Begin with the Cornerstone

On Vision Sunday, Pastor Dallas shared his heart for our house in 2019. Using the acronym BUILD, he began by talking about 5 traits he wanted to be true of us this year. The first, he said, was that we must BEGIN with the Cornerstone.

Isaiah 28:16 - therefore the Lord God said: “Look, I have laid a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation; the one who believes will be unshakable.

Acts 4:8-12 - Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit said, “Rulers of the people and elders: 9 If we are being examined today about a good deed done to a disabled man, by what means he was healed, 10 let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified and whom God raised from the dead—by him this man is standing here before you healthy. 11 This Jesus (quoting Psalm 118:22) is the stone rejected by you builders, which has become the cornerstone. 12 There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to people by which we must be saved.

Only as we are aligned with Him and abiding in Him can we be built up in our faith. Colossians 2:6-7 reiterates this truth: so then, just as you have received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, 7 being rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, and overflowing with gratitude.

Christ is the Cornerstone of our salvation and of our sanctification. So we can’t ever build upon anything or anyone else. And it’s through God’s Word that we get to know Jesus.

As we consider all that God might want to do in our lives this year, let’s agree that little will happen unless we prioritize unhurried time in the Scriptures.

David Mathis, in his book Habits of Grace, writes: At the end of the day, there is simply no replacement for finding a regular time and place, blocking out distractions, putting your nose in the text, and letting your mind and heart be captured and thrilled by God himself communicating to us in His Word. 

So where do we start?

Our friends at Replicate Ministries have crafted a wonderful plan called the F-260 Plan. It’s a Bible-reading plan for busy believers that allows us to walk through God’s Word over the course of a year. Many of our D-Groups are already using this plan on a daily basis. You can download the plan by clicking here. It’s also available through the Bible app.

As you read, consider keeping a small notebook handy to jot down thoughts or takeaways from your time in the Word. Journaling is a wonderful way to retain what you’re reading and it gives you the means to refer back to it at a later time. Our friends at Replicate have also created a simple journal method called HEAR. It’s an acrostic that stands for Highlight, Explain, Apply, Respond.

This is the method that Pastor Dallas referred to in his message; one he still uses frequently when engaging with God’s Word.

Finally, know that you don’t have to try to figure all of this our on your own! Our team stands ready to help you in any way we can. If you’ve got questions or need additional guidance, don’t hesitate to let us know!