Equip Podcast

Cornerstone Church of Ames
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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. 4d ago

    Essentials of the Local Church: Prayer

    In this episode of the Essentials of the Local Church series, Mark and Emily get personal about prayer: naming the excuses, fears, and false theology that keep even seasoned believers from a vibrant prayer life. They unpack why prayer flows from who God is rather than how eloquently we speak to him, and Mark closes with news of upcoming nights of prayer and worship at Cornerstone. Episode Highlights 00:59 — Why prayer is hard even when we know we're supposed to do it 01:17 — Mark: What prayerlessness reveals about the heart 02:00 — Two things prayerlessness exposes: self-sufficiency and a distant view of God 04:01 — A hard confession about the American church's prayerlessness, compared to believers in Africa 05:41 — The theology question underneath it all: do you believe God actually wants to give you what you need? 06:02 — Why the first thing you think of about God shapes your entire prayer life 06:35 — The Lord's Prayer: coming to a Father who is both holy and generous 09:00 — "Start with God": prayer flows from who you're talking to, not how you talk 09:26 — Emily: Losing childlike softness with God as life gets busier and more task-driven 11:53 — Why Jesus ties real prayer to childlike dependence 13:14 — Emily: God doesn't need a "put-together" church, he wants a praying one 13:54 — Romans 8 and the Spirit of adoption crying out "Abba, Father" 16:17 — Why it's worth praying "awkwardly" instead of staying comfortable and silent 18:34 — Announcing upcoming nights of prayer and worship at Cornerstone Resources Cornerstone 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. Sep 10

    Essentials of the Local Church: Gathering on Sundays

    In this episode of the Essentials of the Local Church series, Mark and Emily dig into a question every Christian eventually asks: why do we actually gather on Sundays, and what makes that gathering distinctly biblical rather than just a cultural habit? They unpack the difference between what Scripture commands and what it simply describes, walk through the non-negotiable essentials of a healthy church gathering, and make the case for why showing up in person still matters in a digital, AI-saturated world. Episode Highlights 00:27 — Continuing the Essentials of the Local Church series: why we gather on Sunday 00:59 — Prescriptive vs. descriptive: not everything the early church did is a command for us 01:40 — The "casting out demons" test for telling command apart from example 03:03 — Reading the whole New Testament together instead of proof-texting single examples 03:32 — Transcultural essentials vs. the culturally shaped ways churches gather 04:21 — Language, buildings, and church merch: culturally fine vs. actually anti-biblical 06:39 — The essentials: the Word, worship, and prayer when the church gathers 08:16 — The ordinances: baptism as initiation, communion as ongoing remembrance 09:09 — Spiritual gifts and the tangible sense that God is present when his people gather 09:54 — Why gathering is vertical before it's horizontal 14:53 — What embodied gathering offers that even the best sermon on YouTube can't 16:40 — Supplement, not substitute: using online church well 19:10 — "Get to church": real compassion for real barriers, no patience for excuses 20:21 — Why the "weaker" parts of the body are indispensable to the gathering 21:44 — Come to give, not just to receive — and watch for the person sitting alone Resources Cornerstone Connection GroupsCornerstone 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. Sep 3

    Essentials of the Local Church: Gospel Friendship

    In this first episode of a new series, Essentials of the Local Church, Mark and Emily introduce the "why" behind the series and dig into the first essential: Gospel Friendship. They explore why church practices can feel strange in a post-Christian culture, unpack some of the New Testament's 50+ "one another" commands, and get practical about how to actually build gospel friendships as a busy adult. Episode Highlights 01:52 — Why the Christian life was never meant to be a solo sport 02:35 — Why churchy practices like potlucks and baptism can feel strange today 03:22 — An ancient accusation: why outsiders mocked early Christian "love feasts" 04:13 — Defining gospel friendship, and what makes it different from a regular friendship 06:26 — The New Testament's "one another" commands 08:13 — The real barrier to friendship: what we treasure over people 09:02 — How individualistic modern life works against community, from garages to Bowling Alone 11:52 — Two first steps for finding a gospel friend 14:38 — Resetting expectations for what a small group actually feels like 16:47 — Falling in love with the idea of friendship vs. loving the real, flawed person in front of you 19:39 — Three ways to keep pursuing friendship as life gets busier 22:33 — Seeing people as image bearers instead of interruptions Resources Cornerstone Sermons: Listen OnlineBowling Alone by Robert D. PutnamThe Art of One-Anothering: How the Church Loves Like Christ — Desiring GodCornerstone Groups Ask Mark a Question! Suggest a topic or question for Mark to discuss on a future episode of the Equip Podcast!

  4. Aug 27

    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 WaxConfessions by AugustineOrthodoxy by G.K. ChestertonThe Screwtape Letters by C.S. LewisThe Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor DostoevskyThe Resurrection of the Son of God by N.T. WrightCornerstone 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 27

    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!

  6. Aug 25 ·  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!

  7. 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!

  8. 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!

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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
    354
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Cornerstone Church of Ames
  • Show Website
    Equip Podcast

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