Dear Cornerstone Family,
Well, it’s that time again. School is out. Pools are open. Memorial Day is tomorrow. This means one thing: summer is here. Because of that, we’re taking time today to explore the Bible’s teaching on rest. Rest is essential— even commanded. But knowing how to rest––that is, rest well––that’s another thing entirely. My prayer is today’s message will provide a measure of definition and direction for redeeming the down time of summer for good and godly rest. Please join me in that prayer.
Starting next week, we’ll jump into a topical summer series entitled We Believe: The Apostles Creed. The Apostles Creed has been used by the church for centuries to summarize and anchor the church in the most fundamental claims of the Christian faith. Reflective of the apostles teaching, the creed seeks to outline the plotline of the story of God—from creation to redemption, from Christ’s incarnation to the hope of eternal life. Over the summer, we’ll spend time unpacking its rich meaning, line by line, allowing its truth to shape our hearts, deepen our faith, and unite us as a church around the essentials of the gospel.
We Believe: The Apostles Creed
6/1 – The Word of God (2 Timothy 3:16-17)
6/8 – God the Father Almighty (Matthew 7:7-11)
6/15 – Jesus Christ’s Life and Death (Mark 1:14-15; 10:35-45)
6/22 – Jesus Christ’s Resurrection and Ascension (Acts 1: 6-11; 1 Timothy 3:16)
6/29 – Guest Preacher, Rev. Josh Reiger
7/6 – Judging the Living and the Dead (John 5:19-29)
7/13 – The Holy Catholic Church (Ephesians 4:1-6)
7/20 – The Forgiveness of Sins (Matthew 18:21-35)
7/27 – The Resurrection of the Dead (1 Thes. 4:13-18)
Finally, on a personal note, the session has generously granted me an extended study leave this summer to continue work on my Doctor of Ministry degree. I am in the writing phase (dissertation) of the degree program, and it’s imperative that I make a lot of headway this summer.
This means I will be out of the office and the pulpit this summer more than at any point in my fifteen years of ministry at Cornerstone. I will be on study leave the first two weeks of June and the whole month of July. While I’m on study leave, I will in large part be unavailable. Thankfully, Rev. Tony Giles has agreed to fill my shoes, and our tremendously capable shepherds are eager to step in and serve in whatever is needed. If you think of it, please pray that this extended time of research and writing will be renewing, fruitful, and pleasing to God.
Your servant,
