The End in Mind

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Description Calling ourselves followers of Jesus points to a profoundly important truth: our lives are not directionless. We go where he goes. Yet many of us spend precious little time thinking deeply about the mind-blowing future Jesus is leading us to, nor about how that future directly shapes the way we live now. In this book of 26 Bible readings, Ian Carmichael and Marty Sweeney take you on a journey from the end to the beginning of the New Testament. Each reading includes: Bible text helpful commentary thought-provoking reflection questions. From Revelation to Matthew you will see with new clarity what the Bible has to say about our destination, and what it looks like—with lots of practical detail—to lead a destination-driven Christian life. The End in Mind is suitable for personal and one-to-one use, or for working through with a group. Table of contents IntroductionReading 1 | Revelation 21:1–4Reading 2 | Revelation 12:7–11 Reading 3 | Revelation 7:9–17Reading 4 | 2 Peter 3:8–14Reading 5 | Hebrews 3:12–19Reading 6 | 1 Timothy 1:15–17Reading 7 | 1 Thessalonians 2:17–3:3Reading 8 | Colossians 3:1–4Reading 9 | Colossians 1:9–14Reading 10 | Philippians 2:1–11Reading 11 | Ephesians 1:3–10 48Reading 12 | 2 Corinthians 5:14–6:2 52Reading 13 | 1 Corinthians 15:51–58 57Reading 14 | 1 Corinthians 14:1–12 61Reading 15 | 1 Corinthians 7:29–31 65Reading 16 | Romans 10:9–17 70Reading 17 | Acts 4:18–31 74Reading 18 | John 16:1–15Reading 19 | Luke 9:23–26Reading 20 | Matthew 28:16–20Reading 21 | Matthew 25:14–30Reading 22 | Matthew 22:34–40Reading 23 | Matthew 11:27–30 Reading 24 | Matthew 9:35–38Reading 25 | Matthew 6:19–34Reading 26 | Matthew 6:5–13Living with the end in mind1. Driving where? Driving what?2. Praying for the kingdom3. Being the answer to your own prayers4. Better post-church conversations5. The ‘people plan’6. A final exhortation and a prayerAppendix: Some thoughts on New Testament prophecy About the authors Ian Carmichael has been with Matthias Media from its beginnings in 1988, co-leading with Tony Payne for many of those years. Ian stepped down from the CEO role in late 2020, and now contributes in an honorary capacity. Ian and his wife, Stephanie, are part of Chatswood Presbyterian Church and Unichurch in Sydney. Marty Sweeney is the Chief Content Officer and Executive Director of Matthias Media (North America), and the Pastor of Training at Old North Church, Canfield (Ohio). Marty enjoys talking to pastors and church leaders about the practicalities of infusing a disciple-making culture into all aspects of church life. Marty and his wife, Abby, live with his four children Claire, Malachi, Corinne, and Colleen. Commendations I am tempted to write an understated commendation of this little book, on account of its authors being two of my oldest and dearest friends in ministry. Instead, I will say that I feel privileged to know them, and am delighted with what they’ve achieved in this brilliantly conceived and skilfully executed book of biblical readings, insights and prompts to prayer. Whether for personal reading and prayer, or for discipling someone in the gospel (and our response to it), The End in Mind is a marvellous resource.—Tony Payne, Lecturer in Christian Thought, Moore Theological College, Australia Life confronts all of us with challenges and moments of confusion. Where can Christians find courage and direction? These thoughtful Bible reflections offer courage by reminding us of our hopeful end. Then they share gospel-shaped wisdom for life in light of that hope. With helpful questions and practical insights at the end, The End in Mind is a great resource for following Jesus and for helping others follow him as well. —Kevin Walker, Director Ministries, The Charles Simeon Trust, Chicago, IL, USA The well-worn cultural mantra of ‘being whatever you want to be’ continues to promise meaning but falls short in delivering it. In response, Marty and Ian offer a Scripture-forward vision of life shaped by the end in view. Accessible and pastoral, this book calls Christians not only to understand these truths for themselves, but to live them out for the good of others in shared discipleship. With characteristic humility, Marty and Ian present a biblical vision that is rich in doctrine, clear in hope, and graciously practical—and one I gladly commend to the reader.—Dan Schillero, Lead Pastor, Parkside Church, Bainbridge, OH, USA I’m a big fan of regularly changing up the method for my personal Bible reading. So this innovative set of personal Bible studies was always going to grab me. Jenny and I enjoyed starting with last things first and working back through time. The studies are just the right length with just the right amount of commentary and helpful questions. We often came away from a study praying better for family members and friends who don’t yet follow Jesus or thinking hard about good things we want to improve in our everyday walk with Christ. If you sometimes feel like every resource for personal Bible reading has become a bit same-same then these studies are just what you need to shake things up in a really helpful way. —Carl Matthei, Senior Minister, Campus Bible Study, Sydney, Australia Marty and Ian effectively put our eyes on the end, something we don’t think of often enough. Their daily reflections will help you to know your part in God’s plan to save his people.—Colleen J. McFadden, Director of Women’s Workshops, Charles Simeon Trust Life in the present only makes sense when seen through the perspective of the future and its ultimate destination. For the Christian, this destination is heaven. In this accessible, practical, and Scripture-rich collection of 26 reflections, Ian Carmichael and Marty Sweeney show how the future—the new heavens and new earth, the home of righteousness—reorients and reshapes our ‘here and now’. Far from being light on theology, these reflections bring the Bible’s grand story vividly to life and apply it with depth and clarity. Being heavenly minded is to be of earthly use! Setting your life’s GPS around that final destination, with all its beauty and certainty, will enrich you beyond measure. Buy this book for a friend—in fact, buy one for all your friends. They will thank you.—Trevor Johnston, Rector, St Nicholas and All Saints Church, Belfast, Northern Ireland A distinctive, Christ-centred readThis book does something refreshingly unexpected. It begins at the end—directing the reader first to the glorious future that awaits in Christ. That counterintuitive starting point reorients the heart, rekindling hope and deepening affection for the Lord Jesus from the very first page.Accessible and versatileDesigned with flexibility in mind, this book is well suited to personal devotions, family worship, or one-to-one reading with a friend. Its concise chapters are clear, readable, and practical—simple without ever being simplistic. The helpful inclusion of the text in line at the start of each chapter grounds every reflection firmly in God’s word, while thoughtful prayer prompts at the end invite meaningful response and application.Searching, honest, and purposefulThe reflections are both confronting and thought-provoking, pressing the reader to consider how present faithfulness is shaped by future hope. I personally really appreciated that running throughout is a bold evangelistic instinct—an emphasis too often absent from devotional literature. This is rooted in the very character of God, who is patient and “waiting for more people to repent”, and carries a clear sense of gospel urgency and responsibility, shaped by the eternal realities of life with or without Christ.Biblically faithful, eternally focusedWith careful attention to biblical-theological context, the book remains firmly future-focused. It highlights godliness as a defining mark of those who await Christ’s return, motivated not by fear or duty, but by gratitude for the finished work of the cross.Deeply pro-churchThe book affirms the centrality of the local church, reminding readers of its priority in the Christian life and in God’s purposes.Warm, faithful, and uncompromising, this is a book that fixes the eyes on eternity—and shows how having the end in mind reshapes life in the present. —Grant Retief, Senior Minister, Christ Church Stellenbosch, South Africa Show more