"Stepping Up"

Stepping Up: From Positioning to Purpose in 2026

As we look ahead to 2026, our vision is clear: we are stepping up.

But there is no stepping up into 2026 without faithfully walking through 2025.

Last year, our vision was “Position yourselves, stand and see.” And that is exactly what we did. We spent the year intentionally aligning our thinking with the truth of who God has already made us to be in Christ Jesus. God positioned us, but we had to choose to believe it, receive it, and stand in it.

And you did.

You embraced the teaching. You allowed your thinking to be adjusted. You were willing to grow. That receptiveness is powerful. It’s where growth begins—not just as ministers, but as believers who are committed to receiving truth and letting it transform their lives.

Because when our thinking lines up with our identity in Christ, our behavior, character, and daily lives naturally follow. That’s why we can confidently say: we are ready to step up.

One Step Builds on Another

You cannot skip steps in the kingdom of God.

Just like in the natural, 25 comes before 26. Every season builds upon the foundation laid in the previous one. What we internalized in 2025 is now the firm footing that allows us to move forward.

Think of it like climbing steps. Before you can step up, all your weight has to be supported by the step you’re standing on. That lower step bears the weight so you can push off and rise higher. That’s not just a spiritual picture—it’s a physical law.

The truths you embraced last year are now your pushing-off point.

We’re not leaving behind the message of who we are in Christ or who our Father is—we’re building on it. Those truths are like seeds planted in your heart. And in 2026, you’re going to see them sprout, grow, and bear visible fruit in your life.

Others will notice. Your environment will change. And as individuals grow, the whole body grows with them.

We’re doing this together—no one is left behind, and no one is walking lopsided.

Pressing Forward: Paul’s Encouragement

Our verse for this season comes from Philippians 3:13–14:

“Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”

God’s call is always upward. Always forward.

Sometimes progress feels small—maybe just an inch or two. Sometimes it feels like we’ve taken steps backward. But God is always working, and He causes all things to work together for our good, whether they look good in the moment or not.

If Paul could press forward while writing from prison, we can certainly press forward right here, right now.

A Special Year: 30 Years of Cornerstone

This year marks a significant milestone: Cornerstone Community Church is turning 30 years old.

Thirty years of faithfulness. Thirty years of connection. Thirty years of growth.

Looking back, it’s amazing how much changes—and how much remains the same. People come and go. Seasons shift. But God’s purpose continues.

There’s a powerful biblical pattern connected to the number 30:

• Joseph was 30 when he stepped into leadership over Egypt (Genesis 41:46).

• David was 30 when he began to reign as king over Israel (2 Samuel 5:4).

• Jesus was about 30 when He began His public ministry (Luke 3:23).

In Scripture, 30 represents maturity, readiness, and preparation for service.

Jesus hadn’t performed a single miracle yet when the Father declared, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.” That tells us something important: maturity begins with identity, not activity.

Spiritual maturity is knowing who you are in Christ, knowing who your Father is, and standing confidently in the position He has already given you.

Hidden years of preparation always come before public purpose.

And Cornerstone has a foundation strong enough to carry the weight of what’s next.

Forgetting What’s Behind, Reaching for What’s Ahead

Thirty years later, this church may not look exactly like what anyone first imagined—but it’s beautiful. And we trust it looks exactly like what God envisioned.

As Paul reminds us, we do not win the race by looking back, slowing down, comparing ourselves to others, or quitting halfway through. We win by laying aside every weight and running with endurance the race set before us.

We march forward into the next great adventure.

With grace. With purpose. With confidence. And with our eyes fixed on the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Here’s our prayer for this season:

God, thank You for the grace to finish the race. Amen.