Discipleship, Kids, Teaching | by Pastor Adam Sinnett

Given that we’ve had so many new families join us – and lots of babies – over the last year, I thought it would be helpful to create a single post that consolidates the most helpful resources and recommendations I’ve come across for loving your kids to Jesus, in the every day. This isn’t exhaustive, but it is a great place to start.

SERMONS

When we were studying the book of Proverbs we walked through two sermons specifically on the gift of parenting from a gospel-centered perspective. You can get the audio and notes here:

The Heart of Parenting
The Practice of Parenting

READING

Shepherding a Child’s Heart, Tedd Tripp
Instructing a Child’s Heart, Tedd Tripp
Give them Grace: Dazzling Your Kids with the Love of Jesus, Fitzpatrick and Thompson
Gospel-Powered Parenting, William Farley
How Children Raise Parents, Dan Allendaer
“Don’t Make Me Count to Three!” A Mom’s look at Heart-Oriented Discipline, Ginger Plowman

BIBLES

The Rhyme Bible (birth+) is the first Bible we used with our kids. It focuses on individual stories of the Bible, is well illustrated and has short rhyming chapters. It keeps things very simple for even the youngest of kids. To be honest, I’ve been tempted to rip out the chapter on Jonah due to its moralistic message but its solid otherwise. They also came out with this smaller version two years ago.

The Big Picture Story Bible (2+ years old) is an excellent children’s Bible. Transition to this Bible once your kids are able to listen a bit longer and grasp more. The chapters are a little longer, but it is the best children’s Bible when it comes to presenting the overarching storyline of the Bible.

The Jesus Storybook Bible (2+ years old) is also an excellent children’s Bible, probably the best all around. The chapters are longer with more text than the previous two, but is the best children’s Bible when it comes to showing how Jesus is the hero of the story of God. I literally wept when I first read the introduction. It is beautiful. I recommend reading this in rotation with The Big Picture Story Bible.

The Big Picture Interactive Bible Storybook (4+ years old) is put out by the Gospel Project, the same group that put together the material we use for the older kids on Sundays. Using this can help provide continuity between Sunday and the rest of the week, therefore reinforcing lessons learned. It also includes a “Christ Connection” at the end of the story to bring it back to Jesus every time.

As your kids get older (5+ years old) I recommend transitioning to a Bible that sticks closer to the actual text of scripture, such as ESV Children’s Bible or the ESV Seek and Find. However, I do recommend rotating in The Jesus Storybook and The Big Picture Story Bible from time to time to reinforce the unified story of God with Jesus as the hero.

DEVOTION

Thoughts to Make Your Heart Sing, by Sally Lloyd Jones, is an excellent, gospel-driven, beautifully illustrated devotional (short devotionals, at that). Honest parental moment: We turn to this when we’re too tired to do a longer reading, yet still want to land the day on Jesus.

CATECHISM

The New City Catechism is put out by Redeemer in NYC. It’s primarily experienced through an iPad app, however you can also download a pdf. There are 50 or so questions, making for one question for every week of the year if you stick with it. Each question also comes with recommended scripture, topical prayer and a really well done song (which our kids love).

Parenting is not easy, but it is a gift. By God’s grace, he’s given us tremendous resources, and one another, to lean on and learn from as we seek to point our littles to Him. I am praying for you all as you navigate this impossible, yet beautiful, gift of parenting, in Him. Know that you’re not alone. We’re with you and, even better, He is.

Christ is all!
Pastor Adam

City Life, Event

Join us at Gasworks Park this coming Tuesday for food and games as we welcome in the summer together! We couldn’t ask for a better spot to enjoy the water, the sun, and the beautiful skyline view of our city. Bring your neighbors and friends to kick off the summer with us!

WHERE. 

We’ll meet up at Gas Works Park, 2101 N Northlake Way. Look for everyone gathering just south of the picnic shelter, and east of the old plant structure (see map below).

WHEN.

Tuesday, June 10th, 6pm-dusk

WHAT.

Picnic & Games. Bring your own dinner (non-grillable), blanket, and friends, and we’ll have games for both adults and kids throughout the evening! Some drinks and snacks will be provided. 

PARKING.

There is a parking lot on the north side of the park, that should offer ample parking.

Discipleship, Service | by Pastor David Parker

This summer we’re preparing to take a team down to Brazil to aid and assist in mercy outreach and church planting efforts with Jay Bauman and Restore Brazil. We couldn’t be more excited that Jesus has given us this opportunity to continue deepening our partnership and support of a fellow friend and church planter in Rio de Janeiro! If you’re not familiar with what Jay is doing in Brazil, check out this video on Restore Brazil.

As of now, we’ve solidified the team of 11 members, plane tickets have been bought, visa applications have been submitted, and team training meetings have begun! Over the summer we’ll continue to prepare through language learning, gospel fluency, sharing our testimonies, kids ministry, and more! Personally, I couldn’t be more excited, and looking forward to all that Jesus has in store for us.

HOW YOU CAN HELP

First, Prayer. We know that without Jesus going before us in every way, this short-term ministry trip will be no more than a trip. In light of that, we would ask for your prayers in the following ways:

• That Jesus would form us into a people that live and believe the Gospel into every sphere of life.
• That through our team meetings this summer, we would grow in unity, preparation, and language learning together.
• That we would be a blessing and encouragement to Jay, Restore Brazil, and church planting efforts taking place in Rio.
• That Jesus would give all of us a deeper love and passion for Jesus’ mission not only here in Seattle, but around the world.
• That Jesus would provide financially for all of our team needs.

Second, would you prayerfully consider how you can help send this team down to Brazil this summer?

Not only is each team member personally sacrificing and working on fundraising for this trip, but we’re looking to corporately raise 10K towards this trip. This will help cover the cost of everything from mercy outreach supplies (toiletry kits, shoes, crafts, etc.), to some filming and computer equipment that we would like to bless Restore Brazil with so that the Gospel could be spread in the City of Rio and beyond.

BRAZIL FUND

If you would like to contribute to the Brazil fund, you can give in the following ways:

• On Sunday via check or cash (please write Brazil in the memo line or use a giving envelope located at the connect desk).
• Give online using this link
• Mail your gifts to: Downtown Cornerstone Church, 1700 7th Ave STE116 #324, Seattle, WA, 98101-1323. Write in the memo line of the check “Brazil Fund”

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to email .

For the Gospel in Seattle, and to the ends of the Earth,
Pastor David

Community, Discipleship, Service | by Pastor David Parker

Downtown Cornerstone,

This past Sunday we took some time to unpack the current state and health of our church in regards to finances and serving. I wanted to briefly follow-up on the serving front so you can prayerfully consider how you can respond.

WHY WE SERVE

The mission of Downtown Cornerstone is to build a great city through the Gospel of Jesus Christ, for the glory of God. One of the ways we get to build a great city is by serving others as we’ve been served in Christ. If you are a follower of Christ, part of our ongoing discipleship is a life of service to God and others. Dallas Willard wrote these helpful words, “A disciple is not a person who has things under control, or knows a lot of things. Disciples simply are people who are constantly revising their affairs to follow through on their decision to follow Christ.”

The only place we’re going to get the motivation and drive to follow Christ’s example in serving others, is when we understand and know how much God has served us through the person and work of Christ. Romans 5 tells us, that even while were enemies of God, He infinitely served us and loved us by dying for us. He gave His Son, so that we would be rescued from ourselves — and living for ourselves — and brought back into relationship with our Creator! I don’t know about you, but nothing motivates me more, and reminds me of why I serve, than looking to Jesus and being reminded of how much He served me.

THE NEEDS

Currently we have just over 100 volunteers that are in a regular rotation of serving, but in order to breed health among our ministries, and see more people come to know and love Jesus, we need over 175 volunteers!

You might ask, how could we need over 75 more volunteers, everything seems to be going fine on Sundays? The reality is a few fold, 1) We have many folks that are carrying a lot of weight, and “doubling down” in many areas or serving almost every week. This isn’t sustainable, nor healthy. 2) While Sunday is when the majority of our volunteer needs come to light, we also largely run on volunteer efforts throughout the week (e.g. community leads, website, communications, design, etc.). 3) Lastly, there’s more ways that we want to love and serve the city that God has placed us in, and see more people come to know, love and treasure Him. As we look to the fall, our prayer is not only that we’d have healthy teams, but that we’d be able to launch new ministries so that many more people would get to experience all that God is for us in Jesus Christ.

HOW YOU CAN HELP

For those of you who are faithfully and regularly serving, thank you! For those of you who maybe are brand new, we’re glad you’re here. Take your time, ask your questions, get connected. But for those of you who call Downtown Cornerstone home, consider how you can live out of your identity as a servant of Jesus Christ inside of our body.

Below is a basic list of serving opportunities and current volunteer needs for many of our teams. Most ministries have an every other week rotation of serving, except for Cornerstone Kids, which is roughly once a month. If you would like to learn more about a particular ministry, check out our serve page, and email  to ask any questions or to get connected to a serve team.

SUNDAY OPERATIONS

• Facilities: 5 volunteers
• Connect: 2 volunteers for email followup*
• Beverage: 2 volunteers
• Greeting: 4 volunteers

PRODUCTIONS

• Band: 2 vocalists, 1 drummer, 1 bass player, 1 pianist, 2 guitarists, 2 band leads*
• Audio/Slides/Lighting: 3 set-up techs, 2 sound engineers, 1 monitor engineer, 1 recording engineer*, 1 service lead*

CORNERSTONE KIDS

• Nursery: 5 volunteers, 1 service lead*
• Cornerstone Kids: 10 volunteers, 3 teachers*

MEDIA/DESIGN

• Graphic Design: 4 designers
• Video: 5 videographers
• Photography: 6 photographers

COMMUNICATIONS

• Web Development: 1 webmaster*, 2 developers
• Social Media: 3 editors/contributors

SPECIAL EVENTS

• Planning: 3 volunteers
• Event Set-up/Tear Down: 8 volunteers
• Decorations/Food: 4 volunteers

* Position requires church membership

Because He infinitely served us,
Pastor David

Community, City Life, News

Throughout the summer we’ll be corporately gathering together as Downtown Cornerstone Church around the following events. These events will not only be a great opportunity to grow together as a church, but an opportunity to get to know, love and serve those that Jesus has placed around us. Mark these dates on your calendar and consider who you can invite!

Additionally, our communities will be gathering in various forms throughout the summer. if you’re not connected to one, email  to get plugged in today!

Picnic at the Park | Gasworks Park
Tuesday, June 10th | 6pm

Bring a picnic dinner (non grill-able) and join us for a fun evening to welcome in the summer! This will occur in lieu of our normal community rhythm and is an opportunity to enjoy the sunshine with our neighbors and friends.

Serve the City | Gatewood Elementary School
Saturday, July 26th | 10am

We are partnering with the Seattle School District for a day of service at Gatewood Elementary School in West Seattle. The more volunteers we have, the better we are able to serve this school so please mark your calendars and invite your friends!

BBQ & Beach Baptisms | South Lake Union Park
Tuesday, August 26th | TBD

Join us for our 4th annual BBQ and Baptism event! We will gather at South Lake Union Park for a BBQ followed by baptisms, to celebrate all that Jesus has done and is continuing to do among us as a people. If you are interested in being baptized or want to learn more, you can read more here.

We depend on volunteer support for all of these events!

If you would like to serve the church by helping plan one of these events, please email  or stop by the Connect Desk on Sunday.