Pastoral Notes for Sunday, October 23, 2022

Dear Cornerstone family,

Before we worship this morning, I want to take a moment to update you on a few recent changes in our leadership and staff.

First of all, I want to say how great it is to welcome two of our deacons, Mr. Jim Robinson and Mr. Mark Elliot, back into active service. It is customary at Cornerstone for our elders and deacons to take seasonal sabbaticals for spiritual refreshment and to give attention to other important aspects of their lives. After just such a season, both of these dear brothers were recently reinstated to active service on our diaconate. Needless to say, we are thrilled to have Jim and Mark serving again.

Second, Mr. Kevin McClung has served as a deacon at Cornerstone for nearly eight years. Kevin joined the diaconate at a time when Cornerstone was particularly needy of officers. Kevin’s friendliness and eagerness to do whatever is needed was such an answer to prayer. Within the last year and a half, Kevin changed vocations, and is now working in the medical field. His new post, though very rewarding, is far more demanding of his time and energy. Given this, along with a desire to care well for his family, Kevin decided it’s time to step away from the diaconate. With sadness and gratitude, the session received Kevin’s resignation this past week. Please take time to thank Kevin for his service as a deacon and pray for him as he acclimates to a new vocation.

Finally, Mr. Taylor Thompson has served our youth ministry for five years. The last four of those years he’s been our Youth Director. Under Taylor’s leadership, we’ve seen the youth ministry flourish both in size and in spiritual impact. Back in the summer, Taylor let us know that his time as Youth Director was drawing to a close. With starting a master’s degree program, increased work responsibilities, and the arrival of baby #2 this fall, he knew he couldn’t continue to give the Youth Director position the time it needed and deserved.

After receiving this news, we began praying about next steps. Given the relatively short window for finding a replacement and the fact that we’re in the midst of an expansion initiative where our future staffing needs aren’t completely clear, it seemed wise to consider hiring an Interim Youth Director––if possible, someone “in house,” someone the students already know and love, someone who could carry us through this season until we find a more permanent solution.

It didn’t take long for the name “Preston Brooks” to be mentioned. Preston has served as a volunteer with the youth group for two years, possesses gifts for the role, and already has a great rapport with the students. On top of it all, he was willing to serve the church in this way! On Tuesday of this week, the session unanimously voted to hire Preston Brooks as Interim Youth Director beginning November 1.

Don’t you love seeing how the Lord takes care of his church? Taylor was truly God’s gift to us these last four years. Now, with Preston transitioning into this role, the foundations that are already in place can be built upon as we look in faith to God’s future provision. Our God is so good. Rejoice!

Your servant,






Pastoral Notes for Sunday, October 9, 2022

Dear Cornerstone family,

It was six weeks ago or so since I last spoke to you about the work of the Cornerstone Ministry Expansion Team. Today, I want to update you again about the ongoing work, but before I do, I’d like to briefly make note that that some who are reading this have joined us in the past couple of months and many more of you are likely visiting with us today. It seems appropriate, then, to go back and do a little flyover of some recent history.

Back in the spring, the elders of Cornerstone approved the formation of a team of elders, deacons, and members to help us address the “good problem” of growth at Cornerstone. The first month of the team’s work was spent praying together, rehearsing the vision of Cornerstone, and organizing into sub-teams. The next couple of months were spent collecting statistics about the congregation, researching various options for expansion, and starting a variety of conversations with interested parties.

During that second stage, particular attention was given to conducting sample surveys of the congregation in hopes to gain valuable input from a crossection of the Cornerstone family. That effort proved extremely helpful; leading the team to identify three different paths to walk down concurrently. The three paths: (1) explore maximizing the space of our current location, (2) explore multiplying into an additional church site or plant, and (3) explore purchasing a larger existing church building or land for building a future.

In the last six weeks or so, the team has begun to zero in on specific short term, mid-term, and long-term plans for expansion. In other words, they’re looking at how we can specifically address our immediate space needs for worship, fellowship, and education. At the same time, with continued growth in middle Tennessee expected, the team is identifying specific paths for what midterm expansion (2-5 years from now) and longer-term expansion (7-10 years from now) might look like for Cornerstone.

Though there is still some runway left, the Cornerstone Ministry Expansion Team is much closer to the end of than the beginning of their work. As proposals and recommendations begin to take shape, please keep praying for the team. Moreover, pray for the church! In fact, go back to the three prayers we started praying at the very beginning of this journey.

  • Pray the prayer of surrender - Ask God to bring us to a place where we want God’s will, nothing more, nothing less, nothing else (Luke 22:42)

  • Pray the prayer for unity - Ask God for a spirit of unity, both for leaders and the church membership as we seek God’s face together (John 17:11)

  • Pray the prayer for wisdom - Ask God boldly for wisdom for your leaders and the church––that we would see what God most wants us to know and believe as we answer his call (James 1:5)

    Following the Lord is always an adventure. I can’t wait to see where he takes us next!

Your servant,






Pastoral Notes for Sunday, October 2, 2022

Dear Cornerstone family,

I asked Greg Wilbur to give a preview of the upcoming literature discussions as well as a very special opportunity for our next film discussion.

It is not unusual to hear the phrase that God is the Master Storyteller. The implications of God as author and narrator should encourage us to consider a number of patterns that apply to stories as a whole as well as all the world around us. Stories work as stories because they start somewhere and move through difficulties to a place of rest or resolution. In the simplest sense and in the broadest scope, THE story begins with a relationship with the Creator in the Garden of Eden which was broken by sin and followed by exile with a longing for a true home.

Or, the son of the King lost his bride who left home and is now hopelessly lost in the wilderness. The Prince enters into the wilderness to find his Beloved and to bring her home.

Or, the prodigal son leaves home for a life of dissipation and sin until he is covered by the mud and muck of the world. As he seeks out home, his father reaches out to bring him in and restore him to home with feasting.

Or, Hansel and Gretel, through the selfish sin of their mother, are forced from home into the wilds of the forest. They find a candy home and “mother,” but it turns out to be a false home and a false mother/witch who seeks to devour them in fire. After killing death, they pass over the cleansing waters and return to the home of their father. The famine is over, and they now have great riches and no want or lack.

Through these examples, I hope you can see the pattern of the Gospel as it moves through these stories of restored home and rescued love. With the three stories from the Brothers Grimm, we will explore different symbols and signs in versions of fairy tales that look far different from the versions we most typically know—especially in the loss of the inherent Gospel imagery and purpose. We will be reading Cinderella, a version of Sleeping Beauty, and Beauty and the Beast. With only 14 pages to read, there is plenty of time to prepare and come to the discussion on Monday night at 7:00 p.m.

Our next film discussion will be a very special opportunity. On Monday evening, October 24, we will have a pre-release screening of the film Surprised by Oxford. This film is based on the award-winning memoir by Carolyn Weber—who is a member of Cornerstone and a professor at New College Franklin. As part of the evening, we will have a panel discussion with Cornerstone member Ken Carpenter (who produced the film), Ryan Whitaker (the Writer and Director), Rose Reid (the star of the film), and Carolyn (author of the book). Not only will this be a significant opportunity to see the film but also interact with the creative process by which the film came to be.

By understanding how stories work and how to follow the significance in stories, the desire is to increase our ability to read scripture, the narratives of the culture around us, and to ground us in the truth of the Gospel.

Your servant,






Pastoral Notes for Sunday, September 25, 2022

Dear Cornerstone family,

If you are new to Cornerstone, maybe even visiting for the first time, I want you to know what a joy it is to have you with us. It can be intimidating visiting a new church where you don’t know anyone and you’re not sure what will happen. On that note, I want to thank you for not giving into feelings of fear but, instead, mustering the courage to be here and worship the Lord.

Further, we believe all things happen for a purpose (Proverbs 16:4), and so your presence with us today is no accident. Therefore, it is our earnest prayer that you will receive the blessing the Lord has planned for His people today in worship. If there’s anything we can do to serve you, please let us know. After service, stop by and introduce yourself. I’ll be at the back of the chapel. I’d love to meet you personally. I’m so glad you’re here.

If you’re a veteran Cornerstone member, you have an opportunity to share the welcome of Christ today (Romans 15:7). I want you to remember what it was like to first visit the church. Remember how awkward it felt to be in an unfamiliar place? Remember the nervousness about not knowing anyone? Now, take a quick look around. Are you sitting near someone you don’t know? If so, recognize that as God’s kind providence. The Lord is giving you an opportunity to serve! Go ahead and help ease the awkwardness and apprehension by introducing yourself and learning a bit about them. Let them know how glad you are that they are with us in worship. These simple kindnesses will go a long way in extending the welcome of Christ today.

Beyond welcoming, Cornerstone desires for all people to know the joy and peace of union with Jesus Christ. To that end, we strive to create ministry environments and initiatives where the means of God’s grace are accessible to God’s people and thus favorable for spiritual growth. One way this happens is through our Sunday School adult education classes, aptly named The School of Discipleship. Every term we offer two adult School of Discipleship classes during the Sunday School hour (9:45-10:30 a.m.). Beginning next Sunday (October 2nd) two more School of Discipleship classes will be offered. Please take time to read the descriptions of the two classes below and make plans now to join us next week as we commit to growing in grace together.

Worship: In the Beauty of Holiness (Core Class, The Chapel)

The Psalmist instructs us to worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness. In this six-week course, Mr. Greg Wilbur will lead a class on congregational worship on the Lord’s Day. You will learn the content and flow of our worship service, and how beauty and holiness influence the structure and purpose of our worship gathering.

Technology and the Formation of Our Souls (Elective, Room 302-303)
Are you using your iPhone, or is your iPhone using you? In this six-week course, the Pastors of Cornerstone will explore technology as a biblical good, the dangers of technology in a post-fall world, and the formative power––for good and ill––that technology wields over our everyday lives. Join us as we seek wisdom for living faithfully in our increasingly technologized world.

Your servant,