Podcast
Equip Podcast
Hosted by Cornerstone Church of Ames · EN
Produced by Cornerstone Church of Ames, The Equip Podcast is designed to provide insight, resources and Biblical wisdom to help us live faithful and fruitful lives together.
34episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
What Does Christian Patriotism Look Like?
2w ago00:19:11Tap to summarizeIn this special Fourth of July episode of the Equip Podcast, Mark reflects on patriotism, love of country, and what it means for Christians to hold citizenship in heaven while living as faithful residents on earth. Turning to Jeremiah's letter to the exiles in Babylon, he unpacks what it looks like to genuinely love your country, work for its good, and offer honest critique, all without confusing any earthly nation, including America, with the Kingdom of God.Episode Highlights00:27 — Setting up a Fourth of July reflection on patriotism and dual citizenship01:09 — Personal memories of Fourth of July growing up in Sheldon and Slater, Iowa02:51 — Gratitude for America's freedoms, "for all her flaws"03:14 — Naming the tension between heavenly and earthly citizenship04:02 — Turning to Jeremiah 29 as a guiding text on exile and citizenship04:31 — Context: Jeremiah's letter to Israelites exiled in Babylon06:20 — The exiles' dilemma: how do you relate to the kingdom that conquered you?07:22 — Jeremiah's command: "pursue the well-being of the city"08:24 — Why pray for Babylon's good: "when it thrives, you will thrive"08:46 — God's promise to restore His people after seventy years10:12 — Applying the picture: citizens of heaven, temporary residents on earth11:04 — Practical instructions: build, plant, and work for the good11:29 — Clarifying what Christian nationalism actually means13:04 — A discerning eye toward the flaws of any human nation13:53 — Daniel's example: working for Babylon's good without compromising conviction14:56 — Applying it to America: gratitude, contribution, and good citizenship17:03 — Unafraid to both love America and critique her flaws17:26 — A simple Fourth of July exhortation: be a participant, not just a critic18:34 — Closing blessing: "God bless America, but even so, come, Lord Jesus"ResourcesCornerstone Sermons: Listen OnlineAsk Mark a Question!Suggest a topic or question for Mark to discuss on a future episode of the Equip Podcast!
Transcribe →Sins We Tolerate: Judgement
3w ago00:31:02Tap to summarizeIn this episode, Mark and Emily kick off a brand new series called Since We Tolerate, a look at the "respectable sins" Christians often overlook or excuse. They start with one of the most culturally relevant: judgment. Drawing from Romans 14, Mark unpacks how Christians can fall into a pattern of casting judgment on brothers and sisters in areas where scripture doesn't demand a single answer, and what it looks like to pursue edifying love instead.Episode Highlights00:34 — Introducing the new series: Since We Tolerate and the idea of "respectable sins"01:13 — Why Christians often tackle the obvious sins but miss the subtle ones01:57 — The framework for the series: a four-part process for killing sin03:26 — Defining the process: remember the gospel, remember your identity, starve the sin, feed the spirit05:13 — Introducing the sin of judgment and its grounding in Romans 1406:12 — The Jewish-Gentile tension in the early church as the original context for Romans 1408:10 — What makes a matter "gray" — and why gray doesn't mean unimportant10:26 — Judgementalism as a "crowning vice of modernity," amplified by social media and cable news13:33 — When judgment is right: distinguishing disputed matters from clear biblical teaching17:00 — Diagnosing a judgmental heart: the BAM vs. WAM test (Best Available Motive vs. Worst Available Motive)21:28 — Practical steps to starve the sin: study it, hate it, flee it, confess it27:00 — Feeding the spirit: cultivating edifying love as the antidote to judgment30:34 — A preview of the next episode: gluttonyResourcesRespectable Sins by Jerry Bridges: PurchaseCornerstone Sermons: Listen OnlineAsk Mark a Question!Suggest a topic or question for Mark to discuss on a future episode of the Equip Podcast!
Transcribe →Planting Citizens Church with Simeon Bell
Jun 1800:27:12Tap to summarizeEmily Jensen sits down with Simeon Bell to talk about Citizens Church, a church he and his team are planting in Columbia, South Carolina. Simeon shares the unexpected timeline change that has his family moving this August, the vision behind the Citizens Church name rooted in Ephesians 2:19, and why Columbia is exactly where God is calling them.Episode Highlights00:27 — Simeon Bell and the Citizens Church story01:13 — An unexpected timeline change: Simeon's family is now moving to Columbia this August instead of January 202702:18 — How a local Columbia church reached out and accelerated the timeline — and what that partnership looks like03:20 — Who's going: 31 members headed to Columbia03:52 — How Simeon's years leading Cornerstone Youth equipped him for church planting05:50 — The meaning behind the name "Citizens Church" and its roots in Ephesians 2:1907:50 — Citizens Church's five core motives: Spirit-filled, authentic community, purpose-driven, sacrificial living, and kingdom multiplication07:59 — From motives to mission: preparing citizens for heaven by living faithfully on earth13:41 — The 10-year vision: 500 members, five church plants, and a launch pad up the East Coast14:29 — Why Columbia, South Carolina? The brokenness, the diversity, and the need18:02 — Columbia's racial diversity and the vision for a multiethnic church rooted in Revelation 7:919:15 — The University of South Carolina campus: 40,000 students, under 5% reached with the gospel20:04 — A surprising discovery: 52% of USC students come from the Northeast — the exact states Simeon has lived in23:18 — How to support Citizens Church: give, go, pray — and why Simeon's biggest prayer request is holiness25:58 — Simeon's gratitude for Cornerstone and what it means to be equipped and sent wellResourcesCitizens Church: Pray, Give, or GoCornerstone Sermons: Listen OnlineAsk Mark a Question!Suggest a topic or question for Mark to discuss on a future episode of the Equip Podcast!
Transcribe →What's Happening in Rural Iowa with Shane Rothlisberger
Jun 1100:20:34Tap to summarizeIn this episode, Mark sits down with his friend and fellow pastor Shane Rothlisberger to tell the story of how the Acreage Church, a church plant in northeast Iowa, came to life in the most unexpected way. What began with a sick father, a family in need of community, and a living room livestream became something neither of them saw coming. Shane and Mark also discuss the spiritual state of rural Iowa and why it matters deeply for the future of the gospel.Episode Highlights00:26 — Introducing Shane Rothlisberger, pastor of the Acreage Church01:39 — How a family crisis and a move to northeast Iowa set everything in motion02:33 — Streaming Cornerstone from a living room03:17 — Wrestling with whether to call it what it was: a church plant04:26 — A moment in John 21 and Shane's calling to shepherd this flock05:33 — Cornerstone's role as the sending church for the Acreage06:00 — What a typical Sunday looks like at the Acreage Church today07:17 — Using Cornerstone's teaching series, one week behind, and how Shane contextualizes it09:31 — The spiritual landscape of rural Iowa: overchurched but unreached, and how that's shifted11:06 — A generational turnover: from cultural Christianity to irrelevance13:22 — The decline of mainline denominational churches in rural communities15:16 — Faithful pastors in rural Iowa stretched thin across multiple congregations16:13 — Easter at the Acreage: 175 people, four baptisms, and lives changed17:26 — Running out of room, and what a glorious problem that is18:28 — What Cornerstone is praying about next: rural church planting as a growing vision19:16 — "We didn't even pray for this", and what that stirs up for what God might do intentionally20:00 — A call to pray for rural Iowa and the harvest waiting thereResourcesCornerstone Sermons: Listen OnlineAsk Mark a Question!Suggest a topic or question for Mark to discuss on a future episode of the Equip Podcast!
Transcribe →Ask Mark Anything: Swearing, Greek Life & More
Jun 400:38:01Tap to summarizeIn this third installment of the "Ask Mark Anything" series, Emily puts Mark on the spot with questions submitted by listeners. From the ethics of swearing to conspiracy theories, waiting on God to Greek life, Mark tackles a wide range of real-life questions with pastoral honesty, biblical grounding, and plenty of laughs along the way.Episode Highlights01:57 — Is swearing just part of sports culture, even for Christians?12:15 — What does it actually look like to wait on the Lord?21:07 — Should college students consider Greek life?27:51 — How should Christians think about conspiracy theories and trust in authority?ResourcesCornerstone Sermons: Listen OnlineThe Reason for God by Tim KellerAsk Mark a Question! — Suggest a topic or question for Mark to discuss on a future episode of the Equip Podcast!Ask Mark a Question!Suggest a topic or question for Mark to discuss on a future episode of the Equip Podcast!
Transcribe →What Is Church Membership?
May 2800:33:47Tap to summarizeMark and Emily dig into one of the most practically important, and often misunderstood, topics in the Christian life: church membership. From what the Bible actually says about it, to the common ditches people fall into, to how a large church like Cornerstone keeps track of its people, Mark offers pastoral clarity and honesty on why formal membership matters for every believer.Episode Highlights02:58 — What is church membership, biblically? Where do we even find it in Scripture?07:36 — Common ditches: individualism, the "marriage to a church" extreme, and church hopping09:52 — The two-way promises involved in church membership — what members commit to, and what elders commit back11:00 — State church vs. free church: why the American context changes how we think about leaving a church19:14 — How to know when it might be time to leave a church — and how to do it well27:45 — How does a church the size of Cornerstone actually keep track of its members?ResourcesCornerstone Sermons: Listen OnlineAsk Mark a Question!Suggest a topic or question for Mark to discuss on a future episode of the Equip Podcast!
Transcribe →Leadership, Legacy, and Aging Well with Troy Nesbitt
May 2100:25:59Tap to summarizeIn this episode of the Equip Podcast, Mark sits down with Troy Nesbitt, founding pastor of Cornerstone Church and the man who started Salt Company in 1987. Troy reflects on what it looks like to navigate the final quarter of life with faithfulness and joy.Episode Highlights:00:27 — Introducing Troy Nesbitt: founding pastor, Salt Company pioneer, and mentor to Mark01:33 — Entering the "final quarter" of life at 63 — and what that actually means03:09 — Why Troy handed off lead pastor responsibilities earlier than most03:50 — The principle: pastors reach a decade either side of themselves — nobody gets the third decade05:39 — Retirement vs. reallocation: a biblical framework for the final season06:43 — From the work stage to the wisdom stage: what that shift actually looks like08:12 — The hardest thing about transitioning out of authority — and what a wise leader does instead11:31 — How cheerleaders empower leaders: the gift of being believed in13:12 — The NCAA study: why grandparents are athletes' best memories, not dads on the ride home15:00 — Relating to adult kids who are now parents themselves: the "counsel if asked" rule16:27 — "Visiting Friday": Troy's weekly habit of sitting with his 88-year-old parents18:25 — Caring for aging parents as part of finishing well — even when it's hard23:14 — Troy's vision for the years ahead: more prayer, more coaching, more of lessResourcesCornerstone Sermons: Listen OnlineAsk Mark a Question!Suggest a topic or question for Mark to discuss on a future episode of the Equip Podcast!
Transcribe →Planting a Church in Austin, TX with Mitchell Johnson
May 1400:26:50Tap to summarizeMark sits down with Mitchell Johnson, a church planter being sent out from Cornerstone to launch The Way Church in Austin, Texas. Mitchell shares his remarkable story of growing up in New Orleans, surviving Hurricane Katrina, a crisis of suicidal despair in high school, and ultimately finding faith in Jesus at Texas Tech University. The conversation traces how God used brokenness, mentors, and years of ministry experience to equip Mitchell to plant a church in one of America's most spiritually searching cities.Episode Highlights00:27 — Introducing Mitchell Johnson and his connection to Cornerstone Church00:58 — The Way Church: launching in Austin, Texas on September 13th01:22 — Getting to know Mitchell: a peek behind the scenes before the ministry talk01:50 — Growing up in New Orleans: family background, divorce, and the Lower Ninth Ward02:51 — Mitchell's mom goes to prison — and he finds out on his own at age eight03:42 — Life in one of New Orleans's most dangerous neighborhoods04:12 — Hurricane Katrina hits: staying in the Lower Ninth Ward without evacuating05:40 — Trapped for four days, rescued by boat and helicopter, and arriving in Houston at age 1206:25 — Mitchell's grandmother: a model of faith in the middle of the storm07:44 — Depression, anxiety, and a suicidal crisis in high school08:55 — A gold cross on a rearview mirror and the moment everything changed09:28 — Coming to faith at Texas Tech University and beginning to run after Jesus12:18 — Mark reflects on Mitchell's infectious joy in the Lord13:40 — Ministry at Redeemer Church in Lubbock and the mentors who shaped him15:35 — Being handed the college pastor role at 23 and stepping into leadership17:33 — Wrestling with the call to full-time ministry and what shifted18:11 — Moving to Austin Stone and six years of ministry at UT Austin19:51 — The Way Church: mission, vision, and the launch plan for fall 202620:35 — Austin as a city: culture, spiritual climate, and why a new church is needed22:54 — Reaching the high rises, the alleyways, and the dorm rooms of Austin24:34 — John 13:35 and the heart of what The Way Church wants to be25:06 — Celebrating what God has done and what He's about to do25:49 — How to find, follow, and support The Way Church onlineResourcesCornerstone Sermons: Listen OnlineThe Way Church Austin: thewaychurchaustin.orgAsk Mark a Question!Suggest a topic or question for Mark to discuss on a future episode of the Equip Podcast!
Transcribe →Finishing Well: Health, Medicine, and Dying Well
May 1200:22:51Tap to summarizeMark tackles one of the most avoided conversations in the Christian life: how do we approach health, medical care, and dying in a way that reflects a biblical worldview? With honesty and care, he challenges listeners to stop prolonging death and start pursuing a life of flourishing, all the way to the end.Episode Highlights00:27 — Introducing the topic: end-of-life health and the final decades of life 01:46 — The technology that prolongs death, not life — and why Christians need to think carefully about it 04:43 — Three principles for approaching end-of-life health as a Christian 05:20 — Principle 1: Stay healthy now — the four pillars of preventable disease 08:19 — The fifth pillar: social connection and why it matters more than most realize 10:25 — Principle 2: Doctor by decade — why your 40s approach shouldn't look like your 80s approach 12:52 — The shortage of geriatric doctors in America and what it means for you 14:31 — A personal story: Mark's dad, congestive heart failure, and asking hard questions about treatment 17:00 — Principle 3: Terminal illness, hospice, and palliative care — quality of life over length of life 19:20 — What hospice care actually is (and isn't) — and why Christians shouldn't fear it 21:33 — A firm word on euthanasia: the difference between dying well and ending life 22:19 — Closing call: have honest conversations with your family, your doctor, and your friendsResourcesCornerstone Sermons: Listen OnlineHow to Make Disease Disappear by Rangan Chatterjee — practical framework for preventable diseaseOutlive by Peter Attia — a deeper dive into longevity and healthspanAsk Mark a Question!Suggest a topic or question for Mark to discuss on a future episode of the Equip Podcast!
Transcribe →Finishing Well: End-of-Life Finances and Generosity
May 700:36:48Tap to summarizeMark tackles one of the most practical (and often avoided) topics in the Christian life: what does faithful stewardship look like in the final season of life? Drawing from Scripture and real conversations with retirees, Mark offers biblical principles and concrete wisdom for navigating end-of-life finances, inheritance, and Kingdom generosity.Episode Highlights00:27 — Introducing the topic: end-of-life finances, inheritance, and kingdom-centered giving 01:00 — Two North Stars: all money belongs to God; leaving a legacy has biblical priority 02:33 — Why most people want to be generous but struggle with the mechanism 03:31 — Four financial buckets retirees commonly fall into 07:50 — The Macedonian and Corinthian principles: everyone gives something, but not the same something 09:36 — Applying biblical proportionality to each financial scenario 14:31 — The $85 trillion baby boomer wealth transfer — and why Christians can't be absent 16:04 — End-of-life medical expenses: what the numbers actually look like 17:04 — "We are taking longer to die" — why Christians should pursue flourishing living, not slow dying 21:33 — Three options for covering long-term care costs 24:19 — Inheritance principles: it's not only monetary, and money amplifies character 27:48 — Treating the church as "another child" and giving in strategic stages 30:19 — Kingdom generosity: capping personal spending and investing the rest for God's purposes 35:22 — Final word: seek first the Kingdom, trust God's provision, open your handsResourcesCornerstone Sermons: Listen OnlineAsk Mark a Question!Suggest a topic or question for Mark to discuss on a future episode of the Equip Podcast!
Transcribe →