Community
From beginning to end, God’s aim is to glorify Himself through a people He is calling out from all tribes of the world and all neighborhoods of Seattle through the gospel. He calls this community of people the church.
Downtown Cornerstone is not just interested in holding events but for people to connect, share life and form communities that are deeply rooted in the gospel of Jesus Christ. These are communities of diverse imperfect people that are committed to living out the implications of the gospel in every sphere of life. These are communities of radical grace, sacrificial service, and joy. These are communities that eat together, pray together, laugh together, and study the Bible together (i.e. share life). These are communities that build up the church by encouraging people to faith in Jesus Christ and build up the city through deeds of justice and mercy. These are communities where you can be who God created you to be, yourself.
It’s our hope and prayer that everyone who calls Downtown Cornerstone home will find such community.
Why community?
God has forever existed in perfect loving relationship within the Trinitarian Godhead (Father, Son, Holy Spirit). This means that Ultimate Reality is a community of Persons who know and love one another. In other words, radical, other-centered, loving community is central to reality. We are created for this type of community, with God and others, because we are created in His image. Yet, our every day experience of this is distorted by sin. Jesus Christ came to restore, renew and redeem all of our relationships, starting with God. We can experience community as it was intended now, in part, by centering our lives on Him.
How can I get connected in community at Downtown Cornerstone?
The best way to meet people and build real friendships at Downtown Cornerstone is to join a Cornerstone Community. To request more information about our communities, email us at community@downtowncornerstone.org.
What should I expect at a Cornerstone Community gathering?
Every community gathers at least once per week, while sharing life throughout the week. These gatherings include the sharing of a meal, prayer, Bible study, and good conversation. Each community looks different because each is made of different people with different interests, schedules, and passions. But no matter the specifics, every community at Downtown Cornerstone aims to cultivate a culture marked by the following:
- Jesus. We study the Bible, pray for one another, and talk about Jesus.
- Gospel. We believe in and work out the implications of the gospel in all of life.
- City. We look to bless those outside our communities and participate in the life of our city.
- Church. We’re a diverse group brought together by the gospel for relationship, life and worship.
- Mission. We love people and are sent into the city to share the gospel of Jesus Christ.
- Renewal. We volunteer our time, extend compassion and work for justice for the poor and marginalized.
- Multiplying. We seek to multiply Jesus-followers, communities and churches throughout the city – and world.
Cornerstone Kids
Our Mission
The mission of Cornerstone Kids is to build a great city through the gospel for the glory of God. We are committed to partnering with you to joyfully teach, show and model who God is and what He has done for us through the person and work of Christ. Moreover, it is our desire that every Cornerstone Kid may live to love Him, glorify Him and bring hope to the next generation.
Our Vision
Cornerstone Kids is provided for children ages one year to six years old and opens up at 9:45 am. As you enter the Cornerstone Kids gathering space, a volunteer will be ready to help you check your child in. Our time together will consist of a brief Bible lesson, song, intentional play, Scripture memory, prayer and craft creation. When you return to pick your child up during communion or following the close of the main gathering, you will receive a handout to help you reinforce the Bible truth that we learned throughout the week. Learn more in the New Family Packet.
What We Value
Partnership. We believe that God intends for parents/caretakers to be the primary instruments of discipleship in their child’s life (Deut 6:6-7; Eph 6:1-4). Parents disciple and lead their children to Jesus, and we partner by encouraging and resourcing throughout the week, using Sunday gatherings to compliment and propel the disciple-making process.
Worship Though Song. We want kids to grow up setting their hope in God and expressing it in worship through song (Col 3:16). We joyfully sing songs of worship to Jesus, creating an environment where kids are free to express themselves in praise. Parents are equipped with new God-centered songs, which teach biblical truths that they can sing with their kids throughout the week to rejoice in the Lord.
Community. Children, like adults, desire community. Cornerstone Kids attempts to cultivate lifelong gospel-relationships between the adults and children who meet together on Sundays and throughout the week. Moreover, parents have the opportunity to connect and further resource each other throughout the week online through the Cornerstone Kids group on The City.
Prayer. We want to help cultivate in the children a fervent, dependent prayer life that they might understand from a young age that God is personally invested in them and hears their every petition. Every Sunday morning, we set aside specific time for corporate prayer while volunteers also pray over each child. As a team, we are committed to praying for God to work in your family throughout the week.
Volunteers. We have carefully and prayerfully chosen volunteers who are committed to faithful, accountable gospel living and can serve as role models for the children. Every volunteer has submitted to a personal interview with Cornerstone Kids leads, background check, spiritual inventory and ministry covenant. Moreover, we are committed to provide our volunteers with on-going training and resources to cultivate the best possible environment for children to grow in their faith journey.
If you would like more information about Cornerstone Kids, please email kids@downtowncornerstone.org.
Pray
We need prayer
For all our strategizing and preparation, we cannot succeed without the Spirit of God building his church. Please pray with and for us daily. Jesus will build his church, but he does so through the faithful work, service and prayers of his people. There is much spiritual opposition, relational tension, financial strain and physical hardship involved in planting a church. Please join us in prayer to our God who is able to do above and beyond all that we ask, think or imagine (Eph 3:20).
Monthly Prayer Gatherings
On the last Tuesday of each month at 6:30pm, we gather together for an evening of prayer, vision and worship. This event occurs in lieu of our normal weekly community rhythm, and is an opportunity to go before our Father, asking Him to do what only He can do.
What will we do?
Vision.
We’ll talk about where we are and where, by God’s grace, we are going.
Worship.
We’ll sing to the King.
Pray.
Most importantly, we’ll pray. God has been exceedingly generous to us and we can’t help but think that it is due to us asking Him to do what only He can. We don’t ever want to feel like we somehow have this church planting thing covered. This is His church; we are His people.
“Pray then like this: ‘Our Father in heaven…’” (Mat 6:9)
“Pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” (Mat 9:38)
“…that they ought always to pray and not lose heart.” (Lk 18:1)
For more info and location details please check the info@downtowncornerstone.org.
Baptism
The Gospel is the good news of the forgiveness of sin in Jesus Christ.
When we repent of our sin, trust in Jesus Christ for our salvation, we should be baptized (Acts 2:41).
Why should Christians be baptized?
Jesus commanded that all Christians be baptized (Mat 28:19).
Who should be baptized?
Every baptism in the New Testament is preceded by repentance of sin and faith in Jesus (Acts 22:16). In other words, only Christians who have repented of sin and have trusted in Jesus should be baptized. Therefore, all non-Christians and children too young to demonstrate repentance and articulate faith should be excluded.
May I be baptized if I have previously been baptized?
Once you are baptized as a follower of Christ there is no need to be baptized again (Acts 19:1-5). Additionally, though highly encouraged, Downtown Cornerstone does not require those who were baptized as children/infants to be baptized as believing adults but leaves this decision to the conscience of each Christian.
How do I begin the process toward baptism?
If you would like to be baptized, please fill out a baptism form or email us at info@downtowncornerstone.org with any questions you might have.
Church Membership
Steps to becoming a member
#1 Jesus.
This (almost) goes without saying, but church membership is for those that have repented of their sin and embraced Jesus Christ as their Lord, Savior and Friend. To become a "member" of a local church is a tangible way of demonstrating that you are a "member" of the household of God (Eph 2:19), a "member" of the body of Christ (1 Cor 12:27) and partner in the gospel (Phil 1:5) by faith in the person and work of Jesus. If you’re still peeking over the proverbial fence of Christianity, we love you, but let’s wait.
#2 Participate.
To be a member of Jesus’ church means that you should be participating and known as part of the "household of God" and "body of Christ." You should be known in community, regularly serving and sacrificially giving. These are evidences that you understand and embrace your roles and responsibilities among this local expression of God’s people. Our hope is that everyone who becomes a member is already living as one, prior to being given the title. If you’re new to DCC we may have you wait to become a member in order to give you ample time to know and be known by others.
#3 Class.
A significant aspect of the process is walking through the entire Church Membership Class that merges essential Christian doctrine with important elements of DCC’s vision. You don’t have to agree with everything we believe, but we do ask that you not be contentious or divisive when differences arise.
Join us for our next class: Wednesdays, April 24th-June 12th @ 6:30pm-8:3opm. Location TBD.
Cornerstone Kids is provided during the membership class for children ages one year to six years old.
#4 Covenant.
To help guide you through the process we’ve built-out an application and covenant that can be completed online via The City once you have completed the class. If you’re not yet on The City, or have questions, don’t hesitate to email us.
#5 Interview.
The last step of the process will include an interview with your community leader and a deacon/pastor. Don’t worry! This isn’t a try-out. If you follow Jesus, you’re participating in the life of the church, you’ve participated in the Church Membership Class, and have completed the application, you’ll do well. This is an additional opportunity for us to get to know you and for you to get to know us. You may find this is your favorite part of the process.
How do I begin the process toward becoming a covenant member with Downtown Cornerstone Church?
If you would like to become a member, please fill out the membership registration form or email us at info@downtowncornerstone.org with any questions you might have.
Please visit the Connect desk on Sunday or ask your community lead if you have any additional questions.
Relevant Blog Posts & Media
The City
Get Connected
The City is a social networking tool that we use to stay connected throughout the week. It’s a great way to stay up-to-date on the latest news, connect with your community, ask questions, request prayer, message others and make yourself known. In other words, it reinforces real life relationships. Once you’re in, we encourage you to create a profile and request to join the “Seattle Neighborhood Group” which currently serves as a landing page for our life together in the city. We look forward to connecting with you on The City, but more importantly, in person!
If you would like to join us on The City, email info@downtowncornerstone.org for details. If you are already registered, feel free to login here.
Resources
Downtown Cornerstone Resources
This ever-growing list of resources is intended for the encouragement, edification and equipping of the saints of Downtown Cornerstone Church. (Eph 4:11-16)
Serving
Cornerstone Community Lead Description & Application.
If you have been asked or encouraged by your leader to apply to be a Cornerstone Community Lead, this is a thorough description of what the volunteer role entails and the Application that needs to be filled out with your wife (if applicable).
This document is intended to clarify the office of Deacon and provide an overview of the process of becoming a Deacon at Downtown Cornerstone Church.
This Background Check form needs to be completed and submitted by all Cornerstone Community Leads and Hosts, as well as DCC Service Leads.
This is where you can find descriptions of the Ministry Lead, Service Leads and Volunteer roles for each DCC Ministry (in process).
Growing
The purpose of this document is to clarify the form and function of our Discipleship Groups (DGs). These are small (2-5 people), gender-specific, biblical, and missional groups that regularly meet together for life-on-life intentional discipleship.
While we do not necessarily fully endorse everything in every book listed here, every book listed has something to offer. This is not an exhaustive list, but these books can serve as tools in cultivating us as a God-saturated, Gospel-centered, and Christ-exalting people.
Combined navigator + m’cheyne bible reading plan.
This is a customized, combined version of The Discipleship Journal Bible Reading Plan (which plans for 25 days of reading each month, leaving five days for catch-up or further study) and the M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan (through which you read the New Testament twice and Old Testament once per year).
Planting
This document is a compilation of the various resources we created, synthesized or adapted during the Launch Community development phase (June-Dec 2010) of Downtown Cornerstone Church.
This booklet was created in the initial phase of planting to help cast a vision for this new work and call others to join us on mission here in Seattle.
The Downtown Cornerstone Church Sex Offender Policy is designed to protect families, members, visitors and “Sex Offenders” by encouraging accountability, full-disclosure, and compliance with the laws of Washington State.