Community, News | by Pastor Adam Sinnett

Join us this Thursday, August 11th @ 6:00pm, for our third and final BBQ of the summer plus baptisms!

Bring your friends, picnic essentials, summer games and your own meat for the grill. We will also be holding our first baptisms as a newly forming church in the heart of downtown. It’s going to be a memorable night on the Seattle waterfront. If you’re reading this, you’re invited.

LOCATION:  Myrtle Edwards Park, 3130 Alaskan Way W.  (Note location on map below)

PARKING/ACCESS: Parking is available on the street, close to south entrance below the sculpture park.
FOOD: Bring your own meat. Sides, desserts and hospitality provided by Cornerstone Communities.
RAIN? In case of rain we will redirect to an alternative indoor location. So far, so good.
QUESTIONS: Email Brad Lewis or call 206-718-6339

Community, News, Teaching | by Pastor Adam Sinnett

Cities are places of transition. Seattle is no different. Many people move to Seattle for school, work or new opportunities. Moving to a new city is difficult. But, finding a church that loves Jesus, believes the Bible and preaches the gospel is even more so. Since launching in April we’ve met many new-to-the-city Jesus-following transplants in search of a church to call home. That search is not as easy as it might sound, particularly in Seattle. What follows are questions I encourage people to consider when in search of a new church family. Disclaimer: This is genuinely not written for the benefit of DCC but for all in our city looking for a Bible believing, Jesus-loving, Gospel centered church to call home. Jesus wants you covered by a church like that.

#1 Have you prayed about it?

No, really. Have you prayed about it? Oftentimes we assume that Jesus wants what we want. He might. Or, he might have something even better in mind – but, it may look entirely different than what you expect.

#2 Do they love Jesus?

Is it clear the church worships Jesus Christ? Is Jesus’ name mentioned regularly? Is the music sung to Jesus? Does the preaching center around the person and work of Jesus? Is Jesus not merely assumed, but demonstrably loved?

#3 Do they preach out of the Bible?

Is the Bible opened during the sermon? Is the sermon itself clearly taken from the text or just used as a launching pad for some other topic? Is it clear the Bible is loved and trusted as the Word of God?

#4 Is the gospel clearly presented?

The gospel is the good news that God became man in Jesus Christ to live our life and die our death, in our place, for the forgiveness of sin. Does the church believe and preach this? Is the gospel applied to both Christians and non-Christians?

#5 What happens beyond Sundays?

Don’t let Sunday define the church. There are six other days of the week. Some churches are able to pull off a big production every Sunday, but there is little depth otherwise. Others may have a weak Sunday presence, with great depth. Look beyond Sundays.

#6 Is the church on Jesus’ mission or their own?

Do you hear more about all the great things the church is doing or all the great things that Jesus is doing? Who has center stage? Is Jesus used to prop up the mission of the church? Or is the mission of the church to point to Jesus?

#7 What is the community like?

The church is a people, not a place. It can take time to get to know people. As you narrow down your options, I recommend taking one month to get involved in the life of a church before making a final decision. Get to know people. Meet the pastor(s). Join a community.

#8 How are you gifted to serve the church?

Keep in mind this search is not all about you. Jesus wants you to participate in his mission through the church. Where are your gifts most needed? Don’t merely look for what’s comfortable. Jesus cares more about who you are becoming than your comfort. We often want comfort, Jesus wants us to be like him.

#9 Does the church want to see people meet Jesus?

Does the church view itself as an outpost for the gospel? Is the church primarily focused on its programs or primarily focused on seeing the gospel form a new people on Jesus’ mission.

#10 Are you willing to make a decision and commit?

At some point, you’ll need to make a decision. Don’t make the process drag on for months and months. Prayerfully find a church. Get connected. Serve as you’ve been served in Christ. Extend grace towards the church as Jesus has extended grace towards you. Give generously to the church as Jesus generously gave himself for you.

Whatever you end up deciding, pray for every church you visit. Encourage the pastor, as appropriate. Don’t make this search an exercise in self-righteousness. Don’t search for the elusive perfect church. Approach with what you can give, not what you desire to take. Thank God for all that He is doing in your city and ask Him to do even more for His glory and the good of others.

News, Teaching | by Pastor Adam Sinnett

On Thursday, August 11th, Downtown Cornerstone will be celebrating its first baptisms at Myrtle Edwards Park. We’ll light up the grills, play some beats, and celebrate the grace of God – most clearly seen in Jesus Christ – in baptism. Invite a friend. Bring some meat. Arrive expectant. Many of you may not be familiar with the act of baptism, so I prepared the following as a biblical brief.

The Gospel is the good news of the forgiveness of sin in Jesus Christ.

When we repent of our sin, trust in Jesus Christ for our salvation, we should be baptized (Mat 28:18-20; Acts 2:38) In baptism we identity with Jesus in his death (being immersed under water) and his resurrection to new life (being brought out of the water) for the forgiveness of sin (Rom 6:1-10; Col 2:12). It is outward symbolic act that demonstrates the inward reality of what God has accomplished on the cross through His Son. In so doing, we identify ourselves with Jesus (Acts 10:48; Rom 6:3; Gal 3:27), the universal church (1 Cor 12:13), and the local church (Acts 2:41).
Why should Christians be baptized?
Jesus commanded that all Christians be baptized (Mt 28:19).
Who should be baptized?
Every baptism in the New Testament is preceded by repentance of sin and faith in Jesus (Acts 2:38-41; Acts 2:41; Acts 8:12; Acts 9:18-19; Acts 10:44-48; Acts 16:14-15, 40; Acts 16:29-36; Acts 18:8; Acts 19:1-7; Acts 22:16). In other words, only Christians who have repented of sin and have trusted in Jesus should be baptized. Therefore, all non-Christians and children too young to demonstrate repentance and articulate faith should be excluded.
May I be baptized if I have previously been baptized?
Once baptized there is no need to be baptized again (Eph 4:5). However, there is one exception, if you were baptized as a non-Christian and now desire to profess your faith in Him you may be baptized (Acts 19:1-5). This would include would include people who were baptized in cults and heretical churches, as well as those baptized as infants at the request of their parents. Downtown Cornerstone does not require those who were baptized as children to be baptized as believing adults, though encouraged, but leaves this decision to the conscience of each Christian.

If you would like to be baptized or if you have any additional questions, please contact Pastor Adam or your community leader.

Teaching | by Pastor Adam Sinnett

“He has made everything beautiful in its time…” Ecc 3:11

If you’re just getting involved with Downtown Cornerstone, it’s important to know that one of the distinct challenges of church planting is ambiguity. Something is ambiguous if it is unclear or can be interpreted in a number of different ways. There can be many things that are unclear at a newly forming church. When you start anything from scratch – including churches – there will inevitably be much that is ambiguous. That’s normal. To thrive in a church plant you must be comfortable with varying levels of ambiguity or you will grow frustrated and disappointed.

To thrive in a church plant you must be comfortable with varying levels of ambiguity or you will grow frustrated and disappointed.

Even though Downtown Cornerstone “launched” on April 3rd, ambiguity remains. There is still much to be done and many questions to be answered, such as: When will we have more communities? What’s the long term plan for intentional life-on-life discipleship? Why do we do this and not this? How will we engage the arts and music scene? What will it look like to genuinely serve the city? When will we have training for evangelism? When will we have more elders, deacons, etc? When will we roll out the membership process? And more.

These are great questions. They are. Each question has a place in the queue and the overall strategy.
But, it is going to take some time.

Those who struggle with wanting to control their environment and have all of the answers (like me!) in advance will have a hard time with ambiguity. But, the answer isn’t necessarily to find an environment where you’re comfortable, with all questions answered, but to ask the Father what He wants to do in and through you in this season. The church is a people, not a place, and this is an exciting opportunity for you to use your God-given gifts for the mission of God as He builds His church.

Maybe none of you struggle with this. Maybe I’m the only one. But, I suspect not. When faced with ambiguity we have the choice of leaning into control or leaning into Christ. In the end, Christ is the only non-ambiguous element of this church and our lives. If we’re honest, that’s true no matter where we are. How gracious of our Father to use the ambiguity of this season to push us to deeper trust, love and dependence on King Jesus – and love, patience, and kindness towards others.

His promise is great, “He makes everything beautiful in its time”, even amidst the ambiguity.

But, he starts with us.

Teaching | by Pastor Adam Sinnett

This past winter* I came across a distinction that was incredibly helpful to me: Goals vs Desires. This distinction helped to clarify my expectations and the emotions inevitably tied to those expectations. Understanding this will help breathe greater freedom and joy into your life and ministry; it has for me. The distinction is simple, but subtle. Goals are objectives under your control; desires are not.

Goals are objectives under your control; desires are not.

For example, if you want to see 50 people baptized in the next year, that would be a desire but not a goal because you cannot control the outcome. You can influence the outcome, but not control it. In this case, your desire is to baptize 50 people in the next year. Your goals, however, should be directly tied to whatever will most likely help bring your desire about (e.g. gospel-centered sermons, intentional prayer, cultivating missional communities, equipping your people to live with gospel intentionality, teaching on baptism, etc). In this way, we work toward our goals and pray for our desires.

We WORK toward our goals and PRAY for our desires.

When we confuse goals and desires it can easily lead to pride and arrogance (because we subtly believe we can control people, like God) or depression and bitterness (because we’re trying, and failing, to control something that is outside our control). But, when we keep this distinction in mind it reminds us we’re responsible to work wisely toward our goals while trusting deeply in God who offers us the true desires of our heart.

“Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness. Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” Ps 37:3-4

* I picked this up at the Global Church Advancement training in Orlando, Florida. This particular material was delivered in a session by Steve Childers, Priorities – The Main Thing. If you’re an aspiring church planter, or within the first two years, I highly recommend this conference.