Author Archives: cornerstonepreschurch

Mercy in Action (Rev. Isaac Lee)
Scripture Reading: 1 John 3:16-18
Week of March 15, 2026

Sermon Summary:
Today, all Christians are called to love one another. Love is not merely a feeling but a self-giving commitment that seeks the good of others, even at personal cost. Scripture consistently teaches this—from the command in Leviticus 19:18 to Jesus’ words in John 13:34–35. The clearest example of love is Jesus Christ, who laid down His life for us. Because Christ loved us sacrificially, believers are called to imitate that love in everyday life. Practically, this means caring for fellow believers who are in need and refusing to “close our hearts” to them. Reluctance to show mercy often reveals deeper heart issues such as trusting in money, comfort, or control. The solution is to look again to Christ’s sacrificial love, which transforms our hearts and moves us to acts of mercy, generosity, and service toward others.

Sermon Discussion Questions
Getting Started:

1. What is one encouragement, challenge, or truth that spoke to you as you listened to the sermon?
2. What does John use as the example to define love? What action did Jesus take that demonstrates love?

Digging Deeper:

3. Do you struggle with helping others in need? Why do you sometimes struggle to help others even when they clearly see a need? What are the excuses that you make? And what does it reveal about your heart?
4. How does Jesus’ example shape our understanding of what it means to “lay down our lives” for others?
5. What are is one practical way you can show mercy to someone this week?

Prayer:

6. Pray for one another.

The Gospel is on the Move! (Rev. Isaac Lee)
Scripture Reading: Acts 8:1-8
Week of March 1, 2026

Sermon Summary:
Acts 8:1-8 shows how God advances His gospel through tragedy and persecution. The martyrdom of Stephen appeared to be a devastating loss for the early church, yet it became the catalyst for gospel expansion. A great persecution arose, led in part by Saul, and believers were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. This dispersion fulfilled Jesus’ promise in Acts 1:8 that His witnesses would go beyond Jerusalem. As they scattered, ordinary believers preached the word, demonstrating that gospel proclamation is not limited to apostles or leaders but belongs to all Christians. Philip’s ministry in Samaria further revealed that the gospel crosses ethnic and cultural barriers, bringing deliverance and great joy. From this passage come two central truths: nothing can stop God’s sovereign plan, and every believer is called to participate in it. What appears to be a setback may be God’s means of spreading His saving purposes to the world.

Sermon Discussion Questions
Getting Started:

1. What is one encouragement, challenge, or truth that spoke to you as you listened to the sermon?
2. If Christ used persecution to advance His mission, what does that tell us about His sovereignty?

Digging Deeper:

3. Acts 8 shows that ordinary believers—not just apostles—preached the word. How does this challenge common assumptions about who is responsible for evangelism today?
4. Philip went to Samaria despite the tension between Israel and Samaria. Who might be the “unlikely” people in our lives that we hesitate to share the gospel with?
5. The scattered believers shared the word wherever they went. What would it look like for us to participate in that this week? What is one specific, practical step you could take this week to begin sharing Christ with someone God has placed in your life?

Prayer:

6. Pray for one another.

The Habit of Hosting (Rev. Eddie Pyun)
Scripture Reading: Luke 14:12-14
Week of February 15, 2026

Sermon Discussion Questions
Getting Started:

1. What is one encouragement, challenge, or truth that spoke to you as you listened to the sermon?
2. What specific instructions does Jesus give about whom to invite to a meal? What kinds of people does Jesus say not to prioritize inviting, and what kinds of people does Jesus say should be invited instead?
3. What specifically does Jesus highlight about the poor, crippled, lame, and blind as the reason to invite them?

Digging Deeper:

4. Who are the people we tend to “invite” into our lives, activities, and homes? What are some of the “benefits” that we get from them?
5. What are some practical ways we can show hospitality and welcome to strangers, newcomers, or people who cannot “repay” us?
6. How does Jesus’ grace toward us motivate us to extend grace to others?

Prayer:

7. Pray for the pastoral search.
   • Pray for the church that we would wait well upon the Lord, grow in grace and unity, trust in His perfect timing, and use this season intentionally to be a blessing and encouragement to the pastor the Lord is preparing for us.
   • Pray for the candidate the Lord is preparing that he would be a man of godly character, faithful in ministry, and rich in wisdom and humility. That he would love Christ deeply and shepherd God’s people well—as a pastor, and, if applicable, as a husband, father, and friend.
   • Pray for the leadership of Cornerstone that they would be sustained by the Lord, seek His wisdom in every decision, and be discerning and faithful as they lead the church through this season.
   • Pray for our current pastors thankfulness for their efforts, time and devotion to the church, for their continued growth and flourishing—personally and vocationally—and that they would be strengthened and encouraged in the work the Lord has set before them.
8. Pray for one another.

The Habit of Giving (Rev. Eddie Pyun)
Scripture Reading: Mark 12:41-44
Week of February 1, 2026

Sermon Discussion Questions
Getting Started:

1. What is one encouragement, challenge, or truth that spoke to you as you listened to the sermon?
2. How much does the poor widow give compared to the many rich people? What does this tell you about the widow?
3. Why do you think Jesus calls this widow’s gift “more” when it is clearly less in amount?

Digging Deeper:

4. What makes it hard to be consistent in giving month to month or week to week? What emotions tend to surface when you think about giving—joy, fear, hesitation, excitement, something else? Why?
5. Can you share a time when giving required you to trust God in a tangible way?
6. How does Jesus becoming poor for our sake reshape the way you think about tithing? How does reflecting on what Christ has given you shape the way you think about money?

Prayer:

7. Pray for the pastoral search.
   • Pray for the church that we would wait well upon the Lord, grow in grace and unity, trust in His perfect timing, and use this season intentionally to be a blessing and encouragement to the pastor the Lord is preparing for us.
   • Pray for the candidate the Lord is preparing that he would be a man of godly character, faithful in ministry, and rich in wisdom and humility. That he would love Christ deeply and shepherd God’s people well—as a pastor, and, if applicable, as a husband, father, and friend.
   • Pray for the leadership of Cornerstone that they would be sustained by the Lord, seek His wisdom in every decision, and be discerning and faithful as they lead the church through this season.
   • Pray for our current pastors thankfulness for their efforts, time and devotion to the church, for their continued growth and flourishing—personally and vocationally—and that they would be strengthened and encouraged in the work the Lord has set before them.
8. Pray for one another.

The Habit of Praying (Rev. Eddie Pyun)
Scripture Reading: Mark 1:35-39
Week of January 18, 2026

Sermon Summary:
This sermon reflects on Jesus’ example of prayer in Mark 1:35–39, showing that prayer is not an optional extra but a vital expression of dependence on God. Paul’s call to “pray without ceasing” is understood not as constant verbal prayer, but as living every moment in conscious fellowship with the Father. Jesus models this by withdrawing to a desolate place to pray precisely when ministry and demands increase. The sermon challenges the idea that prayer is unproductive, emphasizing instead that while prayer may not check off our to-do lists, it entrusts our work and lives to God’s care. Listeners are encouraged to find a “desolate place” and protected time for prayer, especially in the morning, and to come to Jesus in their busyness, trusting in his grace rather than their performance.

Sermon Discussion Questions
Getting Started:

1. What is one encouragement, challenge, or truth that spoke to you as you listened to the sermon?
2. How is Jesus’s movement described in verse 35? What does this sequence emphasize?
3. What words or phrases stand out in the disciples’ statement, “Everyone is looking for you” (v. 37)? What does that reveal about the situation?

Digging Deeper:

4. Martin Luther said, “I have so much to do that I shall spend the first three hours in prayer.” Prayer is one of the first things to get pushed aside when life gets busy? Why do you think that is?
5. In what areas of your life right now are you most tempted to rely on your own strength rather than bringing things to God in prayer?
6. What is usually the first thing you reach for in the morning, and how does that shape the rest of your day? How might your day look different if prayer, even briefly, came before email, news, or social media?
7. How does knowing that Jesus was perfectly prayerful in your place change the way you approach your own struggles with prayer?

Prayer:

8. Pray for one another.

Take-Home Gospel (Rev. Eddie Pyun)
Scripture Reading: Ephesians 6:1-9
Week of December 14, 2025

Sermon Summary:
This sermon reflects on God’s design for families, focusing on the mutual responsibilities of children and parents under Christ (Ephesians 6:1–4). Children are called to obey and honor their parents “in the Lord,” not because parents are always right, but because obedience glorifies God and is part of His wise design for life. While there are rare exceptions when obedience would require sin, most disobedience flows from pride rather than necessity. Parents, in turn, are warned not to provoke their children to anger, but to raise them with discipline and instruction shaped by the gospel. Christian parenting rejects anger-driven control and instead models humility, repentance, and submission to Christ. The sermon emphasizes that the most influential factor in children persevering in faith is seeing genuine, practiced faith at home. Ultimately, both parents and children are pointed to Jesus, whose grace covers failure and empowers faithful, loving family life.

Sermon Discussion Questions
Getting Started:

1. What is one encouragement, challenge, or truth that spoke to you as you listened to the sermon?

Digging Deeper:

2. What makes it difficult to obey or honor our parents, especially when we think they are wrong, and how does obedience “in the Lord” reshape the way we think about submission?
3. In what ways can parental authority unintentionally provoke children to anger, and how does the gospel call parents to exercise authority differently?
4. What does it practically look like for parents to model repentance, humility, and dependence on Christ in everyday family life?
5. How does Ephesians 5:22-6:9 shape the way we relate to authority, care for others, and live out our faith within the family of God?

Prayer:

6. Pray for one another.

Put on the New Self (Rev. Isaac Lee)
Scripture Reading: Ephesians 4:17-5:2
Week of November 16, 2025

Sermon Summary:
In Ephesians 4:17-5:2, Paul explains that believers must no longer walk as the Gentiles do but instead put off the old self, be renewed in their minds, and put on the new self. This renewed life shows itself in speaking truthfully, practicing righteous anger without sin, working honestly to give to those in need, using words that build up rather than tear down, and putting away bitterness, wrath, slander, and all malice. These commands promote unity within the body of Christ. Though challenging, we obey by remembering what Christ has done for us – His kindness, compassion, and forgiveness – and by imitating His sacrificial love. As God’s beloved children, we walk in love toward God and one another.

Sermon Discussion Questions
Getting Started:

1. As you read this passage through, what stands out to you in this passage?
2. What was most challenging, helpful, or troubling in the sermon?

Digging Deeper:

3. Which of Paul’s commands – truthful speech, righteous anger, generosity, wholesome words, or putting away malice – felt most convicting to you and why?
4. How have you seen dishonest or “rotten” talk harm unity in relationships or in the church?
5. What helps you recognize when righteous anger is beginning to turn into sinful anger?
6. How does Paul’s instruction about honest work reshaping thieves into givers challenge your understanding of work and generosity?

Prayer:

7. Pray for one another.

The Limitless Love of God (Rev. Eddie Pyun)
Scripture Reading: Ephesians 3:14-21
Week of November 2, 2025

Sermon Summary:
Ephesians 3:14–21 explores how Christians live in the “gap” between God’s promises and our present reality—the tension between the already and the not yet. Paul’s prayer shows how God equips us to live in this in-between time. First, we are strengthened by the Spirit, as Christ dwells in our hearts and renews us from within. Second, we are to know the limitless love of Christ, a love so vast it surpasses knowledge yet anchors and satisfies our deepest needs. Third, we are to be filled with all the fullness of God, as Christ fills every emptiness and meets every longing in us. Paul concludes with a doxology, reminding us that God can do far more abundantly than we ask or imagine. Living in the gap, we hold fast to His love and power, trusting that His promises are not too good to be true.

Sermon Discussion Questions
Getting Started:

1. What stands out to you about the way Paul begins his prayer in verse 14 (“For this reason I bow my knees before the Father”)? What does this reveal about his posture toward God?
2. What are the three things that Paul prays for?

Digging Deeper:

3. The sermon said that when Christ dwells in our hearts, He “settles down” and begins to renovate the mess inside us. What areas of your life or heart still feel like a “fixer-upper”? What might it mean for you to invite Christ to dwell and work there, rather than simply visit?
4. When you think about the phrase “to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge,” how have you experienced that love in your life?
5. The sermon described God filling our “gaps” — our emptiness, sin, or unmet desires — with Himself. What gaps do you sense in your life right now? How might being “filled with all the fullness of God” reshape how you understand satisfaction, purpose, or healing?

Prayer:

6. Pray for one another.

How Jesus Breaks Down to Build Up (Rev. Eddie Pyun)
Scripture Reading: Ephesians 2:11-22
Week of October 19, 2025

Sermon Summary:
Sin separates us—from God and from one another. C.S. Lewis’s The Great Divorce pictures hell as endless isolation, and Scripture shows that life apart from Christ feels much the same. In Ephesians 2:11–22, Paul reminds us that before Christ, we were far from God and his people. But through Jesus’s blood, those who were far off have been brought near. Jesus breaks down the dividing wall of hostility between Jews and Gentiles, creating one new people—his church. He is not only the wall-breaker but also the builder, uniting believers as members of God’s household, built on Christ the cornerstone. Because Jesus has made peace, we are called to live as peacemakers, to bridge differences, and to welcome others as Christ has welcomed us. The church is a diverse yet unified family, a living temple where God dwells by his Spirit.

Sermon Discussion Questions
Getting Started:

1. What does Paul mean when he says we were “far off” before knowing Christ?
2. How does Jesus “break down the dividing wall of hostility”?
3. In what ways does this passage show that the gospel is not just about our relationship with God, but also our relationships with others?

Digging Deeper:

4. In what ways do you see people today still defining themselves—or others—by worldly distinctions (ethnicity, culture, background, politics)? How does this mirror the Jew–Gentile divide?
5. The gospel not only reconciles us to God but also through Christ to one another. How does understanding this dual reconciliation deepen your grasp of what salvation means?
6. Where might God be calling you to pursue reconciliation this week?

Prayer:

7. Pray for unity in the church.
8. Pray for one another.