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The Lord is Good

Today we're continuing our theme of "build," exploring what it means to build our lives on Jesus Christ. I’ve always been the family photographer, capturing moments so we can remember the great story of our lives. These pictures serve as highlights, reminders of God’s blessing and His constant presence on our journey.

Just as photos help us remember, the Bible tells us to remember what God has done. We don't live in the past, but we look back to remember God’s goodness and faithfulness so we can walk forward in what He has for us. The Psalmist says, "For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations".

Building and Fighting

Our church is named Cornerstone because Jesus is the cornerstone of our lives. Ephesians 2:20 says we are "built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone".

We see this idea of building and fighting in the life of Joshua. As he prepared to lead the Israelites into the Promised Land, the Lord told him, "Be strong and courageous". God promised He would not leave or forsake them, but they had to be willing to fight for what was theirs. The first thing Joshua commanded the people to do was not to sharpen their swords but to consecrate themselves and cleanse their hearts before God. Our actions follow from the condition of our hearts.

Dry Ground and Holy Places

When the people were ready, the priests carrying the Ark of the Covenant stepped into the Jordan River, and the water was pulled back, allowing all of Israel to cross on dry ground. To remember this incredible miracle, Joshua told the leaders to take 12 stones from the middle of the river and build a monument. These stones were a sign for their children, so that when they asked what the stones meant, the parents could say, "Israel passed over this Jordan on dry ground… so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the hand of God is mighty".

When Joshua later met a man with a drawn sword, he asked, "Are you for us, or for our adversaries?". The man, who was the commander of the Lord's army, replied, "No... I am the commander of the army of the Lord". Joshua immediately fell to the ground in worship, and the commander said, "Take off your sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy".

Friends, if we realize that God is with us, then wherever we place our feet is holy ground.

If you have never made the decision to follow Jesus, I challenge you to make that decision today. As the apostle Paul wrote, "if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved".

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The question that opens this powerful message cuts straight to the heart: "If everything completely goes away, how do you want to be remembered?" For Charlie Kirk, moments before his life was tragically taken, he was answering questions about his faith in Jesus—the legacy he most wanted to leave behind.

This shocking loss, alongside other recent acts of violence against believers worldwide, serves as a sobering backdrop for exploring what it truly means to build something lasting while fighting for what matters. Drawing from Nehemiah's powerful example of rebuilding Jerusalem's walls while facing opposition, we discover a timeless truth: our battle isn't against other people but against spiritual darkness.

"We have never been a political house," the message clarifies, "but what we are is someone who stands for the values that our faith is based on." This distinction reshapes how we approach cultural challenges—not with hatred toward those who disagree, but with spiritual weapons focused on the darkness behind division and destruction.

The workers rebuilding Jerusalem's walls labored "with one hand and held a weapon with the other." Similarly, we're called to build our lives on God's word while fighting spiritual battles through prayer, worship, and unwavering commitment to truth. As Nehemiah encouraged his people, "Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome."

What breaks your heart? Unless something moves you deeply, you'll never take action to change it. When our hearts break for those who don't know Jesus—our neighbors, coworkers, even those we struggle to like—we become motivated to share God's love. Our worship becomes a weapon against darkness, and "the joy of the Lord is your strength" even in life's most challenging seasons.

Ready to build something that lasts? Join a life group this semester and discover how connecting with others can strengthen your faith journey as we build and fight together.

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The cornerstone sets everything else in alignment. Without it, the entire structure becomes unstable. In our lives, Jesus stands as that cornerstone - the only foundation worthy of building upon.

Pastor J kicks off the new "Build" series by examining what it means to construct our lives as dwelling places for God. Through the compelling narrative of Solomon's temple, we discover how God has always desired to dwell among His people - first in physical structures, and now within us.

Drawing from Ephesians 2, we learn that believers are "being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit." This revolutionary concept transforms our understanding of both worship and identity. No longer are we strangers to God's presence; we're citizens of heaven with full access to our King.

The blood moon serves as a powerful backdrop, reminding us that Christ will return for His church. This urgency calls us to build intentionally, ensuring our lives are aligned with the cornerstone. Like Solomon, who was chosen despite being born from scandal, our past doesn't determine our potential in God's kingdom.

Perhaps most profound is the revelation about the temple veil. When Christ died, that barrier was torn, symbolizing our direct access to God's presence. No longer do we need priests with bells and ropes to approach the Holy of Holies - Christ has made us the temple where God's Spirit dwells.

Whether you're building for the first time or reconstructing after life's storms, this message offers both the blueprint and the invitation.

Connect with a Life Group this semester to continue building alongside others who share your foundation.

Cornerstone
https://www.cornerstoneaz.org/

Follow Jesus
https://www.cornerstoneaz.org/follow-jesus

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https://www.cornerstoneaz.org/life-groups

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What happens when you're completely unprepared for a change of seasons? That's exactly what I experienced landing in Paraguay for mission work—stepping off a plane from Phoenix summer straight into winter with nothing but a thin sweater. Shivering on a prayer mountain at 5:30am, I learned a powerful lesson about seasons that applies to every aspect of our spiritual lives.

Life unfolds in seasons, and understanding the spiritual significance of each one transforms how we navigate our journey with God. Just as the natural world moves through spring, summer, autumn, and winter, our spiritual lives follow similar patterns. Spring brings new beginnings and fresh opportunities. Summer offers abundance and growth but can tempt us toward pride. Autumn provides harvest and reflection on what we've cultivated. Winter demands complete trust during times of rest and restoration.

The wisdom of Ecclesiastes reminds us that "for everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven." These seasons aren't random—they're divinely ordained with specific purposes. Consider David, who would never have become an effective king without those lonely nights as a shepherd, developing his heart of worship and dependency on God. What appears to be an insignificant or challenging season might actually be essential preparation for what God has next.

Three truths about seasons can help us navigate them wisely: they are ordained by God with divine purpose, they each serve a specific role in our spiritual formation, and they inevitably change. The question isn't whether your current season will transition but what you'll learn and how you'll grow before it does. Many of us make the mistake of clinging to good seasons too long or trying to skip difficult ones altogether—both approaches leave us spiritually stunted.

Ready to embrace your season instead of fighting against it? Whatever phase you're experiencing right now, remember God is faithful through every season, and what you sow today directly impacts your harvest tomorrow.

Cornerstone
https://www.cornerstoneaz.org/

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Looking around at the thrashing waves of life's storms, have you ever wondered where to find unshakable help? For 39 years, Cornerstone Christian Center has pointed thousands to the answer found in Psalm 121: "I lift my eyes to the hills. Where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord."

The journey began when founding pastors Rich and Cindy Brown stepped out in faith, gathering a small group in their living room with a vision to establish a church on what was then mostly farmland west of Phoenix. The name "Cornerstone" was purposefully chosen from 1 Peter 2, recognizing Jesus as the precious cornerstone upon which everything else is built. Through decades of ministry, this foundation has never wavered, even as cotton fields transformed into neighborhoods and once-distant Buckeye expanded westward.

What makes this community special isn't its building (though that story involves divine intervention when community planners initially rejected a church on Indian School Road) but the prayers literally embedded in its walls. Before drywall covered the structure, congregation members wrote Scripture and prayers throughout the building—prayers that still cover everyone who walks through the doors today. These invisible blessings represent the heart of a church committed to making space for more people to encounter Jesus.

The "Seven C's" of Cornerstone culture—Commitment, Community, Communication, Competence, Creativity, Compassion, and Celebration—continue guiding this multi-generational, multicultural family of believers. Through outreaches like Mercy House in Cashion, which has transformed generations of lives over its 30+ years, the church remains focused on loving everyone because "that's who Jesus loved us as well."

When life's storms rage and you feel yourself clinging desperately to anything solid, remember the image of the Rock of Ages—a stone cross standing firm amid violent seas. Don't run from God in your pain; run to Him. Lift your eyes to where your help comes from, because "on Christ the solid Rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand." Your storm may be fierce, but your cornerstone will never sink.

Cornerstone
https://www.cornerstoneaz.org/

Follow Jesus
https://www.cornerstoneaz.org/follow-jesus

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The voices of the ancient prophets cut through time with surprising clarity for modern hearts. This message explores how Micah, Amos, Joel, and others challenge us with the same core message we desperately need today: return to God, embrace justice, love kindness, and walk humbly.

"Unless God is just, God is not loving." This statement unlocks a profound understanding of God's character that many struggle to reconcile. God's judgment isn't harsh condemnation but loving correction—an invitation to abandon destructive paths and return to relationship with Him. Like parents who redirect children from danger, God's discipline flows from deep love for His people.

Every believer experiences the internal tension humorously captured by the "half Jesus, half Peter" metaphor—wanting to respond with Christ's perfect love while sometimes reacting with Peter's impulsiveness. This struggle reveals why we need daily spiritual nourishment. Just as the Israelites couldn't store manna overnight, we can't live on yesterday's encounters with God. Fresh connection empowers authentic faith that transforms communities.

The message culminates with powerful testimonies of global mission movements and local community impact through Cornerstone's partnership with Mercy House. These tangible expressions of God's love create pathways for people to encounter Jesus. We witness how small steps of obedience lead to supernatural provision beyond rational explanation.

Are you ready to move beyond lip service to authentic relationship with God? The prophets' ancient call echoes today: return to Him, realign your heart, and discover the life-changing power of walking daily with the living God. What small step of obedience is He calling you to take today?

Cornerstone
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https://www.cornerstoneaz.org/follow-jesus

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Ever feel like you're screaming prayers into the void? You're in good company. Through the unique voices of Habakkuk, Zephaniah, and Amos, we discover an uncomfortable truth: sometimes God's answers look nothing like what we expect.

Tyler Burke introduces us to Habakkuk, the "emo prophet" whose complaints against God reveal something profound about our own perspective. When Israel faced violence and injustice, Habakkuk questioned why God wouldn't act. God's response? "I'll send the Babylonians"—a nation even more wicked than Israel. This wasn't the resolution Habakkuk wanted, but through this exchange, we witness a transformation. Habakkuk's self-righteous pride gives way to humble recognition that God's discipline isn't unfair punishment but loving correction.

Christina pulls back the curtain on Zephaniah's warnings to a people who practiced religious duplicity—worshiping God publicly while bowing to other gods privately. Sound familiar? Today's idols may look different (materialism, self-promotion, political obsession), but they're just as dangerous when prioritized above God. Yet amidst the sobering warnings, Zephaniah delivers one of Scripture's most tender promises: "The Lord your God is with you... He will rejoice over you with singing."

Eddie Perez rounds out the trio with Amos, the farmer-turned-prophet who feared God more than men. Using the powerful metaphor of hands versus face, Eddie distinguishes between knowing about God (praising Him for what He does) and truly knowing Him (worshiping Him for who He is). Our prayer life, Eddie suggests, reveals our proximity to Jesus and determines how we respond when God commands.

Whether you're questioning God's justice, struggling with divided loyalties, or longing for closer relationship with Him, these ancient voices speak directly to our modern condition. The real question is: will we have the courage to listen?

How might your perspective shift if you understood that God loves you too much to let you destroy your soul? Join the conversation and discover what these overlooked prophets have to say to your heart today.

Cornerstone
https://www.cornerstoneaz.org/

Follow Jesus
https://www.cornerstoneaz.org/follow-jesus

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Have you ever found yourself running in the opposite direction of where God is clearly telling you to go? Jonah, that reluctant prophet from the Old Testament, took an over 2,000-mile detour away from his divine assignment to Nineveh.

The fascinating thing about Jonah isn't just the dramatic "big fish" moment we all remember from Sunday School—it's why he ran in the first place. Unlike many biblical heroes who hesitated out of insecurity or fear, Jonah fled because he knew exactly what would happen if he succeeded. He understood God's compassionate nature so well that he was certain the Ninevites (people he despised) would repent and receive mercy. His prejudice was so strong that he literally preferred death over seeing his enemies forgiven.

God's response wasn't abandonment but a divine "timeout"—three uncomfortable days in the belly of a great fish with heat, humidity, and darkness forcing Jonah to reconsider his choices. This wasn't punishment; it was redirection. And when Jonah finally delivered his reluctant five word sermon, an entire city turned to God, from the king down to the livestock.

The story takes a surprising turn when, instead of celebrating this spiritual awakening, Jonah throws a temper tantrum. He's more concerned about losing the shade of a plant than the potential destruction of an entire population. Through this, God reveals the real issue: Jonah's heart didn't reflect divine compassion.

What's your Nineveh? Who is God calling you to reach that you'd rather avoid? The beautiful promise throughout Jonah's story is that even when we run, God pursues—not to punish but to redirect us toward our true calling. And unlike Jonah's dramatic commission, our calling is simpler: just be more like Jesus to those around us. No prophetic warnings required, just authentic love and presence.

Ready to explore what God might be calling you to? Connect with us through Life Groups where you can grow alongside others who are also learning to follow God's direction without needing a whale-sized wake-up call.

Cornerstone
https://www.cornerstoneaz.org/

Follow Jesus
https://www.cornerstoneaz.org/follow-jesus

Life Groups
https://www.cornerstoneaz.org/life-groups

Giving
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