November 27, 2022 • Andrew Cullen • Philippians 4:6–7
Anxiety arises when there is a gap between what we believe and what we experience. Something happens outside of us which triggers anxiety within us. We ask, "What if?" We wonder, "Why?" Anxiety creates tension. If we do not figure out ways to proactively and reactively relieve the tension, we are more likely to break and cause damage to ourselves and others. God promises peace and joy to us, even when we are anxious. Peace does not solve the problem. Peace does not change our circumstances. Peace relieves the tension. We do not need to be anxious because God is anxious about us.
Humility
November 20, 2022 • Andrew Cullen • Philippians 2:5–8
Pride and humility are opposed to one another. Humility is simply, “The absence of pride or arrogance.” In Philippians 2, Paul points to Jesus as the perfect personification of humility. Jesus emptied himself so that we could receive salvation. Humility also looks like the servants in Jesus's parable who invested what their master entrusted to them so that when he returned the servants were called, "Good and faithful servants." In the same way, as we do our work as faithful stewards of God’s grace, God works through us to accomplish great things.
Unity
November 13, 2022 • Andrew Cullen • Ephesians 4:4–7
Conflict is inevitable. Marriage has conflict. Friendships have conflict. Teammates have conflict. Siblings have conflict. We have conflict because we are different. Even though we are different in many ways, our differences do not have to divide us. Love does not mean we will never disagree, but unity is not agreement. Unity is marked by a sincere love. We will not experience unity by changing people’s mind. We will experience unity when we soften our own hearts.
Grace
November 6, 2022 • Andrew Cullen • Ephesians 2:8
What's the difference between mercy and grace? Mercy is God choosing to not give something we do deserve. Grace is God choosing to give something we do not deserve. Mercy holds back bad. Grace extends good. Mercy is the absence of action. Grace requires action. It is easier to be merciful than it is to be gracious. And yet, we are called to show mercy and give grace to people who do not deserve either because God showed mercy and gave grace to us when had done and could do nothing to earn his love.
