LEADING IN LIGHT OF THE END OF THE AGE

The contemporary church tends to focus overwhelmingly on how to cope with this present life. Colossians tells us, “let Heaven fill your thoughts.”

C.S. Lewis made two interesting observations regarding the importance of our focus on eternity… “If you read history, you will find that the Christians who did most for the present world were precisely those who thought most of the next.” And he said, ”Aim at Heaven and you will get earth ‘thrown in.’ Aim at earth and you will get neither.”

During our regional gatherings as a Grace International family, we will focus the teaching sessions on what the Bible has to say about the end of the age. Our purpose is twofold. First, as we see the day we minister in increasingly abandon core Biblical moral values and objective truth, are there Biblical prophecies that speak to our day and signal the coming end of the age? Second, how do we prepare our congregations for the last days? What should they know? What should they do? How can they be ready for what is coming as we are admonished in the Bible to be watchful and ready? How does living in light of Heaven prepare us for this life and for the end of this life? What about Jesus’ second coming? What are the major views concerning His coming? What will Heaven be like? Who will be there… and who won’t be there?

What about the symbols and signs and seals? Why are there so many sevens and twelves? What about the coming judgments? What about the beast, the false prophet, the antichrist, the dragon, and the mark without which you can’t buy or sell? What about tribulation and sorrow? What should you know about death and dying? What about the concern regarding the potential of AI to spin out of control and impact the existence of humanity?

In the sessions we have together, we will touch on these subjects. Our goal is to stir up your interest in these areas and to help you address this with your congregation. We will be providing teaching notes at the sessions for you to have as a resource for your own teaching. This summer, we are addressing these subjects with the Grace Woodlands congregation on both Sunday mornings and Wednesday nights. The interest has been off the chart and the attendance has almost filled the building even on Wednesday night.

Please be sure and join us in your region of the nation. Becky and I and our ministry team look forward to being with you. These gatherings are a great Grace International family time of worship, fellowship, education, equipping, and of experiencing the presence of God. Make sure and invite some ministry peers to join us!

Steve Riggle
President, Grace International