Cornerstone Church of Knoxville 1250 Heritage Lake Boulevard, Knoxville, TN 37922

"If one were to nitpick about the church’s imperfections, mine would be these two: First, and I have to preface this by stating I haven’t been there in a while so things may have changed, people within the church didn’t marry each other because of love, but by what was decided what would make the best business partnership. If during a courtship the caregroup leaders or other pastors decide that the couple is not the best match, then the man will be asked to discontinue his pursuit. If the match is approved, the couple will attend counseling sessions and follow the mentorship of a married couple who previously went through the same process. If during the marriage the husband fails to, and I quote, “lead his family,” then their membership will be revoked. Like the marriages within the church (an average of eight per year), the new member process involves courses with booklets as well as pastoral interviews. The end result: it’s a place where everyone publicly talks, thinks and acts the same. If you don’t fit the mold, you’ll REALLY not fit the mold. There is very little room to be…you. The second nitpick is that what was once a church that was built on having a gospel-centered foundation has become a church that has a Cornerstone-centered foundation. Actually this is a bigpick. Every time someone would come forward with a testimony (which was pre-approved by the senior leaders) it was never about how great God is, but how great of a church Cornerstone is. I remember one Sunday there was a bubble chart up on the screen detailing how all the current family members came to be through acquaintances of other members. The center of the chart? Not God nor the gospel. What was really frightening was that Sunday morning messages (they are specifically not referred to as “sermons”) had no main topical point. Each listener could come away from it with whatever they wanted."

"The Gospel-centered preaching has served me for so many years. This church holds the word of God in high esteem and the members love the Bible. People are very friendly and eager to invite new people into the church. I have been a member here for about 10 years and still look forward to every Sunday!"

"There are a couple of good people, but for the most part, the congregation and church staff were fake. I attended Cornerstone for 3 years, and I wouldn’t be surprised if no one remembers me. I attended a local college there and went to church on Sundays, occasionally attended their weekly community groups, and sometimes went out and fellowship with others. Once I graduated college, I felt isolated from the church. If you weren’t getting married, buying a nice house in a suburban neighborhood, or weren’t tithing a certain amount, you were considered an outcast. I also noticed that some members of the congregation boasted about their salaries or somehow included their income in their testimonies. I get that finances are important, but these people here love to show it off- and do so quite immensely. Shortly after moving away for a job offer out of state, I had a family member passed away. When I went on social media and posted the funeral announcement, No one from Cornerstone reached out or prayed for me. Not one individual. Not the people I sat in church with, not the ones I’ve met in community groups, and not the ones whom I’ve texted and hang out with outside of church. This was reality that hit me in the face and made me delete all contacts in my phone of every person I got to know at Cornerstone. I’m a lot better now with a new job in a new state. I still have a relationship with Christ, but I haven’t stepped inside a church since Covid. I do struggle trusting a new church and wanting to fellowship and get to know other Christians, but my experiences at Cornerstone has affected me negatively. I certainly hope this review forewarn others not to be hurt by a church like I was. By all means, if you’re married, have an exorbitant income, live in a opulent home that you can show off at community groups, and love to boast about your lavish lifestyle and say things like “God has blessed us and can bless you too”, then this place is for you. They preach against prosperity gospel, but their actions speak louder than words. You’ll feel welcomed and get invited to every event when you’re a college student. However, once you graduate and don’t live up to the church’s standards, you’ll be ignored and set apart soon. Ever heard the expression, “a wolf in sheep’s clothing?” Yea, that’s Cornerstone and Sovereign Grace Ministries."

"The teaching is in line with scripture. Progressive teaching is not a word I would use for this place unless you want to progress in your faith in Christ. The community is close and very welcoming and loving. One of the main focal points of a church is fellowship, at this church you will get that fellowship. While no church is perfect because it is made of imperfect people, don't expect this church to be, because it simply isn't. It's a bunch of imperfect people doing their best to love others and serve them. They focus a lot on family and young adults. The sermons are based on a passage of scripture and taught through it. Overall, most loving and welcoming church I've found in Knox that teaches the scriptures for what they are."

"I’ve been a member here since ‘04 and I can attests that: They LOVE God’s word. They sing rich, gospel saturated music with sincerity. They are generous financially and relationally. They demonstrate humility, thankfulness and love. They build deep and meaningful relationships. They suffer together. They find out ways to help you and do it. They devour good books. Every year unbelievers come to believe here and root themselves in this church and grow their faith. This is a healthy church that would love to see you with us this Sunday or in our homes for community group."