Pastoral Notes for Sunday, December 4, 2022

Dear Cornerstone family,

The Cornerstone staff gathered for a fun fellowship lunch on Tuesday this week. As we talked and laughed about everything under the sun, the conversation turned at one point to the different personalities and perceptions God has given us and how those differences give shape to the way we see and experience the world. At some point, the comment was made, “So, if you’re sitting on a pier watching your children tube on the lake, do you see them having a good time or do you see all the ways they can possibly die?” As you’d guess, some of us primarily see the good time on the water while others of us are mapping the quickest route to the closest hospital! We’re all seeing the same thing––kids tubing on the lake––but what we “see” is radically different.

Now, let me ask you: which person is seeing things correctly? Is it the person seeing danger? Or is it the person seeing a good time? If you’re hesitant to answer, that’s a good sign. The question is a false dilemma. I’m making you choose between two things that aren’t mutually exclusive. In this case, both people are seeing something correctly.

I italicized something in the previous sentence to emphasize that both perspectives see a particular aspect of the situation correctly. One person is seeing the fun time on the water while another person is seeing (potential) danger. It’s good and right for both perspectives to be present. In fact, we need both perspectives.

We need people who can see the good time on the lake, for that is difficult for some of us to see. Some of us can get so tunneled in on potential dangers that we miss the good happening right in front of us. The seeing good perspective widens the reality of the seeing danger perspective, tempering fear and freeing us up to receive the good that is there.

At the same time, we need people who can see the dangers and sound the alarm. In fact, those who are particularly oriented at seeing the “fun on the lake” are often blind to the presence of real danger. The seeing danger perspective widens the reality of the seeing good perspective, dispelling naiveite and deepening wisdom.

The problem, of course, is that too often we absolutize our particular perspective as if it’s the only right way. When we do that, we sell ourselves and our relationships short. We cut ourselves off from the gifts, experiences, and perspectives of one another. At a more troubling level, we cut ourselves off from the grace God provides in and through the church.

Bet you didn’t expect me to say “church,” did you? We tend to view (read: perspective!) church as a place we go (the chapel) or an event we attend (worship). But if we’re tracking in the truth of the Scripture, we must recognize the church to be people—God’s people. And right now, you’re surrounded by them! Each person—including you, if you’re a follower of Christ—has God-given gifts, experiences, and perspectives that are intended for the building up of the body of Christ (Ephesians 4:15-16).

So, how about you get to know someone new this morning? Invite them over for lunch or coffee later in the week. Tell your story. Listen to their testimony. Let their gifts, experiences, and perspectives widen your own reality as you share Christ together. In a word, receive the gift of the church.

Your servant,






Pastoral Notes for Sunday, November 27, 2022

Dear Cornerstone family,

As is our custom at Cornerstone, we have set aside the four weeks leading up to Christmas to prepare our hearts for Christ’s coming. This year we will consider what it means to wait for the Long-Expected Jesus.

Advent 2022 – Come Though Long-Expected Jesus

  • November 27: Wait for the Lord (Psalm 130)

  • December 4: The Birthplace of the Lord (Micah 5:1-5)

  • December 11: His Name Shall be Called (Isaiah 9:6-7)

  • December 18: Nothing will be Impossible with God (Luke 1:26-38)

  • December 25: Christ is Born Today (Luke 2:1-20)

    As we course through Advent, let’s commit ourselves to learning the godly discipline of eagerly waiting for the long-in-coming Savior. By looking back and remembering Christ’s first advent, we prepare our hearts for the coming of the Lord a second time. Moreover, our longing for Christ’s return grows all the more! For as we glimpse the glory of Bethlehem, we can’t help but turn in anticipation to the promised and coming New Jerusalem.

    When Christmas (finally!) arrives this year, let’s enjoy it. Let’s feast! Let’s sing and dance! Truly, let’s take hold of the gospel afresh and celebrate in a way that matches the good news of great joy that is for all people.

    And when the season of Epiphany commences, let’s be ready to follow Jesus in the New Year. Just as the magi from the East followed the star all the way to Jesus, we will once again set our mind on things above, where Christ is, and take up our missionary call. By God’s grace, we will grow more into the church God has called us to be—a city set on a hill, a light that cannot be hidden.

Your servant,






Pastoral Notes for Sunday, November 20, 2022

Dear Cornerstone family,

As I pause on this anniversary Sunday and consider the past eleven years, I can honestly say that being yoked together with you is one of the greatest joys of my life. The way you have unfailingly loved and supported my family and exercised long patience in bearing with me as your pastor is more than I could have ever hoped for. Truly, the lines have fallen in pleasant places, and my heart knows it very well.

Some of you have been a part of Cornerstone long enough to remember our particularization service eleven years ago. Most of you, however, threw your lot in with us somewhere along the way—quite a few of you even this last year. But whenever it was you decided to saddle up with this ragtag band of Christ followers is not important. What’s important is that you’re with us now, and that you’re a vital part of the story God is telling through Cornerstone.

I’m sure some of you have a hard time believing yourself to be a vital part of the story God is telling through Cornerstone right now. As you look around the church, you see members who are more gifted, whose contributions seem to be making a much bigger difference in the life of the church than yours. You think yourself to be a small fish in this pond; that if you disappeared, the church wouldn’t miss a thing. If that sentiment describes you, I urge you––don’t believe that lie.

It is true, of course, we all have different gifts, some more visible than others. It is also true that our ministry efforts will be more or less fruitful. God has designed it that way. But regardless if you’re the mouth or hand or big toe, know this––every part of the body is needed. Even if you feel yourself and contributions to be insignificant, take heart in knowing that the Apostle Paul goes out of his way to say that the less honorable or seemingly weaker parts of the body of Christ are indispensable to the life and health of the church (1 Corinthians 11:22).

I tell every participant in our Exploring Cornerstone class that if you join this church, we believe two things must be true. First, you need us. That’s right; if the Lord leads you to unite with us, it means that through the ministry and makeup of this local church God plans to bless you. Count on it. But secondly, we need you. Through your particular abilities and contributions––regardless of how miniscule you think them to be––God plans to bless us through you! There is no unneeded member of Cornerstone Presbyterian Church.

As we embark on our twelfth year together, let’s keep this in mind. Let’s expect to be blessed through the church, and let’s plan to be a blessing to the church! As we commit to walk by the light of these twin truths, let’s pray and watch with eager expectation as God pours out his grace on us and works through us for his glory in the year ahead.

Your servant,






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,