April update

April 15, 2010

Dear Ministry Partners and Friends:

Jesus once said, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him” (John 9:3). Nothing is easy or pleasant about physical trials and sickness. But Jesus was clear that sometimes he uses these so that he might be put on display.

So it was yesterday with a local resident who has been battling a terrible case of H1N1 for a few months now. Bryan got the call from a mutual friend: “Hey Bryan, I know Cornerstone meets just down the street from them. Would you guys be willing to introduce yourselves and go minister to them in their trial?”

Soon after, some of the Cornerstone ladies rallied, and four days later, a few of us walked nervously excited up to their log cabin, with quiches, casseroles, and jambalaya in hand. “Wow, I’m never going to have to cook again,” the couple said, quietly surprised.

As we’ve mentioned in past letters, it has not been easy reaching this area. Nothing is more relevant than laboring to put the works of Jesus on display. Nothing is more joyful than scattering seed for the gospel.

Speaking of the gospel, I began the day in a somewhat indifferent demeanor towards the Lord as I struggled to drag myself out of bed. I took Jerry Bridges’ advice, sat down with my Bible, and preached the gospel to myself. God graciously and swiftly calibrated my spirit in a way that only he can do.

Soon after, I was meeting with a mature brother in the Lord to work through some struggles. It wasn’t a “deeper” doctrine nor practical advice that gave him lift-off in his walk; it was the gospel.

Two hours later, while eating a turkey-bacon-asiago sandwich with a guy who is new to our congregation, we were speaking on how he has been struggling for some time in the throes of life. To what did we turn for fresh wind from heaven? You guessed it: the gospel.

Nothing launches our souls from the dregs of indifference and struggle than the gospel: though we are justly condemned before holy God for our sin, God astonishingly condescended to become a human, Jesus Christ. In a majestic display of obedience to God the Father, Jesus lived the perfect life we could not, then topped it off by absorbing the penalty of our sin on the cross so that we might be forgiven and counted as cherished children of God for all eternity by faith in Christ.

Whether we’ve never heard of Jesus, or have been walking with him for decades, the gospel is what lights up the soul. It is the gospel that saves and it is the gospel that sanctifies.

And so we hobble along with gospel ministry as the snow melts and grass begins to show. Here is a look of other happenings:

God continues to challenge us all through our weekly small groups. These have been a huge joy to the congregation in growing together. Recently, while speaking about evangelism at one group, a guy exclaimed in excitement, “We just have to talk to everybody!” Amen.

One way in which we are working to reach out to the community is through a biblical counseling ministry. We recently had the opportunity to sit down with the director of the county DUI/Drug Court Program so that Cornerstone might integrate into their counseling plan. The director extended an offering to possibly speak on faith-based counseling at the state court counseling conference in September.

As we seek to daily be ambassadors for Christ, God never ceases to bring us to situations in which we are beyond our powers and abilities. Please join us in prayer for the following:

1. Thank God for the ways in which he is transforming us into Christlikeness. Evidence of his work is on display in the lives of many here (Colossians 1:28-29).

2. That all of Cornerstone would be more motivated and governed by, in every detail of our lives, Jesus Christ and his love (2 Corinthians 5:14-15).

3. That we would increase daily in the true knowledge of Jesus Christ; not just knowledge about Jesus, but knowledge of him (2 Peter 1:3).

4. That the gospel would not only saturate our message, but our church culture, and in every one of our lives, would paint a picture of Christ’s love and grace (John 13:34-35).

5. That we all would be humble, teachable, and in growth-mode, being transformed constantly by the word of God, eager to change into Christ more and more (Romans 12:2).

6. That we all, especially the leadership, would put our hope in Jesus and not ministry results (Psalm 27:14).

7. That God would be transforming the leadership of Cornerstone into Christ-like, wise, humble, competent shepherds, broken over our sin (Psalm 51:17), and having a great love for the flock (1 Peter 5:2-3).

8. That God would allow Cornerstone to get integrated into the Teton County counseling program.

9. That God would break through the hardened hearts here and even save people this month through us; that we would be more faithful to love the lost in evangelism; for God to overcome our fear of man with a radical fear of him (2 Corinthians 5:20).

10. That God would grow us to be disciple-making disciples (Matthew 28:18-20, 2 Timothy 2:2).

11. For God to provide jobs for a handful of college students who are planning on joining us for the summer (Psalm 34:10).

12. Pray for the marriages and families, for Christ-like love toward one another and wisdom in raising our children (Ephesians 5:25, 6:4).

Your financial gifts continue to be a needed blessing as we pray toward becoming a self-supporting church by 2011. In the meantime, if you would like to team up with us financially, please make checks out to “Cornerstone Church.” All of your offerings are tax-deductible and may be mailed to: Cornerstone Church, P.O. Box 980, Wilson, Wyoming, 83014.

For the advancement of the gospel,
Eric, on behalf of the Jackson Hole church plant team: Leslie, Matt, Sera, Bryan, Ashley, Chris, Rebecca, Melissa, and Neill

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