May 8, 2022
Welcome!
If you’re new here to Cornerstone or if you’re longing to know who Jesus is, and what he has done, and is doing in our lives, we would love to connect with you. And if you need a Bible, please feel free to ask any of our ushers or head over to the information table in the main lobby.
You can also fill out our online connect card below and we’ll do our best to get in touch with you as soon as possible!
SERMON NOTES & Community Group Questions ➔
Christian Burkhardt | “Destruction and Glory”
Synopsis: This Sunday, Christian taught on 2 Thess 1:5-12, emphasizing the two sides of God’s righteous judgment that will come at the return of Jesus, which will bring “relief” for those in Jesus, but “affliction” for those who do not know God. In vv. 9-10, we see that it is Jesus’ glorious presence that brings about these starkly different outcomes: His glory will bring destruction to one group of people, while another group will share in and be transformed by his glory. The difference comes down to how each person responds to the message of Jesus as King: either by believing and obeying the gospel, or by “refusing to love the truth and so be saved” (2:10).
On the one hand, the reality of God’s coming judgment should give us hope in the face of suffering and opposition, knowing that God will grant us relief one day. On the other hand, the fearsome consequences that await those who do not turn and trust in Jesus should motivate us to share the gospel with passion, boldness, and humility. As God’s ambassadors, we implore people on Christ’s behalf to be reconciled to God (2 Cor. 5:20)--not just so that they might escape future destruction, but also so they might find new life and peace now under the good rule of King Jesus!
This is a huge responsibility, which is why Paul ends this passage with a prayer (vv. 11-12), asking God to make us “worthy of his calling” and to bring to fulfillment our “resolve for good and work of faith” by His power, so that the name of Jesus may be glorified in us, and we in him. How encouraging it is to know that God can and will empower us as we seek to put him on display through our words and actions!
QUESTIONS:
The judgment of God is a heavy topic to think about, which is partly why many of us tend to avoid thinking about it very often. But why is it important to meditate on both the positive and negative aspects of God’s judgment? How does it help us be faithful followers of Jesus? How might we get off track if we neglect the truth of God’s judgment, or only focus on one aspect of it (whether positive or negative)?
The truth of God’s coming judgment should lead us to feel sorrow and compassion for those we love who do not follow Jesus - it did the same for Jesus (Matt. 23:37-39; Luke 19:41-44). Take time to pray for those in your life who have not yet followed Jesus. Ask God to open their eyes to the truth of the gospel, and to give you opportunities to speak about and demonstrate the goodness of Jesus to them.
In v. 11, Paul prayed that God would “fulfill every resolve for good and work of faith by his power.” In other words, Paul prayed that the Thessalonians would not just desire what is good, but that God would empower them to put their desire into action. Consider your life: Is there something that you know you should do–and even want to do–but you haven’t acted on that desire, or you’ve struggled to follow through with it? Have you taken on something in this season of life that you know is good and right to do, but it has proven to be more difficult or time-consuming than you thought? Share about this with your group. Take time to pray for one another, asking God to fulfill your desire to do good by his power, so that Jesus might be glorified in and through you!
Christian encouraged us to consider memorizing Paul’s prayer in 2 Thess. 1:11-12, so that we can regularly pray these words for ourselves and for one another. Would you commit to doing that this week? Here are a few ideas to consider:
Write it out on a piece of paper and keep it in your purse or wallet,
Save it as a note on your phone, or take a screenshot of these verses and set it as your lock screen, so you see them every time you open your phone.
Set it as a reminder in your schedule, so that you make a point to pray through these verses each day this week.
Then come back next week ready to share how this practice impacted your week.
For weekly group discussion guides related to each sermon, please see our community guides below
Upcoming Events & happenings ➔
Visit our Church Calendar for more events, gatherings, and happenings within Cornerstone!
VBS will be June 13-16, from 10 AM – 12:15 PM. Additionally, on Sunday, June 19th, we will also be wrapping up our week of VBS with worship, a message, and our final skit during our Sunday Service (10 - 11:15 AM) that we would love for you and your kids to join us for. After the service, we will be having an All-Church BBQ/Party as we celebrate the culmination of VBS and all that the Lord has taught us throughout the week!
Registration closes June 1st
GriefShare is for people grieving the death of a family member or friend. GriefShare is a friendly, caring group of people who will walk alongside you through one of life’s most difficult experiences. You don’t have to go through the grieving process alone.
Please feel free to contact Sandra at the number listed below if you have any questions. The class will meet consecutively for 13 weeks unless an emergency comes up and we have to reschedule. You can join in at any time during the 13 weeks so don't hesitate to join if the sessions have already started.
Cost: $22 (includes workbook)
Dates: Every Thursday through July 21st
Time: 6:30pm - 8:30pm
Location: South MPR (4364 Valley Fair St)
Contact
Sandra Schmid, Facilitator
Phone: 805-990-4543
If you are struggling with illness or feel disheartened, overwhelmed, etc., — we invite you to join the elders so that they can pray over you.
When: 7pm - 8pm [Every second Tuesday of the month]
Where: Cornerstone MPR
Please let us know how we can pray for you by filling out the form below:
Come join our monthly worship night for a time of worship through song, prayer, and scripture!
WHERE: Main Sanctuary
WHEN: 6:30pm — 8pm [Every second Wednesday of the month]
Core 4 Intro Class: Mission & Evangelism – May 15 • 6:30-8:30 PM
Core 4 is foundational discipleship for the people of Cornerstone. Visit our Core 4 page below for more information, class registration, & class archive.
June 9-12 • Thousand Pines Christian Camp
$175 (early bird price available until May 19)
$215 (normal price after May 19)
July 22-26 • Lake Don Pedro
$340 (early bird price available until June 16)
$380 (normal price after June 16)
Gatherings ➔
Cornerstone Communities: We have several community groups that gather each week. If you’re interested in joining a group, see our community page for more information. We’d love to connect with you and get you plugged in!
Student Ministries: Impact (Middle School) and The Rock (High School) meet Wednesday nights. Meeting locations vary. Visit our student ministries and events pages for more information on time and location!
Resources ➔
Our Cornerstone Simi Podcast allows you to listen to Sunday sermons and episodes of Beyond Sunday. Learn more and find the podcast archive below.
Need prayer? We would love to know how to pray for you.
Baptism is a physical act and visual representation that communicates the inward change of believers who have come to faith by grace in Jesus Christ. If you’re interested in getting baptized, fill out our form below!
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At Cornerstone, we believe that God has given you talents, skills, and interests for the edification of the church and to contribute to His mission in making disciples. Click below to learn more about volunteer opportunities and different ministries you can get involved in.