Cornerstone Chapel - Video Podcast

The Bible often compares God to a "Refiner," and us to "silver or gold." Silver or gold cannot reach is optimum value without other by-products (like zinc, lead, or copper) being burned away. And the only way to separate the by-products is to put the precious metal in a furnace of intense heat. In the process of refining silver, the intense heat will cause all the impurities (dross) to rise to the surface in order to be skimmed off and discarded. Sometimes God will use the intense heat of difficult life circumstances to cause the impurities of our lives to rise to the surface so that we can deal with those things that mar our lives. God wants to purify and perfect us--to make us more into His image and likeness. Through the patience of our Good Refiner, He will make us into the pure vessels for His use.

An in-depth study of 1 Corinthians 15:35-16:24.

In this very vulnerable psalm, David writes about his own sin and how he longs for God's forgiveness. He teaches us something important about the human condition in general - how we are all sinners in need of God's forgiveness just like David; and that God is merciful, loving, and compassionate. If you've ever been at a place where you long to be right with God and to know that all the wrong things you've ever said or done can be forgiven by God, then follow along as Pastor Gary shares insights from Psalm 51.

An in-depth study of 1 Corinthians 15:1-34.

Life has its share of trials and tribulations. Every person goes through seasons of discouragement from time to time - even Christians! Perhaps you find yourself in such a season now. The psalmist writes in Psalm 42 about being "downcast" and feeling like God has "forgotten" him. But he still holds on to hope and he says that despite his circumstances, he will praise the Lord. In Psalm 42 the psalmist shares some practical advice about how he got through his season of despair that Pastor Gary explains in a teaching entitled, "Hope for the Downcast."

If you've ever been hurt or betrayed by another person; if someone has ever gossiped about you, lied about you, or slandered you--welcome to the human race! In Psalm 41 David is experiencing such mistreatment from others and teaches us how to respond to it. But be sure to listen to the end of the teaching because there is a twist to this story that Pastor Gary shares!

An in-depth study of 1 Corinthians 13-14:5.

We have only been given one life to live. How will we use the time God has given us? Have we prioritized our lives properly? Are we prepared to face God when we die? These are the questions that are raised in Psalm 39, and Pastor Gary addresses the answers in today's study on the frailty and brevity of life.

An in-depth study of 1 Corinthians 12:12-13:13.

If you've ever gotten yourself into a terrible predicament and felt hopeless and desperate, you are not alone. In the Bible, David made some bad choices that were motivated by fear and which nearly resulted in his death. But God intervened on his behalf as He often does for us. As a result, David writes Psalm 34 as a song of thanksgiving to the Lord who rescues us from the mess WE create. Learn from David's story and be reminded of God's mercy for our mess.

An in-depth study of 1 Corinthians 12:1-11.

There's some good news, and there's some bad news. First, the bad news... we are all sinners. The Bible describes the human condition as "sinful"-that none of us measures up to the perfect standard of God. But the good news is that there is forgiveness for all who will confess their sins to the Lord. But what do all these terms-sin, forgiveness, confession-mean? King David expresses these things in Psalm 32 as he opens up about his own failures, and Pastor Gary explains it all in today's study entitled, "The Heart of Confession."

An in-depth study of 1 Corinthians 12:1-11.

Have you ever been impatient about something because it wasn't happening fast enough or working quickly enough? Have you ever felt that way toward God - like he wasn't making something happen soon enough for you? For most of us, patience is not a virtue. And it doesn't help that we live in a VERY fast-paced world where technology makes everything lightning-fast! Nevertheless, in Psalm 27 David tells us to take courage and "wait for the Lord." God doesn't work on our timetable. It is usually slower than what we'd prefer. But God is not slow, or fast... He is right on time! In today's study, Pastor Gary encourages us to practice the discipline of waiting - learning how to trust God and lean on Him when life seems to be "on pause."

An in-depth study of 1 Corinthians 12:1-11.