Cornerstone Chapel - Video Podcast

In Matthew 4, Satan comes to tempt Jesus. The tactics he uses exposes three common ways that Satan tries to tempt us as well: the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life. Each time that Jesus was tempted, He responded with Scripture as his “weapon”. In today’s study, Pastor Gary explains who Satan is, what temptation is, and how we can withstand temptation. Since all of us experience various temptations, today’s study is an important reminder to strengthen us in our faith.

An in-depth study of Revelation 2:18-29.

In Matthew 3 we are introduced to John the Baptist—the one the Old Testament prophets predicted would come to herald the arrival of the Messiah. In Matthew 3:11, John the Baptist spoke of three types of baptisms: water, Holy Spirit, and fire. In today’s teaching, Pastor Gary tells us that all Believers either should or will experience all three of these baptisms. But what does “baptism” exactly mean? And how is it that we may experience these different baptisms? Pastor Gary answers these questions and more in today’s study from Matthew 3.

An in-depth study of Revelation 2:12-17.

None of us chose our family of origin. We are born into a family without any choice about that. Sometimes that proves to be a good thing, and sometimes not. There are tragic stories of alcoholic parents, abusive family members, abandonment, divorce, poverty, etc. Children grow up to become adults who sometimes repeat those patterns, and the cycle continues. But what if that cycle could be broken? What if a person could actually live life without their family history defining them? It’s possible in a relationship with Christ! He gives us a new heart, a new start, and a new identity. The heritage we receive is not as important as the legacy we leave. Jesus’ own family tree was littered with human failure, and yet it did not define Him. In addition, God used imperfect people in that family tree to accomplish His perfect purposes. Join us for today’s study from Matthew chapter 1.

In the last in the series “Jesus is the I AM”, Pastor Gary teaches through John 15:1-8 where Jesus says, “I AM the true vine.” Every Christian is supposed to be a fruitful Christian exemplifying the character of Christ. But how do we become more fruitful? Jesus tells us the answer in this passage—when we ABIDE in Christ, when we are LIFTED by Christ, and when we are PRUNED by Christ. Pastor Gary explains all these points today in our conclusion of the “I AM” series.

In John 14:6, Jesus makes a very exclusive claim—that the only way to get to God and the only way to go to Heaven is through Jesus Christ. There is no other process and no other person through which we can be saved. The idea that there is only “one way” to God (instead of multiple paths) leaves some to believe that Christianity is narrow-minded and bigoted. But would those same people believe the same thing if just one cure were found for cancer, or one door led you out of a burning building? Of course not! They would welcome the single way to be cured or rescued without feeling deprived that there were not many ways. So it is with Jesus Christ—He is God’s one way to be saved. Amazingly, God has provided Him to all who would believe and receive. There is room in Heaven for you!

In one of the most beloved scenes in the Bible—the death of Lazarus, a close friend of Jesus,—Jesus shows us his tender, emotional side as He grieves for his friend. But He also shows us His miraculous, powerful side when He defies the grave by raising Lazarus from the dead! And though Lazarus was only raised temporarily (he would die again later), it is a picture of how Jesus has the power over death and the grave. This is the reason Jesus said, “I AM the resurrection and the life.” For Believers, we have the assurance that there is life after death! Heaven is real, but so is Hell. And Heaven is open wide to all who would believe and receive Jesus as the resurrection and the life! You’ll be encouraged from today’s study as we examine three things about death and the assurance of Heaven in today’s study from John 11.

In our on-going study of the "I AM" statements of Jesus through the Gospel of John, Pastor Gary examines the fourth of seven statements when Jesus said, "I AM the good shepherd." In John 10 Jesus uses the illustration of sheep and a shepherd to express His heart toward us -- that we are like sheep and He is like a shepherd who lovingly, tenderly cares for us. There are four primary things we can learn from what Jesus told us in John 10 about Himself and what it all means for us. Join us for today's encouraging word about our Good Shepherd, Jesus.

In ancient Israel, sheep and shepherds were common themes used to communicate spiritual truths. Jesus said that He was “the door of the sheep” in an illustration He gave to help us understand how He is the only way to have access to the sheep pen (which is a picture of the Church, the family of God). At the same time, Jesus warned about “thieves and robbers” who pose a threat to the sheep, and then encourages us about how He came to give us abundant life. Join Pastor Gary in today’s teaching as he continues in the “I AM” series through the Gospel of John.

Light and darkness are used in the Bible as metaphors for good and evil, right and wrong, truth and error. Jesus said, “I AM the light of the world.” He came to illuminate dark hearts, dark minds, dark deeds, and a dark world. He is the contrast to everything that is hidden, secretive, sinful, and covert. And He calls us to step into the light—to come into relationship with Him and allow Him to cleanse our sinful, secretive hearts and deliver us from a dark, covert world. Jesus wants to RESCUE and REPURPOSE us. He wants to take us out of darkness into His wonderful light and then use us to shine His light in a dark world. Open your Bibles to John 8:12 and join Pastor Gary in today’s study about how Jesus is the Light of the World.

Pastor Gary continues with the “I AM” series looking at the words of Jesus from John 6:35 when He said, “I AM the Bread of Life.” Many people try to fulfill certain longings of the human heart with physical or material solutions, only to find that they still feel empty. The reason? Because only Jesus can really satisfy the deepest longings of the soul. Every person has four basic needs for love, acceptance, identity, and security. Unfortunately many people try to get those needs met in ways that don’t really satisfy and that sometimes lead to addiction in the attempt to fulfill those needs. Learn today why Jesus is the only real solution to the deepest needs of the human heart.

In the Gospel of John, Jesus makes seven “I AM” statements that express who He is and how He relates to humanity. In this introduction to the series, Pastor Gary explains that when Jesus said “I AM” He was actually connecting His words with an event from Exodus 3 when God used the same expression in giving His proper Name to Moses. Thus, Jesus was explicitly asserting His divinity—that He is God. Join Pastor Gary for part one of an 8-part series on “Jesus is the I AM”.

Easter is about the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the Dead! It is one of the holiest days on the Christian calendar. This year due to COVID-19 we are meeting on-line only as Pastor Gary delivers a message entitled, “Road to the Resurrection”. He outlines three things that pave this road—TEARS, TORTURE, and TRIUMPH—Jesus wept, Jesus was crucified, and Jesus rose from the dead! Every other religious leader who has died still occupies a tomb. Only the tomb of Jesus Christ is empty! Jesus died and rose from the dead conquering sin and death on our behalf, and now through Him we can have a relationship with God. We invite you to listen to today’s broadcast and then open your heart and trust Jesus as your Lord and Savior.

When Jesus came into Jerusalem on that first Palm Sunday, he was met by four reactions from people—some saw him as the Miracle-Worker, others hailed him as King, and still others believed him to be a Prophet. It is true that Jesus was and is all those things—a Miracle-Worker, King, and Prophet… but Jesus is more than that! And the only group of people who embraced Jesus for His true identity were the children! In Matthew 21 when Jesus came into Jerusalem after riding a donkey down the Palm Sunday road, the children exclaimed, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” The title “Son of David” is a Messianic title. In other words, the children were ascribing to Jesus the title reserved exclusively for the One who would come as Savior and Lord! Join us for on-line church as Pastor Gary retells the Palm Sunday story.