Pastoral Notes for Sunday, December 6, 2020

Dear Cornerstone Family,

As I nearly froze to death tossing the football with the boys on Tuesday afternoon, as the dark of night descended at 4:45pm (Shew, it’s going to be long winter for me), I gave myself permission to reminisce about longer, warmer days... like the time my Dad first tried his hand at gardening. He’d long expressed a desire to return to “mankind’s original vocation,” to get his hands dirty and grow his own food—to be a man of the earth. It was a desire that, to be honest, bewildered the rest of the family.

Dad was an accountant. Need I say more? He spent his days with numbers, pushing pencils, and keying calculators. It was difficult envisioning him with boots on his feet and a tiller in his grip. That said, he was a farmer by name. My Dad’s name is George. George is a combination of two Greek words meaning earth and work. Etymologically, he was destined to be a worker of the soil. In every other way...well, not so much.

Nevertheless, with help from neighbors who were real farmers, and the slave labor of his son (ahem), Dad eventually fulfilled his gardening dream. And though the dream only lasted a few years (turns out gardening is a lot of work), some of my fondest summer memories include walking the rows to see how the squash and zucchini were coming along, and if the tomatoes were starting to redden, and if the deer had gotten the best of the snap beans. (They always got the best of the snap beans.)

Call me nostalgic if you want, but there’s something magical about a garden. Soil, seed, water, sun and a little attention (okay, a lot of attention) and before you know it, you’re smelling fried okra cooking on the stove—the perfect late summer delicacy. (Is winter over yet?)

There’s a lot of lessons to be learned in gardening, but chief among them is the need for patience. My Mom used to say, “A watched pot never boils.” Meaning, time moves ever so slowly when you’re eagerly waiting for something to occur. Gardening can be a “watched pot.” The farmer plants in faith, trusting that in due time, by God’s grace, he will enjoy the fruit of his labors.

Not surprisingly, in describing the work of the kingdom, Jesus turns to agricultural metaphors time and again. Our hearts are like various soils (Matthew 13:1-9), faith is like a mustard seed (Matthew 17:20), and if we’d just lift up our eyes, we’d see the world is white with harvest and needy of laborers (John 4:34). As we tend the field before us, growth may be imperceptible, but we press on like farmers who, “...wait for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it until it receives the early and the late rains” (James 5:7).

Like gardening, kingdom work can’t be hurried along. We must guard against weariness, knowing that in due time we will reap (Galatians 6:9). That’s a promise. Let’s just be faithful to do our part, and then watch the Lord of the harvest (Matthew 9:38) give the growth (1 Corinthians 3:7).

Your servant,

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Pastoral Notes for Sunday, November 29, 2020


I asked Pastor Ben Griffith to provide an opportunity for members of the congregation to share why they value the Home Fellowship Group ministry at Cornerstone. Here is what Ben, and several folks from the congregation, had to say:

For the past few weeks, you’ve hopefully been hearing and seeing our invitations to join a Home Fellowship Group (HFG) next year. There is still time to sign up. HFGs provide a small group context for us to share life together, pray for one another, and process God’s word together. Of all the things we’ve learned in 2020, I’m sure we could all say we have a renewed appreciation for the value of community. Our HFG ministry is simply a way to encourage and foster meaningful, spiritual, intentional community within our body—and we would love for you to participate.

I asked a few Cornerstone members to share about their experience in a Home Fellowship Group. If you are still on the fence about joining one next year, perhaps one of your brothers or sisters can give you a nudge:

“Our fellowship group has been a fantastic source of fellowship and friendship over the past several years. By opening up our homes (or meeting at a nearby park), we’ve also been able to open up about life’s challenges, provide encouragement, and pray for one another. It’s genuinely one of the highlights of my week to meet with these brothers and sisters!” ~Matt Suits

“Participating in an HFG group has meant, for Cindi and I, the development of friendships—the significant kind of friendships that help keep us centered in Christ, who is our life. We have eaten, studied, and prayed together, worked, celebrated and mourned together, and even vacationed together. Loving one another in the context of a small group is, I believe, doing life God’s way, and pays huge dividends! I do hope your lives are similarly rich and blessed.” ~Bob Wolk

“Our HFG has made us feel at home at Cornerstone by loving us - taking on our needs through prayer, hospitality, and service. It is one of the best ways to get connected, build friendships, and learn how to love people as they grow in Christ. It’s the tangible arm of community at Cornerstone and one of our favorite ministries at the church.” ~Taylor Thompson

“Home Fellowship Groups are the place to get connected and get to know the church family in the body of Christ. It’s the place to partner for prayer, dig into the Word, support, encourage, provide accountability, food and fun. Each have their own flavor, check them out until you find a good fit. God has amazing saints in each group that want to connect, grow, and experience life together.” ~Sherry Cebada

“It can take time to get connected at church. We are thankful for HFGs which have given us a “family group” within this body to know and be known, pray and grow, enjoy fellowship and fun. Each group is unique; jump in and find where you fit! One of the benefits of being a Christian is not walking life alone. HFGs are a way to experience the benefits of the body of Christ in an intimate and continuous way.” ~Steve Cebada

You can sign up online on the Cornerstone website, on our church app, or through the link on the weekly newsletter. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out! hfg@cstonepres.org



Pastoral Notes for Sunday, November 22, 2020


Dear Cornerstone Family,

On November 20, 2011, Cornerstone was received as a particularized (member) church of the Presbyterian Church of America (PCA). Can you believe it? We are nine years old! To honor the occasion, I took time this week to reflect on those early days, revisiting a few of my journal entries from that year. As I thought and read, I fought back tears. It’s so clear, friends; God has been so kind to us.

Someone asked me this week, “Was planting Cornerstone difficult?” The most honest way I know of answering that question is, “Yes and no.” It was a lot of hard work, and there are many people—staff, elders, deacons, and volunteers—that spent themselves for the establishment of Cornerstone. Since those early days, many more people have thrown their lot in with us, spending untold time, energy, and resources to sustain and grow the ministry of Cornerstone. All of them certainly deserve our appreciation.

Even with that, one thing is clear—God was doing the heavy lifting. God’s sovereign grace was the one constant underneath all these efforts. He is the “secret ingredient” of Cornerstone’s life and impact. Yes, God is pleased to use us, but human beings don’t build the church—only God does that (Matthew 16:18). So, as we gather together in worship, celebrating God’s faithfulness, let’s give credit where it’s due. Let’s thank God for Cornerstone by declaring with one voice, “Not to us, O LORD, not to us, but to your name give glory, for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness!” (Psalm 115:1)

As we pause today and reflect on God’s kindness to us as a church, we’re laying foundations for the season of Advent which begins next Sunday, Nov. 29th. For where is the kindness of God seen more clearly than in the giving of his beloved Son (John 3:16)?

Please be sure to pick up our Advent Devotional, “Christ, Our Certain Hope,” this morning. You’ll find copies in the pew racks and at the entrances to the building. The daily services, readings, and quotes in the devotional have been carefully selected to help you keep pace with the emphases of our Advent sermon series and prepare you for the coming of Christ.

Speaking of the sermon series, this year’s Advent emphasis will focus on the first and second comings of Christ. For the first two weeks, we’ll consider the Old Testament’s anticipation of the Messiah and the fulfillment of Christ’s first coming. In week three and four, we’ll focus on the call to be patient and faithful in waiting for Christ’s second coming and the assurance that God will ready us for that great day. Over the course of the four weeks, we will come to know Jesus Christ as our rock of redemption and a reason for hope.

Christ, Our Certain Hope

  • Nov. 29 – Jeremiah 33:14-18, “Days are Coming”

  • Dec. 6 – Romans 15:8-13, “Abound in Hope”

  • Dec. 13 – James 5:7-11, “Establish Your Hearts”

  • Dec. 20 – 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24, “Kept for the Coming of the Lord”

Your servant,

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Pastoral Notes for Sunday, November 15, 2020


Dear Cornerstone Family,

Several times a year, we pause on a Sunday morning to focus on the missionary call of God to His people and to highlight the many mission supports of Cornerstone. Today is one such Sunday, but, in a unique way, today is more than a focus on mission. It is a beautiful demonstration of God’s mission being fulfilled through New College Franklin and Cornerstone.

We welcome to the pulpit today Mr. Christian Brewer. Christian is a graduate one of our most deeply supported and beloved mission supports, New College Franklin. While in college, he was a member at Cornerstone and served as a Pastoral Intern and Youth Director on staff for two years before transitioning to Charlotte, NC, with his lovely wife, Courtney, to pursue a Master of Divinity degree at Reformed Theological Seminary (RTS). Christian is presently an intern at Sovereign Grace Presbyterian Church in Charlotte where my former New Testament Professor, Rev. Dr. Bill Barclay, is now pastor. Christian is nearing the end of his time at seminary. Lord willing, he will graduate in May 2021.

While in seminary, Christian and Courtney have faithfully maintained their connection with Cornerstone. Several times a year they return to the area and worship with us. Needless to say, it’s always a delight to renew our bonds of fellowship. It’s been an honor to see Christian and Courtney’s love for Christ and His church mature over the years and to support them in a variety of ways as they pursue the Lord’s call to ministry.

Finally, you’ll notice in the pew racks this morning our newly updated Cornerstone Mission Support bookmark. On the front, you’ll see a brief statement from our founding documents on our belief and commitment to missions. On the back, you’ll find a listing of our current mission supports as a church. Please take one—no, two—bookmarks! Keep one in your Bible and stick one on your refrigerator or somewhere where you’ll see it often. Commit to pray for our supported church plants, campus ministers, missionaries, and organizations as together we strive to fulfill our vision, “To glorify God in the gospel as disciples who make disciples!”

Your servant,

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Pastoral Notes for Sunday, November 8, 2020


Dear Cornerstone Family,

As I write these pastoral notes, the election of our next president is still up for grabs. Georgia, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Nevada are lightened shades of either red or blue. The percentage points of separation between Biden and Trump are miniscule at best. Regardless of how things ultimately shake out, there will not be a decisive victory for either candidate. Whoever wins will do so by the slimmest of margins, which tells us something we already knew. Our country is divided.

In a time like ours, there are many good biblical instructions to be offered. We should remember that God calls us to honor and submit to governing authorities (Romans 13), to render to Caesar the things that are Caesars (Mark 12), to labor for the public good and welfare of one’s city and nation (Jeremiah 29). These and many other teachings we should heed and take to heart.

Today, however, I want to briefly encourage us in the simplest and, arguably, the most important of our Christian civic duties—prayer. Paul writes to Timothy, “First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:1-4).

Three quick observations from this text:

1. We are commanded to pray for our governing officials no matter who they are. When Paul wrote these words, he was contending with godless rulers who hated the church—who would mercilessly persecute Christians for centuries. Still, Paul tells us to pray for them. No matter who our president ends up being, let’s storm the gates of heaven for him, asking God to protect him, uphold him, and turn his heart toward the things of God (Prov. 21:1; Micah 6:8).

2. A prayer for governing officials is a prayer for the peace of the church. Notice how Paul ties a particular hope to this prayer. Pray so that “...we [the church] may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.” Paul’s prayer for governing officials is directed toward a future of peacefulness, quietness, godliness, and dignity for the church. If we want to see religious freedom protected and the church protected from governmental intrusion, let’s hit our knees and boldly ask our Father for what we know he loves to give (Matt. 7:7-8).

3. A prayer for our governing officials is a prayer for the accomplishment of the great commission. In verse 4, Paul notes that when the church is given freedom by governing authorities to live out their faith in peace and preach the gospel openly, then more people hear the good news and come to a saving knowledge of the truth. If we want to see the tide of wickedness and division stemmed in our country, with more people coming to know Jesus Christ, let’s give the Lord no rest until he establishes the church and makes her the praise of all the earth (Isaiah 62:7; Rev. 21:1-4).

While we await the final word on our president, let’s start praying to the King of Kings for him. For whoever sits in the Oval Office needs Him who sits on the throne above more than anything else.

Your servant,

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