Corner Conversations
The conversation continues.
Podcast episodes and Substack posts — a weekly peek behind the scenes of our Sunday mornings.
Allelon · One another
Talk through this week's message.
Prep before Sunday, follow the dialogue live, and take it deeper through the week. The conversation doesn't end at 11.
Study Guides
A Conversation on…
Four study guides built for groups — personal enough to read alone, better explored together.
Before the Water is Gone: Seeking God Early
A conversation on Kings
Read on SubstackBefore the Water Is Gone - seeking God early
In this episode, we talk through the conversations that shaped this week’s message from 2 Kings 3 and Mark 5. Why do we wait until things are desperate before asking for help? What keeps us from turning to God early? And how do practices like prayer, Scripture, confession, and community train us to seek God before the water is gone?
Open in podcast appPersistent Disciple - Why growth with God rarely happens through convenience, speed, or immediate gratification.
In this episode, the conversation moves through 2 Kings 2, Luke 11, and the persistent relationship between Elijah and Elisha to wrestle with a difficult question: What does it actually look like to persist in being discipled? Elisha refuses to walk away. He keeps following. Keeps listening. Keeps showing up. Even when Elijah tells him to stay behind. Even when the outcome is uncertain. Even when everyone else already seems satisfied with knowing about what God is doing. Along the way, we explore the tension between immediate gratification and long-term formation, the difference between persistence and stubbornness, and why so many of us want transformation without sustained intentionality. This episode also reflects on prayer, persistence, spiritual inheritance, and the quiet reality that becoming more like Jesus often happens through repeated small acts of staying near Him. Persistence keeps asking, seeking, knocking. Stubbornness stops asking because it already assumes it knows.
Open in podcast appIntentionally Looking to God - 2 Kings 1, Ahaziah's wrong turn, and the question of how we persist
The conversation circles a question we couldn't shake while writing: how will I persist? When we're hurting, exhausted, or quietly disappointed in life, who do we intentionally turn to first? Ahaziah turned to Baal-Zebub. Jesus, in Gethsemane, turned to His Father. Most of us turn to a hundred things in between.
Open in podcast appHope Still Interrupts Failure - What First Kings teaches us about prayer, repentance, and mercy
First Kings is filled with kings who compromise, leaders who fail, and people who drift from God in ways that feel painfully familiar. From Solomon’s divided heart to Ahab’s destructive choices, the story does not hide the consequences of leadership, disobedience, and misplaced trust. But First Kings is not only a record of failure. It is also a story where hope keeps breaking through. In this episode, we reflect on the major themes of First Kings and the way God continues to meet people in the middle of their mess. We talk about the weight of leadership, the role of prayer and fasting, the danger of spiritual drift, and the mercy that remains available even when people have wandered far from where they were meant to be. This conversation invites us to ask: What do our choices reveal? Where have we confused intensity with sincerity? And what might it look like to return to God before failure has the final word?
Open in podcast appWhat Are You Doing Here?
In this episode, we unpack the real conversations that shaped this week's message from 1 Kings 17-19. Elijah goes from bold faith and public miracles to fear, exhaustion, and a cave. We talk through why trust in God is not a switch, what happens when fear gets louder than memory, and why God's question still hits so hard: "What are you doing here?" If you've ever known God's track record and still found yourself running, this conversation is for you.
Open in podcast appWhen Control Feels Right but Breaks Everything
A conversation on Kings
Read on SubstackWhen Control Feels Right but Breaks Everything
Rehoboam, the weight of advice, and the quiet cost of choosing pride over humility What if the real danger isn’t bad advice… but the kind of heart that can’t receive good advice? In this episode, we step into 1 Kings 12 and the pivotal moment where Rehoboam inherits a kingdom—and fractures it almost instantly. Not because he lacked wisdom, but because he rejected it. We explore the tension between control and humility, the voices we choose to listen to, and why we often gravitate toward counsel that reinforces what we already want. Along the way, we contrast Rehoboam’s version of strength with Jesus’ redefinition of greatness in Mark 9—where serving, not dominating, becomes the true mark of a life aligned with God. This conversation gets personal: Why do we resist wisdom when it challenges us? What kind of inner life produces harshness vs. gentleness? And what would it actually look like to trust Jesus’ way of humility? Because control promises strength… but humility is what actually looks like Jesus.
Open in podcast appEaster, the inner life, and the access we don’t know what to do with
We say “He is risen” like it’s obvious. Like it’s simple. Like we know exactly what that means. But what if Easter isn’t just about Jesus not being dead anymore? In this conversation, we walk through the story we’ve heard a hundred times—slowing it down, sitting in the tension, and asking better questions. From the guarded holiness of the temple to the moment the curtain tears, something shifts. Not just historically—but personally. This isn’t a message about understanding Easter perfectly. It’s about wrestling with what it means that, through Jesus, we now have access—to God, to transformation, and to something deeper happening beneath the surface. So… what does it actually look like to approach God with freedom and confidence?
Open in podcast appThe Fold: When Wisdom, Wealth, and Influence Grow, but the Heart Quietly Moves in Another Direction
A conversation on Kings
Read on SubstackThe Fold: When wisdom, wealth, and influence grow—but the heart quietly moves in another direction.
In this episode, we explore one of the most striking narrative turns in the Bible: the transition from 1 Kings 10 to 1 Kings 11—the moment when Solomon’s story “folds.” At the height of wisdom, wealth, and global influence, the very king who asked God for understanding begins to drift away from Him. Our conversation wrestles with the tension inside that moment. Why do the warning signs of spiritual drift often hide behind visible success? What happens when our hopes attach themselves to people, outcomes, or even good things that cannot ultimately carry the weight we give them? Along the way, we talk about: How biblical narratives often place their most important meaning at the center of the story. Why Solomon’s failure exposes the limits of human leadership. The difference between cultural promises of flourishing and the reality Jesus describes in Luke 9. The quiet “dashboard warnings” that show up in life long before collapse. Rather than ending with easy answers, the story points us toward something deeper: the recognition that even the wisest king could not carry the hopes of God’s people. That realization opens the door to a different kind of hope—one that doesn’t depend on perfect leaders or perfect lives. This episode is part of our ongoing conversation around 1 Kings 10–11 and the nature of hope, failure, and grace.
Open in podcast appSmall Decisions That Set a Life’s Trajectory
A conversation on Kings
Read on SubstackTurn Toward God: Why Direction Matters More Than Perfection
A conversation on Kings
Read on SubstackTurn Toward God - Why direction matters more than perfection
Turn Toward God - Why direction matters more than perfection What do you do when life gets hard again? In this episode, we walk through 1 Kings 8 and Solomon’s prayer at the dedication of the temple—a moment that isn’t really about a building, but about direction. Over and over, Solomon names real human experiences: failure, defeat, dryness, suffering, even distance from God. And his invitation is consistent and clear: turn toward God. This conversation explores why wisdom doesn’t exempt us from hardship, why honesty matters more than polish, and how God meets people right in the middle of real life. From Moses at the burning bush to the tearing of the temple curtain at Jesus’ death, we trace how God keeps inviting people closer—not once they’ve cleaned things up, but right where they are. If you’ve ever felt stuck, tired, disappointed in yourself, or unsure how to move forward, this episode is an invitation to consider a simple but challenging question: What would it look like to turn toward God this week?📖 Scripture referenced: 1 Kings 8; Exodus 3; Matthew 27; Hebrews 4🎙 Recorded at Corner Church
Open in podcast appWhat Draws Us to Wisdom—And What Actually Makes It Ours?
A conversation on Kings
Read on SubstackWhat draws us to wisdom—and what actually makes it ours?
What draws us to wisdom—and what actually makes it ours?In 1 Kings 4, we see Solomon’s wisdom spreading across nations. Kings travel. Crowds gather. His insight becomes famous.But what is wisdom, really?In this conversation, we process the difference between information and transformation. We look at five types of wisdom—practical, moral, spiritual, emotional, and intellectual—and wrestle with the gap between hearing wisdom and living it.Why were people drawn to Solomon?Why were people astonished at Jesus?And what spans the distance between knowing what is wise… and becoming wise?We end where Scripture invites us:“If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God…” (James 1:5)Maybe wisdom isn’t about having every answer.Maybe it’s about a heart that knows where to look.If you’d like a slightly more poetic or slightly more direct version, I can tailor it depending on whether this is for YouTube, Spotify, or another platform.
Open in podcast appWisdom Please: What We Ask for When the Weight Is Real
A conversation on Kings
Read on SubstackWisdom Please: What We Ask for When the Weight Is Real
What do you ask God for when the moment actually matters? In 1 Kings 3, Solomon steps into leadership, responsibility, and uncertainty all at once—and instead of asking for power, protection, or success, he asks for wisdom. In this conversation, we explore what that request reveals about God’s generosity, our assumptions about prayer, and the difference between treating God like a genie and staying genuinely connected. This episode invites us to slow down, examine what we’re really asking for, and consider how wisdom isn’t just something we receive—but something we’re meant to practice when life feels heavier than we feel prepared for.
Open in podcast appWhat Strength Actually Looks Like
At the start of Solomon’s reign, David gives a final charge that cuts deeper than leadership advice: be strong, walk in obedience, and live faithfully. But Scripture quickly exposes the tension underneath it all — how easily we demand righteousness from others while quietly protecting our own power. In this episode, we explore 1 Kings 2 alongside the life of Jesus to ask harder questions about strength that isn’t aggressive, obedience that isn’t convenient, and faithfulness that isn’t performative. Rather than offering fixes for chaos, this conversation invites formation — a way of being shaped from the inside out, even when leadership is messy and expectations go unspoken. This is a conversation about what we’re building our lives on — and who we’re becoming in the process.
Open in podcast appHow to Extend Grace When You’re Not Set Up for Success
A Conversation on Kings
Read on SubstackWhy We End Up Carrying Life Alone
and why connection usually starts smaller than we expect
Read on SubstackHow to extend grace when you're not set up for success—lessons from the transition between David and Solomon
In this episode, we dive into the opening chapters of 1 Kings, exploring one of the Bible's most dramatic power transitions. As David lies dying—old, frail, and unable to stay warm—his son Adonijah makes a play for the throne that was actually promised to Solomon. What follows is a masterclass in grace under pressure. We examine how Solomon navigated an impossible situation: his father didn't communicate clearly, his half-brother was already celebrating as king, and the family dynamics were a mess. Yet Solomon's response was marked by remarkable grace and wisdom. The conversation explores what it takes to be gracious when circumstances aren't ideal. We discuss the importance of security in your God-given identity, how self-perception shapes the way we treat others, and why surrounding yourself with people who will challenge you is essential. We also draw powerful parallels to Jesus and the woman caught in adultery, showing how grace creates space for others to be gracious too. Whether you're navigating a difficult transition, dealing with family conflict, or simply trying to extend grace in a chaotic world, this episode offers practical wisdom from an ancient story that still speaks today. Key Topics: 1 Kings, David and Solomon, extending grace, identity in Christ, accountability, leadership transitions, bearing with one another in love
Open in podcast appHappy Birthday, Corner Church!
A celebratory United Service
Read on SubstackTwenty years of ordinary moments, faithful people, and the slow work of noticing Jesus at work.
Some moments feel small when they happen. A conversation. A decision that doesn’t make sense yet. A season that feels unfinished. In this episode, recorded during Corner Church’s 20-year celebration, we reflect on the kind of faith that only becomes clear with time. Drawing from Scripture, shared stories, and the lived history of this community, we explore how God often works through ordinary people, repeated paths, and quiet faithfulness. From a prayer prayed years too early, to relationships that slowly converge, to everyday moments in Scripture that shape entire stories—this conversation invites us to look back with honesty and forward with trust. This episode isn’t about perfection or arrival. It’s about showing up. Paying attention. And learning to recognize Jesus at work—first in others, and eventually everywhere.
Open in podcast appFocused on Christ: Practices That Shape Our Trajectory
A conversation on the Corner Church ethos
Read on SubstackFocused on Christ: Practices That Shape Our Trajectory
Before this message ever became a sermon, it started as a conversation. In this episode, we talk through the questions, tensions, and Scriptures that shaped our Ethos series—especially the idea that formation isn’t about perfection, but direction. We explore why Jesus consistently focuses on trajectory over categories, how Scripture functions as a guide rather than a rulebook, and why practices matter more than intention alone. This is an honest conversation about how communities are formed, how lives are shaped over time, and what it looks like to keep returning—again and again—to the way of Jesus we encounter in Scripture. Not a conclusion. An invitation to keep practicing.
Open in podcast appWhat We Mean by Growth - When improvement doesn’t make life easier—but changes what we can carry
A conversation on the Corner Church ethos
Read on SubstackWhat We Mean by Growth - When improvement doesn’t make life easier—but changes what we can carry
We sat with a question that sounds simple and turns out not to be: What do we actually mean when we say we want to grow? Is growth about things getting easier? About accomplishing more? Or is it about having the capacity to stay present when things don’t? In this episode, we wrestle with the tension between healthy reframing and quiet denial. When challenge becomes formation—and when “positive thinking” starts to numb us instead. We talk about capacity, resilience, and the subtle ways faith can either deepen us or help us avoid what’s real. This isn’t a conversation with clean answers. It’s a shared attempt to name what we’re carrying, what’s shaping us, and what kind of people we’re becoming along the way.
Open in podcast appLocal - When faith stops being abstract and starts showing up
What does faith look like up close? In this episode, we continue Corner Church’s Ethos series by exploring the idea of local — the people and places close enough to actually experience our lives. Drawing from James 2 and the life of Jesus, this conversation wrestles with the tension between belief and action, presence and distance, helping and truly knowing. We talk about why local love is harder than distant love, how modern life has created “micro-locals” everywhere, and why God chose proximity over distance in the incarnation. This isn’t a conversation about doing more — it’s about noticing who’s already in front of us. Faith becomes real when it becomes local.
Open in podcast appWe Carry This Together
Why shared life forms healthier faith, deeper trust, and real community In this conversation, the team reflects on the writing of this message and the Ethos value We Carry This Together. We talk about Christmas stories that hold both beauty and breakdown, why self-sufficiency quietly isolates us, and how God consistently works through shared presence rather than solo strength. It’s a behind-the-scenes look at how faith is formed in relationships—and why carrying life together isn’t a weakness, but the way health actually grows.
Open in podcast appWhen God Interrupts
The shepherds were interrupted. Mary was overwhelmed. The crowd was amazed. Same night. Same news. Different responses.In this episode, we reflect on Luke 2 and the moments when God breaks into ordinary life—sometimes clearly, sometimes quietly—and how we respond when we notice Him at work. We talk about the tension between urgency and reflection, why setbacks derail us, and how joy doesn’t erase complexity but lives right alongside it.What happens when we slow down long enough to see? And what might change if we actually respond?
Open in podcast appWhy Showing Up Still Matters
A conversation about effort, overwhelm, and the small steps that change everything. This episode pulls back the curtain on the dialogue that shaped our latest Ethos message. We talk about the extremes we slip into — doing too much, doing nothing, taking credit, carrying all the weight — and how the story of Ruth helped us rethink what it means to participate in the work of God and the life of the church. If you’ve ever felt too small for the moment or too responsible for everything, this conversation is for you.
Open in podcast appSide by Side Isn’t Enough
What does it take for a crowd to become a community? In this episode, we reflect on story, connection, and the difference between sharing a moment and sharing a life. We look at how Jesus keeps turning toward people—face to face—and how that shapes our calling as a church. Honest, practical, and rooted in presence, this conversation sets the stage for the message that followed.
Open in podcast appShared Story, Shared Direction
In this episode, we wrestle with the beauty and complexity of being a church made of different people, different stories, and one shared direction. What does it take to move from information to transformation? How do we honor story without losing Jesus…and honor Jesus without losing each other? This conversation shaped the message that launched our ethos series.
Open in podcast appBuilding on the Next Page
What if the Sermon on the Mount wasn’t just something to believe, but something to build with? We talked about faith that doesn’t just admire Jesus’ words but builds with them. From humility as the foundation to grace as the structure—what does it mean to actually live the Sermon on the Mount, not just hear it?
Open in podcast appThe Voices We Follow
In this conversation, we wrestle with the question beneath Jesus’ words in Matthew 7: “By their fruit you will recognize them.” Together we talk about discernment, bad advice, and the quiet internal work that shapes who we trust—and who we become. From Eve to Rehoboam to Herod, we explore why it’s so easy to follow the wrong voices, and how Jesus keeps calling us back to the heart. This isn’t about blame or fear; it’s about awareness, fruit, and the kind of inner life that listens well.
Open in podcast appNo Filters: Embracing Grace and Authenticity
In this episode, we dive into the theme of "No Filters," exploring the profound realization that God's grace is made perfect in our weaknesses, not our perfections. Join us as we discuss the importance of authenticity, the biblical narratives that shape our understanding of identity, and how we can see ourselves and others through the lens of grace. Discover how embracing our true selves can lead to a deeper connection with God and each other.
Open in podcast appDeeper Than Behavior: Walking the Narrow Road
In this week’s conversation, we unpack Jesus’ words about the narrow and wide gates from Matthew 7:13–14 — not as a warning about who gets in, but as an invitation into a deeper kind of life. Together they explore what it means to move from surface-level faith to genuine transformation — from self-sufficiency to surrender, from external performance to internal health. Along the way, they talk about Moses learning to take advice, the rich young ruler’s struggle to let go, and the tension between looking good and being whole. It’s an honest, down-to-earth dialogue about what it means to actually walk with Jesus, not just admire Him from a distance.
Open in podcast appAsk, Seek, Knock
In this episode, we delve into the profound teachings of the Sermon on the Mount, focusing on the themes of asking, seeking, and knocking. Join us as we explore the essence of prayer, the innocence of a child's faith, and the importance of internal transformation. Through personal stories and reflections, we uncover how these teachings connect to our daily lives and relationships. Tune in for an insightful conversation that challenges us to live with intention and authenticity.
Open in podcast appPlanks, Specks, and Pearls
A conversation on judgment, discernment, and the kind of wisdom that builds a solid foundation.
Open in podcast appThe Divided Mind: Fear, Worry, and Trusting God
The Divided Mind: Fear, Worry, and Trusting God In this episode we trace the path that shaped our latest message in the Sermon on the Mount series. From peanut-butter phobias to deep-end worries, we explore how Jesus’ words in Matthew 6 confront both irrational fears and everyday anxieties. Together we ask: what actually helps when worry builds? How do we hold God’s promises alongside our human vulnerability? And what does it mean to trust a God who both wants to help and actually can?
Open in podcast appWhere Your Treasure Rests
A conversation on value, motivation, and the words of Jesus in Matthew 6. What drives us? What do we really treasure? In this episode, we talk through Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 6:19–24 and how it challenges our motives, reshapes our values, and points us toward a foundation that lasts. From everyday habits to hidden motivations, from external rewards to eternal treasures—we explore how Christ calls us to see what truly matters and how that vision changes everything.
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