Cornerstone Church Audio | Americus, Georgia

Inner Change: The Spirit’s Work

Admin — Sun, 04 May 2008 14:35:04 +0000

Inner change is a part of God’s salvation project. God has saved us not merely to take us to heaven when we die, but he has saved us in order to restore us to our original created design. The restoration process of inner change is the work of the Holy Spirit. We do not change ourselves, but we are being transformed by the Spirit.

Inner Change: The Son’s Image

Admin — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 14:32:31 +0000

With the growing popularity of Jesus in pop culture, it is important for the Church to rightly understand who Jesus is. The Jesus we worship is truly God and truly man and he is the model of our transformation. The Holy Spirit is changing us into the image of Jesus in his humanity, giving us the mind of Jesus, the heart of Jesus, and the attitude of Jesus so that we ultimately act like Jesus.

Marriage Weekend - Session 3: Commitment

Admin — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 17:59:42 +0000

In Session 3 of Marriage Weekend 2008, Pastor Derek discusses the role of covenant love in a marriage. Marriage is described in Scripture in terms of a covenant. This session includes the “Ten Commandments of Covenant Love,” ten helpful tips on keeping covenant love strong throughout a lifetime of marriage.

Marriage Weekend - Session 2: Passion

Admin — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 18:10:41 +0000

In Session 2 of Marriage Weekend 2008, Pastor Derek talks about the role of passion, romance, affection, and sex in marriage. Affectionate loves fuels a marriage with vitality and life by maintaining your spouse’s emotional bank account, stoking the fires of romance, and a healthy sex life.

Marriage Weekend - Session 1: Intimacy

Admin — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 15:00:55 +0000

In Session 1 of Marriage Weekend 2008, Pastor Derek discusses the issue of friendship love in marriage. Intimacy is built on the friendship foundation and is sustained by time spent together and healthy communication. This session also includes a blueprint for conflict resolution, when friendship love hits the wall of conflict and a cycle of bad communication.

Inner Change: The Father’s Joy

Admin — Sun, 06 Apr 2008 14:24:32 +0000

The process of inner change is not another self-help or self-improvement program. According to Pastor Derek, the Holy Spirit is changing us to look more like Jesus for the Father’s Joy. The goal is not necessarily to make ourselves more happy, but to make God the Father happy

Inner Change: A Different Kind of Person

Admin — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 14:33:25 +0000

In the introduction to a new series, Pastor Derek discusses the vision for spiritual transformation or inner change. God has rescued us not merely to take us to heaven when we die, but to change us into different a different kind of person, the kind of person that looks like Jesus, thinks like Jesus, and loves like Jesus. The process of spiritual transformation is the work of the Spirit to change us into the image of Jesus for the joy of God the Father. He changes us in the context of Christian community, as we walk along spiritual pathways.

Resurrection and New Creation

Admin — Sun, 23 Mar 2008 14:11:33 +0000

The resurrection of Jesus is not the inspirational story of a revolutionary who died for a cause. It is not a story to inspire us to live a life of self-sacrifice. The resurrection of Jesus is a very true story of hope and life. Jesus’ resurrection paved the way for a new creation. Pastor Derek shares six new things that are available because Jesus rose up from the dead.

Mission Focus: India

Admin — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 17:20:15 +0000

Sam Varghese and Ben Chrisostom from the Indian Evangelical Team (IET) discuss missions activity in India. With over 2,500 missionaries and over 5,000 churches, IET is the largest and fasting growing church planting movement in India. Cornerstone Church supports two IET missionaries. For more information on IET go to www.ietmissions.org.

Rethinking Evangelism > Week 2: A Spirit-led Mission

Admin — Sun, 09 Mar 2008 14:35:43 +0000

Evangelism is not an event or a program, but a Spirit-led endeavor. Pastor Derek explores the role of the Holy Spirit in walking accross the room. Following the leading of the Holy Spirit is not optional, but essential in knowing when, to whom, and how we are to fulfill Jesus’ mission.

Rethinking Evangelism > Week 1: The Mission of Jesus

Admin — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 16:06:15 +0000

As a part of Cornerstone Church’s mission emphasis, Pastor Derek revisits the simple evangelism strategy “Just Walk Accross the Room.” One of the most effective ways to fulfill the mission of Jesus is found in this stragegy. 1) Build relationships with non Christians; 2) Tell God’s story by telling your story; 3) Follow the leading of the Holy Spirit. In this message, Pastor Derek discusses the first two steps.

The following message is provided with Spanish interpretation.

Questions from a Sinful Heart > Week 4: The Day of the Lord

Admin — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 15:49:17 +0000

God’s people have a habit of dropping the ball. The Old Tesament tells the story of God’s goodness, his instructions on living life his way, God people responding, God’s people fumbling the instructions, God sending a messager, and the people returning to God with confession and repentance. Pastor Derek explains that while God will judge people for their sin, he first made a way to rescue people through their sins. The day of the Lord is the coming of Jesus who came first to rescue us from our sins and who will come again to judge us for our sins.

Questions from a Sinful Heart > Week 3: Pride & Divorce

Admin — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 17:30:42 +0000

Malachi 2:3-3:1
The people of God living during Malachi’s time had drifted away from the God who loved them. Pastor Derek explores two of the reasons why they difted — pride and divorce. These are two issues that continue to challenge the Church today.

Questions from a Sinful Heart > Week 2: A Pure Offering

Admin — Sun, 10 Feb 2008 18:24:27 +0000

Malachi 1:11-2:2
Pastor Derek discusses worship that is passionate and wholistic in this second message from the book of Malachi. God has called his people to bring to him a pure offering. For Israel a pure offering meant an animal without defect of blemish. For us who follow Jesus, it means giving our whole selves to God in worship. Jesus described this kind of worshipful relationship as love with all of your heart, soul, mind, and strength.

Questions from A Sinful Heart > Week 1: Love, Hate, & Worship

Admin — Sun, 03 Feb 2008 16:43:04 +0000

Malachi 1:1-10
In a new study of the book of Malachi, Pastor Derek wrestles with the issue of God loving Jacob and hating Essau. God has declared his love to his people who have drifted away from him. The people ask how God has loved them, a question revealing their sinful heart.

This message deals with the doctrine election and our responsibility as God’s people in offering ourselves as living sacrifices. Pastor Derek also discusses Cornerstone’s participation in Lent, a 40-day period of prayer and fasting leading up to Easter. For more information on Lent and fasting go to www.cornerstoneamericus.com/lent.

Creation vs. Evolution: Does it really matter?

Admin — Sun, 27 Jan 2008 15:39:35 +0000

Dr. Terry Mortenson from Answers in Genesis discusses the impact of evolutionary thinking on culture and the Church.

Maker of Heaven and Earth

Admin — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 21:18:22 +0000

In preporation for the Answers in Genesis Conference with Dr. Terry Mortenson at Cornerstone Church in Americus, Pastor Derek discusses the creation narritave in Genesis 1. He discusses the poetic style of Genesis and the rhythm we are called to live in. This message also includes a discussion on the debate between Young Earth and Old Earth Creationism.

To read Pastor Derek’s response to Dr. Mortenson on the issue of the age of the earth go to www.cornerstoneamericus.com/aig.

Where is God When I am Tempted?

Admin — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 17:19:24 +0000

Why is it that God seems hidden in moments of temptation? Where is God when I am really tempted to go the wrong way or do the wrong thing? We believe God is there, but he seems a million miles away, especially when the doorway to temptation swings wide open. Join Pastor Derek in this exploration of temptation and discover why God sometimes leads us into temptation.

This message also include information concerning the persecution of Christians in the Indian state of Orissa. For more information on the relief work go to www.ietmissions.blogspot.com.

Where is God when I am Depressed?

Admin — Sun, 06 Jan 2008 19:07:52 +0000

One out of ten American will suffer from depression this year. Surprising, two-thirds of them will never get help. What about us who are followers of Jesus? What do we do when we get depressed? And where is God anyhow when the long black cloud of depression settles over our hearts? Pastor Derek addresses these questions and others that arise when theology slams into reality.

Fully Human, Fully Alive

Admin — Sun, 30 Dec 2007 20:11:06 +0000

Jesus came to give abundant life, but what exactly is this life? Some would say it is a life of service, or heaven, or a life of physical health and financial wealth. In this message, Pastor Derek defines abundant life as being fully human and fully alive. God works to make us fully whole and integrated physically, spiritually, mentally, emotionally, sexually, and socially.

The Mystery of the Incarnation

Admin — Sun, 23 Dec 2007 15:04:20 +0000

The central mystery of Christmas is the incarnation, that came to be with us by becoming one of us. How can Jesus be the all powerful God and a little bitty baby at the same time? It is a mystery. Join Pastor Derek in an exploration of Jesus, fully God and fully human.

The Mystery of Mary

Admin — Sun, 16 Dec 2007 15:54:10 +0000

Catholic Christians honor her. Protestant Christians become nervous at the mention of her name. Mary, the mother of Jesus, cannot be ignored. David Lyle Jeffery writes, Through Mary, the majesty and unapproachable holiness of God joined the frail impermanence of fallen humanity. She was the chosen vessel of the Incarnation, at the pivot point of God’s saving plan. How could Mary not loom in the imagination of the church?

Mary’s mysterious visitation by Gabriel the angel, the mysterious message of virgin birth, and her mysterious response of faith is inextricably tied to the mystery of Christmas. Join Pastor Derek in the exploration of Mary and follow Mary’s example of pondering all these things in your heart.

The Mystery of the Prophecies

Admin — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 16:03:33 +0000

With coffee and Bible in hand, Pastor Derek leads a study of ten prophecies in the Old Testament spoken over a period of 1000 years that were fulfilled in the birth of Jesus. How can different people living at different times receive strange sounding inspired messages about a future ruler/king and all of them converge in the birth of one baby boy? It is a mystery.

The Mystery of Christmas

Admin — Sun, 02 Dec 2007 20:20:23 +0000

It is not hard to understand how Christmas has been hijacked by a consumer-driven culture with an expected $481.6 billion in expected sales this Christmas season. The way to put Christ back into Christmas is to replace your mistletoe with mystery. Join Pastor Derek in this invitation to explore the mystery of Christmas.

The Way of Jesus

Admin — Sun, 25 Nov 2007 15:57:33 +0000

Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth and the life.” Many people accept the Jesus truth, but do not want to walk the Jesus way. Walking the Jesus way — the way of forgiveness, humility, obedience, and joy — is essential. As Pastor Derek explains, the Jesus truth plus the Jesus way equals the Jesus life. The following message is provided with Spanish interpretation.

Church Gone Wild: Week 16 > Money & Men

Admin — Sun, 18 Nov 2007 15:20:38 +0000

In this final message from 1 Corinthians, Pastor Derek talks about the role of offerings in the church and the need to raise up and recognize good men in the church.

Church Gone Wild: Week 15 > Gospel & Resurrection

Admin — Sun, 11 Nov 2007 21:42:21 +0000

The central message of the Christian faith is the gospel–the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. This event divides time into two catagories, BC and AD. In this study of 1 Corinthians 15, Pastor Derek discusses these weighty subjects.

Church Gone Wild: Week 14 > Tongues & Prophecy

Admin — Sun, 04 Nov 2007 17:22:24 +0000

In this study of 1 Corinthians 14, Pastor Derek talks about the spiritual gift of prophecy and the spiritual gift of tongues. The gift of tongues has two functions as described in the Scripture. One is a public use which when followed by the spiritual gift of interpretation is similar to prophecy. The more common reference to speaking in tongues in 1 Corinthians 14 is the prayer language of the Spirit.

Church Gone Wild: Week 13 > Love & Gifts

Admin — Sun, 28 Oct 2007 13:36:31 +0000

1 Corinthians 13 is the love chapter, but as Pastor Derek points out in this message, people often miss the context of this chapter. The context is the spiritual gifts. Pastor Derek talks about the value of love in using spiritual gifts in this message and he also includes a brief history of the Pentecostal/charismatic movement, including two common mistakes made by charismatic Christians.

Church Gone Wild: Week 12 > Gifts & Unity

Admin — Sun, 21 Oct 2007 14:27:25 +0000

Perhaps nothing in the modern church has been more controversial than the gifts of the Holy Spirit. In this study of 1 Corinthians 12, Pastor Derek discusses the role of spiritual gifts in the life of the church and the desire of God to create unity out of diversity.

Church Gone Wild: Week 11 > Traditions & Communion

Admin — Sun, 14 Oct 2007 17:36:46 +0000

In this study of 1 Corinthians 11, Pastor Derek discusses the central purpose behind traditions (such as women wearing head coverings in chuch) and the mystery and symbolism of communion as a part of Christian worship.

Church Gone Wild: Week 10 > Idolatry & Temptation

Admin — Sun, 07 Oct 2007 17:33:16 +0000

Pastor Derek discusses the sin of idolatry from 1 Corinthians 10. This message tackles the issue of temptation, the way of escape and living life for the glory of God.

Church Gone Wild: Week 9 > Rights & Rewards

Admin — Sun, 30 Sep 2007 15:40:26 +0000

In this study of 1 Corinthians 9, Pastor Derek discusses the relationship between Christians and church leaders as related to authority and finances. He also talks about the gold medal that all Christians are striving for, the reward of winning people to Christ.

Church Gone Wild: Week 8 > Food & Weaknesses

Admin — Sun, 23 Sep 2007 15:40:31 +0000

Pastor Derek leads a study of 1 Corinthians 8, which discusses whether or not Christians in Corinth should eat meat sacrificed to idols. Pastor Derek provides five questions in making personal decisions related to certain activities.

Church Gone Wild: Week 7 > Married & Single

Admin — Sun, 16 Sep 2007 14:23:55 +0000

The following message is rated PG-13 for adult content. Pastor Derek discusses the issues related to sex, marriage and singleness from 1 Corinthians 7.

Church Gone Wild: Week 6 > Shame & Sexuality

Admin — Mon, 10 Sep 2007 14:55:03 +0000

The following message is rated PG-13 for adult content. Pastor Derek talks about why the local church should feel shame when the people take their focus off Jesus and why sex is more than a physical experience. This message also deals with homosexuality in light of the Scripture, Greek & Roman culture and the current cultural debate.

Don’t Be a Sissy

Admin — Sun, 02 Sep 2007 19:39:55 +0000

In this message from a man to men about men, Pastor Derek challenges men to be a man like Jesus and not a sissy. This challenge includes the six things men need. Robert Bunch discusses the Men’s Fraternity, a new men’s ministry at Cornerstone Church.

Church Gone Wild: Week 5 > Sex & Judgment

Admin — Sun, 26 Aug 2007 18:25:15 +0000

The following message is rated PG-13 for adult content. Pastor Derek describes how the church in Corinth had gone wild in the area of sexuality and how judgment was required for those living in sexual immorality. The message also answers five common questions related to sexuality and Scripture.

Church Gone Wild: Week 4 > Servants & Pride

Admin — Sun, 19 Aug 2007 15:03:34 +0000

In this study of 1 Corinthians 4, Pastor Derek discusses the specific role of church leaders as servants and managers of the mysteries of God. He also talks about the factors that lead to pride such as a judgmental attitude.

Shevet Achim: Uniting Brothers

Admin — Sun, 12 Aug 2007 18:48:37 +0000

David Hartman from Israel shares his story in an interview with Pastor Derek. Shevet Achim, which means ”uniting the brothers” in Hebrew, is a Christian ministry in Jerusalem that reaches out to Muslim children with heart problems and connects them with Jewish doctors in Tel Aviv. David shares the exciting adventure of reaching out to the Muslim world by putting into practice Jesus command to love your enemies. For more information go to www.shevet.org

Church Gone Wild: Week 3 > Churches & Temples

Admin — Sun, 05 Aug 2007 14:03:51 +0000

In this study of 1 Corinthians 3, Pastor Derek discusses how the Corinthian Christians’ misunderstanding of church and church leader lead to fighting and divison. He also offers a way to recreate the sacredness of the sactuary as Christians come together to be God’s temple.

Church Gone Wild: Week 2 > Jesus & Spirituality

Admin — Sun, 29 Jul 2007 18:20:57 +0000

In this study of 1 Corinthians 2, Pastor Derek talks about the centrality of Jesus and the cross in the life and message of the local church. This message also deals with spirituality as a way of walking in the Holy Spirit.

Church Gone Wild: Week 1 > People & Jesus

Admin — Sun, 22 Jul 2007 21:02:24 +0000

Pastor Derek begins a new series with a study 1 Corinthians called “Church Gone Wild.” The church in Corinth was living within a city that had gone wild and the church itself had become a mirror of the city. In this study of Chapter 1, Pastor Derek talks about the two most important acpects of life in Chrisitan community–people and Jesus.

Free to Love

Admin — Sun, 15 Jul 2007 18:49:29 +0000

In the first-ever English/Spanish worship service at Cornerstone Church, Pastor Derek preaches on the purpose of the freedom we have in Christ. We have been set free in order to love God and love one another. This message was recorded live with a Spanish interpreter.

Doing Life Together

Admin — Sat, 07 Jul 2007 19:00:42 +0000

Christians are called to live life together in a community called the church. This community is not just about doing “worship” together it is about doing life together. In this message Pastor Derek outlines seven aspects of doing life together.

Eat This Book

Admin — Sun, 01 Jul 2007 21:10:42 +0000

Pastor Derek discusses the art spiritual reading. We don’t just read the Bible; we eat it!

Just Walk Across the Room > Grander Vision Living

Admin — Sun, 24 Jun 2007 18:55:57 +0000

In this final part to the Just Walk Across the Room series, Pastor Derek discusses living with a grander vision of God’s work in making people fully human. The destructive nature of sin has made humanity sub-human. When people sin they are not being “just human,” they are being less-than-human. Jesus has come to make us fully human. This is the grander vision.

Just Walk Across the Room > The Power of Story

Admin — Sun, 17 Jun 2007 19:05:33 +0000

In this third part of the Just Walk Across the Room series, Pastor Derek discusses the power of story and how you can effectively tell God’s redemptive story by telling your story.

Just Walk Across the Room > Living in 3D

Admin — Sun, 10 Jun 2007 19:15:26 +0000

After you have walked accross the room, then what? In this message, Pastor Derek talks about the three Ds in building relationships with unchurched people.

Just Walk Across the Room > The Single Greatest Gift

Admin — Sun, 03 Jun 2007 19:19:00 +0000

Pastor Derek begins the first part of a four-part series called Just Walk Across the Room, which lays out the most sustainable evangelistic strategy. Sharing your faith is the single greatest gift you can give someone who doesn’t have a relationship with Christ and it is as easy as walking across the room.