Dear Cornerstone Family,
Have you ever had your car go out of alignment? You can tell when your steering wheel pulls to the left or to the right. Also, your tires start to wear unevenly. This is true spiritually as well. We can get out of alignment with the gospel and start to pull to the right where we start to add laws and duties to our salvation or pull to the left and start to live without laws and celebrate sin.
In Galatians 5:1 (NLT2) we read, “So Christ has truly set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don’t get tied up again in slavery to the law.” We are saved by God’s grace and mercy through the work of Jesus Christ. We can’t add or subtract from what Jesus has accomplished for us. If we try to add works to our salvation, we are saying what Jesus did wasn’t enough. We get caught up in trying to gain God’s approval by doing religious things. This becomes a form of slavery that keeps us feeling afraid of never being accepted.
In Galatians 5:13 (NIV) we read, “You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love.” Sometimes we forget the cost of the cross, and we start to live our lives without rules. This won’t bring freedom, but instead, we will become enslaved to our guilt and shame.
In Galatians 2:20-21 (NLT2) we read, “My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not treat the grace of God as meaningless. For if keeping the law could make us right with God, then there was no need for Christ to die.” Jesus died for us so we should live for Him-not out of duty but out of devotion to our loving Savior who paid the price for our guilt and shame.
Join us this Sunday as we begin an eight-week study in the book of Galatians on how Christ has set us free!
Following Jesus,
Pastor Ed Turley
Cornerstone Church of Poway
P.S. Check out our mobile-friendly website!
UPCOMING EVENTS
Single Moms Life Group:
Are you a single mom (or functioning as a single mom due to deployment, separation, etc.) wanting to connect with other single moms to support and help each other grow spiritually and learn how to raise healthy children? Join our life group that will be meeting at Cornerstone the 2nd & 4th Fridays of every month, 6-7:30 pm, beginning August 9. Co-leaders: Beatrice Morales (619)247-8645 and Karina Magana (619)546-2913.
Family Beach Day:
Join us for another Family Beach Day Sunday, Aug. 11, from 1-8 pm! We will be at Silver Strand State Beach by Lifeguard Tower 4. Parking is $12 a vehicle. We will be doing baptisms again in the ocean, barbecue, volleyball, s’mores, and a bonfire at sunset! Hamburgers and hot dogs will be provided; please bring a side dish or dessert to share. Everyone is welcome. Let’s have some summer fun and make some new friends! If you would like to be baptized in the ocean, please mark your connection card or contact the church office at 858-748-2327 to set up an appointment with Pastor Ed.
Men’s Retreat:
Guys, want to get away? Need to relax? Want to grow spiritually? Men’s Retreat is coming up Sept. 13-15, at Thousand Pines. There will be fellowship time and activities such as hiking, biking, paintball, ziplining, archery, rock wall, etc. Go relax, have some fun, and enjoy some great meals! Invite a friend too. Cost $195 (cabins with full baths). Scholarships available. Register now! See Jim Ellington at the table in the courtyard, call or email: (858)208-6528 rvrmn@cox.net.
Marriage Conference:
This year’s Marriage Conference, featuring nationally acclaimed speakers Bill & Pam Farrel, will be held October 4 & 5 here at Cornerstone (6-9 pm Friday & 8 am – 12 pm Saturday). You won’t want to miss it! Cost: $129 per couple ($109 Early Bird before Sept. 1) includes all materials and meals. Please sign up on your connection card Sunday at church or with Pastor Ed.
You can pay by check or online at: https://www.cornerstonepoway.com/give/
