Cornerstone Baptist Church of Fort Worth, Texas

In our culture drowning in information and opinions, we're starving for something real—authentic transformation that actually changes lives. This exploration of Titus confronts us with a crucial question: Is Christianity just religious information, or does it produce genuine life transformation? We discover that Paul's letter to Titus wasn't written to people who'd never heard the Gospel, but to churches filled with believers still being shaped more by their culture than by the Holy Spirit. Sound familiar? The Cretan culture was notorious for lying, greed, and treachery—they even worshiped Zeus, a god known for deception and unfaithfulness. Into this context, Paul introduces a revolutionary concept: a God who cannot lie, who is completely trustworthy, whose promises are absolutely sure. But here's the challenge—if we truly believe Christianity is true, we must allow its effects to go all the way to completion, creating Christ-like people in our lives. Salvation isn't just a passport to heaven; it's the beginning of a transformation process. The world isn't asking if Christianity is true—they're asking if it actually does anything. When they see Christians whose lives have genuinely changed, whose homes reflect peace instead of chaos, whose integrity stands in stark contrast to cultural norms, Christianity becomes irresistible. This isn't about perfect performance; it's about allowing the Holy Spirit to finish what He started in us, becoming living advertisements for the power of God’s grace.

This message confronts a truth many of us discover as we mature in faith: spiritual life isn't about dramatic beginnings but faithful endurance. We've all experienced those powerful moments—the emotional altar call, the transformative camp experience, the conference that reignited our passion—but the real test comes in the ordinary days that follow. Drawing from Philippians 1:6, we're reminded that God who began a good work in us will carry it to completion. This isn't motivational rhetoric; it's theological bedrock. The grammar itself reveals that God is the active subject—He begins, He continues, He completes. Our spiritual lives aren't held together by our consistency but by God's faithfulness. For those feeling spiritually unfinished or behind, this is liberating news: unfinished doesn't mean failed. God is more committed to our growth than we are to our own development. Like parents who double down when their children struggle, our Heavenly Father intensifies His involvement precisely when we feel weakest. The challenge for this year isn't to muster more willpower but to trust that invisible progress is still real progress, and that God's grip on us is stronger than our grip on Him.

This message invites us into a profound truth that challenges our culture's obsession with instant success: formation always precedes mission. Drawing from Luke 2:40-52, we delve into the reality that Jesus Christ Himself spent thirty years in obscurity before launching His public ministry. These weren't wasted years—they were divine preparation. The summary of Christ's hidden years is stunning in its simplicity: He grew, became strong, was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon Him. What does this mean for us? It means that the seasons we're tempted to label as delay or wasted time are actually God's classroom. Whether we're in our twenties feeling impatient to launch our dreams, or in our sixties sensing urgency to finish strong, God is forming us through every ordinary moment. The workplace that feels mundane, the family responsibilities that seem repetitive, the quiet faithfulness when no one is watching—these are the very places where God shapes us for His purposes. We learn that obscurity isn't insignificance; it's preparation. Just as Moses spent forty years as a shepherd before delivering Israel, and David tended sheep before shepherding a nation, our unseen years are building the spiritual strength, wisdom, and character we'll need for what's ahead. The beautiful paradox is this: God is never late with His purpose, and He's always precise with His preparation.

Join us as we focus on the purpose of Christ coming to Earth.

Join us as we celebrate Christmas with this final advent sermon on love.

Join us as Pastor Herrell continues our advent series with this teaching on joy.

Join us as we celebrate the advent season and Pastor Herrell teaches on what peace really means.

This powerful message meets us right where many of us find ourselves—running on empty, with our reservoir of hope depleted. It's not about depression or falling apart, but about that subtle weariness that comes from pushing through uncertainty, waiting for pieces to fall into place, finding more problems than solutions. The core revelation here is transformative: hope is not something we manufacture through willpower or positive thinking, but something God gives us. Drawing from Romans 15, we discover that authentic, durable hope flows from God's promises in Scripture, particularly the Old Testament prophecies that laid the foundation for Christmas long before Bethlehem. From Genesis 3:15, where God immediately promised redemption to fallen humanity, through Isaiah's prophecy of light dawning in darkness, to Micah's unexpected announcement about insignificant Bethlehem, we see a pattern: God brings hope into our darkest moments, from unlikely places, through quiet circumstances we barely notice at the time. The Christmas story isn't tribal or seasonal—it's universal hope for all humanity. When we feel we need to get our lives together before approaching God, Genesis 3 shouts the opposite: God meets us in our failure, speaks hope into moments where we expect judgment, and initiates redemption when we're hiding in shame. This Advent season invites us to stop surviving December and instead let it become the launching pad for everything God wants to do in our lives.

Romans 12 confronts us with a challenging truth: spiritual transformation doesn't happen by accident. Just as someone can't get physically fit by merely holding a gym membership, we can't experience genuine life change by casually attending church once a week. This passage calls us beyond being spectators of spiritual things to becoming active participants in God's transformative work. The core message centers on presenting ourselves as living sacrifices. This must be a complete, comprehensive commitment where we sign over the title of our lives to God. This isn't about behavior modification or trying harder; it's about spirit-empowered metamorphosis. The same life, but with entirely new possibilities and abilities to experience God's kingdom. We're challenged to refuse conformity to the world's mold and instead allow the Holy Spirit to renew our minds daily. The beauty of this transformation is that it doesn't happen in isolation—we're called into community, where each person's spiritual gifts and growth is meant to bless everyone else. We belong to one another in Christ's body, and our individual surrender creates a collective witness tdemonstrating to a broken world what real human community should look like. This is our reasonable response to God's incredible mercy toward us.

Join us as Pastor McNair continues our series through the book of Romans.

This powerful exploration of Romans 8 invites us into one of the most liberating truths of the Christian faith: there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. When we truly experience God's grace, we don't exploit it; we respond to it with gratitude and a changed life. The core teaching walks us through the intersection of guilt and grace, showing how Christ didn't just forgive our sins but actually transferred us from one jurisdiction to another. We no longer live under the law of condemnation but under the rule of grace. What makes this message particularly compelling is its emphasis on the Holy Spirit as the down payment of our future resurrection life—we're not waiting for heaven to experience God's power; the Spirit is actively working in us now. The distinction between living according to the flesh versus living according to the Spirit challenges us to examine what truly drives our daily decisions. Are we consumed with self-promotion and comfort like the world, or are we kingdom-minded, living with the awareness that we belong to God's covenant family? This isn't about earning our salvation through good works; it's about living worthy of the grace that has already reached us. The intimate language of calling God 'Abba' or 'Papa' reminds us that we're not just forgiven criminals but adopted children with full access to our Heavenly Father. When life feels chaotic, we're encouraged to shift our perspective and recognize that God is building something beautiful in us, even when we can't see the finished product yet.

This powerful exploration of Romans 7 confronts a universal truth we all experience: the internal war between who we want to be and who we actually are. We've all been there—making resolutions to pray more, be more patient, eat healthier, control our anger—only to find ourselves back at square one within days. It feels like two people live inside us: one who loves God and one who sabotages every good intention. The Apostle Paul doesn't shy away from this reality. In a raw moment of honesty, he confesses: 'I don't really understand myself. I want to do what is right, but I don't do it. Instead, I do what I hate.' This isn't Paul at his worst; this is Paul at his most transparent. The message here is liberating: if we're struggling, that struggle itself is proof that grace is working in our lives. The law reveals our sin like an X-ray shows a broken bone, but it has no power to heal us. Only Jesus can break sin's power. We discover that we're not fighting for victory because Jesus already won it. We're fighting from a position of victory, standing in His righteousness. The breakthrough comes in Romans 8:1: 'There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.' This means no accusation and no punishment waiting, none, not any, never. We're completely free to live for Jesus, empowered by the Holy Spirit, no longer enslaved to guilt but walking in the freedom of grace.

This powerful exploration of Romans 6 challenges us to move beyond the surface understanding that 'God loves me just the way I am' to embrace a deeper truth: God loves us too much to leave us where we are. While grace begins with acceptance—meeting us in our brokenness and sin—it doesn't end there. The message unpacks how God's grace isn't merely about forgiveness; it's about transformation. Using the Exodus story as a framework, we're reminded that just as Israel passed through the Red Sea leaving slavery behind to become a new nation, our baptism symbolizes our passage from death to life, from slavery to sin to freedom in Christ. The central question becomes: who owns us now? If we truly belong to Jesus, we're no longer slaves to our old master—sin no longer has authority over our lives. This isn't about rule-keeping or earning God's favor, nor is it permission to abuse grace by continuing in sin. Instead, it's about recognizing that the Holy Spirit now empowers us to actually want to obey God, to live differently, to answer a higher calling. The resurrection life isn't just a future promise—it's breaking into our present reality right now, inviting us to step into newness of life and live with the freedom and dignity that grace provides.

Join us as Pastor Herrell continues our series through Romans and teaches on what it means to be part of God's family.

In this powerful exploration of Romans 4, Pastor Herrell delves into the true meaning of God's covenant family. The central message revolves around Abraham's faith and how it defines our spiritual lineage. We learn that it's not bloodlines, rituals, or ethnicity that make us part of God's family, but our faith in Him. This revelation challenges us to rethink our understanding of who truly belongs to God's people. The beautiful truth is that anyone who believes, regardless of background, is welcomed into this global family of faith. We're encouraged to see ourselves as part of a grand story that began with Abraham and continues through us today. This perspective transforms how we view our place in God's plan and inspires us to live out our faith boldly, knowing we're part of something far greater than we often realize.

Join us as Pastor Herrell continues our series through the book of Romans

Join us as Pastor Herrell introduces our new series through the book of Romans.

In our exploration of 2 Corinthians, we uncover a profound truth: God's power is most active in our weakness. This paradoxical insight challenges our worldly notions of strength and success. The Apostle Paul's 'thorn in the flesh' becomes a powerful metaphor for our own struggles and limitations. Yet, it's precisely in these moments of vulnerability that we experience God's grace most profoundly. This message encourages us to embrace our weaknesses, not as failures, but as opportunities for God's strength to shine through. As we face our own 'thorns,' whether they be physical ailments, emotional struggles, or spiritual battles, we're reminded that these challenges don't disqualify us from serving God. Instead, they become the very stage where His power is displayed. This perspective shift invites us to reexamine our lives, asking whether we're seeking comfort and ease or truly following in Christ's footsteps of sacrificial love and service.

In life's unexpected journeys, Pastor Hadley reminded us of the power of faith, hope, and love. This message explores how to navigate paths we didn't choose, drawing inspiration from 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18. We're challenged to rejoice always and give thanks in everything, even amidst pain and loss. The resurrection of Christ stands as our cornerstone, offering a living hope that sustains us through life's darkest valleys. As we face our own unexpected moments, we're encouraged to know deeply who God is, to lean on our faith community, and to rest assured in our eternal destination. Through it all, we learn to trust in Jesus and depend on His word, finding strength in the promise that God's love endures forever.

Join us as Pastor Jeremy McNair preaches through 2nd Corinthians.