Endings
Heaven
January 22, 2023 • Andrew Cullen • Revelation 21:1–3
What happens when we die? This question is one we all ask at some point in our lives. It is not a uniquely Christian question; it is a human question. We wonder what happens when we die because what happens when we die influences how we live. For those of us who believe Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God, we know we will dwell with God in a New Creation. Right now, there is an overlap of the heavenly and earthly kingdoms. But when Jesus returns, he will reunite heaven and earth so that God’s space is our space. The New Heaven and the New Earth will be the new home of God's family.
Gaining Grit
January 15, 2023 • Andrew Cullen • Hebrews 12:1–2
We can all agree that the last two years have been difficult. The pandemic left families without loved ones and medical workers exhausted. Families have become divided over political opinions. Marriages have fallen apart. Friends have betrayed one another. Life is full of troubles, trials, and tests. As we run the race set before us, the question all of us must answer is, “What are we focusing on?” Hebrews tells us to focus on Jesus. Our endurance through difficulty will produce Christlikeness in us.
Scripture
January 8, 2023 • Andrew Cullen • 2 Timothy 3:16–17
Words matter. That is why we have God’s words written down. Scripture is a collection of 66 books (39 OT, 27 NT) written by 40 different authors from different backgrounds over the period of 1,500 years. These 66 books have been accepted by the Church as the inspired, infallible, and invaluable words of God and have been passed down from generation to generation for nearly 2,000 years. An essential part of making disciples is teaching others what Jesus commanded. We pass on what we have received, we share what we have learned, so that others can know God by understanding Scripture.
Mentoring
January 1, 2023 • Andrew Cullen • 2 Timothy 2:2
Mentoring is not just a term used by professionals in their career field. Mentoring is not just for those in vocational ministry. Coaches can be mentors on the field. Teachers can be mentors in the classroom. Parents can be mentors in the home. Grandparents can be mentors when they are watching the grandkids. Anyone can be a mentor because mentoring is another word for discipling. Jesus taught thousands of people. Jesus interacted with groups of people. But Jesus singled out a small group of 12 men to disciple. And he still spent a disproportionate amount of time with Peter, James, and John. Mentoring is passing on what we have received. This was the ministry strategy of Jesus and continues to be the ministry strategy of the church.