Church On The Rock St Augustine

What does it actually mean to seek God first? And how do we become more like Jesus instead of simply knowing more about Him?
In Part 2 of In His Image, Pastor Josh Hersey explores what Jesus meant when He said, “Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness” in Matthew 6:33. Looking at Genesis 4 and the story of Cain and Abel, we see that the difference between the two brothers was deeper than the offerings they brought. It was about what had first place in their hearts. Abel gave God his first and best, while Cain approached God on his own terms. This message challenges us to examine what we are truly pursuing with our time, relationships, money, ambitions, forgiveness, sexuality, and everyday decisions.
You’ll also discover what it means to pursue God, why Ecclesiastes says eternity has been planted in the human heart, and why Jesus’ invitation to “follow Me” is about more than learning information. A disciple follows Jesus closely enough to actually become like Him. If you’ve been asking How do I put God first? What does Matthew 6:33 mean? Why did God accept Abel’s offering but not Cain’s? How do I grow closer to Jesus? What is biblical discipleship? How do I become more like Christ? this message will help you understand that spiritual formation begins with what you seek first.
 
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What is your God-given purpose, and how do you actually live it out in everyday life?
In this episode of Cornerstone Conversations, Trevor, Pastor Josh, and Dylan unpack what it really means to be created in the image of God and why your purpose is much bigger than your job title, career, ministry position, or platform. Whether you are a pastor, mechanic, nurse, teacher, construction worker, stay at home parent, business owner, or somewhere in between, your everyday life has significance because you were created to bear the image of God and represent His character to the world around you.
The conversation explores the Imago Dei, Christian purpose, vocation and calling, the false divide between sacred and secular work, spiritual formation, abiding in Jesus, Christian community, and how spending time with God gradually changes the way we think, speak, love, and live. They even dig into the “chameleon effect,” the tendency we have to unconsciously imitate the people we spend time around, and connect it to what happens when a follower of Jesus continually spends time in Scripture, God's presence, and healthy Christian community.
 
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What is my purpose? How do I know if I am actually living the life God created me to live? In Part 1 of In His Image, Pastor Josh Hersey goes back to Genesis 1 to uncover the biblical foundation of our purpose: we were created in the image of God to know Him, become like Him, and reflect Him to the world around us. Instead of building our identity around happiness, success, career, possessions, feelings, or the expectations of other people, Scripture gives us something much deeper and more lasting.
Through Genesis 1:26–27, Colossians 3:1–10, John 10:10, and 2 Corinthians 3:16–18, this message explores what it means to be made in the image of God, how the enemy distorts our identity through lies and false definitions of purpose, what it means to find our true life in Christ, and how the Holy Spirit is transforming believers to become more and more like Jesus. The service concludes with a powerful story about a “plus one,” salvation, and public baptisms celebrating people who have put their old life behind them and are walking in new life with Christ.
If you have ever asked, “What is God’s purpose for my life?” “Who am I in Christ?” “What does it mean to be created in God’s image?” or “How do I find my identity in Jesus?” this message is for you.
 
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What if the struggle you keep fighting isn’t actually the problem, but a symptom of something deeper?
Pastor Corey Alley joins Pastor Josh for a wide ranging conversation about hearing God in the noise, navigating the pain of ministry, staying rooted in Christ, and discovering an identity that is bigger than our struggles. Corey shares how Psalm 1 and the biblical imagery of trees, rivers, and living water began speaking to him during one of the hardest seasons of his pastoral ministry, and how remaining connected to the source changes the way we walk through pain.
The conversation also gets deeply personal as Corey shares his story of drug addiction, an overdose, meeting Jesus through a small local church, relapse, and the moment surrender changed the direction of his life. Josh and Corey talk about addiction and recovery, the prodigal son, shame, Christian identity, vulnerability, community, God’s love, and why our deepest struggles may be symptoms of wounds God wants to heal. If you have ever wrestled with discouragement, repetitive cycles, failure, addiction, or wondering how God sees you in the middle of your mess, this conversation is for you.
 
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What does it really mean for Christians to defend the weak, care for the poor, and stand up for those who cannot stand up for themselves? During Compassion Weekend at Church on the Rock, Pastor Josh Hersey shares the biblical call found in Psalm 82:3 to “defend the weak and the fatherless” and explores what that looks like practically through generosity, missions, and child sponsorship with Compassion International. Josh also shares powerful firsthand stories from his trip to Tanzania, including meeting his sponsored child, Siobhan, and seeing how access to food, clean water, education, a local church, and the gospel can transform not only one child’s life but an entire family.
Through Psalm 82:3, Matthew 25:34–40, 2 Corinthians 9:7, and Matthew 5:3, this message challenges us to see generosity not as guilt, pressure, or an emotional response, but as obedience to the leading of the Holy Spirit. Whether God leads you to sponsor a child, become more engaged with a child you already sponsor, support global missions, or simply see poverty differently, the invitation is the same: listen to God and respond. And ultimately, this message points beyond physical poverty to the gospel itself, reminding us that every one of us was spiritually helpless until Jesus rescued us, brought us into His family, and gave us a hope we could never provide for ourselves.
 
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What happens when God gets a hold of one man? In this episode of Cornerstone Conversations, Pastor Josh sits down with James Griffin, Lead Pastor of Cross Point City Church, for an honest conversation about discipleship, leadership, ministry, biblical manhood, and what it takes to remain faithful as God increases your influence. James shares the remarkable story of stepping into a wounded church, watching God bring it back to life, navigating the growing weight of leadership, protecting his marriage and family, handling criticism, and learning to carry greater responsibility with thick skin and a tender heart.
The conversation eventually turns to James’s own family and the story of how God radically saved his father, changing the trajectory of generations that followed. James and Josh discuss why men matter in the home and the church, what biblical masculinity actually looks like, and Cross Point City Church’s four pillars of biblical manhood: lover, leader, protector, and provider. Whether you are a pastor, ministry leader, husband, father, or simply someone who wants to follow Jesus faithfully, this conversation is a powerful reminder that leadership is not ultimately about platform, popularity, or influence. It is about becoming the kind of person God can trust with what He has placed in your hands.
 
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