We tend to divide our lives into categories: spiritual, physical, mental, emotional, vocational, and relational. However, the spiritual realm and the physical realm are two expressions of the same God. And so, we must see our physical, mental, emotional, vocational, and relational categories as expressions of being created in God’s image. As we are conformed into the image of Jesus, we will become more aware of the hidden, relational realm of the supernatural in which a war is being fought.
Election and Predestination
June 12, 2022 • Andrew Cullen • Romans 8:29, Ephesians 1:3–6, Acts 13:48, Matthew 22:14
How much of your life is in your control and how much is in God’s control? Do you have freedom to choose or are you subject to fate? Is your eternal destiny decided for you or do you get to choose one of two options? Christians emphasize different truths. When we say that we have no choice in our salvation we are overemphasizing God’s sovereignty. When we say that God cannot influence our choices, we are overemphasizing our free will. The bottom line is election and predestination are meant to communicate how transcendent, powerful, gracious, and loving God is. We, the Church, are chosen by God as conduits (e.g. jars of clay) of his grace for the redemption of creation.
The Cross
June 5, 2022 • Andrew Cullen • Matthew 16:24–25
What would you do for who you love the most? Would you put yourself in danger? Would you risk your life? The bottom line when we talk about the cross is this: To follow Jesus, we must set down our desire to protect and promote ourselves and pick up a cross that makes us a target for attack. We will suffer attacks from Satan and we may suffer attacks from people because of Jesus. But the cross we bear identifies us with who we love most.
