Equip Podcast

Cornerstone Church of Ames
  • 4.8 (120)
  • Christianity
  • Updated Weekly

Produced by Cornerstone Church of Ames, The Equip Podcast is designed to provide insight, resources and Biblical wisdom to help us live faithful and fruitful lives together. 

  1. 3d ago

    The Gospel Way with Trevin Wax: Ask Trevin Anything (Pt. 2)

    In part two of this special series, Mark and Emily bring Trevin Wax back for an unscripted Q&A, pulling questions straight from his own writing and years of curiosity built up over their friendship. They talk through the difference between spiritual discipline and self-help optimization, wrestle with pride and holy ambition, and more. Trevin closes things out with his top five most influential books and a candid answer to one final question: is he hopeful or fearful for the future of the church? Episode Highlights 00:27 — Welcoming Trevin back for a rapid-fire "Ask Trevin Anything" episode 01:39 — Spiritual disciplines vs. self-help: what's the real difference? 05:19 — Behind Trevin's new daily prayer project, "The Lord Is My Light" 09:36 — The sin we've stopped taking seriously: pride 09:55 — Balancing holy ambition with the pull toward selfish ambition 13:38 — "Worship yourself and you'll become less than yourself" 15:43 — What is the Lausanne Movement, and why does it matter? 17:42 — What the American church needs to learn from the global church 20:08 — Rapid fire: Trevin's top five most influential books 24:58 — Is Trevin hopeful or fearful for the future of the church? Resources The Gospel Way Catechism by Trevin Wax and Thomas WaxThe Gospel Way Catechism for Kids by Trevin Wax and Thomas WaxCornerstone Sermons: Listen Online Ask Mark a Question! Suggest a topic or question for Mark to discuss on a future episode of the Equip Podcast!

  2. 3d ago

    The Gospel Way with Trevin Wax: Why We Need a Catechism (Pt. 1)

    In part one of a special two-part series, Mark and Emily sit down with author and pastor Trevin Wax to introduce The Gospel Way Catechism, a new 50-question resource he co-wrote with Thomas Wax to root Christians in truth amid cultural chaos. Trevin unpacks what a catechism actually is, why this centuries-old discipleship tool is making a comeback, and takes listeners behind the scenes of writing the book in C.S. Lewis's own study. Along the way, they dig deep into one question in particular, "What is freedom?", and why getting the answer wrong is quietly shaping a generation. Episode Highlights 00:27 — Introducing guest Trevin Wax and The Gospel Way Catechism 01:33 — What exactly is a catechism, and why the word intimidates people 01:58 — A brief history of catechisms, from the early church to the Reformation 04:01 — Why catechism matters for growing Christians today, not just kids 05:34 — What makes The Gospel Way different from classics like Westminster 06:23 — Tim Keller's call for a renewal of "counter catechesis" 08:41 — Behind the scenes: writing the catechism at C.S. Lewis's home, the Kilns 12:37 — Naming the cultural narratives Christians are swimming in today 14:14 — A closer look at one question: "What is freedom?" 15:44 — Applying the freedom question to college freshmen headed to Iowa State 18:08 — Trevin's hope and prayer for how the catechism will be used 20:44 — What's ahead: Part 2 with Trevin, and the fall sermon series at Cornerstone Resources The Gospel Way Catechism by Trevin Wax and Thomas WaxThe Gospel Way Catechism for Kids by Trevin Wax and Thomas WaxCornerstone Sermons: Listen Online Ask Mark a Question! Suggest a topic or question for Mark to discuss on a future episode of the Equip Podcast!

  3. 5d ago ·  Bonus

    Building Spiritual Habits That Last (with Hannah Beth Gilbert & Chelle Lambert)

    Mark sits down with Chelle Lambert and Hannah Beth Gilbert, two Salt Company staff members who've actually lived with the Spiritual Workout Plan, not just recommended it. They get honest about what's worked, what's been hard, and how the plan flexes across different seasons of life, whether you're a college student or a "30-something rando floating in the abyss of adulthood." If you've started a dozen Bible reading plans and never finished one, this conversation is the reset you need before the new Fall plan launches. Episode Highlights 00:38 — Meet the guests: Chelle Lambert and Hannah Beth Gilbert 01:56 — Not just for college students: who the plan is really for 02:12 — Where the Spiritual Workout Plan came from and the problem it was built to solve 04:14 — The unexpected benefit: camaraderie in reading the same thing together 06:24 — Bible memorization and building a culture around it 10:01 — Getting practical: how to handle a high-volume reading plan without drowning 12:32 — "You haven't read the whole Bible": Mark's loving, firm challenge to skip the excuses 15:01 — Steady over spectacular: resetting expectations for what walking with God looks like 16:12 — Different seasons need different rhythms, even for the leaders running the plan 17:56 — Progress, not perfection: remembering the plan is a tool, not the goal itself 20:44 — Do the scripture memory wristbands actually help? 22:03 — What's new in the Fall plan: minor prophets and flexible reading tracks 22:45 — Encouragement for anyone who's tried and quit before 25:45 — Building real relational health into your group, not just surface-level check-ins 28:01 — Where to get the plan and a final challenge to get started Resources Fall Spiritual Workout PlanFull PlanDaily ReadingsGet Text UpdatesCornerstone Sermons: Listen Online Ask Mark a Question! Suggest a topic or question for Mark to discuss on a future episode of the Equip Podcast!

  4. Aug 20

    How Does Cornerstone Decide What to Teach? Introducing The Gospel Way

    Mark and Emily pull back the curtain on how Cornerstone decides what to preach and introduce the church's new series through The Gospel Way. Mark walks through the history and philosophy behind preaching styles, why Cornerstone leans expository, and how topical teaching, liturgical seasons, and book-by-book exposition all fit together into one intentional plan. Episode Highlights 00:52 — What the Gospel Way Catechism is and why it was written 01:44 — How the 50 truths are structured across sections and years 03:09 — Two upcoming episodes featuring author Trevin Wax 04:36 — Why using a catechism to preach isn't as unusual as it sounds 05:33 — The pulpit vs. the altar: why preaching is central to Protestant worship 07:20 — A brief history of preaching styles, from the Puritans to Piper, Keller, and MacArthur 09:08 — Defining expository preaching and its different forms 11:18 — The strengths and blind spots of verse-by-verse exposition 14:39 — In defense of good topical preaching 16:24 — Why a well-done topical series can take 40–50 hours to prepare 19:52 — How Mark builds the preaching calendar: book-by-book plus liturgical seasons 22:39 — Why The Gospel Way Catechism is a hybrid approach — and why that matters 24:07 — Mark's heart behind it all: guarding the gospel and preaching the full counsel of God Resources The Gospel Way: A Catechism by Trevin Wax and Thomas WestThe Gospel Way Catechism for Kids by Trevin Wax and Thomas WestCornerstone Sermons: Listen Online Ask Mark a Question! Suggest a topic or question for Mark to discuss on a future episode of the Equip Podcast!

  5. Aug 13

    Ask Mark Anything: Dating Age Gaps, The Shroud of Turin & More

    In this Ask Mark Anything episode of the Equip Podcast, Emily puts Mark in the hot seat for a round of listener questions kicked off with a back-to-school theme. From dating age gaps and spiritual readiness, to the Shroud of Turin and relics, to prayer for the sick and getting the most out of a sermon, Mark and Emily work through it all with a mix of humor and biblical grounding. Episode Highlights 01:33 — The most satisfying new school supply: pencils, pens, and Trapper Keepers 03:14 — What age gap is too big when dating? 06:52 — Has the advice on spiritual growth before dating flipped, and why? 12:24 — Proofs of Christianity, relics, and the Shroud of Turin 16:44 — What relics actually are, and why the ancient and medieval church was drawn to them 19:44 — Should Christians build their faith on the Shroud of Turin? 20:35 — Why doesn't Cornerstone use healing oils or pray publicly for the sick during the service? 21:02 — Walking through James 5 on prayer, anointing with oil, and healing 23:00 — Why healing prayer isn't treated as a central part of the corporate gathering 26:01 — How to get more out of the sermon each week 28:52 — Preparing your heart before the sermon: coming to hear a word from the King Resources Cornerstone Sermons: Listen OnlineThe Reason for God by Tim KellerEvidence That Demands a Verdict by Josh McDowell Ask Mark a Question! Suggest a topic or question for Mark to discuss on a future episode of the Equip Podcast!

  6. Aug 6

    The Church Is the Answer to Iowa's Foster Care Crisis with Mel Pearson

    In this episode of the Equip Podcast, Mark Vance sits down with Mel Pearson, who leads City Ministry at Cornerstone Church, to talk about the real state of foster care in Iowa right now, and why it should matter deeply to Christians. Mel shares her own family's unglamorized journey into foster care, the theology behind caring for the vulnerable, and how a new initiative called The Table Project is working to change the system one family, one church, and one child at a time. Episode Highlights 00:31 — Introducing Mel Pearson 01:18 — Why should Christians care about the vulnerable beyond their own families? 03:10 — The overwhelming needs in Iowa: foster care and schools under strain 05:05 — Mel and Bryan's honest, unglamorized story of getting into foster care 07:25 — Deglamorizing foster care: the hard, unseen realities behind it 08:56 — Clinging to a Savior who moved toward hard places 10:53 — Philippians 3: knowing Christ through the fellowship of suffering 11:36 — Practical ways to get involved at different seasons of life 13:00 — Care communities: how support raises foster family retention from 50% to 98% 14:16 — Kids in the river: moving from crisis response to prevention 16:49 — The scope of the crisis: Iowa has 30% more foster care calls than available homes 19:46 — What is The Table Project? Faith-based, pre-licensure foster care training 24:06 — How to get involved Resources Cornerstone Sermons: Listen OnlineThe Table Project — TableProject.orgLunch and Learn — August 16th at Cornerstone (RSVP Here)Wildwood Collective Ask Mark a Question! Suggest a topic or question for Mark to discuss on a future episode of the Equip Podcast!

  7. Jul 30

    21 Days of Prayer: Praying for a Move of God This Fall

    In this episode of the Equip Podcast, Mark and Emily introduce 21 Days of Prayer, a church-wide season of focused, kingdom-centered prayer leading into the fall semester. They talk through why prayer matters even though God already knows our needs, what makes "kingdom-centered intercession" different from ordinary requests, and practical boosters to help sustain a rich prayer life. Episode Highlights 00:39 — Casting the vision of 21 Days of Prayer 02:08 — Setting aside focused seasons of prayer, like fasting, to tune the heart 03:13 — Why pray if God already knows our needs? Three reasons: for God, for us, and for movement 05:06 — Introducing the 21 Days of Prayer tradition at Cornerstone 06:32 — Guarding against self-centered prayer by praying for the nations 07:13 — Types of prayer in the Psalms and the shift toward kingdom-centered intercession 08:12 — Kingdom-centered intercession: praying boldly in the authority of Jesus 09:34 — A simple pattern: kingdom authority plus a specific need 11:18 — How specific should our prayers be? 12:23 — Praying by name and by place to make prayer concrete 15:36 — Four prayer boosters: fasting, walking, community, and timing 20:05 — How to join 21 Days of Prayer and get daily text prompts Resources Cornerstone Sermons: Listen OnlineReceive 21 Days of Prayer Prompts: Text 'PRAY' to 515-232-5488 Ask Mark a Question! Suggest a topic or question for Mark to discuss on a future episode of the Equip Podcast!

  8. Jul 22

    Sins We Tolerate: Sins of the Tongue

    In the final part of the Sins We Tolerate series, Mark and Emily tackle a sin so common we barely notice it: the sins of the tongue. They unpack why our words are never neutral, always spilling out of what's really in our hearts, walk through a practical four-question test for evaluating what we say, and point to the only real hope for taming something James says is more untamable than a wild animal. Episode Highlights 01:18 — Introducing today's topic: sins of the tongue 02:00 — Defining sins of the tongue: the wide range of speech Proverbs addresses 03:26 — From criticism and gossip to slander: sins of the tongue rooted in pride 03:42 — James 3: the tongue as a "world of unrighteousness," harder to tame than any wild animal 04:24 — Life and death are in the power of the tongue: how words make and break relationships 06:49 — Remembering the gospel: our words are the overflow of the heart (Luke 6:45) 08:03 — The "full cup" analogy: whatever is inside spills out when we're jostled 10:49 — The hope of the gospel: becoming people whose words reflect Christ, even under pressure 13:34 — The "Can I Say That?" test: is it true, is it helpful, is it humble, is it wise? 17:31 — Real-life application: parenting teenagers and building up a spouse's dreams 21:28 — Fleeing sins of the tongue: fear of the Lord and giving an account for every careless word 24:38 — Practices to feed the spirit: praising, praying, and singing out loud 26:11 — Mark's lifetime goal to speak fewer words every year 27:07 — Closing thoughts: four respectable sins, one gospel invitation to change Resources Cornerstone Sermons: Listen OnlineRespectable Sins by Jerry Bridges Ask Mark a Question! Suggest a topic or question for Mark to discuss on a future episode of the Equip Podcast!

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4.8
out of 5
120 Ratings

About

Produced by Cornerstone Church of Ames, The Equip Podcast is designed to provide insight, resources and Biblical wisdom to help us live faithful and fruitful lives together. 

Information

  • Creator
    Cornerstone Church of Ames
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    351
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Cornerstone Church of Ames
  • Show Website
    Equip Podcast

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