Pastor Cullen reveals how his father's recent death made hope feel fragile and real in the room.
This sermon from Pastor Jon Cullen of Southbridge Fellowship focuses on cultivating a Christian hope anchored in Jesus Christ as the new year begins. Cullen addresses the congregation during the transitional period between Christmas and the new year, acknowledging both reflection and anticipation. He opens by sharing personal holiday traditions with his wife and four daughters, including a late-night gift-wrapping session that prompts a humorous reevaluation. Cullen observes that humans uniquely possess the capacity to envision and hope for a good future, unlike animals that merely prepare instinctively. He engages the audience by having them share with a neighbor one thing they are looking forward to in 2026, highlighting the life-giving power of vocalizing hope. The core scriptural text is 1 Peter 1:1-12, which the pastor explains was written to early Christians feeling like exiles and facing persecution. Cullen connects this ancient sense of displacement to modern experiences, citing a University of Oklahoma student who received a zero on an assignment for using the Bible to discuss gender roles. He emphasizes that a believer's true identity is as someone chosen by God and set apart by the Spirit, which serves as an anchor in unstable times. The sermon defines biblical hope as a confident expectation born from God's mercy and the resurrection of Jesus, not a passive wish. Cullen contrasts this eternal inheritance, which never perishes, with temporary gifts like smartphones that fade in value. He directly addresses the reality of suffering, sharing that his father passed away in August and that another congregant's father died just the day before. The message argues that trials serve a refining purpose, purifying faith like gold tested by fire, and can lead to "inexpressible and glorious joy." Cullen illustrates this paradox with the story of Liatu, a woman from Nigeria who endured persecution and separation from her family yet found profound joy in Christ. The sermon concludes by noting that the plan of salvation fascinated Old Testament prophets and even angels, who rejoice when one person repents. The tone is pastoral, encouraging, and personal, blending teaching, relatable stories, and congregational interaction. It is conversational yet theologically grounded, moving between exposition, application, and prayer. Listeners seeking spiritual encouragement for grief, uncertainty, or the new year will find this message resonant. Those uncomfortable with evangelical Christian theology or discussions of divine election and persecution may find it less appealing.
