Equip Podcast

What does it look like to be deeply rooted in Christ in a world of cultural chaos? In this Ask Mark Anything episode, Mark Vance responds to honest questions from the Cornerstone Church community about faithfulness in everyday life—especially when culture, technology, and suffering raise complex tensions.From staying consistent in spiritual habits, to navigating social media and marketing with integrity, to honoring God in our vocations, Mark offers biblical wisdom that is both grounded and practical. The conversation also addresses deeply pastoral questions about grief, infants and intellectual disability, and how Christians can trust God’s goodness when Scripture doesn’t provide simple answers. The episode closes with a thoughtful discussion on artificial intelligence, urging believers to engage wisely—using technology as a tool that serves human flourishing rather than replacing it.Episode Highlights01:33 — What is delighting you about Jesus right now in your scripture reading? 05:17 — Is there a Christian way to do marketing and sales? 10:16 — Should we avoid social media? 12:41 — Is there a hierarchy of holiness in vocation? What should we be doing with our time and lives?20:04 — How do we think about infants (or those with childlike cognitive ability) who die without being able to profess anything? 29:35 — Can AI be my doctor? Could AI be my counselor? How should Christians think about the everyday role AI plays in their life? 33:48 — What's the “monk vs. missionary” idea when it comes to AI and technology?ResourcesCornerstone Church Sermons: Listen onlineThe Spring Spiritual Workout PlanGod at Work — Gene Edward Veith

What’s the difference between true revival and revivalism, and how should Christians respond when God seems to be stirring something fresh? Mark reflects on the Salt Company Conference and the broader signs of spiritual hunger he’s seeing among Gen Z. He explains why this moment is deeply encouraging, while also offering a needed distinction between revival and revivalism.Mark draws from Iain Murray’s Revival and Revivalism and echoes a helpful framework often attributed to Tim Keller: in true revival, dead Christians come alive, sleepy Christians wake up, and non-Christians are converted. As he looks ahead, Mark shares both a fear and a hope: that momentum could drift toward big event “mountaintop moments,” or instead fuel a lasting renewal centered on the local church, discipleship, and church planting.Episode Highlights00:04 — What does it look like to be deeply rooted in Christ in a world of cultural chaos? 00:32 — Reflecting on Salt Company Conference and what God is doing through it02:29 — Introducing the key question: revival vs. revivalism 05:03 — Defining revival: God’s Spirit igniting ordinary means of grace 06:06 — Defining revivalism: using human methods to produce extraordinary results 06:57 — Mark’s fear: momentum gets centered on big events and emotional moments 07:29 — Mark’s hope: a renewal movement that strengthens the local church 10:13 — The main point: God’s plan is the local church (not revival events) 15:43 — Luke 10:2: pray for laborers and for lasting fruit through church plantingResourcesCornerstone Church Sermons: Listen onlineSalt Company Conference: Listen to Sessions & BreakoutsRevival and Revivalism — Iain MurrayThe Gospel Coalition — "It's Here: Gen-Z Revival Hits Campuses This Fall"

As a new year approaches, how should Christians think about goals, habits, and productivity—without slipping into hustle culture or empty self-improvement?In this episode, Mark offers a pastoral framework for goal setting that prioritizes faithfulness over frenzy. Rather than chasing vague resolutions or cultural pressure, he encourages listeners to think carefully about how they steward their time, energy, and attention as followers of Jesus. Drawing on biblical wisdom and pastoral experience, Mark contrasts surface-level goal setting with intentional rhythms that shape who we are becoming.Mark also introduces the Spiritual Workout Plan (SWP) as a practical tool to help believers grow in grace through daily and weekly practices like Scripture reading, prayer, silence, and intentional rest. This episode invites listeners to move from pressure-driven productivity to Spirit-formed faithfulness as they plan for the year ahead.Episode Highlights00:00 — Why goal setting matters—and why most approaches fall short 02:12 — Faithfulness vs. hustle: rethinking success as a Christian 04:35 — Time, energy, and attention as spiritual stewardship 07:18 — The danger of vague resolutions and cultural pressure 09:50 — Forming rhythms instead of chasing outcomes 12:40 — Introducing the Spiritual Workout Plan (SWP): what it is and how it helps 15:22 — Daily and weekly practices that shape long-term faithfulness 18:10 — From discipline to delight: how habits form loves 21:05 — Planning your year with wisdom, margin, and dependence on graceResourcesCornerstone Church Sermons: Listen onlineThe Spring Spiritual Workout PlanJames Clear, Atomic HabitsJustin Whitmel Earley, Habits of the HouseholdDavid Mathis, Habits of Grace

How should Christians navigate real-life questions about faith, family, dating, and church differences—especially when Catholic and Protestant worlds overlap?In this Q&A episode, Emily joins Mark to wrap up the “Why Protestantism?” series by moving from theology to wisdom. Mark responds to practical questions that surface after discussing Catholic and Protestant differences, particularly for those who grew up Catholic, have Catholic family members, or are navigating close relationships across traditions. Throughout the conversation, he emphasizes starting with the gospel itself—personal faith in Christ—before addressing church affiliation, practices, or tradition.Mark also tackles sensitive topics like honoring Catholic parents, engaging family conversations with humility, dating across theological traditions, and how to approach disagreements with both clarity and charity. He concludes by addressing questions about biblical authority and the Catholic canon, explaining how Protestants understand Scripture, canon formation, and the ongoing need for reform within the church. The episode closes with a hopeful reminder that Christian unity matters deeply, even as real differences remain.Episode Highlights00:00 — Introducing the Q&A: moving from theology to pastoral wisdom 02:00 — The foundational question: what truly saves a person? 03:30 — Can someone be a genuine Christian within the Catholic Church? 05:50 — When gospel clarity matters for spiritual growth and church health 06:45 — Honoring Catholic family members without compromising conviction 08:00 — “Show and tell” vs. “argue and yell”: a wiser approach to family conversations 10:05 — Dating across traditions: when differences become directional conflicts 11:00 — Mark’s 0–5 dating framework and why long-term direction matters 15:30 — Why Mark advises against serious dating between Catholics and Protestants 16:45 — Do Catholics have a different Bible? Understanding the Apocrypha 18:30 — How the church recognized Scripture—and why Protestants affirm sola Scriptura 23:40 — Learning from church history: where Protestant churches can drift too 26:00 — Why Protestantism allows for reform and self-correction 28:30 — The danger of trivializing worship and doctrine in modern evangelicalism 30:15 — Charity, clarity, and Christian unity in a secularizing cultureResourcesCornerstone Church Sermons: Listen onlineGavin Ortlund, What It Means to Be Protestant (Truth Unites)Michael J. Kruger, Canon RevisitedMichael J. Kruger, Christianity at the Crossroads

If both Catholics and Protestants believe we’re saved by grace through Jesus Christ, why do they still disagree so sharply about the gospel—and how we actually receive it?In this episode, Mark continues the “Why Protestantism?” series by focusing on how grace is applied to the believer. He explains how Roman Catholicism understands grace as being mediated through the Church’s sacramental system—especially baptism and the Eucharist—and why the sacraments are seen as the ordinary channels through which God dispenses saving grace. Using a vivid “pop machine” illustration, Mark unpacks how this shapes Catholic views of salvation, assurance, and the Christian life.Mark then contrasts this with the Protestant conviction of sola fide—that we are justified by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone, with the preached Word at the center. He highlights areas of real agreement with Roman Catholics (salvation by grace, the transforming work of the Spirit) while also showing where the systems diverge, especially on how grace is received. Finally, he explores how these differences show up in Sunday worship and why gospel clarity matters deeply for ordinary Christians.Episode Highlights00:00 — Intro to the Equip Podcast and the “Why Protestantism?” series recap 02:28 — Sacramental system vs sola fide and why gospel clarity is at stake 03:22 — Is the gospel present in Roman Catholicism? Where Protestants and Catholics genuinely agree 06:00 — Grace, transformation, and assurance: why Catholics don’t say “saved by works,” and where Protestants often misunderstand 09:37 — The “pop machine” illustration: how Catholic theology sees grace flowing through the Church and its sacraments 11:27 — Walking through the seven sacraments: initiation, healing, and service—and why baptism and Eucharist are central 15:49 — The Protestant response: sola fide, justification by faith alone, and sacraments as signs and seals rather than the source of saving grace 17:22 — Romans 10 and the primacy of the preached Word: faith comes by hearing, not by ritual performance 20:25 — Sunday in the pews: how a Catholic Mass and a Protestant service reveal two different centers—Eucharist vs sermon 21:53 — Why Mark believes the gospel is present but often unclear in Catholicism—and why personal faith in Christ must be emphasized 22:22 — Preview of next week’s Q&A with Emily Jensen: dating a Catholic, real-life conversations, and practicing clarity with charityResources:Cornerstone Church Sermons: Listen onlineGavin Ortlund, What It Means to Be Protestant (Truth Unites)Matthew Barrett, The Reformation as RenewalMichael Svigel, RetroChristianity: Reclaiming the Forgotten FaithChad Van Dixhoorn (ed.), Creeds, Confessions, and Catechisms: A Reader’s EditionCatechism of the Catholic Church (Vatican)

Advent is here, which means an opportunity to slow down, refocus, and remember who Christmas is really about. In this bonus episode, Mark Vance and Emily Jensen walk through why Advent matters, how this season forms us, and how families and individuals can use Cornerstone’s Advent Guide to cultivate simple, meaningful rhythms that point to Jesus.They remind us that Advent isn’t about adding pressure or performing traditions, but about creating space to behold Christ: his first coming in humility and his promised return in glory. Whether Advent is brand-new for you or a longtime rhythm, this conversation will help you see the bigger picture of why waiting, hope, and intentional practices shape a deeper faith.Episode Highlights:00:00 — Introduction and overview of the Cornerstone Advent Guide01:41 — What Advent is and why Christians practice it in a post-Christian culture04:28 — How the Advent Guide and Kids Connection help families engage with weekly themes05:04 — Simple, realistic ways to weave Advent rhythms into everyday family life10:51 — Navigating Santa, secular traditions, and keeping Christ central at ChristmasResources:Digital Advent Guide: DownloadAdvent at Cornerstone: Schedule and ResourcesCornerstone Church Sermons: Listen online

Why do Catholics look to the Pope and the Magisterium for ultimate authority, while Protestants look to Scripture alone—and what does that mean for everyday faith? Mark continues the “Why Protestantism?” series by examining the heart of the authority debate. He explains how Roman Catholicism understands the Pope, apostolic succession, sacred tradition, and the Magisterium, and why Catholics believe these provide an infallible guide for the Church. Mark then contrasts this with the Protestant conviction that the Bible alone is the final and sufficient authority for faith and life.Mark explores where these two systems diverge, why the Reformers rejected papal infallibility, and how the question of authority shapes everything—from doctrine, to worship, to the clarity of the gospel itself. This episode sets the stage for next week’s focus on gospel clarity and why authority matters for every Christian.Episode Highlights00:00 — Framing today’s question: who speaks with final authority in the Church? 02:14 — How Catholicism understands authority: Scripture, tradition, and the Magisterium 04:41 — Apostolic succession and why Catholics believe the Pope is Peter’s successor 06:58 — What papal infallibility actually means (and what it doesn’t) 10:08 — Ex cathedra teaching: when the Pope speaks infallibly 12:15 — Protestant concerns: where is the biblical basis for an infallible papacy? 14:02 — Why the Reformers insisted on sola Scriptura (Scripture alone) 16:40 — The practical implications: how these differences shape the Christian lifeResources:Cornerstone Church Sermons: Listen onlineGavin Ortlund, What It Means to Be Protestant (Truth Unites)Matthew Barrett, The Reformation as RenewalMichael Svigel, RetroChristianity: Reclaiming the Forgotten FaithChad Van Dixhoorn (ed.), Creeds, Confessions, and Catechisms: A Reader’s EditionCatechism of the Catholic Church (Vatican)

Why do Protestants and Catholics differ so sharply on authority, Mary, and the nature of the true church—and why does it matter for following Jesus today?In this episode, Mark Vance continues the “Why Protestantism?” series by examining some of the most significant theological differences between Roman Catholicism and Protestant belief. With clarity and charity, Mark explains how Catholic teachings on Mary, the papacy, and church authority developed—and why he believes they obscure the clarity of the gospel.Mark walks through the “four Marian doctrines,” the Catholic understanding of sacred tradition, and the claim of papal infallibility, showing how these teachings shape the Catholic view of the church. He contrasts this with the Protestant conviction that Scripture alone is the final authority and that salvation is grounded solely in the finished work of Christ. This episode lays crucial groundwork for understanding why the Reformers believed a return to biblical authority was necessary for the health of the church.Episode Highlights00:00 — Why Protestantism? Continuing the series and framing today's topic: authority 02:47 — How Catholic doctrine develops: tradition, councils, and magisterial teaching 06:10 — The four Marian doctrines (Immaculate Conception, Perpetual Virginity, Assumption, and Mary as Mediatrix) 11:52 — Why these Marian teachings matter for understanding the gospel 14:30 — How Catholicism understands the church’s teaching authority (magisterium) 16:44 — The logic behind papal infallibility and ex cathedra teaching 19:55 — Protestant concerns: where is the biblical warrant for these doctrines? 22:18 — Scripture vs. tradition: which has final authority? 24:12 — Why Mark believes the Catholic view of authority obscures gospel clarityResourcesCornerstone Church Sermons: Listen onlineGavin Ortlund, What It Means to Be Protestant (Truth Unites)Matthew Barrett, The Reformation as RenewalMichael Svigel, RetroChristianity: Reclaiming the Forgotten FaithChad Van Dixhoorn (ed.), Creeds, Confessions, and Catechisms: A Reader’s EditionCatechism of the Catholic Church (Vatican)

Why are some Protestants drawn toward Roman Catholicism—and how should we think about the “one true church”? In this episode, Mark Vance launches a five-part series on the nature of the church, explaining why he remains a Protestant while seeking to speak with both clarity and charity about Catholicism.Mark walks through why historical rootedness feels especially compelling in shaky cultural moments, how true Christianity exists within the Roman Catholic Church, and yet why he believes certain teachings and practices obscure the gospel. He also introduces the four major reasons he’s a Protestant: the nature of the true church, the history of the church, the question of authority, and the clarity of the gospel—setting the stage for the rest of the series.Episode Highlights:00:00 — Launching a five-part series: “Why Protestantism?” and why people are asking about Catholicism03:19 — True Christianity within Catholicism—and how some teachings can obscure the gospel08:55 — Overview of the four major reasons Mark remains a Protestant11:25 — The Protestant view of the “one true church” and the visible/invisible church distinction17:43 — How the Roman Catholic Church understands itself as the one true church (one, holy, catholic, apostolic)22:51 — Protestantism as a renewal movement within the one true church, not a competing “true church”24:19 — Are all Catholics saved? Visible membership vs. being born again by faith in Christ26:03 — Why Mark says Rome is “not Catholic enough” and how Protestantism offers a broader catholicityResources:Cornerstone Church Sermons: Listen onlineGavin Ortlund, What It Means to Be Protestant (Truth Unites)Matthew Barrett, The Reformation as RenewalMichael Svigel, RetroChristianity: Reclaiming the Forgotten FaithChad Van Dixhoorn (ed.), Creeds, Confessions, and Catechisms: A Reader’s EditionCatechism of the Catholic Church (Vatican)

What does the Tenth Commandment have to do with Target runs, Amazon carts, and Instagram ads? In this episode, Mark and Emily explore “Do not covet” and talk honestly about living in a world designed to stir desire and fuel discontent.They discuss why coveting runs deeper than wanting stuff — it’s about wanting someone else’s life — and why modern advertising, comparison culture, and curated online lifestyles make contentment both harder and more essential. With practical ideas like 24-hour purchase rules, fasting from buying, gratitude habits, and learning to rejoice in others’ good, this conversation invites us into a lifestyle shaped by worship, simplicity, and joy in God’s provision.Resources:Cornerstone Church Sermons: Listen online