Multigenerational contexts designed to provide biblical literacy, training, and practical application for wise living in the places God has positioned us.
Jan 26, Feb 2
Baptism 101
Feb 2 – 23
Marriage 101, Bible 101
Feb 2
Crash Course: Hard Sayings of Jesus
Feb 21 & 22
Equip Weekend with Sam Alberry
March 2
Crash Course: Can I trust the Bible?
March 30
Baptism 101
101 Class
Foundational classes for all ages introducing you to Christian beliefs and practices. Four weeks on Sunday mornings.
Crash Course
Free, workshop-style classes providing a deep dive on a theological subject for Christian life, practice, and discipline. Monthly on Sundays at 6p.
Equip Weekend
Intensive seminars providing theological understanding & training on a particular subject and how it relates to Christian beliefs & practices. One weekend each semester.
Course Archive
Recorded sessions from Equip Weekends & Crash Courses.
Equip Podcast
Designed to provide insight, resources and biblical wisdom. Hosted by Mark Vance.
Suggested Reads
Cornerstone Staff’s favorite & most helpful books.
Teachers: Alanna Sellinger with Ministry Staff Leaders • Cost: Free
Teachers: Staff Directors and Elders • Cost: Free
Teachers: Joel Jorgenson • Cost: $10/per person
Teachers: Sydney Thompson and Zac Johnson • Cost: $10/per person
Free, workshop-style classes providing a deep dive on a theological subject for Bible, Community, Mission rhythms of the Christian life. Monthly on Sunday nights at 6:00-8:00p In The Box. Save the dates below, topics and descriptions coming soon!
Sunday, 6:00-8:00p
in The Box
This crash course will explore what the Bible says about diversity and how the church can cultivate a rich, all-encompassing theology of diversity that reflects God’s heart for all people. We’ll go beyond just race and ethnicity to examine how aspects like socioeconomic status, marital status, disabilities, and family makeup contribute to a fuller understanding of God’s design for community. Participants will be challenged to consider how embracing holistic diversity can foster spiritual growth, deepen relationships, and help believers mature in their faith. We’ll also address the dangers of elevating any single aspect of identity above our identity in Christ and explore how exclusion from diversity can hinder spiritual maturity.
Teacher: Alex Tuckness with guest panelists.
Sunday, 6:00-8:00p
in The Box
Let’s be honest: Sometimes Jesus says things are just downright confusing, a this course will delve into some of the challenging and often misunderstood sayings of Jesus. Participants will gain tools for interpreting tough biblical texts, addressing questions and concerns that arise from passages that seem confusing or troubling. With a focus on clarity and sound biblical interpretation, we’ll explore how these hard sayings reveal profound truths about the character of God and the nature of the Kingdom of Heaven.
Teacher: Alex Tuckness and Alanna Sellinger.
Sunday, 6:00-8:00p
in The Box
In a world where truth is constantly called into question, we’ve been asking this question of the Bible’s reliability, trustworthiness and authority for thousands of years. This crash course will explore why understanding the Bible’s nature is crucial for a solid faith foundation, and participants will also learn how the Bible was formed (including a brief history of its contents and the process by which it took shape) and examine the trustworthiness of the New Testament by looking at the historicity and reliability of its manuscripts.
Teacher: Dan Johnston.
Sunday, 6:00-8:00p
in The Box
Graduation season is around the corner, which means life transitions are all around us. Navigating life after college is one of the trickiest, and this crash course will help soon-to-be college graduates navigate this transition with realistic expectations, wisdom, and clarity. We’ll address the challenges and opportunities in key areas such as relationships, career, church and community involvement, while also exploring how to maintain a vibrant relationship with Christ in the midst of these changes.
Teacher: Alanna Sellinger with guest panelists.
Sunday, 6:00-8:00p
in The Box
Death is a certain and inescapable part of life in a fallen world, so are we prepared to die well? This crash course will explore five critical areas to deepen our understanding of living and dying well in light of eternity: medical decisions, funeral planning, legacy building, financial preparedness, and spiritual reflection. We’ll discuss practical guidance and biblical insights to help participants navigate these important topics, ensuring they are ready to face death with grace, honoring God in every aspect of their preparation.
Teacher: Mark Vance with guest panelists.
Catch up on classes you couldn’t make (or just revisit ones you enjoyed) here:
This course on Christian Ethics, in partnership with Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, will help participants develop a Christian framework for ethics through a comprehensive exploration of personal and societal ethical issues from a biblical perspective. The class will combine video lectures, engaging table and class discussions, and two weeks of in-person lectures led by Dr. Mark Liederbach, Senior Professor of Ethics, Theology, and Culture, and Dean of Students at SEBTS. Topics covered range from foundational principles of Christian ethics to real-world applications, including issues such as abortion, euthanasia, marriage, sexuality, and social ethics.
Registration cost: $35 (includes all of Dr. Liederbach’s video lectures at the end of Equip Group, course book and other materials)
Registration closes Sunday, Jan 26th
with Sam Allberry
Open to the Public
Join us for our Gender & Sexuality Equip Weekend, where world-renowned author and speaker Sam Allberry will help us explore key biblical perspectives on sex, the body, gender, and relationships. With clarity and compassion, Sam will unpack how the gospel offers both truth and hope in navigating these important topics in today’s cultural conversations.
Throughout the weekend, you’ll gain a rooted, biblical understanding of how to align your identity and relationships with God’s good design and purposes. We’ll have a live Q&A after each session, creating space to ask questions and dive deeper into the ways the gospel shapes our lives.
Whether you’re looking for insight, encouragement, or a stronger foundation for these discussions, this weekend will provide thoughtful, meaningful guidance.
Session One
How Should I Think About Sex?
Session Two
How Should I Think About My Body?
Session Three
How Should I Think About Gender?
Session Four
How Should I Think About Marriage and Singleness?
Sam Allberry is the Associate Pastor at Immanuel Nashville. He is the author of various books including What God Has to Say About Our Bodies and Is God Anti-Gay?; and the co-host of the podcast You’re Not Crazy: Gospel Sanity for Young Pastors. He is a Fellow at the Keller Center for Cultural Apologetics.
$10 each, $25 for three-book bundle
Yes! You are welcome to attend as much of the weekend as possible.
No, this is a free event and registration is not required.
Nothing! Equip Weekend is free and open to all because we want everyone to have access to beneficial content.
Please plan to arrange for childcare on your own as it will not provided at Equip Weekend. The nature of this event is designed for students (MS, HS, college) and community members.
Yes, you can find all Equip Weekend recordings for this event — as well as previous ones — on the Equip Course Archives podcast.
No, the more the merrier! We’d love for anyone in Ames, or the surrounding communities, to feel welcome to attend any Cornerstone Equipping Ministry class or event regardless if you’d consider Cornerstone your church home!
No problem, email Cornerstone’s Equipping Ministry so we can help!
See an overview of each session below. There will also be a live Q&A with Gavin Ortlund after every session.
SESSION ONE – 7P
How to Thrive in a Hostile Culture: Lessons From the Early Church
In Session 1, Ortlund will share how the early Christians responded to a hostile and ungodly surrounding culture with neither retreat nor attack. Special attention is given to the early Christians’ attitude toward entertainment (gladiator games, theater, etc.), which provides many lessons for how Christians today should respond to television and social media.
SESSION TWO – 8P
Tales of Martyrs: Faithful Courage From Forgotten Stories
In Session 2, Ortlund will share about inspiring and often neglected stories of faithfulness amidst suffering in church history. Special focus will be given to how Christians responded to persecution in the early church, and the courage of missionaries and martyrs who brought the gospel into Northern Europe in early medieval history.
SESSION THREE – 9A
Overcoming Anxiety: How the Puritans Can Help
One of the most acute and prevalent modern struggles is anxiety. We have resources in our theological traditions that can speak to this struggle. In Session 3, Ortlund will draw lessons from the Puritans, who excelled at applying the gospel as a balm to the human heart. Special attention is given to the role of the Holy Spirit in providing assurance of the love of God.
SESSION FOUR – 10:30A
Which Battles Are Worth Fighting? Lessons From the Fundamentalist-Modernist Controversy
A great need in the church today is theological triage: which issues are worth fighting over? Going back 100 years into church history provides helpful perspective on which doctrines we should be willing to divide over—and which are not. Despite the negative connotations of the word “fundamentalist,” the early fundamentalists can actually help us consider how to prioritize the gospel amidst our theological disagreements. In Session 4, Ortlund will provide an overview of what the early fundamentalists stood for, and how their legacy relates to contemporary conversations.
Join us for this free Equip Weekend with Gavin Ortlund as we learn rich and relevant lessons from centuries of Christianity. We’ll explore how early Christians thrived in hostile cultures, hear inspiring stories of martyrdom and missionary courage, and learn from the Puritans about overcoming anxiety. We’ll also discuss how to prioritize theological battles in our modern context, guided by lessons from the fundamentalist-modernist controversy. Ortlund will provide practical insights to enrich your spiritual life and help you navigate everyday challenges with greater wisdom and resilience.
Want to go back and listen to past Equip Weekend sessions? Stream the “Equip Course Archive” podcast on Apple or Spotify.
Our Fall 2022 Equip Weekend explored answers to questions regarding God and science issues. Participants attended four sessions to learn about modern scientific evidence for God, proposed naturalistic alternatives, a scientific approach to the biblical account of creation, the Big Bang, and evolution, and what we learn about God through science. Taught by Dr. Mike Strauss.
Our Spring 2022 Equip Weekend explored Blueprint Foundations: understanding how our unique stories, abilities, passions and contexts bring focus to a gospel-centered life design powered by Younique to provide a sense of clarity, courage, and calling for our distinct roles in God’s redemptive mission. While breakout session recordings are not available for the public, both main sessions are available in our course archive library. Taught by Cornerstone Staff.
Our Fall 2021 Equip Weekend explored Christian theology and how it relates to mental health. Participants attended both main sessions and focused track sessions in one of the three arenas mental health can most impact a person: in technology, in community, and in vocation. Taught by Cornerstone Staff.
Address
3425 Turing Street
Ames, IA 50010
Phone
(515) 232-5488
Office Hours:
Mon-Thur, 9:00a–3:00p
Join Us In Person:
8:30a & 10:30a
Sundays
Join Us Online:
8:30a & 10:30a
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