Jesus the Chief Cornerstone — Building 2026 on a Sure Foundation
PS. BRENDEN BROWN | JAN 4, 2026
Last Sunday, we gathered for our first service of 2026 and launched a brand-new teaching series called “Jesus the…”. As we stepped into a new year together, we were reminded that the most important question is not who we want to become, but what we are building on. You can grow fast but it doesn’t mean it’s healthy. Many Christians are building on mixture rather than the God of scripture. You can be busy, moral, spiritual, and even successful—yet still collapse under pressure if your foundation is off. Our prayer as a church this year is not simply to grow deeper or bigger, but to grow rightly—intentionally building our lives on Jesus Christ, the Chief Cornerstone. When He is the rock beneath us, the whole structure of life holds together.
What Are We Building On?
The imagery of building came alive through the story of constructing a home in 2011. The process of laying foundations took months. It could not be rushed. Before discussing layouts or design, the architect began with one essential question: how will the foundation be built? In construction, the foundation is the most critical element—it determines the alignment, level, and stability of the entire structure. Everything else was set in reference to it.
Scripture uses this same imagery to reveal a deeper spiritual truth:
“The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.” Psalm 118:22
This verse is one of the most frequently quoted Old Testament passages in the New Testament. Jesus applied it directly to Himself (Matthew 21:42), explaining that although He was rejected by the religious leaders—the “builders”—He is, in fact, the essential foundation of God’s kingdom.
Jesus, then, is not an afterthought added to a life already designed. He is the first stone laid—the one who sets everything else into place. When He is the foundation, what we build can endure.
Jesus Is the Foundation — Not a Place, System, or Tradition
In Matthew 16, Jesus makes it clear that He is not building His church on a location, institution, or personality. Not Rome. Not Italy. Not Peter. Jesus Himself is the foundation.
Later, in Matthew 21, Jesus enters Jerusalem on a donkey—a sign of peace, fulfilling prophecy (Isaiah 62:11; Zechariah 9:9). The crowd shouts Psalm 118:
“Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!”
But then Jesus goes straight to the temple—and He’s not pleased.
“My house shall be called a house of prayer, but you have made it a den of thieves.”
In other words: You’re building, but not according to the design.
The danger of religion without revelation
On the next day, Jesus told the parable of the landowner who sent his servants, and finally his son—the heir—to collect his harvest. The tenants rejected the servants and murdered the son to seize the inheritance. Jesus then asked, “Have you never read the Scriptures?” pointing to the cornerstone the builders rejected. How is it possible to know Scripture and still miss Jesus? This is the danger of religion without revelation (Matthew 21:33–46).
To avoid this trap, we must move beyond empty ritual and invite Christ into our daily lives. As Scripture teaches: "And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him" (Colossians 3:17). When we work for His glory rather than our own gain, we align ourselves with the true Cornerstone.
Three essential truths about the chief cornerstone
1. The cornerstone was chosen before the build began
Ancient builders selected and set the cornerstone first. Every subsequent stone was cut and placed to align with that original reference. Likewise, Jesus was God's plan from the beginning. Revelation and scripture make clear that Christ was foreknown and appointed to be the solution before the problem ever arrived.
What this means for you: If Jesus is the foundation of your life, your choices, relationships, finances, and work are aligned to a sure reference point — not to shifting feelings or cultural trends. You can breathe when pressure comes because the rock beneath you bears the weight.
2. The cornerstone sets alignment and bears the pressure
If the cornerstone is off, the whole structure will crack as earth shifts and storms arrive. Jesus sets the alignment for how we live: humility, mercy, holiness, and generosity. When we follow him, the storms of fear, anxiety, and panic will not have the final word.
Isaiah 28:16 declares a promise: a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation. Those who rely on it will not be stricken with panic. That is a practical promise: build on Christ and you receive his stability.
3. The cornerstone chooses the stones with intention
Jesus does not simply fit into whatever bricks we bring. He calls and shapes the stones he will use. God’s building is intentional — he fashions people, gifts, and seasons so they fit together into a living temple.
Ephesians 2 explains that through Christ both Jew and Gentile are joined into one new humanity, built on the apostles and prophets with Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. We become living stones in a holy temple when we submit to that shaping process.
Signs your foundation needs excavation
Persistent anxiety and fear that don’t respond to prayer
Repeated patterns of failure in relationships, work, or finances
Defensiveness when scripture challenges your habits or desires
Relying on rules, performance, or traditions instead of grace
These are invitations, not condemnations. Excavation by the Spirit often means letting go, repenting, and allowing God to realign your life to Christ.
How to build your 2026 on the cornerstone
Practical steps bring theology into daily life. Here are clear, actionable ways to let Jesus be your foundation this year.
Examine your foundation: Ask what you are really building on — approval, money, performance, comfort, or Jesus?
Invite honest excavation: Allow God to show where cracks are. Repentance is not punishment; it is repair.
Practice the disciplines Jesus taught: Give, pray, and fast. These are not optional extras but rhythms that align heart and life to God’s design.
Study the life of Christ closely: Read Matthew chapters 5–7 to learn the heart-shaping ethics of the kingdom. Read the Gospels repeatedly to behold Jesus and let the text shape you.
Become ridiculously generous: Kingdom generosity enlarges your world; stinginess shrinks it. Look for practical ways to bless others.
Choose forgiveness: Hurt people hurt people. Praying for those who wrong you breaks the cycle and restores your foundation.
Enter public declarations: Baptism and communion are outward signs that anchor inward realities. If you have not taken those steps, consider them as part of building on Jesus.
Let community shape you: Like stones cut in a quarry, we are shaped through relationships. Surround yourself with people who point you to Christ.
What happens when you fall on the stone
Jesus offers two outcomes: if you fall on the stone in humility, he breaks off what must go and heals your heart. If you persist in rejection, the stone will crush what resists. This is both merciful and sobering. The invitation is clear: bow the knee now and receive repair and life.
Homework for the first weeks of the year
Read Matthew 5–7 slowly this week and journal the areas where God invites change.
Choose one discipline to commit to for 21 days: consistent prayer, a controlled fast, or a generosity habit.
Identify one relationship that needs prayer instead of complaint; begin praying for that person daily.
Place Scripture at the center of your home decisions — let it shape finances, parenting, and career choices.
Building a life on Christ is not passive. It is a deliberate, daily aligning of heart and choices to the chief cornerstone. The result is stability when the winds come, a community that reflects God’s design, and a legacy you can hand to the next generation.
Make this year different: Let Jesus be the first stone you lay. Let him determine the alignment of everything else. When he is your cornerstone, 2026 becomes a year of stability, purpose, and life that lasts beyond the storms.
