Chi Alpha Resource Library

Time Management

it@xaatuva.com (Chi Alpha) — Fri, 13 Jun 2025 19:00:17 GMT

Why Time Management Matters

One of the greatest hindrances to our walks with God is poor time management. Many of us genuinely want to spend scheduled alone time with Jesus each day, but we don’t. We plan to read Scripture, pray, and listen for what God is speaking, but somehow the day gets away from us.

Does this sound familiar? You intended to start your day with Jesus... but you stayed up late hanging out with friends, scrolling TikTok or Instagram, or maybe studying into the early morning. You sleep through your alarm, roll out of bed at the last possible second, and rush to class. When you make it back home, you're either exhausted and need a nap or jumping straight into homework. Your mind is racing with everything on your to-do list, and stopping to be still with God feels almost impossible.

It’s not that you don’t care and don’t want to spend time with Jesus. The problem is that your schedule (or lack thereof) has taken control of your life. But imagine this: you start each day unhurried, grounded in God’s Word. You show up to class present and peaceful. You don’t feel behind all the time. You’re able to attend Core Group and MNL without guilt. You take a Sabbath on the weekend and truly feel rested.

That’s what we want for you. This resource will give you a few simple tools and frameworks that you can use to help you build that kind of life!

Quadrants of Time Management

Before we get practical with some tools for time management, it helps to understand why our time often feels out of control. One simple framework, the Quadrants of Time Management, divides everything we do into four categories: urgent and important, not urgent but important, urgent but not important, and neither urgent nor important.

Most of us live in the extremes—either in crisis mode, constantly reacting to what’s due next (urgent and important), or in escape mode, numbing out with social media or distractions (not urgent, not important). But the goal is to build our lives around the important but not urgent—things like spending time with Jesus, planning ahead, resting well, and growing intentionally. Below are descriptions of each of the four quadrants. As you read over them, take a moment to reflect and consider which quadrants you spend the most time in.

Quadrant 1 : Tasks that demand immediate attention and truly matter, like crises that may come up or a project that is due tomorrow. Many important activities become urgent as a result of procrastination or poor planning. This quadrant creates a ton of stress, saps your energy, and leads to burnout.

Quadrant 2 : This is where you build a healthy, purposeful life. It includes working on assignments ahead of time, resting well, spending time with Jesus, and investing in relationships. This quadrant increases your peace, productivity, and long-term fruitfulness, but it’s often the most neglected.

Quadrant 3 : Things that feel urgent but don’t really matter. These distractions, like responding to group texts or unimportant requests, steal your focus. Learning to say “no” here allows you to prioritize what matters more.

Quadrant 4 : Mindless time-wasters like endless scrolling, binge-watching, or lying in bed “rotting.” These activities offer short-term relief, especially when you’re overwhelmed, but too much time here leads to feeling disconnected, discouraged, and stuck.

The goal for our time management is to live in Quadrant 2! Living here will:

Make your life much less stressful
Enable you to thrive as a student, friend, leader, etc.
Help your walk with God be more consistent. You’ll no longer be trying to squeeze God in, but able to intentionally walk with Him daily, allowing Him to shape your entire life!

But if your time management is a mess, you will struggle to live that kind of life, no matter how much you would like to . So how do we start living more consistently in Quadrant 2? Here are some tools!

Anchor Times

If you want to live an anchored life—with real devotion to Jesus, real community with others (where you’re committed to Core Group and MNL), and real Kingdom responsibility—it won’t happen by accident. You need anchor times: the fixed, pre-decided parts of your day that keep your schedule aligned with your priorities and keep you anchored in your rhythms.

Setting anchor times is what we call a pre-choice, a decision you make before the moment comes . Instead of waiting to see how you feel or what comes up, you’ve already decided what matters most.

Pre-choices reflect your values ahead of time, so you’re not constantly scrambling, reacting, or letting the urgent crowd out the important. Here are two of the most powerful (and neglected) anchors of your day:

1. Wake up time

I know, this one’s tough, but your morning is one of the most important times in your entire day. It sets your mindset, your pace, and your spiritual posture. To determine your wake up time, start by asking yourself:

When is my first class or meeting of the day? What time do I need to be there?
How much time do I need to saturate in God’s Word, presence, and love before I start my day?
How long does it take to eat, shower, and commute before my first class/meeting?

Now, take those answers and build your morning backward. Start with the time you need to be out the door (or in class), and subtract the time it takes for each of those things: time with God, getting ready, eating, commuting, etc. The result? That’s your wake-up time! Pro tip: make sure it’s realistic. You might need to speed up your shower or simplify your breakfast to preserve unhurried time with Jesus without forcing yourself to wake up at an impossible hour.

2. Bedtime

The other most powerful anchor time is your bedtime. Sometimes people act like running on no sleep is impressive, but it’s actually unsustainable. You might be able to run on empty for a day, but not for a week. Without sleep, your health, focus, relationships, and ability to hear from God all suffer. It has been said, “A great devotional time with the Lord starts the night before.” If you want your mornings with Jesus to be consistent and unhurried, it begins with the choices you make the night before. Ask yourself:

How much sleep do I need to feel well-rested?
Based on when I need to wake up and how many hours of sleep I need, when should I go to bed?

Time Blocking

Setting anchor times creates a strong foundation, and our next tool, time blocking, fills in the rest of your schedule with intention and structure. Imagine this scenario: you get home from class in the afternoon and you’re tired. You don’t feel like studying and you don’t have anything planned until dinner, so you spend the next three hours of “free time” taking a nap, going down the YouTube rabbit hole, or doom-scrolling on Instagram or TikTok. All the while, your assignments are piling up, and your anxiety is too!

Now imagine this: at the start of each week, you take some time to list out your upcoming homework, tests, papers, and problem sets. Then, you schedule specific times on your calendar to work on each one. When that time comes, you simply do the task—no last-minute scrambling, no wondering when you’ll get it done.

Time blocking is a method of planning your day by assigning each hour to a specific task, activity, or category of work. You’re giving every hour a name before it arrives . It’s a practical way to make pre-choices. To do it, you’ll need a calendar with hourly time slots. We strongly recommend using a digital calendar , like Google Calendar, to keep your week organized. A digital calendar makes it easy to drag and adjust time blocks as things change, it’s always accessible, and you can set reminders so nothing slips through the cracks.

Once your digital calendar is ready, start by blocking out your anchor times, your fixed commitments that don’t change — your wake-up time, bedtime, and devotional time, as well as things like classes, labs, work shifts, MNL, and Core Group. Next, look at what academic work is coming up: exams, papers, readings, problem sets, etc. Instead of just hoping you’ll get to it, assign each task a specific block in your week. For example, if you have a test covering four chapters, you might schedule time to review one chapter a day, then assign time the day before to review them all. If a problem set usually takes six hours, break it into two-hour chunks across three days. If there are weekly office hours for a class you’re struggling with, put those on your calendar and make sure you go and ask your professor for help.

Be sure to leave some margin in your schedule—time to get from place to place, take a short break, or adjust if something runs long . Time blocking removes the stress of last-minute work and gives you confidence that everything has its place.

Green, Yellow, and Red Hours

When you time block your week, it’s smart to take your energy levels into account, not just your availability . That’s where this next concept comes in. We all have green, yellow, and red hours.

Green hours are when you’re mentally sharp and productive. You’ll want to use your green hours for your hardest tasks, like writing papers, studying for exams, or working on problem sets.
Yellow hours are when you still have some fuel in the tank, but you aren’t at your best. They are good for lighter work, like reading assignments, organizing your notes, or creating flashcards.
Red hours are your lowest-energy times, when it’s hard to focus and think clearly. Save those times for going to the gym, hanging with friends, or resting.

Putting It All Together

When you make pre-choices, set anchor times, and time block your week around your energy and priorities, you are going to notice a big difference! These tips won’t fix all your problems, but you’ll likely feel less stressed and more present in your classes, relationships, and with the Lord. We want you to be able to live your life in Quadrant 2! At first, planning like this may feel rigid and limiting. It is true that you may have to say “no” to some things, but planning ahead can give you more freedom. When you’re disciplined during the day, you can say a confident “yes” to rest, spontaneity, and time with your community in the evenings. By choosing to manage your time well, you’re choosing to live fully — present with God, stewarding your studies well, engaged in your community, and investing in your spiritual formation.

Questions for Discussion

What’s one part of your current schedule that feels out of control or misaligned with your priorities?
Which quadrant do you spend most of your time in, and how can you live more in Quadrant 2?
Will you take 30 minutes to time block your calendar this week? When? What do you want to make sure gets scheduled first?
Who in your life could help you stay accountable to the rhythms you want to build (wake up time, bedtime, devotional time, etc.?

Friendship

it@xaatuva.com (Chi Alpha) — Wed, 16 Oct 2024 15:20:07 GMT

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“Friendship is the ultimate end of our existence and our highest source of happiness. Friendship—with one another and with God—is the supreme pleasure of life, both now and forever…”

–Drew Hunter, Author and Pastor

For centuries, the Church fathers, ancient philosophers, and theologians have all agreed that friendship is a necessary component of living life to the full. Intentional friendship is defined as friendship mutually governed by Godly (agape) love and is a reflection of his devotion and character. The Bible is filled with great examples of extraordinary friendships involving personal sacrifice, deep intimacy, and incredible joy. Unfortunately, though, our culture is quickly losing the value of friendship. It has become a button on a social media page or a means to climb the social ladder. We all crave deep connections but have lost the art of finding and cultivating true and lasting friendships.

Below is a guide meant to help remedy this problem; it also has several questions throughout for you to reflect on as you read. We often think that friendship just happens, but as Drew Hunter demonstrates, in order to recapture the art of friendship, it will take wisdom, work, and a bit of weeding. By doing so, we can restore the profound joy and deep connections that authentic friendships bring to our lives.

Wisdom

1. Give Your Friends a Promotion
The first bit of wisdom begins by dispelling a common myth about friendship: you are too busy. When friendships falter, it's often due to unbalanced priorities. While homework, your internship, and rest are essential, overemphasizing them can crowd out time for intentional friendships. We always find time for what we truly value, so it's worth examining how we spend our leisure time and considering if we can allocate some of it to nurturing friendships. Prioritizing friends may require sacrificing other enjoyable activities.

If someone looked at how you spent your time this past week (where you were, what you did, who you spent time with), what five things would they conclude are most important to you? How highly do your friendships rank?

2. Take a Dose of Realism
A second myth about friendship is that we can have a lot of close friends. Since deep friendships require significant time, it's unrealistic to maintain close bonds with everyone. Trying to do so can result in having no close friends at all. Most people we call friends are actually acquaintances. It's important to value these acquaintanceships without feeling guilty about having only a few deep relationships. Meaningful friendships will naturally form with only a small percentage of the people we know.

Jesus exemplifies this. He had an especially intimate bond with John, often referred to as the disciple whom Jesus loved. Jesus also prioritized his relationship with Peter, James, and John, revealing a bit of his divine nature to them at the Transfiguration. Beyond these, Jesus had the twelve disciples with whom he spent considerable time; living alongside and teaching them. This tiered approach to relationships shows that even Jesus, God incarnate, prioritized deeper connections with a few while still maintaining meaningful, albeit less intimate, relationships with many.

Why is it unrealistic to try to maintain close bonds with many people, and how can this effort actually hinder the development of meaningful friendships? Reflect on the example of Jesus' relationships and think about how you can discern and prioritize your own deeper connections.

3. Realign your Expectations
Friendship requires flexibility in how we perceive and manage relationships. Not everyone has the same expectations for a friendship; when these expectations conflict, they can lead to incredible pain and strife. Let's use an analogy. Picture yourself driving down a multi-lane highway, and each lane represents different levels of relationship. We may see someone as a close friend (in our passenger seat), but they might not feel the same way and think of us in their left lane instead. Adjusting our expectations to match theirs is crucial to maintaining the friendship without forcing them to conform to our views. Conversely, if someone sees us as a close friend, even if we initially don't feel the same, we can choose to embrace and honor their perspective. Friendships evolve over time, with people moving between lanes or exiting the highway altogether. This fluidity doesn't negate the commitment inherent in friendships but reflects their dynamic nature, allowing for changes and growth. These changes can be difficult, but recognizing that they are normal can lead to healthy expectations and more joy-filled relationships.

Reflect on a time when you and a friend had different expectations for your relationship. How did this difference impact your friendship, and what steps did you take (or could you have taken) to adjust your expectations and maintain the relationship?

Work

1. Talk Face-to-Face
Friendships thrive through meaningful conversations, especially face-to-face. Unhurried, in-person dialogues are invaluable; as John Calvin noted, “If only he lived close by, a three-hour talk would exceed a hundred letters.” While text messages sustain friendships, phone calls bring us closer by conveying more of our personality, and nothing beats the completeness of face-to-face interactions. In his letters, the apostle John writes, “Though I have much to write to you…I would rather not use paper and ink. Instead, I hope to come to you and talk face-to-face so that our joy may be complete” (2 John 12; 3 John 13-14).

Conversations should be open and honest, with trusted friends having access to our deeper, more personal truths. Effective communication involves both asking thoughtful questions and actively listening. Friendships suffer if one person dominates the conversation or if there is a lack of engagement. The best friendships balance serious discussions with light-hearted moments, ensuring a mix of levity and gravity.

Think about a recent face-to-face conversation you had with a friend. How did this interaction compare to your typical text or phone conversations in terms of depth and connection? What did you notice about the value of in-person dialogue?
What practical ways can you pursue more face-to-face time with friends?

2. Do Things Side-by-Side
Friendships flourish through shared experiences and spending time together. To build such experiences, invite friends into your existing activities, like watching shows, walking, or shopping. Creating regular rhythms, such as biweekly coffee or weekly dinners, helps maintain these connections. When regularity is challenging, spontaneity and sacrifice can sustain friendships. Ultimately, the essence of friendship lies in being together, regardless of the activity.

Think about a recent shared experience you had with a friend. How did participating in an activity together impact your relationship? What did you learn about your friend or yourself during this time?
Consider the idea of creating regular rhythms, such as biweekly coffee or weekly dinners. What regular activities could you establish with your friends to maintain consistent connections? How would these routines fit into your current schedule?

3. Encourage From the Heart
Encouragement is vital for sustaining friendships, akin to oxygen for the soul. Like thin air at high altitudes, relationships suffer without affirmation and encouragement while thriving in an atmosphere thick with support. The apostle Paul exemplifies this practice, often affirming individuals in his letters. Although initially uncomfortable, affirming others becomes more natural over time and can transform relational cultures. Written notes are particularly powerful tools for encouragement, providing ongoing support and affirmation, and you can return to and reread them at any time.

Think about a time when you received encouragement from a friend. How did it impact your relationship and your personal well-being? What specific aspects of their encouragement were most meaningful to you?
Reflect on your own habits of affirming and encouraging others. How comfortable are you with giving genuine affirmation? What steps can you take to make this practice a more natural and regular part of your interactions?

Weeding
Once we've applied wisdom and put in the necessary work, we must address detrimental elements in our friendships. Like weeding a garden, we must also uproot negative influences to maintain the health of our relationships.

1. Burden
Be mindful of inconsiderate behavior in friendships. Proverbs warns against actions that can burden rather than uplift. “ Whoever blesses his neighbor with a loud voice, rising early in the morning will be counted as cursing (27:14). Such gestures, while well-intentioned, may have bad timing and be perceived as inconsiderate. Also, avoid causing friendship fatigue by not overwhelming friends with excessive time together. “Let your foot be seldom in your neighbor's house lest he have his fill of you and hate you (25:17).” While spending significant time with friends is important, smothering them can lead to resentment.

2. Gossip
Gossip is a poison within friendships, capable of easily dismantling the trust painstakingly built over time and ruining relationships. Proverbs cautions that even the faintest whisper can drive a wedge between the closest of friends (16:28). Such talk corrodes the very essence of friendship by sowing seeds of doubt and apprehension, making people wary of sharing their innermost thoughts and feelings. Indeed, the cornerstone of authentic friendship lies in the sacred trust shared between friends—a bond forged through years of shared experiences, vulnerabilities, and confidences. To breach this trust through gossip is to cause incredible harm and fracture connections that are difficult to mend.

3. Self-focus
Every behavior that chokes out true friendships stems from a focus on oneself rather than on fostering healthy relationships. A self-centered attitude leads to a tendency to dwell on how others have wronged us rather than reflecting on our own shortcomings. True friendship requires a posture of repentance, where we acknowledge and address our own faults. By extending grace to our friends and accepting imperfection, we create an environment where authentic friendships can flourish.

Which of the three relational weeds do you see most prevalent in your life (burden, gossip, or self-focus)? What are some ways you can uproot it?

Relevant Scriptures :

Deuteronomy 13:6

1 Samuel 18:1-4

Proverbs 16:28; 25:17; 27:14

John 15:15

2 John 12

3 John 13-14

Recommended Reading:

Made For Friendship by Drew Hunter

Made for People by Justin Whitmel Earley

No Greater Love by Rebecca McLaughlin

Technology

it@xaatuva.com (Chi Alpha) — Tue, 03 Sep 2024 17:48:30 GMT

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“Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.”

-Colossians 3:1-2

As a college student, technology and the internet play a large role in your day-to-day life. You use them to check your grades, submit assignments, apply for internships, schedule meetings, and more. Not much changes after graduation; everyone from consultants to professors to CEOs to software engineers to truck drivers rely on technology for their work. And of course, new social media platforms are popping up every day, fighting for and demanding your attention. It’s unavoidable. As technology becomes more prevalent in our daily lives, it can be easy to dedicate more time and attention to our devices, time that is better spent elsewhere. As we spend more time plugged in, our devices form and shape us in ways we may not recognize for a long time.

Thankfully, this is not a resource on how to simply avoid technology in your life because that would be futile. Rather, we need to reframe how we use our devices and learn how to take back control from those who manufacture them. How can we recognize the ways technology has formed us and make intentional choices to ensure our formation is centered around Jesus? As Felicia Wu Song, author of Restless Devices, puts it, “lifting our eyes off our screens and living more deeply into the time and place in which we are embedded.”

Our Modern World

Think about how many times a day you pick up your cell phone. Most smartphones calculate it for you, and you can see exactly how much time you spend on any given app, how many texts you send per day, etc. Those numbers can be harrowing; we don’t realize how much time and attention we are giving to our devices. Why did we become so engrossed with our phones? How have we become perpetually plugged in? Song writes,

“Just as the digital is always accessible to us, we come to expect the same of people…We have fast become a people who are always available, always on call. Young people grow up into their friendships and personal identities in this engrossing fog of social pressures, stresses, and anxieties that had–until this point in human history–mainly been the purview of surgeons, firefighters, and workaholics. (And even then, first responders and doctors were professionally obligated to take time away from their beepers).”

Like doctors and first responders, our phones have forced us to always be on call. We constantly feel the need to catch up on emails, texts, social media, and the news of the day. When the internet was first conceived, it was a space you had to intentionally enter by sitting at a desk, firing up a boxy computer, and logging into dial-up internet (as long as someone wasn’t using the home phone). Now, the digital space has entered our world; it’s in our pockets, our living rooms, our kitchen counters, and even our bedrooms, all running on high-speed internet. We no longer need to “do” anything to get connected—we are connected.

Smartphones and the internet differ from past technological revolutions because they are specifically designed to attract both our time and attention. Unlike devices like the typewriter, lightbulb, or dishwasher, our devices are more than just tools to help us accomplish tasks. Every day, the brightest minds in the world are tweaking algorithms and designing new apps, all in an effort to capture more of our clicks, scrolls, and likes, which generates more revenue for them. The digital world is not neutral, and it’s certainly not out to make us healthier people. The tech industry is keenly aware of this: they know that we will be formed by the habits we keep, and their goal is to develop habits in us that make us return to them. Many tech executives or former tech executives will restrict their kids from using technology because they understand how the technology works better than anyone!

Digital Liturgies

Every time we open our phones, we are chemically programming our brains. When we get a notification, our stress response, cortisol, is activated, and whenever we open our phones to answer a message or scroll Instagram, dopamine, our pleasure response, is increased in the brain. This cycle of stress and pleasure is very similar to what gambling addicts describe when using a slot machine, which explains why we constantly check our phones even when we know there isn’t anything there. Technology has also pushed us to be maximally productive, or as Song calls it, “hypertasking.” Since technology allows us to do five things at once, why would we ever waste our time doing nothing? Well, as Song points out,

“The irony of it all is that the very technology that promises to help us organize and efficiently deliver in our lives and relationships has merely subjected us to an avalanche of unprioritized demands on our attention and our lives.”

Because of these addictive tendencies and the desire to hypertask, we aren’t using our time and attention well—we’re just giving our attention away. These practices are called “digital liturgies.” In the same way that the church has liturgies, such as saying the Lord’s Prayer before a sermon or raising hands during the benediction, our devices build habits into us. When we hear “ding” or feel a vibration, we respond by opening our phones. When we wake up, instead of making our bed and starting the day with peace, we immediately reach for our phones and see what we missed overnight. As Song puts it, “in the same way that Jesus called his disciples to become a people who abide in him as he would abide in them, we too have become a people who abide in the digital, and the digital abides in us.”

Counterliturgies

At this point, it may sound like the only solution is to take a sledgehammer to your phone and throw your laptop in a dumpster. Not only is that impractical, but it also won’t solve our problem. Instead, we need to counter our digital liturgies with new habits, aka “counterliturgies.” The following exercises are what Song calls “The Freedom Project,” an assignment she gives to her college classes. These are not exhaustive, but they’re great ways to start building healthier practices and take control back from your devices!

Stage 1: Digital Media Fast -Go without any form of digital communication for 24 hours. This includes all text messaging, web browsing, social media, smartphone apps (even the weather app!), digital music (both streaming and CDs), streaming platforms like Netflix or YouTube, and video games (including mobile games). You should also abstain from digital news, including sports updates. You are allowed to use email and texts for work/school purposes or emergencies, but try and talk to friends and family before your experiment to limit those. You are allowed to read print media: books, newspapers, magazines. You may watch broadcast TV or go to a movie theater! This is hard to accomplish for 24 hours, so don’t feel pressured to make this a permanent lifestyle, but you can take lessons from it and apply them every day!
Before the fast, make plans that will help you stay offline for the day.
After the fast, journal what changes/adjustments you had to make, what you did with your day, and how you felt.
Stage 2: Stocktaking - This is less about change and more about understanding your current habits and responses in the digital world.
Monitoring Digital Usage: Download a time-tracking app, such as Screen Time, Moment, or Rescue Time. Before you begin monitoring, write down how many times you think you pick up your phone and how much time you spend on your phone per day. Track these over 5 days and compare with your guesses. How accurate were you? Did anything surprise you?
Going Under the Microscope: Be hyperalert about your digital routines for one 24-hour period. Ask the below questions and reflect on the dynamics and trends you observe.
In what situations am I nearly always using my phone? Are there triggers that automatically motivate me to reach for my phone?
What is my physical/emotional state right before/after I use my phone?
Are there moments when I realize I don’t have my phone? How do I feel then?
When do I feel engaged, joyful, effective, & purposeful? Where am I? Who am I with?
“Phone Meditation” Exercise: First, sit and become aware of your current feelings, posture, and focus/distraction level. Take out your phone and hold it. What changes do you notice in yourself? Posture, feelings, focus, etc. Next, unlock your phone and open a frequently used app. Spend a few moments scrolling or messaging, then observe yourself again for any shifts. Then turn off your phone and put it out of sight. Sit for an entire minute without doing anything. Take note of any differences again. Write and reflect on this activity as a whole.
Motivation Check: Put a “stop sign” on your phone, either on your wallpaper or with a post-it note/rubber band. Ask yourself each time you pick it up: What am I going to do? Why now instead of later? What else could I do right now besides check my phone?
Stage 3: Counterliturgy - Try new activities that push back against your digital/secular liturgies!
Create a new bedtime/morning routine that doesn’t involve your phone. Maybe start your day by making your bed, exercising, reading/journaling, or enjoying the outdoors. In the evenings, read a book, write a note of gratitude, play music, or enjoy a cup of tea!
Make a “sacred zone” around your bed for five days. Create a charging station for your phone/devices that is further away from where you normally set it, either across the room or in another room altogether.
If you use your phone as your alarm, buy a physical alarm clock instead! You can use a watch to wake you up while your phone is across/outside the room.
Experiment with monotasking. Choose an activity: studying, cooking, chores, gardening, etc., and do that activity without focusing on anything else during that time. Start with a small amount of time (20-30 minutes) and work your way up to monotasking for longer.
Protect your sacred times. Block apps, video games, streaming services, and social media during certain times of the day, such as before bed and right after waking up. Observe when you run into these limits, and whether you want to break through them or find something else to do instead.

Hopefully, whether through these exercises or others like them, we can all improve our relationship with technology and, more importantly, improve our connection with the world around us and the God who created it all! Technology plays a huge part in our lives, and it’s vital to our mission to spread the truth of Jesus around the world. By having healthy digital habits, we will display a life centered around the peace and love of Jesus to a world engrossed in screens, a world longing for a better way.

Relevant Scriptures

Psalm 91:1 ...Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High

John 15:5. …If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit

1 John 2:15 …Do not love the world or anything in the world.

Questions for Discussion

What has been your relationship with technology, specifically your smartphone?
Which of these counterliturgies do you need to practice the most?
How will your improved relationship with technology help you share Jesus with others?

Recommended Reading

Restless Devices by Felicia Wu Song

How to Break Up with Your Phone by Catherine Price

Hospitality

it@xaatuva.com (Chi Alpha) — Wed, 01 Nov 2023 17:45:20 GMT

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“So we cared for you. Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well.”

-1 Thessalonians 2:8

What is Radically Ordinary Hospitality?

“Those who live out radically ordinary hospitality see their homes not as theirs at all but as God’s gift to use for the furtherance of his kingdom. They open doors; they seek out the underprivileged. They know that the gospel comes with a house key” (Butterfield, 11).

The practice of radically ordinary hospitality is an opportunity for us to invite those around us into our messy, everyday lives and reveal what true Christian faith really looks like. We don’t have to make an extravagant meal or know all the answers to Biblical questions to practice radically ordinary hospitality . We can do it by being ourselves and letting others see what it looks like to follow Christ in the mundane and extraordinary of our lives, including all the highs and lows. Our invitation has the power to disrupt preconceived notions that our friends may have about Christianity based on social media and the news.

This is not a modern concept; we have a Biblical basis for it. Jesus ate with sinners and tax collectors (Luke 5:29-32). He interrupted the status quo and made outsiders feel like insiders. We, too, have experienced the personal invitation of Jesus! In the same way that Jesus welcomes us, our hospitality provides a place for those proximate to us to encounter Jesus through us. This can bring about a radical change in their lives. This vision of hospitality should empower us to examine our surroundings and ask, “who is on the outside and how can I invite them in?”

How do we practice hospitality?

We must start where we are, whether that’s a dorm room, family living room, or apartment. We all have resources that we can use for the sake of others. Hospitality is about being open: open to others and open to what God is doing. Here are some practical elements to think about when considering next steps in hospitality:

Invitation : Think about who is in your class, your major, or your program that you can invest in and invite.
Preparation : Plan where you will meet and what you will do. Prepare your location, food, and activities accordingly. It doesn’t have to be too fancy, just accessible to the people you invite.
Execution : The most important thing is to do something—do not get stuck in all the planning that you forget to actually practice hospitality.

Some Ideas

Host a dinner at your house
Super Bowl Party at the Hub
Ice cream float night
Game night where everyone brings a favorite game
Video game tournaments (Smash bros, Mario kart, etc.)
Gather a group to go to a friend’s dance, band, comedy show, etc. performance
Your idea: __________________________________________________________________

Remember, sometimes what is most hospitable is entering into other people’s spaces before they ever come to your space. Take your time and listen to God. Know that this journey is often slow, but God is present through it all. Take a step of faith and invite someone into your life. God can transform lives, yours included!

Relevant Scriptures

1 Peter 4:8-10
Romans 12:13-20

Questions for Discussion

What are the biggest things keeping you from having the emotional space to recognize the needs of those around you? How can you limit/remove them?
What strengths & interests do you have that you can use for hospitality?
Where can you start? What are the particulars about your life that you can utilize to bless others?

Recommended Reading:

The Gospel Comes with a House Key by Rosaria Butterfield

Engaging Culture

it@xaatuva.com (Chi Alpha) — Wed, 22 Feb 2023 22:38:37 GMT

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“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
- Romans 12:2

Christian Living

Have you ever wondered what the Bible has to say about social media? Or how Jesus would have responded to any of the other hot topics in our culture? Frankly, the Bible has a lot more to say about farming than it does about social media. Yet, we know that God’s Word was given to show us how to live not just in the age of Jesus, but in every age following. Romans 12:2 reminds us that we are not to look like the world, but rather to have our minds renewed that we might learn the will of God. Indeed, John 17:16 quotes Jesus as saying, “they are not of the world, even as I am not of it,” about his followers. So we know that while we live in this world, we are “not of the world” and are not to conform to it either. But how does this play out in our daily lives?

What We’re Up Against

The average American college student faces many challenges in answering the call of being in the world but not of it. We find ourselves in conflict with the culture on everything from our sexual ethic, to how we handle alcohol, and even where we find our identity. Our college culture, and indeed the culture of our world, is always trying to form us in more ways than we can fathom. Some of these ways are obvious, like violent and sexually graphic television or music that glorifies a sinful lifestyle. But what about gossip or influencers who always tell us to have the latest brand name clothes or resources? Or how about the way we spend hours scrolling through social media, or how we confront someone over text messages rather than waiting to speak face-to-face? Our modern world is filled with intricate social structures and phenomena that aren’t specifically mentioned in Scripture, but are all deeply formative in how we follow Jesus.

If you feel the argument of: “wait a minute, not everything has to be bad all the time” argument welling up inside you, please pause for just a minute. I’m not trying to say that taking a selfie is a sin, or that you need to delete your Netflix. As Christians we are not called to live totally separate from the world, yet it is important to be cognizant of the ways we are being formed by the culture. If we simply avoid the culture, it holds us back from the goal of reaching those who do not yet know the Lord! Instead, we need to think critically about how to engage with culture without compromising our witness. We are also not called to be antagonistic towards culture. It is too easy to point out problems from the outside without stepping into the world to offer solutions and care in the midst of brokenness. We are called to look different because we are citizens of a different Kingdom!

Even still, we must point out perhaps the most common danger for our generation of Christians: falling into the alluring trap of relevance. We all feel social pressure to connect with people and no one wants to be considered strange or elitist or judgmental or lame. Relevance draws us in with thoughts of, ‘everyone else watches it’ or ‘they won’t listen to me if we can’t relate over anything!’ However these arguments are just a rationalization for indulging our own desires. Walking this line of thinking and questioning, ‘how harmful can it be?’ minimizes God’s call to holiness. All of a sudden, Christians who are called to be the prophetic voice in the brokenness of a culture are participating in it along with the very people they’re trying to welcome into the Kingdom of God.

What Then Are We To Do?

So, we are not called to live separate from culture, but neither are we called to love it. But what then are we called to? We know that Jesus lived a radically pure and self-sacrificial life, yet he also entered into some of the most rejected and sinful subgroups of society. Somehow, he formed those places rather than being formed by them. Jesus was neither separate from, nor part of those cultures - he was countercultural .

Gabe Lyons, in his book The Next Christians, points out that those who live counter-culturally like Jesus:

“...see themselves as salt, preserving agents actively working for restoration in the middle of a decaying culture. ... They understand that by being restorers they fight against the cultural norms and often flow counter to the cultural tide. But they feel that, as Christians, they’ve been called to partner with God in restoring and renewing everything they see falling apart.”

We are the salt of the earth, and our call is to be restorers and renewers. We must learn to discern what is good, what is not, and to pursue holiness.

Sin Is Sin

How do we enter into culture with the hope of redeeming it, yet not be swayed by it? The first and obvious point is to know and avoid sin. Not just the “large” sins, like murder/theft/adultery, but also the sins we consider not as dangerous. We may find ourselves indulging in things like watching or reading pornography, swearing, gossiping, or underage drinking. You may think underage drinking is no big deal, but when God tells you to obey laws, your underage drinking is not just casual – it is sin.

Patrick Lencioni reminds us of the truth behind our worldly ranking of sins:

“...which brings me to a powerful truth that I easily and often forget: every sin is a sin. None of it is good, and all of it, in every form, can corrupt us. I love the saying “whether a bird is tethered by a chain or a piece of twine, it still can’t fly.” We must face the fact that the secular world – the one that is the theater of the prince of darkness – will be happy to see us tied down by twine. It/he hopes that we will be falsely comforted by the idea that ‘it is only twine.’”

This can be a hard truth to live out. The smaller sins seem so innocuous but we have to face the truth, even if every sin isn’t necessarily equal in earthly consequence, they all hold us back from the freedom that God desires for us. They lead to death, and we are called to repent of and cease them all . We can’t have our secret sins in the Kingdom of God. Living in the Kingdom of God means that we submit our lives, in every small decision, under the rule and reign of God. In other words, we don’t have the right to decide something is okay when God has said it isn’t. It’s as simple as that.

But What If It’s Not Sin?

There’s more than sin to confront in the question of how to consume culture, right? What about the gray areas? Hebrews 12:1 says to, “throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” Even if something is not a sin, it can hinder our accomplishment of the life Christ has called us to.

Philippians 4:8-9 has the same encouragement with a positive spin: “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things.”

Is the culture you are consuming helping you to think about true, noble, right, pure, lovely, and admirable things? Or is it hindering you from running the race God has set before you?

Maybe this needs to be more specific. Consider how these things may be forming you: Is that movie going to help you think of pure things? Is cursing helping your witness? Are hours alone playing video games or binge-watching shows drawing you into deeper community? Is the time you are spending on Instagram or TikTok forming you to look more like Jesus? These little things that we consider to be so inconsequential can actually begin to corrode our sense of God’s purpose and desire for our life.

What if these small things, even more than the sins we can name, are holding us back from making an impact in our relationships and our community?

Why It’s Worth It

Reevaluating how we engage with our culture can have a positive impact on different aspects of our lives. In our relationship with God, it can help us to recognize and eliminate sin, ultimately leading to a greater sense of freedom and intimacy with the Lord. In our relationship with others, confronting our engagement

with culture can help us to let go of behaviors that hinder our ability to form genuine connections and to love others as we are called to do. Finally, the way we engage with culture can also have a significant impact on our witness to the lost. When we choose to look different and live by God's standards, we demonstrate to the world that a life in Him is worth far more than a life in the world. This, in turn, can offer hope to others that there is something better than what they currently know. This is Jesus’ invitation to all of us, to live in the world but not to be formed by it. Jesus is inviting us to look beautifully different from the culture and in doing so, to live in a way that showcases the radiance of Christ to a world in desperate need of His eternal hope.

Relevant Scriptures

Psalm 141:4 ...Don’t let my heart be drawn to what is evil

1 Corinthians 3:19 ... For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God's sight

Colossians 2:8 ... See to it that no one takes you captive by empty deceit.

Jeremiah 10:2 ... Do not learn the way of the nations.

Questions For Discussion

Where do you find yourself most tempted to look like the culture?
What might be things that aren’t sin but fall under the “hindrance” category?
What do you think it means to “take up your cross” on an average day?
Have you ever been inspired by someone who lived differently from the rest of your friends/community? What was it about them that inspired you?

Application: It is important to turn our understanding into actions. This week, fast from something you engage with regularly (TV, secular music, Instagram, TikTok) that you think may be hindering you from the race God has set before you. Fill that time with praying or reading His Word. When we refocus our brains on truth, these cultural lies or hindrances become more apparent and we can begin to submit our desires to the Holy Spirit’s transforming power!

Recommended Reading:

Beautiful Resistance by Jon Tyson

Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis

The Next Christians by Gabe Lyons

Why We Forgive

it@xaatuva.com (Chi Alpha) — Wed, 22 Feb 2023 22:19:53 GMT

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"Come now, let us settle the matter,” says the LORD. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool."

Isaiah 1:18

How do you define forgiveness?

Forgiveness is what exists in the gap between the standard God holds us to and the reality of our sin. “ Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy” (Micah 7:18-20).

Then, in our human experience, forgiveness is the gap between the pure motives and actions that we desire of others, and the reality of how they fail to meet them. “ Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you” (Colossians 3:13). We have an axiom in Chi Alpha that says it this way: what God does in you, He wants to do through you. Forgiveness is a blessing we receive from God so that we can pass it on to others. God’s forgiveness in our lives is meant to expand our capacity for forgiveness to those who have wronged us.

But what is forgiveness?

Forgiveness is acknowledging that the other person hurt you, and yet offering them your mercy. You are turning over the debt slip they owe you into the hands of God. Forgiveness is saying, “you have hurt me, but the debt you owe me is gone - I will pay the cost as Christ paid the cost for me, and I will acknowledge that justice is His alone.”

Our Enormous Debt

Read the Parable of the Unforgiving Servant in Matthew 18:21-35

The first servant owed 10,000 talents. Did you know that one talent was the equivalent of 15 years wages? That means the servant would have to work non-stop for 150,000 years to pay that back! Your salvation through Jesus on the cross was not just a gift; it was payment of your impossible debt. This parable compares our offenses against God to debt in order to help us understand our actions as currency in the kingdom of heaven. Remember, the King not only has the power to call us to pay our debt of disobedience, but also the right and duty to do so. He is the King, and I'm sure many of us, myself included, are guilty of treason, theft, slander of the King and his policies, insurrection, aligning with the enemy, and even claiming to be King. Sin always has a cost.

Our Debt is Forgiven

This servant owed his King 150,000 years' worth of wages, and yet the King showed mercy. Look at the wording - the servant asked for patience, right? But the King went above and beyond by canceling the debt instead of giving more time to pay it. The King knew the servant couldn't pay, and so he absorbed the debt himself. Another one of our Chi Alpha axioms is: when forgiveness is extended, someone must absorb the wound. This means someone lets the demand for payment end with them, carrying the cost themselves. And in this case, we see that the King is willing to bear even the most exorbitant debt, the deepest grievances. That's our King!

“Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness” (Lamentations 3:22-23).

Every morning, God’s mercies are new. This means every morning, we can be that servant looking at the King saying: “I know I’ve sinned. And your law explicitly says that the wages of sin is death. But will you have patience?” and He says, “not only patience, but I will cancel your debt. I will pay it myself. I will absorb the cost.” And He did, on the cross.

So, not surprisingly, when the King hears of the servant He had just pardoned abusing other servants for their debt, He is incredulous! He says, “shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?” In the Kingdom of God, mercy begets mercy.

Consider this: when we hold a grudge against our offender, we are essentially putting them in a prison where they are unable to repay the debt we feel they owe, just like the unmerciful servant did to his debtor. We have already sentenced them to the jail of judgment in your mind. When we talk badly about those who have hurt us to others, we are grabbing them by the throat and leaving bruises on their reputation. We are cutting off their ability to respond and instead replacing it with our own pronounced condemnation. Yet the Lord says, “Love keeps no record of wrongs”, and offers us a clean slate. What wrongs are you keeping a hidden record of while rejoicing that your slate is clean?

Forgiveness Inspires a Reaction

Now to be clear, Jesus is not implying causality in this parable. He is not trying to scare us into forgiving others for the sake of securing our own forgiveness. Jesus tells us that we must forgive “from the heart” (Matthew 18:35). Instead, Jesus is emphasizing a significant point: if you have received mercy, you will want to offer mercy. If you have been forgiven, you will want to learn to forgive.

The unmerciful servant did not personally receive the Lord’s forgiveness. Look back at what he says when he first encounters the king, he says, “Be patient with me, and I will pay back everything.” We know that the King has canceled the debt, but the servant never seemed to understand. He is frantically scraping together pennies to repay an impossible sum, trying to justify himself. Doesn’t that sound hopeless? It is no wonder he is resentful and hostile to someone who is just like him - a sinner in need of mercy.

Are you living in the forgiveness that God has offered you, or are you still living as someone with a large debt to pay? Perhaps the person you need to forgive right now isn't your neighbor; maybe it's yourself. Jesus has already offered forgiveness. Have you accepted it, or are you still punishing yourself? Are you still carrying the burden of your sin, trying to earn your way back into the graces of the King? Are you still justifying yourself based on the shortcomings and debts of others?

Are you withholding forgiveness over a small offense, when you have been forgiven so much? Who are you struggling to forgive? Are you (whether physically or metaphorically) standing like a king above someone else and demanding they ask for your patience, and respect your power over them, instead of showing them mercy and pointing them to the King who pays all debts?

The Question You Have Been Wanting to Ask

Does this mean that forgiving is abandoning justice? Honestly, some of us won’t see vengeance on this side of heaven.Our worldly justice system is just a shadow of the heart of God. He looks at what someone did to His beloved child and He desires justice for it more than we can imagine! We all will appear before the King and will be called to pay our own account. On that day that person will have to face the punishment they justly deserve before the King who has the power and right to exact it, or they will be forgiven because of their faith in Jesus, just as you have been forgiven. Either way, justice will come.

Whether it comes at the final judgment, or on the Cross, God’s justice is secure. This is why we can have true peace when we allow these debt slips to pass from our hands and into the hand of our just and merciful King. When you forgive as a Christian, you can rest knowing that justice ultimately will be served, no matter what.

Relevant Scriptures

1 John 1:9. " If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us...”

Matthew 18:35 “ ... unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.”

Matthew 6:14-15 " ...if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins”

Daniel 9:9 " The Lord our God is merciful and forgiving, even though we have rebelled...”

Questions for Discussion

● What do you think is the difference between acknowledging you’ve been hurt (as in the definition of forgiveness) and excusing it?

● What do you think it means to “absorb the wound”?

● What is the most difficult aspect of forgiveness for you? How does this parable address that difficulty?

● Why does forgiving not mean that you have to give up on justice?

Recommended Resource

If you feel like you need to forgive someone today, if you want the freedom of giving over the debt slip you’ve clenched in your hands and heart over to God, the resource Forgiveness on our website walks us through how to forgive. May the Lord give you peace and freedom from your hurts!

Shame

it@xaatuva.com (Chi Alpha) — Wed, 08 Feb 2023 18:25:39 GMT

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"To be human is to be infected with this phenomenon we call shame."

The Soul of Shame by Curt Thompson

What is shame?

For many of us, shame isn’t something we think about often, but that doesn’t mean we aren’t impacted by its power. However, once we learn the language of shame, and grow in identifying its nagging voice, we can start to see its lingering impact and cultivate resilience in dealing with shame. The reality is, that we are all affected by the power of shame, and we don’t have to read very far in our Bibles to see how it has impacted the human experience.

The final picture we get of creation before the Fall is a significant statement that sums up the shame-free experience that God intended us to live in: “Adam and his wife were both naked and they felt no shame,” (Genesis 2:25). But the moment sin entered the world, shame pounced on them. The very first impact of sin on Adam and Eve was their overwhelming sense of shame—they immediately sewed fig leaves together, covered themselves, and hid from God (Genesis 3:7-8).

This is what shame does. Shame is something you feel internally, and yet it has social ramifications. It causes us to want to hide from others and from God, and to cover our sense of inadequacy and unworthiness. Before we go further, let’s define shame.

Shame is a sense we are not enough; a sense of deficiency, inferiority, inadequacy, and unworthiness;

a sense that you are flawed and unworthy of acceptance.

Christian psychiatrist, Curt Thompson says in his book The Soul of Shame , “To be human is to be infected with this phenomenon we call shame.” Have you ever battled a nagging thought or feeling that you are not _______ enough? This blank may be filled in countless ways, but its root is the same — shame. It could be that you felt like you were not smart enough, pretty enough, athletic enough, charismatic enough, strong enough, funny enough, desirable enough, competent enough… and the list could go on. That deep sense of not being enough? That’s shame.

Where does it come from?

We gather this sense of shame in a couple of different ways. The propensity towards shame is inherited as a part of humanity, but it is also developed and fed over the course of our lives.

1. Shame is the result of our own fallenness.

No one is more aware of our own sinful tendencies than we are. We have the highlight reel of every time we have blown it in our minds and this can lead to a sense of shame.

2. Shame also comes to us through the fallenness of others.

We are wounded by the sins of others, and those wounds can leave us with a sense that we are not enough.

It could have been a sense that you could never satisfy or measure up to someone’s expectations for you and so you developed a sense that you are not enough. It could be that you were betrayed by friends and were left with a sense of not feeling valuable. Some of us have endured abuse that left us carrying a deep sense of shame. The list of ways others’ sins impact us could go on and on, and the shame those sins bring often lingers.

3. We live in a fallen world.

A sense of shame can be developed or reinforced simply by scrolling through Instagram. We see a joyful photo of many of our friends that got together and we are not there. We scroll through the filtered and curated highlight reels of other people’s lives and compare them to our own ordinary lives, and the feeling of not being enough grows as we sit alone in our room.

What is the impact of shame?

Shame can impact almost every area of our lives. It can impact the way we approach work. Many of us become perfectionists, driven by the belief that we must prove our worth through our performance. Our shame says we cannot mess up or even be average, or we will be exposed as not being enough. So we work tirelessly, trying to prove ourselves and erase our sense of inadequacy. As Brené Brown says, “When perfectionism is at the wheel, shame is in the passenger seat, and anxiety is in the back seat.”

Shame can impact our friendships. We think to ourselves, “I value my friendship with them more than they value their friendship with me.” Deep down, we wonder if we are truly worthy of lasting relationships or if we are simply not enough for others. Shame can even impact our walks with God. When shame is present, we have a hard time understanding and receiving grace. We feel like God’s basic posture towards us is one of disappointment, not love.

If shame has a superpower, it would be shape-shifting, because it can work its way into any area of your life.

Curt Thompson has an illustration called the “shame attendant” to describe just how subtly shame embeds itself into our daily experiences. Here is how he describes how the shame attendant can function:

“The shame attendant’s intention is not good, is not to care for you but rather to infuse verbal and nonverbal elements of judgment into every moment of your life. The word attendant at first may seem counterintuitive, as it usually applies to someone who has our best interest in mind. But, this is how shame works, a wolf disguised in sheep’s clothing. Hence, our shame attendant appears in language, feelings, sensations and images that may on the surface seem acceptable, common and normal, but its purpose is anything but being helpful. It lurks in the bedroom, your wardrobe and your bathroom (especially the ones with really big mirrors). When we wake up each morning our attendant greets us with the words “Wow, you really didn’t get enough sleep last night. What were you thinking?” You move to the bathroom to take a shower and you are reminded that you look like you put on more weight. You head out the door and your attendant whispers that the test you are about to take is going to go poorly because you are ill-prepared and wasted your time. …And as the day goes on the attendant watches you, offering multiple opportunities to assimilate a story that tells you, in essence, that you are not enough, you do not have what it takes to be okay.

How do we tend to respond when we experience shame?

When we experience shame we tend to respond in one of two ways. We compensate for our sense of shame either by puffing up and trying to make ourselves bigger than we are or by shrinking back and trying to make ourselves smaller than we are.

When we experience shame and puff up it can look a couple of different ways. We can puff up with pride and try to prove how great we are to overcome our sense of shame. We may puff up in anger towards others and respond with our shame by saying, “There isn’t anything wrong with me, there is something wrong with others.”

When we experience shame and shrink back we internalize the sense of shame and rather than exploding in anger at others, we implode internally with self-contempt. In these moments we tend to withdraw from others and ghost people when they text. Like Adam and Eve did in the Garden of Eden, we tend to hide. Shrinking back can lead to self-contempt and anxiety, and leave us feeling depressed.

Healthy ways to respond when we experience shame?

The first step to defeating shame is to name it. When we experience an impulse of shame—we need to recognize it for what it is. We say, “This is shame. I am experiencing shame.” As Curt Thompson says “to name it is to tame it.” The beginning of breaking its power in our lives is to bring it out of the shadows and into the light and recognize that you are experiencing shame.

Secondly, what Brené Brown says we are to do when we experience shame is: “Don’t puff up, don’t shrink back, but stand your sacred ground.” Our sacred ground is the truth we find in Scripture about who we are in Christ .

At the end of this resource, you will see a list of things that the Bible declares to be true about us as we are

in Christ. It is a list of glorious truths! When we live in shame, we are living a lie. When we stand our sacred ground, we let Scripture flip the script of our lives—from one of shame to one of love, acceptance, and honor.

So, when we experience shame we need truth, truth of who we are in Christ. However, there is another key step we need to take when we face shame. We need to reach out to others. Shame seeks to separate you from others, so one of the keys to breaking its power is reaching out. Here is the problem. When you are riddled with shame, what you need the most is what you want to do the least. Don’t just send a text to someone—call someone, or better yet, get in the same room as someone and share with them the battle of shame that you are fighting.

There are times when the power of shame can be so powerful it seems like you are unable to absorb truth on your own. Michael John Cusick says, “Shame can be like a raincoat around the soul that keeps us from absorbing the living water of Jesus that makes us the beloved.” So, what do we need to do when we find this to be the case?

We need to reach out to the community! We need to connect with people who embody the truth of Scripture.

We need connection with others, and we need truth to break the power of shame. There is something powerful when we experience the truth of who we are in Christ in community.

So, the next time you face shame head-on (and you will), I want to encourage you to name it—“I am experiencing shame.” Then, turn to the truth of Scripture and let Scripture flip the script from shame that is based in lies, to one of honor that is based in truth. Finally, make sure you reach out to someone else who can speak the truth and embody the truth in the flesh. The way out of shame is not in isolation but in connection!

As we close, I want to remind you that Jesus was crucified naked, in shame. The cross was all about shaming the one being crucified. But, Hebrews 12:2 says that Jesus scorned the shame of the cross so that you could be saved and brought into God’s family. Jesus experienced the shame of the cross so that we could live in the honor of being a child of God!

By God’s grace and the Spirit’s power, let’s live in the honor of who we are in Christ and not let shame rule our lives!

Shame-defeating Scripture: Other resources:

Ephesians 3:14-19 The Soul of Shame by Curt Thompson

Romans 8:31-39 Surrender to Love by David Benner

1 John 3:1 Who I am In Christ by Neil Anderson

Questions:

How are you tempted to fill in the blank of: I’m not _______ enough?
In what areas of your life have you wrestled with feelings of shame?
How do you tend to respond when you experience shame?
What kinds of moments tend to bring up feelings of shame for you?
Who will you reach out to when you experience shame?

The Task of Spiritual Formation

it@xaatuva.com (Chi Alpha) — Mon, 24 Jan 2022 15:02:04 GMT

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They were being formed then.

The year was 1935 and Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a faithful disciple of Jesus, was tasked with leading an underground seminary in a small German town called Finkenwalde. This seminary was fueled by the radical vision of helping believers resist the growing pressure of falling in line with the Nazi movement by instead building lives around prayer, the Scriptures, and a shared fellowship. The seminary was closer in form to a spiritual boot-camp than a mere Sunday school class. There were high expectations because they were faced with a high cost.

The story goes that a friend came to him asking if Bonhoeffer’s expectations for the seminary were too high; was this level of formation truly necessary? Bonhoeffer responded by taking his friend on a rowing trip to Oder Sound. He led them to a clearing where a Nazi training camp could be seen in the distance. As they watched Nazi planes take-off and land, and soldiers fall in line, Bonhoeffer began to share about the driving force behind his vision. One historian described it this way: “Bonhoeffer spoke of a new generation of Germans in training, whose disciplines were formed ‘for a kingdom... of hardness and cruelty.’ It would be necessary, he explained, to propose a superior discipline if the Nazis were to be defeated.” The vision was clear: whatever spiritual formation was happening in Finkenwalde had to be stronger than the formation that was happening in the culture.

We are being formed now.

To be clear, this is not to imply that we are living in Nazi Germany. Yet, what was overtly seen then is still true now – culture forms us. Always. Think about it for a moment. We live in a culture where the average American spends 4.8 hours (a whopping 1⁄3 of their daily waking time) on their smartphone ¹ consuming content from someone they’ve likely never met before. We live in a culture where the sixty-hour workweek is normalized, and rest is treated as a luxury. We live in a culture where people are publicly cancelled for holding differing political ideals or social values. Whether we are aware of it or not, we are being formed.

Let’s illustrate this with a specific example: our culture’s message on the celebration of sexual fulfillment. Think about any of the TV shows you’ve watched recently. Odds are, it builds itself around the on-again-off-again tension of two main characters, and then it culminates in them getting together and having sex. More often than we’d care to admit, we find ourselves celebrating this moment of our favorite characters getting together. Yet, if one of our friends came to us and shared that after a semester of pursuing another person they had finally had sex with them, would we celebrate? The Bible’s message is that sex belongs within the celebration of marriage. TV disagrees. But tell me, which message have you spent more time consuming this week? This is the battle over our formation. As followers of Jesus, we need to grow in our awareness of the ways in which we are being formed and in which direction.

In order to resist cultural pressures in the opposite direction of truth, disciples of Jesus need a more superior discipline elsewhere. Our Spiritual formation must be stronger than our cultural formation. If this language of Spiritual formation is new to you, it is important to define what we’re talking about. John Mark Comer in his book Live No Lies, defines it this way:

“Spiritual formation is the process by which we are formed in our spirits, or inner persons, into the image of Jesus. Or conversely, deformed into the image of the devil. Spiritual formation isn't just a follower of Jesus thing; it's a human thing. We're all being formed every minute of every day. We're all becoming someone. Intentional or unintentional, conscious or subconscious, deliberate or haphazard, we're all in a process of becoming a person.” – John Mark Comer

Formation is not optional. The question is not if we are being formed but how. Will we be deformed into the image of the devil, or formed into the image of Jesus?

So what do we do about it?

This process of Spiritual formation should not be just a reactive step to dealing with cultural lies and lived-out sin in our lives. If so, we would already always be operating on the defensive, trying to counteract our negative formation. Rather we should embrace the proactive process of discipleship which is building a foundation that can help us resist the cultural pressure we come across when we come across it. To use our previous example, we shouldn’t just turn to the Bible to try to “fix” ourselves once lust is running rampant in our lives. Rather, if we start building a theological understanding of sex first, then we’ll be better able to handle the temptation when it arises.

But how can we be proactive? Let’s look at two main areas: Kingdom convictions and spiritual disciplines.

Cultivate Kingdom Convictions

One of the biggest ways we can deepen our Spiritual formation is by cultivating Kingdom convictions. As disciples of Jesus, we operate under His Kingship. This means, among many other things, that we are to learn about and live under the values of His Kingdom. This includes things like honor, humility, forgiveness, loving your enemy, generosity, hope, etc. These values, as we have already talked about, are not always in line with the values of the kingdom of man. But, if we can know them and partner with the Holy Spirit in holding them dear, we can walk with a spiritual fortitude that withstands any kind of collision with the values of the world. We identify as citizens of Christ’s Kingdom first, and thus hold allegiance to His laws.

A way to hold these Kingdom convictions in the face of cultural opposition is to train yourself to ask the right questions. When we ask ourselves “what is right in this situation?,” the reality is, we may not always answer from a Kingdom perspective. Maybe pride gets in the way, or bad advice, or lingering worldly views. Instead, if we can learn to ask “what difference does the Gospel make here?,” we will instead be teaching ourselves to view everything through a Christ-led lens. It is impossible to tackle every possible heart issue in our discipleship meetings, but if we proactively train ourselves and others to ask this question, we can be formed in a way that when heart issues arise, we already know how to approach them.

For example, as you begin to ask what difference does the gospel make in your community, you begin to see that the Kingdom conviction is to walk with humility and to honor those around you. As such, we choose trust over suspicion when dealing with unmet expectations or conflict in these relationships. Or, as you begin to ask what difference does the Gospel make in your studies, you begin to see that the Kingdom conviction is that you are a steward of your academics, and you need to resist the cultural pressure to become a slave – indebted with your identity – to the outcome of your exams. No matter the area, the Gospel will have an answer to what a Kingdom-led response would be.

Develop Spiritual Disciplines

As we talk about Spiritual formation, it is also important to note that we are not purely spiritual beings. We are body, soul, and spirit and thus, we can take physical steps that train us on a soul level. Disciplines such as prayer and fasting train our souls to depend on the Lord. The discipline of reading Scripture trains us to not believe the lies of the enemy but instead be saturated in the truth of God. The discipline of Sabbath trains our souls to be filled in the presence of God and resist the lie that we have to earn our rest. The discipline of silence and solitude trains us to tune out the noise that we are bombarded with everyday and listen attentively to the voice of God.

Indeed, these disciplines are necessary because the formation of the world is also in our actions: scrolling TikTok makes us crave the things we consume on it. Spending all our time in the library or office traps us in its value system, forgetting that work performance is not the only variable of worth in our life. Always giving our bodies exactly what they want -- whether that is a food or sloth or sex -- teaches us that life is only about fulfilling our desires. We learn to think that we are king of our lives, rather than The King himself.

The goal of these disciplines is never the discipline itself. The goal of the disciplines is our formation into the image of Christ. These disciplines build liturgies: rhythms of spiritual formation that continually point us back to Jesus. As we are formed, the Lord equips us to be ready for the mission to which we are called. The aim of the Christian life is not ‘project-self’. The Lord does care deeply about our formation out of his love and desire for us to be like Him. Still, the natural and necessary outflow of our transformation is to wholly embrace his mission in the world. As deeply formed disciples, we can then go forth and make disciples who are likewise formed deeply into the image of Jesus.

Relevant Scriptures

Romans 12:1-2
Galatians 4:19
Romans 8:1-17

Application

What is an area that you need to think more deeply about how you’re being formed? (i.e. social media, shows/movies, news outlets, music, etc...)
Where do you need to ask “what difference does the Gospel make here?”
What is one cultural narrative that you want to grow in resisting? What spiritual discipline do you think will help you grow in this area?

Relevant Reading

The Deeply Formed Life by Rich Villodas
Beautiful Resistance by Jon Tyson
Live No Lies by John Mark Comer
Celebration of Discipline by Richard Foster

¹ State of the Mobile Report 2022

Centering Prayer

it@xaatuva.com (Chi Alpha) — Wed, 16 Sep 2020 16:18:04 GMT

Download Centering Prayer Resource

Our Need for Silence and Solitude

We live in a hyper-connected world where technology constantly clamors for our attention. Silence and solitude are scarce as we are surrounded by noise and input from our culture. However, our souls do not flourish in such an environment — Scripture and the experience of many reveal to us that silence and solitude are necessary in order for our souls to thrive.

Even though Jesus lived in a low-tech culture, we see him intentionally and regularly seclude himself in order to be alone with God. Jesus spent 40 days in solitude in the wilderness (Matthew 4:1-2). He woke up early in the morning to be alone in prayer, and spent the night praying on a mountainside before choosing His disciples (Mark 1:35-39, Luke 6:12-16). Jesus spent time alone in times of pain as well — when he heard about the beheading of John the Baptist, and on the eve of His crucifixion (Matthew 14:13, Mark 14:32-36). Pastor Michael John Cusick says, “We cannot escape the fact that in the midst of painful emotions, major decisions, and unthinkable circumstances, even Jesus needed to make space for his soul, allowing the Father to grasp Him.”

Being with God

We often think of prayer as time where we will say something to God and actively engage in a conversation with Him. However, the ancient discipline of prayer contains another aspect: silence. Centering prayer is simply about being with God, recognizing His Presence and being quiet with Him. It is about being present with The Presence! In any relationship, a mark of true depth and intimacy is the ability to be with each other in silence. Silence is an outflow of intimacy, and as stated by rabbis in the past, “silence is God’s first language.”

The Bible repeatedly affirms that as followers of Jesus, God dwells in our “inmost being” and we are in union with Him (2 Peter 1:3-4). Jesus said that when we believe in Him, “out of us will flow rivers of living water.” (John 7:38). These verses, among many, speak to the fact that our union with Christ is not something we acquire in our disciplines as much as it is something that we become aware of. It is less like drawing water from a well with a bucket, and more like opening a faucet so the living water can flow from our inmost being.

In centering prayer, we practice silence so that we can be attentive to His presence. We open the faucet of our union with Christ as we experience intimacy with Him and His delight in us. God never intended our faith to be merely an intellectual pursuit. He has more in store for us: He intends to restore our ability to walk with Him out of our union with Him in our inmost being. To sit in the presence of the Divine Love is the single most transforming experience a person can have. Imagine what it might be like to sit in His presence, with no other goal except to be delighted in as His child. That is what He wants you to experience in centering prayer!

Practicing Centering Prayer

The goal of centering prayer is not to empty your mind until you’re left with a blank slate, but rather to commune with God on a beyond-words level. As you sit in silence, you might experience Him in a tangible way, through an image or a feeling of His presence, or an intangible way, through peace in being quiet with Him. Here are four simple guidelines for centering prayer:

Choose a sacred word as a symbol of your desire to be present with God.
When you pray to God or think of Him, what do you call Him? The word that most easily comes to mind when you think of God is the best place to start, whether it be Jesus, Abba, Lord, or another name for God.
Sit comfortably in a quiet place, and set a modest goal.
Practice centering prayer in a place where you can be comfortable, alert, and free from distractions. Aim for ten, fifteen, or twenty minutes of prayer — you can always increase the amount of time as your capacity increases.
Be silent with the Lord, turning your attention to His presence.
If a random thought or distraction interferes, let it go. As soon as you become aware that you are distracted, simply return to your sacred word that in turn refocuses you on being aware of God’s presence.
You may feel like your mind is a monkey jumping around every few seconds! Don’t be discouraged — this is an opportunity to offer your attention to God. If your mind wanders 300 times in 10 minutes, you have just blessed your Father by giving Him your attention 300 times during that time frame!
Close in a prayer of gratitude for God’s presence with you.
Thank the Lord for being with you during your time of centering prayer, and refrain from judging your time in silence.

It often takes time for people to grow accustomed to practicing centering prayer, but for those who persist, it proves to be extremely valuable and transforming. They report a greater sense of intimacy, peace, and healing in their lives, and they are less easily triggered to anxiety, frustration, distraction or despair by the things of life.

Let’s take some time to be present with the most glorious, loving Presence of the world and our lives — our Heavenly Father! The time we spend with Him will never be wasted.

Relevant Scriptures

John 15:4-5 Remain in me, as I also remain in you...
Matthew 11:28-30 Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest... Mark 1:35 Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up...

Questions for Discussion

Why are silence and solitude important in our relationship with God?
How does centering prayer change your perspective on spending time with God?
How could you incorporate centering prayer into your daily or weekly rhythm?

Recommended Reading

The Practice of the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence The Sacred Slow by Alicia Britt Chole
Introduction to Silence and Solitude by Ruth Haley Barton

Theology of a Multi-Ethnic Community

it@xaatuva.com (Chi Alpha) — Wed, 19 Feb 2020 21:29:04 GMT

Download Theology of Multi-Ethnic Community: How We All Bear the Image of God

Put in simple words, the Bible is God’s word explaining the story of who He is and our relationship to Him. And anytime you tell a story, especially about a relationship, the beginning sets a trajectory for everything that will follow. What does God say at the beginning of our story - the very first words He chooses when humanity enters the scene?

Genesis 1:26-27 “Then God said, ‘Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals and over all the creatures that move along the ground.’ So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.”

From the moment the story of humanity starts, before we hear anything about what mankind is to be or to do, God wants us to know something important ... humanity is made in His image! Any understanding of ourselves, our communities, or our world must begin with that truth. And when we begin with that truth, we can understand a few things about humankind:

Everyone has a unique and eternal value.

Because we’re all made in God’s image, no one is a second class citizen regardless of race, socio-economic background, education, abilities, etc.
When we count our own value above another’s, we are driven from connection to consumption. We sin against each other (violence, discrimination, emotional abuse, sexual abuse, etc.) to satisfy our own desires, rather than looking to the good of all mankind. Most of the strife in our world is rooted in this simple truth: we don’t value each other enough.

Everyone has a God-given purpose on this earth.

We are made to bear the image of God. Essentially, we want others to see us and say: “I can tell what God looks like by looking at you.” The people of God, even with all their differences, are united as one in the common purpose of sharing His image with the world.
When we forget our purpose, we begin to use our lives to glorify our image rather than that of God and His Kingdom. We believe our way is right, and anyone different is wrong. We start isolating ourselves out of pride and our relationships become more and more limited until we’ve surrounded ourselves with people who are just like us. Most of the division in the world is rooted in this simple truth: we are glorifying our own image, not God’s.

It is important for us to look at another verse as we discuss being made in the image of God.

Revelation 7:9 After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb.

This verse is talking about the disciple John getting an image from heaven as humanity is restored to the way God intended us to be, through the sacrifice of Christ. Basically, we are restored to perfectly exhibiting the image of God. But notice ... ethnicity, language, and culture are still distinct when this happens! This means that those things are eternal and part of our bearing God’s image! The image of God is reflected in every tribe, nation, and tongue. He is not found in just one cultural expression, but all.

Yet, if we’re honest, the world hasn’t done well at honoring God’s image in ethnic diversity, right? Every human has sinned against others, neglecting each other’s value and purpose, and the systems we create reinforce our sinful attitudes. This plays out in racism, social injustices, discrimination, and systemic inequality.

If the Kingdom of God is made of every tribe, tongue, and nation, then it is our responsibility as followers of Christ to create and nurture a culture of hospitality so that anyone from any tribe/tongue/nation can be in fellowship with us, and experience the Kingdom as it should be: a place of healing, hope, the righting of wrongs, and reconciliation. In Chi Alpha, we believe every student (regardless of ethnicity or culture) shares in this responsibility to care for those that are - and aren’t yet - represented in our fellowship. What does it mean for us to nurture a culture of hospitality that embraces different ethnic expressions of the Gospel and the diverse design of God’s image bearers?

Nurturing a Culture and Space of Hospitality

It is important to note that if you are within the majority culture, you may not realize how most aspects of society are tailored towards you. Your way is presented as the “right” way, (ex: most toy dolls are portrayed as white beyond actual population statistics) and it is usually affirmed by what you’re taught in school, people in leadership positions, the media (movies, TV, magazines), etc. It takes a conscious effort to consider how someone not in the majority culture might experience a space differently. Imagine visiting a foreign country. What are some differences you might notice as you enter a space where you might be the minority? Differences could include language, cuisine, schedules, dress code.

Now consider what someone from a different ethnic background/culture might experience when entering a space you’ve created. Do they feel like they are “at home” with their brothers and sisters in Christ, or do they feel like an outsider? Here are four suggestions to consider:

Listen : Cross-cultural community will require us to be willing to ask questions about what the minority experience is like. Ask others if they’re comfortable sharing their perspective. Then, if they are, listen. Listen in a group setting, listen in a one-on-one setting. Gain a new perspective in how others process the world you live in. Listening involves empathizing, mourning with those who mourn, and rejoicing with those who rejoice. What we hear may not always be pleasant; but we need to persevere in love to foster a setting for healing. In order to listen well, we should also be aware of current events that might affect brothers and sisters of different ethnic backgrounds. There’s no need to be an expert on all topics, but we should be informed and educated on issues that affect our friends if we hope to truly love and experience fellowship with them. What’s going on in your city, state, country, or the world?

Commit to growing as an individual : When we are in a multi-ethnic community, it is vital that we all take a posture of humility, admitting that we don’t fully understand each other’s experiences but that we’re willing to grow. Proverbs 27:5-6, tell us that we can trust correction from a friend. This means that when someone tells us how our words or actions have made a friend of another ethnicity/culture feel unwelcome (whether they are that individual, or not), we can trust that they shared this because they love us, and respond with humility, gratitude, and a willingness to grow.

Commit to helping your community grow : Proverbs 27:5-6 told us to trust correction from a friend. This also means that if we are to be loving friends, we may have to let our friends know when they miss the mark. It may look like correcting someone for saying insensitive comments or encouraging a friend to become informed on topics of gospel-centered racial reconciliation. However, we should do this in love. We have a wonderful opportunity to share God’s heart for a diverse Kingdom with people for whom college may mean entering the most diverse setting they’ve ever been in. Let’s stand up for love and truth by truthfully and lovingly correcting those we’re in relationship with in our Core Groups, houses, and community at large!

Make changes to your spaces : Think through aspects of your Core Group or other spaces that you can adjust to create a more welcoming atmosphere. Consider the music you play, the food you serve, and the words you choose. How can you challenge yourself and others to intentionally create a space where people feel celebrated and uplifted as they enter into fellowship? The hope is they would feel seen, valued, and loved for the beautiful representation of God’s image that they are.

As a final encouragement, remember to pray for unity in our Chi Alpha community, and in the Church at large. There are some deep wounds and strongholds that exist in peoples’ hearts. We need to partner with the Holy Spirit through prayer so that His power can break the effect of sin in our own lives, and in our relationships. The following is a prayer adapted from the Book of Common Order of the Church of Scotland:

God and Father of all, in your love

you made all the nations of the world to be a family,

and your Son taught us to love one another.

Yet our world is split apart by prejudice, arrogance, and pride.

Help our different races to love and understand one another better.

Increase among us sympathy, tolerance, and goodwill,

that we may learn to appreciate the gifts that all races bring to each other,

and to see in all people our brothers and sisters for whom Christ died.

Save us from jealousy, hatred, and fear, and help us to live together

as members of one family at home in the world, sons and daughters of one Father

who live in the liberty of the children of God; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Relevant Scriptures

Psalm 67

2 Corinthians 5:14-21

Mark 12:30-31

Questions for Discussion

How have you seen someone respect your value? Your purpose? How could you do this for others?

Which of the 5 steps to nurturing a culture of hospitality do you currently practice? Which do you struggle with?

What practical step can you take to be better informed about the experiences of minority communities around you?

Recommended Reading:

Insider Outsider by Bryan Loritts

Disunity in Christ by Christena Cleveland

Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson

Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria by Beverly Daniel Tatum

Life Together by Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Alcohol

it@xaatuva.com (Chi Alpha) — Tue, 03 Dec 2019 19:22:48 GMT

A Biblical Perspective on Alcohol: Navigating the Clear Rules and Contextual Guidelines

Download A Biblical Perspective on Alcohol

“So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” 1 Corinthians 10:31

Open Minds and Open Hands

When each of us considers the topic at hand, we all come carrying something - maybe discomfort, painful memories from the past, temptation, social pressures, or pride. Our opinions and burdens have been shaped by our families of origin and our experiences with alcohol in our culture. Often, this leads us to oversimplify our response to alcohol, clinging either to abstinence as the only answer, or claiming “all things in moderation” and never saying no.

Although we come bearing an array of beliefs about what is “right” or “wrong” concerning alcohol, what it really boils down to is that much of the issue depends on context. Let's consider what Scripture says about alcohol while asking Jesus for wisdom and discernment, with open hands. With this attitude, we can live between the two extremes of legalism or syncing with culture. Let us handle the issue in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ - for His glory and our good!

Clear Rules

Some passages in Scripture about alcohol warn of its addictive nature and destructive allure, others encourage its use for health purposes or celebration. Jesus himself turned water into wine at a wedding as the first miracle he performed! However, there are a few clear guidelines that the Bible does provide:

1. Drunkenness is a sin

Ephesians 5:18 says, “Do not be drunk with wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead be filled with the Spirit.” Drunkenness leads to foolishness and often debauchery, meaning indulgence in sensual pleasures and promiscuity. When a person is drunk, they are no longer sensitive to the Holy Spirit, which is a defining factor of our identity as believers! Drunkenness clouds the fruit of the Spirit within us, hindering our self-control among other godly characteristics, and is mentioned in lists of sins in Galatians 5:21 and 1 Corinthians 6:10. The Bible leaves no room for ambiguity regarding drunkenness.

2. Christians should not drink underage -

Christians are called by God to obey the law set in place by the governing authorities, because God Himself is the giver of authority (Romans 13:1-2). Believers should follow the laws given except any that would cause us to go against Scripture and allegiance to Jesus. Scripture makes it clear that followers of Jesus are called to wait until the legal age to partake in alcohol out of respect for our authorities and God Himself.

3. Alcohol in and of itself is not sinful

Scripture reveal that the consumption of alcohol is not sinful in itself (Psalm 104:15, 1 Timothy 5:23, John 2:1-11). However, what can be sinful are many motives behind drinking - rebellion, desire to conform or participate in debauchery, and attempting to escape reality among others. We must search our hearts for our underlying motivations as we encounter situations with alcohol.

Contextual Guidelines

We now know what is clear regarding what the Bible says about alcohol, but how do we go about making wise decisions in the gray areas?

We find two helpful principles in 1 Corinthians 8-10 where Paul lays out some guidelines for believers who are wrestling with the issue of meat sacrificed to idols. Many of the new believers in Corinth were former idol worshippers who had eaten meat sacrificed to idols in their past life. In the culture they lived in, eating this meat was a very social occasion, taking place in what we might equate to a restaurant or gathering place. However, its consumption was an act of worship to a “god.”

The more established Christians in Corinth argued that it wasn’t a big deal for them to participate in this gathering - they knew there was only one God! The idols are nothing, and so in the minds of these believers, eating the meat was perfectly acceptable. Paul uses this opportunity to deal with a major blind spot in the lives of the Corinthians, and combats their arguments with two major principles:

1. The Stumbling Block Principle

In 1 Corinthians 8:1, Paul says, “Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.” Paul points out to the Corinthians that knowledge is their blind spot. They know they have the freedom to eat meat from the temple. But they aren’t asking how their freedom is impacting other believers who struggle with former associations and emotional ties to idol worship. By watching these “free” Christians consume what was a personal stumbling block, these believers could become confused or tempted, and ultimately, even return to their old way of life.

This is the stumbling block principle - we must consider our weaker brother or sister in Christ in every situation we encounter and every decision that we make. We are called to love others above our flesh, and to use our freedom to serve our community (Galatians 5:3). Our ability to say “no” and to limit ourselves for the sake of others is a true sign of freedom and maturity in Christ.

This principle teaches us to create safe spaces without the presence and pressures of alcohol in Christ-centered love for our brothers and sisters. A believer who has struggled with alcohol should always be able to attend a Chi Alpha social event or go to a Christian house without being tempted, conflicted or confused. This also means that we don’t drink around people who are underage — it’s not honoring or loving! It only creates a barrier, separating and excluding younger brothers and sisters for the sake of the freedom of those who are of age. Jesus sacrificed His life for them — this is the least that we can sacrifice!

2. Context is Crucial

In 1 Corinthians 10:18-22, Paul forbids the Corinthians from eating meat sacrificed to idols at the pagan temples because to do so would be to participate in the worship of demons. But then in verses 23-30, he brings up a gray area: he says that if they are eating at someone’s house, they can eat the same meat with a clear conscience unless the host makes a big deal about it being sacrificed to an idol. Paul is not fickle or contradicting himself — he is emphasizing that the context of consumption matters. The food itself is not the issue. The issue is what it is being associated with.

In our culture, alcohol is a symbol, and can represent different things at different times. Champagne is a symbol of celebration, wine may represent romance or sophistication, and both the red solo cup and the shot glass have become symbols of casting off restraint and even debauchery.

We must ask ourselves what alcohol is symbolizing in a particular context, and if we as followers of Jesus can affirm that symbol. This is where a lifestyle of “all things in moderation” may not be enough — in settings where we can’t affirm what alcohol is representing, we should completely refrain from drinking rather than just limiting our consumption. If we can affirm the symbol, we have Biblical guidelines for walking in wisdom. In an age with social media, we must also consider that when we post photos of alcohol we often lose the ability to present the context, or our choice for moderation. When you post a photo of a drink, no one knows you only had one, and people will likely make assumptions about what you as a Christian are affirming.

Whatever you do…do it for His glory!

Paul concludes his discussion of meat sacrificed to idols with this encouragement: “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. Do not cause anyone to stumble...For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved” (1 Corinthians 10:31-33). In every situation and decision, we must strive to honor the Lord. To immerse ourselves in Christ rather than the surrounding culture. Consider these steps as you think about your relationship with alcohol as a Christian:

1. Be Prayerful: Ask the Lord for wisdom as you consider when it is beneficial for you to abstain for yourself (your past, family history, addictive tendencies, conscience, etc). Support your brothers and sisters in Christ as they consider abstaining, without shaming them for being legalistic. Each person should be prayerful about what it will take to thrive in their relationship with Christ.

2. Be Loving: We must walk in our freedom with love - not doing anything that would cause our weaker brothers or sisters to stumble. Jesus died for your brothers and sisters, so we can sacrifice too, out of love for Him and them! What would be the ripple effect of this decision on those around me? Am I honoring my brothers and sisters in Christ with my choices?

3. Be Honest: Be honest with yourself about your motivations and why you have a desire to drink in a certain situation. Consider: What is alcohol symbolizing at this moment? Can I, as a follower of Jesus, affirm what is being represented? Why do I have a desire to drink or post a picture of my drink in this context?

As we consider the guidelines we find in Scripture and walk in wisdom, may our relationship with alcohol be a testament to the work of Jesus among us. Let’s love our brothers and sisters well and live wisely with alcohol for God’s glory, other people’s good, and our joy!

Relevant Scriptures

1 Corinthians 8:9-13

1 Corinthians 10:23-24, 31-33

Ephesians 5:18-20

Questions for Discussion

What was your experience with alcohol pre-college, and how has that impacted your view of alcohol? What does your current relationship with alcohol look like?

Did any of the “clear rules” that we find in Scripture surprise you? How so?

Which action step is the most difficult for you as you consider what your relationship with alcohol should be moving forward? Why?

Accountability Questions

it@xaatuva.com (Chi Alpha) — Wed, 27 Mar 2019 20:39:16 GMT

“As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” Proverbs 27:17.

Download Accountability Questions

Devotional Life

Have you spent adequate time in Bible study and prayer?

What is God speaking to you through the Word and/or prayer?

Purity

Have you entertained any inappropriate fantasies in your thought life?

Have you viewed any sexually explicit materials?

Is there any relationship with a member of the opposite sex that could be viewed as compromising?

How are your relationships with significant people in your life?

Have you spent quality time with and given priority to your family or deep friends?

How have you been honoring and loving to those closest to you?

Have you been living with integrity in your studies or workplace?

Are you stewarding your gifts well?

Real Responsibility

Are you representing Christ well where He has put you to be an Ambassador?

Have you been faithful in the ministry entrusted to you?

How do you feel about yourself?

Have you been living generously?

What are you noticing about the desires of your heart?

Have your desires been determined by Christ, or do they look like the culture around you?

Are you walking in faith or fear?

How can I pray for you?

SWOT Analysis

it@xaatuva.com (Chi Alpha) — Thu, 29 Nov 2018 19:13:47 GMT

This tool helps you analyze your own spiritual walk and your upcoming break. Breaks can be an opportunity for tremendous growth, or potential disaster. In order to actualize the former, it is in our best interest to head into break armed and prepared for what may lie ahead.

Download SWOT Analysi s

When you think about break, ask yourself these questions: what kind of environment will it be? What do you want to see happen? What don’t you want to see happen? How can you do it well? Walk through this resource to help you further process and prepare for break.

Strengths. What are some of your strengths currently in your Christian walk?

Weaknesses. What are some of the weaknesses in your Christian walk?

Opportunities. What are some opportunities over break that you see that will help you in your walk?

Threats. What are some things that you are likely to face this break that, if not properly dealt with, will be hurtful to your walk with God?

Write down a few things that you want to commit to doing this break, which will help you grow in your walk with God and increase your maturity in Christ. Who could you ask to support and help you reach these goals over break?

Why We Pray

it@xaatuva.com (Chi Alpha) — Thu, 18 Oct 2018 18:52:06 GMT

"Prayer does not fit us for the greater work; prayer is the greater work." Oswald Chambers

Download Why We Pray

The Benefits of Prayer

We live in a culture where busyness is the norm. We like to be on the move, and we value productivity. We also prefer to see the results of our labor immediately — instant gratification is our default desire. It’s no wonder that prayer can sometimes feel unproductive or counterintuitive to getting things done! However, Scripture gives us countless reasons why prayer is a worthy and fruitful use of our time personally, and how it pays dividends in the furthering of the Kingdom! The following are four of the many reasons why time in prayer is never wasted.

1. Prayer is relational: Can you imagine going weeks, or even months, without talking to one of your closest friends or family members? Without communication, our human relationships are not able to grow or flourish. The same is true in our relationship with God — we only grow closer to Him when we spend time communing with Him in prayer. In Scripture, we see Jesus draw away from the crowds frequently to spend time alone with His Father. How much more do we need to seek out time alone with God to experience intimacy with Him! As we pray, He will draw near to us and allow us to experience His presence, and we will also begin to hear His voice more clearly (James 4:8). Time in prayer is never wasted because it will lead us into deeper relationship with our Father in heaven.

2. Prayer is consequential: Prayer is powerful - it actually changes things! God hears our prayers, and He answers them. Paul York, formerly a bible college professor who now works for Chi Alpha, says, “...there are some things that the Bible says will happen only if we do pray.” The enemy wants to do everything in his power to distract us from prayer because he knows that “the prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective” (James 5:16). Paul recognized the power of others’ prayers for him: “On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, as you help us by your prayers” (2 Corinthians 1:10-11). Paul knew that prayer was consequential, and that he was being sustained by the prayers of others while he endured hardship. Time in prayer is never wasted because prayer brings about powerful change in our lives and in the lives of others - now and for eternity!

3. Prayer transforms our hearts: Prayer does not just change our external circumstances - it also transforms us inwardly. In prayer, we see the Holy Spirit convict us of sin, purify our hearts, align our desires with His, encourage us, deliver us from fear, and give us wisdom (Psalm 51:10, Psalm 34:4, Psalm 37:4). We see God grow the fruit of the Spirit in us so that we exhibit the character of God in increasing measure (Galatians 5:22-25). As we pray, God can remove bitterness and soften our hearts towards others so that we see those around us with the eyes of Christ. Time in prayer is never wasted because prayer conforms us into the image of Christ, changing our hearts from the inside out.

4. Prayer transforms our minds: Prayer does not just transform the depths of our hearts — it also renews our minds so that we see and experience our world in a new way! As people of the Holy Spirit and prayer, “we have the mind of Christ” (1 Corinthians 2:16). Abiding in Jesus gives us the power to take every thought captive and make it obedient to Him (2 Corinthians 10:4-6). Through prayer, our minds will become a place where the truth of Christ reigns and where we experience the peace of God (Romans 8:6). The lies of the enemy will no longer have power over our minds, and our perspective will begin to reflect that of the Kingdom. We will have an eternal mindset, seeing all circumstances as opportunities for God to be glorified and having greater faith for what God can do. Time in prayer is never wasted because it transforms our minds, enabling us to think and live in His freedom, peace, and power.

Living a Life of Prayer

In the Bible, we see God use many people who prioritized prayer daily - Daniel, Anna, Peter, Jesus. We are told to pray at ALL times with “all kinds of prayers and requests” (Ephesians 6:18). Designating a time in the morning to pray can set the tone and trajectory for your day, while helping you to remain in prayer as your schedule unfolds. Consider the following factors as you answer this question: How can you intentionally incorporate prayer into the rhythm of your day?

1. Place: Jesus tells us to pray in solitude, away from the eyes of others, and he models this for us in his own life. Where is a place that you can go to spend time in prayer daily? Maybe it is your bedroom or living room, a secluded place on Grounds, or even outside in nature. Consider a place where you will be least likely to become distracted so that you can focus on communion with God

2. Posture: Our posture when we pray can speak volumes about the attitude with which we are approaching God. Kneeling before God can demonstrate our humility and dependence on God, while holding out our hands can be a sign of receiving from Him. What posture can you assume in prayer to show God the heart with which you are approaching Him?

3. Plan: Do you ever find it overwhelming when you think about all of the people and situations in your life and in the lives of others that you want to pray about? Praying over one area of your life each day of the week can give you the opportunity to cover multiple things comprehensively in prayer, while freeing you from the idea that you have to pray over everything every day (See “Planning a Week in Prayer” for guidance on this topic).

Pray Right Now!

Prayer does not just consist of listing out our prayer requests — if that were the case, we wouldn’t experience all the benefits that God wants us to provide us with through prayer! Take some time right now to pray through the ACTS prayer plan, spending a few minutes in each section. See the ACTS Prayer Plan resource for additional explanation on each area of prayer.

Adoration - Praise God for who He is, and thank Him for His specific attributes. He is worthy of all of our praise (Revelation 5:11-13)!

Confession - Ask forgiveness for specific sins and faults in your own life, and ask that He would cleanse you and give you a pure heart (Psalm 51:10).

Thanksgiving - Thank God for how He has provided for you relationally, physically, and spiritually, and for how He has answered your prayers. “Enter His gates with thanksgiving” (Psalm 100:4)!

Supplication - Ask God for help for yourself, your friends and family, and other situations going on in your life. He is the God who daily bears our burdens (Psalm 68:18)!

The world may try to tell us that prayer is inconsequential, but Scripture reminds us and experience reveals the opposite. In Prince Caspian by C.S. Lewis, Aslan says to Lucy, “Every year you grow, you will find me bigger.” As we grow in our prayer lives, we will continue to find God bigger and more glorious! We will experience the benefits He has in store for us — greater intimacy with Him, changes brought about by His power as He answers our prayers, and a transformed heart and mind. As we commit ourselves to spending time in prayer, may He bring about great fruitfulness in our lives and remind us of “his incomparably great power for us who believe” (Ephesians 1:19).

Relevant Scriptures

Matthew 6:5-13 And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites…

Luke 18:1-8 The Parable of the Persistent Widow

Ephesians 6:18 Pray in the Spirit at all times…

1 Peter 3:12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous…

James 5:13-16 Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray…

Ephesians 1:17-23 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ…

Questions for Discussion

Does prayer feel unproductive or counterintuitive to you? What does Scripture say about this perspective on prayer?
Which of these four benefits do you want to see more of in your life? Why?
What hinders you from spending time in prayer? How can you combat this?
How can you intentionally incorporate prayer into your daily schedule? What help do you need in order to do so (accountability, establishing a place/time, making a prayer plan, etc.)?

Additional Resources

The Circle Maker by Mark Batterson

Prayer by Tim Keller

Why Revival Tarries by Leonard Ravenhill

Prayer by Richard Foster

Spiritual Gifts Inventory

it@xaatuva.com (Chi Alpha) — Thu, 18 Oct 2018 18:44:41 GMT

Taken from Rick Richardson's book, Reimagining Evangelism, an inventory to assess your spiritual gifts.

Download Spiritual Gifts Inventory

Each of us has unique gifts and abilities that God gave to us. These gifts are to be used for God’s Kingdom - including in discipleship, encouragement, and evangelism. As we all work together, utilizing our unique gifts, Christian community looks as it was intended.

Complete this inventory. Answer quickly, without a lot of analysis. Circle the number under each statement that best indicates your level of agreement or disagreement:

0 = Strong Disagreement/Untrue 1 = Moderate Disagreement
2 = Moderate Agreement
3 = Strong Agreement

1. When a job needs to get done, people often ask me to lead and organize it. 0123

2. I enjoy being with people who don’t yet follow Jesus. 0123

3. I enjoy having people in my home (or dorm room). 0123

4. I have led small groups before, and they have gone well. 0123

5. When I see someone in need, my first urge is to tell them I will pray for them, and then I do it. 0123

6. When I see someone in need, my first urge is to do something practical to help them. 0123

Chi Alpha Christian Fellowship Page 1 of 5

7. I have some ability to make money. 0123

8. I like involving other people in tasks and projects. 0123

9. I have a lot of confidence in the power of the gospel. 0123

10. I enjoy creating spaces that are attractive and that help people feel comfortable. 0123

11. I enjoy asking people questions and finding out what they think. 0123

12. When I pray for people, I often feel like I connect with God and with them. 0123

13. I have been part of our church’s efforts to serve the poor. 0123

14. I enjoy giving to causes and efforts I believe in. 0123

15. I enjoy originating and communicating a vision for a new event or ministry. 0123

16. I have led at least one person to Christ.

Chi Alpha Christian Fellowship Page 2 of 5

0123

17. When a group I am involved in is planning an event, people turn to me for ideas to help guests feel welcomed and wanted.

0123

18. When people are in need, I like to involve other in my community in meeting the need. 0123

19. I have experiences when I sense God is leading me to pray for a specific person. 0123

20. I am upset when the church doesn’t seem to care about people in need. 0123

21. When I see someone in need, I want to help financially. 0123

22. When I lead an event, it often seems to go well. 0123

23. I enjoy teaching and motivating other people to reach out. 0123

24. In group gatherings, I notice the people who seem isolated or uncomfortable. 0123

25. I enjoy studying Scripture, and often see things that challenge or motivate me. 0123

Chi Alpha Christian Fellowship Page 3 of 5

26. I believe God heals people, and I pray for hurting people with the expectation that God will answer my prayer.

0123

27. I believe the best form of evangelism is to care about people in practical ways and let my actions do the talking.

0123

28. I don’t need to get the credit; I only want to see the job get done. 0123

29. Whenever I attend an event, I find myself evaluating how well it is going and how it could have been done better.

0123

30. When we are planning an outreach event, other people turn to me for ideas about how to help people commit to Jesus.

0123

31. When others at a gathering are having a good time, I am happy.

0123

32. I enjoy mentoring others. 0123

33. I have prayed for people who don’t yet follow Jesus. 0123

34. I have helped my church organize efforts to serve the poor locally or through a mission trip. 0123

Chi Alpha Christian Fellowship Page 4 of 5

35. I want to invest in projects and people that help to transform people’s lives. 0123

Here are some broad areas of gifting, taken from Scripture and experience. Transfer your scores from the test into their corresponding spaces in the chart, and then add up the sums of each category.

Organizing and Leading	Evangelism and Equipping	Hospitality and Encouragemen t	Pastoring and Teaching	Prayer, Words, and Works from the Holy Spirit	Service and Mercy	Givin g
1	2	3	4	5	6	7
8	9	10	11	12	13	14
15	16	17	18	19	20	21
22	23	24	25	26	27	28
29	30	31	32	33	34	35
Total:

After looking at your results, ask yourself these questions:

How am I already using my gift(s) to contribute to the Kingdom of God?
What steps can I take to further develop or grow in my gift(s)?
What other opportunities should I use my gift(s) for God’s Kingdom?
What type of person should I partner with to help bring a diversity of gifts in my ministry efforts?

Making and Living on a Budget

it@xaatuva.com (Chi Alpha) — Thu, 18 Oct 2018 18:28:18 GMT

Practical steps to help you make and live on a budget. Included is a worksheet to help you make a monthly budget.

Download Making and Living on a Budget

Use these principles to help direct personal financial decisions with wisdom.

You need to know your income.

If you are going to make a budget, you need to know what your monthly income will be.

Determine budget percentages.

Look at recommended percentages that you should consider spending in every part of your budget. This is important. If you over-spend in one area, it will squeeze you in other areas. You need to set a target percentage for each area using the guidelines that are provided by Dave Ramsey. Then see how much that percentage is in real dollars. Hint: The total percentages you allocate cannot exceed 100%. (This may be obvious, but it doesn’t hurt to state the obvious) There is a chart attached that will help you do this.

Give every dollar a name and make it obey.

Now divide those real dollars up in the categories. You will see a form that details what goes under the housing category, the transportation category, etc. Your goal is to give every dollar a name and make it obey! The more specific your budget is the more helpful it will be. I used to have an amount allocated under miscellaneous for haircuts...that is pretty detailed. By the way, that sub-category is no longer necessary! No laughing.

Smoothing expenses.

Think about what expenses you will have irregularly or infrequently. This can include money you will spend on Christmas presents, vacation, car repairs, house repairs, etc. You know these things are going to happen and will be substantial to your budget when they do happen. So, think about how much you typically spend annually on each category and then divide that amount by 12. This will tell you how much you should budget monthly for that expense. When you get paid, transfer the amounts you are saving for each of these to our savings account. Then when these expenses occur, you will simply take the money out of the bank. If you fail to plan for these expenses, you will be planning to fail. These are often the expenses that take us into debt and cause us to revert to using credit cards.

Envelope method.

Once you have established your budget now it is time to actually use it! For items on your budget that happen throughout the month (expenses that are not just writing a check once a month), I encourage you to go to the bank after pay day and take out cash for each of these categories. Then go home, put cash in an envelope for each category. When it is time to go to the grocery store, take cash out of the grocery envelope. When it is time to get gas, take cash out of the gas envelope, when it is time to go out to eat, take money out of the eating out envelope, etc. If you do this, you will not overspend on the categories. It is one thing to make a budget, it is another thing to live on it.

Evaluate.

Check your budget after a few months to see if the amounts are feasible or if there needs to be some changes to your budget.

Build an emergency fund as soon as possible.

For starters try to save $1,000 as fast as you can. This will help when an unexpected expense comes your way. If you have an emergency fund you will not have to go in debt to pay for the unexpected expense. If you do not have an emergency fund, you will have to go in debt. So, save $1,000 as fast as you can. The ultimate goal will be to accumulate 2 to 3 months of expenses in your savings, in case you were to be laid off, or some other financial difficulty were to come your way.

Factor in generosity.

Make sure you start practicing generosity through budgeting tithing and supporting missions Make sure you start saving for retirement immediately after graduation.

Budgeting Percentages

Taken from financial advisor and author Dave Ramsey, This will help you begin to develop and live on a budget. Living by a budget isn’t just for people who have debts to pay. Jesus shares that Kingdom people should “count the cost” before starting to build a house. A budget is a way to spend, and save, wisely for the Kingdom of God.

The far left column lists some basic categories that comprise an individual’s (or family’s) budget. Ramsey’s recommended budgeting percentages are listed in the second column (“Recommended %). After examining Ramsey’s recommended percentages per category, determine your ideal percentage to spend in each category. Record these percentages in the third column (“Ideal %”), making sure that the sum of all the categories is 100 percent.

Then you will need to record your total monthly income (as an individual, or family). If you do not already live by a budget (not just have a budget, but live by it), you will need to record all your spendings for at least one month, categorizing them along the way. Record these totals in the fourth column by category (“Actual Money Spent”). If you already have a working budget, enter the budgeted amounts in this column by category.

Finally, calculate the actual percentage of your total income you spend in each category in the last column (Actual % Spent). Adjust your spending as necessary to stay within your ideal percentages.

Total Monthly Income (after taxes): _______________________

Category

Recommended %

Ideal %

Actual Money Spent

Actual % Spent

Charitable gifts

10-15%

%

$

%

Savings

5-10%

%

$

%

Housing

25-35%

%

$

%

Utilities

5-10%

%

$

%

Food

5-15%

%

$

%

Transportation

10-15%

%

$

%

Clothing

2-7%

%

$

%

Medical/Health

5-10%

%

$

%

Personal

5-10%

%

$

%

Recreation

5-10%

%

$

%

Debts

5-10%

%

$

%

Planning Your Weekly Schedule

it@xaatuva.com (Chi Alpha) — Tue, 14 Aug 2018 21:38:54 GMT

This worksheet will help you prioritize and plan your schedule.

Download Planning Your Weekly Schedule

Time management - one of things we know is good for us, but we rarely follow through to completion! As followers of Christ, we should know our time is a gift from God. This tool should help you be a better steward of your time.

On the following page, you will see a blank hourly schedule of a week. With your planner and/or class schedule in hand, please fill out your ideal week.

Here are things to make sure to include:

Class times
Study times (the recommended outside preparation is 3-5 hours per week for each credit hour of class)
Meals
Other weekly commitments (with volunteering, clubs, organizations, church, etc)
Dates with friends
Sleep (the recommended sleep for 18-22 year olds is 7-9 hours per night)
Exercise
Time with God (a 10-minute daily time with God is better than a hit-or-miss 30 minutes)
Times of rest and relaxation (as Christians, we call this Sabbath!)

Remember, if you don’t plan, you plan to fail! The difficult part is finding a sustainable rhythm for life - so you’re not surviving from weekend to weekend!

Once you make a schedule, find ways to keep yourself accountable. Schedule study dates with friends (who actually HELP you to study); set an alarm to remind you to go to bed, not just wake up! Find a place and time that you can spend with God that’s free of distraction - sometimes your bedroom is the most distracting place! These are just a few ideas to help you live a disciplined, godly, balanced, and enjoyable life!

Planning a Week in Prayer

it@xaatuva.com (Chi Alpha) — Fri, 10 Aug 2018 18:51:54 GMT

Do you have a hard time remembering to pray for your entire prayer list throughout the week? This tool will help you pray more strategically.

Download Planning a Week in Prayer

Ever feel overwhelmed by all the things for which you want to pray? It can be frustrating, or even paralyzing, as your list of prayer requests grows and grows! This is a tool that will help you divide up your prayer requests so that you focus on only a few each day, but still cover them all throughout the week.

Planning a weekly schedule for prayer can help you better manage your prayer life. The idea is simple: make a list of the things you want to pray for consistently, and then break your prayers up throughout the week. So on Monday, maybe you pray for your family; Tuesday, you pray for your roommate; Wednesday you pray for your professors; and so on. Post the list somewhere you can find it or see it easily (i.e. front of Bible, journal, mirror). You should experience more peace and consistency in your prayer life!

Monday:

Tuesday:

Wednesday:

Thursday:

Friday:

Saturday:

Sunday:

Matthew 23 and Social Media

it@xaatuva.com (Chi Alpha) — Fri, 10 Aug 2018 18:47:15 GMT

Pete's thoughts on social networking and Biblical principles that should guide our use.

Download Matthew 23 and Social M edia

“Everything they do is for me to see” It has now gone from a moment or situational to a lifestyle 24/7. I think we live this way still today but it looks different. Instead of making our phylacteries wide and tassels on our garments long, we post what we did on facebook, we tweet what we did or are doing. We do things that may not be seen by first hand observers, but we do things that we can make sure everyone knows about one way or the other. I think in some ways this is more sinister. Technology allows us to exploit our fallen natures more widely in this area. Instead of our lives being exhibitionistic at a party or in a crowd, now it can be that way all the time. In the back of our minds we can wonder what people will think when we tweet about this (it can be as simple as hanging with a certain person, playing with our child, or going to a game) or what people’s thoughts will be when we post the picture on facebook, or even when we get a good thought in a time with the Lord, we think about how others may be impressed by us when we put it up on our status, or post that we are now in a specific city or at a special concert. All of our lives can become exhibitionism. We can craft who we want people to think we are, and always be living for our 1242 facebook friends, or our 78 followers on Twitter. When we get big news our first thought is what will people think when I post this....In other words all of our lives can be lived for the blog, the tweet or the status update. I am reminded of the article is facebook mauling our souls from Relevant that talked about this (I think I have it in my leadership/one-on- one folder.) So, no longer is this exhibitionism limited to on the street corners or banquets and synagogues, but it can now happen at 11:00 on a Thursday night before we go to bed.

Instead of they love to be greeted in the marketplaces, I wonder if that could be said “the love to get thumbs up on their status, or have themselves retweeted by others.

I don’t believe that there isn’t a time and a place to use these kind of things. I do, they do serve a purpose. However, I do think that they can be very dangerous if overused. I do think we need to be honest with ourselves and understand the bent of our hearts towards pride, desire for recognition and tendency to want to be perceived in a certain way. We need to be honest about the motivations of our own hearts. This is why I did not come home and post on facebook a picture of our 2 foster kids the day we got them, or even mention it to our fellowship at the retreat after we just got them, or even the next Monday at MNL. Because I knew in my own heart that the whole foster care thing could easily slip into a form of exhibitionism or the motives of my heart would be impure if I allowed myself to do it. I had played the scenario in my head already, what will people think when they find out that Amy and I received foster kids. So, I just couldn’t post it, not because I didn’t want others to know, but because I knew my own heart.

I would say if you catch yourself thinking, I can’t wait to put it on facebook or send out a tweet, then perhaps you shouldn’t do it for a while, or at all. If you catch your first processing of events in your life being about how you will be perceived on these social networks, then I suggest you fast them until your heart is re-oriented. It is now where we can live as if 1200 people are always watching our every move....well, not really, just the moves that I want them to know about. Just the moves that I want them to be aware of. Not my sin, not when I lose my temper with my wife or don’t help with the kids, but instead when I wrestle with them.

The question at the end of the day is what audience do we live for? Do we truly live for an audience of One? Please understand that I deeply believe that our walks with God are incredibly corporate, so I am not talking about hyper individualism, me and God and that is all that matters. But I am talking about the motives of our hearts. Do we do what we do to be seen, like the people in verse 5-6, do we do what we do, post what we post, tweet what we tweet, blog what we blog, so people will see us in some way and we like having a big audience, or do we do it with a motive of glorifying God and not self. Do we even have a secret life anymore (Matt 6)? A secret of life things we do virtuously that is.

PROAPT Bible Study Method

it@xaatuva.com (Chi Alpha) — Fri, 10 Aug 2018 18:43:01 GMT

A practical tool to help you get more out of your Bible study times.

Download PROAPT Bible Study Method

This is a commonly used tool to help you study the Bible. Instead of just reading a passage, and fishing for something to speak to you, these steps will help you think about the passage more holistically and in context. Use this is a worksheet to fill out as you go. Eventually, you will no longer need to follow such a strict guide because the steps will come more naturally.

Date__________ Today’s Passage___________________

1. __ Pray (Pray...Preview the text “Here I am Lord; come by your Spirit and teach me; I trust that you

will speak.”)

2. __ Read (Read the text you will study 1-3 times... slowly)

3. __ Observe: (What it says—copy down the verse(s) you feel God is speaking to you by either: affirming you, convicting you, and saying something you don’t understand. Also ask— What is it saying about God? What is it saying about me? Who? How? Why?)

Interpret the above material by:

a. What did it mean to “them, then”, the original recipients

b. Paraphrasing it

c. Listing comparisons and contrasts

d. List all warnings, advice, and promises

e. note any “if, then” statements

Now stop and spend some time in quiet reflection

4.___ Apply (What does it mean to “us, now”)

a. What truth should I believe?

b. What am I to do... and how will it affect my actions, attitudes, relationship with God or others? c. How can I do something about this in the next 48 hours?

5. ___ Pray (See the ACTS Prayer Plan)

6.___ Tell What:___________________________________________________

To Whom:_______________________________________________ When:__________________________________________________

Prayer

it@xaatuva.com (Chi Alpha) — Fri, 10 Aug 2018 18:21:52 GMT

This article will help you consider both the relational and consequential natures of prayer.

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What I want you to learn is how to dig your own well, so that when you are light years down the road in your walk with God, you will be set up to walk with God wherever he takes you. No matter what the circumstances, no matter how dry things are around you, you know how to get out the tools and start to dig your own well—a deep well with God that is full of living water.

There are basically two major tools that God gives us to dig our own well. The first tool that God gives us is the Scriptures. You need to be a person who knows how to feast on God’s Word—a person who agrees with Jesus when he says that “man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.” As you use this tool, you will be led to use the other tool that is crucial to dig a deep well. The other tool is prayer! It is how we dig the hole to receive the rain, if you will.

These two tools are what we use to put ourselves in position to receive the wisdom and revelation that the Holy Spirit wants to give us so we can know God better. As you use the first tool of Scripture, it will lead you to respond in prayer—it should lead you to a life of prayer. If not, then it is like just breaking up the dirt but never using a shovel to get it out. Prayer is how we get Scripture to permeate and take root in our hearts. And Scripture is what informs our prayer. We don’t just pray based on speculation about God, full of distortions, but we pray based on his revelation given to us through Scripture. Thus the use of one tool leads to the use of the other.

When this happens, not only will your well go deeper in your relationship with God, but then you also will be a deep well for many people around you. Bernard of Clairvaux, from the 12th century, used the images of a canal verses a reservoir. He said that a canal just spreads water abroad as it receives it, but a reservoir is filled before overflowing, and then gives, without loss to itself, its superabundant water. He said we have many canals but few reservoirs!1 We need more reservoirs, or to use my image, we need more deep and wide wells! Richard Foster says “The desperate need today is not for a greater number of intelligent people, or gifted people, but for deep people.”2 Determine to be a reservoir or a deep well! Let’s take a closer look at the tool of prayer.

Inside Focus

I think there are two major ways people think about prayer. There is one group that would say prayer doesn’t really make that big of a difference. It isn’t that consequential. Rather, God uses our needs to bring us to him so we can commune with him. He will change us through prayer so we can embrace the circumstance, but it doesn’t really change circumstances—it changes us. This view stresses the relational side of prayer at the expense of prayer having any fundamental causality (it doesn’t cause anything to happen or have any influence on real events). This group quotes Scriptures like Matthew 6:8, “God knows what you need before you ask him.” I would say yes, in prayer we don’t inform God, but we express our dependence on him and bring him into the equation of whatever we are facing.

The problem is, this view of prayer stands against many other Scriptures. There are verses that speak to the fact that prayer does make a difference (2 Cor. 1:10-11, Phil. 1:19). I love this quote by Paul York: “There are some things that God will not do even if you ask him. There are some things that God will do even if we don’t ask him. Then there are some things that the Bible says will happen only if we do pray” (James 5:13-16, 2 Chronicles 7:11-16, Mark 9:29, to name a few).

Outside Focus

Then there are others who focus on the causality of prayer. They say things like, “All you need to do is stand on the promise, have unwavering faith, name it and claim it, and it shall be yours.” This can be a way of trying to get what we want as if God were a slot machine. If you say the right thing and pull the handle, God spits out the right stuff. And in the process, the relational aspect of prayer is lost. There is no intimacy of prayer. Your prayer time starts to be all about getting through your “prayer list” and saying the right thing. This group may not verbalize that there isn’t a relational aspect to prayer, but it just gets lost in the wash. They miss where in the Scripture it says that the Holy Spirit within us cries out, “Abba, Father”, longing for intimacy with God. Prayer is intensely intimate. Jesus taught us to pray “Our Father...”.

The Pinnacle of Prayer

I would submit that the pinnacle of prayer is when your view of prayer understands both—there is powerful influence that is born out of our relationship with him.

Let’s talk about how God uses prayer to lead us into this. There are many forms of prayer that place us in position to receive from the Holy Spirit wisdom and revelation. As we engage in thanksgiving, adoration, praise, worship (singing), listening in his presence, resting in his presence, and confession, God leads us to know him better. God uses these methods to get our attention, and as we commune with him and connect with our heavenly Father, we begin to be reminded of who he is.

It is like over the course of our days, our view of God starts to fall slowly and subtly, but when we enter into worship, adoration and thanksgiving, he is magnified in the eyes of our heart. As he is magnified, we see him more clearly and in greater detail, and we get to know him better. Not just know about him, but by the work of the Holy Spirit, we can commune with him and get to know him better!

I love a quote from Prince Caspian by C. S. Lewis. Aslan says to Lucy, “Every year you grow, you will find me bigger." May that be! As you grow, may you find God bigger! May we be people with deep wells full of intimate knowledge of him! Will we put ourselves in position to receive wisdom and revelation from the Holy Spirit, and allow the Holy Spirit to take it from our head to revelation in our heart?

In Ephesians 1:19-23, Paul talks about the power of God. He says he wants us to know “His incomparably great power for us who believe” [emphasis added]. The word in Greek that we translate “incomparably” great, literally means to “go beyond” our greatest conception. Your greatest conception of what God’s power is—God’s power goes beyond it! Mark Batterson says, “It is impossible to overestimate God!” I love that. His power is infinite! It is resurrection power! It is the same power that raised Jesus from the dead, defeating sin, death and hell. Christianity is a religion of power—ultimate power! Jesus sits in the seat of ultimate power! At the Father’s right hand in the heavenly realms. He is more powerful than any demonic or evil power, over any human power. He has the ultimate title!

Paul says he wants us to know that this power is available to us, who believe in Jesus. Prayer is how we access this incomparably great power! Oh, that God’s people would know the power that is available to us and access it through prayer to be victorious in our personal lives and fight the enemy in our world.

What would happen if we became a fellowship who lived as Paul prayed for the church in Ephesus, with an understanding of God’s incomparably great power available to us and continually accessed that power through prayer? What could God do at UVA? I can tell you the precursor for every great revival is prayer!

Let me end where I started: I want you to be a person and I want us to be a fellowship with a deep well; people who know how to dig our own well. Will we put ourselves in position for the Holy Spirit to give us wisdom and revelation and get to know God better? Will we access God’s incomparably great power that is available to us through prayer?

Relevant Scriptures

2 Chronicles 7:11-16 Solomon’s dedication of the temple to God

Matt. 6:5-15 “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites...”

Mark 9:14-29 (v.29) He replied, “This kind can come out only by prayer.”

James 5:13-16 Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray...

Ephesians 1:17-23 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ...

Questions for Discussion

What do you think actually happens when we pray? Is it for us, God, or for both?
Do you find yourself focusing more on the inner or outer aspect of prayer? How does thinking through the pinnacle of prayer help you bring balance?
When have you seen answers to prayer in your own life or in the lives of others? What has this done for your faith and your view of God?
What do you want to see God do in his incomparably great power? This could be on many levels: for the world, UVA, Chi Alpha, your family, and for you.
In what ways do you want to grow in being a person of prayer?
How can you dig a deeper well with God this week?

Topical Memory System

it@xaatuva.com (Chi Alpha) — Fri, 10 Aug 2018 18:17:35 GMT

This list of key Scripture to know by heart is a great place to start your Scripture-memorizing journey! Try and memorize two verses per week and share with a friend or accountability partner at the end of each week to test yourself!

Download Topical Memory System

Live the New Life
Christ the Center	2 Corinthians 5:17	Galatians 2:20
Obedience to Christ	Romans 12:1	John 14:21
The Word	2 Timothy 3:16	Joshua 1:8
Prayer	John 15:7	Philippians 4:6-7
Fellowship	Matthew 18:20	Hebrews 10:24-25
Witnessing	Matthew 4:19	Romans 1:16

Proclaim Christ
All Have Sinned	Romans 3:23	Isaiah 53:6
Sin’s Penalty	Romans 6:23	Hebrews 9:27
Christ Paid the Penalty	Romans 5:8	1 Peter 3:16
Salvation is not by Works	Ephesians 2:8-9	Titus 3:5
Must Receive Christ	John 1:12	Revelation 3:20
Assurance of Salvation	1 John 5:13	John 5:24

Rely on God’s Resources
His Spirit	1 Corinthians 3:16	1 Corinthians 2:12
His Strength	Isaiah 41:10	Philippians 4:13
His Faithfulness	Lamentations 3:22-23	Numbers 23:19
His Peace	Isaiah 26:3	1 Peter 5:7
His Provision	Romans 8:32	Philippians 4:19
His Help in Temptation	Hebrews 2:18	Psalm 119:9,11

Be Christ’s Disciple
Put Christ First	Matthew 6:33	Luke 9:23
Separate From the World	1 John 2:15-16	Romans 12:2
Be Steadfast	1 Corinthians 15:58	Hebrews 12:3
Serve Others	Mark 10:45	2 Corinthians 4:5
Give Generously	Proverbs 3:9-10	2 Corinthians 9:6-7
Develop World Vision	Acts 1:8	Matthew 28:19-20

Grow in Christlikeness
Love	John 13:34-35	1 John 3:18
Humility	Philippians 2:3-4	1 Peter 5:5-6
Purity	Ephesians 5:3	1 Peter 2:11
Honesty	Leviticus 19:11	Acts 24:16
Faith	Hebrews 11:6	Romans 4:20-21
Good Works	Galatians 6:9-10	Matthew 5:16

Lordship: Sin

it@xaatuva.com (Chi Alpha) — Fri, 10 Aug 2018 18:14:57 GMT

Download Lordship: Sin

Adopted from Nobody Talks About Sin Anymore by Scot McKnight

How the push to focus on grace has overshadowed the danger of sin

As a biblical studies professor at North Park University in Chicago, I teach a class called “Jesus of Nazareth.” At the end of each class, we recite the Lord’s Prayer together. I do this with my students for two basic reasons: because the Lord’s Prayer sums up the entire teaching ministry of Jesus, and because the word “sin” is found in it.

Though Matthew’s version normally uses the word “transgression” in “forgive us our transgressions,” Luke’s version has the word “sins.” I ask my students to import that word into Matthew’s version because I feel they need to hear the word “sin” over and over.

Two student conversations represent the responses I usually get. One student told me he had almost never heard of sin in any church service. A second student told me she was offended that I would import the word “sin” into the Lord’s Prayer because it was so negative and harmful.

Not only did I urge her to take a good long look at the Lord’s Prayer in Luke 11:1-4, I urged her to reconsider what she was saying. Saying that each of us sins isn’t harmful; it is true—it tells the true story of who we are and what the Gospel is designed to accomplish.

To many, sin has fallen into grace. What does that mean? When we talk about God’s grace, we are assuming the reality of sin—that we are sinners and that God has forgiven us. But in our language today, sin is not only an assumption—it is an accepted assumption. And not only is it an accepted assumption—it also doesn’t seem to matter.

It’s as if we’re saying, “Yes, of course we sin” and then do nothing about it.

Widespread apathy toward sin reveals itself in the lack of interest in holiness. Your grandparents’ generation overdid it—going to movies, dancing and drinking alcohol became the tell-tale signs of unholiness. Damning those who did such things became the legalistic, judgmental context for church life. So your parents’ generation, inspired in part by the ’60s, jaunted its way into the freedom of the Christian life. Which meant, often enough, “I can do whatever I want because of God’s grace.” That generation’s lack of zeal for holiness has produced a trend: acceptance of sin, ignorance of its impact and weakened relationships with God, people and the world.

Many were wounded in their relation to God by the legalism they experienced. It was all about “if you are good, God will be happy.” When they heard the good news of God’s unconditional grace, we were healed in deep ways. Pendulums are designed to swing, and the pendulum swing toward God’s grace and love meant a generation has been nurtured on a message that has embraced a gracious view of God, but has far too often ignored the zealous holiness of that same God’s love. [...]

“God forgives, you know”

One day after I spoke at a church, a college student approached me and began telling me about her roommate, and I’m guessing you know someone like both of these young women. First, she told me her roommate had slept with more than one guy that semester; that her roommate got drunk most Saturday nights; that her roommate was very active in a Bible study; and that she was also in a worship band.

I asked, “Does your roommate consider herself a Christian?” The young woman responded: “Of course she’s a Christian.”

I was perhaps more bothered by that last response than by the actions of the roommate. For this person talking to me, the issue wasn’t Christian-or-not, but why I would even ask such a question. Her final words to me were, “God forgives, you know.” Her tone wasn’t a tone of gratitude for God’s grace but presumption of God’s grace. I was troubled as much by her attitude as I am by what I see as a trend among our culture: Sin is falling into grace and disappearing from our concerns.

There you have it: When we don’t see the gravity of sin, we won’t be reliant upon God for the grace of sanctification and transformation, and holiness won’t be our aim in life. So, let’s look at what sin is, where sin wants to take us and what sin does to us.

Sin is usurping the place of God

Every fall, I teach a course where we read the beginning of Genesis. Those early chapters in Genesis provide a bucket list of distractions, so I do my best to keep the discussions focused on what Genesis 3 is about: sin. Not only does Genesis 3 unmask the sin of the first couple, it unmasks the sin of every human in history.

Before we proceed, though, we need to define sin. For some, sin is defined legally: that is, it is the failure to conform to the will or law of God. For others, it is defined more personally as an act of rebellion not just against the law of God but against God Himself. And then others combine the two and make it cosmic in scope.

Take, for instance, this line about sin from Cornelius Plantinga’s brilliant study, Not the Way It’s Supposed to Be : “Shalom is God’s design for creation and redemption; sin is blamable vandalism of these great realities and therefore an affront to their architect and builder.” I want to extend Plantinga’s words to define sin as the ache and action to be God when we are not God.

Genesis 3 tells the story of two humans, freshly created by an awesome, cosmos- controlling God and then generously plopped gently into paradisal conditions, who are given but one task: to govern the world on God’s behalf. This is why the Bible tells us they are designed in the “image” of God. An “image” represents someone or something, and humans—Adam and Eve—represent God. But governing the cosmos on God’s behalf was—and is—not enough for humanity. Humans ache to rule the cosmos. They want to be God. The ache to be God and acting as if we are God are what sin is all about.

There is a well-known agnostic I’ll call Professor Brown. I know the professor a bit, but a friend of mine knows him very well, and told me Brown’s story one day. While in an evangelical seminary and pastoring in a local church, Brown began to listen to the serpent’s lie about sex, and before long had an affair, divorced his wife, wrote enough to get himself a good faculty position and then became well-known at that school for his mind and for his affairs. My friend told me: “[Professor Brown] knew what God said about fidelity, but he once admitted to me, ‘I chose to do what I wanted instead of what God wanted.’” Sin, at its core, usurps God’s place in this world and puts us there instead.

Sin knows where it is headed

James, brother of Jesus, knew sin from the inside-out and explored how it works. What I like about James is that he knew where sin was going. James 1:13-15 reads: “For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.”

Sin is traced by James, as we see with Adam and Eve, to unchecked desire. The extra glass of wine that breaks down our capacity to sustain our morality or the moment when we say, “It might be wrong at this hour of night to be writing to my old girlfriend on Facebook ... but she’s just a friend,” and then the friend becomes more than a friend, and an emotional memory becomes an emotional affair and more. Sin is like satire: If you feast all the time on the foibles of others, you eventually destroy them and yourself.

That desire knows where it is headed. Read those words from James again. Sin leads to death. Each and every time. World without end. From beginning to end. Sin has one goal, and that goal is death. Death. Physical death. Emotional death. Psychological death. Mental death. Desire death. Spiritual death. Final death. Death after death, and death beyond death. I believe in God’s grace, and God’s grace can reverse the death march of sin. But do you know those who are on that death march? I do.

A friend of mine from high school was admired by each of us as the best Christian in our group—he really was solid. He went off to college, got married, landed a good job ... and then I heard he was divorced, and then I heard he was remarried, and then I heard he was divorced again ... and then I found him one day online and we chatted. He asked me if I knew any women for him to date. He said his life is about having a good time. Throughout our entire conversation, I heard the sad cries of death all over his life. He was not the person I knew in high school.

Sin damages

The story of Adam and Eve blows me away every time. Nothing probes the damages of sin as cleanly and quickly as Genesis 3.

Adam and Eve decided to act on the serpent’s lie and chose to think they could be God (instead of governors), and four things immediately distorted life for them: First, they became shameful of their bodies and who they were (so they covered themselves). Second, they became afraid of God and sought to hide from Him. They were assigned to represent God and now they were AWOL. Third, they turned on each other to blame one another for their choice. Fourth, they were escorted from Eden into a world that would not cooperate with them as Eden had.

Sin damages our self-identity, changes our relations with God from love and trust to fear and mistrust, damages our loving union with one another to become a war of wills against one another, and sin also has cosmic effects—we find the world to be red in tooth and claw. Every sin damages. Not just the big ones.

Time to rethink

The earliest Christians quickly developed a listing of the most damaging sins and they were called the “seven deadly sins.” Though the list varied, and one common list includes anger, greed, sloth, pride, envy, lust and gluttony—but it is the term “deadly” that we need to observe. These sins kill because they begin to destroy us from the inside out. But they are not alone; the deadlies kill only because they do what all sins do. [...]

The Bible tells us not only that God is gracious and loving, but it reveals an unforgettable statement in Leviticus: “Be holy because I am holy.” Let us not forget we are summoned by God to make our pursuit in life a pursuit that is simultaneously after love and after holiness.

Relevant Scriptures

Genesis 4:7 “ ...sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you...

Matthew 18:8-9 “If your hand or your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off...

James 1:13-15 When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me...

Galatians 6:7-8 Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked...

1 Peter 1:14-16 As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires...

Questions for Discussion

How would you define sin? Has this article altered your definition?
Why does no one ever talk about sin anymore?
How have you seen your community treat sin like it’s no big deal?
Why is it important to understand both the height of God’s grace and the depth of our sin?
Is there an area of your life where you are not taking sin seriously right now?

Living for the Glory of God

it@xaatuva.com (Chi Alpha) — Fri, 10 Aug 2018 18:09:02 GMT

“How to Do Good So That God Gets the Glory,” a sermon by John Piper

Download Living for the Glory of God

The Goal of God's Glory

Last Sunday we saw from Isaiah 43:7 that God's great goal in creating and governing the world was to be glorified. That is, he created us for his glory. Not to increase the beauty of his perfections or fill up some emptiness in God, but rather to display his glory in the way we live and to win praise for himself. Isaiah 48:9-11 drove the shaft of God's glory deep into our minds:

“For my own sake I defer my anger, for the sake of my praise I restrain it for you that I may not cut you off. Behold I have refined you, but not like silver; I have tried you in the furnace of affliction. For my own sake, for my own sake I do it, for how should my name be profaned? My glory I will not give to another.”

To maintain the honor of his name and display his glory—these are the driving motives in all that God does in history, in the church, and in individual lives. [...]

How We Bring Glory to Our Heavenly Father

Jesus said in Matthew 5:16, “Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.”

Three observations go a long way to answering our question. First, Jesus clearly commands that the goal of our lives should be to behave so that God gets the glory. Live so that men will see your life and give your Father in heaven glory, not you. So it should be very clear that glorifying God is not merely an act of worship on Sunday. It is a peculiar kind of living.

Second, in order for God to get glory from the way we live, we must be engaged in good deeds. It is not so much by avoiding gross sins that God's people display his glory, but rather in the pursuit of good deeds, acts of generosity, works of kindness, ways of love. Since it is God's goal to be glorified in his people, and since Jesus says this happens when his people do good deeds, we would expect the Bible to tell us that God's goal in redeeming a people is that they might do good deeds. And this is exactly what we find. Paul says in Titus 2:14 that Christ “gave himself for us to redeem us from all iniquity and to purify for himself a people of his own who are zealous for good deeds.” Christ died that we might do good deeds and so bring glory to our Father in heaven.

God created us for his glory, says the prophet. We bring him glory through our good deeds, says the Lord Jesus. So we are not surprised when we hear the apostle say, God created us for good deeds. Ephesians 2:10: “We are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good deeds, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” Created for his glory, and created for good deeds, because it is by our good deeds that God gets glory.

One final observation from Matthew 5. It is possible to be a kind of do-gooder that brings no glory to God. There are philanthropists and benefactors and others who for one reason or another spend time and money to alleviate suffering, but who may not even believe in God let alone do it all for his glory. So when Jesus says, Let your light shine that men may see your good deeds and glorify God, the light must include more than the mere action of the good deed. “You are the light of the world!” (5:14). Not just your bodily motions but your attitude and your motivation also. There is a spirit from which the good deeds must flow if they are to bring God glory and so be pleasing to him. [...]

Serving in the Strength That God Supplies

To answer that question, we turn to 1 Peter 4:10-11. Probably no other New Testament book besides James reflects an acquaintance with the teachings of Jesus as clearly as 1 Peter. In 2:12, Peter gives a loose quotation of Matthew 5:16, “Maintain good conduct among the Gentiles so that in case they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.” But in chapter 4, verses 10 and 11, Peter shows more explicitly what it is about the good deeds of Christians that makes them a means to God's glory. He says:

As each has received a gift, employ it for one another as good stewards of God's varied grace: whoever speaks [let him speak] as one who utters oracles of God; whoever renders service [let him render it] as one who renders it by the strength which God supplies, in order that in everything God might be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Here we have one of the clearest answers in the Bible to the question: How do we serve or do good so that God gets the glory? The answer is, in order for God to get the glory we have to do good as one does it who is depending on God's strength. Not mere good deeds, but good deeds done in a spirit that comes from a joyful dependence on God's help—this is what glorifies God.

Picture two people this afternoon pondering whether to come help clean the church tomorrow night. One is young and healthy and says, “O, I suppose I'll go. Be worth a few brownie points with the leaders. Maybe they'll have some snacks. Besides, I'm pretty good at that sort of thing, maybe I can give the rest a few pointers.” So he comes and he grumbles about the tools, he criticizes the way things are planned, he talks on and on about his abilities and his experience, and in general exudes a spirit of vanity. But he works. He may even get more done than some others. Some employers may want such a man if they judge him solely by his efficiency or productivity. But God looks on the heart and takes the whole man into account. And his assessment is: I have received no glory from this supposedly good deed of service, for it was not done in reliance on my power. There was not about it the spirit of joy and gratitude and humility that comes from being borne along on the wings of mercy.

But there is another person this afternoon who is planning his Monday night. He is older and has been quite ill lately—a good deal of pain and stiffness in the knees. There was a time when he worked hard in the church and loved every minute of it and never made a big to-do about inconvenience or sacrifice. “O,” he thought to himself, “how I would love to help out on Monday night. I could encourage some of the downhearted maybe. Or maybe just keep the coffee poured.” So he prayed. And lo and behold, Monday morning there was no pain and no stiffness. So he came. With bells on. He did what he could with a rag and broom and he did it well. But above all he exuded a joy and a sense of gratitude for life and strength that cheered everyone and pointed them to God. He knew that what strength he had was a precious gift of God, and his whole bearing and demeanor gave God the credit. That's what it means to let your light shine.

Everyone of us owes every ounce of strength we have to God, just as much as that sick man did. We owe every fiber of intelligence to God, and the slightest resolve to do good is a gift from him. Apart from him we are all cripples. And worse than cripples. We would fly into nothingness without his sustenance, and we would degenerate into devils without his grace. If the totality of our dependence on God would hit us full force, O, how differently we would live and do good. We would “serve as one who renders service by the strength which God supplies.” We would not boast in our achievements, nor criticize the speck in our brother's eye, nor grumble about inconveniences, nor be presumptuous in any way, as if even existence itself could be taken for granted! No, a person who truly owns up to the fact that he exists by the word of God, that all his strength and moral resolve is a gift of God, that person will have a spirit of joy and gratitude and lowliness. And in serving this way God gets the glory.

O, how I want to make sure that the image in your mind of how to glorify God is not wrong. For many it's like waking up in the morning, looking up to God and saying, “You are worthy to be glorified today, Lord, and I will do my best.” Then they look over and on their Bible is a big block of lead with shoulder straps. And on the block is inscribed: “The duty to glorify God all day.” They strap it on, muster their strength and resolve, and head off to glorify God.

If that image, or one like it, is the way you feel about glorifying God, please look and see that 1 Peter 4:11 shatters such an image. May I suggest a more biblical image? There is a man, and I know him well (he is the husband of my wife and father to my sons), who wakes up in the morning and looks up into heaven and says, “You are worthy to be glorified today, Lord, but there is in me—that is in my flesh—no good thing. I have no strength, no wisdom, no resolve to do good but what comes undeserved from you, O God. And I love you. It would be to my greatest fulfillment, my highest pleasure, my richest treasure, my popcorn and my chocolate ice cream if at the end of this day I could believe that someone has come to cherish your power and wisdom and love more intensely because of me. God, let it be.”

And then he looks over and on his Bible there is this strange contraption of straps like a harness. And on the back of this harness there is a rope attached that runs up through the roof and into heaven. And he gets up, straps on the harness, gives a little jerk, leans into it, and God supports him all day. On the broad, brown leather strap across the front you can see the lettering: “My harness is easy and my burden is light.”

God gets glory not from our heroic exertion but from our reliance upon his strength— when we serve as one who serves with the strength which God supplies. [...]

Please include the following statement on any distributed copy:

By John Piper. © Desiring God. Website: desiringGod.org

Relevant Scriptures

Psalm 29:1-2 Ascribe to the LORD, you heavenly beings…

Isaiah 42:8 “I am the LORD; that is my name! I will not yield my glory…”

Matthew 5:16 In the same way, let your light shine before others…

1 Corinthians 10:31 So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do...

Questions for Discussion

What does living for the glory of God mean to you specifically? Have you ever heard of that terminology before?
We were created for the glory of God—as Creator, he created us for his glory. We get the chance to live our lives in such a way as to show Him glory. But what sort of things can we do so that God gets the glory?
How has this article changed your idea of how to glorify God?
It’s easy to glorify God when we score a “touchdown,” but how can we glorify God in suffering? Which seems like a stronger testament to faith: glorifying in trials or in joys?
Read 1 Corinthians 10:31
- Have you ever experienced doing something purposefully for the glory of God?
- Does this verse imply more of an attitude, a way of life, or guidelines to stand by?
- What would be the effects of thinking and living this way?
How does living for God’s glory as a Christian put you in a position of humility?

Manuscript Bible Study Method

it@xaatuva.com (Chi Alpha) — Fri, 10 Aug 2018 18:04:40 GMT

If your Bible study times are becoming routine, use the manuscript method to mix things up!

Download Manuscript Bible Study Method

The manuscript method tries to help you look at the text with as little influences from translators or Bible committees. The original manuscript of the Bible was written in Hebrew or Greek, with no paragraphs, chapter or verse references, subtitles, or footnotes. There is nothing wrong with any of these things (in fact, it is quite helpful in every day reading!), but it can be quite refreshing to study the text as an original manuscript. Armed with the following guidelines, you will begin to examine the text like a literary or theological scholar would. The goal is for you to soak and immerse yourself in one book of the Bible - so much so that you can help but know it for life. May the words of the BIble seep into your mind and heart.

First, type out the entire book.

No punctuation (except periods), paragraphs, headings, or divisions.
Double-space it, with generous 1-inch margins. Page numbers are nice for reference.
Print it, staple it.
All of this may take several sittings.
You must be asking “Can I just go online and print out the whole book?” While this is easier and will save you a LOT of time, there is value in spending the time to type it out. By typing it out, you are exposing yourself to the book and beginning to process it as an original document.

Second, read through the book in entirety in one to three sittings.

Repeat this, so you’ve read it two or three times through.

Third, go through the book by chunks with lots of colored pens/pencils/highlighters before moving on to the next chunk.

I typically go through one-half to one page at a time.

Make note of the use of pronouns. distinguish 1st, 2nd, and 3rd person usages (ex: highlight “I/me/we/us” in blue; “you” in pink; and “her, he, them, it” in yellow)
- Draw arrows to who/what the pronouns refer to, or write over top.
- FYI: sections and/or subsections typically use the same pronouns. When you sense a shift in pronoun usage (e.g. you notice that many “you’s” change to 3rd person), that may be a indicator of a section break.
Highlight, underline, or circle all the verbs and commands.
Make note of any important conjunctions (therefore, because, so that), contrasts and comparisons, and condition statements (if...then, when...).
Make note of repeated words/phrases.
- FYI: this may indicate themes of the book.
Pencil in the margins the themes of the book, the tone of the writer, the purpose of the book, and short summaries of sections.
Make a list of words that are unfamiliar to you. Look them up in a dictionary or Bible Dictionary. Write out definitions.
Underline important verses of book. These may be summary statements of the book.
Observe the logical flow of the book.
Observe connections between sentences, between paragraphs, and between larger sections.

Pencil in section and sub-section divisions within the text with slash marks (//).

Don’t be tempted to look at the subsections in your Bible. Look within the book for your
clues to these divisions. Remember, you’re a textual scholar!
Look at any patterns you found: pronoun usage, themes, repeated words/phrases in a section.
It’s okay if you’re “wrong,” or disagree with others!

Make a title for each section/sub-section, using words or phrases from the section when possible.

You may already notice that your own Bible does the same when it entitles a section or chapter.
Again, don’t be tempted to look at your own Bible for their titles!

Throughout the Process:

Remember the PROAPT method for each section (preview, pray, read, observe, apply, pray, tell)
Ask yourself these questions:
- How did the author see this situation that would make him think, feel or write this way? - What is the situation of the recipients of this letter? Who are they?
- What course of action is the writer encouraging?
- What Biblical truth is being taught?
Applying it to your own life:
- What idea is being taught about God? About man?
- How will this knowledge make a difference in my living?
- How will this affect my attitude and relationship with God? With other people?
- When will I put this into practice? How?
- Who will I share all this with? Who will keep me accountable?

Scripture Meditation

it@xaatuva.com (Chi Alpha) — Fri, 10 Aug 2018 18:01:26 GMT

This resource is designed to give you a framework for meditating on Scripture.

Download Scripture Meditation

Using the acrostic AEIOU, it leads you through ways to have the truths found in a passage of Scripture come alive in new ways.

Remember: Christian meditation is about filling your mind with truths about God. It is not like Eastern meditation, which focuses on emptying your mind. Use this resource on your own, in pairs, or in a group Bible study.

Example passage: Psalm 100

Your Paraphrase (rewrite this passage in your own words)

Ask Questions (to get into the heart of what the text is saying)

Emphasize Words (repeat a phrase or verse, putting the emphasis on different words)

Illustrate (draw a picture of what the verse means to you)

Other Scriptures (what else does the Bible say about this?)

Use (how can I apply this verse to my life?)

Remembrance

it@xaatuva.com (Chi Alpha) — Fri, 10 Aug 2018 17:58:01 GMT

Richard Sproul demonstrates the power of knowing Scripture, illustrating how our feelings cannot dictate the way we walk with Jesus and we must look to God's Word.

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Throughout the Old Testament we see God remind Israel of the spiritual discipline of remembrance. The Israelites celebrated many festivals as acts of remembrance, Passover being the most important. Before Israel entered the Promised Land, Moses reminded the people to never forget what God had done:

When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the Lord your God for the good land he has given you. Be careful that you do not forget the Lord your God, failing to observe his commands, his laws and his decrees that I am giving you this day. Otherwise, when you eat and are satisfied, when you build fine houses and settle down, and when your herds and flocks grow large and your silver and gold increase and all you have is multiplied, then your heart will become proud and you will forget the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. He led you through the vast and dreadful wilderness, that thirsty and waterless land, with its venomous snakes and scorpions. He brought you water out of hard rock. He gave you manna to eat in the wilderness, something your ancestors had never known, to humble and test you so that in the end it might go well with you. (Deuteronomy 8:10–16)

As you move into a new season of life, it is important to remember what God has done for you in the past season. The act of remembrance helps us cultivate a humble and thankful heart, as well as help us look to the future with renewed perspective.

Set aside two hours for the following two exercises. First, look backward and remember how God has helped you become more anchored in the past season of life. Second, anticipate what will be required to stay anchored in the next season in life. Ask the questions that are provided, as well as any others that come to mind. Journal your reflections so you can look back on them later.

Remember—Looking Backward

Real Devotional Life:

What have you learned about being dependent on God?

What has He taught you about His character?

Real Community:

What have you learned about what it takes to be in real community?

What have the people you’ve done real community with meant to you?

Real Responsibility:

How have you seen God use you?

What lives have you seen changed because of how God’s used you?

What have you learned about the mission that God’s calling you to take part in?

Don’t Forget—Looking Forward

What would your life look like without a real devotional life, real community, real responsibility?

Real Devotional Life:

How do you want your relationship with God to deepen in the next season of life?

What commitments do you want to make to stay anchored in real devotional life?

Real Community:

What commitments do you want to make to live out real community in the next season of life?

Real Responsibility:

What commitments do you want to make to live out real responsibility in the next season of life?

Who Am I?

it@xaatuva.com (Chi Alpha) — Fri, 10 Aug 2018 17:52:21 GMT

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Sometimes, it can be hard to remember who we are in Christ. We all go through trials and tough times, and in those moments, we need to be reminded of the simple truths that the Bible provides. We hope these Scriptural reminders help you to walk faithfully with Jesus through any trial in life!

Exodus

I am not the great “I am” (3:14; John 8:24,28,58), but by the grace of God, I am what I am (1 Corinthians 15:10).

Matthew

I am the salt of the earth (5:13).

I am the light of the world (5:14).

John

I am a child of God (1:12).

I am part of the true vine, a channel of Christ’s life (15:1,5).

I am Christ’s friend (15:15).

I am chosen and appointed by Christ to bear His fruit (15:16).

Romans

I am a slave of righteousness (6:18).

I am enslaved to God (6:22).

I am a son of God; God is spiritually my Father (8:14,15; Galatians 3:26; 4:6).

I am a joint heir with Christ, sharing His inheritance with Him (8:17).

1 Corinthians

I am a temple - a dwelling place - of God. His Spirit and His life dwell in me (3:16; 6:19).

I am united to the Lord and am one spirit with Him (6:17).

I am a member of Christ’s body (12:27; Ephesians 5:30).

2 Corinthians

I am a new creation (5:17).

I am reconciled to God and am a minister of reconciliation (5:18,19).

Galatians

I am a son of God and one in Christ (3:26,28).

I am an heir of God since I am a son of God (4:6,7).

Ephesians

I am a saint (1:1, 1 Corinthians 1:2; Philippians 1:1; Colossians 1:2).

I am God’s workmanship - His handiwork - born anew in Christ to do His work (2:10).

I am a fellow citizen with the rest of God’s family (2:19).

I am a prisoner of Christ (3:1; 4:1).

I am righteous and holy (4:24).

Philippians

I am a citizen of heaven, seated in heaven right now (3:20; Ephesians 2:6).

Colossians

I am hidden with Christ in God (3:3).

I am an expression of the life of Christ because He is my life (3:4).

I am chosen of God, holy and dearly loved (3:12; 1 Thessalonians 1:4).

1 Thessalonians

I am a son of light and not of darkness (5:5).

Hebrews

I am a holy partaker of a heavenly calling (3:1).

I am a partaker of Christ; I share in His life (3:14).

1 Peter

I am one of God’s living stones, being built up in Christ as a spiritual house (2:5).

I am a member of a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession (2:9,10).

I am an alien and stranger to this world in which I temporarily live (2:11).

I am an enemy of the devil (5:8).

1 John

I am a child of God and I will resemble Christ when He returns (3:1,2).

I am born of God, and the evil one - the devil - cannot touch me (5:18).

Since I am in Christ, by the Grace of God...

Romans

I have been justified - completely forgiven and made righteous (5:1).

I died with Christ and died to the power of sin’s rule over my life (6:1-6).

I am free forever from condemnation (8:1).

1 Corinthians

I have been placed into Christ by God’s doing (1:30).

I have received the Spirit of God into my life that I might know the things freely given to me by God (2:12).

I have been given the mind of Christ (2:16).

I have been bought with a price; I am not my own; I belong to God (6:19,20).

2 Corinthians

I have been established, anointed, and sealed by God in Christ, and I have been given the Holy Spirit as a pledge guaranteeing my inheritance to come (1:21; Ephesians 1:13,14).

Since I have died, I no longer live for myself, but for Christ (5:14,15).

I have been made righteousness (5:21).

Galatians

I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. The life I am now living is Christ’s life (2:20).

Ephesians

I have been blessed with every spiritual blessing (1:3).

I was chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world to be holy, and I am without blame before Him (1:4).

I have been redeemed and forgiven, and I am a recipient of His lavish grace (1:6-8).

I have been made alive together with Christ (2:5).

I have been raised up and seated with Christ in heaven (2:6).

I have direct access to God through the Spirit (2:18).

I have been rescued from the domain of Satan’s rule and transferred to the kingdom of Christ (1:13).

Colossians

I have been rescued from the domain of Satan’s rule and transferred to the kingdom of Christ (1:13).

I have been redeemed and forgiven of all my sins. The debt against me has been canceled (1:14).

Christ Himself is in me (1:27).

I am firmly rooted in Christ and am now being built up in Him (2:7).

I have been made complete in Christ (2:10).

I have been buried, raised, and made alive with Christ (2:12,13).

I died with Christ and I have been raised up with Christ. My life is now hidden with Christ in God. Christ is now my life (3:1-4).

2 Timothy

I have been given a Spirit of power, love, and self-discipline (1:7).

I have been saved and set apart according to God’s doing (1:9; Titus 3:5).

Hebrews

Because I am sanctified and am one with the Sanctifier, He is not ashamed to call me His brother (2:11).

I have the right to come boldly before the throne of God to receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need (4:16).

2 Peter

I have been given precious and magnificent promises by God, by which I am a partaker of God’s divine nature (1:4).

The Power of Memorizing Scripture

it@xaatuva.com (Chi Alpha) — Fri, 10 Aug 2018 17:39:41 GMT

A sermon by John Piper on the value of abiding through scripture memorization.

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Jesus’ Testimony

Jesus says, “If you abide in me, and my words abide in you , ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.” Let’s simply linger for a few minutes over the words “If . . . my words abide in you .” What does this mean, and why do the words of Jesus have the effect they do, and what does this have to do with memorizing Scripture?

More Than Memorizing

First of all, having the words of Jesus abide in you is more than memorizing them. We know this for several reasons. First, we know it because the devil can memorize Scripture. He quoted it to Jesus in the wilderness to tempt him (Matthew 4:1–10). Second, we know it because of what Jesus says in John 5:38. He said to the Jews who were questioning him, “You do not have [God’s] word abiding in you, for you do not believe the one whom he has sent.” But these people knew much of God’s word from memory. Jewish people who are serious about their faith have always memorized Scripture. But Jesus says that God’s word is not abiding in them. So clearly when the word of God is abiding in us, it is more than mere memorizing.

Bearing the Fruit of Faith and Holiness

What then does it mean?

It means that the words of Jesus take root and bear the fruit of faith and holiness. John 5:38 connects the word and faith: “You do not have his word abiding in you, for you do not believe the one whom he has sent.” If the word abides in you, you will believe in the word and the one who spoke it.

His Words Finding a Home in Us

The abiding of Jesus’ word in us means that his words find a home in us. They fit. They belong. In John 8:37, Jesus says, “I know that you are offspring of Abraham; yet you seek to kill me because my word finds no place in you.” That’s the opposite of the word “abiding” in us. When the word abides in us, it finds a place, a home. It’s not foreign. It belongs. You move other things around and even get rid of some things so that the word has room and “feels at home.”

The words of Jesus don’t “abide” without effect. When they take root, they produce faith and holiness. “Sanctify them in the truth,” Jesus says; “your word is truth” (John 17:17). So when his words abide in us, sanctification happens. We are transformed. Holiness, Christlikeness, happens.

So, in sum, the abiding of Jesus’ words in us means that the words of Jesus take root and bear the fruit of faith and holiness.

Why This Effect?

Why do the words of Jesus have this effect? There are at least three reasons we can see in the Gospel of John.

1. Jesus’ Words Are God’s Words

One is that Jesus’ words are the words of God. John 3:34: “He whom God has sent utters the words of God.” So when Jesus is speaking, God is speaking. No man ever spoke the words of God more perfectly or consistently than Jesus. When the apostles taught in their office as apostles, they spoke with the truth and the authority of God. But every time Jesus opened his mouth, we are hearing the word of God. And the word of God is powerful. That’s the first reason why the abiding of Jesus’ words in us has the effects it does.

2. Jesus’ Words Are Life-Giving

Second, the words of Jesus are life-giving. Jesus said in John 6:63, “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.” The Spirit of God gives life through the word of God. And Jesus’ words are those words. So his words are “spirit and life.” They quicken the spirit and impart eternal life. That’s why Peter says five verses later, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life” (John 6:68).

3. Jesus’ Words Conquer the Devil

So the words of Jesus are the words of God, and they impart eternal life. And third they produce faith and holiness because they conquer the devil. We have a supernatural adversary, the devil. He hates us. He hates our marriages. He hates our children. He hates our church. And he hates God. In ourselves, we are not as strong as he is. That is why John says that “the whole world lies in the power of the evil one” (1 John 5:19). The world has no defense against the devil. None.

But listen to what John says of the young Christians in 1 John: “I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you , and you have overcome the evil one” (1 John 2:14). Do you see the connection? “The word of God abides in you, and you have overcome [conquered!] the evil one.” The devil cannot stand against the indwelling word of God.

Awhile back, someone asked me if I thought a Christian or a Christian family could be cursed. My answer is this. If the word of God abides in you, you overcome the evil one. No demonic curse can stand against the gracious, liberating, transforming, devil-defeating word of God when it is abiding in our hearts.

What About Scripture Memory?

So we ask finally, what does all this have to do with memorizing Scripture? I will come at this with a broad biblical answer (...)

First, the broad biblical answer. The Holy Spirit awakens life and faith and personal transformation (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, and more, Galatians 5:22). God the Holy Spirit does that. But he does it through the word of God (1 Peter 1:23; John 17:17). How? If you carry your Bible around all day and never read it, will the Holy Spirit make the nearness of the word of God in your purse or pocket effective in changing your life?

No. He won’t. Why? Because “faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ” (Romans 10:17). God gave us conscious minds. He gave us volition and emotion. The Holy Spirit makes the words of Jesus effective when they attach with understanding to our minds and then to our wills and emotions. Christ is glorified when his word is heard and understood and affirmed and enjoyed. So that is how God has ordained for change to happen.

Therefore, anything that brings the word of God into connection with our minds will work to strengthen faith and promote understanding and bring about the fruit of the Spirit and the transformation of our lives—and not just our own, but the lives of others also. Memorizing Scripture makes this kind of connection between God’s word and our minds more constant, more deep, and more transforming. Realistically, nothing else can take its place. (...)

Permissions: You are permitted and encouraged to reproduce and distribute this material in any format provided that you do not alter the wording in any way and do not charge a fee beyond the cost of reproduction. For web posting, a link to this document on our website is preferred. Any exceptions to the above must be approved by Desiring God.

By John Piper. © Desiring God. Website: desiringGod.org

Telling Your Story

it@xaatuva.com (Chi Alpha) — Fri, 10 Aug 2018 17:19:44 GMT

How to develop your own personal testimony in order to prepare to share your faith with others.

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“For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline. So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord...” 2 Timothy 1:7-8a.

The Importance of Testimony

The most powerful tool we Christians have is our story, or testimony. People always want to be able to answer the tough apologetic questions, like “How can a good and loving God allow suffering?” And yes, there is an appropriate response to these questions. But the most important thing is for each of us to be able to share our own story of how the gospel has impacted our life. That is the one thing with which no one can argue. This tool helps you develop and tell your story, so you’ll be prepared beforehand.

How to Prepare

To start, focus on a specific time when you experienced God and were changed because of it. For many people, this may be your “conversion” story (or when you first came into relationship with God). For others, perhaps a better story is when God revealed himself in the midst of a tragedy, an addiction, or a major decision. For many students, they experienced God in college when their faith became their very own.

It may prove helpful to prepare several stories so that you’ll have the ability to share the right story with the right person. The Holy Spirit knows how you can best connect with someone, and what they need to hear at that moment.

When going through this worksheet, try to be as specific and concrete as possible, and use as little “religious” or “spiritual” language as you can. You may want to practice sharing your story with a few trusted friends, eventually not needing any notes.

Shoot for 2 minutes, because even a stranger can listen for 2 minutes without feeling bored or offended. When you’re sharing, it is much easier to expand it in the moment and make it 5 or even 10 minutes, rather than try to shorten it.

My Story about: _______________________________________________

Before: What was your life like before an encounter with Jesus?
The Journey: What were the specific events that led you to encounter Jesus?
The Decision: How did you respond to this encounter with Jesus?
After: What has been the positive change in your life since that decision?

Community

it@xaatuva.com (Chi Alpha) — Fri, 10 Aug 2018 00:00:00 GMT

What does it mean to live as brothers and sisters in Christ?

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The concept of Biblical community can at times be a tough one for us to grasp in our day and age. In Western culture, we embrace what social scientists have come to call radical individualism. The default mode of our culture is that our own dreams, goals, and personal fulfillment take precedence over any connection with a group or the good of the group.

The Mediterranean world in Jesus’ day and, for that matter, most societies throughout history have been much different. Rather than being radical individualists, they were collectivists in their view of the world. This meant that individuals would put their own good as secondary to the good of the group they belonged to, whether that group is a family, a village, or a religious community. The well-being of the group received first priority.

Next, it is important to know that in the New Testament world, a person’s most important group was his blood family. In the family, the deepest bond and loyalty was between siblings. It would be a treacherous act of human disloyalty to betray one’s brother.

Thus when we read in Scripture about Jesus and Paul using familial language, specifically sibling language, to speak of how followers of Jesus are to relate and live with each other, we can start to understand just how deep Christian brotherhood and sisterhood is supposed to go in Christian community. If you follow Jesus, you are now a part of God’s family (Eph 2:19), and brothers and sisters with other people who follow Jesus. Just as we are justified with respect to God the Father upon salvation, so also we are “familified” with respect to our brothers and sisters in Christ.

Paul wrote that, upon our conversion, we are united into this family by the bond of the Holy Spirit (Eph 4:3). So while we may come to Christ individually, we are to follow Him corporately as a family. The idea that one could acquire a “personal relationship with God” and yet ignore the family of faith is totally foreign to Scripture and ignores what our Lord taught about how we are to live and love as brothers and sisters. Needless to say, the sibling language of brotherhood and sisterhood used by Jesus and Paul is not just good “Christianese,” but is descriptive of how we are to live in community with each other.

Here are three major ways that real brotherhood and sisterhood play out in daily life. We will call them Care, Share, and Bear.

Care

As mentioned earlier concerning ancient Mediterranean society, blood siblings shared a deep emotional bond and loyalty to each other. This means Jesus’ use of sibling language is calling us to deeply care for and love our brothers and sisters in Christ. There should be an intimacy in our relationships that is found in families. Intimacy is built from sharing our hearts with each other. We need to open our hearts to each other as brothers and sisters so we can truly care for each other. This means that we will need to drop the facade, open our hearts, and be authentic to each other. We are called to confess our sins to one another, rejoice with those who rejoice, and mourn with those who mourn. Jesus tells us that we are to care for each other by washing each other’s feet. We are to take a posture of humility with each other, honor each other, and serve each other in whatever way possible.

Often overlooked, but extremely important, is the fact that we need to care enough for each other to confront each other when we see a brother or sister in need of correction. As it says in Proverbs 27:6, “Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses.” To truly care for someone, we must seek the divine good in their life, which means at times that we need to care enough for them to confront them and see our brother or sister restored. This also means we need to give brothers and sisters permission to “wound” us out of a heart of love and care.

Share

The first thing we see after the day of Pentecost in the book of Acts is a description of what this “family,” defined by the work of the Spirit, looks like in action. One detail that cannot be overlooked is how they were generous to each other. Acts 2:44-45 speaks of how “All believers were together and shared everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods they gave to anyone as he had need.” In Acts 4, we get a very similar picture of God’s family of the Spirit taking care of each other.

In chapter 10 of the Gospel of Mark, we see that Peter talks about all of the sacrifices he made to follow Jesus. Jesus’ response is an interesting one. He says, “You will not fail to receive a hundred times as much in return—homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and fields.” To what could Jesus be referring? The terms houses and fields imply that those who become part of Jesus’ community will have access to the material goods of the family—just like siblings in an ancient Mediterranean family. True community is to be generous with each other.

Bear

Finally, we see that to truly be family is to bear with one another. One thing that is certain in any relationship is that at some point, there will be conflict. But one characteristic about healthy families is that when conflict happens, there is really only one option—to come back into family unity as fast as possible. This means that as brothers and sisters, we need to be quick to ask for and extend forgiveness as needed. In Matthew 10, Peter came to Jesus and asked, “How many times shall I forgive my brother when He sins against me?” (emphasis added). Jesus tells him not seven times but seventy-seven times, and then launches into a powerful story about the importance of offering forgiveness.

In his book, Life Together, Dietrich Bonhoeffer writes about the subtle temptation but severe dangers of expecting perfect community. I have ended the article with his wise words of caution and exhortation to thankfulness for the community we currently experience.

“Every human dream that is injected into the Christian community is a hindrance to genuine community and must be banished if genuine community is to survive. He who loves his dream of a community more than the Christian community itself becomes a destroyer of the latter, even though his personal intentions may be ever so honest and earnest and sacrificial.

God hates visionary dreaming; it makes the dreamer proud and pretentious. The man who fashions a visionary ideal of community demands that it be realized by God, by others, and by himself. He enters the community of Christians with his demands, sets up his own law, and judges brethren and God Himself accordingly. He stands adamant, a living reproach to all others in the circle of brethren. He acts as if he is the creator of the Christian community, as if his dream binds men together. When things do not go his way, he calls the effort a failure. When his ideal picture is destroyed, he sees the community going to smash. So he becomes, first an accuser of his brethren, then an accuser of God, and finally the despairing accuser of himself.

Because God has already laid the only foundation of our fellowship, because God has bound us together in one body with other Christians in Jesus Christ, long before we entered into common life with them, we enter into that common life not as demanders but as thankful recipients. We thank God for what he has done for us. We thank God for giving us brethren who live by His call, by his forgiveness, and His promise. We do not complain of what God does not give us; we rather thank God for what He does give us daily.

And is not what has been given us enough: brothers, who will go on living with us through sin and need under the blessing of His grace? Is the divine gift of Christian fellowship anything less than this, any day, even the most difficult and distressing day? Even when sin and misunderstanding burden the communal life, is not the sinning brother still a brother, with whom I, too, stand under the Word of Christ? Will not his sin be a constant occasion for me to give thanks that both of us may live in the forgiving love of God in Jesus Christ? Thus the very hour of disillusionment with my brother becomes incomparably salutary, because it so thoroughly teaches me that neither of us can ever live by our own words and deeds, but only by the one Word and Deed, which really binds us together—the forgiveness of sins in Jesus Christ. When the morning mists of dreams vanish, then dawns the bright day of Christian fellowship.”

Relevant Scriptures

Mark 3:33-35

Mark 10:28-30

John 13

Acts 4:32-35

Questions for Discussion

What would the implications be for us if we really viewed our Christian community in the same way we viewed our family?
What are the implications of our salvation being both justified before God and “familified” with his family?

Care

The article says that “we will need to drop the facade, open our hearts, and be authentic to each other.” Do you feel that you are able to currently do those things?
Who in your life can “wound you” and you receive it?
What brotherhood or sisterhood relationships are you currently building that you hope will last beyond graduation into every season of your life? What can you do to make it happen?

Share

How does the picture of the early church inspire you?
What are some ways that you could start to live this out?

Bear

Are you a person who forgives quickly?
Is there someone you need to be reconciled with in your life? If so, how can you seek it?
Give your thoughts on the Bonhoeffer quote at the end of the article. Which way do you tend to go the quickest—towards criticism of where the community falls short, or towards thankfulness for the community you do have? How could you foster a thankful heart?

Recommended Reading

Life Together by Dietrich Bonhoeffer

When the Church Was a Family by Joseph Hellerman

Expulsive Power of a New Affection

it@xaatuva.com (Chi Alpha) — Thu, 09 Aug 2018 00:00:00 GMT

The best way to defeat our sin is not strength of will - it is to replace our desire for lesser things with a greater desire for Jesus.

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These are excerpts from a sermon by Thomas Chalmers, a Scottish pastor in the early 19th century. Chalmers encourages the reader to let go of the things of the world. He argues that it is harder to stop sinning by mere self-denial than it is to stop sinning by replacing that affection with a greater affection — the love of Jesus. If we love Jesus more, the things of the world will slowly pass away.

Expulsive Power of a New Affection

There are two ways in which a practical moralist may attempt to displace from the human heart its love of the world—either by a demonstration of the world's vanity, so as that the heart shall be prevailed upon simply to withdraw its regards from an object that is not worthy of it; or, by setting forth another object, even God, as more worthy of its attachment, so as that the heart shall be prevailed upon not to resign an old affection, which shall have nothing to succeed it, but to exchange an old affection for a new one. My purpose is to show, that from the constitution of our nature, the former method is altogether incompetent and ineffectual and that the latter method will alone suffice for the rescue and recovery of the heart from the wrong affection that domineers over it.

A Second Affection is More Powerful

The ascendant power of a second affection will do, what no exposition however forcible, of the folly and worthlessness of the first, ever could effectuate. And it is the same in the great world. We shall never be able to arrest any of its leading pursuits, by a naked demonstration of their vanity. It is quite in vain to think of stopping one of these pursuits in any way else, but by stimulating to another. In attempting to bring a worldly man intent and busied with the prosecution of his objects to a dead stand, we have not merely to encounter the charm which he annexes to these objects - but we have to encounter the pleasure which he feels in the very prosecution of them. It is not enough, then, that we dissipate the charm, by a moral, and eloquent, and affecting exposure of its elusiveness. We must address to the eye of his mind another object, with a charm powerful enough to dispossess the first of its influences, and to engage him in some other prosecution as full of interest, and hope, and congenial activity, as the former. It is this which stamps an impotency on all moral and pathetic declamation about the insignificance of the world.

A man will no more consent to the misery of being without an object, because that object is a trifle, or of being without a pursuit, because that pursuit terminates in some frivolous or fugitive acquirement, than he will voluntarily submit himself to the torture, because that torture is to be of short duration. If to be without desire and without exertion altogether, is a state of violence and discomfort, then the present desire, with its correspondent train of exertion, is not to be got rid of simply by destroying it. It must be by substituting another desire, and another line or habit of exertion in its place—and the most effectual way of withdrawing the mind from one object, is not by turning it away upon desolate and unpeopled vacancy—but by presenting to its regards another object still more alluring.

These remarks apply not merely to love considered in its state of desire for an object not yet obtained. They apply also to love considered in its state of indulgence, or placid gratification, with an object already in possession. It is seldom that any of our tastes are made to disappear by a mere process of natural extinction. At least, it is very seldom, that this is done through the instrumentality of reasoning. It may be done by excessive pampering - but it is almost never done by the mere force of mental determination. But what cannot be destroyed may be dispossessed and one taste may be made to give way to another, and to lose its, power entirely as the reigning affection of the mind.

It is thus, that the boy ceases, at length, to be the slave of his appetite, but it is because a manlier taste has now brought it into subordination—and that the youth ceases to idolize pleasure, but it is because the idol of wealth has become the stronger and gotten the ascendancy and that even the love of money ceases to have the mastery over the heart of many a thriving citizen, but it is because drawn into, the whirl of city polities, another affection has been wrought into his moral system, and he is now lorded over by the love of power. There is not one of these transformations in which the heart is left without an object. Its desire for one particular object may be conquered; but as to its desire for having some one object or other, this is unconquerable. Its adhesion to that on which it has fastened the preference of its regards, cannot willingly be overcome by the rending away of a simple separation. It can be done only by the application of something else, to which it may feel the adhesion of a still stronger and more powerful preference. Such is the grasping tendency of the human heart, that it must have a something to lay hold of—and which, if wrested away without the substitution of another something in its place, would leave a void and a vacancy as painful to the mind, as hunger is to the natural system. It may be dispossessed of one object, or of any, but it cannot be desolated of all.

Let there be a breathing and a sensitive heart, but without a liking and without affinity to any of the things that are around it; and, in a state of cheerless abandonment, it would be alive to nothing but the burden of its own consciousness, and feel it to be intolerable. It would make no difference to its owner, whether he dwelt in the midst of a gay and goodly world; or, placed afar beyond the outskirts of creation, he dwelt a solitary unit in dark and unpeopled nothingness. The heart must have something to cling to—and never, by its own voluntary consent, will it so denude itself of its attachments, that there shall not be one remaining object that can draw or solicit it.

Resolve Is Not Enough

It will now be seen, perhaps, why it is that the heart keeps by its present affections with so much tenacity - when the attempt is, to do them away by a mere process of extirpation. It will not consent to be so desolated. The strong man, whose dwelling-place is there, may be compelled to give way to another occupier—but unless another stronger than he, has power to dispossess and to succeed him, he will keep his present lodgment inviolable. The heart would revolt against its own emptiness. It could not bear to be so left in a state of waste and cheerless insipidity.

The moralist who tries such a process of dispossession as this upon the heart, is thwarted at every step by the recoil of its own mechanism. You have all heard that Nature abhors a vacuum. Such at least is the nature of the heart, that though the room which is in it may change one inmate for another, it cannot be left void without the pain of most intolerable suffering. It is not enough then to argue the folly of an existing affection. It is not enough, in the terms of a forcible or an affecting demonstration, to make good the evanescence of its object. It may not even be enough to associate the threats and the terrors of some coming vengeance, with the indulgence of it. The heart may still resist the every application, by obedience to which, it would finally be conducted to a state so much at war with all its appetites as that of downright inanition.

So to tear away an affection from the heart, as to leave it bare of all its regards and of all its preferences, were a hard and hopeless undertaking—and it would appear, as if the alone powerful engine of dispossession were to bring the mastery of another affection to bear upon it.

One Must Value God Over the World

The love of the world cannot be expunged by a mere demonstration of the world's worthlessness. But may it not be supplanted by the love of that which is more worthy than itself? The heart cannot be prevailed upon to part with the world, by a simple act of resignation. But may not the heart be prevailed upon to admit into its preference another, who shall subordinate the world, and bring it down from its wonted ascendancy? If the throne which is placed there must have an occupier, and the tyrant that now reigns has occupied it wrongfully, he may not leave a bosom which would rather detain him than be left in desolation. But may he not give way to the lawful sovereign, appearing with every charm that can secure His willing admittance, and taking unto himself His great power to subdue the moral nature of man, and to reign over it?

In a word, if the way to disengage the heart from the positive love of one great and ascendant object, is to fasten it in positive love to another, then it is not by exposing the worthlessness of the former, but by addressing to the mental eye the worth and excellence of the latter, that all old things are to be done away and all things are to become new. To obliterate all our present affections by simply expunging them, and so as to leave the seat of them unoccupied, would be to destroy the old character, and to substitute no new character in its place. But when they take their departure upon the ingress of other visitors; when they resign their sway to the power and the predominance of new affections; when, abandoning the heart to solitude, they merely give place to a successor who turns it into as busy a residence of desire and interest and expectation as before - there is nothing in all this to thwart or to overbear any of the laws of our sentient nature - and we see how, in fullest accordance with the mechanism of the heart, a great moral revolution may be made to take place upon it.

Relevant Scriptures

1 John 2:15

John 3:30

Questions for Discussion

Do you agree that the human heart is always trying to find something to fill its void?

How do you see this play out in our world today?

What are some “things of the world” that you have held onto in your heart?

What are some ways in which you can increase your love of Jesus to displace these things?

Friendship Evangelism

it@xaatuva.com (Chi Alpha) — Wed, 08 Aug 2018 00:00:00 GMT

This article contains 4 reasons to participate in friendship evangelism, encouragements, and 3 areas to consider when evaluating our evangelistic potency.

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"Everyone knows the Bible is filled with contradictions,” I asserted, smugly assuming that I had scored a point in the debate my friend and I were having. The conversation had begun innocently enough. He and I were members of a high school debate team, and we were at a tournament miles from our hometown. The debates were finished, and we were just killing time, waiting for the results to be announced.

At first our conversation was casual, but it became more intense when one of his off- hand remarks made me realize for the first time that he was a Christian. I had always assumed Christians were ignorant and uneducated. Until now. This friend was not ignorant. On the contrary, he was extremely intelligent. I was intrigued by the idea that he had firm religious convictions.

And so I began to ask him questions. At first my questions were based on a desire to trip him up. But gradually, as my friend provided answers that made sense, my questions came out of a hunger I had never acknowledged. The real turning point in our debate was my assertion that the Bible contradicts itself. His answer stunned me. “Where?” he asked.

That one word hit me with the force of a freight train. He had not argued with me. He simply asked a question I could not answer because I had not read the Bible for myself. I felt ignorant and exposed. For someone who had always looked at Christians as ignorant, I was forced to see that I was the one who was ignorant of what the Bible really contained. I knew that even non-believers admit that the Bible has been a vital force shaping Western civilization. I had to accept the fact that I had never examined this cornerstone of our culture.

More than two years passed before my friend ever knew the effect that conversation had on me. At the time, he thought I simply walked away from what I had heard. He did not know our discussion was never far from my thoughts until I finally acted on what I knew.

“Do I Have To?”

Often the fruits of such experiences are not immediately evident. For that reason, many Christians see evangelism as a burdensome and rarely successful chore—something to be avoided. But what responsibility to share their faith, if any, do Christians have?

Evangelism is the duty of all Christians. The Great Commission at the end of Matthew’s Gospel is a commission for all who follow Jesus Christ: “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19).

In the video Go For It!, a primer on evangelism, British evangelist Ian Knox lists four reasons for us as Christians to share our faith. The first three relate to our duty: Christ commands us to, the world urgently needs the gospel, and the fields are already “ripe for harvest” (John 4:35).

The fourth reason relates to our own spiritual health. We share our faith because we cannot contain ourselves. This was true of the early church. When the religious authorities ordered the disciples to stop preaching the gospel, Peter’s answer described their burning desire: “For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard” (Acts 4:20).

Evangelism is not a matter of knowing all the answers, nor does it require that we have a sophisticated theological argument. Instead, it is a natural outgrowth of a deep faith that drives Christians to share their faith. It is something good that we want others to enjoy.

The flip side of this fourth reason is that sharing our faith cultivates a still deeper faith in us. In their book, Becoming a Contagious Christian, Bill Hybels and Mark Mittelberg touch on this idea. An enthusiastic faith is a contagious faith, and new believers are often the most zealous. When mature Christians see the enthusiasm of a new believer, they cannot help but examine their own relationship with God. And mature Christians who share their faith will find themselves in this situation repeatedly. “So what started as dutifully helping someone else,” Hybels and Mittelberg demonstrate, “changes into a personal desire for intimacy with God.”

Is Anyone Really Interested?

One of the greatest obstacles to Christians sharing their faith is the mistaken idea that no one is really interested, Hybels and Mittelberg note. “Most of us routinely make the mistake of assuming people aren’t really that interested in spiritual truth. But many people today are getting tired of living without ultimate purpose.... In fact, many of them are actively searching for answers.” [...]

Most of us are still uneasy and perhaps even afraid of sharing our faith. A cartoon captured this sentiment. A dispassionate pastor rhetorically asks his congregation: “The question is, How do we win the world to Christ ... with a minimum of fuss and bother?” Sharing one’s faith should not be burdensome—either to the Christian or to the unbeliever.

Relational Evangelism

Perhaps the biggest factor in our fear of evangelism is the idea that sharing our faith means standing on street corners flagging down unsuspecting sinners. This approach is usually ineffective.

The people who need the good news we bring live in a cynical time, an age without trust, even in little things. We all know, as they say, that there’s no free lunch, so we’re always suspecting a gimmick. How, then, could anyone expect to be effective offering something so intensely personal as the gospel of Jesus Christ to strangers?

Our society needs a different approach—an approach based on trust. That is how the concept of “relational evangelism” was born. “It’s the people we do know,” say Hybels and Mittelberg, “who have already developed a measure of trust in us and our motives, and are therefore most in range of influence.” When we concentrate on sharing our faith with people who trust us, our words and actions are far more natural. No longer are we faced with the need to manufacture some artificial system or argument.

“Far too many Christians,” assert Hybels and Mittelberg, “have been anesthetized into thinking that if they simply live out their faith in an open and consistent fashion, the people around them will see it, want it, and somehow figure out how to get it for themselves.” The realization that sharing one’s faith is much more effective when a Christian has developed close friendships with non-Christians is the premise of relational, or friendship, evangelism.

Most of us have grown accustomed to our own private worlds, comfort zones where everyone we are close to is a Christian. A few Christians even believe it is wrong to befriend unbelievers. Spending time with unbelievers may be denounced as friendship with the world. Yet, without the willingness to penetrate the world of unbelievers, we’ll never have the opportunity to share our faith with them.

Jesus did not restrict his love to those who sought him. He actively pursued sinners, spending so much time with them that he was judged a sinner himself by the Pharisees. His response put the matter in perspective: “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick” (Matthew 9:12).

The apostle Paul may well be the premier Biblical example of a Christian eager to share his faith. To do so, he actively befriended those in the world. “I have become all things to all men,” he wrote, “so that by all possible means I might save some” (1 Corinthians 9:22).

The key to success in relational evangelism is not how well a Christian can argue, or how much he or she knows. The key is listening—really listening. One of the most important elements that leads to effective relational evangelism is the relationship between a Christian and Christ. We cannot expect success if we offer an answer to unbelievers that we have not accepted for ourselves. But when our words about Jesus Christ are based on lives that include him, others will be far more receptive to the gospel.

Starting an Epidemic

Hybels and Mittelberg, in Becoming a Contagious Christian, present the following formula for sharing one’s faith: HP + CP + CC = MI.

HP stands for high potency, which refers to the kind of moral character that makes others take notice. It is a reflection of “Christ’s influence in our lives” that makes “His power and presence ... undeniable to others.”

The second component, CP, is close proximity, which means that Christians cannot spend all their time with other Christians only. We must mix with unbelievers as well.

CC, the third component, is clear communication, which requires the Christian to have a strong grasp on the essentials of the gospel. We do not need sophisticated theological language, but we must have a firm grasp of the essentials.

When believers have all three of these components in their lives, the inevitable result, according to Hybels and Mittelberg, is MI, or maximum impact.

Sharing our faith as Christians boils down to caring enough about unbelievers to lay down our lives in friendship, and, when the time is right, boldly discussing the good news of salvation through Christ. As Christians, we cannot succeed in sharing the gospel until we’re willing to sacrifice. And that means learning to care for, to love, unbelievers as God does.

And, once we share our faith with others, it’s important that we not abandon them. Like tiny babies, who are dependent on their parents for everything, newborn Christians need the support and help of mature Christian friends. That will mean helping them begin lives of Bible study and prayer. And it will mean sharing the joy of Christian fellowship.

A Measure of Success

Two and a half years had passed since my former debate teammate and I had discussed Christianity. Both of us had completed our first year in college. For him, our conversation was a distant memory. But to me, it had been a turning point, a catalyst that initiated explosive changes in my life. That’s why I had to tell him what had happened since that moment.

I rang his doorbell in anticipation. When he came to the door, I wasted no time telling him of my faith in Christ. I’ll never forget how surprised he was. All he remembered was my hostile reaction to his words. Until I met him at his door, he did not know the effect he’d had on my life.

We cannot always see how God is working in our own lives, much less the lives of others. That’s why we must be careful not to dismiss our conversations with unbelievers as ineffective. For most of those to whom we reach out, we’ll only be one stop on their road to conversion.

Our measure of success cannot be quantitative—how many people come to Christ through us. Instead, we must measure our success in qualitative terms—how much we reflect the love of Christ and how willingly we share his gospel.

Relevant Scriptures

Matthew 28:19-20

Luke 19:10

Romans 10:13-15

Questions for Discussion

Read Matthew 9:37-38. What does it mean for God to be the Lord of the harvest? How has God demonstrated this in your life and in the Scriptures?
- Does this offer any comfort when you think of evangelism?
- When you look across Grounds, do you see a plentiful harvest? Think about specific names that come to mind. Say a prayer for each!
- What activities and initiatives can you incorporate into your weekly schedule to increase the time you spend with non-believers?
When it comes to sharing the Gospel, your story is a powerful tool. What are some of the highlights in your “transformation story” of how the Gospel has changed your life?
High Potency + Close Proximity + Clear Communication = Maximum Impact
- Which part of the equation is your greatest strength? Greatest weakness?

Recommended Reading

Reimagining Evangelism by Rick Richardson

Generosity

it@xaatuva.com (Chi Alpha) — Tue, 07 Aug 2018 00:00:00 GMT

Jesus wants us to know that greed is ultimately foolishness. We are challenged to value less our "standard of living" and more our "standard of giving."

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Let me tell you a story. There was a guy who started a business in his mid-twenties, and he thought it had potential to make a good living—and for the first few years it did. He made a good living, he was able to buy a nice house, save for his kid’s college, save enough for retirement someday, and they were content. At least he thought.

Then one day, he got a huge break. One day, on the phone was the leading retail distributor for his line of business, and they wanted to sign a huge contract that would make this man a multi-millionaire many times over, in a matter of months. He goes home and tells his wife. They are so excited! Within a week they call their realtor and buy a huge lot in the nicest subdivision in town, so they can build a house that will be 3.5 times the size of their current house. Not only that, they look at their new income and they start to strategize that, if after they buy their new house and their new cars, boat, and vacation property, if they save the rest, they could actually retire by the age of 40.

So that is what they did. They started to save, save, save, and by the age of 40, he sold his business. Now they winter at the Cayman Islands, where he plays golf 4 or 5 days a week and takes out his yacht on the other days. During the summer, they come back to the states and live in luxury, play golf, go to New York to see the Broadway shows, and catch a few Yankee games. Then they go to Europe for about a month, where they visit their favorite places. Does that sound nice or what? In today’s passage, Jesus looks at a guy who did something like this and says, “You fool!” I didn’t call him a fool, but Jesus did.

If you were to eavesdrop on one of Jesus’ sermons, what topic (beyond relationship) do you think you would have the greatest chance of hearing Him speak on? Money. As you watch the ministry of Jesus, you see Him talk about money again and again. This is because there is a fundamental link between our walks with God and how we think about and handle money.

The Respectable Sin

Luke 12 is one of the most countercultural texts in the whole Bible. It flies in the face of our cultural goals, and what our culture esteems. This passage deals with one of the most respected sins in our society. Not only is it respectable, it is one that at some point or another we all struggle with.

Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” Jesus replied, “Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?” Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.” (Luke 12:13-15)

Instead of granting his request, Jesus gets out His scalpel and cuts right to the heart. Jesus sensed the danger of greed in the situation. Jesus tells them, and in doing so He tells us, to be very careful, to be very aggressive against greed in our lives, especially in the culture we live in. He doesn’t take it casually at all, but tells this man to live his life in a way that guards his heart against greed!

Greed says that your life consists of the abundance of your possessions. If you believe the lie of greed, you will define success by how many possessions you have. If you believe the lie of greed, you will make decisions based on what will give you the most money, not on what would be best for your walk with God; you will be willing to risk relationships for money—like what is happening in this passage. If you believe the lie of greed, you will think that a new house, car, electronic device will make you happy and satisfy you. If you believe the lie of greed, you will not be able to celebrate someone else’s blessing, but only lament that it is not yours. Jesus says the basis of greed is a lie. To illustrate the lie of greed, Jesus shares a story.

And he told them this parable: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest. He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’” (Luke 12:16-17)

The Rich Man’s ground produced a crop—a bumper crop! He was blessed. Now he has to figure out what he is going to do with it. Isn’t it true that the more you have, the more you have to worry about? Let me remind you of some physics: the greater the mass, the greater the force the object exerts. What often happens to people is they become more enslaved to money because they are worried about losing it and their identity gets tied up in it—money starts to define them.

My, My, My … No Stewardship

“Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain. And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.”’ (18-19)

He gets an idea to build bigger barns. It is interesting how telling this man’s words are. He says “my” and “I” 8 times in two little verses. He is totally absorbed with himself. As Christians, we recognize God as the center, and that life is not about “my” kingdom, but about His kingdom. We are not owners, we are stewards! We are entrusted with what we have and we are accountable to the Owner concerning what we do with it. We are His, which means our money is His also. With the Rich Man, we see no sign of stewardship and no sign of responsibility to anyone but himself.

“But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’ (20)

Psalm 14:1 says, “The fool says in his heart, ‘There is no God.’” A fool lives their life and uses their money as if there is no God ... they orient their lives around themselves, and not around God and His desires! I don’t know if he was an atheist, but the person in this parable lived as a practical atheist.

“This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.” (21)

The man in this parable died a poor, rich man. The money he left was fool’s gold! Jesus says all of this to illustrate the folly of thinking that your life consists of your possessions. Jesus says, “No, if you want to see what life really consists of, look at the end of life and work backwards.” This man bought into the lie of greed and just kept building bigger barns instead of being generous and being rich toward God. God called this type of person a fool because of his fundamental misunderstanding of reality, his lack of wisdom—not understanding the big picture, which has God at the center of it.

This passage isn’t against having a savings account or investments, but it is against hoarding. This passage is about how one views their own life, and what it looks life to live a life with God in the center of it. God is generous, and if we are going to be transformed into the image of Jesus, we are going to be generous people. If you want to know God’s will for your life, I can tell you. He wants you to be generous.

Living Generously

For thousands of years, as people have become followers of God, they have become generous people. We see that before the Law was ever given, when Abraham had an encounter with God, he responded by giving to God 10% of all he had (Genesis 14). We see in the New Testament that when the Holy Spirit was poured out on the church, they started to share their possessions with anyone who had need ... to the point where it was said there were “no needy among them” (Acts 4:34). Generosity is what life with God looks like.

Let me tell you about a couple that we have had in our small group. The wife was finishing her residency, getting ready to take her first position as a full physician, and they were excited! The reason for their excitement was not because the paycheck would increase their standard of living, but because it would increase their standard of giving. They told me, “When we were in undergrad, we determined how much money was enough for us and we committed that any amount of money that we made over that amount we were going to give.” They knew you may make a living by what you get, but that you make a life by what you give. How beautiful!

So how do we aggressively structure our lives toward generosity and against greed? One of the major ways we do it is through tithing. Tithing trains our hearts to be generous. It reminds us that God is our source and we are just a stewards, and it reminds us that our lives doesn’t consist in the abundance of our possessions. I believe that tithing is one of the most important spiritual disciplines we can participate in. It is the training wheels of a generous life. It is just the beginning—a floor, if you will, not a ceiling.

Among those who claim to be “born-again Christians”, only 9% tithe. Among those who say they are “Christian”, only 5% tithe. The highest percentage of tithers is among evangelicals, of whom 24% tithe. We are in the richest country in the world, and the best percentage we can muster in any Christian demographic is 1 out of 4. That is tragic.

Let me tell you something that I have noticed. Those who were generous in college have been generous after graduation. Generosity isn’t a circumstantial thing as much as it is a heart thing. Don’t think you will suddenly be able to be generous when you graduate, but begin to allow the Holy Spirit to transform that area of your life now!

What could the church do if we went from at 24% efficiency to 80% efficiency? Look at all the amazing things the church does around the world, from evangelization to caring for orphans—off of 24% efficiency! What could the church do on 80%? How many missionaries could the church send? How many poor could the church feed? How could God be glorified in the world? If you have never tithed, I want to encourage you to start tithing. If you work, tithe off your salary. If you don’t work, tithe off what your parents give you. Though you may not have a large income stream now, tithe as an act of obedience to God and as a discipline to train your heart toward generosity.

Concerning “new birth,” Martin Luther once said that “there are three conversions necessary: the conversion of the heart, mind, and the purse”! May our purse (or wallet) be converted. May we not be fools! May we truly believe that we make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give, and may we truly believe that our life does not consist of the abundance of our possessions. May we be rich ... towards God!

Relevant Scriptures

Genesis 14:18-20

Psalm 24:1

Matthew 6:19-24

2 Corinthians 8-9

Questions for Discussion

What is the difference between being an owner and a steward? Which does your lifestyle reflect?
Theologian Leonard Sweet once said, “Every advertisement you see has two messages. One is, ‘Buy our product!’ The other message is, ‘The gospel is wrong! The world revolves around you!’” What external forces have recently been encouraging you to live a “me-centered” life?
What are ways you can aggressively structure your life toward generosity and against greed?

Recommended Reading

The Treasure Principle by Randy Alcorn

Global Missions: Part 1

it@xaatuva.com (Chi Alpha) — Mon, 06 Aug 2018 00:00:00 GMT

From Genesis to Revelation, God is calling his people to join Him in His redemptive work in every people group.

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What verses come to mind when you think of the word, “MISSIONS”? [...] The Bible has a lot to say on this subject, and it is important to understand the Biblical basis for missions. Maybe you’re saying, “The Biblical basis, is there one?” YES! And not only that, but missions permeates every book of the Bible. It is in fact the theme of the Bible. If you don’t believe that all 66 books can be reduced to one theme, keep reading. You will see that missions is not your pastor’s idea, or your campus minister’s idea, or even your idea ... it is God’s. Since creation, God has been interested in redeeming all peoples to Himself. As Christians, it is vital that we see the world as He sees it.

Let’s look at the Bible in light of God’s heart for the world, and we will see that from Genesis to Revelation He is beckoning you and me and all of His people to join Him in bringing every people group to His throne.

The Bible is not a collection of separate books with no common theme or story. It is one book with an Introduction: Genesis 1-11, a Plot: Genesis 12-Jude, and a Conclusion: Revelation.

Let us begin where God begins, in Genesis.

“God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth...”

Genesis 1:28.

This is an interesting command. Be fruitful and multiply. Now why wouldn’t God just want the Garden of Eden populated? Why the whole earth? Because God wanted the whole world filled with His image bearers reflecting His glory! However, we know that by Genesis 3, sin had crept in, and by chapter 8, the world was not looking good. So as God floods the earth and starts over, listen to the command He gives Noah, just after he steps off the ark.

"Then God blessed Noah and his sons saying to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth.’”

Genesis 9:1.

“Hey Noah, don’t just populate a city, fill the earth.” There it is again, the command to multiply. So as we come to [the next chapter] there should be one simple question on all of our minds: Does God get the earth filled?

“The Lord had said to Abram, ‘Leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you...I will bless you...and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”

Genesis 12:1-3.

“Hey Abram, leave. Leave your country, your people, your family, your life, your dreams, your ambitions, your future as well as all that you know and are familiar with and go to the land I will show you.” Now if you keep reading, something really weird happens...

“So Abram left, as the Lord had told him.”

Genesis 12:4.

He leaves. Man obeys God. This is a pretty weird concept especially in today’s world. So Abram is off to establish a nation that will bless all peoples. Interestingly, this command was not for Abram alone. Watch God continue to call succeeding generations to reach all nations. Next in line is Abraham’s son, Isaac.

“I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and will give them all these lands, and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed.”

Genesis 26:4.

And to Isaac’s son, Jacob:

“Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and to the east, to the north and to the south. All peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring.”

Genesis 28:14.

The rest of the Old Testament is filled with God using Israel to make His name great among the nations. Here are just a few examples: the 10 Commandments…

“Observe them carefully, for this will show your wisdom and understanding to the nations, who will hear about all these decrees and say, ‘Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.’”

Deuteronomy 4:5-6.

His reputation spread after parting the Red Sea.

“I [Rahab] know that the LORD has given this land to you and that a great fear of you has fallen on us ... we have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt...” Joshua 2:9-10.

A light for the Gentiles.

“He [the LORD] says: ‘It is too small a thing for you to be my servant to restore the tribes of Jacob and bring back those of Israel I have kept. I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring my salvation to the ends of the earth.’”

Isaiah 49:6

This is just a sampling of how missions is a thread throughout the Old Testament. As we transition to the New Testament, the plot only thickens. Now Christ, God in flesh, enters the scene and what do we see in the pattern of His life and ministry? Nothing different. Whether it is taking a longer route to reach a Samaritan woman (John 4:1-42) or healing various Gentiles to teach His followers (Mark 5:1-20, 7:24-30). Christ in the New Testament maintained the pattern established in the Old Testament. Here are a few more examples.

Clearing the temple:

“On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple area designated for the Gentiles to worship and he found people buying and selling there. As He drove them out saying “Is it not written; ‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations’?”

Mark 11:15-17.

The sign of His return:

“And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come. [...]”

Matthew 24:14.

The mandate to His followers:

“Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation.”

Mark 16:15.

The book of Acts is a testimony of the account of the gospel spreading to the ends of the earth. It begins with Jesus echoing what He had taught the disciples for the past 3 years.

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Acts 1:8.

As the persecution begins, so does the scattering (Acts 8:1), and the Lord adds great numbers to their missionary force.

“...Go! This man [Paul] is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles...”

Acts 9:15.

The rest of the book of Acts and Epistles give a detailed description of Paul and the rest of the missionary band struggling to raise up churches all over the world.

The introduction: Genesis 1-11, the plot: Genesis 12-Jude, so what is the conclusion?

“After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people, and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb...”

Revelation 7:9.

It is important to connect what is happening in Revelation with what God started in Genesis 12 in the life of Abraham. God will do it. There will be a representative from every nation, tribe, people, and language bowing and worshipping at His feet. Heaven is multicultural. God is a missionary God, and from cover to cover He is showing us His mission. Will you join Him in bringing a representative from every people group to His throne? It will happen, the only question is will you be a part?

For more, read Global Missions: Part 2.

Questions for Discussion

How has this article broadened your understanding of God’s heart for the world?
What scripture verse was most interesting or meaningful to you? Why?
How does understanding God’s concern for the world impact you today?

Humility

it@xaatuva.com (Chi Alpha) — Sun, 05 Aug 2018 00:00:00 GMT

What is humility, and how can we build humility in our daily lives?

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What is Humility?

Humility is not a thing we bring to God. It is also not a thing God gives to us. It is simply the realization of what nothings we really are, when we truly see how God is Everything, and when we clear out room in our hearts so that He can be everything for us. We have to understand that this realization is the only noble thing we can ever really think or do. We must make a choice, with our wills, minds, and emotions, to become empty vessels that God can fill with His life and glory. Then we will see that humility is simply acknowledging the truth about who we are and yielding to God His rightful place.

Most Christians are probably just like me. We knew the Lord a long time without realizing that meekness and lowliness of heart should be the distinguishing feature of the disciple, as they were of the Master. Humility doesn’t just happen. We have to want it. It requires faith, prayer, and practice.

Humility in the Life of Jesus

Jesus became nothing, so that the Father could be everything. He submitted His strength and will completely so that the Father could work in Him. What did Jesus have to say about His own power, His own will, and His own glory, about His whole mission with all His works and teaching? “It is not I; I am nothing; I have given Myself to the Father to work. I am nothing. The Father is everything.”

In this view it is of inconceivable importance that we should have right thoughts of what Christ is--of what really constitutes Him the Christ--and specially of what may be counted His chief characteristic, the root and essence of all His character as our Redeemer. There can be but one answer: it is His humility. What is the incarnation but His heavenly humility, His emptying Himself and becoming man? What is His life on earth but humility, His taking the form of a servant? And what is His atonement but humility? “He humbled Himself and became obedient unto death.” And what is His ascension and His glory but humility exalted to the throne and crowned with glory? Christ is the humility of God embodied in human nature: the Eternal Love humbling itself, clothing itself in the garb of meekness and gentleness, to win and serve and save us.

In Jesus we discover what humility means. It is because we don’t understand or seek after it that our own humility is so shallow and feeble. We need to learn from Jesus how He is so meek and humble in heart. He teaches us where true humility finds its strength--in the knowledge that only God is good, and that our place is to yield to Him in perfect submission and dependence. We must agree to be and do nothing of ourselves. This life is what Jesus came to show us and give us--a life in God that comes from death to sin and self.

Building Humility

It is only by the indwelling of Christ in His humility that we can become humble. We didn’t create pride. We can’t create humility, either. Pride belongs to us, and we belong to it, because it is who we are—our very nature. Humility must be ours in the same way. It must be our very self, our very nature. The promise is, “as people sinned more and more, God’s wonderful kindness became more abundant” (Romans 5:20). All Jesus’ teaching of the twelve, and all their effort, were the necessary preparation for His entering into them with power. He had taught them to desire something. Now He had to give it to them and be it for them.

Humility in Our Daily Life

It is easy to think we humble ourselves before God. But humility before people is the only real proof that our humility before God is more than just a figment of our imagination. It is the only true evidence that humility has made a home in our hearts and become our nature. How can we know that we, like Christ, have made ourselves of no reputation? By the reality check of daily life. When in God’s presence humility has become more than just a feeling we have when we think about Him or pray, but instead the very Spirit of our lives, it will show itself in the way we treat our brothers and sisters.

This lesson is crucial. The only humility that really belongs to us is not what we try to show before God in prayer, but what we carry with us and live out when we get up off our knees. The insignificance of daily life is the test of eternity. It proves what Spirit really possesses us. It is in our unguarded moments when we show who we really are. To know the humble man, you have to follow him around and watch his daily life.

Why do people who joyfully commit themselves to the cause of Christ find it so hard to commit themselves to their brothers and sisters? Isn’t it because we have so little taught that the humility of Christ is the most important virtue and highest goal we can aim for by God’s Spirit? But let’s not be discouraged. Let the discovery that we lack humility motivate us to expect more from God than we’ve experienced. Let us look at every difficult, testing situation as an opportunity to grow. Let us look at difficult people as God’s instrument for our purification. The life of Jesus is breathing inside our hearts! And let’s truly believe that God is everything and we are nothing, so that we may - by God’s power - seek only to serve one another in love.

This ends the selections from Andrew Murray’s Humility.

Another thing that should be discussed when the issue of humility is raised is the difference between having a critical mind and a critical spirit. I hope that when my children encounter a new idea they will have a critical mind. They will discern the new idea for what it is and desire to encounter truth. They will foster a relationship of trust with their authorities and not assume that they, in their few years of life, have discovered the exact “way to do things.” I hope they will not have a critical spirit where every time they walk into a worship service, or have a conversation, they assume the worst. They think the worst. They think they have the answers and can’t believe people would be so unintelligent as to believe otherwise. This type of pride is one of the worst types.

A critical spirit is born out of having thoughts only about self, and one’s own self righteousness. While a critical mind can be a value for a discerning believer, a critical spirit is incompatible with the the spirit of humility in the life of the believer.

Relevant Scriptures

Philippians 2:3-7 Do nothing out of....

James 4:10 Humble yourselves...

1 Peter 5:5 God opposes the proud...

Questions for Discussion

How would you define humility?
Do you consider yourself to have a critical mind or a critical spirit? How do you process things when you walk into a worship service or have a conversation about spiritual things?
What strikes you about Jesus’ humility and how is that relatable to you?
What is the true test of humility?
How can you show true humility this week?
How can you be humble in your accomplishments?

Jesus Plus Nothing

it@xaatuva.com (Chi Alpha) — Sat, 04 Aug 2018 00:00:00 GMT

A reminder that it is only by grace that we are saved -- we can never earn it. Where are you trying to earn your standing before God?

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For centuries, God has used Paul’s letter to the Galatians to set people free and change their lives. How is it that this short letter catalyzes such powerful life-transformation? Paul wrote Galatians in response to the teachings of a group of people that came from a strict Jewish background called the Judaizers. They claimed to be Christians and infiltrated the ranks of Gentile believers with incorrect doctrines regarding grace and salvation. In this context, the letter works like a jackhammer to relentlessly chip away all those doctrines that would distort or dilute the Gospel.

The Judaizers came with a seductive message: in order to truly please God, Gentile believers needed to conform to Jewish patterns of living. These included the observance of Kosher dietary laws, circumcision, and the Jewish religious calendar. Paul wrote clearly and pointedly to combat this false message.

Salvation is by Grace Alone

The letter to the Galatians has one simple message: Salvation is by grace alone. The minute you revise the Gospel and try to add a “plus factor,” you reverse the Gospel. When you add a plus factor, you nullify the grace of God and the outcome of faith becomes contingent not on grace, but on that plus factor. Paul’s tone throughout the book is one of concern, dismay, and even anger at the dangerous message of un-grace that threatened the Galatian church. He knew that the centrality and sufficiency of Christ in the Gospel was at stake, and thus the entire approach to Christian life. He had good reason to be upset and concerned! He goes so far as to pronounce a curse on anyone that would add to the Gospel message of salvation by grace alone.

As Paul unpacks his message in Galatians, a couple of themes emerge around the topic of salvation by grace alone. Paul answers the questions “How do we enter the Kingdom of Heaven?” and “How do we maintain our status and live a life in the Kingdom?” He frames the answers to these questions through two opposing perspectives: Law versus Grace.

Law and Grace

Imagine two tents built across from one another in a campsite. On one tent a sign reads in bold, capital letters: “YOU’RE ALMOST THERE.” The other wears a sign that says simply, “It is finished.” As Christians, we will inevitably “camp out” in one tent or the other. There is no middle ground. Many of us will experience a shift from one tent to the other at various points in our life, because the “YOU’RE ALMOST THERE” tent attracts our bent human nature like a powerful electromagnet. But the hope of Galatians and the Gospel message is that believers would all live their lives in that other tent, “It is finished.”

In the grace tent, “It is finished,” your entire hope and trust is in the work of Christ on your behalf. You could never add to that work or improve upon it. Nothing is lacking. You know that you are fully accepted in Christ, and there is nothing you can or need to do to get God to love you more. The Gospel tent creates people who are humble and thankful. They know that their acceptance in the Kingdom is based solely on what Christ has done. There is great joy in knowing that they are free from the need to earn God’s approval, because they are accepted in Christ. Christians who live in this tent have a heart posture of resting in God’s grace; they can breathe deeply, celebrate life, rest, and even play.

Not so in the Law tent. This tent is full of people who are trying to make themselves good enough for God to really like them. They hope to raise their spiritual GPA high enough to earn a spot on God’s Dean’s list so they will finally be accepted and loved. They fear that they will probably bring their report card home with a C+ or B- and be rejected by their Heavenly Father. There is no rest or freedom. They are slaves to the rules and can never celebrate because they always worry about what they’re missing in order to please God. There is a sense of striving to reach that elusive standard of perfection that seems barely out of reach: “YOU’RE ALMOST THERE.”

In the Gospel tent, the tent of grace, salvation is by grace alone. This fact holds radical implications for every aspect of our lives. It impacts our relationships and causes us to be gracious, forgiving, and humble, because we know that we have received so much grace ourselves. In the context of Galatians, the poisonous message of the Judaizers caused those Christians who came from a Jewish background to separate themselves from those of a Gentile background. They refused to eat with them during church gatherings and possessed an attitude of superiority. Paul aggressively rebukes this behavior. As Christians, we all operate on a level playing field that is defined by the grace of God. No one is better or worse than anyone else. It doesn’t matter who has a longer devotional time or who eats pork and who doesn’t, or who listens to Led Zeppelin and who doesn’t. All are saved by grace and live by grace alone. You will never outgrow grace or move beyond it in your relationship with God.

As Christians, we all have to fight against our magnetic but deadly attraction to the tent of Law. Why is this? Our fallen nature is full of pride. We like to think that we can earn things. We like to get a little credit. We want to prove ourselves to God. We want to be able to say, “Yeah, God saved me by grace, but now look: I’ve done some good things!” Many of us also have a fundamental assumption that God is against us. We imagine that maybe He begrudgingly tolerates us, but seriously doubt that He likes us. We have a hard time believing that God loves us, accepts us, and forgives us just as we are.

Inner Transformation

How do we keep ourselves from sneaking over to the “YOU’RE ALMOST THERE” tent? Galatians 2:20 reads: “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” The defining reality of the Christian life is that Christ lives in you. Christ dwells in you by the Holy Spirit, which results in fellowship with God as the Spirit transforms you from the inside out to look more like Jesus. The life of Christ is doing a work in you from the inside out. The focus of your life is no longer the Law, but Christ. You abandon your Law-based checklist and cling to Christ in total dependence on Him. The love of God is the source of all your strength and hope—God who loved YOU and gave Himself for YOU.

Your confidence must only be in one place—in the person of Jesus Christ. You will never outgrow grace! You can never add to what you have in Him! You can breathe deeply because Jesus is sufficient!

Questions for Discussion

Which tent do you find yourself living in right now? What are signs you might be drifting towards or are already living in the tent of Law?
Describe life in the tent “It is finished” in your own words. How does grace paint a portrait of hope for your life?
What are items on your “checklist” that you keep in the Law tent? How does grace demolish that checklist?
How does life in the tent of grace affect the way you interact with others?

Salvation: Children of God

it@xaatuva.com (Chi Alpha) — Fri, 03 Aug 2018 00:00:00 GMT

Salvation involves more than justification -- it also marks our adoption into the family of God. The benefits of this status are hope, intimacy with God, and a reborn identity. Taken from J.I. Packer.

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What is a Christian? The question can be answered in many ways, but the richest answer I know is that a Christian is one who has God as Father.

A Christian is one who has been justified by Christ dying on the cross for their sin. Justification—by which we mean God’s forgiveness of our sinful past together with His acceptance for the future—is the primary and fundamental blessing of salvation because it meets our primary spiritual need. We all stand by nature under God’s judgment; so we need the forgiveness of our sins and assurance of a restored relationship with God more than we need anything else in the world; and this the gospel offers us before it offers us anything else.

As wonderful as justification is, God doesn’t stop there, but he adopts us as his children! Sonship to God, or in other words adoption, is not a universal status into which everyone enters by natural birth, but a supernatural gift which one receives through receiving Jesus. “No one comes to the Father”—is acknowledged by God as a child— “except through me” (John 14:6). Sonship to God, then, is a gift of grace. It is not a natural but an adoptive sonship. Salvation is not just one transaction, but a life lived with God.

The Father’s Love

Take a moment to imagine God the Father thinking about you. What do you assume God feels when you come to His mind?

Many assume God feels disappointment or frustration, while others assume nothing specific at all. Regardless of what you might think, the reality is that when God thinks of you, a smile comes to His face, love swells in His heart as He takes great delight in you! (Zeph 3:17) Our Father God longs for you. God knows you are a sinner, but He sees you through the eyes of love and your sins do not reduce His love for you. What a difference it makes when you realize that God delights in you!

A great illustration of this love of God is floating in water. The key to floating is not skill, but laying back and letting go of our instinct to thrash about. It is only when we let go and put our full weight on the water that we discover that we are supported. We are surrounded by the river of our Father’s love, and we float without having to do anything because we are supported and carried by His love!

The roots and foundations of our Christian lives are in this love of God (Eph 3:17). The fact that you are deeply and extravagantly loved by the Father is the core of your identity and the foundation of Christian spirituality.

The Benefits of Being a Child of God

To those who are Christ’s, the holy God is a loving Father: they belong to his family and may approach Him without fear and always be sure of His fatherly concern and care. This is the heart of the New Testament message. There are endless blessings we receive as the children of God, but here are just a few:

1. Intimacy

The heart of the New Testament, adoption, is a family idea conceived in terms of love and with God as Father. In adoption, God takes us into His family and fellowship--He establishes us as his children and heirs. Closeness, affection and generosity are at the heart of this relationship. To be right with God the Judge is a great thing, but to be loved and cared for by the Father is greater.

There is a great difference between a servant and a friend, and also between that of a servant and a son. Jesus says that a closer and dearer intimacy than that of a master and servant exists between Him and his people: “Henceforth I call you not servants: for the servant knows not what his Lord does: but I have called you friends” (John 15:15). Then, still an even closer and dearer relation exists due to adoption; for “you are no more a servant, but a son, and an heir of God through Christ” (Gal 4:7).

Think about the way you know a close friend. You would probably agree that there is a huge difference between knowing things about this person and knowing him or her. A relationship involves more than knowledge; it involves the heart. As a child of God, we not only know about God, but we can know Him and directly experience Him. We were not brought into existence simply for service, but for an intimate relationship with our Father. Despite our sinful rebellion, we are able to experience this intimacy once more with our Father each and every day. There is no doubt that our families of origin impact how we relate to God as Father, but God graciously works to restore and grow our intimacy with Him for as long as we live. This intimacy is at the core of our deepest human fulfillment.

2. Hope

The doctrine of adoption teaches us to think of our hope not as possibility or as a likelihood, but as a guaranteed certainty, because it is a promised inheritance. The reason for adopting in the first-century world was specifically to have an heir to whom one could bequeath one’s goods. So, too, God’s adoption of us makes us His heirs, and so guarantees to us, as our right (we might say), the inheritance that he has in store for us.

Have you ever pondered your inheritance as a child of God? God is one of glorious riches and abundant blessings, and Scripture tells us that we are co-heirs with Christ, which means that we must have something unfathomably incredible in store for us! We have “an inheritance that can never perish, soil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you” (1 Peter 1:4), which guarantees us of a future filled with joy, restoration, and love, where there will be no more death or darkness. Therefore, no matter what we face in our life on earth, we can look forward to our inheritance in heaven with hope and thus know that we are safe.

3. Reborn Identity

The message of adoption is this: Do I, as a Christian, understand myself? Do I know my own real identity? My own real destiny? I am a child of God. Though we were once dead in our sin, being a child of God is a right we get in Christ (John 1:12) and we are given a reborn identity as children of God! You are no longer defined by your own success, accomplishments, relationships, or appearances, no longer identified by the brokenness or sin in your life, and no longer viewed by our Father as anything but His beloved. Nothing that has happened or will happen to you can ever add to, take away from, or change this reality.

With our reborn identity, we now share in what is Christ’s. And what may that be? At Jesus’ baptism, God the Father pronounces over Him, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased” (Matt 3:17). Father God declares His relationship with Jesus, affirms his commitment to Jesus, and speaks His approval over Jesus, all before Jesus performed a single miracle or saved one soul. As we are in Christ, this is the blessing that is now proclaimed over us and is now our identity! We inherit this affirmation of God’s Fatherhood, love, and acceptance from above — before we are recognized, before we make the grade, or before we even get out of bed. As His child, this is what God proclaims over you today!

So What is Salvation to Us?

We are justified through Jesus Christ. We enter into an intimate relationship with the living God, are assured an inheritance greater than anything we could imagine, and receive a new and sure identity. With absolute confidence, we can know that we are deeply loved by God and are His children, and it is this conviction that is the foundation of all we are. I am a child of God. God is my Father; heaven is my home; every day is one day nearer. My Savior is my brother; every Christian is my brother too. Say it over and over to yourself first thing in the morning, last thing at night, as you wait for the bus, any time when your mind is free, and ask that you may be enabled to live as one who knows it is as utterly and completely true. This is the Christian’s secret of a Christian and God-honoring life. May this secret become fully yours and fully mine.

Relevant Scriptures

Galatians 4:7 “So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child…”

Ephesians 3:16-19 “... and I pray that you, being rooted and established in love”

Romans 8:17 “Now if we are children, then we are heirs…”

1 John 3:1-2 “See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called...”

Matthew 3:13-17 “...This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”

Questions for Discussion

What do you assume God feels when you come to mind?

How does thinking of God as Father and us as His children change your perspective on Christianity?

Which benefit of adoption through Christ impacts you the most?

Is there a benefit that you have not accepted yet as part of your adoption into the family of God?

How will this idea of family and adoption change your relationship with God and the way you live?

Salvation: The Cross

it@xaatuva.com (Chi Alpha) — Thu, 02 Aug 2018 00:00:00 GMT

Why did Jesus come to die on a cross? Understanding our sin and God's holiness is essential to answering this question.

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The death of Jesus was the most remarkable event in all of history. Centuries before it occurred, it was predicted in amazing detail by various Old Testament prophets. The supernatural phenomena that accompanied the actual event dramatically set it apart from all other deaths before and after.

The Scriptures tell us that during the crucifixion, the bright midday sun was totally obscured from high noon until 3PM so that the whole land was plunged into darkness. At the precise moment of His death, the thick curtain in the Jewish temple, which set apart the Most Holy Place (the inner room where God symbolically dwelt), was ripped from top to bottom by an invisible hand. An earthquake split the rocks and broke open nearby tombs. Dead people were raised to life and came out of the tombs, later appearing to people in Jerusalem (Matthew 27:45,51-53).

Three days after His death, Jesus arose from the dead and appeared to His disciples on numerous occasions over a period of forty days. And at one time, he even appeared to five hundred at once. At the end of that time, the apostles saw Him taken up from their sight into a cloud from which He ascended into heaven.

Today, some two thousand years after Christ’s death and resurrection, the cross is the universally recognized symbol of the Christian faith. [...] At the time of Christ’s death, however, the cross was an instrument of incredible horror and shame. It was a most wretched and degrading punishment, inflicted only on slaves and the lowliest of people. If free men were at any time subjected to crucifixion for the great crimes such as treason or insurrection, the sentence could not be executed until they were put in the category of slaves by degradation and their freedom taken away by flogging.

What are we to make of all this? Why was Christ’s death such an amazing event in itself? And how could it be that the eternal Son of God, by whom and for whom all things were created (Colossians 1:15-16), would end up in His human nature dying one of the most cruel and humiliating deaths ever devised by mankind?

We must say God’s holiness demanded it as punishment for our sins, and God’s love provided it to save us from our sins. We cannot begin to understand the true significance of the cross unless we understand something of the holiness of God and the depth of our sin. And it is a continuing sense of the imperfection of our obedience, arising from the constant presence and remaining power of indwelling sin, that drives us more and more as believers to an absolute dependence on the grace of God given to us through His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.

We know that Jesus’ death on the cross did not take Him by surprise. He continually predicted it to His disciples. (See Luke 18:31-33 for one example.) And with His impending crucifixion before Him, Jesus Himself said, “What shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour” (John 12:27). Jesus said He came to die.

But why? Why did Jesus come to die? The apostles Paul and Peter give us the answer in clear, concise terms. Paul wrote, “Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,” and Peter wrote, “For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God” (1 Corinthians 15:3; 1 Peter 3:18).

Christ died for our sins. Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, took upon Himself a human nature and died a horrible death on our behalf. That is the reason for the cross. He suffered what we should have suffered. He died in our place to pay the penalty for our sins.

Adam’s Sin

We will never understand the cross until we begin to understand something of the nature and depth of our sin. And to understand that, we must go all the way back to the Garden of Eden. When God placed Adam and Eve in the garden, He imposed a simple prohibition on them. They were not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Why did God not impose some restriction such as, “You shall not steal” or “You shall not murder”? The answer is that God had created Adam and Eve in His image (see Genesis 1:27), which includes, among other things, His moral image. In other words, Adam and Eve were created morally perfect. They were completely sinless and thus did not need moral restrictions placed on them.

God, however, purposed to test their obedience, so He imposed one restriction on them: They were not to eat of the forbidden tree. There was nothing inherently evil about that tree. God could have selected any tree of the garden. Nor was obedience difficult. Many kinds of trees in the garden were pleasing to the eye and good for food. An easier test of Adam and Eve is difficult to imagine. Abstention from the forbidden fruit involved no hardship, no inconvenience, just simple obedience.

Yet when the Serpent questioned God’s goodness and truthfulness, Eve capitulated and so did Adam. In that instant, they lost the moral image of God; they were no longer perfectly holy. They began to sin immediately—Adam blaming God (“The woman you put here with me...”) as well as Eve, and Eve blaming the Serpent. In theological terms, their disobedience and consequent loss of God’s moral image is known as “the Fall.”

The fall of Adam and the loss of God’s moral image resulted not only in guilt, but also in moral depravity or corruption. Now his will, which had been totally responsive to God’s will, was biased toward evil. Theologians refer to this persistent bent to evil as original sin, an internal drive rooted in the perversity of fallen human nature. Paul called it the sinful nature (or “flesh” in some Bible translations).

The consequences of Adam and Eve’s sin went far beyond their own banishment from the garden and the presence of God. God had appointed Adam as the federal head or legal representative of the entire human race. Consequently, his fall brought guilt and depravity on all his descendants. That is, all people (except Jesus) after Adam and Eve are born with a sinful nature. David spoke of this fact when he said in Psalm 51:5, “Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me.” David’s sinfulness while still in his mother’s womb was not in acts of sin committed. He was referring to his sinful nature acquired at conception.

The apostle Paul explained it like this: “Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned” (Romans 5:12). Note that Paul’s sentence appears to be broken off before he finished his thought. What did Paul mean in saying that “all sinned”? We could easily assume that he was speaking of the individual sins of each of us, but that is not what he had in mind. Rather he was speaking of the fact that Adam was the legal representative of all his descendants. In that sense, what he did, we did. Therefore the consequences of his sin, in terms of both guilt and original sin, fell on all of us.

In Romans 5:18-19, Paul wrote that “the result of one trespass was condemnation for all men” and that “through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners.” It is clear in Paul’s theology that Adam was appointed by God to act on behalf of all his posterity. That is why you and I, like David, were born with original sin, and why we were by nature objects of God’s wrath.

Our Sin

The story goes downhill from Adam. Since we all have a corrupt sinful nature, we aggravate our condition by our own individual sins. Every day we sin, both consciously and unconsciously, both willfully and unintentionally. We evangelical believers generally abstain from the grosser sins of society; in fact, we tend to sit wrongly in judgment of those who practice such things. But beneath the surface of our own lives we tolerate all kinds of “refined” sins such as selfishness, covetousness, pride, resentment, envy, jealousy, self-righteousness, and a critical spirit toward others.

Beyond that, we seldom think about the words of Jesus that the greatest commandment is to “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’... And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself’” (Matthew 22:37,39). Have you ever thought about what it means to love God with all your heart, soul, and mind? [...]

To probe even deeper, we must realize that our fallen sinful nature affects and pollutes everything we do. Our very best deeds are stained with sin. Because of this, our acts of obedience fall so far short of perfection, defiled as they are by remaining sin, that they are but as “filthy rags” (Isaiah 64:6) when compared with the righteousness God’s Law requires.

If we limit our attention to singular sins, to the neglect of our sinful nature, we will never discover how deeply infected with sin we really are. When David prayed that memorable prayer of Psalm 51, after he had committed adultery with Bathsheba and had her husband murdered, he traced his heinous actions back to their original cause—his sinful nature acquired in his mother’s womb.

You might be thinking by this time, “Why devote so much attention to sin? It just makes me feel guilty. I thought you were going to tell us about the unsearchable riches of Christ.” My reason is to cause us all to realize we have no place to hide. In our relationship with God, we cannot plead our Christian duties, as helpful as they may be, or our external morality, as exemplary as it may be. Instead, we must confess with Ezra that “our sins are higher than our heads and our guilt has reached to the heavens” (Ezra 9:6).

Furthermore, even a deep, penetrating sense of our sinfulness does not do justice to the reality of our predicament. Our need is not to be measured by our own sense of need, but by what God had to do to meet that need. Our situation was so desperate that only the death of His own Son on a cruel and shameful cross was sufficient to resolve the problem.

Many people erroneously think that God can just forgive our sins because He is a loving God. Nothing could be further from the truth. The cross speaks to us not only about our sin but also about God’s holiness.

God’s Holiness

When we think of God’s holiness we usually think of His infinite moral purity. That is correct, but there is more to it than that. The basic meaning of the word holy is “separate,” and when used of God it means, among other things, that He is eternally separate from any degree of sin. He does not sin Himself and He cannot abide or condone sin in His moral creatures. He is not like the proverbial indulgent grandfather who winks at or ignores the mischievous disobedience of his grandson.

Instead the Scriptures teach us that God’s holiness responds to sin with immutable and eternal hatred. To put it plainly, God hates sin. The psalmist said, “The arrogant cannot stand in your presence; you hate all who do wrong,” and “God is a righteous judge, a God who expresses his wrath every day” (Psalm 5:5; 7:11). Thus we see that God always hates sin and inevitably expresses His wrath against it.

The cross, then, is an expression of God’s wrath toward sin as well as His love to us. It expresses His holiness in His determination to punish sin, even at the cost of His Son. And it expresses His love in sending His Son to bear the punishment we so justly deserved.

So in answer to the question, “Why the cross?” we must say God’s holiness demanded it as punishment for our sins, and God’s love provided it to save us from our sins. We cannot begin to understand the true significance of the cross unless we understand something of the holiness of God and the depth of our sin. And it is a continuing sense of the imperfection of our obedience, arising from the constant presence and remaining power of indwelling sin, that drives us more and more as believers to an absolute dependence on the grace of God given to us through His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.

Next Step

If you haven’t met Him yet but would like to, God’s free gift of salvation is available to everyone! Take a few moments right now by yourself or with a friend who could pray with you. Read the Relevant Scriptures provided, confess your sins, and acknowledge that you believe Jesus Christ is Lord and Savior. Congratulations! You have now stepped into the kingdom and family of God! From here, we encourage you to 1) tell a friend who also knows Jesus, 2) get connected with a local community of believers—check us out at xaatuva.com, 3) find a Bible and begin getting to know this Jesus better by reading the Gospel of John, and 4) pray often!

Relevant Scriptures

John 3:16

Romans 3:23

Romans 5:8

Romans 6:23

Romans 10:9-10

Questions for Discussion

Has there been a time when you really had to come to terms with your sin?
How does this article change the way you view your life in relation to sin?
Bridges says, “We cannot begin to understand the true significance of the cross unless we understand something of the holiness of God and the depth of our sin.” Would you benefit from understanding more of the holiness of God or the depth of your sin?
How did the cross bridge a way between our brokenness and God’s standard? What does this sacrifice mean to you personally?
Would you say that you personally know Jesus, who died for you and brings us into right relationship with God?

Taking Thoughts Captive

it@xaatuva.com (Chi Alpha) — Wed, 01 Aug 2018 00:08:17 GMT

Finding freedom in the mind by uprooting lies and replacing them with truth.

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We Are In A Battle

Have you ever had thoughts that consume your mind? Thoughts you can’t get rid of no matter how hard you try? Maybe it’s an inner voice that is constantly condemning or critical; maybe it’s a loop of lustful thoughts on repeat in your mind; or maybe it’s painful memories from a past hurt that you can’t seem to shake. Whether you are aware of it or not, you are engaged in a battle. A study of Scripture reveals that it is not a battle of flesh and blood but a spiritual battle (Eph 6:12) against the devil and his forces of evil. The Scriptures describe Satan as an accuser who speaks only his native language of lies (Rev 12:10, John 8:44). He hates the children of God and is focused on preventing them from living in freedom and truth. How does he do this? By speaking little nagging half-truths, by pressing on our insecurities, convincing us our fears are real, and by using our doubts, past pains, and worries against us.

Think of your mind like a garden. God desires to fill it with fruitful and life giving plantings, plantings that bring not just beauty but health and strength for you and those around you. But every lie and leaning of the enemy is like a weed in that garden. They may seem small and inconsequential at first, but what do weeds do given time? They leach nutrients away from all the useful plants, take up space where good things could have grown, and choke out any surviving plants until they can no longer be fruitful. They cause chaos and death.

The Enemy Uses Different Types Of Thoughts To Prevent Your Flourishing

Sin: lust, anger, revenge, bitterness, jealousy/envy, pride, greed, obsession. These are just a few of the unholy thought patterns that Satan would love to have us fix our minds on. The more we entertain and feed the thoughts, the more they consume our mind, and shape our actions.
Lies: “I’m not good enough,” “No one could ever love me,” “I always fail at this.” Satan presses our insecurities, trying to make them out to be bigger or more consequential than they are. Eventually, we lose sight of the full picture and can no longer see the person God made us to be!
Past: When we go through a painful experience (abuse, grief, heartbreak, trauma) doors are opened to fears and wounds that can be triggered by experiences later in life. If not dealt with, those wounds can lead to unforgiveness, feelings of worthlessness, inability to trust, or even self-deprecation.

Is This A Battle We Can Win?

Satan would love to use these thoughts to build strongholds in our minds that increasingly hold us captive until we feel we could never escape from or stop the thoughts. The Good News is that Scripture says we do not have to remain captive! Jesus has given us the weapons to overcome these malicious strongholds!

“For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” 2 Cor. 10: 3-5

In our Savior Jesus Christ, we have victory over the schemes of the enemy! In Luke, Jesus himself declares that he has come “to proclaim freedom for the prisoners, and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor” (Luke 4:18-19). In Jesus’ name, we can have freedom from the thoughts, insecurities, and past fears that plague us. We can learn to surrender our mind to Christ. Instead of believing the lies and giving them control over us, we can learn to take the thoughts captive and make them obedient to Christ!

How We Fight Back

Announce: This is the step of recognizing who or what is behind your deception/wrong way of thinking (John 8:43-45). 2 Corinthians 4 says that the enemy blinds us from seeing the light of God, which is the truth. So, ask the Lord to reveal any incorrect thinking and to open your eyes to lies, sin, or unhealthy thought patterns so that you can see them for what they are! Then, “announce” the lies you believe to God -- this is an act of confession.

ACTION: W rite a list of specific lies, sins, or thoughts you’ve been wrestling with. Putting words to the thoughts helps us to recognize their untruth and take them captive in the future. John 8:32 says “You will know the truth and the truth will set you free.” If you are feeling doubt that this process will work in bringing you freedom, consider making that a point on your list too.

Renounce: In step one, we announced the lies we believed about ourselves. Now we renounce their power over us. This is an act of repentance -- a turning away from sin. By renouncing lies and sin, we say that we stand in agreement with God that the thoughts are sinful or untrue. This means we no longer give the lie credit or choose to entertain it. Instead, we smash it with comparison to God’s truths! If you are dealing with past pain or insecurities, this is a way of inviting God into that specific area or memory to bring healing and peace.

ACTION: Take your earlier list of lies. Purposefully uproot each weed by doing what 2 Cor 10:5 says: taking each thought captive and making it obedient to Christ. Read the lie aloud, renounce its power over you, and ask God to be Lord over that area of your life. If there is a sin connected with your lie, repent of it, and anything you’ve allowed to grow between you and God.

Pronounce: This last step is important! As you have just uprooted the tangled weeds of lies in your mind, you now have soil standing empty. The enemy would love to come back and fill it with more lies (Matt 12:44-45), but instead we are going to plant God’s truth where the weeds once were (2 Cor 3:17).

ACTION: Look at your list of broken lies, then spend some time in prayer asking God to tell you truth instead. When Jesus was facing temptation from the enemy in the desert, he answered each temptation with specific and potent scripture (Luke 4). Search the Scriptures for truths that speak the mind of God to the enemy’s strongholds in your life. Ask God for specific promises to cling to when you are tempted to believe the old lies. Then, write a new list of the truths God wants you to plant to fill the place where you uprooted previous lies.

Winning The War

Just like seedlings need water, sun, and good nutrients, so the newly planted truths in your mind need cultivating. There are many ways to do this: meditate on the truths that God has given you. Write them on cards, set them places you will see them often, and commit them to memory. Flee from temptation. Know where you are vulnerable, or what triggers old feelings (lust/insecurity/old memories/etc.). Then make decisions and habits that will help you stay away from those environments while you are retraining your mind to think correctly. This is a lifestyle change. Make the deliberate choice to deny the flesh and feed the spirit. Romans 12:2 says “do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is- His good, pleasing and perfect will.”

Satan may try to rear his head and remind you of the old lies or thought patterns, but you are no longer a slave to those thoughts! You do not have to entertain them! Just recognize them for what they are, rebuke the enemy, and set your mind on righteous things (practical suggestions: play worship music, recite scripture, pray with a friend). The more you do battle in your mind, continuing to take captive the lies and make them obedient to the truth, the more your mind will begin to look like Christ, and the quicker you will be at recognizing lies for lies and choosing the freedom of the truth! (1 Cor 2:16, 2 Cor 5:17).

When we pray for freedom of our mind and the power to take our thoughts captive, we can expect God to come through. He promises to answer and bring freedom (Is 30:18, Psalm 18, Jeremiah 33:3, 1 Peter 5:10). Welcome to the world of freedom where you are no longer a captive but, instead, a CAPTOR of lies!

Relevant Scriptures

2 Corinthians 10:3-5 “...We take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”

Ephesians 6:12 “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood...”

Luke 4:18-19 “The Spirit of the Lord is on me … to set the oppressed free...”

Questions for Discussion

Which type of the three weeds do you wrestle with the most? In what type of situation or atmosphere do you most struggle with those thoughts?

Which of the three steps feels the scariest/hardest to you?

Explain why it would be important to replace lies with truths from Scripture.

How do you feel after walking through these steps? What do you think God wants to say to you about those feelings?

What is one habit you will commit to in order to maintain your garden of truth and continuing to resist the old ways of thinking?

Recommended Reading

Battlefield of the Mind by Joyce Meyer

Breaking Free by Beth Moore

Why We Read Scripture

it@xaatuva.com (Chi Alpha) — Wed, 01 Aug 2018 00:00:00 GMT

What are the benefits to reading Scripture? This resource shows us why and how to have a devotional life.

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“They would have the corn, but they will not go forth into the fields to gather it; the fruit hangs upon the tree, but they will not pluck it; the water flows at their feet, but they will not stoop to drink it. From such folly deliver us, O Lord.” ― Charles Spurgeon

The Benefits of Reading Scripture

If we tried to expound upon the many benefits of reading God’s Word, I have a sneaking suspicion the list would be almost as endless as the qualities of God Himself. But for the sake of brevity, there are four reasons I find particularly helpful and convincing when trying to refuel my vision on why to read Scripture.

1. Intimacy.

We commune with our Lord as we learn more about Him. In our hectic lives, even when we have the right motivations, it can sometimes be easy to let serving God replace knowing God. The longer we spend out of deep, relational time with God, the more we begin to lose track of why we were doing all these good things in the first place! This Christian lifestyle only makes sense when it is rooted in knowing God, and loving Him! We know that God already deeply loves us. This means reading Scripture doesn’t cause God to love us more, it causes us to love God more. The more we are reminded of and steeped in knowledge of His many free gifts, and deep affection, the more we abound in joy that we get to be intimate with such a great King, and Father!

2. Changed Desires.

First of all, a grateful heart is a healthy heart — reading Scripture reminds us of what we have to be thankful for already, and helps combat our cultural inclination for always desiring more, more, more. But I would also challenge you to consider this: our desires are formed by what we do. Another way of saying that is: “we hunger for what we feed ourselves”. Have you noticed that when you watch a lot of T.V., you start to want more? And not just that, but you may begin to desire the sort of life that T.V. show presents! I know I do. Sometimes, I find myself desiring something, and I’m jolted by how out of character it is for me. Then, I trace back through what I’ve “fed” myself the last few weeks, and normally, I can find a source. But when I feed myself on Scripture, my desires also shift! I start to desire God’s affirmation, rather than the world’s; riches in heaven, rather than on earth; to forgive my offender, rather than to rage at them. If you want to look more like Jesus, feed yourself on Scripture and consider what else you are consuming. But if you want to look more like the world, better hide that Bible! It will change you.

3. Stability.

By abiding in the Word, we begin to live by truth and not emotions. Charles Spurgeon says it this way: “A Bible that’s falling apart usually belongs to someone who isn’t.” That’s a tongue in cheek way to say that being seeped in the truth helps to keep us from being buffeted by the world with its many opinions and competing value systems. Do you know that feeling? The feeling of confusion and chaos that builds as you try to figure out where to devote your time, what really matters, who is wise, who is trustworthy? When we spend more time in the truth, those other voices and opinions grow smaller and God’s voice grows larger in our heart. We start to judge things based off of eternal and unchanging values -- not the shifting whims of culture. And all of a sudden, the world isn’t so scary and uncertain anymore. We are doing life with a powerful and kind God right beside us. Kingdom values are unshakeable, which means we can be unshakeable too.

4. Fruitfulness.

Chi Alpha loves the saying, what God does in you He wants to do through you. It reminds us that God’s grace and mercy for us personally is not the end goal of our faith. Rather, He wants to overflow through our lives into those around us, that they too might know and love Him. Our fruitfulness is vital to God’s plan of salvation for the world. Thankfully, Scripture helps us with this (along with His Spirit)! Increased time in God’s Word multiplies what we can speak into other’s lives. Consider this: You know someone who is struggling to make friends at UVA . Even if you’ve only been a Christian a day, you can affirm that God loves them. But, if you spend time in God’s Word, you can speak with even more clarity! Maybe you’ll remember reading “God places the lonely into families” (Psalm 68:6). Specificity helps people better connect to God. Spending time in God’s Word also increases our understanding of His truth and love, which increases our boldness and courage to speak to those around us. The more you know about something, the more confidently you can share it!

Once you’ve decided to start reading the Scriptures, it helps to make a plan:

When will I spend time with God?

“I will wake up at __A.M. and spend ___ minutes praying and reading God’s Word.” While not Biblically mandated, making time to read the Bible in the morning can be wise. Practically, it helps you to focus on the text, because you’re not distracted by the business of the day yet. Personally, reading God’s word also helps to reset your heart and mind to go about the rest of the day with a Biblical perspective. Tip: give yourself an adequate amount of time, and set an alarm for when you want to finish so you won’t constantly check your phone.

Where will I spend time with God?

Possibilities may be your kitchen table, a coffee shop, that comfy chair in your living room, or even Chick-fil-A; lying down in bed is not recommended. You want to choose a place where you will not experience heavy distraction, but also where you will not be tempted to grab a few extra snoozes.

What will I read when I spend time with God?

Try to read through a book of the Bible at a time - another great goal is reading through the Bible in a year. George Mueller (1805-1898), who is famous for founding orphanages in England, and for depending on God for meeting all his needs, wrote at age seventy six: “ It is absolutely needful . . . that we should read regularly through the Scriptures, consecutively, and not pick out here and there a chapter. If we do, we remain spiritual dwarfs. I tell you so affectionately. For the first four years after my conversion I made no progress, because I neglected the Bible. Now I have been doing this for 47 years. I have read through the whole Bible about 100 times and I always find it fresh when I begin again. Thus my peace and joy have increased more and more.”

Once your plan is made and you’re getting ready to read the Scriptures:

An important thing to consider is how we read the Bible. We aren’t supposed to read the Bible like a novel (straight through and focused only on plot development), like a magazine (flipping through to our favorite sections and skipping the rest), or even like a textbook (searching for facts as if to pass a test).The Bible is unique! It is part story, part instruction, part diary, part encouragement, and all important. So how do we read God’s Word?

Before you even open the Scriptures, make time to pray: ask to be able to see Him clearly in Scripture and for Him to change your heart as you read.

Then, as you read, ask these 3 questions of the text:

1. What do I learn about God in this passage (who He is/what He does)?

2. What do I learn about people in this passage (who we should be/how we fall short)?

3. What does this passage tell me about the relationship between God and people?

Remember: the goal is not to just get it done. The goal is to get God's Word inside of you and be changed by it. This comes through slow and thoughtful reading. Try reading with a pen handy or a computer on which to type. This slows you down enough to really think about and write down what you are reading.

Finally, end in a time of prayer. Thank God for His Word, for who He is, and for His grace toward sinners. Then ask God to help you live out what you’ve just read. Finally, lay out your day & your requests before God.

Relevant Scriptures

John 20:30-31 … these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus ...

2 Timothy 3:16 … All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching…

Hebrew 4:12-13 For the word of God is living and active and sharper than ...

Psalm 119:9 How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping it according…

Colossians 3:16 Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you…

Psalm 119:105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

John 17:17 Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth.

Questions for Discussion

What would it look like to attempt a faithful Christian walk without intimacy, stability, fruitfulness, or increasingly sanctified desires?
Which of these four benefits do you want more of in your life? Why?
What gets in the way of you reading your Bible? How can you combat this?

Spurgeon and Intercessory Prayer

it@xaatuva.com (Chi Alpha) — Tue, 31 Jul 2018 23:58:41 GMT

A brief teaching and 30-minute prayer guide to help you intercede for your campus, university, and the world.

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The memory of Charles Haddon Spurgeon has been cherished among evangelical Christians for over the past 100 years. Many Christian leaders consider him to be the greatest preacher England ever produced. He is commonly hailed as the "Prince of Preachers". Over 63 volumes of published sermons still bear witness to the richness and success of C. H. Spurgeon's ministry. Though known as a great preacher, it was not preaching that made Spurgeon great. Mr. Spurgeon repeatedly acknowledged his success as the direct result of his congregation's faithful prayers. "It has often been remarked that the whole church helped produce Spurgeon." When visitors would come to Spurgeon's church he would take them to the basement prayer-room where people were always on their knees interceding. Then Spurgeon would declare, "Here is the powerhouse of this church."

First, then, BY WAY OF COMMENDING THE EXERCISE, let me remind you that intercessory prayer has been practiced by all the best of God's saints. We may not find instances of it appended to every saint's name, but beyond a doubt, there has never been a man or woman eminent for piety personally, who has not always been pre-eminent in his anxious desires for the good of others, and in his prayers for that end.

But further, while we might commend this duty by quoting innumerable examples from the lives of eminent saints, it is enough for the disciple of Christ if we say that Christ in His holy gospel has made it your duty and your privilege to intercede for others. When he taught us to pray, he said, "Our Father," and the expressions which follow are not in the singular but in the plural—"Give us this day our daily bread." "Forgive us our debts"; "Lead us not into temptation"; evidently intending to set forth that none of us are to pray for ourselves alone, that while we may have sometimes prayers so bitter that they must be personal like the Saviour's own—"Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me"; yet, as a rule, our prayers should be public prayers, though offered in private; and even in secret we should not forget the church of the living God.

Intercessory prayer has stayed plagues. It removed the darkness which rested over Egypt; it drove away the frogs which leaped upon the land; it scattered the lice and locusts which plagued the inhabitants of Zoar; it removed the murrain, and the thunder, and the lightning; it stayed all the ravages which God's avenging hand did upon Pharaoh and his people. Intercessory prayer has healed diseases; —we know it did in the early church. We have evidence of it in old Mosaic times. When Miriam was smitten with leprosy, Moses prayed, and the leprosy was removed. It has restored withered limbs. When the king's arm was withered, he said to the prophet, "Pray for me," and his arm was restored as it was before. Intercessory prayer has raised the dead, for Elias stretched himself upon the child seven times, and the child sneezed, and the child's soul returned. As to how many souls intercessory prayer has instrumentally saved, recording angel, thou canst tell! Eternity, thou shalt reveal! There is nothing which intercessory prayer cannot do. Oh! believer, you have a mighty engine in your hand, use it well, use it constantly, use it now with faith, and thou shalt surely prevail.

And, O God, lend us thy strength now, that this duty may come forcibly home to our conscience, and we may at once engage in this exercise! Brethren, I have to EXHORT YOU TO PRAY FOR OTHERS. Before I do it, I will ask you a personal question. Do you always pray for others? Guilty or not guilty, here? Do you think you have taken the case of your children, your church, your neighbourhood, and the ungodly world before God as you ought to have done? If you have, I have not. For I stand here a chief culprit before the Master to make confession of the sin; and while I shall exhort you to practice what is undoubtedly a noble privilege, I shall be most of all exhorting myself.

Intercessory Prayer Guide

(30 minutes total)

PERSONAL PRAYER TIME: Preparing our hearts (10 minutes).

Proclaim His greatness -- Matthew 6:9 “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name."
Pray a prayer of repentance -- 1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”
Pray a prayer of consecration for the semester -- Joshua 3:5 “Consecrate yourself for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you."
Pray for a fresh work of the Spirit in your life -- Galatians 5:22-25, 1 Corinthians 14:1, Acts 1:8 - Thank God for who He is and what He’s done (grace, salvation, provision, etc).

CONNECT: Praying for Core groups and community (5 minutes).

Love one another (John 13:35 - this command comes 16 times).
Devotion, honor one another (Romans 12:10).
Live in harmony with one another (Romans 12:16).
Build up one another (Romans 14:19; 1 Thessalonians 5:11).
Be like-minded towards one another (Romans 15:5).
Admonish one another (Romans 15:14; Colossians 3:16).
Care for one another (1 Corinthians 12:25).
Serve one another (Galatians 5:13).
Bear one another's burdens (Galatians 6:2, Colossians 3:13).
Be patient, forgive one another (Ephesians 4:2, 32; Colossians 3:13).
Be kind and compassionate to one another (Ephesians 4:32).
Look to the interests of one another (Philippians 2:4).
Comfort one another (1 Thessalonians 4:18).
Encourage one another (Hebrews 3:13).
Stir up one another to love and good works (Hebrews 10:24).
Show hospitality to one another (1 Peter 4:9).
Clothe yourselves with humility towards one another (1 Peter 5:5).
Pray for one another (James 5:16) confess our faults to one another (James 5:16) - be honest with one another (Colossians 3:9).

GROW: Praying for growth in quantity and quality (5 minutes).

Read Ephesians 1:15-23.

“I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe...”

REACH: Pray for reaching out into the world (10 minutes total)

Read Colossians 4:3-6.

Fellowship-wide

Pray for the gracious hand of our God to rest upon us (Ezra 8:20, Neh 2:8, Neh 2:20)
Main weekly meetings of the semester: Pray for the anointing of the Holy Spirit upon the messages and the worship, for salvations, for freedom in people’s life from strongholds, for our hearts to be renewed, for visitors to feel loved, that people who grow as worshippers of God. Pray for God to be glorified.
Retreats: Pray for salvations, registration and administrative details, for God to speak to us, for the speaker(s), for safe travel.
Social events: Pray that they will be used to reach new students, and to form deep relationships. Pray for safe travel.
Spring Break trips: Pray for people to raise money, for God to bless the outreaches, for safety, for unity, for deep relationships to form.
Pray for Holy Spirit to have His way in our fellowship. (1 Thessalonians 5:19-21.)
4th Years: Their transition into the marketplace. Pray for job provision, and for peace.
Pray our fellowship would be protected from schemes of the evil one. (Matthew 6:13, Ephesians 6.)

University-wide

Non-believers: Pray for the blinders to be removed from their eyes (2 Cor 4:4), conviction of the Holy Spirit (John 16:7,14), for students to share the Gospel (Matt 9:36-37), Divine appointments, for people to put their trust in Christ. (Jn 1:12, John 5:24.)
Pray for other Christian fellowships.
Pray for specific people groups (e.g. sororities, athletics, internationals).
Pray for the faculty and staff.

Worldwide

Pray for a couple of specific nations- consider our Spring Break partnerships.
Pray for the international students.
Pray for people you know who are serving overseas.
Pray with the Bible in one hand and newspaper in the other.

Sexual Purity

it@xaatuva.com (Chi Alpha) — Tue, 31 Jul 2018 23:42:51 GMT

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"Galen, the great second-century doctor from Asia Minor, which we know as Turkey, says he only knows two things about the Christians: one, that they believe in resurrection, and two, that they show remarkable sexual restraint."

Jesus, the Final Days: What Really Happened by Craig Evans and NT Wright.

“With persuasive words she (the seducer) led him astray;

she seduced him with her smooth talk.

All at once he followed her

like an ox going to the slaughter,

like a deer stepping into a noose

till an arrow pierces his liver,

like a bird darting into a snare,

little knowing it will cost him his life.

Now then, my sons, listen to me;

pay attention to what I say.

Do not let your heart turn to her ways

or stray into her paths.

Many are the victims she has brought down;

her slain are a mighty throng.

Her house is a highway to the grave, leading down to the chambers of death."

Proverbs 7:21-27.

An Important Topic

The topic of purity is extremely important for college students. We all have had our own journey in this area. Some of us, by the grace of God, have been able to walk in continual sexual purity. Many of us wrestle with guilt and shame from our failures in this area of our lives. It is my desire that this article will help us all, whatever our backgrounds, discover that by the grace of God we can honor the Lord with our sexuality, walk in purity, and avoid brokenness and heartache in this area of our lives.

The words quoted from Proverbs above are the words of a wise and loving father to his son, warning him of the danger of compromising his sexual purity. I am sure this father would have written the same words to his daughter as well. In the middle of glossy seduction and sexual temptation, he paints vivid pictures of the reality of what lies on the other side. It will not fulfill what it promises. It will cost him dearly. In fact, sexual sin brings the mightiest of people down to the grave.

God is not anti-sex. On the contrary, He is the one who created it, and he created it to bless humanity! However, as the author of sex, he knows the power, nature, and intended context for sex. We learn in the Scriptures that if sex is removed from its intended context of marriage, it quickly moves from a blessing to humanity to a curse. It is like fire. Fire can bring comfort and warmth into your life, or it can be one of the most destructive forces in nature, scorching forests and destroying neighborhoods. It all depends on the context in which you encounter fire. So it is with sex. In the right context it blesses, and in the wrong context it destroys.

We see in Scripture that compromised sexuality and ungodly romantic relationships were the downfall of the wisest person to live before Jesus, Solomon; the strongest person to ever live, Samson; and the man after God’s own heart, David. What does this show? It shows that there is no one who can be casual with their purity, especially in this culture. Currently, the average college student has more hook-ups than dates during their college career and one out of every four searches online is for pornography. So, whether we are talking about purity in relationships or personal purity, our culture is missing the mark of what God would desire for our lives—and as it says in the ancient proverbs, the cost of impurity is more than any of us want to pay. Therefore, we must be vigilant in guarding our purity if we are going to honor God with our sexuality.

Guardrails

I was recently on vacation in the mountains. While I was driving up what I call “white-knuckler” mountain roads, I realized just how much I missed something that we often take for granted—guardrails. It seemed like at any given point I was one small move away from plummeting hundreds of feet to my death and the death of my family. When I arrived at the destination, I was a bit shaky from the stress of the death defying drive. What I love about guardrails is that they are put in places that are safe to keep you from going into places that would be destructive for you. Have you ever thought about that? Guardrails are actually placed in the “safe places” to keep us from ever getting near destruction. A guardrail on the opposite side of the ditch or river would be a useless guardrail. We must do the same thing when it comes to our sexuality. We must place guardrails in our lives that will make sure we stay away from the places that can bring destruction to our lives and relationships.

Proverbs 7:25 says, “Do not let your heart turn to her ways (speaking of the seducer) , or stray into her paths.” It is interesting that the father tells his child to not let his (or her) heart begin to turn towards lust or begin to stray into the seducer's path. So, how do we keep our heart from heading towards lust or straying in that direction? One key way is by putting up guardrails. In Proverbs 4:23-27 we are told to guard our heart, and the next couple of verses tell us the guardrails that we all need in our lives to keep our hearts pure. It says we need three kinds of guardrails: Guardrails on what we say (v24), see (v25) and do (v26).

When we look at the lives of Samson, David, and Solomon, they all lacked one of these three guardrails at points in their lives, and there were destructive consequences for their mishaps. We see David lacked guardrails on what he saw when he set his eyes on Bathsheba and began to entertain lustful ideas (2 Samuel 11). We see Samson lacked conversation guardrails, as he shared his heart with the wrong person and he told Delilah the secret to his power (Judges 16). We see Solomon lacked guardrails on what he would do, as he married outside of the faith (1 Kings 11). When we lack one of these three guardrails, consequences are sure to follow.

In the book the Purity Principle, Randy Alcorn tells this story about a young man who lived without guardrails around his purity.

Eric stormed into my office and flopped into a chair. “I’m really mad at God.”

“Okay…so why are you mad at God?”

“Because,” he said “last week I committed adultery.”

Eric explained that for several months he’d felt a strong, mutual attraction with a woman at his office. He’d prayed earnestly that God would keep him from immorality.

“Did you ask your wife to pray for you?” I said “Did you stay away from the woman?”

“Well…no. We went out for lunch almost every day.”

Slowly I started pushing a big book across my desk. Eric watched, uncomprehending, as the book inched closer and closer to the edge. I prayed aloud, “O Lord, please keep this book from falling!”

I kept pushing and praying. God didn’t suspend the law of gravity. The book went right over the edge, smacking the floor.

“I’m mad at God”, I said to Eric. “I asked him to keep my book from falling…but He let me down!”

I like this story, because it gives a picture of the foolishness of living without any guardrails. We can pray for purity all we want, but until we decide to actually put some guardrails in place and live wisely, our prayers may be in vain.

Let me help you think through what it looks like to have guardrails. Let’s look at a few questions that I would encourage all of us to answer in order to put guardrails around our relational purity and personal purity:

Personal Purity:

What are the guardrails you have around your computer usage? A few ideas to think about are as follows: Do you need filters on your browser? Do you need an accountability partner that sees your Internet usage? Where do you use your computer? Perhaps you may want to consider keeping your door open while you are on your computer. Is there a time at night where temptation is the strongest? If so, perhaps you should not be on your computer after a set time.
What are your guardrails for watching television or movies? Many people get nervous when we talk about this, but the fact is if we let our minds get inundated with sensual images, we are foolish to think it will have no impact on us. When Amy and I were dating, we decided we were not going to watch movies that were rated R. We made a decision that this would be a guardrail for what we see.
What are the guardrails on where you will go?
What are the guardrails on what you will wear?
What other guardrails do you need that will help you walk in personal purity?

Relational Purity:

Do you have guardrails around who you would date? We see that when Solomon lacked this guardrail it was his fatal flaw.
Do you have guardrails on when you will spend time together? I have a strange feeling that activities after 1:00am are often more destructive than constructive. Just a thought.
Do you have guardrails on how much time you will spend together?
Do you have guardrails on where you will spend time together? Chatting while laying on your bed together with the door closed may not be the best idea for purity.
Do you have guardrails around what your physical relationship will look like in a dating relationship? If you don’t establish these guardrails early on, I am fairly certain you will end up with regrets. Ephesians 5:3 tells us not to let “even a hint of sexual immorality” into our lives. So, I would encourage you to set your guardrails before you get there.

Have you asked someone outside of the relationship to ask you the hard questions about the details of your relationship? This could be a great guardrail to put in place.

I would encourage you to start establishing guardrails by responding to these questions. These questions are not meant to be exhaustive but to help you begin to think about guardrails you can establish in your life.

If you are reading this article and you have lived a long time without any guardrails in the area of your sexual purity and you have the scars to prove it, let me encourage you that there is hope. As we read the Gospels, we see Jesus over and over again offer forgiveness, hope, and restoration to people who are sexually broken. We see Jesus talk with a woman who had been divorced five times and is now shacking up with another man. Instead of scolding her and pointing out the error of her ways, he offers her living water, which would quench her deepest thirst and begin to bring restoration. We see Jesus at a dinner when a prostitute comes and cries at his feet and he tells her that her sins are forgiven and to go in peace. He doesn’t push her away. He welcomes her, offers her forgiveness, and tells her to go in peace. So, if this is you, let me encourage you to bring your sexual impurity to Jesus and let him forgive you, cleanse you, and restore you to wholeness.

May we guard our hearts! May we live with guardrails! May our sexual purity be a symbol of our allegiance to Jesus!

Relevant Scriptures

Proverbs 5

Proverbs 7

Matthew 5:27-30

1 Corinthians 6:12-20

1 Thessalonians 4:3-7

Questions for Discussion

What has your journey been in this area of your life?

What are the places you know you most need to have guardrails?

What guardrails do you currently have in your life to protect your sexual purity?

Look at the questions that are listed in the article concerning guardrails and discuss them.

How can I pray for you in this area of your life?

Recommended Reading

My Single Treasure by Rick Stedman

The Purity Principle by Randy Alcorn

The Thrill of the Chaste by Dawn Eden

Real Sex by Lauren Winner

Sabbath

it@xaatuva.com (Chi Alpha) — Tue, 31 Jul 2018 23:32:28 GMT

Reclaiming God's rest for our lives.

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Help! I’m Overwhelmed!

Have you ever wanted to escape? Do the burdens and demands of life feel overwhelming, but you can’t possibly envision a way to lessen them? Do you feel exhausted, like 24 hours is not enough time to accomplish the work set before you? Are your relationships suffering because you live at such a fast pace and high level of activity? Or maybe you have a lot of leisure time on your hands, but still feel unrested and discontent. If you resonate with any of these sentiments, a fresh restoration of the soul is in order. Perhaps it’s time to consider the discipline of Sabbath.

Isaiah 30:15-16 says “In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it. You said, ‘No, we will flee on horses.’ Therefore, you will flee!” Likely, your circumstances won’t allow you to just escape from the stresses of life. More importantly, throwing in the towel isn’t the answer God provides. Mark Buchanan writes in The Rest of God, “God’s solution is surprising. He offers rest. But it’s a unique form of rest. It’s to rest in him in the midst of our threats and our burdens” (2006). God’s solution is one of total rest and dependence on Him. His solution is the Sabbath.

What is Sabbath?

When God first ordered the universe, He crafted it to include a day of rest. God Himself ceased His creative activity to rest and enjoy His completed work. He also created people to work, and for work to be a blessing. Notice in Genesis 1:28 that God’s mandate to humans to have dominion over the earth came before the fall of man, before sin entered the world and work becomes a burden. When Adam and Eve disobeyed God, it disrupted the beautiful rhythm of joyful, purposeful work and rest.

The Israelites felt this disruption acutely during their 400 years of slavery in Egypt (Exodus 1). They had no rest and the Egyptian masters ruled them harshly. When God rescued the Israelites out of Egypt and brought them to Mt. Sinai, He imparted to them a code of ethics that reflected their new status as the chosen children of God. The Ten Commandments are an affirmation of their royal standing before God Almighty. They are an invitation to the hope, dignity, love, order, and rest of God. God’s restoration for His image bearers included the fourth commandment: Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy (Exodus 20:8).

Why Should I Keep Sabbath?

What does it mean to keep the Sabbath holy? For Israel, they established laws that prohibited work in order to preserve the sanctity of the day. However, over time their Sabbath laws increased and morphed into yet another system of slavery. When Jesus came to earth, He reestablished true Sabbath. He healed and restored those who were broken, and He ultimately purchased rest for our souls when He died on the cross. Jesus identified Himself as the source, the ultimate Sabbath: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30). Sabbath is God-centered. It is an entering into His arms-wide-open invitation of grace so that we might cease from our God-given work and enjoy Him.

According to the original commandment, Sabbath is to be kept “Holy”. And rightly so! Imagine the first week of creation, when the earth hummed and glowed with the light of new life. For six days, a joyful cacophony of new birth erupted across the earth—the deafening chatter of the first birds, newborn rivers running down mountain slopes, innumerable creatures rambling across unpolluted earth, and perhaps most glorious of all, the bringing forth of the image of God in man and woman. Yet after all this, there is a pause. A holy silence and ceasing from the work of creation. I imagine this day to be both profoundly silent and profoundly loud. I imagine that everyone paused to honor the stillness of morning, but that by lunchtime it was a party. I can’t be too sure, but I wonder if Adam and Eve played fetch with their newly-named “dog” and God taught them the game of golf on the first expanses of perfect green grass. Maybe they hiked and explored mountains for the first time, and I have no doubt they ate and enjoyed their first taste of pineapple so sweet that to us it would seem otherworldly. After that day, God released mankind into His work of ruling over the earth, and the boundaries of that holy day were set.

When we think of the first Sabbath, it inspires us to sanctify it and to avoid its desecration at all costs. It’s true that the reality of sin and the harshness of the fallen world has stolen this aspect of paradise from us. But because we are God’s people, He invites us to reclaim the rest that was lost, and to reconnect to heaven through it.

How do I Keep Sabbath?

So how can we remember the Sabbath and keep it holy? First, sanctify the time. Make it holy. Set aside an allotment of time each week, and guard it as holy. You might not be able to give an entire day at first. It takes time to change our rhythms. You might try a half a day, or even two hours. But what do you do during those two hours?

Some wise people have made it really simple: Pray and Play. Incorporate elements of worship into your Sabbath time. You might begin the time with a thanks-filled prayer to commit the time to God. Maybe you’ll listen to worship music, read your Bible, attend a church service, or be in fellowship with other believers. Be creative, worship through artwork, music, or a walk in the woods. Then take time to play. This is different than mere leisure because it is purposeful and sanctified, or committed to God (Buchanan 2006). Because of sin, even leisure time can feel tiresome and purposeless. But holy play is restorative. Do activities that you enjoy and that restore your soul. Hike, go to a coffee shop with friends, play basketball, eat a good meal, read a book you enjoy, spend time with family.

Keeping Sabbath might seem counter-intuitive, especially in a culture that encourages us to fill every minute of our time with busyness. But when we honor this commandment of God, I truly believe miracles happen. It forms in us a value of the heart, and it restores us to our position as children of God. We learn to rest and depend on God, and to worry less about our to-do lists. A wise person once told me, “There is plenty of time for God to do His will.” Sabbath reminds us of who holds time and who is really at work in our lives. I challenge you to consecrate time in your schedule for a Sabbath, and find God’s timing to be sufficient. Rather than flee the crazy world that swirls around us, let’s sanctify some time and find a refuge in that holy time of resting in God.

Relevant Scriptures

Genesis 2:3

Exodus 20:8

Deuteronomy 5:12-15

Isaiah 58:13-14

Mark 2

Hebrews 4:1-11

Questions for Discussion

Why do you think God modeled the Sabbath in the first week of creation?
How has the fallenness of the world stolen Sabbath from you?
How would you define the term “holy”? What does it mean to “sanctify”time?
What does it mean for you personally that Jesus is the ultimate source of Sabbath?
What activities would you incorporate in your own personal Sabbath?

Recommended Reading

The Rest of God: Restoring Your Soul by Restoring Sabbath

by Mark Buchanan.

Quadrants of Time Management

it@xaatuva.com (Chi Alpha) — Tue, 31 Jul 2018 23:25:08 GMT

How do we learn to put the first things first?

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This resource helps you think about your time and your priorities. Often we go through life without thinking through what is really important, and waste precious time on things that aren’t worth it.

Thinking in Quadrants

There are two variables when thinking about our time: important vs. not important, and urgent vs. not urgent. This may not seem like revolutionary insight, but it is unfortunate how much of our time we unknowingly (or sometimes knowingly) spend on things that are not important. Urgency is always the trump card in how we spend our time. We cannot get to things that are important and not urgent if we are constantly living in the urgent.

Take some time to look through these four quadrants. Everything we do falls into one of these categories. Examples of activities that could fall in each quadrant are given, and further explanations of each quadrant are listed below.

Quadrant 1: Important, Urgent

This quadrant is sometimes unavoidable, as life sometimes throws us a lemon or a curveball. However, many important activities become urgent because of our procrastination, or because we do not have adequate planning or prevention. This quadrant zaps you energy, creates tons of stress, and can have huge snowball effects for all of your time.

Quadrant 2: Important, Not Urgent

This is where we do our long-term planning, anticipate problems and prevent them, study ahead, broaden our minds, and increase our ability to adapt through self-development. This quadrant can increase your productivity in the long-run, minimize stress,and improve your immediate performance. - This quadrant is perhaps the most essential in time management, but is often the most neglected. These activities are easily surrendered to those that are more urgent.

Quadrant 3: Not Important, Urgent

These are activities that can seem important because of their urgency, but are really not. We have to learn to minimize these distractions and say “no” to them.

Quadrant 4: Not Important, Not Urgent

These are time-wasters. We all need times to refresh and relax, but those activities are important and do not belong in Quadrant 4. These hamper productivity and development. Often we spend time in Quadrant 4 if we spend too much time in the urgent. We “escape” from the urgent by going to this quadrant, instead of allowing Quadrant 2 to help prepare us and refresh us. This can be a dangerous cycle of living in the urgent, and escaping to Quadrant 4.

Questions for Discussion

What is one activity that you know if you did superbly well and consistently would have significant positive results in your personal life? How about your professional/academic life?

Mark of a Christian

it@xaatuva.com (Chi Alpha) — Tue, 31 Jul 2018 21:51:40 GMT

Jesus has told us what would mark the Christian until His return. So how do we live a life of love?

This resource is composed of excerpts from the Christian classic The Mark of a Christian by Francis Schaeffer.

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What is This Mark?

At the close of his ministry, Jesus made clear what was to be the distinguishing mark of the Christian until His return: “A new commandment I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:33-35).

Notice that what He says here is not a statement or a fact. It is a command which includes a condition: “By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” And if this is involved, if you obey, you will wear the badge that Christ gave. But since this is a command, it can be violated. The point: while it is possible to be a Christian without showing the mark; if we expect non-Christians to know that we are Christians, we must show the mark. Speaking to the church some years later, the same John who wrote the account above says: “This is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another” (1 John 3:11). John in effect says: Don’t forget this ... don’t forget this! This command was given to us by Christ while He was still on earth. This is to be your mark.

Loving Our Brothers and Sisters

If Jesus had commanded so strongly that we love all people as our neighbors, then how important it is especially to love our fellow Christians. If we are told to love all people as our neighbors then surely we can understand how overwhelmingly important it is that all men and women be able to see an observable love for those with whom we have these special ties. The apostle Paul makes the double obligation clear in Galatians 6:10: Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. He does not negate the command to do good to all people. But it is still not meaningless to add, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. This dual goal should be our Christian mentality, the set of our minds; we should be consciously thinking about it and what it means in our one-moment-at-a-time lives. It should be the attitude that governs our outward observable actions.

The Quality of Our Love

The church is to be a loving church in a dying culture. How, then, is the dying culture going to consider us? Jesus says by this shall all people know that you are my disciples, if you have love one to another. In the midst of the world, in the midst of our present culture, Jesus is giving a right to the world. Upon his authority he gives the world the right to judge whether you and I are born-again Christians, on the basis of our observable love toward all Christians. That’s pretty frightening. Jesus turns to the world and says, “I’ve something to say to you. On the basis of my authority, I give you a right: you may judge whether or not an individual is a Christian on the basis of the love they show to all true Christians.”

In other words, if people come up to us and cast in our teeth the judgment that we are not Christians because we have not shown love toward other Christians, we must understand that they are only exercising a prerogative which Jesus gave them. And we must not get angry. If people say, “You don’t love other Christians,” we must go home, get down on our knees, and ask God whether or not what they say is true. And if it is, then they have a right to have said it.

The Final Apologetic

What is the final apologetic? “That all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me” [John 7:21]. This is the final apologetic [our ultimate defense].

In John 13 the point was that, if an individual Christian does not show love toward other true Christians, the world has a right to judge that he or she is not a Christian. Here Jesus is stating something else that is much more cutting, much more profound: We cannot expect the world to believe that the Father sent the Son, that Jesus’ claims are true, and that Christianity is true, unless the world sees some reality of the oneness of true Christians. Now that is frightening. Should we not feel some emotion at this point?

Visible Love

What, then, does this love mean? How can it be made visible? First, it means a very simple thing: It means that when I have made a mistake and when I have failed to love my Christian brother, I go to him and say, “I’m sorry.” That is first. It may seem a letdown—that the first thing we speak of should be so simple!

But if you think it is easy, you have never tried to practice it. In our own groups, in our own close Christian communities, even in our families, when we have shown lack of love toward another, we as Christians do not just automatically go and say we are sorry. On even the very simplest level it is never very easy. If I am not willing to say, “I’m sorry,” when I have wronged somebody else—especially when I have not loved that person—I have not even started to think about the meaning of a Christian oneness that the world can see. The world has a right to question whether I am a Christian. And more than that, let me say it again, if I am not willing to do this very simple thing, the world has a right to question whether Jesus was sent from God and whether Christianity is true.

The One True Mark

Let us look again at the biblical texts which so clearly indicate the mark of the Christian: “A new commandment I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:33-35). “That all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me” (John 17:21). What then shall we conclude but that, as the Samaritan loved the wounded man, we as Christians are called upon to love all people as neighbors, loving them as ourselves.

Second that we are to love all true Christians in a way that the world may observe. This means showing love to our fellow Christians in the midst of our differences—great or small— loving them when it costs us something, loving them even under times of tremendous emotional tension, loving them in a way the world can see.

In short, we are to practice and exhibit the holiness of God and the love of God, for without this we grieve the Holy Spirit. Love—and the unity it attests to—is the mark Christ gave Christian have to wear before the world. Only with this mark may the world know that Christians are indeed Christians and that Jesus was sent by the Father. But each one should be careful how he builds.

Relevant Scriptures

Mark 12:29-30

Romans 5:8

Romans 12:17-21

1 John 4:10

Questions for Discussion

What aspects of this article surprised you, encouraged you, or challenged you?
God is the source of love. With this understanding, is there anything in your life that you need to change in order to better connect with God? The more specific, the more dynamic.
Read 1 Corinthians 13:1-7. What areas do you need to work on in your relationships so that you can better live a life of love, as reflected in these verses? How can you do this?
How can you be accountable to live a life of love right now? Can you think of anyone who could hold you accountable?
Ask yourself often, “What do I do and who do I do it for?”

Holy Spirit Part 2: His Work

it@xaatuva.com (Chi Alpha) — Tue, 31 Jul 2018 21:28:47 GMT

Explore the truths of who the Holy Spirit is and the fullness of His work.

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Theologian Alister McGrath once identified the Holy Spirit as “the Cinderella of the Trinity. The other two sisters”, he said, “may have gone to the theological ball; the Holy Spirit got left behind every time.” Ouch! The Holy Spirit is a mystery to us and He is often overlooked and misunderstood. Let’s take the opportunity to explore the truths of who the Holy Spirit is and the fullness of His work. The Holy Spirit is the third Person of the Trinity. He is the personal presence of the eternal God. He is the agent of God’s activity. As the agent of God, the Holy Spirit is always at work. He is the One who prompts us to understand our need for God. He increases our desire and ability to know God and His ways and to implement those ways in our lives.

The Indwelling of the Spirit

At conversion, the Holy Spirit comes and dwells inside of us as we ask Jesus to be Lord and Savior of our lives—we call this indwelling. We enter into new spiritual life through receiving the gift of salvation provided by the perfect sacrifice of Jesus Christ. 2 Corinthians 5:17 states this truth so beautifully: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!”

Transformation by the Spirit

At this point, our transformation through the Holy Spirit begins.

Gordon Fee writes, “However much we may wish it otherwise, when we receive the Spirit at conversion divine perfection does not set in, but divine “infection” does! We have been invaded by the living God himself, in the person of his Spirit, whose goal is to infect us thoroughly with God’s own likeness. Paul’s phrase for this infection is the fruit of the Spirit. The coming of the Spirit, with the renewing of our minds, gives us a heavenly appetite for this fruit. The growing of this fruit is the long way on the journey of Christian conversion, the “long obedience in the same direction,” and it is altogether the work of the Spirit in our lives.

These fruit cover a broad range, including all manner of attitudes, virtues, and behavior. Every aspect of Christian life, across the broadest possible spectrum, is the work of the Spirit. Fruit include the experiences of joy and peace within the believing community; attitudes such as gentleness, forbearance, and self-control; and behavior such as love, kindness, goodness, and all others consonant with these.”

This transformation by the Holy Spirit is a lifelong endeavor. There are profound pictures throughout scripture describing this process—the potter molding the clay, the master gardener in His vineyard, as well as the athlete training and finishing the race.

All of these scriptures help us come to an understanding of the transformation process that the Holy Spirit is completing. He is very “hands on” in our lives, as is the potter and the master gardener. Also, we have a significant role to play as well. We partner with the Spirit in our openness to Him and His promptings, our perseverance in implementing changes in our thoughts, habits, actions, and lifestyle.

There is an awesome mystery that comes within the process. Although He is working His same fruit within each of us, the ways, times, depths and seasons that He does this work is unique to each one of us.

The Holy Spirit is always at work. He works in seasons of ease in our lives, as well as seasons of difficulty.

George O. Wood writes, “If you think having the fruit of the Spirit in your life is only possible when you have a lot of time on your hands, an ability to spend hours sitting under a tree reading, then you don’t understand the fruit. If we all had this ideal environment, we could develop a semblance of the fruit of the Spirit. But the great thing about the fruit of the Spirit is that it operates in difficulties. It’s really seen most clearly then. In writing to the Galatians, Paul knew they had seen the fruit of the Spirit in his life when he had been under extreme pressure and adversity. God’s Spirit in us works whether the temperature is emotionally cold or hot. In all kinds of temperatures, the Spirit of God is seeking to bear fruit.”

The Gifts of the Spirit

Another major aspect of the Holy Spirit’s work is the giving of additional gifts for the advancement of the mission of the Church—to glorify God, to advance His Kingdom here on earth, and to edify and encourage the saints. All of these gifts are given out of love from our Heavenly Father to His children.

These gifts of the Spirit are given because of our human weakness. We have been given the awesome task of advancing His Kingdom. Only God has full understanding and knowledge, only God can accomplish the impossible. The gifts of the Spirit are given to help bless and strengthen us in the midst of our partnership with God to accomplish His mission.

These gifts are given to be ministered through love and sensitivity to others. God loves His Church to such a capacity that He desires to break through and directly communicate with His Church through the gift of prophecy. His Spirit within us so deeply desires to fully express worship, intercession, and adoration without being hindered by our limited understanding. So, God has given us the gift of public tongues and interpretation.

These gifts edify and build up the Church, encouraging the advancement of His Kingdom. A prophecy spoken in wisdom and love can deeply in a time of needed encouragement, direction, or clarification. As 1 Corinthians 14:3 explains, prophecies are given for another’s “strengthening, encouragement, and comfort.” A public tongue and interpretation can move a non-believer to the point of recognizing, as 2 Corinthians 14:25 states, that “God is really among you!”

What a truly remarkable God we have, to give such amazing gifts to His Church to help us accomplish His awesome task of advancing His Kingdom.

God desires for us to partner with Him and He gives us Himself, the presence of the Holy Spirit within us. But He doesn’t just leave us with this “divine infection,” He continues to grow His character in us through His continual transformation and through growing the fruit of the Spirit in our lives. Then, He further helps us accomplish His mission through the gifts of His Spirit working through our lives.

Relevant Scriptures

Indwelling Presence of the Spirit

John 3:3-8

Romans 8:11-16

2 Corinthians 5:17

Ephesians 1:13-14

Transformation by the Spirit/Fruit of the Spirit

Isaiah 64:8

John 15:1-8

1 Corinthians 9:24-27

2 Corinthians 3:18

Galatians 5:22-23

Titus 2:11-14

Gifts of the Spirit

Romans 12:6-8

1 Corinthians 12:4-11

1 Corinthians 12:27-31

1 Corinthians 14:1

Ephesians 4:11-13

Hebrews 2:3-4

Questions for Discussion

How has this article impacted the way that you understand the Holy Spirit and His work?
The article describes the Holy Spirit as “the Cinderella of the Trinity,” having been “left behind from going to the theological ball.” Which work of the Spirit are you most familiar with? Which work do you have the least understanding about?
Our relationship with the Holy Spirit is dynamic, and His work in our lives is constant. In light of this description, is there a character area of your life that you would like to invite the Holy Spirit to further transform?
Would you like to further understand or experience the gifts of the Spirit in your life?
What could be a next step for you in this area?

Holy Spirit Part 1: His Presence

it@xaatuva.com (Chi Alpha) — Tue, 31 Jul 2018 21:21:15 GMT

Who is the Holy Spirit? Discover the Spirit through the Scriptures.

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Who is the Holy Spirit and what does He do? Where does He fit in our understanding of our relationship with God?

The Gift of Presence

Presence is a delicious word—because it points to one of our truly great gifts. Nothing else can take the place of presence, not gifts, not telephone calls, not pictures, not mementos, nothing. Ask the person who has lost a lifelong mate what they miss the most; the answer is invariably “presence.” When we are ill, we don’t need soothing words nearly as much as we need loved ones to be present. What makes shared life—games, walks, concerts, outings, and a myriad of other things—so pleasurable? Presence.

God has made us this way, in his own image, because he himself is a personal, relational being. The great problem with the fall is that we lost not only our vision of God (that is, his true character has been distorted) but also our relationship with God, and thus no longer knew his abiding presence. For Paul the coming of Christ and the Spirit changed all of this forever.

Our images [of the Holy Spirit] are biblical, but they are also impersonal. He is wind, fire, water—comes to us as influence, or whatever. But he is not the one in whom and by whom we are sharing in the very love and grace and life of God himself. And I do not mean in some mystical way. Our problem is that the language of Father and Son evoke personal images; but Spirit evokes that which is intangible, not quite real. But, Paul’s prayer is that we might know the grace of Christ, the visible historical expression of the love of God, because as people of the Spirit we live in constant, empowering fellowship with God himself. This is how the loving God and the gracious Lord Jesus Christ are now present with us.

What Sets Us Apart as Christians?

God’s empowering presence—that is what “the fellowship of the Holy Spirit” means. God’s empowering presence: that the Spirit is the way God has come to us in the present age, to be with us, to indwell us—both corporately and individually—to fellowship with us, and to empower us for life in the present as we await the consummation [which is the return of Christ]. By the Spirit our lives are invaded by the living God himself. God himself is present in and among us. This, too, is an Old Testament theme that for Paul finds fulfillment in Christ and the Spirit.

The Spirit and the Scriptures

The theme begins in Genesis, in the Garden; the first result of the Fall was that the man and woman “hid themselves from the presence of God.” The presence of God is the key to our understanding the book of Exodus, and the awesome events of Sinai. God was present on the Mount, first in the bush that burned but was not consumed, later in great and awesome displays of power that Israel could not go near. But Moses was brought up to the Mount to be in the presence of God. There he received not only the Book of the Covenant, but the directions for building the Tabernacle, by which God’s presence was to leave the Mount, as it were, and accompany Israel. God’s presence among them—this was to mark off God’s people from the rest. But between the giving of the pattern for the Tabernacle, and its construction, there is the story of the debacle—Israel’s eating and playing in the presence of a golden calf.

In chapters 32-34 we see God’s response to this terrible sin. “You take them up,” God says to Moses; “my presence will not go with them.” “No,” Moses prays, “if, your Presence does not go with us, don’t take us up from here, for how else will anyone know that we are your people, and that you are pleased with us if your Presence does not go with us?” And God relents, and reveals himself to Moses in the awesome words of 34:6-7

“Yahweh, Yahweh, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for the thousandth generation, forgiving iniquity, transgression and sin, yet by no means clearing the guilty.”

Exodus then concludes with the construction of the Tabernacle, and the descent of God’s glory—the evidence of his presence among them.

Later, in Solomon’s Temple, God’s glory comes down again (as it did in the Tabernacle in Exodus 40)—God is now present with Israel in the Temple on Mount Zion. But there is continual failure in Israel, so finally Jeremiah prophesies that God will one day make a new covenant with his people, with Torah written on their hearts, which Ezekiel then picks up in terms of the Spirit. “I will put my Spirit within them,” says the Lord through Ezekiel. “I will make breath (my Spirit) come into you and you shall come to life,” he says to the dry bones. [...] [The Spirit takes what is dead and brings new life.]

This, then, is what Paul understands by the gift of the eschatological Spirit. The Spirit of promise, he calls him, i.e., the promised Holy Spirit—the gift of God’s own empowering presence. Thus, he pleads with the Corinthians, first corporately, then individually, “Do you not know that you, the church in Corinth, are God’s temple in Corinth, and you are that because God’s Spirit dwells in your midst?” “Do you not know,” he pleads later in the context of their sexual sin, “that your bodies are the temples of the Holy Spirit, who dwells within you?” And again, in 2 Corinthians, to some who are still flirting with idolatry, he urges, using all of this rich imagery: “What fellowship is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: ‘I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God and they will be my people ... I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.’”

“Since we have these promises, dear friends,” Paul concludes, “let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates flesh and Spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.” We ourselves, both individually and corporately, are the location of God’s presence—by his Spirit. God himself—in the person of the Spirit—indwells us for fellowship with him [...] and for life and service, as we are continually being transformed into God’s own likeness by the indwelling Spirit.

The Personhood of the Spirit

For Paul, the Spirit is not merely an impersonal force or influence or power. The Spirit is none other than the fulfillment of the promise that God himself would once again be present with his people. The implications of this are considerable, not only in terms of Paul’s understanding of God and the Spirit [...], but in terms of what it means for us individually and corporately to be the people of God [...]. The Spirit is God’s own personal presence in our lives and in our midst; he leads us into paths of righteousness for his name’s sake, [...] he is grieved when his people do not reflect his character and thus reveal his glory, and he is present in our worship, as we sing “praise and honor and glory and power” to God and the Lamb.

It is for God’s people of a later time like ours once more to grasp these realities by experiencing them, if we are truly to capture Paul’s understanding. Perhaps a beginning point for us would be to downplay the impersonal images (wind, fire, etc.), as rich as they are in terms of aspects of the Spirit’s ministry, and to retool our thinking in Paul’s own terms, where we understand and experience the Spirit as the personal presence of the eternal God.

Relevant Scriptures

Exodus 33:14-16

John 6:63

Romans 8:16

2 Corinthians 3:17-18

Questions for Discussion

Where have you seen the Holy Spirit work in your life?
Describe your theological understanding of the Holy Spirit. What is the most difficult to grasp?
How could this article impact your view of the Christian life?
The article described God’s desire to have His presence with us and within us through the Holy Spirit. How can you practice acknowledging and inviting God’s presence in your life?
If someone were to ask you to define what it means to be a Christian, what would you say? Would the Spirit’s presence be part of that definition?

Holy Spirit Part 3: His Baptism

it@xaatuva.com (Chi Alpha) — Tue, 31 Jul 2018 21:15:57 GMT

What happened on the Day of Pentecost, and what is the importance of baptism in the Holy Spirit?

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What is the baptism of the Spirit? How do we seek it? Is it even necessary, and should it be expected? These are questions that many Christians have regarding the Holy Spirit. We are going to take a look at Acts 1 and 2 to gain a deeper understanding of the role of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

Day of Pentecost

In Acts 1, after His resurrection, Jesus meets with the disciples one last time to pass on some vital information. In Acts 1:4 Jesus says, “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” Jesus knows that if the disciples are going to be able to fulfill their mission, they must receive something that is absolutely necessary.

This is pretty amazing! The disciples had touched Jesus, eaten with Jesus, and been taught by Jesus, God in the flesh, for the last three years. They had the best Core Group ever! But Jesus told them that they still lacked something. Their teaching would not be enough, their intellect wouldn’t be enough, their abilities wouldn’t be enough—they needed the Holy Spirit. Jesus knows that when we take the Holy Spirit out of the equation, we are limited to our natural abilities and natural intellect. As pastor Mark Batterson says, “Our testimony is limited to our words and our impact is limited to our abilities.”

So, Jesus tells the disciples that there is one absolute necessity for them, and for us, if the gospel is going to “go viral.” That necessity is the baptism of the Holy Spirit!

Acts is often called “The Acts of the Apostles.” This could more correctly be called “The Acts of the Holy Spirit through the Apostles,” because it’s through the supernatural empowerment of the Holy Spirit that the apostles accomplish their mission.

Let’s take a look at what happened on the day of Pentecost. Jesus’ followers are together on the morning of Pentecost, the spring harvest festival, and all of the sudden a violent and powerful wind blows through the room, and tongues of fire come to rest upon each of them. The Scripture says that all of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Holy Spirit enabled them.

As the disciples were speaking in other tongues (apparently really loudly), a crowd formed to find out what the loud sound was. When these people from the nations gathered around, they were utterly amazed, because they heard Galileans speaking in their own languages, proclaiming the praises of God.

We see tongues throughout the book of Acts, but this is the only instance in which tongues is described as an intelligible language. This is the exception with tongues. Usually when speaking in tongues is mentioned in Scripture, the language is not a recognizable earthly language. This reflects Paul’s thoughts in 1 Corinthians 13:1, “If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels…”, that tongues is perhaps an angelic language.

So, how did the crowd respond to this scene on the day of Pentecost? In Acts 2, we read that some people in the crowd were “utterly amazed and perplexed” at what was happening. They didn’t understand what God was doing—they didn’t even know how to wrap their minds around it. At the same time, they had an attitude of amazement toward what God was doing. This is most people’s response the first time they encounter a powerful work of the Holy Spirit, such as speaking in tongues.

There were others in the midst of this powerful, explosive event who simply made fun of the disciples and mocked them for speaking in tongues as they were empowered by the Holy Spirit. These people said, “They have had too much wine.”

In the midst of the amazed, perplexed, and mocking crowd, Peter stands up and begins to explain what is happening. The wavering wimp, Peter, who had denied Jesus three times, now stands up and courageously preaches, full of the Holy Spirit. Peter tells the crowd that what they see and hear is what the prophet Joel prophesied hundreds of years ago, when he said, “In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people.”

Throughout the Old Testament, only a select few were empowered by the Holy Spirit for works of service. Specifically, we see that the Holy Spirit empowers three kinds of people—prophets, priests and kings/leaders. The Spirit comes upon them to empower them to fulfill God’s mission. At any given point there were only a few people alive who were empowered by the Spirit for works of service.

Peter’s declaration is that the day has arrived when God will pour out His Spirit, not just on a select few, but on all people! The male and the female, the young and the old, the servants and the free! Peter says that everyone can now experience the empowerment of the Spirit and experience gifts such as prophecy, dreams, and visions. For Peter, Joel’s prophecy is a trajectory verse for the last days—that includes us!

So, the first evidences we see when the Holy Spirit is poured out in power are charismatic gifts (the gifts of the Holy Spirit)—but empowerment with the gifts is not an end in itself. Sometimes I feel this is where Pentecostals fall short. The baptism of the Holy Spirit is not just about inner transformation—the work of empowerment God does in us is for a specific purpose. That purpose is to be equipped to accomplish His will. Let’s look at what else happened on Pentecost.

In verses 22–36, Peter stands up and preaches a powerful Christ-centered message. Those who heard the message were “cut to the heart”! Peter’s preaching was so powerfully anointed by the Holy Spirit that the convicting work of the Holy Spirit came as he spoke the word of God. This is something our words alone can’t do. Through the Holy Spirit, our testimony is not limited to our words. The Holy Spirit can take our words and use them to bring such conviction that they “cut to the heart.”

When the crowd heard Peter’s anointed message, their response was, “What shall we do?” Peter tells them to repent of their sin and turn to Jesus, and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. That day 3,000 people put their faith in Jesus and became part of the church family! On the day of Pentecost, we see the Holy Spirit’s power though His gifts, which led to powerful proclamation of the gospel, which led to repentance and transformed lives. What happened after the day of Pentecost? How did the Holy Spirit’s empowerment continue to impact the early church?

We see in Acts 2:42–47 that the new believers were devoted followers of Jesus Christ! Their lives had changed. When you think about it, it is amazing that the 120 apostles impacted the 3,000, and not the other way around. This can only be explained by the power of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit’s power produced transformed lives that lived deeply with one another, that were generous, and were outreach oriented. The chapter ends with a statement of how the gospel was going viral: “And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.”

Importance of Holy Spirit Baptism

In Acts 1 and 2, we see Jesus promise the disciples the “gift of the Father”—that they will be “baptized with the Holy Spirit.” When this promise is fulfilled on the day of Pentecost, Peter and the rest of the disciples are transformed and equipped to carry out the Great Commission. From that event, the church explodes and the trajectory of the Gospel is set. Throughout the book of Acts, we see other instances in which believers are baptized in the Holy Spirit and gifts of the Spirit are evident. This experience of the baptism of the Holy Spirit for empowerment to be a witness is available for us today. The result of baptism in the Holy Spirit, as is demonstrated in Acts, will be greater accessibility to the gifts of the Spirit, increased fruit of the Spirit, and a greater ability to witness.

There is controversy regarding when and how the baptism in the Holy Spirit takes place, and if Acts 2 is a model. The question debated is as follows: “Is the work of the Holy Spirit described in Acts 2 the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit that happens at conversion, or does Acts 2 describes a post conversion baptism in the Holy Spirit, separate from regeneration?” There are people who love Jesus and study their Bible on both sides of this issue.

First, the Bible clearly teaches that all Christians are “born again” and receive the regenerational work of the Spirit at the moment of salvation. However, we see in the book of Acts is a separate and often subsequent work of the Holy Spirit. This work is available to every believer for an increased effectiveness in witness. We need this empowerment because of our weakness. Baptism in the Holy Spirit is not a spiritual merit badge, signifying some great spiritual accomplishment—it is a step toward surrendering our weakness to God’s care, so that His Spirit may work more fully in us. Therefore, a believer who is baptized in the Spirit is no better than a believer who has not experienced the baptism yet. We can be grateful for the baptism in the Spirit, because that experience has helped us in our weaknesses. It has not, however, made us categorically superior to other Christians. We are all weak, broken individuals in need of our Savior and the power of the Holy Spirit to live for God’s glory. Admitting that weakness and surrendering our pride is one of the first steps in seeking the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

There are three reasons in Scripture that point to the baptism in the Holy Spirit is separate and subsequent to conversion:

We several instances in Scripture in which believers (baptized in some cases), who were following Jesus experienced the baptism of the Holy Spirit. For instance, the disciples had already received the regeneration of the Holy Spirit when the day of Pentecost came. After Jesus’ resurrection, but before Pentecost, “Jesus breathed on them [disciples] and said, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit.’” In the Garden of Eden, God breathed into Adam and gave him life—after Jesus’ resurrection He breathed on His disciples and gave them eternal life through the regeneration of the Holy Spirit! Yet, it is not until the day of Pentecost that the disciples are filled, or baptized, with the Holy Spirit.
Secondly, while it may seem to us that a package deal of regeneration/baptism in the Holy Spirit would be a bit cleaner, we must realize that regeneration and baptism as separate experiences is actually consistent with the whole counsel of Scripture. In the Old Testament, we see individuals empowered by the Holy Spirit, but who have not been regenerated by the Holy Spirit like a New Testament believer. In other words, they are not “born again” in the Old Testament, but they are empowered. So, the idea of the baptism of the Holy Spirit being a separate work from regeneration in the New Testament (and today) is consistent with what we see in the Old Testament.
Finally, when we see Jesus prepare His disciples for the day of Pentecost in Acts 1, Jesus focuses on the missional purpose of the day of Pentecost and the baptism in the Holy Spirit. When regeneration and empowerment get lumped together, we lose the focus on the Holy Spirit’s missional work. The salvation experience is about receiving new life and entering into a relationship where God is your Father. The baptism in the Holy Spirit is about being empowered for witness.

It’s important to note, not all Bible-believing Christians agree on this viewpoint. Remember, God desires unity for His Church, and we can fellowship and love on our family in Christ who believe different things and are earnestly seeking God alongside us.

Next Steps

Most striking about the story of Pentecost is how the Holy Spirit used Peter. This is such a powerful picture of the difference the empowerment of the Spirit makes in our lives. In the gospels, Peter is a wavering wimp who can’t even stand up to a servant girl. In Acts, we see him, full of the Holy Spirit, stand up in the midst of mockers and preach a powerfully anointed message which results in 3,000 people being saved!

No matter where you stand theologically on this topic, studying the first two chapters of Acts can prompt you to open your heart more to the Holy Spirit, and to hunger for more of the Holy Spirit’s work in your life. None of us can say that we have experienced all the Holy Spirit has to offer to us! Let’s keep seeking together.

If the baptism of the Holy Spirit is a new concept to you, and you would like to seek it out, try reading through the book of Acts and observing how the Holy Spirit works. Also, talk to a friend who has experienced the baptism of the Spirit and hear their story. Spend time in prayer and worship asking God to reveal more of His Spirit to you, and ask for the baptism.

The Holy Spirit it not a Pentecostal, Baptist, or Presbyterian doctrine. The Holy Spirit’s power and presence is a Christian doctrine—one not to just be recited in a creed, but to be experienced in our lives. May we seek the Holy Spirit and always keep in step with Him.

Relevant Scriptures
Joel 2:28–32
Acts 1–2
1 Corinthians 13–14

Questions for Discussion

Can you think of a time when the Holy Spirit has helped you in your weakness?
On the day of Pentecost, there were those who experienced God’s empowerment, those who observed and were amazed and perplexed, and those who made fun of the scene. Which of those three groups (one, several, all) do you relate with?
What steps could you take to get to know the Holy Spirit better? To open yourself to the gifts of the Spirit and baptism in the Spirit?

Recommended Reading

Want More by Tim Enloe

The Charismatic Theology of St. Luke by Roger Stronstad

Holy Spirit Seminar Audio (at xaatuva.com/audio-archive)

Helping Students with Life-Controlling Issues

it@xaatuva.com (Chi Alpha) — Tue, 31 Jul 2018 21:01:18 GMT

This resource is meant to be a guide to help walk with someone out of an addictive or perpetual life issue and into the freedom Jesus offers.

Download Helping Students with Life-Controlling Issues

Someone confessed to you a major issue that is addictive or perpetual in their life. Now what?

This resource is meant to be a guide to help walk with someone into the freedom Jesus offers (John 8:31-36). It is suggested that you look over this resource before your meeting, and become familiar with it so that you do not need to bring the papers with you. Be prepared so that the Spirit can remind you of things in your meeting! In no way must you go through all this material in four sessions, nor does every person need all of the information. Pray, and listen to the Holy Spirit before your meeting. Perhaps you should focus on one or two things for each meeting. Less can be more - so the student doesn’t walk away overwhelmed. If at any time you feel inadequate or over your head, please talk to someone on staff.

“For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say “no” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age” Titus 2:11-12.

Please note that the order of these meetings can be adjusted to suit the individual’s greatest need at the time. But ultimately all of these sessions are helpful in seeing people walk in freedom.

Initial Conversation

Usually, you can start by interviewing him or her and asking questions to help them process their experiences and their past. As you speak truth into their lives, remember that sometimes, less is more. Sometimes bite-sized, timely truths are what we need most. Then, respond and plan for this time together. Lastly, don’t forget to pray! Never underestimate what can happen in times of prayer.

Three Aspects of Life-Controlling Issues

Flesh. We are told to crucify it and flee from it. (Read 2 Tim. 2:22, Gal. 5:16, Rom. 6.)
Demonic. Resist the devil and he will flee. (Read 1 Pet. 5:9, Jas. 4:7.)
World. We’re told to renew our minds. (Read Rom. 12:2.)

First Meeting: A Radical Step

In the first meeting, give them a space to confess. Then affirm them for getting their sin out of darkness and into the light (1 Jn 1:7-9). Ask some follow up questions. When did it start? Read Genesis 4:7 together and talk about when the door opened to sin. This is a great point to talk about the danger of opening doors. How does someone go from a faithful and free believer to bound in habitual sin? Small compromises in their walk with God leads to opening the door to sin. Ask when the sin happens and where. Read Luke 4:13. You’re looking to identify opportune times. Scripture says that the devil knows them, so should we. In your conversation, look for where there are patterns that need to be broken and for what may be a symptom of the issue versus the root (i.e. fear, pain, loneliness, control, etc.).

I talk about how Jesus taught us to take radical steps to get rid of sin from our lives. Mark 9:43-49, Matthew 5:29-30. For them to get free it is going to take some dramatic steps on their part! How committed are they to freedom? What are they willing to do to see it happens? (i.e. for porn—where they will put their computer, covenanteyes.com, etc). Talk about concrete steps they can take to be victorious this week! Crucial pieces of a good plan include accountability, spiritual disciplines (as in Jn. 15), a radical step, a plan for alternative response, and what the ramifications will be if they do not walk out the plan. Remember, this can take time and patience. With habitual sin, a path has already been formed and beaten down, and it takes time and discipline to create a new path.

End the meeting by praying for them to be cleansed. Pray that the door to this sin in their life will be closed and for God to deliver them and empower them to be victorious. Invite them to close out in prayer, and agree with them as they pray!

Second Meeting: Godly Sorrow

Open the meeting by asking how they have been doing. Celebrate victories and talk about defeats. Talk about what they can learn from this week’s experiences. Talk about the difference between godly sorrow and worldly sorrow over sin. Read 1 Corinthians 7:10 together. Other examples you can use are the life of Saul in 1 Samuel 15:30 and David in Psalm 51. See how Saul and David responded differently when they had sinned.

Worldly sorrow is that sense of sadness because you got caught or because you were forced to give up what you really wanted to do. Such sorrow is self-centered and does not call an evil thing evil. Worldly sorrow is reluctant to change—you change because you have to but not because you really want to. They don’t understand just how ugly their sin is.

Godly sorrow is the sorrow leads to life. It causes us to see vividly our need for a savior and for forgiving grace. Our guilt actually functions as a blessed grace because it wakes us up to our need for Christ and leads us to salvation. Basically we see our sin for how evil it truly is and how it offends God and God is the focus of our sorrow and the effects that our sin has. For them to get freedom, it is imperative that they enter into true repentance, which comes from godly sorrow. You can also use the Jacob stew illustration from Genesis. Talk to them about the deception of sin and how it leaves us feeling empty and doesn’t really satisfy but leaves us feeling regret. Use this to lead into a conversation about the consequences of sin.

Sin affects our walk with God. It doesn’t end our relationship but definitely hinders our fellowship with God. We lose the joy of our salvation. (Read Ps. 51, Eph. 4:20.) Talk about God’s view of sin and how to fear the Lord is to hate evil (Eph. 2:1-3, Rom. 6:11-23, and 2 Tim. 2:26). Talk about the ramifications of sin on our relationships (Gal. 6:7-8). When we intentionally resist the convicting work of the Holy Spirit in our lives, we lose sensitivity to the Holy Spirit which is the key to the Christian life. This helps them to have the courage to walk in holiness. When the cause is greater than the circumstances, they will have courage. End your meeting by praying together. Encourage them to write down how God sees the sin/issue and how it impacts all circles of relationships and people, both present and future.

Third Meeting: Power and Process

Open this meeting by asking them how they’ve been doing. Celebrate victories, talk about defeats, and see what you can learn from them! Review what they wrote down about God’s view of their sin/issue and talk it tout. Encourage them to read it often to renew their mind. This could be part of their daily devotional life routine.

Talk about the importance of both the power and the process to walk in freedom. Read Acts 19:8-12. Paul was a person of the process, purposeful and persistent, and He saw God’s power. It was the combination that brought a revival to Ephesus. Read Matthew 12:43-45. This person was freed from the demoniac and experienced God’s power, but it was not followed up by a walk with God so the house was left unoccupied. The process puts us in position to receive God’s power and then the process helps us walk out what God has done! The process is like the bread that holds the meat of the power to make a life-changing sandwich.

Encourage them to memorize and immerse themselves in Scripture. You can use Psalm 119:9,11 and Psalm 1 as references. The power of Scripture memory can’t be underestimated! After all, Jesus used Scripture to overcome temptation.

Talk about how we must detox and starve the flesh of its sinful cravings. We have to come to terms with the fact that the choices we make will help us walk in freedom or stay in bondage. They can’t makebad choices and then blame God for not delivering them. It comes down to the Principle of the Path. Your destination is determined by your direction, not your intentions (via Andy Stanley).

End your meeting by praying together over the direction of the upcoming week.

Fourth Meeting: Forgiveness

Ask them how they’ve been doing! Celebrate victories and talk through defeats. Remember to celebrate even what feels like the smallest victory to them. That is a step forward in the process!

Focus your conversation this week on forgiveness. Talk about the necessity of forgiving yourself, and how we experience Christ’s forgiveness in our lives. Read 1 Kings 15:5. This is a powerful verse in that God considered David’s failure “the exception not the rule.” We tend to be people who define ourselves by the exceptions in our lives. Often our own inability to forgive ourselves is our own pride that wants to pay the price for our own sin. If we do this, we are saying the price that Jesus paid on the cross was not enough. Jesus paid it all! We must be people who take grace seriously.

In Isaiah 1:18, Isaiah shares that God forgives us and washes us white as snow, not white as a peach. Talk about the significance of this in your meeting. John 1:9 talks about how we are not just forgiven, we are also purified. Read these verses and talk together about what it means for us to live a forgiven and purified life.

Continual Meetings

For the rest of the time you meet up, you will keep them accountable to the process. You will remind them of the truth you may have already covered, or other passages from Scripture. Sometimes it takes a while for truth to go from our heads to our hearts! Remember Titus 2:11-12, it’s only by God’s grace we can live godly lives!

Having Spiritual Conversations

it@xaatuva.com (Chi Alpha) — Tue, 31 Jul 2018 20:50:39 GMT

If you want to share the Gospel with a friend, how to do you start to open up conversation? This resource has helpful tips for opening up the opportunity for spiritual conversation.

Download Having Spiritual Conversations

Why is Environment Important?

Many people we hope to reach for Jesus react defensively. They anticipate and are amply prepared for any direct attack on the holy places and sacred shrines of their hearts. Ecclesiastes 3:11 reminds us that God has given us all an inner drive to know and be known by Him. We just receive the joy and responsibility of helping to draw that out in others.

We do this by creating a safe space for an exchange of wondering questions that lead to spiritual conversations.

How Do I Create an Environment for Conversation?

The best spiritual conversations happen in a place where the other person feels comfortable. Be attentive to location, who is around you, lighting, etc.

Be genuine and truly interested in what others think and feel! People typically reciprocate curiosity and interest in what you think, and you get to set the tone of interest, first.

Remember, not-yet Christians and seekers aren’t the enemy! Don’t treat them like one. Remember and pray about the spiritual reality of the enemy of our souls who does not want your new friend to know God. He’s the actual enemy.

Be persistent in relationship. Over time, even skeptical and cynical people take note of something they know is not of this world.

Don’t feel like you have to force God into the picture. He’s always with you, and all good wondering questions eventually lead to God!

Lastly, remember that what we cherish most, we notice most. We get to live in a way that can draw others closer to God and make this a priority!

Having Spiritual Conversations

Galatians 5:25 encourages us to keep in step with the Spirit. Don’t drop an entire theology lesson on someone who asked one spiritual question! In fact, in most of our conversations, questions are more important than answers. Sometimes people aren’t ready for answers, and you get to walk with them through the question!

Prepare spiritual “appetizers” beforehand. Think about some short stories that could pique spiritual curiosity, keep dialogue flowing, and demonstrate the relevance of Christ in our lives. Pro-tip: before you offer a story, ask permission! Keep it short and relevant to the topic at hand.

Know that a timely Scripture can connect more to a heart than a lifetime of sermons. Memorize a few Scriptures for this purpose!

Don’t attempt to win a conversation. This may mean losing opportunities for future interactions with that person. 2 Timothy 2:23-25 also warns us not to have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments. Stay focused on the point!

Don’t be parental during conversations. Approach questions as a peer who desires to learn about the other person. Share about yourself, too!

Learn to translate spiritual truths into everyday vernacular. Don’t use Christianese! This could make spiritual matters inaccessible to the other person.

Lastly, as you bring up the gospel, use discernment to figure out if your friend is ready to hear this spiritual truth. We hear truth when our heads and hearts are bowed toward God in the humility that comes from understanding our brokenness.

What About Rebuilding a Fractured Relationship?

If a bridge is broken, it’s unrealistic to think that it’s going to be rebuilt from the other side. Make the effort in the relationship!

Take the position of humility and abandon your “weapons.” Interact with this friend with joy and take courage! Failure is rarely final or fatal, but simply an opportunity to begin again with more wisdom and discernment about approaching that particular relationship.

What Are Good Wondering Questions?

What is the greatest piece of wisdom someone has ever passed on to you?
What is the most important lesson you’ve learned in life so far?
Have you ever had anyone approach you and try to talk to you about God? What feelings did you have afterward?
Why do you think there are so many religions? Do you think it’s possible for them all to equally be right?
Have you ever been able to get a handle on what you think your purpose is in life?
Do you believe there is a solution to social problems such as murder, famine, rape, racism, or divorce?
Have you ever had an experience where you felt the presence of evil? The presence of God?
What causes you to struggle the most with the idea of God’s existence?
Why do you think so many couples end up falling out of love? Is this true love?
What would you want God to do to validate his existence and bring you to belief?
As people get to know you, in what area do you feel most misunderstood?
If you could ask God three questions, what would you ask?

Global Missions: Part 2

it@xaatuva.com (Chi Alpha) — Tue, 31 Jul 2018 20:42:41 GMT

Explore the avenues of involvement in missions, and consider which roles you will take as you priortize God's global plan.

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Ingrained in the minds of many Christians is the idea that to be involved in mission work means one thing only: living overseas long-term. This is an unhealthy way to approach missions because it excludes most people. Even those that go long-term will eventually come home and need to appropriate their vision in another way. If it is an attribute of God to desire the redemption of all nations, then it must be cultivated into every one of His followers as an attribute. That is why it is vital to the Church that other avenues of involvement in missions are explored. The following habits are not to be viewed in terms of “which one is for me?” The idea is that a person who prioritizes God’s global plan will do all or most of them.

The main habits of missions are:

1. Going
2. Praying
3. Giving
4. Welcoming

Going

This habit is most commonly associated with missions. In the past and even still today when someone thinks about missions this is the most natural association. A definition of the goer is the person physically present, laboring on the mission field. Going may mean a short- term trip or an extended amount of time. Ultimately, the goer is willing to completely immerse themselves in an unfamiliar culture with the intention of furthering the gospel in that culture. They are innovative, low maintenance, steadfast, and persevere with little fellowship.

In Exodus 3:7-10, God mentions nine different times to Moses that He is concerned with the Israelites and their condition as slaves and is getting ready to bring them into the Promised Land. God speaks to Moses. Look at Moses’ reaction, “But Moses said to God, ‘Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?’” (Ex. 3:11). Sounds like us sometimes, doesn’t it?

Our temptation is to focus on ourselves and our insufficiency! We think there is no way God could want us involved and so many of us never enjoy the blessing of participating. Look at God’s reaction; He puts the focus back on Himself in the next verse, “I will be with you” (Ex. 3:12). Before Robert Morrison left to be the first Bible translator in China, someone asked if he really thought he could change the 2,000 year problem of idolatry in China; his response, “No I don’t, but I expect God can.”

Praying

A passage that challenges us to pray for the world is found in Matthew 9:36-38, “When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.’” Jesus saw the vastness of lost souls compared to the scarcity of the laborers and He looks to the disciples and says, “Ask.” What a powerful image! Not go, or preach, or have a conference, but ask.

Let’s evaluate our own prayer lives and see if we come to God with our desires or if we are concerned with His. Obviously, we need to pray for ourselves and yes, we need to lift up our family and friends, but God also desires that we join together and intercede on behalf of all nations and beg Him to send forth laborers into the field.

Giving

Paul the Apostle has an interesting observation, “And how can they preach unless they are sent?” (Rom. 10:15). The unreached do not have a chance at hearing the gospel if there are not people on the home front funding and praying for those that are going. It is like asking the question, “which is more important, the rescuer who goes down into the well to save a life or the man at the top holding the rope?” You can’t have one without the other. There was a principle in Israelite warfare, “The share of the man who stayed with the supplies is to be the same as that of him who went down to the battle. All will share alike” (1 Sam. 30:24-25). Why? Because they are equally important in God’s army.

In our culture we think we are entitled to live at whatever standard matches our income. Our reasoning is that since a person makes $60,000 a year, they should live at $60,000. When a person gets a raise, their standard of living gets a raise too! Maybe when a Christian gets a raise or comes into unexpected financial gain, God intends that person to be a resource for someone else! This thinking is so contrary to our culture.

Welcoming

America hosts a large number of internationals—the world is at our doorstep! Over 650,000 international students and scholars are studying here from 188 countries of the world. What a perfect opportunity to extend God’s grace and love to the world! And you don’t even have to leave. The Welcomer gets his name from the idea that he welcomes those from other countries to his country.

The foreigner is close to the Lord’s heart. Over forty times in the Old Testament alone we are commanded to care for the foreigner in our land,

“The alien living with you must be treated as one of your native-born. Love him as yourself, for you were aliens in Egypt. I am the Lord your God.” Leviticus 19:34.

“He defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and loves the alien, giving him food and clothing. And you are to love those who are aliens, for you yourselves were aliens in Egypt.” Deuteronomy 10:18-20.

God reminds the Israelites of their past exile in Egypt so that they will be motivated to love the foreigners, for they once were foreigners. Similarly, we should be reminded of our past, how we were foreigners to God and yet he had mercy on us. [...]

Everyone can be a welcomer. All it takes is a little time, energy and a willingness to say hello.

Relevant Scriptures

Deuteronomy 10:18-20

1 Samuel 30:24-25

Matthew 9:36-38

Romans 10:15

Questions for Discussion

How has this article broadened your ideas about your involvement in global missions?
Of the four habits discussed in this article, what do you think are your strongest habits currently? How are these being implemented in your life?
What is a habit that you would like to grow in?
What could be the next step for your growth in this habit?

Give a Year: Heart Issues

it@xaatuva.com (Chi Alpha) — Tue, 31 Jul 2018 20:34:17 GMT

Thinking about giving a year to missions? Check out this resource to prepare you for the journey!

Download Give a Year: Heart Issues

So, you’re thinking of giving a year, and praying about a lifetime. Still, there are those nagging questions. Am I doing this for the right reasons? Do I have a sound and righteous perspective for what this year will look like? Am I going in order to serve the nation and not to actualize a goal in my own life?

Remember John 12:24

“Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.”

We, too, are called to die to ourselves and our expectations for our lives. Instead, we are called to embrace God’s direction for our lives and with it, the successes and failures, desolations and connections that might exist within it. Going into a give-a-year with your own expectations of what will happen is a surefire way to be disappointed quickly. But going in to a year with a heart bowed in anticipation for God’s plans will result in peace through turmoil and a righteous joy in whatever victories you may experience!

Three Expectations

There are three expectations you should have about giving a year and praying about a lifetime in order to gain an honest vision. You should expect to die daily to these three things.

You need to die to the expectation of the experiences you will have. It will be hard and your experiences will not always be easy. If you are going because you think it will be full of glorious encounters you will be very disappointed. But if you go with expectations that it will be hard and stretching and uncomfortable and sacrificial, then when you have great experiences you will say “wow, how blessed I am that I get to experience this”.... versus be bitter when your experience doesn’t match what you had hoped.

You need to die to your expectation of the missionaries you will serve. You need to go with a heart to serve the missionary and not with an expectation of what you will get from the missionary. Then when you do receive something from the missionary you will be grateful for what was provided and not disappointed you didn’t get more from them.

You need to die to your expectation of the fruit you will bear. You need to go with a sense that you will serve but not that you will be lauded as God’s gift the nation you are serving. As you serve and you see the miracles that God does actually use you in, then you will be excited and thankful that God used you in even one small way instead of disappointed that you didn’t see the masses impacted.

If you die to these things, then you will be dying to self. You will experience the transformation that the Lord wants to bring in your life, and you will be grateful and thankful versus frustrated and disappointed. It starts with what expectations you bring to the year! Take time to pray right now. Lord, what are my expectations? Will you help me to die to them today? Create in me a new heart and a renewed mind that I may serve you fully!

Faith

it@xaatuva.com (Chi Alpha) — Tue, 31 Jul 2018 20:03:37 GMT

Why we can trust God with our prayers, no matter how impossible the odds are.

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Impossible Odds

One of the most exhilarating things in the world is doing something that no one thinks you can do. As a kid I turned everything into a challenge. It didn’t matter whether were driving in the car, taking a bike ride, or eating dinner. Do you think I can hold my breath through the tunnel? Do you think I can do a pop-a-wheelie to the end of the block? Do you think I can eat a kitchen-sink ice cream sundae in thirty seconds?

If someone said yes, I wouldn’t even bother trying. What’s the point of doing something that someone already thinks you can do? So I’d up the ante or raise the stakes until no one thought it was possible. Then I would attempt the impossible. Is there any greater high than doing what no one thinks you can do?

Maybe that’s why God sometimes invites us to defy impossible odds. Maybe it is one way He can show us His omnipotence. Maybe God allows the odds to be stacked against us so He can reveal more of His glory. [...]

Too often our prayers revolve around asking God to reduce the odds in our lives. We want everything in our favor. But maybe God wants to stack the odds against us so we can experience a miracle of divine proportions. Maybe faith is trusting God no matter how impossible the odds are. Maybe our impossible situations are opportunities to experience a new dimension of God’s glory. Here is the mistake most of us make when it comes to God: We think of Him in four-dimensional terms. But God is omni-dimensional. [...]

Four-Dimensional God

I am limited to three space dimensions, which simply means that I can only be in one place at one time. And I am limited to one time dimension, which means I am stuck in a moment and I can’t get out of it. I cannot travel into the past or the future because, in one dimension, time is linear. But God is everywhere all the time.

Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. [Gen 1:2]

In the beginning, the Spirit of God was hovering over the chaos. And nothing has changed. God is still hovering over chaos. The creation story is a microcosm of what God wants to do in your life. He hovers over the chaotic situations ready to create order and beauty. He wants to fill the void. [...]

A High View of God

Maybe it’s time to stop placing four-dimensional limits on God. Maybe it’s time to stop putting God in a box the size of your cerebral cortex. Maybe it’s time to stop creating God in your image and let Him create you in His. The more we grow, the bigger God should get. [...]

Degree of Difficulty

We tend to rank miracles. Almost like a judge at a gymnastics competition that ranks a routine based on degree of difficulty, we rank our prayer requests. We have big requests andlittle requests. We have easy requests and difficult requests. But that is a false construct. The truth is this: To the infinite all finites are equal. There is no big or small, easy or difficult, possible or impossible. When it comes to God, there are no degrees of difficulty. There are no odds when it comes to God. All bets are off.

What were the odds of Jesus feeding the five thousand people with five loaves and two fish? Let’s just say each loaf of bread or each fish is equal to one meal. Then I’m guessing the odds were approximately five thousand to seven. And to the disciples, that seemed like an insurmountable problem: “Eight months’ wages would not buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!”

You can almost see the disciples trying to crunch the numbers, but any way you slice five loaves and filet two fish, you still come up 4,993 meals short. It just doesn’t add up. 5 + 2 = 7.

Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed them to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish. When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, “Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.” So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten.

In God’s economy, 5 + 2 = 5,000 with a remainder of 12. They actually end up with more than what they started with after feeding five thousand people. And God is glorified because He defied impossible odds. [...] The issue is this: How big is your God?

Relevant Scriptures

Matthew 17:20

Matthew 21:21

Hebrews 11

1 Peter 1:7

Questions for Discussion

What is faith, in your own words?
How big is your God? Do you have a high view of God that increases your faith?
When have you seen God do the impossible in your life or in the life of someone around
you?
Where in your life do you put “God in a box the size of your cerebral cortex”?
Are there any areas where you are believing that God can do the impossible?
What can you do to increase your faith?

Recommended Reading
In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day by Mark Batterson

25 Essential Christian Books

it@xaatuva.com (Chi Alpha) — Tue, 31 Jul 2018 19:50:23 GMT

This excellent book list is a great resource to kick start your spiritual reading time.

Download 25 Essential Christian Books

These 25 books are essential reads for any Christian. This list was compiled from various campus pastors who were deeply impacted by these books.

Pursuit of God - AW Tozer

Knowledge of the Holy - AW Tozer

The Christ of the Indian Road - E Stanley Jones

Christ and Human Suffering - E Stanley Jones

Unshakable Kingdom - E Stanley Jones

Practice of the Presence of God - Brother Lawrence

Humility - Andrew Murray

The Greatest Thing in the World - Henry Drummond

The God They Never Knew - George Otis Jr.

Mere Christianity - CS Lewis

The Weight of Glory - CS Lewis

Screwtape Letters - CS Lewis

True Spirituality - Francis Schaeffer

The Normal Christian Life - Watchman Nee

The Cross and the Switchblade - David Wilkerson

Bruchko - Bruce Olson

Peace Child - Don Richardson

Through the Gates of Splendor - Elizabeth Elliot

Counterfeit Gods - Timothy Keller

Disordered Eating Self-Test

it@xaatuva.com (Chi Alpha) — Tue, 31 Jul 2018 19:39:52 GMT

Use this self-evaluation to help determine if disordered eating is prevalent in your life; this is not designed to take the place of professional diagnosis or consultation.

Download Disordered Eating Self-Test

Disordered Eating is not always manifested as an obvious issue. This self-evaluation is to help determine if Disordered Eating is prevalent in your life. Disordered Eating appears through a variety of symptoms. This test is not designed to diagnose an eating disorder or to take the place of a professional diagnosis or consultation. If the results indicate abnormal eating habits, please connect with your Core Group leader or a Chi Alpha staff member. If your results are urgent, please contact a doctor and/or a counselor.

Mark the following items True or False as accurately, honestly, and completely as possible:

T F Even though people tell me I’m thin, I feel fat.

T F I get anxious if I can’t exercise.

T F I worry about what I will eat.

T F If I gain weight, I get anxious and depressed.

T F I feel guilty when I eat.

T F I get anxious when people watch me eat.

T F I would rather not live than be fat.

T F I avoid eating when I am hungry.

T F I am aware of the calorie content of foods that I eat.

T F I would rather eat by myself than with family or friends.

T F I don’t talk much about my fear of being fat because no one understands how I feel.

T F I have a secret stash of food.

T F When I eat, I am afraid I won’t be able to stop.

T F I lie about what I eat.

T F I get anxious when people urge me to eat.

T F I won’t admit it to anyone, but sometimes I think that my eating or exercising is not normal.

Results

Count up the answers marked True and see below:

1-3: Some preoccupation with weight and appearance. Reevaluate. Be aware this could become an issue in your life. Make an effort to not lose control.

4-6: There is a reason for concern. Please check with your doctor and a counselor.

7 or more: Please make an appointment right now with your doctor and a counselor for a thorough evaluation. It is critical you receive help as soon as possible.

Discerning God's Will

it@xaatuva.com (Chi Alpha) — Tue, 31 Jul 2018 19:36:16 GMT

How does God guide us in wisdom?

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In his book, Just Do Something , Kevin DeYoung starts by posing a question. “If God loves me and has a wonderful plan for my life, then why doesn’t He tell me what it is? Have you ever felt that way?”

Often we are paralyzed by all of the potential options we have in our culture today. There are hundreds of possible career opportunities. There are thousands of possible mates. It seems like having a plethora of choices would be liberating, but in actuality it has proved to be agonizing and debilitating at times. Because we know that to say yes to one thing is to say no to 100 other things.

As a result, we come to God and we want Him to just tell us what to do. And we want Him to tell us in a way that is unmistakable. If we are really honest, part of the reason is because we don’t want to carry the responsibility of making decisions ourselves. We don’t want to think we could have messed up our lives. And if God will just tell us, well, then it is His responsibility and we are just being obedient.

What if there is a different way? What if God’s will isn’t so mysterious?

Here is the big revolutionary part of this article: Most of the time, God’s way of guidance is not through subjective or crisis experiences. His usual way of guidance is through wisdom! He guides us through transforming our heart and mind through the power of His Spirit and through the instruction of Scripture. Instead of just feeding us all the answers, He gives us His heart and His mind so that we can make good decisions in wisdom.

God doesn’t expect us to grope around in the dark for some hidden will or direction. Our lives are not a tightrope act where we have to nail every step of the way or we mess up our lives and plunge to our demise. We don’t see that in Scripture. Instead, we should start looking to our glorious and loving God, and know that He is the one who holds our future and we can trust Him even when we don’t know what that may hold. What I believe God does expect is this: He expects us to trust Him and be wise. This means as people submitted to God, we can take a deep breath, walk in wisdom and trust God. This changes God’s will from a perspective of fear to a perspective of faith.

So what about the places in the Scripture where God shows up in miraculous events and speaks to His people in surprising ways? For instance, we see Paul get a vision of a Macedonia man to go to Macedonia. We see Peter have a vision to go to Cornelius’ house. We see Philip have an angelic visitation to reach the Ethiopian Eunuch.

You may think, “but don’t you believe that God still does that?” Yes, I do. I definitely believe that the gifts of the Spirit are for today. But here is what you will notice as you read the book of Acts: these people were not seeking visions, angels or other extraordinary means of guidance when they had them. In other words, miraculous guidance was given during times when wisdom alone may not have led them where God wanted them to go.

Peter needed a vision to go against Jewish custom and enter into the house of a Gentile. Paul needed a vision to change his current strategy of going through Asia Minor. Philip needed a divine intervention to get him to leave a revival to go into the desert to reach one person. Wise thinking may not have been sufficient to lead any of these three in the direction God wanted them to go. So, He intervened to get them to where He wanted them.

Here is what we can rest in: As we walk in wisdom submitted to God, if we need a supernatural event to fulfill something that God has for us, He will give us what we need when we need it. But this is not the norm and not what the people in the book of Acts were seeking when it happened.

When we face a decision there are three options:

That God doesn’t really care which way we choose. Either option would be good.
He does care and He will lead you through the path of wisdom.
He does care and will intervene in a specific way if wise thinking isn’t enough to get you there.

So, now let’s look at how we can use wisdom to make decisions—How does God guide us in wisdom? What is the path of wisdom?

He guides us through Scriptures.

Proverbs 1:5 tells us that we can receive guidance from the Scriptures. The fact is, we know 99% of God’s will for our lives. Throughout the book of Proverbs often uses the image of the path—going on the right path, knowing the right path—but every time it mentions the path it is speaking of how to live morally.

So, when choosing a major or career we look to Scripture. You are not going to get a lot specifically laid out, but you do get some principles. Can you glorify God in it? For most legal jobs the answer to this question is yes. Another question may be, “Can I provide for a family with it?” because 1 Tim 5:8 says, we should provide for our family. We also know that God cares about our involvement in the body of Christ—so we ask if there is a good local church in the city of your employment. These are some examples of some of the principles we glean from the Scriptures.

He guides us through our wise thinking and reflection. (Proverbs 20:5)

This can look a simple as pro/con list for what you are considering. As you make decisions related to a career let me tell you two things you should consider.

Desires of your sanctified heart: (Romans 12:1-2) Psalm 37:4 talks about this. As we delight ourselves in the Lord, it says that He will give us the desires of our heart. So, as we walk with Him, He begins to download certain passions or desires. And as our hearts are transformed, then we can start to trust our hearts more. When we think about God’s will for our career, we need to pay attention to our desires. What we do enjoy, what gives us energy? Some people love languages, others business, others sciences, others psychology or kids. God may have wired or rewired you with that passion. We should pay attention to that.

Our giftings. (1 Peter 4:10) If we believe that God gives us all specific gifts, we should really consider what we are good at. When I was in college, I ended up being a business major because it came easy to me. Not only did I like it, but I got it. Now, foreign languages that is a different story all together. What are you good at?

God guides us on the basis of wise counsel. (Proverbs 12:15, 15:22, 19:20. 20:18)

Time after time, the Proverbs share the wisdom of getting wise counsel. In our individualistic culture, we often attempt to discern God’s will on our own. We have this picture of going into our prayer closet, or even going on a personal retreat and discerning God’s will, and then coming out and telling people what God told us.

This removes Christian community and mentors from the discernment process. Over and over again, we see in Proverbs the folly of not involving our community in our decision making. We make wiser decisions when we involve people who are wise, faithful, and who know us well. Additionally, we will have less angst and emotional upheaval in the process, because we won’t feel like it is all resting on us.

When you do get counsel and wisdom, don’t start the conversation by saying “God told me…and I have a peace.” At that point, they are unable to give feedback. You are really looking for a rubber stamp of approval not wisdom and counsel. Instead, lay out the situation that you are considering and humbly ask them what they think. If the community that knows you and loves you cannot affirm your sense of direction, you should probably back off.

In his book, When the Church was a Family, Joseph Hellerman, talked about a great idea that his church implements. When they have someone in their church making a big decision, they get people together for what they call a “wisdom council”. From their church they will invite a pastor or leader, some close friends, and maybe a respected older couple who have made a similar decision, and they get together for dinner. Over dinner, the people share about the decision to be made, and the wisdom council openly discusses the pros and cons associated with each option. Then they pray together. What a great way to walk in community and wisdom!

God guides us through Providence.

Proverbs 19:21 says, “Many are the plans of a man’s heart but it is the Lord’s purposes that prevail.” There are times God guides us by putting us in the middle of circumstances that makes it possible for us to go in a direction. For example, we have sent many Chi Alpha alumni to the mission field in Cairo, Egypt and Granada, Spain. The reason why many of them went to these locations is because in the Providence of God they were in Chi Alpha, and as their hearts began to desire to give a year on the mission field they were exposed to missionaries in Cairo, Egypt or Granada, Spain. As a result of our partnerships with these missionaries, these students went to the field and served with them. It was because of circumstances that this was made possible.

God guides through divine intervention.

As I mentioned before, I do believe the gifts of the Spirit are for today and that God uses them to guide. However, I believe that it is not the norm and should not be the focus.

We should pray when making big decisions, but we don’t see people in the New Testament praying asking God to show them the future. We should pray for God to lead us in wise thinking—help us to have proper motives; to not make decisions out of insecurity, desire for esteem, or love of money; to see accurately; to be honest with ourselves. We should pray for God to give us wisdom through wise counsel, to guide us by His providence, and yes, if that is not going to lead us in a place God desires us to go, then we keep our hearts open to Divine Intervention.

But what I often see is that people tend to think God only guides through this one means. The point of this article is to say no, God guides us in many ways. Many of us God has been guiding for years and years, giving us desires and giftings. He has been arranging providential circumstances and leading you through the Scriptures. He holds our future and yes, we can trust that He will intervene if necessary, but not as a default method.

Remember, when we face a decision there are three options:

1. That God doesn’t really care which way we choose. Either option would be good. We are free to choose!

2. He does care and He will lead you through the path of wisdom.

3. He does care and will intervene in a specific way if wise thinking isn’t enough to get you there.

With hearts that are submitted to Jesus and open to the Spirit, we can walk through life not full of angst, pressure and fear, but we can take a deep breath and by the grace of God we can walk in wisdom and faith!

Questions for Discussion

Before reading this article, when you thought about making major decisions what emotions did you experience?
How have you seen God lead you in the past? How did He do it? What step in the Path of Wisdom was the most influential?
Is there an area right now that you are seeking guidance? If so, take time to walk through the path of wisdom and discuss it.
What Scriptural principles apply?
What do you discover through wise thinking?
What does faith filled, wise counsel say?
What circumstances are before you?
Has there been some supernatural gift of the Spirit related to this decision?
Finally, what is holding you back from making a decision? What do you need to know that will help you move forward?
What was your biggest takeaway from the article?

Recommended Reading

Just Do Something by Kevin DeYoung

When the Church was a Family, Chapter 8 “Decision Making in the Family of God” Pg 163-181

Forgiveness

it@xaatuva.com (Chi Alpha) — Tue, 31 Jul 2018 14:03:30 GMT

A walkthrough of the process of forgiveness. How to forgive, and how to treat the forgiven.

Download Forgiveness

Forgiving Others

It is guaranteed that, as you go through life, people will hurt and offend you. It is your choice whether you hold it against them, harboring resentment, or forgive them as Christ has forgiven you. When you are hurt, God provides miraculous grace. That grace is an invisible shield that protects you from the full impact of the hurt. The grace gives you the ability to forgive so you are protected from the long-range destruction of holding onto the hurt. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. Hebrews 4:16

Resentment and bitterness block the pipeline through which God’s grace comes into your life. Therefore, you are left alone, without God’s grace, to bear the full effects of the hurt and the resentment. The resentment will eat away your soul like battery acid. It will punish you long after your offender has forgotten how he/she hurt you. Then, the resentment and bitterness will infect relationships with those you love. Bitterness will defile many. See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many. Hebrews 12:15

Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. Romans 12:19. If you insist on taking your own revenge, or, more subtly, maintaining the sense that the offender owes you something, you are taking a position for personal destruction. You are usurping God’s rightful place as judge and penalty-dispenser of all mankind. You have come between God and the offender. He is dispensing judgement, but you are in the line of fire. When you forgive, you leave room for God’s wrath. You get out from between God and the offender. Now, God is free to do what is wise and just with the offender.

Forgiveness is costly. It means accepting undeserved suffering. It means absorbing the consequences of another person’s evil choices. It means choosing not to take revenge. it is a choice to trust God to deal justly with the offender and to make things right on your behalf. It is vital to keep in mind that justice will take place at some point in your life, either this side of death or the other. Remember, your life is eternal, one long continuum with death as a door separating the part where there is very little justice from the part of life where justice will be fully realized. God can be trusted to make all things right sometime in your eternal lifetime. This life is not all there is.

How to Forgive

Forgive from the heart. This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart. Matthew 18:35. Forgiveness is difficult. It is not overlooking an offense or pretending it never happened. It is not minimizing it’s painful affect on your life. It is facing fully what is done. It is telling the truth, and forgiving what truly happened. [It is taking the record of what was done and saying you no longer want to be in charge of carrying its burden or meeting out revenge. Instead you are fully acknowledging what happened but choosing to hand the debt slip (what should have been/what is owed to you) to God, making it his role to bring justice and healing.] That is forgiving from the heart, the wounded heart.

The Forgiveness Checklist

Let’s take some time to walk through forgiveness. Who do you need to forgive? A parent? A sibling? A boyfriend/girlfriend? A friend? A boss? God? Yourself?

Directions:

Think of the situation or person/s that you need to forgive. Ask the Lord if there is anyone else you need to include in the forgiveness process.
Take a sheet of paper and list the specific way each person wronged you. We encourage you to be detailed and specific rather than a vague statement like “He hurt me.” This way you know exactly what you are forgiving.
Go through you list and forgive each wrong out loud: “Lord, I forgive _______________ for _________________.” Do this through the whole list.
Now go back through the list and pray a prayer of blessing on each person. Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. 1 Peter 3:9.

You have listed the wrongs these people did to you. Now, ask God to show you any wrongs that you did to them. Even if you were only 10% at fault, repent of this to God. For example, did you display a bad attitude, were you stubborn, lazy, ungrateful, untruthful, vindictive? In addition, ask God to forgive you for holding unforgiveness and resentment.

When you have finished forgiving and repenting, tear up the forgiveness checklist. This is like tearing up a debt slip. You are saying these people don’t owe you anymore. You are turning the offense, the hurt, the grudge, and the offender over to God. You are trusting Him to do what is just on your behalf. You are free from carrying resentment anymore.

Forgiveness lances the wound so that healing can begin. It is time now to receive healing from the love of your heavenly Father. Take some time now to ask the Father to heal your heart. Let Him love you.

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. Psalms 34:18

He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. Psalm 147:3

Forgiving and Healing as a Process

Life is like an onion. God peels off layer by layer to heal us and sometimes we weep. The process starts with a choice; force yourself to forgive. Say daily, “I forgive you. I bless you. And, Father, I receive your healing.”

This choice removes the thorn of resentment, allows the infection to drain out, and keeps the wound in a place of receiving healing from God. This way, His powerful grace is able to have its full effect on your life. Eventually, or right away, God will drop the reality of forgiveness into your heart where you feel like you have forgiven. He will change your feelings so that they follow your right choice to forgive. He will complete the healing of your heart. You obey by forgiving. Let him do the healing.

How to Treat the Offender

Forgiving means that you are free from resentment, you do not wish the offender ill, that you do not harbor animosity against him/her.

You do not need to tell him/her that you forgive him/her unless God tells you to. Evaluate whether telling him/her would build your relationship.

Forgiving does not mean that you have to let the person into your life if he/she is not trustworthy. Trust may need to be rebuilt. You may need to establish wise and healthy boundaries.

Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else. 1 Thessalonians 5:15

Go forth and live free from the shackles of resentment, bitterness, and unforgiveness! Make repentance and the process of forgiveness part of your normal rhythm with the Lord.

Relevant Scriptures

Matthew 6:14-15

Matthew 18:21-35

Ephesians 4: 26-27, 31-32

Colossians 3:12

Psalm 103:12

Questions for Discussion

How does viewing forgiveness as a debt slip that you hand over to God make you feel about forgiveness?
What was hardest for you in this forgiveness process?
If the person you were forgiving is not a trustworthy or safe person, what boundaries are you going to set in your interactions with them?
Do you agree that forgiveness is a daily choice? Why?

Compassion

it@xaatuva.com (Chi Alpha) — Tue, 17 Jul 2018 21:42:40 GMT

Real Responsbility calls us to share God's burden for the poor and disenfranchised.

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How do we respond to a hurting world? What is our responsibility as Christians? Sometimes as Christians we become insular, and sidestep our responsibility to care for the world as God does. The reality is that real responsibility calls us to share God’s burden for the poor and disenfranchised. We cannot read the Bible without seeing God’s concern for the hurting. We also cannot read the Bible without seeing God’s frustration toward His people, the Israelites, for neglecting the less fortunate. Let’s take a look at one of the most powerful passages of Scripture, Isaiah 58, in which God challenges the attitude of His people, Israel. As we analyze their attitude toward the less fortunate and draw modern day connections in this article, we will come to understand who we need to extend compassion toward, why we should offer this compassion, and the beautiful result that occurs when our hearts reflect God’s heart for this broken world.

Fatherless, Widow, and Foreigner

Throughout the Old and New Testaments we see God remind Israel to care for the fatherless, the widow, and the foreigner. The “fatherless” alone are mentioned 42 times! One example is Deuteronomy 24:17–22, which says, “When you are harvesting in your field and you overlook a sheaf, do not go back to get it. Leave it for the foreigner, the fatherless and the widow, so that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hands.” God is concerned for these categories of individuals specifically because they were in some way unable to care for themselves. In the Ancient Near East culture, they were at a severe disadvantage. That culture was extremely family-centric. Neither the widow nor the orphan had anyone to provide for their material needs.

Who are the less fortunate today? Orphans who do not receive the love and support they need at home, and struggle in school as a result. Widows, who live in nursing homes and live a lonely day by day existence. The homeless, and others in poverty who often do not have the basic necessities of life. The latest U.S. Census reported that 27% of Charlottesville residents live below the poverty line. There is great need where we are at U.Va.! The reality is that we live in a world full of need, and needy people can be found everywhere.

The Father’s Heart

In Isaiah 58, the prophet Isaiah brings stern judgment upon Israel. The Israelites have been fasting, wearing sackcloth, and calling upon God to answer their requests. Yet, their acts of piety were empty religious gestures. God was frustrated with the Israelites for going through the motions while having a selfish heart that was cold toward injustice. God informs the Israelites of the kind of fasting He is interested in: “to loose the chains of injustice,” “to set the oppressed free,” “to share your food with the hungry,” “to provide the poor wanderer with shelter,” and “when you see the naked, to clothe them.” We should take up the real responsibility of compassion (if for no other reason, out of obedience to God). Throughout the Old Testament, the Father’s heart of compassion toward the needy is clear, and as His people we must share in His compassion.

Our compassion for a hurting world is a measure for our spiritual maturity. As we grow in maturity, we discover a paradox of joy and burden. Our relationship with God becomes a greater source of joy, but we also grow in the burden we carry for the lost, hurting, and needy. As we mature, our hearts will be pierced at a new level when we meet the less fortunate around us. True spiritual maturity doesn’t lead to callousness or self-righteousness, but a hunger for restoration and redemption.

We should be motivated to care for the less fortunate, because the individuals we see on the Corner, or in the nursing home, or on the evening news report—the people who make up the 27% of impoverished individuals in Charlottesville—are not very different from us. A startling reality that God points out in Isaiah 58 is that these people are our “own flesh and blood.” We must not allow our pride, our giftings, or our lifestyle, to cover up the fact that the less fortunate bear the same image of God that is stamped on us. Serving the less fortunate requires humility. and an openness to see the world as God sees it. Have you heard of the Brandon Heath song, “Give Me Your Eyes?” The chorus is as follows:

"Give me your eyes for just one second

Give me your eyes so I can see

Everything that I keep missing

Give me your love for humanity

Give me your arms for the broken hearted

Ones that are far beyond my reach

Give me your heart for the ones forgotten

Give me your eyes so I can see."

If we find it difficult to identify with the less fortunate around us, or to feel compassion toward them, we must ask God for help. Ask God to be filled in a new way with love for the less fortunate, and ask God to help you see His image reflected in every human life.

Result of Godly Compassion

When we act compassionately toward the less fortunate, what is the result? How are those around us affected? Well, God says that when we practice true fasting, “light will break forth like the dawn.” This verse describes more than a material need being met. Obviously, when we share our money, food, clothing with the less fortunate, we meet practical needs, even if just temporarily. But in this verse, God says something more happens. Light comes to a dark situation. Hope arises. God’s character and God’s presence are welcomed in as we bring Him glory. Jesus gives us a similar promise in the Sermon on the Mount: “In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” God’s ultimate goal is for the less fortunate to be rescued materially, relationally, and spiritually. As we meet needs and befriend the less fortunate, we create opportunities for the Gospel to be shared in word. This is God’s—and should be our—ultimate goal.

God’s promise for us is that when we sacrifice to help those around us, He will meet our needs. In verse 11, God promises to “satisfy your needs” and “strengthen your frame,” and declares that “you will be like a well-watered garden.” God wants our greatest desire to be to glorify Him. To do so means putting our own needs secondary. God’s desire is that we be compassionate Christians. If you are willing to “spend yourself in behalf of the hungry,” you will be amazed by how God can meet your needs. Philippians 2:3–4 says, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.” If we can reverse the curse of sin and place others before ourselves, we allow God’s blessings to come on the less fortunate, and to us as well.

Relevant Scriptures

Isaiah 58

Deuteronomy 24:17–22

Matthew 5:14–16

James 1:27

Matthew 25

Discussion Questions:

What role does compassion for the poor, orphans, and widows play in your current view of Christianity?
If you have served the poor in the past, what was your experience? How were you blessed by it?
How do you respond when you see someone less fortunate than you? What thoughts usually run through your mind?
When you think about the less fortunate in the Charlottesville community, who comes to mind?
Is there any particular group of people whom you are currently serving, or could serve?
Dream of how Christians could impact a needy community. How could we be a part of seeing that happen?

Choosing a Home Church

it@xaatuva.com (Chi Alpha) — Tue, 17 Jul 2018 21:35:15 GMT

This resource will help you think through important principles when choosing a home church.

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Youʼre in a new season of life, and youʼre looking for a new church. It is quite an important decision, and sometimes this process can be quite difficult, leaving you overwhelmed. These are a few ideas to help you think through choosing your new church. Until you have spent adequate time attending, praying, and learning about the church, it may be wise to hold off making commitments to serve or lead as a lay person.

Three Main Purposes of the Church

Scripture shows us that the church’s three main purposes are to worship God, to encourage believers, and to evangelize the world from the Great Commission of Jesus (Matt. 28:19).

Five Purposes for Your Life:

Adapted from Purpose Driven Life

1. Worship.

You were planned for God’s pleasure! Find a church that will allow you to grow as a worshipper of God. Will you grow in living a life of worship (not just through song)? Are they open to the Holy Spirit in worship? Are you comfortable and do you connect with their style?

2. Fellowship.

You were formed for God’s family! Does the church have structures in place to facilitate true fellowship? (e.g. small groups, Sunday school, women’s/men’s community.) Are you able to connect with the people of the church? (e.g. age, stage in life.)

3. Discipleship.

You were created to be formed into the image of Christ! Will this church help you grow in understanding and application of scripture? Is the teaching Biblical? Is it the whole counsel of God? Do you agree with the theology? Is the church earnestly pursuing God? Will the church meet the needs of you and your family through many seasons of life?

4. Ministry.

You were shaped for God’s service. Are there opportunities for you to serve and use your gifts in the church? Is it located close enough in proximity for you to truly get plugged in?

5. Evangelism.

You were made for a mission! Would you feel comfortable bringing a non-Christian friend to church with you? Does the church have a heart for the community? Does the church have a heart for the world?

There are four P’s to keep in mind through the process of choosing a church:

1. Pursuit - It is completely up to you to make the effort to find a church.

2. Patience - It will take lots of time to build friendships to a significant depth.

3. Participate - You must choose to take initiative and engage in the life of the church.

4. Partner - Find someone to go on the church hunt with.

Choosing a Career (or Major)

it@xaatuva.com (Chi Alpha) — Tue, 17 Jul 2018 21:32:03 GMT

This resource will help you think through your abilities, values, and future goals when processing decisions.

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God’s will for your life is much broader than your career. However choosing a career is still very important. God has designed you a certain way and has a plan for you in the world. We can use our brains to discern for which careers God has created us. There are three things to think through as you try to decide upon your career (or your major): abilities, values, and future goals.

Abilities

What am I naturally gifted at?
What kind of body and mind has God given me?

Values

What do I value?
What is really important to you?
What am I passionate about? What gets me out of bed in the morning?
Exercise to discover covert values:
Write down 10 things you really like to do. Then write down 5 reasons why you really like each of them. Then lump your reasons into categories or themes, which should help you discover your hidden values.

Goals

What are your goals for your future?
Is geography important?
What would you like your family to be like?
Do you care how many hours you work?
How much money do you need to make?
Lastly, what are some career opportunities that will come close to satisfying all 3 of these areas of abilities, values, and goals?

Foundations of Christianity

it@xaatuva.com (Chi Alpha) — Tue, 17 Jul 2018 21:28:19 GMT

Three studies that discuss the basics of Christianity to jump-start a seeker or new believer's devotional life.

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This three-part Bible study provides a good foundation of the basics of Christianity. Great for those new to the Christian faith, especially international students. This study was originally published in Chi Alpha’s International Student Friendship Ministry handbook.

Study 1: Overview of Christianity

What is the Bible?

What kind of books do you enjoy reading? What have you heard about the Bible? The Bible is a unique book.

Written by over 40 men: shepherds, doctors, priests, tentmakers, kings
It was written over a time period of around 1600 years (~1500BC to ~AD100).
Parts were written on three different continents (Asia, Europe, & Africa) and in Hebrew and Greek.
Big Book with 66 smaller books.
Its influence on our world and on many people’s lives has been tremendous. It’s the most translated book ever. Portions translated in over 2,000 languages (Shakespeare is 50).
A living document with power to change the reader. The Author is alive and meets us as we read.

Look at the Bible’s table of contents to see the Bible’s two main divisions.

The Old Testament books were written hundreds of years before Christ. Show God’s plan of redeeming the world, God’s dealing with ancient Hebrews.
The New Testament books were written after Jesus’ earthly life. They show Jesus’s ministry and the founding of the Christian community.

What is Christianity?

What were your impressions of Christianity before you came to America?
Christianity is not:
- Just a code of behavior. Going to church, doing good things, living a moral life. Some who do these things are not Christians. Eph. 2:8–9
- Just a philosophy of life: Believing the right things; the right mental attitude. Some people have good philosophies of life, but are not Christians! (Mt. 7:21–23)
- Just a way to get to heaven; a decision; only a way to relieve our fear of death. Christianity affects a person’s daily life now and their eternal future.
- Just an American religion; Simply a part of American culture or family tradition. It began in the Middle East. There are more Christians in South America and Africa than U.S. Many Christians come from families that are not Christian.
Christianity is a relationship with God.
A true Christian is a person who has chosen to believe in Jesus, receive Him, and let Him be the Lord of their life.

Who is God and what is He like?

Read Genesis 1:1.

If God made the material universe, what does this tell us about God what He is like?

Read Genesis 1:26–30.

Verse 26 says people were made in the image of God. In what ways do you think God and man are alike? In what ways are they different?
How does God relate to and treat the first people? (See verses 28–30.)
What gives God the right to tell people what to do?

Read Psalm 139:1–12, 23–24.

The poet writes of how much God knows him and that God has placed His hand on him. How does the writer think and feel about God? How does it make YOU feel?

Questions for Reflection

If God is as we have looked at here today, how does that make you feel about Him?
Why do you think God wants a person to do more than just believe in his mind that there is a God?
Was there anything in the talk on Christianity that was surprising to you? Any questions?

Study 2: After Creation, What Went Wrong?

Broken Covenant

A covenant is a strong agreement between two people wanting to form a relationship. Talk about what your understanding of a covenant is! How would you define it? Talk about God, who created humans, as being the God who wants to form relationships with humankind. He’s a personal God.

Read Genesis 2:16-17 and Genesis 3:1-7.

Talk about what you notice. We see that God provided for humans all the food and provision they could ever want, and made just one rule about the fruit they could not eat. This was a rule in the covenant of their relationship. We see that Adam and Eve broke the covenant by disobeying that rule. This disobedience is sin.

Talk about sin. What is your understanding of sin? It is missing God’s standards, breaking our relationship with Him. Obeying God’s rules is the standard. When we disobey God, we are in rebellion against Him. When Adam and Eve disobeyed, the covenant relationship was broken, which led to Adam and Eve feeling shame for the first time.

Read Genesis 3:8-10 and Genesis 3:21.

Why does God ask Adam and Eve where they are? God knows relationship is broken, His closeness no longer available to His created. He knew that Adam and Eve cannot overcome the gap between themselves and Himself, and He knows we cannot overcome this gap, either. What is God’s response?

Reconciliation. What does reconciliation mean? Discuss the need for restoration in broken relationships. When He made man and woman, God could have forced relationship with Him. Why wouldn’t He? Talk about God’s character and how He wants to be in relationship with us, wanting us to choose relationship with Him. Instead of killing Adam and Eve for disobeying, God provided for them, showing His reconciliatory nature.

So, what’s God’s plan? God had a plan from the beginning to reconcile humankind. He promised to send someone who would pay the penalty for sin so that we can be brought back into relationship. Jesus, who was God and perfect, would come to earth as a man. When He died on the cross, He would bridge the gap between Man and God so we would have a way to enter relationship with God.

What about the rest of the Old Testament?

After creation, the people continued to multiply. God chose Abraham and his descendants to be God’s people through whom Jesus would be born. This nation of Israel was to have a covenant relationship with God. The Old Testament tells the history of the people of Israel, the Jews. Creator God provided special laws for them to follow and gave them kings and prophets to direct them on how to live. He wanted them to have faith in God that would lead to obedience. Much of the time they failed. Creator God continued to tell them that a Promised one, a Messiah, would come and pay the full penalty for their sins. These Jews were then supposed to tell the rest of the world about the One True God and the opportunity to be reconciled and have an intimate relationship to God. That was God’s plan.

Prophecy in the Old Testament

Jeremiah was a prophet that let the Israelites, God’s people, know that a new covenant was coming. This covenant would be based on God’s forgiveness through Jesus, and not obeying laws.

For an example, read Jeremiah 31:31-34 and discuss. What strikes you about this prophecy? What does it show us about the nature of God’s new covenant with His people? Talk about how this covenant is available to us. Talk about God using prophecy to guide His people so that when Jesus, the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy came, His people would recognize His Son.

Study 3: The Life of Jesus in the New Testament

Start out by discussing who you think Jesus is, or what you have heard about Him from other people, leading into a discussion about what we learn about Jesus in the New Testament.

Who is Jesus?

He is the Son of God who fulfills the new covenant, restoring righteous relationship between man, woman, and God. He is the fulfiller of the covenant. Jesus’ birth was a result of God’s glorious plan, it was no accident. Read Luke 1:26-38 about His miraculous conception, looking back to how this passage fulfilled the prophecy given in Micah 5:2.

Throughout the Gospels, or accounts of Jesus’ life, we read about the ministry, teachings, and claims of Jesus. He healed people, taught them about God, and claimed to be their (and our) savior. His life and ministry reflects God’s desire to have a relationship with us. Jesus is the humble servant who washed the feet of His disciples, He is holy and without sin, and a friend to the friendless such as tax collectors and prostitutes. He was also a teacher who taught about the authority of Scripture, revealing the truth about life.

Jesus shows us in His ministry that He is the provider for our needs. He is the one who blessed children and healed the sick with touch. He met big and small needs, and even powerfully raised a friend from the dead. Throughout His ministry, He also made claims about Himself. These claims revealed His nature to His followers, that He is the Savior of the world, the Son of God, the Bread of Life, and many more.

The Death of Jesus

At Passover in the third year of Jesus’ ministry, Jesus addressed His followers as they ate and drank together. He took a cup of wine and said, “This cup...is the new covenant in my blood.” Read this story in Luke 22. This teaches us that His death was neither accidental nor man’s idea, but God’s. He later tells His accusers that He has come for this purpose, to lay down His life for those He loves. He laid down His life to restore relationship between God and His people. Jesus is Redeemer, He is man and woman’s final payment and atonement for sin. Jesus was crucified and buried in the tomb of a friend.

The Resurrection of Jesus

After Jesus died on a Roman cross, He was raised back to life three days later, just as He had prophesied He would. When a few women came to His tomb, He was no longer there! He appeared to them in resurrected form, showing that He conquered sin and death. The prophecies had been fulfilled! The resurrection of Jesus shows God’s acceptance of Jesus’ sacrifice for man and woman. A while after His resurrection, Jesus ascended to be with God the Father, sending His Spirit to dwell with us. We can pray to Jesus and talk with Him anytime.

Covenant Relationship

God’s reconciliation plan is much older than two thousand years. He’s been calling to us like He called to Adam and Eve in the garden, “Where are you?” from the beginning. The way back to God came by Jesus’ death and resurrection. To win us back to an intimate covenant relationship with God forever was God’s original and ultimate plan. We come to relationship by faith in His grace, accepting the sacrifice Jesus made on the cross for our behalf. For our part, we must choose repentance. We must choose to confess our sin and turn from it, accepting God’s free gift of salvation. We must turn from our sin and follow Jesus. When we ask, God forgives us. For His part, He will fulfill our lives, transform us into who He created us to be, and allow us to be with Him forever.

End by reading John 3:16-17 and John 14:6. What do these verses tell us about Jesus? What new impressions do you have about God as our creator? What about Jesus? End by talking about what it looks like to study the life of Jesus. Good resources to bring are PROAPT and Why We Read Scripture as a first step to a devotional life.

Water Baptism

it@xaatuva.com (Chi Alpha) — Tue, 17 Jul 2018 21:17:20 GMT

This resource explains the importance of believer's baptism.

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Why Should I Be Baptized in Water?

Water Baptism is an act of obedience to Jesus’ command. After His resurrection, one of the last things Jesus told His followers was: “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:18-20). Jesus commands us to make disciples and baptize them!

What Does Baptism Symbolize?

Baptism is a picture of new life. It symbolizes burial and resurrection and newness of life! When someone becomes a follower of Jesus, the old self, ruled by sin and death, has died, and they become a new creation. Going into the water symbolizes this death of the old self, and coming up out of the water symbolizes being born again, the new resurrected self (Romans 6:1-4).

Baptism also portrays our relationship with Jesus. We are baptized “in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.” It is a picture of our allegiance to the Triune God who has reconciled us to Himself and calls us His children. He has redeemed us from the enemy, He loves us, He has made us a new creation, and He is at work in all of us.

Baptism is a public declaration of salvation and new identity in Christ. This is an opportunity for you to step out in Real Responsibility and declare your faith before friends and family. It is an opportunity for your faith to transition from an internal focus to an external one.

What Can I Expect at My Baptism?

If you are baptized at Dive Deep, wear what you would normally wear to Dive Deep. However, you should also bring a change of clothes (dark colored shorts and t-shirt) to wear when you are baptized. Some may bring their own robes as a part of their church tradition, but Chi Alpha does not provide robes.

Baptism consists of a public declaration of faith followed by full immersion in water. A Chi Alpha staff member will perform your baptism. Before you are immersed, you will be asked to share a one-minute testimony, then answer the following question: “Do you confess Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior and commit to follow Him all the days of your life?” Once you say “Yes,” the staff worker will say, “Upon profession of your faith, I baptize you, __________, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit” as they immerse you.

Asking Good Questions

it@xaatuva.com (Chi Alpha) — Tue, 17 Jul 2018 21:14:11 GMT

This resource is is a compilation of great questions to break the ice and start spiritual conversations in a 1:1 mentoring setting.

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For many leaders, a one-on-one setting can be intimidating. There are times when you don’t know what to say or how to get someone to open up. You walk away from the table thinking, “Did we even get anywhere? Or did we just catch up on funny YouTube videos...?” This resource is a compilation of the Chi Alpha staff’s favorite and essential questions for one-on-ones. You probably won’t (nor should you) ask all of them in one sitting. Before you meet with someone, look over this list and decide on one or two questions you want to ask. You also may want to record what was asked or shared, so you can remember to follow-up next time.

Favorite Go-To Questions:

Where would you like to grow?
What has God been speaking to you?
How are the relationships in your life?
What did you think about the message at Monday Night Live?
Where have you seen the Spirit at work in your life in the past week?
What has been the highlight or low-light of your week?
How do you think your past impacts you today?
What have you been reading lately?
How was your weekend?

General “Checking In” Questions:

What has God been saying to you lately?
How is your schedule and how are you using your time?
How is it between you and your significant other?
How do you feel about yourself?
Where have you seen the Spirit at work in your life this past week?
What have you been reading lately?
How was your weekend?
How was your small group?
How can I support you in prayer?

Difficult, Important Questions:

How are classes going? Are you going to all of them all the time?
Are you struggling in any particular class? If so, are you seeking help?
How would you describe your relationship with God right now?
Have you been consistent in prayer and Bible reading?
What have you been reading about?
What are you learning about God? About yourself?
What are you trying to apply?
What have you been praying about?
What did you learn from a recent sermon/teaching that you are applying?
Have your words and actions given glory to God this week?
Have you been exposed to sexually alluring material this week?
Have you coveted something that does not belong to you?
Have you been honoring, understanding, and charitable in your important relationships this week?
Have you been thinking of your finances this week?
Have you damaged another person by your words, either behind their back or face-to-face?
Have you given in to any addictive behavior this past week?
Have you continued to harbor anger or bitterness toward another?
Have you secretly wished for another’s misfortune so that you might excel?
Have you been completely honest with me?

ACTS Prayer Plan

it@xaatuva.com (Chi Alpha) — Tue, 17 Jul 2018 21:05:05 GMT

A tool to help you with the basics and theology of prayer.

Download ACTS Prayer Plan

How often do we sit down to pray, and this happens: we think of our family; we pray for our family; we think of all we have to do that day; we pray God would bless all we do; we sit some more, and then we say Amen. Our prayer life should be more than a laundry list of prayer requests. This resource gives us more structure and more holistic themes for prayer. To start, try spending 3 minutes in each of the four sections. Notice which sections were easiest and most difficult for you. With practice, each area will become easier and more natural.

Adoration

The purpose of adoration is to enter into holy space with God. This time sets the tone for our entire prayer, reminds us of God’s identity and character, purifies our hearts as we pray, and declares to God that He is worthy of our praise. In this time, you can thank God for specific attributes, like His mercy and compassion, His character, and His personality. Did you see God’s goodness yesterday? Praise Him for His goodness! For examples of adoration, read Psalms 19, 84, and 103.

Confession

In confession, we name our faults before God and confess our sin, asking Him for forgiveness based in His righteousness alone. As you pray, try to confess as specifically as possible. After confession, pray for God’s grace and the Spirit’s power to walk in freedom from these sins, knowing that they are atoned for by Jesus’ death and resurrection. Psalms of confession include Psalm 31, 50, and 130.

Thanksgiving

In thanksgiving, we express our gratitude to God for the ways He answers prayers, and for His spiritual, relational, and material blessings in our lives. Use this time to thank God for what He’s done and for sending His Son because He loves us! Psalms 34, 95, and 100 are all psalms of thanksgiving.

Supplication

Lastly, in supplication, we are asking God for His help in our lives. This could include praying over relationships in your life, family situations, decision-making, personal growth, or tangible needs.

Pray that the Lord would provide these needs, knowing that His character is blameless, and that He is the God who provides for His people. For examples, turn to Psalms 25, 86, and 143.

Wise Decision Making

it@xaatuva.com (Chi Alpha) — Tue, 17 Jul 2018 20:51:08 GMT

Principles taken from 1 Corinthians to help you make Christ-centered decisions.

Download Wise Decision Making

Whether big or small, making godly decisions is key to following Christ in your daily life. Taken from 1 Corinthians chapters 6, 8, and 10, this resource can help you think through many aspects of making a decision. You may use this as a worksheet to fill out as you answer the questions. The first step to making a decision is to pray: “God lead me and guide me. Purify my motives - get rid of any selfishness or unrighteousness within me. I want to serve you in anything and everything, putting you first! Help me open my heart and mind to the best way to think about this situation, even if it’s new to me.” Try to wait and listen to God’s voice throughout this process. From 1 Corinthians, we can ask yourselves the following questions.

Is it good for me?

1 Corinthians 6:12a says, “Everything is permissible for me...but not everything is beneficial.” Is this decision beneficial to you and those around you?

Can it control me?

1 Corinthians 6:12b says, “Everything is permissible for me...but I will not be mastered by anything.” Another question you could ask is whether or not this decision is habit-forming. How would it impact other areas of your life?

Does it encourage someone to do something she thinks is wrong? Is it a stumbling block for him?

1 Corinthians 8:12 says, “When you sin against your brothers in this way and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ.” Ask yourself if your actions will cause someone else to stumble and what the consequences might be.

Does it glorify God?

1 Corinthians 10:31 says, “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” Ask yourself what your motivations are.

May you be blessed in wisdom as you make decisions for the glory of God!

Housing

it@xaatuva.com (Chi Alpha) — Tue, 10 Jul 2018 18:32:59 GMT

How to find a group, and what to think through before signing a lease together. Before reading, we recommend listening to the four-minute Podcast Mini from Pete on housing.

Download Housing

“How inexhaustible are the riches that open up for those who by God’s will are privileged to live in the daily fellowship of life with other Christians!” 

Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Life Together

Finding a Group

Start with your Core Group! If you’re a first year, there’s a good chance that most of your Core Group is also looking for a place to live next year. Your time spent with them each week should give you a great idea as to your personalities, and by the time you move in together, you’ll already have a year of life together under your belts! Christian community is a beautiful thing, and “doing life together” can be one of the most rewarding and fun parts of your years as a student!

It helps to share a common vision, purpose, and set of goals for your house. You will already have many of these things in common if you decide to live with people who are also pursuing the Lord through XA! Business person and motivational speaker Jim Rohn once observed that people begin to look very much like the average of the 5 people they spend the most time with. This means that when considering future housing, we need to ask: “Who do I want my faith, my habits, and my desires to resemble?”

Finding Housing at UVA

Gather your group in September and October, consider your location, and begin to finalize plans. If you intend to live off-Grounds, it is wise to have a lease signed by mid-October or November. If you intend to live on-Grounds, you have until December.

On-Grounds Housing: On-Grounds housing is fully furnished, and includes basic utilities and maintenance. Many On-Grounds options are convenient for getting to class, and will also involve a 9-month lease. Consider Lambeth or Bice for proximity to class.

Off-Grounds Housing: Off-Grounds housing may require setting up utilities, but will allow for more independence. Renting a house with multiple people may be less expensive than living On-Grounds, but will often involve a 12-month lease.

If your group decides to search Off-Grounds, begin by talking with your Core Group Leader. They may know of houses that are looking to pass down their lease. You can also search using real-estate apps like Realtor.com and Zillow, or just walk around areas you’d like to live and look for rental signs!

Discussion Topics

So now you’ve got your crew, you’ve got a place picked out, and are ready to sign the lease/contract! The following list contains topics you should consider discussing before everyone signs the lease.

In his letter to the Corinthians, Paul says we must adhere to the “brother/sister with the weakest conscience.” In other words, we love by making decisions considering the person who has the greatest struggle. When thinking through and discussing these questions, consider how each person would feel safest in their personal space and strengthened their walk with God. How can you best honor your brother or sisters?

Finances

Who will be responsible for paying rent, utilities, electricity, internet/cable?
How will the house share costs? Consider making a separate house account, use Splitwise, or have one person collect money for rent.

Community Space

Will the house be a place that hosts parties and large groups?How will the house be made aware of guests?
How far in advance should the house be asked about overnight guests?
Will we lock the doors? When?

Shared Items

What will be shared among the house? Think food, laundry, kitchen tools/appliances, etc.
What will not be shared?
What will be shared with permission?
If food is shared, will there be a designated shelf or area?

Rooms

Who will share any doubles or triples?
Will rent be different for doubles/triples versus singles?
How will you pick rooms? Think seniority, drawing straws, etc.

Alcohol

Will our house be “dry”?
What will we do when some are over 21 and others are underage?
If there is alcohol in the house, where will it be stored?

Opposite Gender

Will there be specific hours when people of the opposite gender can be over?
Are there certain spaces where people of the opposite gender will not be allowed to hang out?
What house will people of the opposite gender stay in when they come to visit?

Cleaning

What will the cleaning include? Think laundry, dishes, trash, vacuuming/sweeping, etc.
How often will chores be done?
How will we determine who/how we do these chores? Think chore chart, accountability, etc.
How will everyone be held accountable for doing their chores?

Vision for Community

Will we host Core Group meetings in our house?
Will we establish a weekly time to connect as a house? Think house prayer or dinner, etc.
How will these times be structured?
When will these times be?

Settling Disagreements

Do we want to draw up an agreement or contract?
How does our house want to handle disagreements?
If an agreement or expectation is violated, how will we handle it?

As with all things in college, you will get out of Christian Community precisely how much you put into it. The house or apartment you live in can be exactly that: a place that you sleep and store your stuff, that other people also happen to live in. However, if you have a house full of brothers or sisters in Christ who are committed to each other, the common values of the Christian faith, and the vision for all that the community can be, you are likely to walk away with lifelong friends and incredible memories at the end of your time together. May God bless you as you live harmoniously!

Category	Recommended %	Ideal %	Actual Money Spent	Actual % Spent
Charitable gifts	10-15%	%	$	%
Savings	5-10%	%	$	%
Housing	25-35%	%	$	%
Utilities	5-10%	%	$	%
Food	5-15%	%	$	%
Transportation	10-15%	%	$	%
Clothing	2-7%	%	$	%
Medical/Health	5-10%	%	$	%
Personal	5-10%	%	$	%
Recreation	5-10%	%	$	%
Debts	5-10%	%	$	%