Equip Podcast

Should I splurge on Burgie’s coffee? Can I buy the nice toilet paper? In this episode, Mark Vance and Emily Jensen take a closer look at what the eighth commandment, “Do not steal”, teaches us about generosity, stewardship, and spending.They talk about why the opposite of stealing isn’t just “not stealing,” but intentional generosity. From local purchases to thoughtful spending, this conversation dives into how everyday financial decisions can reflect love for God and neighbor.Episode Highlights:00:00 — Introducing the commandment against stealing04:08 — Why the opposite of stealing is generosity08:19 — Can frugality become unloving?12:23 — How spending can serve others16:10 — Practicing intentional generosity in daily lifeResources:Cornerstone Church Sermons: Listen online

Equip Podcast Episode 298: The Ten Commandments — Marriage, Purity, and PornographyShow Notes: What does it look like to pursue purity in a world that’s lost its way? In this episode, Mark Vance and Emily Jensen unpack the seventh commandment—“You shall not commit adultery.” They talk honestly about marriage, lust, and the reality of pornography, exploring why it’s so destructive and how followers of Jesus can walk in freedom and hope.Mark offers practical wisdom for breaking patterns of sin, restoring healthy desires, and building a culture of holiness in the church. This conversation is frank but filled with grace, pointing us toward God’s good design for love, intimacy, and faithfulness.Episode Highlights:00:00 — Introducing the seventh commandment05:45 — What Jesus teaches about adultery and the heart11:20 — How pornography distorts desire and damages relationships18:50 — Finding freedom and healing through honesty and community26:30 — Building a culture that celebrates purity and faithfulnessResources:Cornerstone Church Sermons: Listen onlineCornerstone Recovery Ministry: Learn more

What does it mean to value life as God does? In this episode, Mark Vance and Emily Jensen continue through the Ten Commandments by exploring the sixth commandment: “You shall not murder.”Building on Simeon’s recent sermon, they discuss the sanctity of life from a biblical perspective and reflect on how this command extends far beyond the act of taking life. Together they talk through cultural shifts, issues of human dignity, and what it looks like for Christians to uphold life in a society that often devalues it.Episode Highlights:00:00 — Introducing the Sixth Commandment: “You shall not murder”04:30 — The deeper meaning of the sanctity of life10:40 — Cultural attitudes toward life and human dignity16:15 — How Christians can respond with conviction and compassion23:10 — Living out the value of life in everyday relationshipsResources:Cornerstone Church Sermons: Listen Online

What does the Fifth Commandment really mean? In this episode, Mark and Emily explore how honoring our parents not only applies to childhood obedience, but to every season of life.They also expand the conversation to authority more broadly, addressing why our culture often resists authority and how Christians can live faithfully under parents, leaders, and institutions. From honoring aging parents to navigating government and school boards, this episode helps us see how honoring authority is part of honoring God.Episode Highlights:00:00 — Introducing the Fifth Commandment04:50 — Why it’s more than “kids obey your parents”11:20 — Honoring parents at every stage of life17:45 — Authority structures and our cultural cynicism24:10 — What honoring authority looks like for Christians today29:30 — Honoring God by honoring those He has placed over usResources:Cornerstone Church Sermons: Listen online

What does it mean to keep the Sabbath today? In this episode, Mark and Emily explore the fourth commandment and what it teaches us about God’s design for rest. They talk about how the Sabbath command is fulfilled in Christ yet still calls us to rhythms of renewal, worship, and delight in God.Mark also shares his own weekly patterns of rest and how Sabbath practices shape his life as a pastor, husband, and father. In a culture of hurry, constant emails, and endless activity, this conversation invites us to see rest not as weakness but as worship.Episode Highlights:00:00 — Introducing the Sabbath commandment05:15 — How Sabbath is fulfilled in Christ yet still needed today12:00 — Why rest is part of God’s design for human flourishing18:45 — Mark’s weekly rhythms of Sabbath and rest25:30 — Practical ways to resist hurry and embrace delight in GodResources:Cornerstone Church Sermons: Listen online

We’re wrapping up the first month of the Fall Spiritual Workout Plan—so how’s it going? In this bonus episode, Mark Vance and Emily Jensen pause to answer common questions about the SWP, share how it began, and offer encouragement for staying consistent as we reach the middle stretch of this 18-week journey.They remind us that the plan isn’t about perfection or performance, but about building daily habits that draw us closer to Christ. Whether you’re just getting started or already five weeks in, this episode will help you see the bigger picture of why daily prayer, Scripture, and reflection matter for a growing faith.Episode Highlights:00:00 — What the Spiritual Workout Plan is and how it started04:45 — Why daily rhythms shape long-term spiritual growth10:30 — Common challenges and encouragement17:20 — How both students and adults can engage with the SWP22:40 — Looking ahead: endurance for the full 18 weeksResources:Fall Spiritual Workout PlanGet Weekly Reminders: Text 'WORKOUT' to 515-329-3343Weekly Memory ScreensCornerstone Church Sermons: Listen online

What happens when you give Mark Vance an open mic and no idea what’s coming? In this special episode, Emily Jensen puts Mark on the spot with a series of surprise questions—ranging from technology and AI to fasting and current events.This “Ask Mark Anything” episode is lighthearted, thought-provoking, and a unique peek into how Mark processes culture and faith as a pastor.Episode Highlights:00:00 — Why we’re taking a break from the Ten Commandments series03:10 — Reflections on Baptism Sunday07:45 — AI, technology, and the Christian life15:20 — Faithfulness in a rapidly changing culture22:30 — Fun rapid-fire questions with Mark28:40 — How to stay rooted in Christ when the world feels chaoticResources:Cornerstone Church Sermons: Listen online

Taking the Lord's name in vain is about more than just speech. Mark Vance and Emily Jensen unpack the Third Commandment and show how it’s about more than avoiding certain words—it’s about living as representatives of God in the world.Together, they discuss how God’s people carry his name, what it means to bear that name well, and how this commandment speaks directly into everyday life—from the words we speak to the way we act as his witnesses.Episode Highlights:00:00 — Introducing the Third Commandment04:20 — Why it’s about more than just “not cussing”10:45 — Bearing God’s name as His representatives17:30 — Everyday examples of carrying God’s name in our lives24:50 — How this commandment shapes our witness todayResources:Cornerstone Church Sermons: Listen onlineThe Unseen Realm by Michael Heiser

Pastor Mark Vance reflects on the assassination of Charlie Kirk and helps us think biblically about how to posture our hearts in a time of political violence. Mark calls Christians to pray, to speak with wisdom, and to embody Christlike character in our public and private conversations.

Does watching The Chosen violate the Second Commandment? In this episode, Mark Vance and Emily Jensen continue their journey through the Ten Commandments by digging into the second commandment.They discuss how this command calls us to worship the true God in the true way, what it means in a culture filled with media and art, and why our hearts are so easily drawn toward substitutes. Along the way, they reflect on The Chosen, Christian media, and how to discern what helps or hinders genuine worship.Episode Highlights:00:00 — Introducing the second commandment03:20 — The conversation about The Chosen and Christian media09:45 — What “graven images” meant in the Old Testament context15:30 — How images and idols distort true worship21:50 — Where Christian art can serve faith versus distract from it28:40 — Practical ways to keep God at the center of worship todayResources:Cornerstone Church SermonsTim Keller, Counterfeit Gods