Pastoral Notes for Sunday, November 6, 2022

Dear Cornerstone family,

On Tuesday evening this past week, I sent an important message to the Cornerstone family about an upcoming staff transition. In his own words, Rev. Ben Griffith penned the note below.

Dear Brothers and Sisters of Cornerstone,

It is with a deep sense of joy mixed with sadness that I want to share with you that we believe the Lord is calling us to serve in another corner of his kingdom. Since the summer of 2019, it has been our incredible privilege to be swept up with you in the work that King Jesus is doing here, growing his church and advancing his kingdom through Cornerstone in Franklin, TN. Serving alongside Nate, Tony, Greg, and the leadership has been a true and rich gift, a season in which I've been given so much more than I could possibly give in return. You have loved us well. You have welcomed, embraced, and encouraged our family, and we are so profoundly grateful that King Jesus has intertwined our stories together in the larger story that he continues to write for us all. God is good, and he is at work, and he has been so good to us through you. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

A few weeks ago, after a long season of prayerfully wrestling and processing, we accepted a call to serve with Reformed University Fellowship (RUF) on the campus of Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama. RUF is a ministry that has long been near and dear to us—Rebecca and I met through and were deeply shaped by RUF in college, and we have continued to support and stay connected to RUF through the years. We are truly thankful for and thrilled about the prospects of jumping into this ministry opportunity and continuing to grow and serve with RUF at Samford.

There is so much more to say, both about how hard it is to think about leaving Cornerstone and about how compelled we feel to follow the Lord's call towards RUF at Samford. For now, please know how grateful we are for you, and how blessed we are to call Cornerstone our home. King Jesus is at work, his kingdom is on the move, and there are exciting days ahead for this dear part of the body of Christ at the corner of Church and 3rd Street. May he continue to give us the grace to press on eagerly where he leads, further up and further in, as we keep our eyes on him.

Yours in Christ,

Ben Griffith

As sad as I am to see Ben and the whole Griffith family depart, I’m thrilled with the opportunity before them and for the blessing in store for the students at Samford University. Ben will continue in his pastoral duties at Cornerstone through March 15, 2023. Between now and then, we will have opportunities to hear from Ben about his work with RUF at Samford and to give the whole Griffith clan a proper Cornerstone send off.

In the weeks to come, I will share more about the steps we’re beginning to take to help fill the big shoes that Ben leaves behind. For now, I would simply ask you to pray for and love on the Griffiths. As excited as they are about the work of RUF at Samford, the Griffiths are very sad to leave Cornerstone. Your love and prayers over the next four and a half months will mean the world to them as they prepare to answer the new call God has placed on their life.

Your servant,






Pastoral Notes for Sunday, October 30, 2022

Dear Cornerstone family,

On October 31, 1517, an Augustinian monk by the name of Martin Luther took a hammer and nail and posted his now famous Ninety-Five Theses on the Wittenburg church door in Germany. That courageous action sparked one of the greatest spiritual movements in human history. And it all began on... Halloween? As strange as it sounds, the launch of what would become known as The Protestant Reformation began on the one night of the year where ghosts and goblins rule the streets. A coincidence? Probably not.

Halloween is short for All Hallows’ Eve. The word “hallow” is the word for “holy.” You know this because you say it every week in worship when we pray the Lord’s Prayer, “Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name” (Matthew 6:9). All Hallows’ Eve was the name given to the night before the Christian feast, All Saints Day, which was celebrated on November 1st. In the Christian calendar, All Saints Day is the annual remembrance of those who have died in Christ and gone before us into heaven.

Now, it has been suggested that Martin Luther chose to post his Ninety-Five Theses on All Hallows’ Eve in anticipation of All Saints Day. Why? Well, his protest was an attempt to call the church back to the faith once delivered to the saints (Jude 1:3). Luther believed the late medieval church was, in many ways, held captive by a “doctrine of demons” (1 Timothy 4:1), and that the time had come for a return to historic Christian belief and practice held by the church throughout the ages.

Though often neglected in our day, remembering and rehearsing together the long legacy of faith passed down through the generations is a meaningful Christian practice (Hebrews 12:1). Knowing that the death of God’s people is precious in his sight (Psalm 116:5), the church has historically set aside time to remember the dead in Christ. During this season, it is common for churches to name and give thanks for those in the past who bore witness to the gospel and today worship with us in glory.

As a way of stepping into that great tradition, today in worship we’re going take time to remember and give thanks for those who have died in Christ Jesus. We will have a small selection of members in each service give brief testimonials about a special person in their life who has passed onto glory but made a lasting spiritual impact on them personally.

As we worship today, please take time to remember those who have died whom the Lord has used to spiritually enrich your life. It could be a grandmother who modeled humility, a Sunday School teacher who taught you Scripture, a coach who challenged you in an area of obedience, even a work colleague who just always knew what to say to lift you up when you were down. It doesn’t even have to be someone you’ve met! For instance, you could go back in history and give thanks for a leader, missionary, writer, or artist whose spiritual legacy has made an indelible spiritual imprint on your life. Whoever it is, let’s remember them with thanksgiving before the Lord, anticipating the day when we’ll join them in glory.

Your servant,






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,