Sermons

Cornerstone Church: Warwick, RI

Sermons

  1. MAR 29

    Our Gentle Savior

    This morning we observed Palm Sunday by considering the “Triumphal Entry” of Jesus, where He entered Jerusalem surrounded by excited onlookers, hailing Him as King. It was a sort of royal coronation as, in that moment, the people recognized His right to the throne of Israel. They shouted out with great enthusiams, “Hosanna to the Son of David; Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD; Hosanna in the highest!” (21:9). One of the remarkable things about this event was its display of divine gentleness. In unique and stunning fashion, and in fulfillment of prophecy (cf. Zech 9:9), Jesus rode into town on that day “gentle, and mounted on a donkey” (21:5). The same Christ who created all things and who sustains all things and who had recently demonstrated His divine power through many miracles, even raising one man from the dead (cf. John 11), chose the most lowly and humble way to show Himself that day. In a world full of people impressed with feats of strength, Jesus demonstrated astounding gentleness. Surrounded by people naturally obsessed with making themselves a big deal, Jesus made Himself a small deal. And, in a moment of divinely granted clarity, some people in the crowd recognized that humility as glorious and as a sign of true royalty. Thus, they hailed Him as their King. Meanwhile, the Pharisees who were outraged by the whole thing, implored Jesus, “Rebuke your disciples.” To which He responded, “If these become silent, the stones will cry out!” (Luke 19:39-40).

  2. MAR 22

    Gospel Clarity for a World in Conflict, Part 2

    In a world filled with conflict, there is no shortage of blame. Each person is convinced of their own righteousness, yet only God is perfectly righteous and pure in His motives. While God may use human agents to accomplish His purposes, wherever people are involved, sin, selfishness, and brokenness are present. In such a world, the book of Jeremiah offers a wise approach to life: live life freely where God has placed you, seek the good of your community, and remember that true hope and restoration come from God alone (Jeremiah 29:4–14). The book of James further reveals that external conflicts are not merely circumstantial, but flow from deeper internal struggles within the human heart (James 4:1–3). Nowhere is this inner conflict more evident than in those who experience war. Even when a service member fights in a just cause under proper authority, the tension between duty and conscience can leave lasting wounds. These unseen struggles—often described as moral injury—reflect a deeper conflict within the soul. At times, obedience to authority requires actions that carry lifelong weight. Yet these wounds are not beyond healing. The God who makes all things new cares deeply for those whose souls are in turmoil and brings true restoration. If we long to see peace in the world around us, we must first recognize the war within us. Lasting peace begins not on the battlefield, but in the human heart—through the transforming work of the Prince of Peace.

  3. FEB 22

    May God Equip You

    As the author of Hebrews brings his letter of exhortation to a close, he ends with a wishful yet confident plea, like a prayer, that God will equip His people for the challenges before them. Contrary to what his readers may have been tempted to think, trusting in the simple realities of the Gospel—which he has unfolded for them throughout the book—provided their greatest security in an insecure world. There was no true help to be found in returning to Judaism or any of its traditions or associations. They were instead fully supplied through the finished work of Christ alone. While singular trust in Him may have seemed too simple, or worse yet, too passive, it was actually the key to a life of fruitfulness, well-pleasing to God. Likewise today, the all-sufficiency of Who Jesus is for us and what He has done for us does not render us lazy, fruitless, or ill-equipped for life's challenges, but renders us productive, fruitful, and fully equipped for them. It is a guarantee, settled within the everlasting covenant God has established with His people through the blood of Christ. It is Jesus' sacrifice for us, not our sacrifices for Him, that ultimately secures us in this world. More than anything else, learning of this security is what God uses to produce fruitfulness that brings good to us and glory to Him. Like the author of Hebrews, we can trust God to “equip [us] in every good thing to do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever” (v. 21).

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

Sermons