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What does it really cost to be a pastor? Behind every Sunday sermon are unseen pressures, personal struggles, and the responsibility of shepherding God's people. In this special episode of Ascend the Hill, Pastor Jeremy sits down with Pastors Mike, Steven Morgan, and Anthony for an honest, unscripted conversation about the realities of pastoral ministry. Together, they discuss the emotional weight of church leadership, the pressure to perform, the growing influence of online Christian voices, and the importance of staying connected to Jesus in the middle of ministry. How do pastors navigate discouragement, expectations, and the demands of leading a church without losing their first love? And in an age of Christian influencers, why does the local church still matter? Whether you're a pastor, ministry leader, or someone who loves your local church, this conversation offers encouragement, perspective, and a deeper look into the hearts of those called to lead. Support the show

What happens when someone with a sinful past encounters Jesus in a room full of judgment? In Luke 7:36–50, a woman known for her sin enters a Pharisee's home and pours expensive perfume on Jesus' feet. While everyone else sees her reputation, Jesus reveals something far greater: the transforming power of forgiveness. In this message, "Forgiven Much," from our Friends of God series, we discover how remembering God's incredible mercy deepens our love for Him, renews our joy, and inspires us to extend His grace to others. Have we become so familiar with Christianity that we've forgotten the wonder of our own salvation? Being a friend of God isn't simply about knowing more about Him. It's about knowing His heart, walking in obedience, and helping others experience the same forgiveness we've received. Scripture: Luke 7:36–50 Support the show

Have you ever grown tired of trying, waiting, or doing what’s right without seeing the results? In this message, we’re reminded that we will reap a harvest in God’s timing if we don’t give up. Through the principle of sowing and reaping, we discover that our actions, words, attitudes, time, and resources are all seeds. What we sow matters, where we sow matters, and the harvest may reach further than we can see. As we live generously, walk in the Spirit, and faithfully plant the right seeds, we can trust God with the results. Whether you’re believing for a breakthrough in your own life or sowing into what God is doing through Cornerstone, don’t grow weary in doing good. Keep sowing. Keep trusting. Don’t give up. The harvest will come at just the right time. 📖 Scripture: Galatians 6:7–9; 2 Corinthians 9:10 Support the show

Welcome back to Ascend the Hill with Jeremy Austill!  In this episode, we’re keeping it completely real about life, leadership, and the things we usually try to hide. We kick things off with a recap of our new message series, "Friends of God," and dive into why discovering the confidence of being called a friend of God should change how we stand.Later, we react to some wild internet clips (including a jaw-dropping church service and a powerful conversation on embracing our weaknesses), laugh through an unforgettable pulpit blooper about "populating hell," and unpack a very personal journey: a long-awaited Colorado elk-hunting trip, the unvarnished reality of handling disappointment, and why life rarely goes according to plan. Episode Chapters & Timestamps: 00:00 – Welcome to Ascend the Hill & The "Friends of God" Series   06:11 – The Difference Between Being a Child of God and a Friend of God    11:00 – Why Mature Believers Feed Themselves (And the Danger of Christian Consumerism)    26:15 – Reacting to the Internet: The Wild Polygamy Clip & Romans 1    32:15 – Finding God's Strength in Our Weakness (The Power of Insecurities)    38:58 – The Ultimate Pulpit Blooper: "Populating Hell?"    41:18 – The Colorado Elk Hunting Trip: Expectations vs. Reality    1:01:48 – Dealing with Disappointment and Uncontrollable Variables in Life    Join the Conversation: What's one area of your life or faith where things didn't go according to plan, and how did you handle the disappointment? Drop a comment below!🎙️  Sermons / @cornerstonenashville   Listen to Previous Sermons here: https://linktr.ee/cornerstonenash    Thank you for joining us for Ascend the Hill with Jeremy Austill. Pastor Jeremy is the Lead Pastor of Cornerstone Nashville.    Need prayer? Call us at 615-865-6655   www.cornerstonenashville.org    Subscribe to Ascend the Hill for more biblical teaching, honest conversations, and encouragement to help you grow closer to Jesus. Support the show

What does it really mean to be a friend of God? Is it possible to know God as your Father while growing into a deeper friendship with Him? In this first message of our new series, Friends of God, we explore how our relationship with God is meant to grow and mature throughout our lives. Through John 15:14-15, John 1:12, and the examples of Abraham and Moses, discover what Scripture teaches about our identity as children of God and the invitation to become His friends. We'll explore three essential characteristics of friendship with God: Relational Connection – Knowing God personally through prayer, worship, and His Word. Obedience – Honoring God through reverence, trust, and obedience. Partnership – Moving beyond what God can do for us to how we can participate in His mission. Being a child of God is a gift made possible through Jesus Christ. Growing in friendship with Him is a lifelong journey of knowing His heart and living for His purposes. Join Cornerstone Church for "From Children to Friends" and discover how to grow deeper in your relationship with God. Scriptures: John 15:14-15, John 1:12, Isaiah 41:8, Exodus 33:11, Romans 8:17 Support the show

What does it really mean to be a man of God? Is spiritual strength about appearing tough, or is it found in prayer, humility, serving others, and bold faith in Jesus Christ? In this special live episode of the Ascend the Hill Podcast, recorded at our Men's Encounter weekend, we have an honest, powerful conversation about what it takes to grow as a godly man. Together, they tackle real questions every Christian man faces: How do you build a consistent, meaningful prayer life? What do you do when God seems silent or your prayers go unanswered? How do you develop a servant's heart and stop living for yourself? Why do some men struggle to express themselves in worship? How does the Holy Spirit give us the courage to live boldly for Christ? From personal struggles and powerful testimonies to biblical wisdom and practical encouragement, this conversation challenges men to go beyond simply attending church and start actively living out their faith. Being a man of God isn't about looking strong. It's about surrendering to the One who makes you strong. Whether you're a husband, father, pastor, ministry leader, or simply a man seeking to grow closer to Jesus, this conversation will encourage you to deepen your relationship with God and lead with faith. Subscribe to Ascend the Hill for more biblical teaching, spiritual encouragement, and conversations that help you grow closer to God. Join the conversation: What's one area God is challenging you to grow in right now: prayer, serving, worship, or boldness? Support the show

What happens when following God's calling leads you into danger, uncertainty, and unexpected hardship? In this powerful episode of Ascend the Hill, we sit down with Matt, who spent 14 years serving as a missionary in India alongside his wife and their children. Matt shares incredible stories from the mission field, including encounters with spiritual warfare, dangerous situations, and a life-threatening heart attack that became a defining moment in his walk with God. But his testimony doesn't end there. After years of ministry overseas, Matt found himself working in asphalt construction back in America, wrestling with questions about God's calling, his purpose, and what faithfulness looks like when life doesn't go according to plan. Through it all, Matt discovered a powerful truth: God is still at work, even when we don't understand what He's doing. In this conversation, we explore trusting God through suffering, serving wherever we're needed, finding purpose in unexpected seasons, and surrendering our plans to His will. Whether you're navigating uncertainty, questioning your calling, or simply seeking encouragement in your faith, this conversation will challenge you to trust God and remain faithful wherever He leads. Support the show

What if the joy you've been searching for is found in the relationships God designed you to have? Jesus promised that our joy could overflow, and in John 15:10–13, He revealed a powerful connection between joy, love, and Christian community. In this message, The Joy of Community, we discover why meaningful relationships with other believers are essential to our spiritual health, how the enemy works to create division and isolation, and why giving love rather than simply receiving it is a key to experiencing lasting joy. You'll learn how to build authentic Christian friendships, overcome offense and unforgiveness, heal from relational hurt, and experience the joy that comes from being part of God's family. God never intended for you to walk through life alone. The Church isn't just a place to attend. It's a family where we grow, love, serve, and heal together. Support the show

Are you truly living with joy? Biblical joy is more than laughter, happiness, or having everything go your way. It’s a deep sense of fulfillment, satisfaction, and peace that remains even when life is difficult. In this message, “I’ve Got Joy,” we discover what the Bible teaches about cultivating joy in our everyday lives. Joy is a fruit of the Spirit, but we also have a choice in whether we cultivate it or bury it through what we focus on, what we say, how we respond, and where we place our trust. Discover how the joy of the Lord gives us strength, helps us endure difficult seasons, changes our perspective, impacts the people around us, and ultimately flows from knowing God personally. No matter what season you’re walking through, God desires for joy to become the steady soundtrack of your life. Support the show

What if the work that drains you isn’t something you need to “get better at,” but a sign that someone else on your team was made to do it? In this episode of Ascend the Hill, Pastor Jeremy, Pastor Gunnar, and Pastor Curtis talk about Patrick Lencioni’s 6 Types of Working Genius and how the framework has changed the way they think about church leadership, staff meetings, team building, delegation, and getting work done. They unpack Wonder, Invention, Discernment, Galvanizing, Enablement, and Tenacity, share their own Working Genius results, and discuss what they’ve learned about putting people in roles where they can thrive instead of constantly working from frustration. Plus, the guys talk honestly about preaching the same sermon twice, critiquing your own preaching, preacher habits and “preacher-isms,” church language, and continuing to grow as communicators and leaders. If you lead a church, ministry, staff, volunteer team, or organization, this conversation may change the way you think about the people around you and yourself. Support the show

What if the joy you’ve been looking for is connected to the purpose God created you for? In The Joy of Purpose, we discover how joy grows when we understand that our lives are not random, step into the purpose God has given us, build His Kingdom, and use our lives to bless others. True joy isn’t just a temporary feeling of happiness, it’s the fulfillment, satisfaction, and peace that comes from knowing your life has meaning and direction. When we stop living only for ourselves and begin pouring into others, serving, giving, and joining Jesus in His mission, something changes within us. Discover how to cultivate deeper joy by living the life God created you to live. Support the show

What does it look like to grow as a leader without losing your hunger for God? In this episode of Ascend the Hill, the conversation starts with what didn’t make Sunday’s sermon on joy, digging into Psalm 1, spiritual discernment, the influence of social media, and the danger of becoming desensitized to voices that sound wise but pull us away from biblical truth. Then, the team reacts to conversations surrounding Pentecostalism, the Azusa Street Revival, spiritual gifts, and challenges facing the Church today. Finally, Pastor Jeremy continues the conversation about his “growth era” and the tension between organizational leadership and spiritual hunger. Can a church become healthier, stronger, and more effective without sacrificing prayer, the presence of God, and dependence on the Holy Spirit? The answer may not be choosing one or the other, but learning how to pursue both. Join us for a candid conversation about faith, leadership, church ministry, discernment, prayer, and becoming the kind of leader who can faithfully steward what God is building. Support the show

Have you lost the joy you once had in your relationship with God? In this message, The Joy of My Salvation, we look at the powerful connection between obedience, repentance, and experiencing the joy of the Lord. Through Jesus’ teaching, Psalm 1, and David’s prayer of repentance in Psalm 51, we discover how sin can rob us of joy, and how God’s mercy and forgiveness can restore it. David cried out, “Restore to me the joy of your salvation.” His story reminds us that God does not reject a broken and repentant heart. Salvation isn’t something we earn through perfect performance, it is the incredible gift of God’s mercy, forgiveness, and grace through Jesus Christ. If your faith has begun to feel heavy, routine, or joyless, this message is an invitation to remember the incredible reality of what Jesus has done for you and rediscover the joy of your salvation. Scriptures: 1 Peter 1:8, John 15:10–11, Psalm 19:8, Psalm 112:1, Proverbs 29:18, Psalm 1:1–2, Psalm 51 Support the show

What happens when you preach about joy on Sunday… and wake up Monday morning with none? After two powerful Encounter Weekends filled with testimonies of salvation, freedom, healing, Spirit Baptism, and baptisms, Pastor Jeremy found himself waking up heavy, discouraged, and comparing the church’s growth to others around him. In this episode of Ascend the Hill, Pastor Jeremy talks candidly about walking through the emotional valley after a spiritual high, and what it actually looked like to choose joy when the feelings didn’t immediately follow. Plus, we react to viral church and pastor hot takes, look back at different eras of Pastor Jeremy's leadership, and he explains why he believes he is entering a new season of intentional growth as an organizational and spiritual leader. How do you build for future momentum instead of simply managing the moment? How do you challenge a team without losing your pastoral heart? And can you grow as an organizational leader without sacrificing your prayer life and spirituality? This is an honest conversation about joy, discouragement, church leadership, growth, prayer, vision, and becoming the leader God is calling you to be. Support the show

What does it take to become a woman who moves mountains? In Makings of a Mountain Mover, we look at the qualities God develops in women of faith who are ready to face fear, disappointment, pressure, insecurity, waiting, and seemingly impossible obstacles. Mountain movers aren’t born, they’re made. They heal and grow, live by wisdom and principle, persevere when life gets difficult, recognize the purpose in where God has positioned them, fight for their families, build strong sisterhood, and pursue the presence of God. Whatever mountain is standing in front of you today, God can use the process of facing it to strengthen, shape, and prepare you for His purpose. 📖 “If you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it would move.” — Matthew 17:20 Support the show