Life at the Corner

Life at the Corner is a podcast sponsored by Cornerstone Presbyterian Church (PCA) in Franklin, TN, and hosted by Nate Shurden, Senior Minister of Cornerstone Presbyterian Church and Adjunct Professor at New College Franklin. Each week on the podcast, Nate will address a wide range of matters related to the intersection of life and faith. Sometimes the lone voice, other times marked by the banter of friends and Cornerstone staff, Nate will course through theological topics, current events, books, and so much more.

Why We Love to Gossip 04/14/2025

Why We Love to Gossip Today, Pastor Nate speaks on why gossip is so appealing and so easy to fall into. Gossip in a church quickly divides a congregation, and today’s episode brings to light the deception of this sin so it can more easily be identified and rejected. /episode/index/show/dabb8d1d-6a10-47ee-b2f3-ad690aed7a0f/id/36104230

Looking for Mister or Missus Right? 04/07/2025

Looking for Mister or Missus Right? Today, Pastor Nate turns his attention to dating. Drawing on a biblical portrait of the godly man and woman, he offers common sense wisdom for Christians searching for a spouse. If you found today's podcast helpful, please share with family, friends, and on social media platforms. As always, we love hearing from you. Feel free to contact us at . /episode/index/show/dabb8d1d-6a10-47ee-b2f3-ad690aed7a0f/id/36007380

On Fasting 03/31/2025

On Fasting Today Pastor Nate addresses fasting—a spiritual discipline that gets little publicity. He answers some objections and explores a few biblical examples that show us why we too might fast. One of the resources Nate mentioned was Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life by Donald Whitney. You can find his book . /episode/index/show/dabb8d1d-6a10-47ee-b2f3-ad690aed7a0f/id/35861270

Wisdom from Above 03/10/2025

Wisdom from Above We often encounter situations requiring great care to navigate well, and it is easy to seek worldly wisdom as we work through them. But we are called to seek the wisdom from above. Today, Pastor Nate explores the nature and character of this wisdom. /episode/index/show/dabb8d1d-6a10-47ee-b2f3-ad690aed7a0f/id/35580850

A Christian Perspective on Compassion 03/03/2025

A Christian Perspective on Compassion Today, Pastor Nate welcomes Mr. James Goddard and Miss Anneke Seely on the podcast to talk about the importance of compassion in the work of caring for each other in the body of Christ. Anneke is a graduate of New College Franklin and has a Master’s in counseling from Reformed Theological Seminary in Orlando, FL. James is also a graduate of New College Franklin and has a Master’s in Counseling from Covenant Theological Seminary in St. Louis, MO. Two books that were referenced and recommended on today's podcast were by Paul David Tripp and by Nancy Guthrie. /episode/index/show/dabb8d1d-6a10-47ee-b2f3-ad690aed7a0f/id/35487555

J.D. Vance, Immigration, and the Ordo Amoris 02/24/2025

J.D. Vance, Immigration, and the Ordo Amoris Today, Pastor Nate explores a very interesting comment that Vice President JD Vance recently made about the Trump administration's immigration policy and the ancient Christian teaching of ordo amoris. For background on today's podcast, check out the resources below: See this See this by Dr. John Fesko. /episode/index/show/dabb8d1d-6a10-47ee-b2f3-ad690aed7a0f/id/35409935

The Christian Practice of Hospitality 02/17/2025

The Christian Practice of Hospitality Today, Pastor Nate explores the Christian practice of hospitality. Leaning heavily on the biblical revelation and church history, he shows why hospitality is central to the church's gospel witness. With compelling practical advice on how to use your home, organize your schedule, and budget your monies for living out the welcome of God through the Christian practice of hospitality. /episode/index/show/dabb8d1d-6a10-47ee-b2f3-ad690aed7a0f/id/35264385

Neo-Calvinism 02/10/2025

Neo-Calvinism Pastors Nate and Sebastian join again to talk about Neo-Calvinism; they discuss some of its founders, history, distinctives, and practical implications. If you didn’t listen to the previous episode, it provides some context going into today’s conversation. Here are links to three of Bavinck’s books that Sebastian recommended if you want to delve into Neo-Calvinism: , , and . /episode/index/show/dabb8d1d-6a10-47ee-b2f3-ad690aed7a0f/id/35090825

The Famed T.U.L.I.P. 02/03/2025

The Famed T.U.L.I.P. Today, Pastor Sebastian Bjernegård of Cornerstone Presbyterian Church joins Pastor Nate to talk about Calvinism. They elaborate on the famous 5 points and clarify some common misconceptions and errors surrounding those doctrines. They will return next week to talk about Neo-Calvinism. /episode/index/show/dabb8d1d-6a10-47ee-b2f3-ad690aed7a0f/id/35056285

We Do Not Wrestle Against Flesh and Blood 01/27/2025

We Do Not Wrestle Against Flesh and Blood Today, Pastor Nate goes to the mailbag and answers a question from a listener. The question concerns how a Christian should think the spiritual realm. Touching on the subject of angels and demons, Pastor Nate offers three foundational points for thinking and responding biblically to the reality of the spiritual realm. /episode/index/show/dabb8d1d-6a10-47ee-b2f3-ad690aed7a0f/id/34922410

Covenant Theology (with Brittain Brewer and Nathaniel Vroom): Part 2 01/20/2025

Covenant Theology (with Brittain Brewer and Nathaniel Vroom): Part 2 This is part 2 of Pastor Nate’s conversation with Brittain and Nathaniel. They finish talking about covenant theology throughout Scripture and move to some applications: What difference does it make to us that we have a covenantal God? Stay tuned for their answers. Brittain is the associate minister at Reformation Covenant Church in Oregan City, OR. Nathaniel is the associate pastor at First Orthodox Presbyterian Church in Sunnyvale, CA. Both interned at Cornerstone Presbyterian Church several years ago before going on to seminary. For more resources on covenant theology, here are three books Pastor Nate recommends: , , and /episode/index/show/dabb8d1d-6a10-47ee-b2f3-ad690aed7a0f/id/34835885

Covenant Theology (with Brittain Brewer and Nathaniel Vroom): Part 1 01/13/2025

Covenant Theology (with Brittain Brewer and Nathaniel Vroom): Part 1 Pastor Nate interviews two pastor friends, Rev. Brittain Brewer and Rev. Nathaniel Vroom, about covenant theology. Today, they give a brief overview of what covenant is, how it works, and how the biblical story is held together by covenant. Brittain is the associate minister at Reformation Covenant Church in Oregan City, OR. Nathaniel is the associate pastor at First Orthodox Presbyterian Church in Sunnyvale, CA. Both men were interns at Cornerstone Presbyterian Church in Franklin, TN, several years ago before going on to seminary and entering pastoral ministry. /episode/index/show/dabb8d1d-6a10-47ee-b2f3-ad690aed7a0f/id/34822750

A Deeper Communion with God 01/06/2025

A Deeper Communion with God As you enter the new year, you might be thinking about your spiritual disciplines. One of the most important disciplines is Bible reading, but it is no ordinary book and so we should not read it in an ordinary way. Today, Pastor Nate talks about what we should remember and seek after when we read God's Word. /episode/index/show/dabb8d1d-6a10-47ee-b2f3-ad690aed7a0f/id/34600475

How Shall We Live? 12/30/2024

How Shall We Live? It’s the last week of the year, and in this last episode of 2024, Pastor Nate answers a question he has gotten over the recent weeks about how we ought to live in 2025. There are a lot of unknowns, both good and bad, coming all of our ways, so Pastor Nate lays out the “5 ‘R’s"—some principles for preparing for the year and living faithfully through it. /episode/index/show/dabb8d1d-6a10-47ee-b2f3-ad690aed7a0f/id/34599600

The War at the Heart of Christmas 12/23/2024

The War at the Heart of Christmas Today, Pastor Nate draws our attention to the meaning of Christmas by going back to primordial clash at the beginning of redemptive history. Reminding us that the peace Christmas promises comes on the other side of a cosmic war. /episode/index/show/dabb8d1d-6a10-47ee-b2f3-ad690aed7a0f/id/34494955

Fighting Holiday Depression 12/16/2024

Fighting Holiday Depression Counselors and psychologists tell us depression often peaks during the holiday season. So today, Pastor Nate offers some consolation and practical advice on how to deal with depression during the holidays. /episode/index/show/dabb8d1d-6a10-47ee-b2f3-ad690aed7a0f/id/34436100

Is Church Membership Biblical? (with Rev. Jonathan Cruse): Part 2 12/09/2024

Is Church Membership Biblical? (with Rev. Jonathan Cruse): Part 2 Today, Pastors Nate and Jonathan continue their conversation about church membership, and they address some real-world complexities, like: How many church events should I attend? and How should I handle a disagreement with my pastor when I am a member? Jonathan is an OPC pastor in Kalamazoo, Michigan. He and Nate met during their doctoral studies and became fast friends. Jonathan has authored several books, including the one that he and Nate talk about today: Church Membership, which you can find on . He writes regularly for TGC, Reformation21, and other ministries. /episode/index/show/dabb8d1d-6a10-47ee-b2f3-ad690aed7a0f/id/33985577

Is Church Membership Biblical? (with Rev. Jonathan Cruse): Part 1 12/02/2024

Is Church Membership Biblical? (with Rev. Jonathan Cruse): Part 1 Today Pastor Nate brings Rev. Jonathan Cruse on to Life at the Corner to talk about the biblical ground for church membership. Jonathan is an OPC pastor in Kalamazoo, Michigan. He and Nate met during their doctoral studies and became fast friends. Jonathan has authored several books, including the one that he and Nate talk about today: Church Membership, which you can find on . He writes regularly for TGC, Reformation21, and other ministries. /episode/index/show/dabb8d1d-6a10-47ee-b2f3-ad690aed7a0f/id/33944577

Eucatastrophe: Giving Thanks When Things Are Hard 11/25/2024

Eucatastrophe: Giving Thanks When Things Are Hard Pastor Nate meditates on the apostle Paul’s admonition to “give thanks in all circumstances” and speaks about how that is possible when a person’s life is full of heartbreak. /episode/index/show/dabb8d1d-6a10-47ee-b2f3-ad690aed7a0f/id/34100381

The Bold Request 11/18/2024

The Bold Request Today, Pastor Nate talks about one of his favorite Scripture passages and explores the meaning behind one of the boldest requests in the Bible. /episode/index/show/dabb8d1d-6a10-47ee-b2f3-ad690aed7a0f/id/33943937

Types and Shadows (Part 2) 11/11/2024

Types and Shadows (Part 2) Today, Pastor Nate wraps up last week’s conversation by giving four principles by which we can identify a type in Scripture, with examples to elaborate on this hermeneutic. He draws extensively on an article by Dr. Currid, entitled: “The Recognition and Use of Typology in Preaching.” For other books on reading your Bible typologically, see... /episode/index/show/dabb8d1d-6a10-47ee-b2f3-ad690aed7a0f/id/33173382

Types and Shadows (Part 1) 11/04/2024

Types and Shadows (Part 1) Today Pastor Nate takes a look at hermeneutics and specifically at “types and shadows.” A listener asked him to explain what they are and how we can know what things in the Bible are actually types. In part 1, Pastor Nate briefly gives a defense and explanation of reading Scripture through the lens of ‘types.’ /episode/index/show/dabb8d1d-6a10-47ee-b2f3-ad690aed7a0f/id/33076812

The Reformation and Halloween 10/28/2024

The Reformation and Halloween Today, Pastor Shurden touches on college football, the World Series, fire pits, Reformation Day reading, and why Martin Luther may have nailed his famous 95 theses on All Hallows Eve in 1517. /episode/index/show/dabb8d1d-6a10-47ee-b2f3-ad690aed7a0f/id/33613922

Who You Should Vote For 10/21/2024

Who You Should Vote For Pastor Nate invites Nathan Johnson back on the podcast to talk about voting. They cover questions such as what is a vote, how much does your vote matter, how do different people view their vote, and how should Christians vote in the upcoming presidential election? Nathan Johnson is Assistant Dean of Academics and professor of philosophy and theology at New College Franklin as well as a teacher-in-residence at Cornerstone Presbyterian Church. He is currently working on a Ph.D. in the Humanities with a concentration on literature. /episode/index/show/dabb8d1d-6a10-47ee-b2f3-ad690aed7a0f/id/33406272

Biblical Counseling (A Conversation with Rev. Josh Squires) 10/14/2024

Biblical Counseling (A Conversation with Rev. Josh Squires) Today, Pastor Nate interviews his long time friend, Rev. Josh Squires, Associate Minister of Counseling at First Presbyterian Church in Columbia, SC. They discuss the relationship between Scriptural truth and psychological insight in Christian counseling. In addition, Rev. Squires provides key practical help for everyday Christians seeking to love each other well in the body of Christ. In today's interview, by the late Dr. Timothy Keller was referenced. /episode/index/show/dabb8d1d-6a10-47ee-b2f3-ad690aed7a0f/id/33363547

Christian Faithfulness in an Election Year 10/07/2024

Christian Faithfulness in an Election Year In this episode, Pastor Nate lays out several biblical principles for guiding the hearts and minds of Christians during an election year. /episode/index/show/dabb8d1d-6a10-47ee-b2f3-ad690aed7a0f/id/33301147

Responding to Steve Lawson’s Removal from Ministry 09/30/2024

Responding to Steve Lawson’s Removal from Ministry Today, Pastor Nate answers a question from a listener about the removal of Dr. Steve Lawson from ministry. Leaning heavily on an from Rev. Warren Peel, Pastor Nate helps us process and respond biblically to the fall of Christian leaders. /episode/index/show/dabb8d1d-6a10-47ee-b2f3-ad690aed7a0f/id/33208692

Family Worship 09/23/2024

Family Worship Today, Pastor Nate reflects on the priority and practice of family worship. Recognizing both the difficulties and delights of family worship, he outlines a plan for family and provides practical advice on how to lead and direct family devotions for children of all ages. If you want to read more on the topic, consider the resources below: /episode/index/show/dabb8d1d-6a10-47ee-b2f3-ad690aed7a0f/id/33115117

Summer Reading 09/16/2024

Summer Reading Today, Pastor Nate reviews some of his top summer readings, ranging from short stories to biographies to theology. /episode/index/show/dabb8d1d-6a10-47ee-b2f3-ad690aed7a0f/id/32976487

When God Speaks to Us 09/09/2024

When God Speaks to Us How can God refer to his right arm, his fingers, or his feet if he possesses no body? And how does the incarnation of Christ relate to the revelation of God who is spirit? Today Pastor Nate addresses the use of human language to describe God, explaining how the Bible can use physical descriptions to help us know him. /episode/index/show/dabb8d1d-6a10-47ee-b2f3-ad690aed7a0f/id/32879962

Life at the Corner

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