Academic Programs

Admissions

Tuition & Financial Aid

Student Experience

Second President’s Chapel Further Unpacks Theme of the Year: Christ Our Greatest Friend

Chapel October 25, 2023

Amidst the festivities of Grandparents Day, Dr. Gerson Moreno-Riaño, president of Cornerstone University, continued to dive into the theme for this academic year: Christ Our Greatest Friend, based on John 15:13-14.

Following a brief recap of the first President’s Chapel, which introduced the theme and reasons for its selection, highlighted by the growing loneliness and friendship recession epidemic sweeping the United States, President Moreno-Riaño dug into the demands of friendship. In his message, he focused on three core demands of what it means to have a true friendship:

  1. Knowing another and being known by another.
  2. Doing good for another and only receiving good from another.
  3. Actively sacrificing ourselves for our friends and actively receiving their sacrifices for us.

President Moreno-Riaño spent time in Genesis 4, going over the story of Cain and Abel and paying special attention to the moment Cain asks God if he is his brother’s keeper. Keeper in Hebrew means someone who watches out for the other, which is the exact model of Biblical friendship.

“Maybe this is the reason why there is a friendship recession,” said President Moreno-Riaño. “We don’t want to do this Biblical model because it’s too much work.”

In response to this challenge, he encouraged students, faculty and staff with Scripture. President Moreno-Riaño pointed to Exodus 33:17, Jeremiah 1:5, Psalm 139, and John 10:14, among other passages, illustrating how God knows and loves us intimately and intricately in a way that is beyond our understanding.

Through the aforementioned passages, President Moreno-Riaño went on to show that Jesus fulfills all the demands of friendship perfectly. He reminded the community that we have the blessing and privilege to have the greatest friend on our side and that it is our responsibility to act accordingly in our relationship with Him and our own friends.

In closing, President Moreno-Riaño focused on Revelation 3:20, continuing to draw attention to how Jesus perfectly encompasses the core demands of friendship and how we, as Christ’s followers, must do our best to emulate Him.

To listen to the message in full, as well as additional chapel messages, follow Cornerstone University Chapel on Spotify and subscribe to CornerstoneU on YouTube.

News

News
November 21, 2023

From Deconstruction to Revival: Wisdom Conversations Ignites a Powerful Dialogue on Campus

View
News
November 20, 2023

The Honorable Betsy DeVos Shares Insights from a Life Dedicated to Education Reform

View
Undergraduate
March 1, 2024

University Chorale Florida Tour

View
News
November 16, 2023

Cornerstone University Establishes the Inaugural President’s Fellows Program and Scholarship

View
News
November 13, 2023

Pack the House Night at Cornerstone University to Benefit the Philippines on November 29 and December 3

View
University
April 19, 2024

Soli Deo Gloria High School Honors Band

View
Undergraduate
Feb. 23, 2024

Symphonic Winds Concert

View
Undergraduate
Dec. 10, 2023

Christmas Hope: A Choral Concert

View

Want to Learn More About CU?

Connect with CU