Christian Atheism
Pause the Blessing
I grew up in church, so I was bilingual as a kid. I spoke English and church-ese. I still catch myself shaking hands after a service: "God bless you, God bless you, God bless you."…
Pastor · Writer · Teacher
Notes from around the corners of life, faith, and Four Corners.
I'm Joel Johns, pastor of Cornerstone Church in Davenport, Florida. Here you'll find new writing drawn from what we're preaching each Sunday, plus the full sermon library.
Latest writing
All new posts →Christian Atheism
Shift Your Story Before the Last Chapter
Samson had the gift, and then he had the drift. Now I want you to see his shift. In prison, after they put out his eyes, his hair began to grow back. Maybe that's what I need. And …
Christian Atheism
Hit the Pause Button Before You Go Down to Timnah
If Samson, chosen and gifted by God, could drift that far, how do we avoid presuming on God? How do we keep from toying with sin until God is done letting us toy with it? Pause Nex…
Christian Atheism
"As Before": When We Presume on God's Rescue
Here's the verse that should scare every gifted person who grew up in a godly home: And she said, "The Philistines are upon you, Samson!" So he awoke from his sleep, and said, "I w…
Christian Atheism
A Head Start Is for Running Farther
Samson had God's purpose stamped on his life nine months before he was born. He was God's chosen person to set Israel free from the Philistines. But he drifted. He made pleasure hi…
Christian Atheism
Is Your Faith Yours, or Just Your Mom's?
Samson had a godly home, a covenant nation, and a vow over his life before he was born, and he still said, "Get her for me, for she pleases me well." So how do we move from careles…
Looking for older writing? From the Archives: 497 posts since 2006 →
Recent sermons
Sermon library →
Join us at Cornerstone
Sundays at 8:00, 9:45 & 11:30 in Davenport / Four Corners. Know. Grow. Show.
Visit cornerstone.place