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Equip Podcast
Produced by Cornerstone Church of Ames, The Equip Podcast is designed to provide insight, resources and Biblical wisdom to help us live faithful and fruitful lives together.
Episodes
347 episodes
Ask Mark Anything: Dating Age Gaps, The Shroud of Turin & More
In this Ask Mark Anything episode of the Equip Podcast, Emily puts Mark in the hot seat for a round of listener questions kicked off with a back-to-school theme. From dating age gaps and spiritual readiness, to the Shroud of Turin and relics, t...
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The Church Is the Answer to Iowa's Foster Care Crisis w/ Mel Pearson
In this episode of the Equip Podcast, Mark Vance sits down with Mel Pearson, who leads City Ministry at Cornerstone Church, to talk about the real state of foster care in Iowa right now, and why it should matter deeply to Christians. Mel shares...
21 Days of Prayer: Praying for a Move of God This Fall
In this episode of the Equip Podcast, Mark and Emily introduce 21 Days of Prayer, a church-wide season of focused, kingdom-centered prayer leading into the fall semester. They talk through why prayer matters even though God already knows our ne...
Sins We Tolerate: Sins of the Tongue
In the final part of the Sins We Tolerate series, Mark and Emily tackle a sin so common we barely notice it: the sins of the tongue. They unpack why our words are never neutral, always spilling out of what's really in our hearts, walk ...
Sins We Tolerate: Sloth
In this episode of the Equip Podcast, part of the Sins We Tolerate series, Mark and Emily turn to sloth, the "sister sin" to gluttony. They define sloth not simply as laziness, but as neglecting the work God has assigned, then offer pr...
Sins We Tolerate: Gluttony
In this episode of the Equip Podcast, Mark flips the script, handing the mic to Emily Jensen to walk through the third entry in their series on hidden, respectable sins: gluttony. Far from the exaggerated stereotype most of us picture, Emily un...
What Does Christian Patriotism Look Like?
In this special Fourth of July episode of the Equip Podcast, Mark reflects on patriotism, love of country, and what it means for Christians to hold citizenship in heaven while living as faithful residents on earth. Turning to Jeremiah's letter ...
Sins We Tolerate: Judgement
In this episode, Mark and Emily kick off a brand new series called Since We Tolerate, a look at the "respectable sins" Christians often overlook or excuse. They start with one of the most culturally relevant: judgment. Drawing from Rom...
Planting Citizens Church with Simeon Bell
Emily Jensen sits down with Simeon Bell to talk about Citizens Church, a church he and his team are planting in Columbia, South Carolina. Simeon shares the unexpected timeline change that has his family moving this August, the vision behind the...
What's Happening in Rural Iowa with Shane Rothlisberger
In this episode, Mark sits down with his friend and fellow pastor Shane Rothlisberger to tell the story of how the Acreage Church, a church plant in northeast Iowa, came to life in the most unexpected way. What began with a sick father, a famil...
Ask Mark Anything: Swearing, Greek Life & More
In this third installment of the "Ask Mark Anything" series, Emily puts Mark on the spot with questions submitted by listeners. From the ethics of swearing to conspiracy theories, waiting on God to Greek life, Mark tackles a wide range of real-...
What Is Church Membership?
Mark and Emily dig into one of the most practically important, and often misunderstood, topics in the Christian life: church membership. From what the Bible actually says about it, to the common ditches people fall into, to how a large church l...
Leadership, Legacy, and Aging Well with Troy Nesbitt
In this episode of the Equip Podcast, Mark sits down with Troy Nesbitt, founding pastor of Cornerstone Church and the man who started Salt Company in 1987. Troy reflects on what it looks like to navigate the final quarter of life with faithfuln...
Planting a Church in Austin, TX with Mitchell Johnson
Mark sits down with Mitchell Johnson, a church planter being sent out from Cornerstone to launch The Way Church in Austin, Texas. Mitchell shares his remarkable story of growing up in New Orleans, surviving Hurricane Katrina, a crisis of suicid...
Finishing Well: Health, Medicine, and Dying Well
Mark tackles one of the most avoided conversations in the Christian life: how do we approach health, medical care, and dying in a way that reflects a biblical worldview? With honesty and care, he challenges listeners to stop prolonging death an...
Finishing Well: End-of-Life Finances and Generosity
Mark tackles one of the most practical (and often avoided) topics in the Christian life: what does faithful stewardship look like in the final season of life? Drawing from Scripture and real conversations with retirees, Mark offers biblical pri...
Preparing for Summer: The Spiritual Workout Plan
Summer is one of the most enjoyable seasons of the year, but it can also be one of the most spiritually distracting. In this episode, Mark and Emily talk about how to approach the summer months with intentionality through the Spiritual Workout ...
Navigating Midlife with Brent & Tori Haverkamp
In this episode of the Equip Podcast, Mark is joined by Brent and Tori Haverkamp to talk about the “fall” season of life: midlife and beyond. They talk about the challenges and opportunities that come with this stage, including career pressures...
Marriage, Money, and Calling with Crystal Vance
Mark is joined by his wife, Crystal, to talk about the “summer” season of life: young adulthood, marriage, and building a life marked by faithfulness. Through stories and wisdom, they reflect on navigating relationships, finances, work, and spi...
Pursuing Wisdom in Your Teens with Owen & Brenna
In this episode of the Equip Podcast, Mark is joined by high school seniors Brenna Van Cleave and his son Owen for a conversation about what it looks like to grow in wisdom during the “spring” season of life. As part of a broader series on the ...
How Should Christians Think About War?
In this episode, Mark and Emily talk through how Christians should think about war in a world filled with conflict. Looking at Scripture and ideas like just war theory, they explore how believers can pursue peace while still understanding the r...
Building A Healthy Marriage with Steve Jones
What does a godly marriage actually look like?In this episode of the Equip Podcast, Emily sits down with Steve Jones, Executive Director of Ministries and a licensed mental health counselor, to talk about God’s design for marria...
Easter Apologetics: Evidence for the Resurrection
In this special Easter episode of the Equip Podcast, Mark walks through the historical and biblical evidence for the resurrection of Jesus. He explores why the resurrection is not just a matter of faith, but a claim rooted in real events, eyewi...
Men & Women Part 4: Q&A
In the final episode of the Men & Women series, Mark and Emily respond to questions submitted by listeners throughout the series. These questions explore how the biblical vision for men and women plays out in everyday life, the chu...
Men & Women Part 3: Dangers & Distortions
In Part 3 of the Men & Women series, Mark and Emily turn to the tensions and misunderstandings that often arise in conversations about gender. After exploring the biblical definitions and distinctions between men and women, this episode add...