating the world, or “making stuff” we too are tasked to create and make things, using our authority or rule to bless the world. Furthermore, like God, who “makes sense” of the world, we too are to please God by helping others make sense of their lives in the context of a holy and righteous Creator. You will find our pastor's discussion both enlightening and motiv

This inaugural podcast of the Summer ‘22 series on The Great Commission begins with Christian taking the opportunity to introduce us to Matthew 28:16-20. (We encourage you to listen to Christian’s Sunday teaching first as it will enhance your appreciation of this discussion with Todd and Spencer.) The significant emphasis in this particular podcast is on verse 18, where Jesus declares, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.” You will appreciate the pastor’s discussion of when Jesus acquired His authority, and the significance it has today in our lives. Also of interest is that Jesus declares His authority before he gives the command to His disciples to go and make disciples! If you experience timidity in your Christian walk you will also greatly appreciate the discussion on verse 20, where Jesus makes a second declaration that “I am with you always, to the end of the age.” In closing this podcast our pastors discuss the implications of these 2 declarations and our allegiance to Christ

In this final podcast episode on 2 Thessalonians, Todd, Christian and Spencer discuss the Apostle Paul’s final words to the church in Thessalonica. Paul encourages the young believers to not “grow weary in doing good” but remarkably part of “doing good” is confronting others in the family of God, not in condemnation, but rather in love, to live out their identity in Christ as an image bearer of God. Todd reminds us of the 6 characteristics of good confrontation and our pastors emphasize the point that this practice should be commonplace and normative in the Christian experience. They even make a bold statement that confrontation should be done often enough that it becomes life-giving and even joyful. Listen in on their insightful discussion and consider the implications of confrontation done well in your own life.

Cornerstone Elder Dan Lovejoy joins Todd and Christian this week for a discussion on 2 Thessalonians 3:6-12. Noting that the apostle Paul uses the word “command” three times in these 7 verses, Dan points out that this is really important, what Paul is telling them (and us), and we need to pay attention. Their discussion continues about the importance of work, and that God works, work was a gift in the Garden of Eden, and we will actually also work in Heaven in the new creation. And if you ever used the command, “if you don't work, you don't eat”, out of context you will really enjoy this lively discussion on what this instruction really means. Although this is a lengthy podcast you will benefit greatly by its content and it will shape your thinking to a more biblical approach to work, brotherhood, and working to the glory of God.

This week’s podcast covers the teaching from 2 Thessalonians 3:1-5 with our Executive Pastor, Mike Steinwender taking the lead in the discussion with Todd and Christian. These 5 verses include Paul’s heartfelt plea for the believers to pray for him and Silas and Timothy as they continue preaching the truth of Jesus Christ as they did when they visited Thessalonica. Paul goes on to encourage them to remain steadfast in Christ in their suffering, and to remember the faithfulness of God and His provision and protection from evil men. Mike reminds us of Paul’s later teaching in I Corthinians 10:13 (which we have the blessing of knowing) where we are promised that no amount of temptation can overtake us and that God is always faithful and will provide a way of escape so that we can endure the trial. The pastors conclude this podcast with a raw and honest discussion about the acceptability of asking God for our suffering to end, but also realizing the transformative work of God often happens during intense tria