I’m New

Cornerstone Equipping

Multigenerational contexts designed to provide biblical literacy, training, and practical application for wise living in the places God has positioned us.

Crash Course:
Women, the Church, and Gender Roles

101 Fall Term 2 Begins

Nov 10-11

Equip Weekend: The Political Gospel

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.

101 Classes

For nearly 30 years, we have seen God do more than we could ever ask or imagine. As a church family, we want membership to be a way for us to covenant together and affirm a shared confession, vision, and commitment to one another as members of Cornerstone Church. If you are interested in joining Cornerstone as a family member, this 2-week class is your next step!

Teachers: Staff & Elders  •   Cost: Free

Introducing: Seasonal 101 Terms!

Each Fall and each Spring, a total of eight classes will be offered, divided between two terms. In each term, four classes will be offered simultaneously, meeting at various times and in various classrooms over the course of a four week span. Each season will have two unique terms that offer a distinct selection of classes.

Use the tabs below to toggle between the upcoming fall term course schedules.

Fall Term 2

October 22 – November 12

Scroll Horizontally to View More

Essential Theology 101

In an ever-changing cultural time where “your truth” and “my truth” are supposed to co-exist, Christians must form deep roots in the truths of the Christian faith that have held the test of time for centuries. This class will discuss “the faith delivered once for all to the saints” as it unpacks the essential theology of the Bible, Trinity, Humanity and Sin, Angels and Demons, and End Times, Heaven and Hell.

Teachers: Alanna Sellinger & Alex Tuckness

Cost: $10

Finance 101

This class is designed to provide you with biblical wisdom and guidance to see and steward financial resources that God owns and entrusts to us. Regardless of your stage of life or financial situation, you’ll learn foundational principles and practical tools to give first, save second, live within your means with contentment, and avoid bad debt.

Teachers: Val Duvick and Justin Bennett

Cost: $10

Apologetics 101

Have you ever been faced with a question about Christianity that you didn’t know how to answer? Or, have you wrestled with your own doubts and questions based on the claims of Christianity? Perhaps you’re not quite sure how to engage with others in opposition with grace and truth? This class will discuss common questions and oppositions to the Christian faith: a suffering world and a good God, science and Christianity, why Christianity condones injustice and opposes homosexuality, and how Christianity can exclusively claim one way to God. Participants will have a more robust understanding of what Christians believe, why, and how to seek faith with understanding when faced with doubt and questions.

Teachers: Ryan Allan & Dan Johnston

Cost: $10

Blueprint 101: Sweet Spot

This class explores the nature of calling and the ways in which our God-given abilities, passions, and contexts help to maximize our impact in advancing God’s Kingdom here on earth. Participants will utilize a variety of tools, assessments and reflections to examine personal callings and their own “sweet spot.” This class is one of three Blueprint courses, a gospel-centered life design curriculum, offered at Cornerstone.

Teachers: Alanna Sellinger & Jeremy Horton

Cost: $10

Fall Term 1

September 10 – October 1

Scroll Horizontally to View More

Bible 101

If the Bible is the most important book for Christians, it’s worth our while to understand why the Bible matters, how we got the Bible, and how we read and interact with it. This class will cover just that and provide you with a renewed love for God’s word and practical ways to study and apply it to everyday life.

Teachers: Simeon Bell & Alanna Sellinger

Cost: $10

Blueprint 101: Life Rhythms

A class to help shape and inform your life rhythms by establishing daily plans, weekly and quarterly goals, seasonal themes and lifetime dreams within the scope of work and rest. This class is one of three Blueprint courses, a gospel-centered life design curriculum, offered at Cornerstone.

Teachers: Mark Duvick & Jackie Bong

Cost: $10

Sharing Your Faith 101

As Christians we know the Great Commission in Matthew 28:18-20 is directed at us, but how exactly do we live it out in obedience? Whether it’s to a neighbor or to the nations, this class will provide you with practical ways to articulate and share your faith with others, live as a faithful presence and fruitful witness right where you are, and take steps to become a global Christian whose heart for the nations aligns with the heart of God.

Teachers: John LaRavia, Tim Gartin, Mel Pearson, & Eric Warren

Cost: $10

Marriage 101

A class designed for any married, engaged, or seriously dating couple. Addressing common challenges, foundational principles, and practical wisdom from a biblical perspective, this 101 class includes large group teaching and small group table discussion with mentor couples.

Teachers: Steve Jones

Cost: $10

World Religions

Sunday, 6:00-8:00p
in The Box

Perhaps as a Christian, you feel comfortable and clear on the basic tenants of the Christian faith. But what about the pillars of faith and belief systems for other major world religions like Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, Tribalism, and the like? This crash course will provide a 30,000 ft overview of world religions, provide you with clarity and curiosity for non-Christians around the world, and instill courage and confidence when engaging in gospel conversations with those of different faiths and worldviews.

Teacher: Eric Warren with guest panelists

Women, the Church, and Gender Roles

Sunday, 6:00-8:00p
in The Box

If both men and women are image-bearers with equal worth, value and dignity before God, why exactly does that translate to distinct roles in the church that often limit women and elevate men? Even more, why is the church responsible for so much of the marginalization of women, and does this accurately reflect the way women were treated in scripture? Bluntly: Does Paul the Apostle devalue women? This crash course will unpack a biblical framework for women as image-bearers, how Christ’s life and ministry gives dignity and significance to women, and how women lead in the church from a complementarian viewpoint.

Teachers: Mark Vance and Alanna Sellinger

Missed a Course?

Catch up on classes you couldn’t make (or just revisit ones you enjoyed) here:

Missed a Course?

Catch up on classes you couldn’t make (or just revisit ones you enjoyed) here:

Equip Weekend: The Political Gospel

with Patrick Schreiner

Registration Opens Soon

It seems that everyone disagrees about politics. Christians, in particular, are divided about how to engage in the political realm. These sessions will equip you from the Scriptures concerning how to engage in politics by going back to the Bible. While we tend to view the Bible as a “religious” document it has much more to say than we think about politics.  By looking at the Scriptures we will explore what it means to have a biblical public witness in a supercharged political climate.

Equip Weekend: The Political Gospel is a free event for anyone in Ames or the surrounding community to attend. No registration required. Light refreshments will be served, and childcare is not provided.

Copies of Patrick Schreiner’s book, The Political Gospel, will be available for purchase throughout the weekend event.

Free, no registration required
Friday 6:30 – 9:00p
Saturday 8:30a – 11:45a

About Patrick Schreiner

Patrick Schreiner is a pastor and teaches New Testament at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas City, Missouri. He earned his B.A. from Western Kentucky in Journalism and Ph.D. from Southern Seminary in New Testament studies. He is the author of many books, including Political Gospel. He lives with his wife and four kids Kansas City where they enjoy the Midwest. He is a big fan of the Kansas City Chiefs and Minnesota Vikings and has been waiting his whole life for the Vikings first Super Bowl win. 

Session One:
Christians Need to Be More (Not Less) Political
Christianity not only has political implications, but is itself a politic

Session Two:
Becoming Subversive Prophets
Christianity is a disruption and challenge to the political order

Session Three:
Becoming Submissive Citizens
Christians are called to submit to the state and be innocent and righteous citizens

Session Four:
How to Engage in Politics in the 21st Century
Models for public witness in a supercharged political climate to provide application for the upcoming election season 

Schedule

6:30p
Doors open

7:00p
Session One

7:30p
Break

7:45p
Session Two

8:30p
Live Q&A

8:30a
Doors open

9:00a
Session Three

9:45a
Live Q&A

10:15a
Break

10:30a
Session Four

11:15a
Live Q&A

FAQs

I can't come for the whole weekend, can I come to some of it?

Yes! You are welcome to attend as much of the weekend as possible.

Do I need to register for Equip Weekend?

No, this is a free event and registration is not required.

Is childcare provided?

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. 

Are the sessions recorded?

Yes, you can find all Equip Weekend recordings for this event — as well as previous ones — on the Equip Course Archives podcast.

Where is the event located?

Equip Weekend: The Political Gospel will be held in the Main Auditorium at Cornerstone Church

I have another question that didn't get answered here.

No problem, email Cornerstone’s Equipping Ministry so we can help!

Past Equip Weekend Topics

Want to go back and listen to past Equip Weekend sessions? Stream the “Equip Course Archive” podcast on Apple or Spotify.

Our Spring 2023 Equip Weekend unpacked the key theological truths that shape our faith as we explore the essential doctrine of Christianity and how doctrine intersects and applies to everyday life. Breakouts covered the Bible, the Trinity, Humanity & Sin, Salvation, the Church, and End Times.

Our Fall 2022 Equip Weekend explored answers to questions regarding God and science issues. Participants attended four sessions taught by Dr. Mike Strauss 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.

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.

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.