Equip Podcast

In this edition of Ask Mark Anything, Mark and Emily rapid-fire through listener questions on spiritual warfare, personality and roles in marriage, GLP-1 medications, school choice, adult children who have walked away from the faith, and reaching lukewarm friends and family. Plus, the most pressing theological question of the season: does Jesus have a fridge? Episode Highlights 00:29 — Welcome to another Ask Mark Anything 00:59 — Warm-up: Mark's holiday pet peeve 01:52 — A question from a f...

In this special solo episode of the Equip Podcast, Mark explores what the Bible says about government and why Christians have a responsibility to vote. He unpacks government as God's tool of common grace, the Christian's dual citizenship, and why no election should be treated as the end of the world. Episode Highlights 01:06 — Equipping you to think biblically about voting 02:06 — Does government matter if eternity matters most? 03:42 — Government as God's tool of common grace 04:22 — Roman...

Most Bible reading plans include an Old Testament column, but strange names, ancient customs, and unfamiliar history can make it the hardest part to read well. In this episode, Mark and Emily explain why the Old Testament is essential for understanding God, the gospel, and the New Testament. They also share practical tools for reading it with depth, from cross-references and study Bibles to paying attention to genre and the bigger story pointing to Christ. Episode Highlights 00:40 — Why the...

Mark sits down with Alex Tuckness, Iowa State professor and longtime Cornerstone elder, to talk honestly about church growth. They trace Cornerstone's history, talk about church growth, and unpack why big isn't necessarily bad, but growth isn't always good. Episode Highlights 00:26 — Introducing Alex Tuckness, Iowa State professor and longtime Cornerstone elder 01:17 — Alex's history at Cornerstone, from Ames Middle School to the South Auditorium 02:07 — Early growth and years of constant b...

In the final episode of the Essentials of the Local Church series, Mark and Emily talk about church leadership. Mark explains why Cornerstone is led by a plurality of elders, what the Bible says elders actually do, and how church members can be a blessing to the people who shepherd them. Episode Highlights 00:26 — Wrapping up the Essentials of the Local Church series 01:09 — Cornerstone's distinctive: elder-led, congregationally approved 02:32 — Other models of church governance: single eld...