Cornerstone Sermons


Thank you for visiting Cornerstone’s sermon page! 


FIRST, why we PREACH & TEACH GOD’S WORD, THE BIBLE.

From Cornerstone’s “What We Believe” regarding “The Bible”:

We believe that God has spoken in the Scriptures, both Old and New Testaments, through the words of human authors. As the verbally inspired Word of God, the Bible is without error in the original writings, the complete revelation of His will for salvation, and the ultimate authority by which every realm of human knowledge and endeavor should be judged.  Therefore, it is to be believed in all that it teaches, obeyed in all that it requires, and trusted in all that it promises. (2 Timothy 3:14-17; Hebrews 4:12-13)

We believe that God’s Word is His specific revelation about Him, His ways, life and death and eternity.  Therefore, we go first & foremost to His Word for our guidance and help.

We also hear Christ’s Command in the Great Commission (Matthew 28:16-20) that we are “make disciples” (learners of, followers of, imitators of…Jesus Christ).  Part of that (after “going” with the Message of Salvation in Jesus Christ, and “baptizing” the new converts) is “teaching them to observe/keep/obey/live by all that I/Jesus have commanded.”  Therefore, this life-long process of learning is solidly built on the attention to, explanation and application of His Word.

There are many passages we could site (ie Psalm 19:7-14; Psalm 119; 2Pet 1:2-4), but the two referenced say enough.

**2 Timothy 3:14–17   But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it 15 and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

  • Continue in, firmly believing—specific words from God on which we found our beliefs (not nebulous, hazy, but clear)

  • Sacred writings—holy, from God, for us

  • Make wise for salvation—in these words, we find salvation—the ultimate question of mankind: “What must I do to gain eternal life?”

  • Through faith in Christ Jesus—to be clear: Jesus is the ONLY Way, Truth, Life—Jn 14:6; Acts 4:12—His own claim and that of His original followers.

  • All Scripture—the Old Testament (Hebrew Scriptures) and the New Testament (New Covenant Scriptures)

  • Inspired—breathed out by God—from Him, through his men/authors as they were directed by the Spirit (2 Peter 1:21).

  • Doctrine/Teaching—this is God’s pathways of righteousness—not ideas, suggestions, optional (Psalm 119:105).

  • Reproof/Rebuke—warns us when we step off God’s pathways—destruction is coming, warning, stop (Psalm 119:9-10).

  • Correction—points us back to the pathway and how to get there.

  • Training in Righteousness—how to stay on that pathway—walking in the light and life of the Word.

**Hebrews 4:12–13   For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 13 And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

  • Living—not a dead book, 2000+yrs old—but brings life to the hearer as they seek to learn and obey.

  • Active—no mere textbook with data, the Word actually is active in our hearts and minds—able to renew our thinking, transform our inner man, and bring righteousness—to a willing, seeking heart.

  • Sharper...piercing…discerning—the “scalpel of the Spirit” to do “heart surgery” in our inner man.  

  • Naked…exposed—God sees our hearts (despite our efforts to hide, fake, etc), and His Word is His “x-ray” into our hearts.

In God’s Word we find hope & help FROM God IN Jesus Christ BY the power of the Holy Spirit.  That’s why we preach & teach.



SECOND, regarding our SERMON NOTES

Please know that these notes are not transcripts of the actual sermon.  While we’d love to provide transcripts, we are not able but prayerfully these notes provided by Pastor Chris or anyone else preaching at Cornerstone will be helpful. 

We would be overjoyed if they were to be a blessing to others, but the sermon notes intended primarily for the people who attend Cornerstone Bible Church of Sonora.  


THIRD, LIMITED audio/video available (a “note”).

We have only been videoing the sermons since Fall 2024, and we have sermon notes since September 2022 when we began, so these notes will have to suffice to anyone seeking biblical truth from God’s Word as we’ve preached.



FINALLY, GOD IS WORTHY OF ALL WORSHIP & PRAISE.

Above all, we want God to be glorified through Cornerstone and we pray that the addition of the sermon notes would be a blessing to anyone visiting our church and church’s website. This is not about emphasizing a specific preacher or teacher—for their advancement or ego.  This is for God’s glory and the fame of Christ—we do our best to be faithful to His Word and be a blessing in the endeavor of preaching and teaching His Word!



Sermon Series:

Thank you and blessings in Christ,

Pastor Chris