Cornerstone Simi Podcast

EP#38: The Promise of Together Forever

Todd, Christian, and Spencer begin this podcast with a conversation about what they believed the Apostles actually understood about what Christ was saying when He told them He would be “with you always, to the end of the age”.  They discuss that although the Apostles had a lot of illusions from their time with Christ about what was coming, it would not be possible for them to fully understand what the future would hold.  Additionally, Jesus was asking them to take on an insurmountable task, to go to all nations, for all time, and to live like Jesus always, and they couldn’t do it without Jesus!  And neither can we!  Jesus’s statement is meant to empower us to be faithful always, acknowledging that God is with us, has prepared a way ahead of time for us, and we are simply joining Him in the work that He has already begun.

8-14-22 | The Promise of Together Forever | Christian Burkhardt

EP#37: Baptism in the Name of Jesus & Teaching for Keeping

Our pastors cover 2 teachings in this one podcast - discussing both baptism and the command to teach new disciples,  all that Jesus taught.  They speak of baptism as being initiated into Jesus, and a transition into our new identity. If you’ve ever struggled about being baptized before you have straightened out your life, you will love the guys' candid discussion that will free you to commit to Jesus before you’ve actually “nailed it”.  They describe it as “making a promise (now) to work it out with God with a longing to make this promise real (in the future)”.  Then they move on to discussing what it means to embrace the teachings of Jesus, which will lead to our allegiance to Christ strengthening over our lifetime with Him.

8-7-22 | The Means: Teaching for Keeping | Christian Burkhardt

7-31-22 | The Means: Baptism in ”the Name” | Todd Nighswonger

EP#36: The Means: As You Are Going

7-24-22 | The Means: As You Are Going | Christian Burkhardt

EP#35: The Main Thing

Continuing in the Summer series on The Great Commission, Todd points out that after Jesus declares His authority over Heaven and Earth, He immediately commands us to “go and make disciples”.  But in order to do this we must remember two things - making disciples will not be possible without the power of the Holy Spirit within us and secondly, this command comes, not unexpectedly, but as a result of all the instructions given previously in the book of Matthew.  Our pastor’s acknowledge that this is hard but go on to explain how discipleship happens within the local church and among the church body in simple day-to-day activities and relationships.  If you are overwhelmed by the prospect of discipleship you will find encouragement and hope in this straightforward discussion. 

7-17-22 | The Main Thing: Make Disciples | Todd Nighswonger

EP#34: Announcing the Good Reign of Jesus Christ

In this Summer Series on The Great Commission, Todd, Christian, and Spencer focus on Matthew 28:18 where Jesus declares His authority over all things. With Christian taking the lead in the discussion he explains how God uses His power and authority for good in contrast to how our culture frequently uses power and authority wrongly for our own purposes, not the purposes of God. The discussion with Spencer and Todd over the significance that Jesus was “given” His authority connects to God giving authority in the Garden to Adam and Eve before sin enters the world.  Quoting from the book, Playing God, by Andy Crouch, Christian explains that like God creating the world, or “making stuff” we too are tasked to create and make things, using our authority or rule to bless the world.  Furthermore, like God, who “makes sense” of the world, we too are to please God by helping others make sense of their lives in the context of a holy and righteous Creator.  You will find our pastor's discussion both enlightening and motivating to steward your authority and power well!