Equip Podcast

Latest Episodes:

21 Days of Prayer: Praying for a Move of God This Fall Jul 30, 2026

Show notes

In this episode of the Equip Podcast, Mark and Emily introduce 21 Days of Prayer, a church-wide season of focused, kingdom-centered prayer leading into the fall semester. They talk through why prayer matters even though God already knows our needs, what makes "kingdom-centered intercession" different from ordinary requests, and practical boosters to help sustain a rich prayer life.

Episode Highlights

00:39 — Casting the vision of 21 Days of Prayer

02:08 — Setting aside focused seasons of prayer, like fasting, to tune the heart

03:13 — Why pray if God already knows our needs? Three reasons: for God, for us, and for movement

05:06 — Introducing the 21 Days of Prayer tradition at Cornerstone

06:32 — Guarding against self-centered prayer by praying for the nations

07:13 — Types of prayer in the Psalms and the shift toward kingdom-centered intercession

08:12 — Kingdom-centered intercession: praying boldly in the authority of Jesus

09:34 — A simple pattern: kingdom authority plus a specific need

11:18 — How specific should our prayers be?

12:23 — Praying by name and by place to make prayer concrete

15:36 — Four prayer boosters: fasting, walking, community, and timing

20:05 — How to join 21 Days of Prayer and get daily text prompts

Resources

Cornerstone Sermons: Listen Online
Receive 21 Days of Prayer Prompts: Text 'PRAY' to 515-232-5488

Ask Mark a Question!

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Sins We Tolerate: Sins of the Tongue Jul 22, 2026

Show notes

In the final part of the Sins We Tolerate series, Mark and Emily tackle a sin so common we barely notice it: the sins of the tongue. They unpack why our words are never neutral, always spilling out of what's really in our hearts, walk through a practical four-question test for evaluating what we say, and point to the only real hope for taming something James says is more untamable than a wild animal.

Episode Highlights

01:18 — Introducing today's topic: sins of the tongue

02:00 — Defining sins of the tongue: the wide range of speech Proverbs addresses

03:26 — From criticism and gossip to slander: sins of the tongue rooted in pride

03:42 — James 3: the tongue as a "world of unrighteousness," harder to tame than any wild animal

04:24 — Life and death are in the power of the tongue: how words make and break relationships

06:49 — Remembering the gospel: our words are the overflow of the heart (Luke 6:45)

08:03 — The "full cup" analogy: whatever is inside spills out when we're jostled

10:49 — The hope of the gospel: becoming people whose words reflect Christ, even under pressure

13:34 — The "Can I Say That?" test: is it true, is it helpful, is it humble, is it wise?

17:31 — Real-life application: parenting teenagers and building up a spouse's dreams

21:28 — Fleeing sins of the tongue: fear of the Lord and giving an account for every careless word

24:38 — Practices to feed the spirit: praising, praying, and singing out loud

26:11 — Mark's lifetime goal to speak fewer words every year

27:07 — Closing thoughts: four respectable sins, one gospel invitation to change

Resources

Ask Mark a Question!

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Sins We Tolerate: Sloth Jul 16, 2026

Show notes

In this episode of the Equip Podcast, part of the Sins We Tolerate series, Mark and Emily turn to sloth, the "sister sin" to gluttony. They define sloth not simply as laziness, but as neglecting the work God has assigned, then offer practical, gospel-rooted ways to move from sloth toward diligent, faithful work.

Episode Highlights

00:59 — Sloth introduced as a sister sin to gluttony

01:15 — Defining sloth: more than laziness, it's neglecting duties God has assigned

02:00 — Ephesians 2 and the tension between grace and good works

03:10 — Giving your best to the useless and your worst to the useful

03:22 — Proverbs 26 and the sluggard's excuses

04:40 — Busy but lazy: the example of Mary and Martha

07:24 — Work isn't a curse — toil is; Jesus as the perfect model of a worker

09:37 — "Saved by works" vs. "saved to work"

14:57 — Feeding the spirit: the five C's of calling

16:22 — AI, dystopian fiction, and WALL-E as a picture of sloth

19:58 — An accountability tool: tracking every fifteen minutes

Resources

Cornerstone Sermons: Listen Online

Ask Mark a Question!

Suggest a topic or question for Mark to discuss on a future episode of the Equip Podcast!

Sins We Tolerate: Gluttony Jul 08, 2026

Show notes

In this episode of the Equip Podcast, Mark flips the script, handing the mic to Emily Jensen to walk through the third entry in their series on hidden, respectable sins: gluttony. Far from the exaggerated stereotype most of us picture, Emily unpacks why this sin is far more common, subtle, and spiritually dangerous than we think, and how the gospel gives us a better way forward.

Episode Highlights

00:28 — Introducing the series on hidden, respectable sins and the topic of gluttony

01:49 — Why the modern stereotype of gluttony misses the mark

02:07 — How the church fathers, reformers, and puritans defined gluttony: being ruled by your appetite

02:45 — Introducing the FRESH acronym: five forms of gluttony from Gregory the Great via Dr. DeYoung

03:55 — Fastidiously: the gluttony of delicacy and over-fussiness about food

05:13 — Sumptuously: eating for maximum satisfaction and strategically hoarding the best portion

06:26 — Ravenously, excessively, and hastily: the three ways gluttony shows up in how we eat

09:06 — The biblical case against gluttony: 1 Corinthians 6:12, Philippians 3:19, and what it means to be mastered by an appetite

10:15 — Food as a good gift from God — and why guilt isn't the goal

11:20 — How gluttony fits into the bigger picture: a battle between flesh and spirit

13:35 — The marriage supper of the Lamb, the shadowlands, and keeping food in its right place

15:26 — How to starve the sin: study it, hate it, flee it, confess it

16:32 — Hating gluttony: looking at where it leads historically and in your own health

18:00 — Fleeing and confessing: practical strategies and why community matters

21:15 — Feeding the spirit: food neutrality, thanksgiving, and the antidote to gluttony

23:26 — Closing thoughts: gluttony as a gateway sin and a window into deeper appetite disorders

Resources:

Cornerstone Sermons: Listen Online

Ask Mark a Question!

Suggest a topic or question for Mark to discuss on a future episode of the Equip Podcast!

What Does Christian Patriotism Look Like? Jul 01, 2026

Show notes

In this special Fourth of July episode of the Equip Podcast, Mark reflects on patriotism, love of country, and what it means for Christians to hold citizenship in heaven while living as faithful residents on earth. Turning to Jeremiah's letter to the exiles in Babylon, he unpacks what it looks like to genuinely love your country, work for its good, and offer honest critique, all without confusing any earthly nation, including America, with the Kingdom of God.

Episode Highlights

00:27 — Setting up a Fourth of July reflection on patriotism and dual citizenship

01:09 — Personal memories of Fourth of July growing up in Sheldon and Slater, Iowa

02:51 — Gratitude for America's freedoms, "for all her flaws"

03:14 — Naming the tension between heavenly and earthly citizenship

04:02 — Turning to Jeremiah 29 as a guiding text on exile and citizenship

04:31 — Context: Jeremiah's letter to Israelites exiled in Babylon

06:20 — The exiles' dilemma: how do you relate to the kingdom that conquered you?

07:22 — Jeremiah's command: "pursue the well-being of the city"

08:24 — Why pray for Babylon's good: "when it thrives, you will thrive"

08:46 — God's promise to restore His people after seventy years

10:12 — Applying the picture: citizens of heaven, temporary residents on earth

11:04 — Practical instructions: build, plant, and work for the good

11:29 — Clarifying what Christian nationalism actually means

13:04 — A discerning eye toward the flaws of any human nation

13:53 — Daniel's example: working for Babylon's good without compromising conviction

14:56 — Applying it to America: gratitude, contribution, and good citizenship

17:03 — Unafraid to both love America and critique her flaws

17:26 — A simple Fourth of July exhortation: be a participant, not just a critic

18:34 — Closing blessing: "God bless America, but even so, come, Lord Jesus"

Resources

Cornerstone Sermons: Listen Online

Ask Mark a Question!

Suggest a topic or question for Mark to discuss on a future episode of the Equip Podcast!

Sins We Tolerate: Judgement Jun 26, 2026

Show notes

In this episode, Mark and Emily kick off a brand new series called Since We Tolerate, a look at the "respectable sins" Christians often overlook or excuse. They start with one of the most culturally relevant: judgment. Drawing from Romans 14, Mark unpacks how Christians can fall into a pattern of casting judgment on brothers and sisters in areas where scripture doesn't demand a single answer, and what it looks like to pursue edifying love instead.

Episode Highlights

00:34 — Introducing the new series: Since We Tolerate and the idea of "respectable sins"

01:13 — Why Christians often tackle the obvious sins but miss the subtle ones

01:57 — The framework for the series: a four-part process for killing sin

03:26 — Defining the process: remember the gospel, remember your identity, starve the sin, feed the spirit

05:13 — Introducing the sin of judgment and its grounding in Romans 14

06:12 — The Jewish-Gentile tension in the early church as the original context for Romans 14

08:10 — What makes a matter "gray" — and why gray doesn't mean unimportant

10:26 — Judgementalism as a "crowning vice of modernity," amplified by social media and cable news

13:33 — When judgment is right: distinguishing disputed matters from clear biblical teaching

17:00 — Diagnosing a judgmental heart: the BAM vs. WAM test (Best Available Motive vs. Worst Available Motive)

21:28 — Practical steps to starve the sin: study it, hate it, flee it, confess it

27:00 — Feeding the spirit: cultivating edifying love as the antidote to judgment

30:34 — A preview of the next episode: gluttony

Resources

Respectable Sins by Jerry Bridges: Purchase
Cornerstone Sermons: Listen Online

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Suggest a topic or question for Mark to discuss on a future episode of the Equip Podcast!

Planting Citizens Church with Simeon Bell Jun 18, 2026

Show notes

Emily Jensen sits down with Simeon Bell to talk about Citizens Church, a church he and his team are planting in Columbia, South Carolina. Simeon shares the unexpected timeline change that has his family moving this August, the vision behind the Citizens Church name rooted in Ephesians 2:19, and why Columbia is exactly where God is calling them.

Episode Highlights

00:27 — Simeon Bell and the Citizens Church story

01:13 — An unexpected timeline change: Simeon's family is now moving to Columbia this August instead of January 2027

02:18 — How a local Columbia church reached out and accelerated the timeline — and what that partnership looks like

03:20 — Who's going: 31 members headed to Columbia

03:52 — How Simeon's years leading Cornerstone Youth equipped him for church planting

05:50 — The meaning behind the name "Citizens Church" and its roots in Ephesians 2:19

07:50 — Citizens Church's five core motives: Spirit-filled, authentic community, purpose-driven, sacrificial living, and kingdom multiplication

07:59 — From motives to mission: preparing citizens for heaven by living faithfully on earth

13:41 — The 10-year vision: 500 members, five church plants, and a launch pad up the East Coast

14:29 — Why Columbia, South Carolina? The brokenness, the diversity, and the need

18:02 — Columbia's racial diversity and the vision for a multiethnic church rooted in Revelation 7:9

19:15 — The University of South Carolina campus: 40,000 students, under 5% reached with the gospel

20:04 — A surprising discovery: 52% of USC students come from the Northeast — the exact states Simeon has lived in

23:18 — How to support Citizens Church: give, go, pray — and why Simeon's biggest prayer request is holiness

25:58 — Simeon's gratitude for Cornerstone and what it means to be equipped and sent well

Resources

Citizens Church: Pray, Give, or Go
Cornerstone Sermons: Listen Online

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What's Happening in Rural Iowa with Shane Rothlisberger Jun 11, 2026

Show notes

In this episode, Mark sits down with his friend and fellow pastor Shane Rothlisberger to tell the story of how the Acreage Church, a church plant in northeast Iowa, came to life in the most unexpected way. What began with a sick father, a family in need of community, and a living room livestream became something neither of them saw coming. Shane and Mark also discuss the spiritual state of rural Iowa and why it matters deeply for the future of the gospel.

Episode Highlights

00:26 — Introducing Shane Rothlisberger, pastor of the Acreage Church

01:39 — How a family crisis and a move to northeast Iowa set everything in motion

02:33 — Streaming Cornerstone from a living room

03:17 — Wrestling with whether to call it what it was: a church plant

04:26 — A moment in John 21 and Shane's calling to shepherd this flock

05:33 — Cornerstone's role as the sending church for the Acreage

06:00 — What a typical Sunday looks like at the Acreage Church today

07:17 — Using Cornerstone's teaching series, one week behind, and how Shane contextualizes it

09:31 — The spiritual landscape of rural Iowa: overchurched but unreached, and how that's shifted

11:06 — A generational turnover: from cultural Christianity to irrelevance

13:22 — The decline of mainline denominational churches in rural communities

15:16 — Faithful pastors in rural Iowa stretched thin across multiple congregations

16:13 — Easter at the Acreage: 175 people, four baptisms, and lives changed

17:26 — Running out of room, and what a glorious problem that is

18:28 — What Cornerstone is praying about next: rural church planting as a growing vision

19:16 — "We didn't even pray for this", and what that stirs up for what God might do intentionally

20:00 — A call to pray for rural Iowa and the harvest waiting there

Resources

Cornerstone Sermons: Listen Online

Ask Mark a Question!

Suggest a topic or question for Mark to discuss on a future episode of the Equip Podcast!

Ask Mark Anything: Swearing, Greek Life & More Jun 04, 2026

Show notes

In this third installment of the "Ask Mark Anything" series, Emily puts Mark on the spot with questions submitted by listeners. From the ethics of swearing to conspiracy theories, waiting on God to Greek life, Mark tackles a wide range of real-life questions with pastoral honesty, biblical grounding, and plenty of laughs along the way.

Episode Highlights

01:57 — Is swearing just part of sports culture, even for Christians?

12:15 — What does it actually look like to wait on the Lord?

21:07 — Should college students consider Greek life?

27:51 — How should Christians think about conspiracy theories and trust in authority?

Resources

Cornerstone Sermons: Listen Online
The Reason for God by Tim Keller
Ask Mark a Question! — Suggest a topic or question for Mark to discuss on a future episode of the Equip Podcast!

Ask Mark a Question!

Suggest a topic or question for Mark to discuss on a future episode of the Equip Podcast!

What Is Church Membership? May 28, 2026

Show notes

Mark and Emily dig into one of the most practically important, and often misunderstood, topics in the Christian life: church membership. From what the Bible actually says about it, to the common ditches people fall into, to how a large church like Cornerstone keeps track of its people, Mark offers pastoral clarity and honesty on why formal membership matters for every believer.

Episode Highlights

02:58 — What is church membership, biblically? Where do we even find it in Scripture?

07:36 — Common ditches: individualism, the "marriage to a church" extreme, and church hopping

09:52 — The two-way promises involved in church membership — what members commit to, and what elders commit back

11:00 — State church vs. free church: why the American context changes how we think about leaving a church

19:14 — How to know when it might be time to leave a church — and how to do it well

27:45 — How does a church the size of Cornerstone actually keep track of its members?

Resources

Cornerstone Sermons: Listen Online

Ask Mark a Question!

Suggest a topic or question for Mark to discuss on a future episode of the Equip Podcast!

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