Jesus is our foundation. And Jesus is our example of how we want to live our lives. Jesus is the core of our vision, our mission and Jesus is the cornerstone of Cornerstone Christian Community Church.
OUR VISION
Embracing the Jesus who embraces the World
WHY THIS VISION?
Why Embrace?
How do we love God?
How do we love others?
Who does Jesus embrace?
How can we embrace everyone?
Can we really embrace everyone?
What does this look like?
OUR MISSION
Making Space for Jesus to Shape People Together in God’s Love
WHY THIS MISSION?
Why do we have to focus on ‘Making Space for Jesus’?
Most of us are ‘space-challenged’ because we have overcrowded lifestyles, preoccupied minds and cluttered hearts.
What is the point of ‘Making Space for Jesus’?
As we create ‘spaces’ for Jesus – for you, me and our community – God will fill all our lives with Jesus’s beautiful, transforming presence.
Where do we ‘Make Space for Jesus’?
Every one of us must consider how we might ‘Make Space for Jesus in every part of our lives: our hearts, minds, daily lives, work, homes, families, worship services, ministries and even our church facilities.
What happens when we “Make Space for Jesus’?
Jesus will then shape people together in God’s love by the power of His Spirit.
Why should people be shaped together in God’s love?
This is the very centre of God’s purpose for us.
What does being shaped together in God’s love look like?
God can shape diverse peoples together into a community of unity that embodies His love to each other, to the greater community and to the world.
Scriptural Foundation for our Mission Statement:
Revelation 3:20, Romans 8:29, The Message; Matthew 22:37-40; 1 Corinthians 13:1-3; Ephesians 5:1-2)
Core Values
We hold ourselves especially accountable to the following Core Values so that we can live out our Vision and Mission.
PRAYER
We strive to pray without ceasing, in order to draw near and minister to God, and participate in bringing about His will on earth. – 1 Thessalonians 5:17; Matthew 6:10
FAITH & OBEDIENCE
We show our trust in God’s faithfulness and goodness by doing what He says. – James 2:17
ALL-OF-LIFE SPIRITUALITY
We grow in Jesus by offering every aspect of our lives to God. – Romans 12:1-2
UNITY-IN-DIVERSITY
We celebrate each person’s uniqueness, while eagerly pursuing loving, harmonious relationships with each other. – Ephesians 2:14-18; 4:3; Romans 12:4-5
BIBLICAL HOSPITALITY
We welcome the stranger into our church, homes, hearts and lives as God has welcomed us in Christ. – Leviticus 19:33-34; Hebrews 13:2
EMPOWERMENT
We encourage and equip people to discover and live out their God-given gifts, passions, and callings in all arenas of life. – 1 Corinthians 12:7; Ephesians 4:11-12
GENEROSITY
We’re called to be extravagantly generous because God has been extravagantly generous to us in Jesus. – 2 Corinthians 8:7-9
CREATIVITY
We enjoy the freedom to adapt and innovate in life and ministry according to God’s purposes. – Genesis 1:27-28
EVERY DISCIPLE MAKES DISCIPLES
We understand that following Jesus includes helping others to follow Jesus. – Matthew 28:19-20; 1 Corinthians 11:1; 2 Tim 1:13-14; 2:2
WE FIX OUR EYES ON JESUS, REMEMBERING:
- Jesus always remembers God’s past faithfulness
- Jesus has an unwavering hope in God’s promise
- Jesus obeyed God, even in suffering
- Jesus always perseveres in the face of opposition
Our Bedrock Statement is taken directly from Hebrews 12:2-3
“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”
BEDROCK STATEMENT
Let us fix our eyes on Jesus
Our Bedrock Statement is what we turn to when we find ourselves feeling confusion or stress in trying to live out our Vision, Mission and Core Values.
What We Believe
We are a non-denominational evangelical church.
Our pastors hold ordination credentials with the Association of Christian Evangelical Ministries (Canada).
No matter where you are on your spiritual journey, you’re welcome in our church. Jesus always welcomed spiritual seekers – and we want be like Jesus! We affirm the great creeds of the Christian Church as the essentials or ‘non-negotiables’ of our faith.
APOSTLES' CREED
I believe in God, the Father almighty,
Creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
He descended to the dead.
On the third day He rose again;
He ascended into heaven,
He is seated at the right hand of the Father,
and He will come again to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic [universal/worldwide] church,
the communion of saints [all believers],
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. AMEN.
STATEMENT OF FAITH
There are many doctrinal issues, that might be considered secondary. For these issues we believe, like St. Augustine: In essentials, unity; in non-essentials, liberty; in all things, love.
The people of Cornerstone come from a variety of Christian theological perspectives. We don’t exclude anyone on the basis of different views on baptism, gifts of the spirit, predestination vs freewill, or any other honest theological disagreement.
While we understand that there might be disagreements, we do ask all our members to never make a secondary theological issue a matter of disunity in the church. If a secondary matter of faith is so important to you, that you consider it primary and non-negotiable for church life, then we suggest you find another church with like-minded people where you can fellowship.
However, if you’re able to ascribe to our Core Value of maintaining a spirit of loving unity-in-diversity, then Cornerstone may be the church for you. What connects the people of Cornerstone is not a full theological agreement, but an alignment to our common Vision, Mission and Core Values as Jesus’ disciples right here in the GTA.
In essentials, unity; in non-essentials, liberty; in all things, love.