The Cost of Advent

Message from 12/14/2008. The Cost of Advent

What is Cornerstone About?

As we have moved into a new facility the question has come up: what is Cornerstone about and how are we doing? The answer to the first part of the question could be stated in several ways but each response would ultimately boil down to this: Cornerstone is about loving God and loving others. We use the statement that “God wants to change the World by touching lives in Pullman” to convey this and that there is a larger mission involved beyond “just me”. For many churches this is summed up in Jesus’ commission in Matthew 28:18-20 where he says to “Go and make disciples of all nations.”

In the past we wrestled with this topic and concluded that there are several areas Cornerstone needs to emphasize in order to be faithful to God’s calling. These are not the only things necessary for ongoing discipleship, but because we have so many people who are with us for only a few years (primarily university students) we felt these are areas we should focus on. In hopes of helping people remember what these are we chose five words that begin with the letter I and called them the “5 I’s.” (Now isn’t that catchy!) They are “invite”, “include”, “involve”, “invest” and “intercede”.

The first I, “Invite”, focuses on the area of inviting people to consider following Jesus Christ. I like how Andrew invites Nathanael to consider Jesus, saying simply “Come and see!” (John 1:46). To invite someone is not to browbeat or manipulate them. It is to be excited about what you have discovered in Jesus (like Andrew) and to tell your friend “come and see!” It is to take seriously your friend’s value as being created in the image of God and to realize that is exactly why Jesus Christ came: “to seek and to save what was lost (Luke 19:10).” A person only seeks something that is lost because of its value to him. Jesus left the glory of heaven (Philippians 2:5-11) to seek the lost, and the value of each person is seen in that Jesus willingly gave up his life on the cross for them.

Because Jesus sees their value and knows they are created in the image of God, he treats them with dignity. This means he doesn’t coerce or manipulate a response but allows the person the right to decide. That is why we have chosen to use the word “invite”. It expresses a heartfelt desire for the person to join with us in following Jesus, but one that gives the person the respect and dignity to exercise their choice: yes or no.

This November we used the Natural Church Development survey to assess the health of Cornerstone. We received the results and learned that we are doing “okay”. Our average score of the eight factors measured is a 53 (which puts us just above the mean of 50). Our maximum factor is holistic small groups at 62 and our minimum factor is need-oriented evangelism at 45. [They use three words to describe need-oriented evangelism: prayer, care and share. What do these word choices reveal?]

This assessment indicates that we love being together but we are not doing very well inviting others to join us. I would like to ask you to consider why that is and what we might do to grow in this area. Leave your comments here (the link is at the bottom of this article), send me an email or drop us a message on the church phone. Most important, ask the Lord for His input on this topic. As we seek God’s will and wrestle with this together I think we might be surprised by what God says and does.

"My food," said Jesus, "is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work. Don't you have a saying, 'It's still four months until harvest'? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest. Even now those who reap draw their wages, even now they harvest the crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may be glad togheter. Thus the saying 'One sows and another reaps' is true. I sent you to reap what you have not worked for. Others have done the hard work, and you have reaped the benefits of their labor." John 4:34-38

Jealosy

In Acts 5 the opposition from the authorities grows as the dynamic early church stirs up jealousy in the Sanhedrian.

Jealousy

Power Prayer

In this message, we learn about four "anchors" based on the sovereignty of God:

You are where you are because of his (1) Appointment.
You are also in His (2) Keeping.
He has you where he has you because you are under His (3) Training.
The last piece of good news, is that you are in his (4) Time. He won't keep you 'their' any longer or shorter than you need to be.

Power Prayer

Courage

We apologize, a technical error caused this week's sermon to be unplayable.

Authentic Change

In this testimony, we learn about how we can see authentic change in our lives. Authentic Change

It's About Jesus

We find forgiveness, refreshment, and restoration when we turn from our ways to Jesus. It's About Jesus

A Promise Delivered

In Acts we find encouragement to believe the Gospel, and live it out in our own lives. A Promise Delivered.

Promise Made

As we begin the study of Acts, Jesus communicates to his followers that He is alive. The Kingdom of God is everywhere, and it affects everything. Promise Made

Sent Like Jesus

The Christian world view is that we were created for good, damaged by sin, redeemed for good and in this message, Sent Like Jesus.

Good Redemption

In this message we learn that what has been damaged by evil may be redeemed for good.

Good Redemption

Damaged by Evil

To understand our part in the Great Story, we need to understand the beginning of the story and how we got to where we are. In the first part we saw that creation and humanity were designed for good. But we don't see that today. Why? Because creation and humanity have been

Damaged by Evil

Parable of the Soils

In this message from July, Jay Swanson challenges us to consider what it means to make disciples of Jesus Christ and how we invest our time.

Parable of the Soils

Great Story, True Story

We are back on line, yay!

With the start of a new year we are going to look at what it means to be followers of Jesus Christ in this thing called "church". We are going to discover that we are part of a great story that is also a true story.

Great Story, True Story

We will be back!

We have had some technical difficulties (read "computer crash") and so you may have noticed nothing new for a while... like weeks now! We will be back up and running with new sermons and maybe even a blog or two (shock!) early next week. Until then, thanks for being patient :)

Jesus Example

For the early church it came down to one thing--Jesus Christ. It was not about them, it was about him. What he did for them and the example he set: in love, service and suffering. The same is true for us. We need to follow the Jesus Example. (1 Peter 4:1-6)

Living Good

Living Good recaps 1 Peter 3:13-18 and then dives into the difficult section of 3:19-22.

Is Jesus Lord?

Yikes!! After all that has gone on we are finally back on the blogoshpere--yay!

In this message from 1 Peter 3 we learn a little of what it meant, and what it cost, for the early church to say "Jesus is Lord"

We Are Finally In!

It's finally happened. We received final approval to begin meeting in our new space! We will have our first Sunday in the facility May 18, at the usual time of 10:00 a.m.

See you there!

A Gentle and Quiet Spirit

Learn what Peter means when he says to have a gentle and quiet spirit.

Office Move Friday April 18

We finally received permission to move! Well, sort of. We may move the office into the new space but are not allowed to meet on Sunday's yet until a few other items meet the inspectors standards.

If you are available to help with moving the office, meet at the Main St. Place at 5:30 p.m. Friday (April 18) and we will put you to work! It should not take long and there are rumors that there may be some goodies provided for those who help!

We will still meet at LMS this Sunday.


Check out the new sign facing Cougar Country, it's really nice, especially at night!

Progress Video 4

Here's the latest (and last?) progress video for you to watch. Apart from a few details and a general cleaning the space is basically done. It's pretty simple, but it looks nice and will meet our needs as a church for the near future.

Tame God

Why is it that we see God doing amazing things in the Congo but not here in the U.S.? Could it be that we have chosen a domestic house cat over a Lion? Is it possible that we have a Tame God?

Do Good

In a culture that looked askance at Christians, slandering them and accusing them of outrageous things, how could they make a case for their faith? Peter says the best apologetic is to live good and to Do Good.

1 Peter 2:13-17

Facility News

The facility is pretty much done! The painter has worked hard to finish up staining all the trim, the new shades have been installed as well as the screen and we even have the chairs set up. We are now waiting on the final approval from the city so that we might move in. When that will come is unknown and so far my record is 0-fer as each time we have ramped up we have been delayed.

For example, we were told that the final approval would come on Thursday, so we packed up much of the office (including my study) and made preparations to move (our DSL internet service has been moved so we do not have internet currently at the Main Street Place). The approval did not come. Sigh. So we continue somewhat in limbo.

However we will be meeting at Lincoln Middle School in the meantime. And don't worry, once we get the go ahead and actually move, we will definitely get the word out!

Thanks so much for your patience through all of this.

--Nils

Barabbas

What might it have been like to experience the very first Easter? What might it have been like for a man who was set free in exchange for the death of Jesus? Find out by listening to Barabbas
--By Nils Swanson

New Facility Video Update 3

Check out the progress of the new facility remodel taken today. It's getting close to done and it is looking good!

Stangers & Aliens

How might a person life the kind of life God calls us to live in the midst of a culture that disagrees with him? Peter has three points to help us on our way.

Strangers and Aliens

E.R. clip on wishy washy theology

Here's a powerful presentation of why truth matters

Q & A; High Calling

Why did God make mosquitoes? How can I combine my belief in God as creator with the facts of evolution? These questions and more get responses leading into the section from 1 Peter on the high calling of the believer.

Q&A and High Calling

More Progress!

The new facility is coming along with the drywall being finished this morning. Now for the mud & tape, then texture and paint and on Monday the 3rd the carpet goes in.

Watermark

People today often turn to things to distinguish themselves from others. They may be marked by wealth, a new home or the latest in technology. Is there something that should distinguish a follower of Jesus Christ as the real deal? Peter would say yes.

Watermark

Jonah

One of the challenges in the Christian life is walking by faith and not by sight. Are plans a bad thing, then? Not necessarily, but we need to be careful to not let good plans get in the way of God’s plan. Melanie Jones looks at Jonah to talk about the difference.

Jonah

Focus!

One of the challenges in life is remembering the end goal and living accordingly. Peter knows the importance of this and encourages his readers to stay focused. (1 Peter 1:13-16)

Focus!

Glory Bound - 1 Peter

Peter reminds his readers not only of what they received when they first met Christ, but also what they will receive in the future as well

Glory Bound

New Facility Progress Video I

Check out the progress being made on the new facility for Cornerstone!

Meet Peter

In a world filled with pain, injustice and hardship, how does one’s faith a Christ make a difference? Peter lived in a similar world and wrote to followers of Jesus about holiness, hope and perseverance. Over the next several weeks we hope to learn from Peter as we spend time in his first epistle together. Today we get introduced.

Meet Peter