SEX: IT’S COMPLICATED CHURCH WOES TIPS ON TRANSFERRING CAMPUS SAFETY
DREAM MORE. RISK MORE. BE MORE.
SPRING 2010
BIBLE STUDIES: PURSUING HOLINESS VIA EXODUS & LEVITICUS
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SPRING 2010 U.S.A. $4.25
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“Spring ShowS what god can do with a drab and dirty world.”
— Virgil a. Kraft
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CONTENTS
FEATURES
24 LOVE, ACTUALLY ...
14 IT’S COMPLICATED
In the midst of all the laws in the Book of Leviticus is one of the greatest love stories of all time. Uncover the depth of God’s love for us and the sacrifice He made to be in relationship with us.
We’re bombarded with mixed messages about sex every day. How do we reconcile what media tells us and what our friends are doing with what we’ve been taught in church? Let’s take a look at the biblical truths behind one of the most talked-about issues in our culture.
18 COMMON SENSE 20 MAJOR SAFETY
Even the safest college campus still sees its fair share of crime. Here’s what you need to know about the most common campus crimes, as well as five tips for playing it safe all the time.
EXPECTATIONS
When you combine your college degree with serving God, the possibilities are endless. Read about six young adults who are using their majors for more than a climb up the corporate ladder.
54 SICK OF CHURCH?
Burnt out on years of being over-committed to the youth group? Overwhelmed by your most challenging semester to date? These are just two tempting reasons to quit church while in college. Before you bail, find out why we think church is just what you need.
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EDITORIAL EDITORIAL
COLLEGIATE SPRING 2010 • VOL.5 NO.3 In college I declared a double major in English and religious studies without any real understanding of what I would do with them. I enjoyed the classes and hoped God would direct me from there. He answered my prayers with an editorial internship at LifeWay Christian Resources in Nashville. Two summers of work and I was hooked. Looking back, I should’ve known I’d end up in some type of journalistic work. My grandmother was a newspaper editor and contributor, and my mother has written and produced corporate inhouse newsletters and advertising publications throughout her career. But I was determined I wouldn’t have a career in journalism. Maybe parental persuasion isn’t so bad after all! (Thanks, Mom, and Happy Mother’s Day.) I still use what I learned in my majors every day at the office. Ultimately I discovered that we take what we’re called to do — the things we love — and find a way to make them complement God’s activity in our world. Check out “Major Expectations” on page 20 to read the stories of six young adults, some current students and a few recent grads, to find out how they’re putting their majors to work for God. Your career search shouldn’t just come from looking at job titles in your campus career center. Get feedback from family, friends, professors, and internship supervisors, and then apply the passions God instilled within you as you wait on His direction. And if you and your parents aren’t seeing eye-to-eye on your future plans, hopefully “Mother Knows Best?” on page 62 will help guide your conversation. Drop us a line at collegiate@threadsmedia.com and tell us your future plans, or visit the Collegiate blog at threadsmedia.com/collegiate.
PRODUCTION & MINISTRY TEAM Content Editor + Lindsey Bush Production Editor + Laura Coggin Graphic Designer + Heather Manning National Collegiate Ministry Specialist + Linda Osborne Editorial Project Leader + Valerie Hancock
MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL Director, Leadership and Adult Publishing + Bret Robbe Managing Directors, Leadership and Adult Publishing • + Ron Keck and Ron Brown Lead Adult Ministry Specialist + Alan Raughton Young Adult Ministry Specialist + Jason Hayes Director, Young Adult Ministry + Jim Johnston Director, Publishing, LifeWay Church Resources + Gary H. Hauk Send questions/comments to: Lindsey Bush, editor Collegiate One LifeWay Plaza Nashville, TN 37234-0175 e-mail: collegiate@threadsmedia.com Printed in the United States of America Advertising One LifeWay Plaza, MSN 136, Nashville, TN 37234 Phone: 615.251.2289 Fax 615.251.2039 E-mail: magazineadvertising@lifeway.com Media kits: www.lifeway.com/magazines/media Rhonda Edge Buescher, Director, Magazine Advertising & Circulation Scott Hancock, Advertising Production Collegiate® (ISSN 1526-5358; Item 005074995) is published quarterly by LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention, One LifeWay Plaza, Nashville, TN 37234, Thom S. Rainer, President. © 2010 LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. For inquiries visit lifeway.com, or write LifeWay Church Resources Customer Service, One LifeWay Plaza, Nashville, TN 37234-0113. For subscriptions or subscription address changes, visit lifeway.com/collegiatemag, fax (615) 251-5818 or write to the above address. For bulk shipments mailed to one address, visit lifeway.com/magazines, fax (615) 251-5933 or write to the above address. Annual individual or gift subscription, $15.95. Bulk shipments mailed quarterly to one address when ordered with other literature, $3.10 per quarterly issue, plus shipping. Please allow six to eight weeks for arrival of first issue. To investigate the possibility of advertising in Collegiate®, visit lifeway.com/magazines/media. We believe that the Bible has God for its author; salvation for its end; and truth, without any mixture of error, for its matter and that all Scripture is totally true and trustworthy. The 2000 statement of The Baptist Faith and Message is our doctrinal guideline. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holman Christian Standard Bible®, copyright 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version, copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, IL 60189 USA. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked (NASB) are taken from the New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. (www.lockman.org)
CONTRIBUTORS
Chris Ediger (“We Are What We Create”) helps oversee the online work of Catalyst through his work with GiANT Impact in Atlanta. You can follow his journey at InTheThinPlaces.com. Nikki Rutz (“It’s Complicated”) practiced law
before founding Lily7 (lily7.com), a ministry to college women. She speaks to college students throughout the country urging them to increase their knowledge, character, and passion for Christ.
Jason Boyett (“Sick of Church?”) is a big advocate of blooming where you’re planted. “Church isn’t about whether or not you’re getting your needs met, but about finding a place that gives you opportunities to serve.”
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LIKE WHAT YOU SEE IN COLLEGIATE AND WANT MORE? Subscribe to the magazine at threadsmedia.com/collegiate.
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CONTENTS
DEPARTMENTS 6 FRONT QUAD
Get the 411 on important issues like …
58 RELATE
CHANGE: TELLING THE GOOD FROM THE BAD
TOP 10 SPRING LOVES
WE COUNT THE WAYS THIS SEASON SHINES
Learn to discern the difference between the good and bad changes you experience during your college years.
60 BACK QUAD
Read up on meaningful topics such as:
EASTER TRADITIONS TIPS FOR STARTING YOUR OWN
Discover how Exodus and Leviticus reflect God’s call for us to set ourselves apart from the world and strive for holiness.
SAYING GOODBYE
8 “TO DO’S” BEFORE YOU GRADUATE
YOUR FESTIVAL GUIDE
Guy Chmieleski, this quarter’s Bible study writer, is the university minister at Belmont in Nashville, Tenn. He received a B.A. from Bethel, a M.A. in ministry from Palm Beach Atlantic, and a D.Min. from George Fox Evangelical Seminary. Guy and his wife, Heather, have three children.
THE BEST OF MUSIC, NATURE, AND FILM
FINANCIAL AID
BARTER YOUR WAY TO THE BARGAINS
12 MEDIA
WE ARE WHAT WE CREATE
PARENTAL GUIDANCE
BALANCING THEIR ADVICE AND YOUR CALL
JOIN A CAUSE Is the day of the hoverboard in sight? We challenged a technology expert to predict what to expect in the next 10 years.
26 JOURNEY BIBLE STUDY TO HOLINESS
HAITI WATER, NOT FOR SALE, AND MORE
A SERVANT HEART
AT MIDWESTERN STATE UNIVERSITY
LEADING A GROUP OF STUDENTS? CHECK OUT THE COLLEGIATE TEACHING PLANS AT THREADSMEDIA.COM/COLLEGIATE.
66 FINAL WORDS
WHAT I LEARNED IN COLLEGE
Emory University grad Derek Leman shares life lessons from his 12-year college adventure.
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FRONT QUAD
ThE TOp 10 ... REAsOns TO LOvE spRInG Spring is a great onomatopoetic word, a word that actually sounds like its meaning. Spriiiiing! The word has bounce to it, which is just what happens every year when this season comes around — people find some extra pep in their steps.
Here are 10 other reasons to love springtime.
1. The air smells differently than it does during any other season. 2. The sun is up longer. Scrub your windows. Clean your tires. Get crazy and wash your bathroom rug and hang it outside to dry.
3. Easter! Play “In Christ Alone” on your iPod on resurrection morning.
4. It’s a great time to get outside and get active. Time to work off those winter lbs. you stored up all season.
5. The re-growth of flowers and plants reminds us that life’s winter seasons exist to prepare us for new personal growth. Ponder that for a little while …
6. start You’re this much closer to the of football season.
7. You don’t have to deal with a bulky coat and all the warmweather accessories anymore.
8. People seem happier. 9. Exams are almost over. 10. Summer break is finally in sight. Make plans for a roadtrip with friends.
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FRONT QUAD
8 “TO dO’s” bEfOrE yOu GrAduATE + Hang out with your pals. You may not want to hear this, but after all of the graduation hoopla, you probably won’t see your friends for a while. Spend as much time with them as possible. + Visit all of your favorite spots. Before heading out of town, be sure to make stops at your favorite restaurants, coffee shops, boutiques, campus hangouts, and so forth. + Take a stroll down memory lane. As cheesy as it may sound, take time to reflect on your college days. Maybe you’ll journal a bit or flip through old photos or reminisce with your friends. Whatever you decide, spend time remembering these days, and thank God for this special time in your life. + Right any wrongs. So you and your old roommate had a falling out sophomore year. Now is the time to make things right. Don’t leave college with any ill will. Now is a great time to forgive and to say, “I’m sorry.” + Thank your profs. While you can’t possibly thank all of your professors, make time to send a thank-you note to your favorites and to those who were most influential in your life. If you’re not into thank-you notes, drop them an e-mail, or swing by their offices with a cup of coffee. + Mind the paperwork. Be sure you’ve cut through all of the graduation red tape. In other words, apply for graduation; double-check your credits; and take care of any hanging balances, including unpaid parking tickets — you only thought you’d beat the system. + Secure the cap and gown. Seriously, the graduation attire is a must; so swing by the campus bookstore and place your order. + Send out the invites. Your family and friends will want to celebrate this occasion, and let’s be real — you’ll want the gifts, especially the monies. But remember, this is one time you do have to write the thank-you notes. You’re an adult now; your mom shouldn’t have to remind you.
COnTrIbuTOrs — Front Quad contributors include Nathan Magness, Dan Ewald, and Lindsey Bush.
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FRONT QUAD
WE LIKE ...
SPRING FESTIVALS It’s time to get out of hibernation and enjoy some entertainment with friends. Here’s our guide to what’s happening this spring.
MUSIC
AgapeFest — April 30 and May 1. Greenville College in Greenville, Ill., provides some of the biggest and best Christian music acts on one stage. agapefest.com Rites of Spring music festival at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tenn., draws in some of the biggest mainstream musicians, everything from hip hop to folk. April 22–24 Plan ahead for Atlanta Fest in Stone Mountain Park, Ga., June 16–19. Great concerts and great camping. atlantafest.com
HOW TO ... SHUTTER THE CLUTTER When you return to your dorm room next fall, do you really want to find pizza boxes full of roaches? Probably not. Mold in the shower? Pass. Give yourself and those around you a fresh start next semester by taking a few hours now to clean out your dorm room from top to bottom.
NATURE
Go to a festival of a different kind. Take Spring Break in Canada from March 6–14 and catch the entire North American population of Pacific Gray Whales migrating along the west coast of Vancouver Island. PacificRimWhaleFestival.com
FILM
SEARCH HIGH AND LOW. Experts say to start cleaning with the ceiling and work down
to the floor. (If you have things on the ceiling, you probably have a whole different set of problems.) As you move down the walls, make sure you’re not missing anything higher than eye level. Have you really searched that top bunk for anything hiding between the mattress and the frame? You don’t want to see what that half-eaten apple looks like after three months in an airtight room. Save degenerative mutation for the biology lab.
In March, some of the hottest film festivals include the Beverly Hills Shorts (Calif.), Boston Underground (Mass.), Chicago International Movies and Music Festival (Ill.), Cleveland International (Ohio), Honolulu International (Hawaii), and Garden State Film Festival (N.J.).
PUT IT IN THE ROUND FILE. Haul a large bin (much bigger than your normal can) into the room and turn trash-tossing into a competitive sport. When it comes to cleaning out your dorm room, you really can’t throw enough away. Plus there will be more than enough garbage to recycle (think: all those old papers, class notes, soda cans, and so on). Learn to say good-bye — it’s a valuable skill. The more you pitch, the less clutter you’ll have to pack up for the summer.
April brings the third annual Charleston International in South Carolina, the Kansas City FilmFest in Missouri, and the Wisconsin Film Festival, a partnership between St. Norbert College and the Green Bay Packers.
SCRUB A DUB. Wipe down the bathroom with toxin-free cleaner, including the base
The Cannes International Film Festival — the oldest and most prestigious of all — is held in May. Not that any “normal” person could afford to fly to France, but it’s worth staying up on the buzz.
of the toilet. Sweep under the beds and desk areas — you never know what’s rolling around down there. Make sure there are no dirty gym clothes wadded up anywhere or they might start sprouting vegetation.
REAP THE REWARDS. Cleaning up will create a healthier atmosphere as you wrap up
the semester, both physically and mentally. And it might just inspire better things from you academically as well.
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SELL YOUR STUFF — Once you clean out, if you have books, DVDs, or household goods, sell them online. See page 9 for some ideas.
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FRONT QUAD
FINANCIAL AID: BARTER STARTER BY THE NUMBERS ...
GRADUATION STATS
Getting accepted into a college or university is one of many hurdles throughout your higher ed. career. Once you’re on campus, it takes persistence, determination, and a lot of book-cracking to earn that degree. A study spanning seven years from the Center for Labor Market Studies at Northeastern University documented the success rates of 1,904 high school graduates. Turns out, there are a lot of students who don’t put as much effort into academia as they should.
ONLY 12 PERCENT of students who attend a two-year community college go on to graduate.
56 PERCENT of students at four-year, private colleges actually earn the right to wear a cap and gown.
35 PERCENT is the total amount of all students surveyed who completed college within seven years of graduating from high school.
During a rough economy like this one, it’s time to think outside the box when it comes to spending money. Just a few years ago, you were spending your teenage dollars on things like movies, clothes, and dates. But with the adult world comes the necessity to think differently about what you have and what you need. These days, people are getting creative to save a buck or two. Bartering is something we all did in elementary school — trading our peanut butter and jelly sandwich for a certain baseball card we thought we couldn’t live without. But it just might be time to work that system into our adult lives. Public Radio International recently profiled Scott Cahaly, a 24-year-old stone carver and painter who trades his art for dental work. Actor/singer Chris Murphy says, “I spent my 20s dog-sitting and house-sitting. I tried, when I could, to housesit on the beach! When I lived in L.A., it seemed like every relationship was based on some sort of bartered agreement.” Sherry Richards owns a small coffeehouse and trades free lattes for free haircuts. It’s win-win for her and her stylist friend, who comes in daily for her free drink. Start by thinking about what you do well. What skills do you have that set you apart? Are you good with kids? Babysit. Like keeping your own car clean? Offer to detail someone else’s vehicle in exchange for something they do better than you. Offer to paint an elderly church member’s house in exchange for a bunch of home-cooked meals. You can freeze them to make the food last for months. Another upside to bartering is how it eliminates unnecessary waste. Your dorm room is full of things you could live without. Rather than just throwing out your old junk, think about swapping it with someone else. Here are some sites that can help:
SWAPACE.COM — Great place to trade your CDs/DVDs and other entertainment items. EWANTED.COM — A backwards auction site. Tell the world what you’re looking for. CRAIGSLIST.ORG — An obvious choice, but the best way to barter locally, without shipping. Just drive across town.
RECYCLE.NET — Never throw away things that someone else can recycle. This site explains how.
So give it your all, and don’t take your college experience for granted. If you’re serious about your degree, go to class, read the assignments, and earn that piece of paper.
BARTERBART.COM — Like a low-tech eBay, only you barter something you own in the “auction” instead of bid with cash.
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FRONT QUAD
STOMP OUT
YOUR CARBON FOOTPRINT Want to lessen your carbon footprint on God’s green earth? Of course you do! Here’s how:
1. WALK/BIKE IT. Almost all campuses
CAMPUS LIFE: HEALTH WATCH Maintaining proper health and wellness is more than just eating healthy and exercising regularly. Just like your childhood days, it’s important for you to visit your campus or local health clinic for regular checkups. These visits can help ensure you remain healthy and help identify and correct problems early. If money is stopping you from paying the doc a visit, remember you’re likely covered under a parent’s insurance plan until graduation. If not, most colleges provide free to low-cost healthcare at an on-campus clinic, and some colleges even offer individual health insurance plans for students. So how often should you visit and what are some common illnesses among college students? Here’s the breakdown:
KEEP REGULAR APPOINTMENTS
PHYSICAL EXAM* — You should have two physicals in your 20s. During the first exam, have your cholesterol checked. Your height and weight should be checked at every exam. DENTAL EXAM — Pay the dentist a visit twice a year for an exam and cleaning.
EYE EXAM — If you have vision problems, have an eye exam every two years.
IMMUNIZATIONS — Consult your healthcare provider or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
WHAT TO WATCH OUT FOR
UPPER RESPIRATORY INFECTION — Also known as the common cold. Symptoms may include: runny nose, cough, sore throat, congestion, fever, and mild body aches. See a doctor if your symptoms don’t improve in a week or two.
INFLUENZA — Commonly called the flu. Symptoms may include: body aches, chills, dry cough, fever, headache, sore throat, and stuffy nose. See a doctor if you have a weak immune system or your symptoms are severe. MONONUCLEOSIS — Mono, or the “kissing disease,” can last for a long period of time. Symptoms may include: fatigue, weakness, sore throat, fever, swollen lymph nodes in the neck, swollen tonsils, skin rashes, and abdominal pain. Go to the doctor if your symptoms don’t improve with rest in a week or two. GASTROENTERITIS — Commonly known as the stomach flu. Symptoms may include: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and low fever. If you can’t keep fluid down after 24 hours or have vomited for two days, it’s time to see a doctor.
are designed to be pedestrian-friendly, so park your car and leave it. You’ll save money on gas and save time not circling the lot for a spot, and you’ll be losing pounds — all in the name of saving the environment.
2. EAT GREENER. Opt for a diet based on organic, locally grown, and fair-trade whole grains, fruits, veggies, and proteins. Many dining halls are serving up a wider variety of choices and partnering with local farms to offer more organic produce and meats. 3. RECYCLE. There’s a reason why all of those bins are placed on campus. All you have to do is load it up and dump it off. Could it be any easier? So recycle all of your paper, cardboard, plastic, glass, cans, and even textbooks.
4. REUSE. Someone’s always tossing out perfectly good stuff, so consider used items for some of your college essentials. Look to sites like Craigslist and Freecycle for your dorm room or apartment furnishings. And the same goes for clothes too. Thrift stores are notorious for perfectly good and even never-worn articles of clothing.
5. REDUCE. There’s more to reducing your carbon footprint than just conserving water and energy. Share magazines and books with classmates. Buy energy-efficient light bulbs and a battery recharger. And purchase durable products instead of those that are disposable or cheaply made.
*Information from University of Maryland Medical Center.
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FRONT QUAD
TRANSFERRING: A CHANGE COULD DO YOU GOOD Transferring schools may put you behind, but if you’ve chosen a major not offered at your current school, need something more economically feasible, or are changing to a fouryear university, it’ll be worth the sacrifice. Before you go switching teams, there are a few things to keep in mind. The following is some advice from DistanceEducation.org for transferring students.
GETTING YOUR FOOT IN THE DOOR
Everyone dreams of finding that “perfect company” to work for — a place where you’re not staring at the clock all day, waiting to go home. Somewhere that pays you well enough to live comfortably. A place that values what you bring to the table. Unfortunately, it’s still necessary for most college graduates to be willing to take entry-level positions at most companies. Is that something you’re ready to do? When jobsearching, make a list of your negotiables and non-negotiables. For example, you might write, “Yes, I’m willing to work for basic standard-of-living pay” or you may say, “No, I’m not willing to work for a company that doesn’t offer any benefits.” Whatever your list may be, run it past your friends, family, and respected business professionals who can offer input on whether your list is reasonable.
+ Plan ahead. This isn’t a decision to take lightly. If you do, you’ll find yourself jumping many hurdles in the process. Don’t wait until the end of a semester and decide you’re not coming back. Think about what you want out of a new school and where you’d like to go. + Talk with your current school. Once you decide to transfer, the first thing you should do is meet with a transfer counselor at your college. Find out what credits will likely transfer and what you should take before transferring, if you have time. + Talk with the new school. Meet with an admissions counselor and ask about the process, applications, deadlines, credits, tuition and fees, admission requirements, and so on. + Know the best time. The best time to transfer really depends on the college and your program of interest. Some colleges only accept applicants during certain times of the year, so be sure to check with the admissions department at the new school. + Keep your options open. Don’t limit yourself to just one school; give yourself some choice. Besides choosing a school and program that best fit you, compare how many of your credits will transfer to each school, and use this when making your decision. + Keep up your grades. You may have earned the credits, but if you barely got by, those credits may not transfer. You want to present yourself as the best possible candidate for the new school. + Ask about life-experience credits. Some colleges offer credit for “life experience.” This could be based on jobs you’ve held, licenses you’ve earned, and classes you’ve taken.
CHEAT SHEET EMPLOYER SEARCH According to FORTUNE magazine, these are the 10 top companies to work for in the United States, based on job growth potential and number of employees: 1. NetApp 2. Edward Jones 3. Boston Consulting Group
4. Google 5. Wegmans Food Markets 6. Cisco Systems 7. Genentech 8. Methodist Hospital System 9. Goldman Sachs 10. Nugget Market
YOU ARE NOT ALONE — Upwards of 2.5 million students transfer schools each year, including those who transfer from a two-year junior college into a four-year institution.
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MedIA
WE ArE WhAT WE CrEATE The FuTure oF TechNology By chrIS edIger
Marty McFly: “Doc, we better The future is changing — every minute of back up. We don’t have enough every day. But is it possible to get a sneak peek into what lies ahead? road to get up to ’88.” Dr. Emmett Brown: “Roads? TEChnOLOGy As An AfTEr EffECT Where we’re going we don’t Technology can’t really be understood apart from the culture in which it’s created. need roads.” — “Back to the Future,” 1985 I’ll admit it. Growing up, the “Back to the Future” movies fascinated me. I waited with bated breath for the futuristic sequel to come out to see what incredible things lay in store for me as I got older. And I wasn’t disappointed ... hoverboards, holographic movies, window shade flat screens, and even video phones (wait ... looks like that one actually came true)! What kid hasn’t dreamed of time travel? At the rate current technology changes, we will be treated to things tomorrow that occupied only our imaginations yesterday.
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Generational tendencies, interests, and needs push us into ‘what’s around the corner.’ For example, Facebook was created by a Harvard junior seeking a better way to connect his fellow students. While only one of several big names in the industry, it was one of the earliest to be developed and significantly impacted the growth of social networking. Likewise, Napster was developed by two Northeastern University students as a tool to share music. While Napster didn’t invent music piracy, it certainly became a catalyst in exploding the phenomenon. Now, nearly 10 years later, as we enjoy our iPhones and iPods, we have those same
students to partially thank for helping drive Apple’s foray into the consumer electronics and music businesses. In both cases, technology wasn’t necessarily the end goal. Rather, it became the means to an end. The developers saw a need or had a desire existing technology couldn’t meet, so they forged new paths in order to make their dreams reality. New technology does just that. It provides a framework for meeting needs and interests, and moves us from where we’ve been to where we desire to be.
WhErE’s TEChnOLOGy hEAdEd? Predicting technology trends can be a futile task. By the time you read this, any technologies mentioned won’t be nearly as cutting edge as when this sentence was written. However, if we see technology as a mirror of the current generation, we gain a little perspective on what may lay ahead.
TOp 10 InvEnTIOns — For more hints at advancements of the future, check out inventors.about.com and search for “Top 10 Inventions Needed - Future Technology.”
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In a lot of ways, the technology of the “Me” Generation (loosely defined as those born in the 1970s and ’80s) was primarily personal and individualized. It was the generation that first benefitted from the personal computer and the secluding “Walkman” tape and CD players. The question that generation sought to answer about technology was, “How can technology serve me?” The new generation (sometimes noted as the “We” Generation) approaches technology in a very different way. It seeks, at least in part, to answer, “How can we serve others through technology?” While there are still large traces of the tendencies left by the previous generation, “We’s” are more focused on how technology relates to others and in using it to build new ways to bridge that social gap. So what can we expect? 1. Ways to connect with others. It may be a gross understatement, but the birth and subsequent proliferation of social networking Web sites and tools have pulled us back together — albeit sometimes in very cursory ways. New technology will seek to continue to connect people further and deeper. Each successive mobile technology has made it
easier to not only capture life moments, but to share them quickly and effortlessly. We’ll continue to see technology become more and more “we” centered in the next few years. 2. New trends in serving people. Where, in the past, we may have had dreams of how we could help close the gap between those in need and those who could help, technology has finally reached a point where we can begin to make those dreams a reality. Projects like Kiva.org take advantage of the power of the crowd with “crowdfunding” — enabling people to pool their money and resources to make a visible difference in the lives of those around the world. Communitybased service Web sites and technologies will continue to thrive in the coming years. 3. Technology that plays well with others. This still may be a “dog eat dog” world, but technology is helping usher in a new era of communication and cooperation like never before. Crowdsourcing (the sharing of a project with others and allowing them to contribute and improve what we couldn’t do on our own) is almost commonplace. We see it everywhere from open source software, to people utilizing sites like Twitter for group advice before making decisions. In the next few years, we’ll see more companies partnering to offer technologies that complement rather than compete with each other.
WhErE dO WE GO frOm hErE? As Yogi Berra said, “The future ain’t what it used to be.” Even what we dream might be possible in the years ahead will likely pale in comparison to what truly develops. The technology of the future is waiting on the generation of today to see a need, to share an interest, and to move us one step closer to that reality. And who knows? They might just figure out how to make those hoverboards after all! When not dreaming of hoverboards, Chris Ediger helps oversee the online work of Catalyst through his work with GiANT Impact in Atlanta, and would choose a hot cup of coffee, a comfortable chair, and a good book over just about anything. You can follow his journey at InTheThinPlaces.com.
Is ThErE A GLAss bALL? — “No one really knows what is going to happen; no one can predict the future.” —Ecclesiastes 10:14, NLT
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MEDIA
fAILEd fuTurE PrEdICTIOns
“Stephen Baker, an analyst at NPD Intelect, said that the iPod will likely stand out for its large storage capacity but predicted that the device may have trouble digging out a niche in the market.” — CNet.com, October 23, 2001, after the announcement of the first iPod “There is practically no chance communications space satellites will be used to provide better telephone, telegraph, television, or radio service inside the United States.” — T. Craven, FCC Commissioner, in 1961 (The first commercial communications satellite went into service in 1965.) “A rocket will never be able to leave the Earth’s atmosphere.” — New York Times, 1936 “To place a man in a multi-stage rocket and project him into the controlling gravitational field of the moon where the passengers can make scientific observations, perhaps land alive, and then return to earth — all that constitutes a wild dream worthy of Jules Verne. I am bold enough to say that such a man-made voyage will never occur regardless of all future advances.” — Lee DeForest, American radio pioneer and inventor of the vacuum tube, in 1926 “This ‘telephone’ has too many shortcomings to be seriously considered as a means of communication. The device is inherently of no value to us.” — a memo at Western Union, 1878 (or 1876) “Home Taping Is Killing Music” — a 1980’s campaign by the BPI, claiming that people recording music off the radio onto cassette would destroy the music industry “Television won’t last. It’s a flash in the pan.” — Mary Somerville, pioneer of radio educational broadcasts, 1948
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by Nikki Rutz Last year I had to replace my cell phone because after dropping it, something like 137 times, it finally died. When I got the replacement phone, the cell phone salesman sarcastically reminded me that the instruction manual to my new phone states that cell phones aren’t intended to be dropped and doing so will eventually break them. Just to play up to his sarcasm, I acted befuddled that I hadn’t known this previously. The truth is, we generally don’t pick up an instruction manual until something goes wrong. It’s no surprise, then, that when it comes to serious issues, we coast along making our own decisions until we encounter a problem — and only then do we consult our manual. The Bible, in essence, is God’s “design manual” for how we were created and intended to live. While we often consult it for peace in times of anxiety, or for encouraging examples of people who have lived in faith before us, there are certain topics we tend to shy away from, one of the big ones being “sex.” That’s a three-letter word that packs a powerful — and often awkward — punch. Grasping a better understanding of sex’s God-given purpose will help us understand why waiting is so important and clear away some of the complication that surrounds this topic.
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By ThE xxxx —nuMBErS xxxx — The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that 79.5 percent of college students 18 to 24 years old have had sexual intercourse.
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MAnAGInG STrESS — If you’re overwhelmed with all that’s going on this semester, start by making a list of your to-dos and assign deadlines. Get enough rest. Eat well. Cut out the unimportant tasks, and ask for help if it becomes too much to handle on your own.
10/9/09 10:40:35 AM
WHY TALK ABOUT SEX WHEN WE SHOULDN’T BE HAVING IT? We’ve all been taught that sex — of any kind — shouldn’t be a part of our lives outside of marriage. And of course that’s true. But knowing the truth doesn’t make the challenges of being a sexual being (in college, nonetheless) any easier. We may want a relationship and romance, but instead of waiting on God’s plan, we contemplate the necessity of waiting. Before you act (or even if you already have), remind yourself that God wants better for you and why it’s important to wait. He wants you to experience sex only in the right circumstance with the right person.
WHAT IS GOD’S PLAN? Simply put, God created sex. He thought it up. He designed it. Genesis 1 and 2 explains that God created everything that exists and considered all of His creation “very good” (Genesis 1:31) — including His creation of sex. Scripture presents several purposes underlying God’s creation of sex: oneness in marriage (Ephesians 5:31), bodily pleasure in marriage (Song of Songs), and procreation in marriage (Genesis 1:28). Sex was designed to be good and even commanded of married persons unless
IT’S COMPLICATED UNDERSTANDING SEX AS GOD DESIGNED IT mutually agreed otherwise (1 Corinthians 7:5). In context, we see that sex was created as something beautiful to be enjoyed within its design and purposes. But sometimes, we miss His plan because we choose what we perceive as immediate pleasure. We get confusing messages from our culture about sex and how it’s to be used, and we’re tempted to follow the typical response of “what I want when I want it.”
SEX WAS CREATED AS SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL TO BE ENJOYED WITHIN ITS DESIGN AND PURPOSES. Carrie Francis, a graduate student at the University of Wisconsin, agrees: “Everywhere you look there’s sex. Advertisements for very mundane products, music videos, movies, even prime time television is getting more and more risqué. There is very little emphasis on modesty in today’s media, and usually it’s only there so that the ‘cool’ characters can poke fun at the girl who won’t wear a low-cut shirt.” This confusion about sex’s intended purpose is Satan’s goal. He seeks to demolish what God has created as good. Shortly after the fall in Genesis 3, sex was turned into something it wasn’t intended to be: incest, rape, homosexuality, and adultery — the beauty of sex destroyed and made ugly. Instead of grasping the beauty and fulfillment of sex’s original intention, we misuse and abuse it by forcing it to be something opposite of its design. Our fallen natures naturally lean toward cultural norms if we don’t keep them in check. As
SAFE SEX? XXXX — xxxx — It’s estimated that between 20 and 25 percent of college students have at least one STD.
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Christians, we’re to take on God’s worldcontrol in all areas of our lives, and that includes abstaining from sexual acts outside of marriage. That worldview also helps us maintain self control within marriage itself (yep, sexual temptations exist both outside and inside marriage). By practicing patience, we grow in faithfulness — loyalty toward God and His standards. Our willingness to obey His instructions for us is an act of worship and expression of love for God. We worship and honor God when we wait for the intended and originally designed timing, purpose, and place for sex — marriage.
by Nikki Rutzself view, learning
WHAT ABOUT PASSION? We’re called to unselfish living. Restraint is something we all exercise in some fashion or another. We just don’t like exercising it, typically, when it comes to sex. One of my seminary professors referred to our deep, inner desires as our “wanter.” What we want, we consider doing, and our “wanter” typically prevails when facing a decision. To align our behavior with how God created us, we must control our “wanter” and work to align our inner passions to God’s design. As it pertains to sex, this means wanting it isn’t wrong, but actually having sex outside of a covenant marriage relationship is. When we choose God’s plan, we see sex in the beauty of its created purpose and why we’re commanded to refrain from any sexual act outside of the marital covenant. For instance, God knew that having several sexual partners (present or past) wouldn’t promote “oneness” between a
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waiting on God’s plan, we contemplate our own path. Before you act (or even if Last year I had to replace my cell phone husband wife.have), And God knew the intiyou and already remind yourself that because after dropping it, something mate bond partners share that lingers God wants better for in you. Heact wants you like 137 times, it finally died. When Ion gotandtoaffects more than just the tworight people experience sex only in the cirthe replacement phone, the cell phone in thatcumstance moment. Jamie Crews, recent graduwith the rightaperson. me of Virginia Tech University, observes that Sex can besalesman wholly sarcastically separated reminded ate SEX IN CONTEXT that the instruction manual to my new when it comes to being in a relationship, sex from procreation. God created sex. thought phone states that cell phones aren’tinin-her Simply collegeput, climate seems to beHe “the way it up.people He designed it. Genesisthat 1 andother 2 exto be dropped and doing so that will most … understand When the adstended promise that you can separate sex from procreation, areJust to playpeople that God created that eventually breakthey them. up plains love them. Without sex,everything their relationtelling something to the truth, existscomplete.” and considered all of His creation to hisclose sarcasm, I acted befuddled that ships I aren’t technically. Thehadn’t problem is, they aren’t “very good” — including His creation known this previously. God knows how we operate. To desireof telling the truth theologically. sex desires, (Genesisthen, 1:31).weScripture presents The truth is, we generally don’t pick what God must desire God several underlying God’s creup an instruction manual until somemore than our purposes temptations. Good sex can’t happen in the thing goes wrong. It’s no surhumdrum routine of marriage. prise, then, that when it comes GROW TO UNDERSTAND GOD’S PLAN. BY DOING to survives, serious issues, we coast along THIS, YOU CAN ASK HIM TO HELP YOU DISCERN Just as sexuality and survives our so own decisions until PROPER RESPONSES TO SITUATIONS YOU FACE, well within the making household, does passion. Passion and situated within — and TO HELP YOU HAVE THE PROPER VIEW OF HOW we desire encounter a problem the householdonly are then transformed into do we consult our SEX WAS INTENDED TO WORK, AND TO SHOW emotional manifestations strength, manual. Theof Bible, in essence, is YOU HOW TO EMBRACE HIS PLAN. resiliency, and commitment. God’s “design manual” for how we were created and intended to How you dress doesn’t matter. HOW ation CAN ofI KEEP SEX INin marriage ITS PROPER sex: oneness (Ephelive. While we often consult it for peace CONTEXT? sians 5:31), bodily pleasure in marriage in times of anxiety, or for encouraging Modest dress — appropriate dress, if more fully than weincan ever (Songusof—Songs), procreation marriage examples of people who’ve livedGod in loves you will — is not simply about covering comprehend. wantsand us toa have life to the (GenesisHe1:18), symbolic/covefaith before thereHow are certain topics up potentially enticing bodyus, parts. we dress shapes weto carry — anrepresentation “abundant” life (John 10:10). of the unity of the wehow tend shyourselves away from, one of fullest the nantal and how we engage ourbeing communities God wants to pursue Him soJohn that 17:21). we might Trinityus(Genesis 1:26-27; big ones “sex.” That’s a threeand institutions. His designed love and the life good He’s deSex was to be and letter word that packs a powerfulbegin — to grasp signedeven for us. When we doof this, we change our commanded married persons and often — punch. Grasping Adapted from Real Sex:awkward The Naked Truth About Chastityunderstanding by Lauren Winner of sex’s Godheart and that,mutually in turn, changes “wanter.”(1 unless agreed our otherwise a better (Brazos Press, 2006) Our heart’s goals become our outward goals. Corinthians 7:5). In context, we see that given purpose will help us understand Put another way, when our passion forbeautiful God insex was created as something why waiting is so important and clear creases, ourenjoyed desire to outsideand of His to be assin per(live its design puraway some of the complication that intentions) decreases. poses. But sometimes, we miss His plan surrounds this topic. So because what are we some practical steps can choose what we you perceive WHY TALK ABOUT SEX WHEN as immediate pleasure. We get confusYOU SHOULDN’T BE HAVING IT? ing messages from our culture about We’ve all been taught that sex — of sex and how it’s to be used, and we’re any kind — shouldn’t be a part of tempted to follow those instructions inour lives outside of marriage. And of stead of God’s. course that’s true. But knowing the Carrie Francis, a graduate student at truth doesn’t make the ins and outs of the University of Wisconsin agrees: “Evbeing a sexual being (in college, none- erywhere you look there’s sex. Advertheless) any easier. We may want a re- tisements for very mundane products, lationship and romance, but instead of music videos, movies, even Primetime
LIES OUR CULTURE TELLS US ABOUT SEX
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take to fend off the temptation to have sex before marriage? 1) PURSUE GOD. Daily. Read His Word and pray to move toward a closer relationship with Him. Grow to understand God’s plan. By doing this, you can ask Him to help you discern proper responses to situations you face, to help you have the proper view of how sex was intended to work, and to show you how to embrace His plan. Ask God to help you become content with life wherever you currently are. Pray for the strength to avoid situations that might lead you away from His perfect plan. 2) PURSUE COMMUNITY. Accountability and help for the times your “wanter” is feeling weak comes best from those you love and trust. You can flee situations that tempt you to engage in sex by asking those around you to actively encourage you to seek God’s plan. 3) PURSUE REPENTANCE. When you sin, you must repent immediately. Grace is fully and unconditionally given to you through Jesus Christ. Repenting is the first step of turning toward God’s design. (See Romans 8.) Then make proactive decisions like rethinking a dating relationship, avoiding certain Internet sites, and choosing not to watch movies, TV shows, or other “triggers” that provoke your passions. Nikki Rutz, cofounder/president of Lily7 (lily7. com), desires to see this generation of college students increase their intelligence, character, and passion for Christ.
FOR FURTHER STUDY — We suggest Joshua Harris’ Not Even a Hint: Guarding Your Heart Against Lust and Dawn Eden’s The Thrill of the Chaste.
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10/9/09 10:41:52 AM
PuT uP A FIrEwALL
By BECky CrANdALL On April 16, 2007, America was once again forced to face the reality that college campuses are not always safe environments. While shootings like the one at Virginia Tech rightfully warrant the media attention they receive, high-profile crimes often overshadow the less sensational crimes that take place daily on campuses across the nation. You can take steps to protect yourself, but it all starts by simply being aware of the facts and remembering that anyone can be affected. Take it from someone who’s been there: “I remember hearing campus crime alerts and sort of just discounting them,” recalls Jaime*, who was attacked in 2008 as she jogged around campus alone. “[I had] that ‘it’s never going to happen to me’ mentality. But at the end of the day, these things do happen, and it can absolutely happen to anyone.”
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Each year, data compiled by the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Postsecondary Education paints a shockingly clear picture. In 2007, the year of the Virginia Tech shootings, 64 murders were reported on college campuses in the U.S., a staggeringly high number. But in light of the 32,941 counts of burglary, 8,945 cases of motor vehicle theft, and 5,217 incidents of aggravated assault reported on campuses that same year, it’s easy to see why you must be aware of the possibility of more than a random shooting.
Be aware of your surroundings and make good decisions, such as keeping a cell phone handy and not going out alone at night. Theft is consistently the number one crime affecting college students, and while no one asks to be a victim, there are certainly things that increase people’s chances of having their property stolen. “Students do not take enough care of their personal property,” says Chief King. This not only includes obvious items such as laptops and vehicles, but also property that students might not consider, like textbooks. Even more costly than the loss of the property is something that may take months or even years to correct. “Identity theft becomes an issue with the loss of some of this property,” King reports. Want to protect your property? Use common sense. Never leave your belongings unlocked or unattended, even for a short time. Also check into the resources offered through your campus police department. Many offer identification programs to engrave and mark personal property. And it’s not just about protecting your stuff; you should protect yourself, too.
By ThE NumBErs — 40 percent of both college men and women say they encountered violence from a date or romantic partner.
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Avoid giving out too much personal information through venues like Facebook. Most importantly, be aware of your surroundings and make good decisions, such as keeping a cell phone handy and not going out alone at night.
fOr ThE SAkE Of A GOOd TImE Although the overwhelming majority of campus crimes involve theft, many students unfortunately find themselves victimized due to another safety issue altogether — alcohol. “Sexual assault and alcohol use are both two issues facing students today,” states Alison Kiss, director of programs for Security on Campus, Inc. “Alcohol is involved in a large portion of the crime on campus,” she says. The statistics are sobering. A recent study published in the Journal of American College Health revealed that almost 20 percent of undergraduate women experience some type of sexual assault during their college career. Alcohol played a role in the majority of those cases. Women may seem to be the only ones affected by alcohol-induced crimes, but that’s simply not the case. Men are not immune. The 2005 Annual Review of Public Health reported that more than 696,000 students were assaulted by another student who’d been drinking. From assaults to injuries to deaths, drinking-related incidents plague campuses, and the consequences can even affect those who do not drink. Chief King agrees. “I think the biggest safety issue for students that’s overlooked centers on alcohol and drug use. There’s a much greater chance of a student being harmed because of alcohol or drug use than any other potential danger.” Emily McCollum, a recent University of Miami graduate who spent three years as a student worker in the UM Center for Alcohol
and Other Drug Education, notes that many students overlook practicality when trying to have a good time. “With the influence of alcohol, and sometimes other drugs, many students allow their good judgment to fade and the excitement of a good time to replace it. Whether it is getting into a car with someone who has been drinking or trusting a stranger who gives you a drink, students place their safety in jeopardy,” she says. Instead, she encourages students to be proactively responsible and use good judgment. As a general rule, if you don’t feel comfortable around someone, then don’t hang out with them.
“[I had] that ‘It’s never goIng to happen to me’ mentalIty. But at the end of the day, these thIngs do happen, and It can aBsolutely happen to anyone.” And keep in mind that alcohol-related crimes don’t just happen on campus. “Alcohol is involved in the vast majority of arrests, accidents, violent crimes, rapes, and deaths” suffered by students on Spring Break, according to the U.S. Department of the State. So take extra precautions if you’re in an unfamiliar place. Unfortunately, your college campus doesn’t keep you immune from crime. While you shouldn’t feel the need to walk around in constant fear, be aware of your surroundings and use common sense in all situations. *Name has been changed.
Becky Crandall serves as the area Baptist Campus Ministry director in Miami, Fla., where she loves investing in students. Having grown up in North Louisiana, she is the most country person to hit Miami and would love fried okra and sweet tea to be on the menu in heaven.
STAy InfOrmEd — For more info on staying safe, visit collegesafe.com, securityoncampus.org, safercampus.org, higheredcenter.org, or bacchusgamma.org.
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5 Ways to play it safe 1. hAvE A PLAn. Don’t wait until you’re in a dangerous situation to come up with an action plan. Familiarize yourself with resources available through your campus police department and with your campus’s formal security plan. Take the time to program the police department’s number in your cell phone. And pay attention to campus security alerts!
2. BE AwArE And USE COmmOn SEnSE. If something feels wrong, then it probably is. Get away from the danger and contact your campus police department immediately. Also, don’t leave yourself vulnerable by immersing yourself completely in your iPod or a cell phone conversation. Keep others aware of your schedule, and never walk alone at night.
3. dOn’T USE drUGS And ALCOhOL. Your risks of being a crime victim increase dramatically when these elements are involved.
4. SECUrE yOUr vALUABLES. Don’t leave your belongings alone in public, even for a second. Record bar codes and serial numbers in a secure location just in case. Always lock your doors.
5. BE rESPOnSIBLE. If you’re going to be in a setting where alcohol is present, be responsible. Never get in a vehicle with someone who’s been drinking alcohol, and never accept anything to drink from a stranger.
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BY AMY JACOBS
There are rules: Get your education and get to work. After all, the career ladder that leads to the American Dream is no easy climb. But for many of today’s college students and recent grads, those rules are history. Sure, the pressure to succeed still exists, but the need to do work that matters — to make a difference — seems to carry more weight with each generation. Here are the stories of six young adults driven by a different sort of dream, one that lets them use their majors for something with meaning — something called ministry.
STEPHEN PROCTOR University of Arkansas, Fayetteville B.S. in Marketing When Stephen Proctor was asked to add images behind the words of PowerPoint® slides for worship gatherings for the Baptist Collegiate Ministry (BCM), he thought it was just a hobby. His creative side kicked in, and soon he was thinking about the entire background for worship: lights, staging, media, along with motion backgrounds.
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STEPPING OUT OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE— “I remember playing my songs, getting off stage, and just knowing something was missing. I felt a pull from God that I had to share my story.” —Lanae’ Hale
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Although he wanted to pursue a career in the music industry, he knew that visual media was an element of the bigger picture. “It was a dream — I would have viewed anything fulltime working with visual media as a dream job, but I wasn’t banking on that happening. I was hoping on a job at a record label at best.” A sales job at MediaComplete (makers of MediaShout®) quickly evolved into a job as a VJ. Proctor recently cofounded GI-Inc., a company that has provided visual media for a variety of events from the Dove Awards to Beth Moore’s Living Proof Live. “I credit where I am today to what I did as a volunteer in college ministry, but my degree indirectly affected me because advertising and marketing are about getting a message out and selling a service, and that’s what we’re doing through visual media. We have a message. We have a service. We have to get that story out.” Lesson Learned: “I hold every opportunity with an open hand. It gets rid of a competitive spirit. That’s the biggest lesson that shapes who I am and how I do what I do.” XXX — A college student wrote on a recovery message board, “It feels so good to be in charge of my own pain, since everyone else tries to do it for me.”
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JULIA VAN DER WERF Penn State University B.S. in Elementary Education
GREG VALENTINE Baylor University B.S. in Biology Pursuing a Doctorate of Medicine, University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston
Most education majors look for a job in a school district with money because with money comes resources and resources certainly make teaching easier. But Julia Van Der Werf isn’t most education majors. “I felt such a special compassion for the children who were labeled as too tough to reach. Often those students were from the inner city, and I wanted to go to the places where others weren’t as willing to go to show that they were able to reach and were worth the time, effort, and energy,” said Van Der Werf. Compelled to go to the places where programs didn’t exist, Van Der Werf wanted to make a difference. She began DayBreak, a program for inner-city kids in D.C., that offers after-school programming, tutoring, and Bible studies; where neighborhood kids find a place to play, study, and have a meal. Van Der Werf’s skills in education, classroom management, and leadership with urban students were used to advance God’s kingdom in the Lincoln Heights neighborhood. Says Van Der Werf, “It really was a God thing,
When Greg Valentine started classes at UT Galveston, he hoped to get involved with an organization that focused on Christian ministry through medical missions. Although he found student groups and organizations that served in the local community and on the Texas/Mexico border, none of them based their organization on spreading the gospel. While serving in Bucharest, Romania, for four years, Valentine developed a passion for international missions, and he wanted to combine that passion with his training in the medical field. So he created a new organization on campus — Hands and Feet Medical Missions — a group that’s number one priority is serving God. A small group of students from different disciplines of healthcare (physical therapy, allopathic medicine, nursing, and physician’s assistants) began meeting regularly with the BSM director to
BY THE NUMBERS — “A survey of almost 3,000 students at Cornell and Princeton, found that 17% had purposely injured themselves at least once in the past. 75% of them had hurt themselves more than twice … though it is thought by some to signify an inability to deal with stress,” says ABC News.
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I could not have prepared myself or created the pathway on my own.” Recently, Van Der Werf began serving as a training coordinator with Go Corps, a partnership of 10 established, forwardthinking mission agencies that train and send college grads to serve among the poor and least reached. “Part of why I chose education was because I love to train and develop people,” she said. “Now I’m using that experience I have in education and non-profit management to train and develop the next generation of college students to serve those who are in the most need. I firmly believe that through this effort I, through Christ, can reach way more people than I could ever reach alone.” Lesson Learned: “God is not narrow. He wants to use all kinds of people who have all kinds of backgrounds, training, and degrees to impact the world for Christ. He needs engineers, artists, business people, and medical professionals. Whatever field you’re in, look for ways to use the gift of your education for Christ.”
figure out what it would take to get Hands and Feet Medical Missions off the ground. As founder and president, Valentine is excited and hopeful. “My hope is that God uses this group of students in ways we can’t imagine right now. I hope people hear the wonderful Word of God and develop a relationship with Him because of students’ desires to use their skills and talents to serve Him.” Valentine’s sure of one thing: he wants to serve. “I hope to pursue a specialty that allows me to practice medicine wherever God calls me to go. Through my experiences, I have had a passion lit in me to serve the underprivileged both near and far. No matter if it is in the local, free, indigent clinic or in a Romanian orphanage, I have a passion to serve those who have so little.” Lesson Learned: “No matter who you are God can use you in His wonderful ways — you just have to be willing to be used.”
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KATIE TAYLOR Taylor University B.A. in Communications, with minors in Theatre Arts and Spanish
MATTHEW AARON GALACIA Chaminade University of Honolulu B.S. in Criminal Justice (Pre-Law) In 2008 Matthew Galacia went to Conakry, Guinea, on a vision trip for his church. Little did he know that he would soon be returning to Guinea to spend a semester teaching English to college students at Kofi Annan University. But that’s where he found himself in January 2009 when he went to serve with the International Mission Board’s (IMB) HandsOn West Africa program. Teaching English in Africa may seem like a stretch for someone studying criminal justice, but Galacia says his major came in handy when he taught an American Studies class. “We constantly had class debates about issues that plague their society today, challenging the students to think ‘outside the box’ about solutions to solve their country’s problems. We were able to talk about the laws that govern our society and briefly talk about the history of our country. It challenged the students to think for themselves about how they can make a positive impact in their society and government.” Galacia’s experience will likely be a stepping stone in achieving his dream of working alongside government officials. “It has always been my dream to serve in a capacity where you have to make those tough decisions. I do think this experience fueled my desire to serve in a position where my faith is lived out and is an influence to those in positions of leadership — working with other governments to help the citizens of that government become well.” Lesson Learned: “Step out of your comfort zone and trust God. Want to know who God is? Go and see. Experience God in a totally different way, even if it’s only for a semester.”
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A FRIEND IN NEED — If you know of someone who self-injures, go to crpsib.com for a handout on how to encourage them to get help.
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Katie Taylor has worked in television, landed in the Writers Guild of America, and found herself feature casting for projects including “Miami Vice,” “SpiderMan 3,” and “Babel.” But her new ministry is wrapped up in making movies. Taylor’s filmmaking journey led her to Kayamandi, South Africa, where she spent two weeks and shot a short film that she wrote and directed about AIDS. She returned to Africa a second time for six months and started the South Africa Film Project. Taylor taught a group of 16 high school-aged students (who had never held a video camera) basic film techniques and equipped them to tell their own stories through the use of short film. They began a documentary of the students’ learning process as filmmakers and are striving to tell the story of growing up within the poverty of a postapartheid township. “It is important to encourage outside-the-box thinking,” said Taylor. “In a society where the job market leaves nearly half of the country’s population unemployed, innovation is a vital skill that will open doors for this and future generations.” When Taylor’s not telling stories from Africa, she enjoys introducing Hollywood to Christians and introducing Christians to Hollywood. “For so long these two groups have been at war, and I want Hollywood to know that we are grace-filled followers of Jesus and not just picketers standing on the corner,” she says. Lesson Learned: “With God we can do things that are so far beyond our own abilities and comfort zones. I never want this feeling to end, this space where my own abilities are simply not enough to accomplish the huge dreams and visions that God has placed in my heart.”
VERSES FOR — Isaiah 41:10;Taylor’s SEE THE RESULTS — ToMEDITATION view the videos from Katie Psalm Revelation 21:4 time in Africa, go46:1-2; to youtube.com and search for “lakatietaylor” or view her blog at filmprojectafrica.blogspot.com.
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CHI-MING LO (DAVID) Liberty University M.A. in Intercultural Studies Chi-Ming Lo, known to friends as David, learned about the IMB’s HandsOn Spain program and knew that it was just the type of ministry he’d been looking for. Once in Spain, Lo was given the responsibility to photograph and document every event and activity of the HandsOn team. Although Lo spent plenty of time serving people — cooking, doing chores, cleaning, running errands, and so on — it was his role as photographer that shaped his pursuit of a career. “My passion is photography, and I would like to be a professional photographer. I was pursuing a commercial photography career, but now I would like to be a photographer for missions. Now I understand what my call is and how I can use the gifts that God has given me to reach others.” Lesson Learned: “Place yourself in situations where you have to show your beliefs. Though it is difficult, Christians grow during the hardships. Step out of your comfort zone and let God be in charge of your life.”
Whether it’s teaching overseas or using all the creativity these young adults can muster, they are committed to both their careers and the ministries they’ve been given. Lucky for them they’ve learned an important lesson: ministry is the perfect major. Amy Jacobs is a freelance writer living in Nashville, Tenn., who, when she was a college student, let her English major take her around the world to teach English in China.
TOP COLLEGE MAJORS AND WHAT TO DO WITH ’EM We generally compartmentalize the declaration of a college major as the way we’ll earn money in the future. But maybe there’s more to your major than just money. Check out the list below of ways to turn 10 of the most common majors into more than a J-O-B. If your major is ... PSYCHOLOGY, try working as a social worker for an inner-city school or crisis pregnancy center. NURSING, search for a job on a Disaster Relief & Emergency Response Team, or work shortterm overseas with AIDS relief in poverty-stricken countries. BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION, try working your way up to the board of directors of a non-profit organization that specializes in one of your ministry passions. BIOLOGY/BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES, work for a clean water initiative like UNICEF. EDUCATION, work for Teach for America, or start an after school tutoring program for ESL students. PUBLIC RELATIONS, promote Christian artists, authors, and speakers who resonate with your beliefs. ECONOMICS, consider working as a data analyst for World Vision. COMMUNICATIONS STUDIES, help give children a voice and become a child advocate, or run for public office and make a difference on the legislative level. COMPUTER AND INFORMATION SCIENCES, become an intern in the Washington, D.C., Office of SOS Children’s Villages.
XXXX — xxxx
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Love, Actually…
LEvITICus Isn’T jusT A bOOk Of dO’s And dOn’Ts by MATT TuLLOs
I recently had lunch with a friend in Cincinnati. We were talking about the complexity of life these days, and he said something that sounded so brutally honest I remember it almost word for word. “It seems the longer I live, the less I know. I see things now that aren’t black and white. Just nebulous random acts ... We live in a world where poverty is the dominant in almost every country I’ve visited. And we, the rich ‘Christian’ nations, are more concerned with sports, tax breaks, and oil prices.” We Americans are a savage tribe, often hiding behind our rules to give ourselves some sort of spiritual hall pass. Our prayers often seem like feeble attempts to affirm our existence rather than to exert the power of God into the world around us. In truth, I believe many of our prayers sound like this:
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…
Oh, God in heaven, Thou dost know The pain and conflict down below. Thou who makest all, Winter, spring, summer, fall, Bless Thou we, and bless Thou he Who sinneth before Thy very sight, And causeth me with all my might To pray that Thou wilt spare his soul And make him someday surely whole. For Thou knowest where he goest, And Thou must weep to see the heap Of sins, transgressions, lies, and hate Upon whose judgment he’ll await. So in short, this is my plea, In damnation, better him than me! Obviously the language is different than what we use, but the point remains the same. We’d rather God just bless us and take care of the struggles of the world that we’d rather not deal with.
LOvE EquALs sACrIfICE Maybe expecting God to handle the things we don’t want to think about isn’t the way it should be. Maybe Christianity isn’t about do’s and don’ts, but is more about building relationships, making sacrifices, using our resources to help others, and spreading the love of Christ to all the world. This issue’s Bible studies cover some of Leviticus, a book of the Bible often seen as boring and outdated. But contrary to popular belief, the key word throughout Leviticus isn’t legalism. It’s not about obeying the rules. Without question the key word is holiness. Legalism implies box-checking and barely getting by. Holiness, on the other hand, is a statement of relationship wherein we say something like this: “Lord, I’m so in love with You that I want to become
like You. I want to run as fast as I can into Your presence and remove all obstacles that keep me from relationship with You.” We no longer burn the fat of animals. We don’t remove the kidneys and livers of a goat in worship. (Thank you, God!) But we are called to do something much more radical: to present our bodies — the very lives we live — as living sacrifices. We’re called to perform gratuitous acts of grace.
LIfE Isn’T A ChECkLIsT From the very beginning, God has been about the business of redemption. Even in the complex Book of Leviticus we see glimpses of His redeeming grace. The instructions for sacrifices point with elaborate details to the cross of Jesus Christ. It has been estimated that there are between 500 and 600 levitical laws in the Torah — the first five books of the Old Testament. Jesus narrowed them down to just two: Love God with everything you’ve got, and love others as much as you love yourself (Matthew 22:37-39). Jesus’ laws may be fewer, but they’re much more difficult to keep. As Christ’s followers we have to relentlessly ask if we’re just checking off boxes, justifying our existence, or truly falling in love with God. Is that what my life is about? Is that what the church is about? Far too often it’s not. We seldom take the time to deal with the pain of the world because we’re too “busy” trading pain with each other. We make rules about who can do what in the church. We’re so easily distracted away from the Great Commission that we forget we’re called to share Christ not just with America, but with the rest of the world. This love of Christ and our walk to the cross isn’t complicated but it is hard. We
BLOOd Of ThE LAmB — “Blood” is mentioned more than 60 times in Leviticus. The outpouring of blood in Old Testament sacrifices was key to atoning for sins. This is what makes Christ’s blood so significant.
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need the wisdom of Forrest Gump: “I’m not a smart man, but I know what love is.” Amen, Forrest. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to be awestruck by the grace of Christ. No, it only takes a believer. It doesn’t take a physician to tell you that life is distinctly tied to the blood that flows through the body. And it doesn’t take a theologian to say, “Jesus loves me. This I know.” It’s all there in Leviticus — life, grace, blood, and forgiveness. “For the life of a creature is in the blood, and I have appointed it to you to make atonement on the altar for your lives, since it is the lifeblood that makes atonement” (Leviticus 17:11). What sacrifices are you making for the sake of His kingdom? What steps are you taking to become more holy? -------------------------------------------------------Matt Tullos is an author, performer, and pastor who’s striving to make radical changes in response to his love for God. Visit Matt’s blog at tullos.org.
A PrAyEr Of hOnEsTy Lord Jesus, God’s only Son, I cease my self-congratulatory posture when I stop and think of all You are and evermore will be. I’m amazed by Your power. I’m overwhelmed that I’m a part of this rich panorama of life. My soul craves to know how I fit into Your story. I shutter to think of the times when I deny Your presence through my self-centered actions. I’ve often shuffled sideways to avoid You without realizing the absurdity of my actions. Hold me in Your hands because it’s true: I am weak but You are strong. Amen.
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JOurney tO HOliness bible studies by guy CHmieleski
Given the choice, would you rather go to the latest action-packed movie at the theater or sit in the library studying your Chemistry 101 textbook? I doubt many of you will pick the latter. (If you’re pre-med, you should probably go study.) Exodus and Leviticus may conjure the same type of comparison in some people’s minds. Exodus is filled with thrilling events of miraculous proportion, while Leviticus outlines detailed and repetitive regulations the Israelites were called to follow. However both are important, and by studying these two books together, we gain a deeper understanding of who God is and what He expects from His children. The Book of Exodus begins with God’s people enslaved and abused by the Egyptians. God called a reluctant leader, Moses, to stand up to Pharaoh — and sometimes his own people — to obtain freedom for the Israelites. The events and imagery in Exodus inspire the imagination: plagues, billowing clouds of smoke and fire, a parting sea, a conquered enemy, food from heaven, water from rocks, and God’s own finger, writing His commands for His people. These faith-building experiences challenged the Israelites to put their full faith in God through a holy covenant with Him. They signed on without hesitation, but the actual living out of this covenant required a complete makeover for the nation. Enter Leviticus, which contains many of the details of God’s covenant, both His promises to the Israelites and the benefits they would receive for their obedience. God’s laws set them apart from every other nation on earth. Their goals as a nation were different because their God was unique and holy. His blueprint for their journey to holiness required them to erase their past and embrace the future He had for them. In as much as Exodus and Leviticus recount God’s protection of and provision for the Israelites, the books also reflect God’s purpose for Christians today. He continues to call us to set ourselves apart from the world and become holy as He is holy.
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leAding A grOup Of students?
CHeCk Out tHe collegiate teACHing plAns At threadsmedia.com/collegiate.
10/9/09 10:48:51 AM
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BIBLE STUDY WEEK OF MARCH 7 // EXODUS 1–4
WHERE IS GOD WHEN I SUFFER?
DIG DEEPER QUOTABLE Deep unspeakable suffering may well be called a baptism, a regeneration, the initiation into a new state. — George Eliot, novelist
Pain and suffering are not the places we like to find ourselves, nor are they where we expect to find God. Yet in an instant, things can happen — a parent dies, a friend is diagnosed with cancer, or you lose your financial aid and have to drop out of school. Suddenly you’re left asking, Why me? Where is God? But these times of grief often strip us of all our securities and leave us open to God in uninhibited ways — making space for the miraculous to take place.
NEED TO KNOW Human trafficking is one of the most prominent forms of slavery today. UNICEF reports that across the world, “there are over one million children entering the sex trade every year and that approximately 30 million children have lost their childhood through sexual exploitation over the past 30 years.” Go to endhumantraffickingnow.com to find out how you can help.
LISTEN TO ... Artist: Kendall Payne Song: “Modern Day Moses” Album: Jordan’s Sister
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HE’S ALWAYS AROUND (READ EXODUS 2:23-25). God is real and intelligible. He is a God who acts. These verses reveal God’s concern for and His personal involvement in the Hebrews’ suffering. He hadn’t forgotten His people. He heard the oppressed Israelites’ prayers and remembered His covenant with their forefathers. And through our relationship with Him, God takes notice and attends to our prayers for help when we’re in difficult situations, just like He did for the Israelites. How does that fit with your experiences? Do you believe God
How have you experienced can change your circumstance? Do you believe your prayer can God in the ordinary circumstances of your life? Who are the people influence God? and what are the experiences God TIMES OF GRIEF OFTEN is using to shape your life?
LEAVE US OPEN TO GOD IN UNINHIBITED WAYS. HE’LL GET YOUR ATTENTION (READ EXODUS 3:1-6). In this passage we see God reveal Himself to Moses for the first time. He came to Moses with the charge to confront Pharaoh and lead the Israelites to the promised land. Why Moses? In fact, why did God even choose to use a human being in this significant salvation event? Wouldn’t it have made more of an impact if God had shown up on the scene and dealt with Pharaoh mano a mano? While Moses didn’t necessarily look like the most likely candidate for the job, God was at work preparing him for this significant task. God had been using Moses’ ordinary circumstances, and likely the wisdom of his fatherin-law Jethro, to prepare him for such a weighty calling.
HE’LL TAKE ACTION (READ EXODUS 3:7-10). Many people view God in one of two ways: either as a God who is very involved because of how much He cares, or as a God who is distant — uninvolved and unconcerned — in regard to His people. How does this passage impact your view of God and His involvement in the world? What we believe about God’s willingness and/or ability to act in the world has a significant impact on how we live. If we believe God can step into our circumstances and bring about change, then we’ll pray out of that belief with great levels of hope and trust. If we don’t, obviously, we won’t. Take some time to consider if your prayer life reflects the level to which you believe God can influence or change your life circumstances. Like Moses, would you be ready if God called you?
LEADING A GROUP OF STUDENTS? CHECK OUT THE COLLEGIATE TEACHING PLANS AT THREADSMEDIA.COM/COLLEGIATE.
10/9/09 10:49:39 AM
BIBLE STUDY EXODUS 1–4 // WEEK OF MARCH 7
WALK LIKE AN EGYPTIAN At the beginning of the Book of Exodus, the Israelites were in the land of Egypt. A quick reading of Genesis 42–46 reminds us that the Israelites first came to Egypt because Canaan was experiencing the devastation of a famine. Jacob had sent 10 of his 12 sons — the 12 who would one day become the heads of the 12 tribes of Israel — to Egypt to see about food. Finding their brother Joseph in Egypt (read Genesis 37 to recall how he ended up there), the family of Jacob was invited to come and settle in the land. At the end of the Book of Genesis, the deaths of both Jacob and Joseph are recounted. Exodus 1:8 sets the scene for our story, stating, “A new king, who had not known Joseph, came to power in Egypt.” Fearing that the Israelites, who “multiplied, and became extremely numerous so that the land was filled with them” (Exodus 1:7), would rebel against the Egyptians, Pharaoh enslaved the Israelites and put them to work for the country. This was not the kind of life God desired for His chosen people. Something would have to be done!
YOU WON’T BELIEVE WHAT HE’LL DO (READ EXODUS 3:19-20). In this instance God described for Moses exactly how His plan would unfold. Pharaoh wouldn’t be compelled by Moses’ message alone — even though he came in the power and name of the Lord. It would require God’s miraculous acts for Pharaoh to influence change. You see, there’s no circumstance greater than our Creator’s power. We have nothing to fear but God, and with God we can do things far beyond our own abilities and comfort zones. If you’re feeling confused about your current situation and unsure of the future, discuss with God your frustrations and concerns. Then trust that He will hear you and act according to His perfect will. God’s activity in our world beckons us to live lives that reflect a genuine, deep, and sincere love of Him.
If we believe God can step into our circumstances and bring about change, then we’ll pray out of that belief.
GOD’S MEGAPHONE C. S. Lewis once wrote, “God whispers to us in our pleasures … but shouts in our pains: It is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world.” In times of hardship we are most likely to recognize our weakness and turn to God. While that is not to say that God punishes us in order to get our attention, it does mean that God can redeem our suffering to draw us nearer to Him. But only if we let Him. While God can redeem your suffering, you make the choice to accept His good plans. Rather than flee from the hurt, you can choose to embrace your suffering. Let it serve as a refining fire that burns away all the distractions and temptations that have drowned out the voice of God in your life. Take time to step back and see what lessons God might be teaching you. It’s challenging when the darkness is allconsuming and you feel nearly choked by it. But in that place of weakness and vulnerability, you can either run and hide, or you can cry out to God and see what beautifully redemptive plans He has in store for you.
THINK ABOUT THIS ... What areas of your life need God’s influence? How might you be limiting God’s work in your life because of a lack of belief? How can you reorient yourself to His power?
SPRING FORWARD — Daylight Saving Time begins on Sunday, March 14. Hooray for longer days!
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BIBLE STUDY WEEK OF MARCH 14 // EXODUS 5–10
CALLED WITH A PURPOSE
DIG DEEPER RACISM IN AMERICA For one person’s perspective on growing up in the deep south, go to threadsmedia.com and read the article “Reflecting on Racism” by Regina Gibson.
WORD STUDY FESTIVAL (noun) — or “Feast” (NASB). Although none of the three main Jewish festivals celebrated today had been initiated at this point in Israel’s history, the Israelites did celebrate a New Moon festival every month with special offerings and activities.
All political opinions aside, the 2009 induction of Barack Obama as the President of the United States ushered in a new day. It hasn’t been that long since African Americans weren’t seen as equals in our country, but as property and slaves. The ironically sad truth behind this fact was that — in a country founded on religious freedoms and principles — many of those perpetrating the crime were people who also claimed to be faithful followers of God. God is not a God of slavery but of freedom. He wants the captives to be freed so that they might fulfill their divine purpose — to worship God and bear witness to His name throughout the world.
TO WORSHIP (READ EXODUS 5:1-3) In Egyptian belief, Pharaoh was the bridge between the gods and humanity. To his subjects he represented the gods. In Exodus 5:1-3, Moses and Aaron approach Pharaoh with a request, “Let My people go, so that they may hold a festival for Me in the wilderness.” Do you find this line of
reasoning perplexing? Is it what you expected Moses and Aaron to say? While the reality of being freed from slavery would seem to be purpose enough for Moses and Aaron’s case, the reason they wanted the Israelites freed was so they could go and worship the Lord through the celebration of a festival, a spiritual discipline through which they encountered God.
WE HAVE THE FREEDOM TO MAKE CHOICES, BUT HUMAN CHOICES CAN’T OVERTURN GOD’S PURPOSES. TO BELONG (READ EXODUS 6:6-8) First and foremost, God was demonstrating to all people that He alone is God. Consider the promises He made to the Israelites: • to free them from the burden of their labors; • to deliver them from slavery; • to redeem them;
• to take them as His people; • to be their God; • to bring them into the “promised land”; and • to give them possession of it. What more could the Israelites have wanted? God emphatically stated His intention to set the Israelites free and His desire to establish a covenant relationship with them. So what was required of the Israelites? Simply, that they would choose God. All they had to do was commit — and stay committed — to God and God alone. Seems simple enough, but it’s much easier said than done. The Israelites had notoriously struggled with obedience. They had failed to let go of their shortsighted view and trust that God would ultimately deliver them.
TO TESTIFY (READ EXODUS 7:1-5) God declared His power and ability. He would free His people regardless of what Pharaoh would or wouldn’t do. Why, then, did God send Moses and Aaron back before Pharaoh? Why not just do
LISTEN TO ... Artist: Chris Rice Song: “O Freedom” Album: Peace Like a River: The Hymns Project
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LEADING A GROUP OF STUDENTS? CHECK OUT THE COLLEGIATE TEACHING PLANS AT THREADSMEDIA.COM/COLLEGIATE.
10/9/09 10:50:27 AM
BIBLE STUDY EXODUS 5–10 // WEEK OF MARCH 14
the work and be done with it? Why put Moses and Aaron in a precarious position? God seemed to desire that Pharaoh, and Egypt as a whole, declare Him alone as God: “See, I have made you like God to Pharaoh ...” (v. 1). “The Egyptians will know that I am the LORD when I stretch out My hand against Egypt, and bring out the Israelites from among them” (v. 5). God called Moses for a purpose, not just so that he’d free the Israelites, but also so that everyone would know His power, love, and care for His people. Just like Moses and Pharaoh, we have the freedom to make choices, but human choices can’t and won’t overturn God’s purposes; ultimately He is Creator and has final authority over His creation.
THINK ABOUT THIS ... God sets all captives free. But freedom isn’t the end; it’s a means to an end. God desires that we bear witness of Him and His active presence in our lives. What does your life bear witness to?
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 17 — “St. Patrick’s Day” Did you know that St. Patrick’s Day was once a sacred religious holiday? Times, they do change!
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4 SUFFERING SURVIVAL TIPS We’ve already learned that God can redeem our circumstances if we choose to let Him, but that’s easier said than done. Here are four ways to grow in the midst of hardship:
MOSES: AN UNLIKELY LEADER Moses is not only one of the primary figures of the Pentateuch (the first five books of the Bible), but he is likely one of the greatest leaders of the children of God throughout the course of time. Like many leaders — both in biblical and extra-biblical history — Moses didn’t seem to be the “most qualified” to lead the Israelites out of captivity. For starters, Moses shouldn’t have lived much past his birth. The pharaoh of Egypt at that time commanded the midwives to kill all Israelite males at birth. And when that didn’t happen, he issued an edict for all male babies to be thrown into the river (Exodus 1). Risking everything, however, Moses’ mother placed him in a basket and sent him down the river with the hope of an alternative to death for her son. Moses, discovered by Pharaoh’s daughter, was raised within Pharaoh’s royal court and experienced the best that life could offer (Exodus 2:1-10). As an adult, Moses witnessed an Egyptian soldier beating an Israelite (Exodus 2:11-14). Enraged by the violence, oddly enough, Moses killed the Egyptian. Moses was a murderer. Instead of taking responsibility for his actions and accepting due consequences, Moses fled Egypt in fear of Pharaoh’s retaliation (Exodus 2:15). While in hiding he tended to the flocks of a Midian priest. God used this time, and Jethro (the priest and eventual father-in-law of Moses) to prepare him for the task God would soon call him to. Even in the midst of a divine encounter with God in a burning bush (Exodus 3), Moses questioned God’s choice and his own ability. But ultimately, Moses stepped up to the challenge and followed the leading of God, becoming one of the greatest examples of a godly leader.
1. Discipline your thought life. Second Corinthians 10:5 instructs us on “taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.” If you feel overwhelmed by fear or anxiety, take those thoughts captive and replace them with truths from Scripture. This habit will not only guard you against hopelessness and doubt, but it will serve you in the future as well. 2. Identify your idols. Sometimes our greatest fears reveal our true “saviors.” If you’re depending on something other than Christ, examine whether this situation has brought that truth to light. 3. Pray. Suffering reminds us how greatly we need God, so let this be a time of renewed intimacy to rekindle your relationship with Him. 4. Comfort others. You’re not the first to walk through this valley, nor will you be the last. As you meet others who are going through the same thing, remind them that God will help them through it — just as He helped you.
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BIBLE STUDY WEEK OF MARCH 21 // EXODUS 11–13:16
LOOKING FOR A WAY OUT
DIG DEEPER DID YOU KNOW? Abraham Lincoln was assassinated during Passover. The president known for fighting against slavery was killed on a holiday that celebrates freedom.
RECOMMENDED READ Read about Nelson Mandela’s Long Walk to Freedom as he worked to remove the apartheid caste system in South Africa.
LISTEN TO ... Artist: Sojourn Song: “Warrior” Album: Over the Grave
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Have you ever felt trapped in a situation that seemingly had no escape? It could be anything from a bad job or mounting student loan debt, to an abusive relationship, or an addiction. Some of these scenarios are worse than others, but what they all share is the hope of eventual freedom. Although the hope of freedom gives us comfort in the midst of trials, it’s nothing compared to the joy that comes with finally being set free. A lot of time passed between when God promised He would set the Israelites free from slavery and when the time for the exodus finally arrived. During that interim time, God never abandoned His people. Through many plagues and confrontations with Pharaoh, God gave the Israelites hope that He would set them free. But that hope was nothing compared to what they must have felt as they listened to Moses’ instructions for the Passover, the festival of worship that marked the beginning of their journey to freedom.
ites. God gave the Israelites a fresh start upon their escape from slavery, and a new calendar signified that from then on life would indeed be different. As these verses reveal, the first event of the new year was Passover, a celebration that centered on the sacrifice of a lamb, which was substituted for the deaths of the firstborn males in the tenth plague on Egypt.
GOD’S JUDGMENT WILL PASS OVER THOSE WHO HAVE PLACED THEIR FAITH IN HIM.
Verse 5 includes the important distinction that the sacrificial lamb must be healthy and unblemished, since it was being used as a substitute. Don’t miss the significance of this instruction: The sacrifice of a perfect lamb foreshadowed the sacrifice that redeems each of us — Jesus’ death on the cross as a substitute for our sins. Through that sacrifice, each of us has been A FRESH START set free from spiritual bondage, (READ EXODUS 12:1-5) Verse 2 describes how God just like the Israelites were freed started life anew for the Israel- from physical bondage.
A NIGHT TO REMEMBER (READ EXODUS 12:6-11) In addition to the instructions on how to choose and prepare the sacrificial lamb, God gave further instructions for the Passover that revealed the significance of the event. The blood of the lamb smeared on the doorposts (v. 7) set apart the homes of those who were covered by the sacrifice. When future generations celebrated the Passover, the unleavened bread — bread that hadn’t had time to rise — and the dress described in verse 11 would be reminders of that first Passover when the Israelites ate the meal in haste, anxiously waiting for the cue to flee the city. The bitter herbs (v. 8) were a reminder of the Israelites’ bitter time in Egyptian captivity. The attention to detail of the Passover celebration is a testimony to God’s care and provision for His people, which they needed to be reminded of as they followed Him out of Egypt.
A GIFT FROM ABOVE (READ EXODUS 12:12-14) Passover got its name from verses 12-13. When God saw the
LEADING A GROUP OF STUDENTS? CHECK OUT THE COLLEGIATE TEACHING PLANS AT THREADSMEDIA.COM/COLLEGIATE.
10/9/09 10:51:18 AM
BIBLE STUDY WEEK OF MARCH 21 // EXODUS 11–13:16
GREAT ACTS OF GOD
blood smeared on the doorposts of the Israelites’ homes, He promised to “pass over” them when He came to enact the final plague — killing the firstborn males in Egypt. Nine different times, with nine other plagues, God proved His power and authority to the Egyptians, but their trust in their false gods didn’t waiver. With this final plague, God made His authority undeniable. But God in His grace provided the Israelites with a way out from His judgment, and that was what the Passover celebrated (v. 14). Like the Israelites, those who follow God’s instructions shouldn’t fear Him or His judgment. The blood of Christ, our Passover Lamb, marks our faith in Him. God’s judgment will pass over those who have placed their faith in Him.
THINK ABOUT THIS ... When God fulfills His promise to free you from whatever bondage you’re trapped in, it’s truly a moment worth remembering. Take the time to thoughtfully and intentionally go before God with a heart full of thanksgiving and gratitude, and worship Him for His work in your life.
MONDAY, MARCH 22 — is “World Water Day.” More than 1 billion people around the world lack safe drinking water. Find out how you can help at worldwaterday.net.
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Some might think that God’s great acts are limited to just a few things: “He made the world; we screwed it up; He came to die and fix it again; and someday He will come back and finish the job.” Or as a theologian would say, “The acts of God could be summed up as creation, redemption, and consummation.” That’s actually not a bad summary — it’s just incomplete. God goes beyond the big, flashy acts. ... God got right down here into the nitty gritty of humanity and lived with us. His great acts are many: creation, covenants, relationships, moving behind the scenes of history, lifting up kings from shepherds, bringing down tyrants, sending people into exile, bringing them out again, and becoming one of us. The list could go on and on. Passover is not some outdated ritual. It’s a way to remember some of the great acts of God. And even if we don’t know all the ins and outs of Passover, the pattern of this feast should be familiar to us because it has happened countless times in our own lives: We suffer through the pain of life and cry out for help but fear that no one is listening. Then we see a chance to be free coming unexpectedly from God. But then we have the choice to believe or not, to throw off the chains of slavery or remain in our pain, and then when the same thing happens again we struggle with lack of faith. And yet we see God work again and again. That’s what Passover is all about. Excerpted from Feast: Finding Your Place at the Table of Tradition by Derek Leman
A NEW KIND OF PASSOVER Like the Israelites in the wilderness, we easily forget how God has been faithful to us in the past. When faced with uncertainty, we immediately doubt God’s sovereignty instead of trusting His promise to protect and provide for us. With that in mind, consider some ways you might start your own Passover tradition to remember a specific time when God met a need in your life: • Write it down. Keep the memory in a journal you can refer back to. • Get creative. Create a Passover playlist for your iPod. Make a painting or frame a photo that serves as a visual reminder of your freedom in Christ. • Talk about it. You never know how your story will impact someone else’s life. • Take Communion. Don’t forget God’s grace when Jesus died on the cross to free you from your slavery to sin.
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BIBLE STUDY WEEK OF MARCH 28 // EXODUS 13:17–15:21
ARE WE THERE YET?
DIG DEEPER VERSES TO CONSIDER “Moses answered the people, ‘Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today. ... The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still’” (Exodus 14:1314, NIV).
DEAR DIARY You may not be one to keep a journal, but writing down all the ways God has provided for you over the years is one of the best ways to stay reminded of His provision. Take notes, and the next time you feel like God has abandoned you or is leading you in the wrong direction, use the list to remind yourself who He has proven to be.
The roommate relationship can be really difficult. You may have been inseparable from elementary school through 12th grade and envisioned the perfect life as roomies, but two people living in a 300-square foot dorm has a way of changing people. After a few months, you realize you have completely different expectations — about personal hygiene, housekeeping, homework, and what time to set the alarm. You can only take so much before you switch to flight mode and demand that Residence Life move you to a new room. More than a few sets of BFFs have broken up after living together. If you’re familiar with this “had enough” attitude, maybe you’ll identify with the Israelites. They were confused, angry, tired, and ready to quit.
HEY, BACKSEAT DRIVER! (READ EXODUS 13:17-18) God led the Israelites out of Egypt the wrong way! At least that’s probably what many of them were thinking. Why are we taking the “long way”? Why aren’t we going
that way — the more direct way? God had instructed Moses to move the Israelites aimlessly as if they were lost, deceiving Pharaoh into thinking the wilderness was too much of an obstacle for his former slaves. The sea couldn’t be crossed, so the Israelites appeared to have no escape. Pharaoh’s stubborn refusal to comply with God’s emancipation edict brought one final calamity to Egypt. In its aftermath, God’s existence and superiority would be undeniable.
ONCE YOU’VE WITNESSED THE MAGNIFICENT POWER AND PROVISION OF GOD, IT’S HARD TO DENY HIM. How often do you find yourself second-guessing God because His ways seem so very different than how you think things should be? How do you deal with situations where what you’re thinking and how God’s leading seem to be in direct opposition? Are you willing to surrender, or do you have to have your way?
HOW DID I GET HERE? (READ EXODUS 14:9-14) There’s an all too common pattern in the lives of many of God’s children. In the midst of challenging circumstances, the Israelites complained and even wished to be back in captivity. How is it that the children of Israel — who were eyewitnesses to some of the most miraculous works of God in His confrontation with Pharaoh — doubted His ability to intervene on His people’s behalf? It would seem their God (not to mention their faith) went from being the size of a sea to the size of a pea. What’s your attitude when the circumstances of life seem to be stacked against you?
BLINDED BY THE LIGHT (READ EXODUS 14:15-18). We don’t always get to know the “how” of God’s working ahead of time ... no matter how much we might desire to. God commanded Moses and the Israelites to get going before He clued Moses in on the how of getting past the Red Sea and away from the Egyptians.
LISTEN TO ... Artist: Through a Glass Song: “A New Day Dawns” Album: called Out: A Tribute
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LEADING A GROUP OF STUDENTS? CHECK OUT THE COLLEGIATE TEACHING PLANS AT THREADSMEDIA.COM/COLLEGIATE.
10/9/09 10:52:07 AM
BIBLE STUDY WEEK OF MARCH 28 // EXODUS 13:17–15:21 How are you at taking steps of faith when the path before you is unclear? Do you believe God will provide a way even when appearances lead you to other conclusions? Does logic or faith usually win out in your life? Why?
THE ROOT OF FEAR
I GOTTA WEAR SHADES (READ EXODUS 14:31). Not only did God provide a way for the Israelites to pass through the Red Sea, but He also revealed His awesome power and judgment in collapsing the walls of water upon the Egyptians, destroying them completely. Once you’ve witnessed the magnificent power and provision of God, it’s hard to deny Him. You view life completely differently because you see what God can do. Can you think of a moment or experience when you felt as if you’d brushed shoulders with God and were changed because of it?
THINK ABOUT THIS ... How faithful are you in times of distress? What can you do, or how can you approach life this week, to deepen and strengthen your faith in the midst of adversity?
WHERE IN THE WORLD IS THE RED SEA? The Red Sea, or “Sea of Reeds,” is a body of water between Africa and Asia, about 1200 miles long and covering an area of 160,000 square miles. The Red Sea is adjoined to the Gulf of Aqaba and the Indian Ocean and has an average depth of about 500 feet. Situated in a desert area, it receives little rain, so the waters have a high saline content. The exact location of the miraculous parting and crossing of the Red Sea by Moses and the Israelites is widely debated. However, there are four primary theories: 1) the northern edge of the Gulf of Suez; 2) a site in the center of the isthmus near Lake Timsah; 3) a site at the northern edge of the isthmus and the southern edge of Lake Menzaleh; and 4) across a narrow stretch of sandy land which separates Lake Sirbonis from the Mediterranean Sea.
Did you know the phrase “Fear not!” appears more than 60 times in the Bible? God repeatedly reminds us of this because it’s something we struggle to remember. But with God as the loving Creator of the universe, why do we let relatively small things bother us? Here are the two most common reasons for fear and how to dispel them: Fear is rooted in lies. Oftentimes we feel afraid because we believe things that aren’t true. We believe God can’t deliver us from our circumstances. We believe we can’t endure through hardship. Or, we believe something other than God will make us happy. In the face of such fears, compare them with the truth of God’s Word, and they’ll quickly be revealed for what they are. Fear is rooted in idolatry. Sometimes our fears reveal the location of our true security. If you’re trusting more in your resumé and eventual job title than God, or if you’re more concerned with the attention and approval of others than your Savior, then consider that these concerns have become your idols. So ask yourself, what’s your biggest fear, and is it in competition with your faith in Christ?
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BIBLE STUDY WEEK OF APRIL 4 // LUKE 24:1-53
THE DAY THE WORLD CHANGED FOREVER
DIG DEEPER TAKE ACTION Encountering a life-altering event can drain a person’s hope for the future. Ask God to help you be aware when someone needs restoration in the face of adversity — and act on the opportunity. Share what Christ’s work on the cross has done for your life.
WATCH During Jesus’ last meal with His disciples, He instituted the act of Communion, a lasting ordinance for all Christ-followers. Watch “Communion” for a deeper encounter with the Lord’s Supper. Find it available for download online at threadsmedia.com/store.
LISTEN TO ... Artist: BarlowGirl Song: “Open Heavens” Album: Love & War
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Turning weeping to laughing, sorrow to joy, and death to life — these are the things the promises of God are made of. But for Jesus’ friends, the days following His death on the cross were defined by everything but joy and life. Their Messiah, the Promised One of God who was supposed to bring salvation to them and to their people, was dead and buried in a tomb. Could anything be more sorrowful? While He was alive, Jesus had preached promises of “good news” — things like living water that meant people would never be thirsty again. But then He died, and nothing could quench their thirst. Nothing that is, until a group of women heard these words: “Why are you looking for the living among the dead? ... He is not here, but He has been resurrected!” (Luke 24:5-6).
AN EMPTY TOMB, AN EMPTY GRAVE (READ LUKE 24:1-8) If the tumultuous days leading up to the arrest and trial of Jesus weren’t challenging enough for Jesus’ followers, then surely His gruesome death on the cross and
the quiet couple of days that followed were excruciatingly painful as they waited and wondered what was next.
lidified the gospel — God’s good news that in Christ’s resurrection our hope of eternal life with Him is guaranteed.
“WHY ARE YOU LOOKING FOR THE LIVING AMONG THE DEAD? ... HE IS NOT HERE, BUT HE HAS BEEN RESURRECTED!”
FEAR NOT (READ LUKE 24:36-43)
But in that brief, unfathomable moment when the women at the tomb realized Jesus was alive, their weeping turned to laughing and their sorrow turned to joy, just like God promised it would. “He has been resurrected!” — now that is good news. What an amazing moment in history. God chose to come in human form and live among His creation, even though He knew His people would reject Him, deny His deity, and kill Him. But all of that was part of His plan so that He could defeat death just like He said He would (Matthew 16:21; 20:17-19). But the resurrection didn’t just mark Jesus’ coming back to life, it also so-
Resurrection isn’t an easy concept to get our heads around. It isn’t every day that someone we know was dead comes back to life. The gravity of death wasn’t any less real to Jesus’ disciples and followers. Because their unquestionable belief in Jesus’ resurrection was necessary to the spread of the gospel, Jesus paid them a visit. He showed them His hands and feet, interacted with them, and ate in their presence. He ensured that He was alive, and in doing so calmed their fears.
FOR ONE AND FOR ALL (READ LUKE 24:44-49) As eyewitnesses of the resurrected Christ, Jesus’ followers had a message to share. Jesus fulfilled His promise of conquering death, and now it was the disciples’ turn to fulfill theirs. What an invitation ... and what a responsibility. Jesus left us with
LEADING A GROUP OF STUDENTS? CHECK OUT THE COLLEGIATE TEACHING PLANS AT THREADSMEDIA.COM/COLLEGIATE.
10/9/09 10:52:43 AM
BIBLE STUDY THE STATIONS OF THE CROSS
LUKE 24:1-53 // WEEK OF APRIL 4
Throughout the history of the church, Christians have remembered Christ’s death and resurrection by meditating on the “Stations of the Cross,” an experiential journey through the biblical account of the events leading up to Jesus’ resurrection. People journey through the Stations of the Cross in a variety of ways, from reading and meditating privately, to walking through different rooms of a church that are set up to commemorate each station. However you’re able to experience the holy week events this year, celebrate the suffering and redemption of Easter by joining the millions of Christian brothers and sisters who’ve walked this journey before you. Reflect on each stage, mourn the ugliness of sin and the sacrifice it demanded, rejoice in Christ’s glorious resurrection, and remember the part you play in this story, both as a sinner and as a child redeemed. The Stations of the Cross include: Jesus (1) in the garden of Gethsemane, Matthew 26:36-41; (2) betrayed by Judas and arrested, Mark 14:43-46; (3) condemned by the Sanhedrin, Luke 22:66-71; (4) denied by Peter, Matthew 26:69-75; (5) judged by Pilate, Mark 15:1-5,15; (6) scourged and crowned with thorns, John 19:1-3; (7) takes up His cross, John 19:6,15-17; (8) helped by Simon to carry His cross, Mark 15:21; (9) meets the women of Jerusalem, Luke 23:27-31; (10) crucified, Luke 23:33-34; (11) promises His kingdom to the repentant thief, Luke 23:39-43; (12) entrusts Mary and John to each other, John 19:25-27; (13) dies on the cross, Luke 23:44-46; (14) resurrected (Luke 24:1-12).
the charge to proclaim repentance and forgiveness of sins to all the nations (v. 47), through the witness we bare (v. 48) along with the power of the Holy Spirit, who God the Father promised and Jesus sent (v. 49). Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection demands a response from us, and the response can’t end in our own, personal salvation. Rather it must begin there. More than any other event in our lives, belief in the resurrection of Christ should be the one that changes us forever.
THINK ABOUT THIS ... The “good news” we speak of during the Easter celebration is indeed the best news we could ever receive. How will you celebrate? How will you open yourself to the ministry and work of the risen Lord both in, and through, your life this week? Spend some special time today reflecting on Jesus’ redemption of your life through His death on the cross and the glory of God displayed in His resurrection.
THE EMPTY TOMB The tomb of Jesus was located in a garden in the place where Jesus was crucified outside the city walls of Jerusalem. It was a “new tomb” which had been “cut into the rock” by Joseph of Arimathea (Matthew 27:60; compare Luke 23:50-56) who had apparently prepared it for his own family’s use. It was not uncommon for the well-to-do to prepare such a tomb in advance because of the difficulty of digging graves in the rocky ground around Jerusalem. The tomb was large enough for someone to sit inside and required that one stoop down to look inside and enter. A great rolling stone sealed the entrance. ... The traditional site of the tomb of Jesus is marked by the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, which stands over the site of a first-century rock quarry that in Jesus’ day was outside the city walls of Jerusalem and in which other typical first-century tombs have been discovered. From the Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary (Holman Reference, 2003)
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BIBLE STUDY WEEK OF APRIL 11 // EXODUS 15:22–18:27
UP FOR THE CHALLENGE
DIG DEEPER WORD STUDY GRUMBLED (verb) — to be obstinate; to complain; to murmur (Exodus 16:2,7,8). Jesus uses a Greek word with the same meaning in John 6:43 when He tells the crowd to stop grumbling after He compares Himself to the provision of manna God sent their ancestors in the desert.
Have you ever heard Eleanor Roosevelt’s saying, “Learn from the mistakes of others. You can’t live long enough to make them all yourself”? If only we took her words to heart, but often we refuse the advice of others and do what we want to do — right or wrong. You’ve probably experienced this firsthand during your teen years or if you have younger brothers or sisters. We all go through stages when we don’t trust the concern of others. But the kind of learning that happens through those experiences can be profound and life-shaping, to say the least.
LISTEN TO ... Artist: Kutless Song: “All Who Are Thirsty” Album: Strong Tower
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BE COMMITTED (READ EXODUS 16:2-4) The Israelites’ circumstances seemed to be more than they could bear. They assumed they would die of starvation, and in that moment they forgot that they were not only free, but on their way to “a land flowing with milk and honey” (Exodus 3:8). But foolishly, the Israelites
believed it would be better to have a full stomach under the enslavement of the Egyptians than to live one more day on their journey. Someone must be in an awful place to long for enslavement, to desire to go back to a place of abuse, torture, torment, and forced labor. But this is where we find the Israelites a month out of Egypt, wandering in the wilderness on the journey to the promised land.
WHEN WE CAN PROVIDE VERY LITTLE FOR OURSELVES, WE HAVE THE CHANCE TO BE THE MOST INTIMATE IN OUR WALK WITH THE LORD. Can you relate? Have you ever said or thought something that you knew was utterly absurd, but because of your circumstances, it seemed like something you would actually consider? What brought you back to reality?
BE CONFIDENT (READ EXODUS 16:11-15,18) How do you do with tests? Not in the classroom, but in the midst of your everyday living. When given the choice to do the right thing, or do the thing that seems like it will benefit you the most, which do you choose most often? In this passage God provided for His people, but He also gave specific instructions on how the provision was to be received — a test of faith that many didn’t pass. It’s interesting that we know doing the “right” thing by following God in willful obedience will lead to more faith and confidence, not to mention a more intimate relationship, in Him, but we still struggle to make “right” decisions. How well do you think you would’ve done if you were in the wilderness with the Israelites? What is your “wilderness” where the circumstances of life put you to the test? Do you think it’s circumstances or God that test you in those moments? Does that make things easier or more difficult?
LEADING A GROUP OF STUDENTS? CHECK OUT THE COLLEGIATE TEACHING PLANS AT THREADSMEDIA.COM/COLLEGIATE.
10/19/09 1:56:57 PM
BIBLE STUDY WEEK OF APRIL 11 // EXODUS 15:22–18:27
JEHOVAH JIREH (GOD OUR PROVIDER)
SHARE WITH OTHERS (READ EXODUS 16:32-34) Once again we see the Israelites being charged to remember God’s faithfulness. Moses had the people keep a portion of the manna as a reminder of how God provided and cared for their needs in a time of struggle. When we can provide very little for ourselves, we have the chance to be the most intimate in our walk with the Lord. We can’t understand how provisions will be met or if we’ll survive the next day, so when we do, we know that it has to be because of God. How do times like this affect your faith? Do you find yourself leaning on God or questioning why He isn’t doing more for you?
THINK ABOUT THIS ... Your faith, and the kind of person you become, is often shaped in the crucible of life. How can you be more open to the work of God in your life? Allow Him to mold you through the challenging circumstances of your life.
God slowly revealed His nature and character to the Israelites as Jehovah Jireh, God our Provider. The God of the Old Testament often gets a bad rap for being mean, judgmental, and condemning. In Exodus, however, God provided an escape from slavery in Egypt and sustenance for the weary Israelites as they journeyed to the promised land. Generations earlier, God first revealed Himself as Provider in the most unlikely of places. God called Abraham to take his one and only — long awaited — son to the land of Moriah and offer him as a burnt offering to God. Abraham’s obedience was put to the test. It was a test that must have been excruciatingly painful for Abraham, who had waited for more than 100 years to have a child. This child was to be the beginning of the fulfillment of a promise made by God that Abraham’s descendants would be “as numerous as the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore” (Genesis 22:17). Abraham did as God asked, and just before killing Isaac, God intervened to provide a ram for the sacrifice. Abraham had confirmed to God his trusting and obedient heart. In honor of how God provided that day, Abraham named the mountain Jehovah-jireh, to serve as a reminder to himself and all who would visit that site of the great thing that God had done ... and to reveal to us a closer look into the heart of God.
A REASON TO HOPE Have you ever noticed how often the Israelites questioned God’s faithfulness? No matter how many times He saved them, and no matter how miraculous the circumstances, they always panicked at the very first sign of trouble. We can be a lot like the Israelites in this regard. It doesn’t matter how many times God came through for us in the past — we’re sure this time is different. Maybe you’ve been out of work for months, or perhaps you just broke up with the person you thought you’d marry, or maybe your car broke down and you don’t have the money to pay for it. All of these situations can feel like a kind of wilderness. Looking at your circumstances, you don’t see any way out, so you panic and expect the worst. But when we do this, we forget that the God who was faithful before is still the same. (See page 33 for practical tips for remembering those times in the past when God has been faithful.) Whenever God delivers us, He’s not only helping us but He’s teaching us about His character. And because He’s God, that character will never change.
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BIBLE STUDY WEEK OF APRIL 18 // EXODUS 19:1–24:18
WHAT GOOD CHARACTER IS MADE OF
DIG DEEPER QUOTABLE In his book, American Grace: How Religion Is Reshaping Our Civic and Political Lives, Harvard University professor Robert Putnam says people who attend religious services are more involved in their communities, give more of their time and money, are “nicer,” and are more likely to help strangers and give money to panhandlers.
WORD STUDY SABBATH (noun) — English for a common Hebrew word meaning “stopping/stoppage/cessation.” — Douglas K. Stuart, New American Commentary (Exodus)
LISTEN TO ... Artist: Casting Crowns Song: “Always Enough” Album: Until the Whole World Hears
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We all bend the rules from time to time. You’re running late for work, so you don’t stop for a yellow light. Your roommate asks you not to eat his mother’s care-packaged cookies, but you take just one hoping he won’t notice. Or you get “help” from your friend who had your prof last semester so you won’t flunk another exam. No matter how we spin it, we break the rules. It’s human nature. Most of us want other people to keep the laws we bend if the “need” justifies it. But knowing the rules implies that we’re to keep them as well.
GOD ALONE (READ EXODUS 20:1-6) Three months into the Israelites’ wilderness trek, God led them to Sinai, where they would experience His grace again. God, through Moses, initiated a covenant relationship with them in which they became the centerpiece of His redemptive work throughout the world. Moses was charged with delivering the ground rules, commonly known
as the Ten Commandments — those who love Him and keep His our basic policies for living life commands. How do these commands imin community with God. pact how you worship God?
WHAT SIGNIFICANCE CAN YOU FIND IN TAKING A DAY TO REST AND REJUVENATE? The first four rules characterize our relationship with God. Foremost of His commands is that there should be no gods besides Him. What does this look like on a daily basis? In the second commandment God describes Himself as a “jealous God” and therefore lays out ground rules for worship: You shall not make, bow down to, or worship an idol of any form. He also makes sure we understand the significance of choosing rightly: • punishing children for the sins of their parents, to the third and the fourth generation of those who reject Him; • but showing steadfast love to the thousandth generation of
NO DISRESPECT (READ EXODUS 20:7-11) In commandments three and four God outlines the need for respect in maintaining the covenant and remaining in right relationship with Him: Don’t misuse His name, and strictly observe a day of rest in honor of the Lord and all that He has done. Which of these do you find harder to faithfully observe? Why? What significance can you find in taking a day to rest and rejuvenate in Christ?
TREAT PEOPLE LIKE THEY MATTER ... BECAUSE THEY DO! (READ EXODUS 20:12-17) The final six commandments correspond to how we relate to our fellow human beings. In a list of laws meant to define a covenant and describe for God’s followers how they can stay in right relationship with Him, we find more than half of the laws dealing with
LEADING A GROUP OF STUDENTS? CHECK OUT THE COLLEGIATE TEACHING PLANS AT THREADSMEDIA.COM/COLLEGIATE.
10/9/09 10:54:09 AM
BIBLE STUDY WEEK OF APRIL 18 // EXODUS 19:1–24:18
THE MAN BEHIND THE CURTAIN The Ten Commandments were not given only for the Hebrew people but are abiding laws for all people. Some of the laws of the Bible seem to apply only to specific times, places, and persons, but the Ten Commandments have an abiding quality about them. They convey duties for everyone and reveal to us the basic morality required by God. While the Ten Commandments have universal validity, they are truly significant only when persons are committed to the God behind them. What makes the Ten Commandments unique is the character of God who gave them. Without God, the commandments lose their distinctiveness. From the Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary (Holman Reference, 2003)
human relations. How and why is this significant? How might laws be freeing as compared to how we tend to think of them — as things meant to hold us down? God doesn’t intend for His commandments to be a rigid list of rules to make us miserable. His list displays His character: He knows we’ll live life to the fullest and have the most joy if we live in a way that shows His character in all we do and think. God knows how we think, how we respond in different situations, and what we need to have the healthiest relationships with Him and one another. When we follow His ways, our lives reflect the fact that we’re living them well, displaying His character.
THINK ABOUT THIS ... Are there any commandments that are more difficult for someone in your life stage? Why? Which of these do you struggle with the most? How do you intend to be more attentive in observing the Ten Commandments in the week ahead?
God knows we’ll live life to the fullest and have the most joy if we live in a way that shows His character in all we do.
8 THINGS WE COVET
(WITHOUT EVEN REALIZING IT) 8. The ability to dance 7. Being popular (if only this ended in high school) 6. Guitar skills 5. Being able to run a marathon (and not wanting to die during and afterward) 4. Going on cool road trips (not that visiting the Cowboy Hall of Fame or the World’s Largest Peanut aren’t cool) 3. Being confident without having make-up on (for the ladies) 2. Bulging biceps (for the guys) 1. The ability to tell a joke and not spoil the ending
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10/9/09 10:54:29 AM
BIBLE STUDY WEEK OF APRIL 25 // EXODUS 25:1–31:18
A MEETING WITH GOD
DIG DEEPER QUOTABLE “Much will be required of everyone who has been given much” (Luke 12:48). How do you define “much”?
STUDY ON Giving tithes and offerings to God doesn’t mean we have to sell everything we own and live on the streets. But it does require that we make sacrifices. For more on this topic, we recommend The Tough Sayings of Jesus by Michael Kelley.
Chemistry. Not the subject, but the sense of connectedness that makes for the best of relationships. Whether it’s in love, sports teams, work environments, or living situations, the chemistry of a group of people who spend time together to accomplish a shared goal is something that can’t be underestimated. We all play a key role in the chemistry of our relationships and environments. But when it comes to our individual relationships with God, it all comes down to how deep we desire our intimacy with Him to be.
DON’T YOU WORRY, HE’LL BE THERE (READ EXODUS 25:8-9). Verse 8 gives us insight into a number of things: 1) God was still leading and guiding the Israelites in very specific ways. 2) God desired a dwelling place among His people. 3) The kind of place He required in the midst of His people would likely be similar to the dwelling place He occupies in the heavens. 4) The tabernacle set a precedent for
the coming of Jesus — Immanuel, God among us. Does it surprise you to see this kind of closeness between God and His people taking shape early in the Old Testament? If God dwells in our hearts, what does that say about how we should prepare ourselves for His presence?
IT ALL COMES DOWN TO HOW DEEP WE DESIRE OUR INTIMACY WITH GOD TO BE. LISTEN UP! (READ EXODUS 25:17-22) If you don’t think our God is a God of details, then you might want to re-read this passage. Clearly, our God cares about how things are done, especially when it comes to engaging with and encountering His holy presence. What attitude do you most often have during worship? How focused are your mind and heart? Do you worship with the
expectation to encounter the Most High? If not, why not?
GIVE IT UP. (READ EXODUS 29:38-42) In this passage we read about an avenue through which God chooses to meet and engage His children — the giving of offerings. Tithing (giving back to God the first 10 percent of our earnings and gifts) is an act of worship. It’s a way for us to tell God (and remind ourselves) that He alone is worthy of our best and is truly the Provider of all we have. When we bring God our offerings, we demonstrate that what we have is ultimately His by willingly submitting it. So instead of concentrating on what you don’t have, consider the ways you can help through tithing and giving of your time and resources to local, national, or international charities. Don’t wait until you graduate to put into practice the offerings God has called you to give.
LISTEN TO ... Artist: Matt Papa Song: “Open Hands” Album: Your Kingdom Come
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LEADING A GROUP OF STUDENTS? CHECK OUT THE COLLEGIATE TEACHING PLANS AT THREADSMEDIA.COM/COLLEGIATE.
10/9/09 10:54:46 AM
BIBLE STUDY WEEK OF APRIL 25 // EXODUS 25:1–31:18
WHAT CAN I OFFER?
A STANDING “O” (READ EXODUS 29:43-46)
While life may seem busy, in college you have more free time to give to the church than you might realize. And your church needs you! Here are just a few ideas for serving:
In verse 45 we again see God outlining His commitment to the Israelites, “I will dwell among the Israelites and be their God.” In verse 46 He goes a step further to state that this is why He brought them out of Egypt. He liberated them so that He could be in close relationship with them and receive their love and devotion in return. How do you respond to God and the work He’s continually doing in your life? What kind of response would you want those around you to see modeled before them?
THINK ABOUT THIS ... Something significant happens when we worship. This “something” is magnified and multiplied when we come together in the company of other believers and worship in unison of heart and spirit. Do you need to change your attitude and approach to seeking God in worship? If so, how? Why?
THE TABERNACLE
• Lead a small group. • Disciple a younger person. • Volunteer in the children’s or youth ministry. • Be a greeter. • Find ways to use your gifts or hobbies to serve your church (music, graphic design, technological expertise, etc.). • And don’t forget the widow’s mite (Mark 12:41-44). You may not have much, but if each of us give the time and talents we do have, God will take care of the rest.
Before He came in the Person of Jesus — Immanuel, God among us — God established the tabernacle, the place where God dwelt in the presence of His people and lived in close relationship with them. The detail described in Exodus pertaining to the tabernacle and all that was within it gives us a glimpse into the heavenly realm that is God’s permanent dwelling place. He left no detail untouched, needing to have His home among the Israelites reflect both His perfect character and His perfect heavenly home. The tabernacle symbolizes and embodies a God-initiated attempt for Him to be close and involved with His children. From the moments in the garden of Eden when God walked and talked with Adam and Eve, to now when God dwells in the heart of each of His children, God has always desired to be close to His creation — and the pinnacle of that creation is us.
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10/9/09 10:55:08 AM
BIBLE STUDY WEEK OF MAY 2 // EXODUS 32:1–34:35
COPING WITH THE WAITING GAME
DIG DEEPER RECOMMENDED READ Stuck waiting on God and afraid you’ll take matters into your own hands like the Israelites? Check out the Bible study In Transit: What Do You Do With Your Wait? by Mike Harder.
WATCH Take a look at the Switchfoot video “Mess of Me,” with footage from their summer 2009 tour, on YouTube.
LISTEN TO ... Artist: Switchfoot Song: “Mess of Me” Album: Hello Hurricane
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Guilt is a pretty heavy word. For many of us, our earliest memory of guilt was the first time we let Mom or Dad down and had to sit in time-out. But as we get older and venture out on our own, decisions we make come with weightier consequences. It’s a fact of life that all of us have to deal with on our own. Feelings of guilt affect our relationship with God more significantly than we may realize. It’s not uncommon to forget the truths we know about God’s grace and forgiveness when we feel like God is distant or we’ve let Him down. But God wants us to live free from guilt and shame.
FILLING THE VOID (READ EXODUS 32:1-4) Moses was on Mount Sinai for a long time receiving God’s laws and the instructions for how to build the temple. While he was gone, the Israelites grew antsy, and they no longer trusted their leader would return. So they took matters into their own hands and made a replacement god they could follow.
It didn’t take much time of idleness and waiting for the Israelites to forget the countless ways God had protected and provided for them in their trek out of Egypt. They also forgot God’s first two commandments — to have no other gods, and to not make a graven image or idol. Their leader’s absence took its toll on the Israelites, and they tried to fill the void with desperate measures. In your experience have you found it hard to wait on God? Can you identify a pattern in the reactions you’ve had?
the collective community. Second, he not only included himself as a part of the sinful community, but as the leader he took on their collective consequences himself. While Moses’ intentions were good-hearted, the Lord didn’t allow Moses to take the fall for the community. Instead, God said that all who sinned would face their own judgment. There are consequences for the poor choices we make, but if you’re a believer in Jesus Christ, the good news is that all your mistakes have already been forgiven. When you feel guilt and conviction for ways you’ve let others and God down, remember it is the Holy Spirit’s way of sanctifying you — making you more like Christ.
WHEN OUR “GOLDEN CALVES” OBSTRUCT OUR VIEW, IT’S COMFORTING TO BE REMINDED THAT OUR GOD A GOD WHO FORGIVES IS A GOD WHO FORGIVES. (READ EXODUS 34:6-9) MAKING THINGS RIGHT (READ EXODUS 32:30-34) In this passage we see why Moses is such a great example of a leader (and child of God). First, Moses modeled for the Israelites repentance and atonement for
God reveals a new dimension of Himself in this passage by extending mercy and grace to the sinful Israelites. God reminded Moses that He is “a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger and rich in faithful love and truth” (v. 6). This appears to be a new level
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10/9/09 10:56:57 AM
BIBLE STUDY EXODUS 32:1–34:35 // WEEK OF MAY 2
LORD, HEAR OUR PRAYER
of commitment and expressed desire to be in relationship with His children. He is clear that the guilty will face consequences, because He is also just, but ultimately God looks on His children with mercy. Some days it’s a constant struggle to remind ourselves of the ways God has been faithful to us and shown us grace in the past. In these moments when our “golden calves” obstruct our view, it’s comforting to be reminded that our God is a God who forgives.
THINK ABOUT THIS ... Consider the apostle Paul’s words to the Romans regarding sin and grace, “What should we say then? Should we continue in sin in order that grace may multiply? Absolutely not! How can we who died to sin still live in it?” (Romans 6:1-2). Does your life reflect the kind of change Paul suggests is necessary in light of the grace and mercy God has extended to you? If not, what intentional changes can you make this week?
HONOR YOUR PROFS — If there’s a certain professor who has made a positive influence on your life, take some time on National Teachers Day (Tuesday, May 4) to let them know.
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It’s hard to say whether or not Moses and God were interrupted by the ungodly acts of the Israelites. What we do know is that when God saw what was happening down in the Israelites’ camp, He told Moses to return to the base of the mountain to deal with the Israelites’ sin (Exodus 32:7). Quite aware of God’s anger against the Israelites, Moses took time to petition God on their behalf, so that He might spare their lives (vv. 11-13). Yes, God had promised Noah that He would never again wipe out His creation (Genesis 9:8-17), but the Israelites should have remembered from the demise of Pharaoh and the Egyptians in the Red Sea that this promise didn’t nullify groups of people facing extreme consequences. Moses remembered this and spoke to the Lord with passion and sincerity — whether the Israelites deserved such a powerful defense or not. The result? “The LORD changed His mind about the disaster He said He would bring on His people” (Exodus 32:14). God had every reason to take Moses out for confronting Him and challenging His decision. Instead, we see a God who is willing to hear from His people and is also willing to change His mind.
CONFLICTED OR CONVICTED? Have you ever felt trapped in a sin that you seemed doomed to repeat over and over again? At the end of each day you return to God, head hung low, once again asking for His forgiveness. Many Christians find themselves trapped in this cycle, but it accomplishes nothing. There is a big difference between guilt and conviction: Guilt leads to defeat and despair. Conviction leads to action. Guilt focuses on the past and traps us there to relive our failures over and over again. Conviction focuses on the future — the action steps we can take next time to overcome our temptations. Guilt comes from Satan. Conviction comes from God. In Christ your sins have already been forgiven — past, present, and future. You have been declared, “Not guilty!” so any voice of accusation is not coming from God.
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BIBLE STUDY WEEK OF MAY 9 // EXODUS 35:1–40:38
SHARING WHAT GOD GAVE YOU Sponges and hoses. Both are instruments that relate to water, and yet both serve a very different purpose. A sponge soaks; that’s its whole job. But a hose? A hose links up to a faucet specifically for the purpose of moving water over a great distance. God wants us to be hoses, but we sometimes slip into a period of identity confusion and start acting like we’re sponges. When that happens, we greedily soak up God’s blessings — financially, intellectually, and so forth. But we need to remember that we aren’t linked up to Christ in order to soak; we’re linked to spread. We’re meant to be conduits for the blessings of God.
DIG DEEPER STUDY ON Feel called to missions but want to continue your education? Check out the Fusion program at Midwestern Baptist College (gofusion.ws). You can earn college credit while you learn on the mission field.
WILL YOU SHOW UP EMPTY HANDED (READ EXODUS 35:4-9)? To collect money for construction of the tabernacle, Moses addressed the entire Israeli community, but he asked only those whose hearts were willing to give. God doesn’t force us to give offerings but offers us the opportunity to be part of His kingdom
work. When we give alongside other Christians, whether going on a mission trip, donating money to a needy family, or serving food in a disaster relief effort, we benefit from giving as well as blessing those on the receiving end. In essence, our hearts are touched by serving.
GOD BLESSES US SO THAT WE MIGHT BE A BLESSING TO OTHERS. In ancient Israeli culture, the heart was the root of human volition. The Israelites observed that whenever an individual made a significant decision, that person felt pressure in the chest or near the heart. Modern medical science has confirmed this phenomenon. The stress of these judgments affects the cardiovascular system. The blood pressure and heart rate increase, and the individual experiences a physical sensation in the chest. When was the last time your heart was affected by the needs
of someone else? God calls for us to share our blessings voluntarily, so as your heart is persuaded to help, choose to be like the hose and act to meet that need.
WE’VE ALL GOT SOMETHING TO SHARE (READ EXODUS 35:30–36:1). God gave Moses plans for His design of the tabernacle and its furnishings. And willing people contributed the workers and materials required. But someone was needed to supervise this labor force and oversee the project to ensure it met the specifications and design God had set forth. Moses identified Bezalel as the person to head up the project. Read Genesis 12:2. From the beginning God has made it clear that what He has given us is to be shared with the world. God blesses us so that we might be a blessing to others. God has created each person uniquely, and He has a plan for our lives (see Jeremiah 29). Believing that God has blessed you with gifts, talents, passions, and (in comparison to the majority of the world) wealth,
LISTEN TO ... Artist: Jason Gray Song: “Everything I Own” Album: All the Lovely Losers
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10/9/09 10:57:54 AM
BIBLE STUDY WEEK OF MAY 9 // EXODUS 35:1–40:38
HOW IS GOD CALLING YOU?
what can you contribute to God’s work in the world?
GO IF I SEND THEE (READ EXODUS 40:12-15). God has called us all to serve through the gifts He’s equipped us with. This calling is common among all, yet unique given the abilities each of us have (see 1 Peter 2:9). For some people, an “official” call means moving into ministry as a full-time career, just like Aaron and his sons were “set apart” for priesthood (see Ephesians 4:11). But for others, the mission field looks more like the workforce — you may be called to be a teacher, a nurse, or an accountant. Either way, now is the time to be prayerfully considering where God’s calling you to next.
THINK ABOUT THIS ... Do you desire to be a part of God’s work in the world? Are you more willing to be a sponge or a hose? How can you respond to those in need around you? What might God be leading you to do that will make a difference this week?
IF YOU BUILD IT ... In Exodus, Bezalel and Oholiab were called to work on behalf of the Lord, but not as pastors, priests, or missionaries. They were skilled creative artists and builders who God used to build the tabernacle, its furnishings, and other decorations (35:30–36:7). Bezalel, whose name means “in the shadow of God,” was the son of Uri, a member of the tribe of Judah and great grandson of Caleb. Oholiab’s name meant “father’s tent.” He was a Danite craftsman, designer, and embroiderer. We all have a calling placed on our lives. First and foremost is to love God and other people (Deuteronomy 6). Secondary is how God wants to use the unique passions, gifts, talents, and skills He instilled in each of us to help meet the needs of our world.
For some of us it takes many years to learn enough about ourselves — our inclinations, gifts, personality, and so on — to know with any certainty the field of work to which God is calling us. For others, it becomes apparent early in life, and the knowledge drives them to do what they just have to do. This describes Amy Sherman perfectly. … One summer when she was in junior high school the youth group went to Appalachia to do community service work. In her mind, Amy can still see an old woman living by herself in a miserable old shack way up on a mountain. The shack had no electricity nor running water, so every day the woman took two buckets, walked about a mile downhill to a stream, filled the buckets, and hauled them up the mountain. From that summer on Amy knew that her life was going to have something to do with the intersection of the church and the poor. She has never wavered from this. … Today, as a scholar-practitioner, Amy is a senior fellow at the Welfare Policy Center of the Hudson Institute, a Washington, D.C., think tank. This means that she does research and then connects her research to actual ministry to the poor so that it doesn’t remain hypothetical. ... “I tell people today that my call is to equip the saints for ministry among the poor.” From Call Waiting by Ronald Wilson (Broadman & Holman, 2005)
SUNDAY, MAY 9 — Today is Mother’s Day. Don’t forget your mom or other special women in your life and all that they’ve done.
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BIBLE STUDY WEEK OF MAY 16 // LEVITICUS 1:1–16:34
MAKING A WRONG RIGHT
DIG DEEPER DID YOU KNOW? Leviticus is a continuation of Exodus, but the laws mentioned in it are unique. While previous laws focused on maintaining a covenant relationship with God, the laws in Leviticus seek to duplicate God’s very nature within the Israelites. This replication is found in the command to be holy. Holiness is an attribute of God that denotes His moral perfection.
RECOMMENDED READ For a more in-depth study of the shared rituals and values between Judaism and Christianity, read Mudhouse Sabbath by Lauren Winner.
LISTEN TO ... Artist: Seth Condrey Song: “Wide Open Skies” Album: My All
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Many people who decide to read through the Bible rethink their plan when they begin the Book of Leviticus. Leviticus was traditionally the first book taught to Jewish children and has had a major impact on Judaism. While the “book of the priests” may seem irrelevant to our modern worship practices, it holds many timeless principles about God’s design for how we live in right relationship with Him and with others. Of course, remaining in good standing in any relationship means being able to admit when we’ve done something wrong and apologize to the people involved. If this practice, also known as confession, is our way of acknowledging that we’ve committed an offense we want to make right, why isn’t it more widely practiced?
OWN UP (READ LEVITICUS 5:1,4-5) The Israelites were held to a sacrificial system to provide a means by which they could own up to their wrongdoing and receive forgiveness. That system, however, looked forward to and
was fulfilled by the sacrifice Jesus made on the cross (see Hebrews 9:12). We no longer have to offer sacrifices of animals and grain. As Christians, we know that God is faithful to forgive our sins when we confess them.
lish the relationship between the offender and God, certain things had to happen in certain ways. These verses provided the Israelites with a step-by-step plan to follow when they repented of an “unintentional” sin. Sometimes it’s easy for us to forget about the so called “miTHE FIRST STEP TOWARD nor” sins we commit during our FORGIVENESS IS TO days. If we still lived under the CONFESS OUR SINS. sacrificial rules of the Old Testament, how would you approach When we unintentionally sin minor sins differently? against God and hurt others by our actions, the first step toward BE WILLING TO GO THERE forgiveness and reconciliation is (READ LEVITICUS 6:1-7). to confess our sins. God told Moses about the need What might your life and re- for restitution, or repayment, as lationship with God look like if well as sacrifice to happen in evconfession was something you ery circumstance possible. In fact, did with consistency? How dif- if you look closely at the ordering ferent do you think Christians presented in this passage, you’ll would look if this became more note that God thinks so highly of widely practiced at the commu- restitution that He makes it a prenal level? requisite for sacrifice. Jesus reiterated this order in Matthew 5:23-24 when He diTHE SALVE OF CONFESSION rected a gift-giver to leave the (READ LEVITICUS 5:14-16) In outlining the specifics of sacri- gift at the altar, seek out the perfices for the Israelites, God wasn’t son he was in conflict with, and just suggesting the importance of make amends before returning the sacrifice. In order to reestab- to the altar with the gift for God.
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10/9/09 10:58:35 AM
BIBLE STUDY WEEK OF MAY 16 // LEVITICUS 1:1–16:34
DIVINE APPOINTMENT All God’s people are uniquely set apart from the rest of the world — called to be holy and devoted to Him. But Aaron and his sons were called to a more specific task within the Israelite community (Leviticus 8 and 9). Similar to how Moses and Aaron served the people as leaders on behalf of God, the Levites took on the roll of carrying out the Word of God. In so doing, God established a divinely appointed leadership community that served as mediators between Him and the Israelites. The Levites upheld and enforced God’s law — the base of the covenant relationship between God and His people — and assisted the Israelites in taking the appropriate steps to make things right when the law had been broken. How do pastors and priests play a similar role today?
Confession to someone we’ve wronged, however, is hard. It makes us vulnerable and can be flat-out embarrassing. But sometimes it’s completely necessary to go to someone and admit when we’ve messed up, especially when it’s obvious that a person’s feelings, character, or reputation has been damaged. When is it appropriate to confess to another person and when is it just necessary to confess a wrongdoing to God? Is it easier to ask forgiveness and make things right with God or with others? Why do you think that is?
TOO LATE TO APOLOGIZE?
THINK ABOUT THIS ...
Forgiveness is not: + Forgetting/denying — letting time pass or ignoring the effects of wrongdoing + Condoning — acting as if nothing bad happened + Excusing — like it wasn’t really their responsibility + Condemning — forgiving with a sense of moral superiority + Seeking justice — demanding compensation first
What does showing no remorse reveal about a person’s character? As frequently as sin happens, confession and restitution still don’t come easily or naturally. How can you make confession and restitution a more intentional part of your journey with God?
WE LOVE OXYGEN — May 16 is “Love a Tree Day.” If you don’t have a space to plant a new tree, at least give one some H2O while you’re out enjoying God’s creation.
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If you find yourself on the side of the offended, here are a few reminders to help you fully understand the meaning and benefits of accepting restitution. Forgiveness is: + Moral — a response to an injustice; turning to the good in the face of wrongdoing + Goodwill — refusing to pursue resentment or revenge + Paradoxical — giving mercy, generosity, and love when the wrongdoer doesn’t deserve it + Beyond duty — a free gift (not an obligation)
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BIBLE STUDY WEEK OF MAY 23 // LEVITICUS 17:1–22:33
THE HIDDEN GIFT OF BOUNDARIES
DIG DEEPER VERSES TO CONSIDER The prophet Ezekiel devotes an entire chapter of his book of the Bible to the metaphor of Israel as God’s adulterous wife. Read Ezekiel 16, but be forewarned that the message is both repulsive and convicting at the same time.
STUDY ON For further discussion of the sexual boundaries God intends for us to have in our relationships, read “It’s Complicated,” on page 14.
LISTEN TO ... Artist: Shari Addison Song: “No Battle, No Blessing” Album: Gotta Have Gospel! 7
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When we read the Bible, especially Leviticus, we can’t escape the rules. Explicit rules. Disturbing rules. Rules about everything. But before we get out the checklist, let’s remember what really happens when someone comes into the kingdom of God. It’s a drastic and complete change of loyalties. As children of God, our lives are no longer focused on fulfilling our selfish desires. Instead our lives become about bringing glory to God in everything we say and do. We’re not saved by obeying the law — we’re saved by God’s grace alone — but we’re called to live out our salvation within God’s boundaries. In this section of Leviticus, God explicitly defined the boundaries that separated His people from the pagan nations around them.
lines seriously, which we’re supposed to do as children of God, then the ways we live will look quite different from the world around us.
OUR LIVES BECOME ABOUT BRINGING GLORY TO GOD IN EVERYTHING WE SAY AND DO.
God knew how easily influenced the Israelites would be by the cultural practices and beliefs of the Canaanites; they were heavily influenced by the Egyptians when they lived among that culture. But both nations worshiped gods other than Yahweh, and God didn’t want His children turning their backs on Him to follow false gods. God loved the Israelites, and He knew that if they lived within the boundary of His A LIFE APART law, their faith in Him would re(READ LEVITICUS 18:1-5) In studying the Book of Exodus, main strong. we saw that God established the covenant with specific guidelines GOD IS QUITE CLEAR pertaining to living and maintain- (READ LEVITICUS 18:20-26). ing a good, healthy relationship One of the defining characterwith Him. If we take these guide- istics of the pagan cultures de-
scribed in the Old Testament was their sexual promiscuity, and it wasn’t unusual for their promiscuous acts to be performed as a means of worship for their fertility gods. But this practice defiled the sexuality God designed. To further separate Himself from the false gods of the Israelites’ neighbors, God drew very serious boundaries regarding the Israelites’ sexual purity, and the same boundaries exist for us today. Why do you think God places such high standards on our sexual conduct? Are there any changes you need to make in your thought life or how far you’re willing to take physical relationships?
TABOO IS TABOO (READ LEVITICUS 20:6-8). Leviticus 19:31 prohibited the practice of attempting to communicate with the spirits of the dead, as well as any form of witchcraft or sorcery. Israel’s pagan neighbors often relied on magical spells to placate malevolent spirits of the dead or to determine the future. Superstitious notions continue to control people — like
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10/9/09 10:59:55 AM
BIBLE STUDY WEEK OF MAY 23 // LEVITICUS 17:1–22:33
A PEOPLE SET APART Many believers feel that “the law” is old, outdated, and without bearing on the life of believers today. Jesus said He didn’t come to abolish the law, but to fulfill it (Matthew 5:17). God chose the Israelites to be His people — unique, holy, and set apart. At the center of this choice is relationship. God strongly desires a relationship with His people. God set forth these laws, or relational guidelines, to help relationships flourish. Between God and humans — as well as humans-to-humans — relationships need boundaries and guides to help all involved maintain a good, healthy sense of self and perspective. The law, too often viewed as restrictive and controlling, is really meant to help us engage in relationships to the very best of our ability. The Israelites’ relationship with God made them distinct from other people of faith ... and our relationship with God is one of the things that makes us unique as a people of faith today.
AWE-STRUCK relying on astrology or karma. As Christians we’re called to depend only on the Holy Spirit for our guidance (see Galatians 5:16-21). The existence of such superstitions “prostitutes” the person who accepts them. Just as adultery was a capital crime in Israel, infidelity to the Lord was likewise a serious breach of Israel’s covenant obligations. (Read “Study On” on page 50 for another example of this metaphor). Do you dabble with things in the spiritual realm that might be leading you down a dark path away from God? What about the company you keep? We’re called, just as the Israelites, to a covenant relationship with Him who has set us apart for holiness. By living in obedience to God’s laws, we live within the boundaries He has established for our protection.
THINK ABOUT THIS ... How “different” does your life look? Are you willing to look strange by the world’s standards if it draws you closer to God? If not, why?
Until we truly fear God — that is, respect and stand in awe of Him — it’s hard to accept His boundaries. So how do you develop a healthy fear of God? Here are four easy ways to start your growth spurt. 1. Hear the Word. Each time you read or hear the Word, a new door in the godly fear department can be opened. There’s plenty in the Bible to give you reason to fear God. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal these places to you. 2. Immerse yourself in worship. In Isaiah 6, we find the prophet Isaiah lost in worship. As he’s caught up in a heavenly vision, the scene is mesmerizing — until the fear of the Lord enters and it literally becomes breathtaking. Get a close-up look at God during a time of worship, and your godly fear will undoubtedly grow. 3. Serve it up. Offer your gifts, talents, or just plain ol’ you to be used at your church or in a local ministry. “Losing yourself in carrying out what God wants can expose you to situations where you’re completely dependent upon Him,” says Bill Elder, senior pastor of Mountaintop Community Church in Birmingham, Ala. 4. Study yourself. “As you look back through your life and recognize the places where God really was, you get a sense of how He’s weaving this tapestry of your life,” Elder says. “You can’t help but be in awe of that kind of sovereignty.”
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BIBLE STUDY WEEK OF MAY 30 // LEVITICUS 23:1–27:34
EQUIPPED WITH CHARACTER
DIG DEEPER DID YOU KNOW? The number seven is synonymous with rest in the Bible. God rested on the seventh day of creation, the seventh day of the week is the Sabbath, and every seventh year for the Israelites was a year of rest when they couldn’t work their land. Therefore it should come as no surprise that the Year of Jubilee was held on the 50th year — after seven cycles of seven years.
STUDY ON
A friend of mine had the idea that for an entire year he wouldn’t buy anything new, with the exception of the necessities — food and toiletries. This may sound radical, but we’re wired to be consumers, and until we take drastic measures such as taking a sabbath from spending, we have no idea the degree to which our consumerism drives how we live our day-to-day lives. My friend didn’t realize it, but his fast from spending served the same purpose as the biblical Year of Jubilee.
FREEDOM FOR ALL (READ LEVITICUS 25:10-12) To prevent just this kind of consumeristic bondage, God ordered the Israelites to celebrate a Year of Jubilee every 50th year. In its original design, the Year of Jubilee was a way of maintaining economic relief, freedom from slavery, and rest for the land. It seems hard to imagine a culture that would forgive debts and relinquish property because of the calendar year and God’s designation, but that’s exactly
what’s described here. It takes great faith to sabbath for a year, regardless of what you’re sabbathing from. It takes faith to live contentedly and to believe that God will provide. The Year of Jubilee — as we celebrate it now and as it was originally designed — is a year of believing in God as our Great Provider.
GOD KNOWS OUR CIRCUMSTANCES, AND HE CARES FOR US IN ALL SITUATIONS. BE FAIR (READ LEVITICUS 25:13-17). In addition to providing a time of rest for the land and its workers, the Year of Jubilee was also a way to ensure that all agriculturally-based business practices were fair. Fairness is a quality that has become a rare commodity in the world today. In this passage, however, God defined fairness as it related specifically to sales the Israelites made with neigh-
bors. Being fair in these business deals helped the Israelites maintain good, healthy relationships. Are you someone who always looks for a way to out-maneuver others, regardless of the circumstances, or do you play fair, wanting to see everyone succeed and not just yourself?
TAKE CARE OF WHAT YOU’VE GOT (READ LEVITICUS 25:18-22). Have you ever lived in a time of great abundance? Probably, but you may not have noticed. Have you ever lived through a season of scarce resources? It’s much more likely that you would remember a time like this if you’ve experienced it. The reality is that God knows our circumstances, and He cares for us in all situations. In these verses, God outlined the steps He and His people took to prep for the Year of Jubilee. The celebration was an opportunity to practice the grace and discipline of spiritual stewardship — taking good care of what God provides, and experiencing
Read “Put Down the Bottle” on page 62 to see how you can use a blessing in your life to make a difference in someone else’s.
LISTEN TO ... Artist: Randall Goodgame Song: “Share the Well” Album: War and Peace
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BIBLE STUDY WEEK OF MAY 30 // LEVITICUS 23:1–27:34
new levels of dependency and connectedness to Him. How well do you manage God’s blessings in your life?
THE PRACTICE OF SECRECY
AN ABUNDANCE OF THE HEART (READ LEVITICUS 25:35-38) God took the issue and quality of fairness a step further. As an act of kindness (toward someone else, which is one of the best ways of showing God’s love), He wants us to take the initiative to reach out to those in need and to share the abundant blessings we’ve received. How does this fit with your current beliefs? With your current actions?
THINK ABOUT THIS ... First John 4:19 says we love God “because He first loved us.” In loving us, God established an example of how to love and filled us with the capacity to love others. How do you extend love, grace, and kindness to others? What are some things you can intentionally do and/or focus on this week in these areas?
GRACE AND RIGHTEOUSNESS In making a covenant with the Israelites, God extended His love in grace to the children of Israel and offered them a connection to Himself that they could in no way have earned on their own. God — in all His perfection — was willing to reach out to a sinful people and make a way for them to live in relationship with Him and each other. The covenant stipulated whole-hearted obedience to the relational terms, and in return, God would bless the Israelites. If the Israelites were disobedient to some portion of the covenant, however, God’s response — out of His righteousness — would be punishment. Although this grace of the law was more than sinful man deserved from God, it was impossible to live in perfect obedience to God’s law all the time. But that’s not the law we live under. Through Christ, God made a new covenant with His people, which the apostle Paul sums up in his letter to the Romans: “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man, in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit” (Romans 8:1-4, NIV).
MEMORIAL DAY — Tomorrow is the unofficial first day of summer, so why not spend it at the lake or by the pool?
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“Character is who you are when no one is looking.” No one knows who first penned this memorable adage, but it’s been recycled by numerous authors and teachers because of its piercing truth. We even find this wisdom in the Bible. In Matthew 6 Jesus teaches, “So whenever you give to the poor, don’t sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be applauded by people. I assure you: They’ve got their reward! But when you give to the poor, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret” (vv. 2-4). In his book, The Life You’ve Always Wanted, author John Ortberg calls this “the practice of secrecy” and considers it a spiritual discipline. “The practice of secrecy exists to liberate those who are trapped by the desire ‘to be seen,’ to impress others. ‘Lookit me!’ these pious people say to all who pass by their religious playgrounds. The practice of secrecy is Jesus’ gift to approval addicts. “Here is the practice in a nutshell: Every once in a while do something good and try to make sure no one finds out about it. Join the club for recovering approval addicts that might be called ‘Righteous Anonymous.’”
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by Jason Boyett Lauren Sawyer tried to be a “good Christian.” But she tried too hard and eventually burned out. Sawyer, a sophomore at Indiana Wesleyan University in Marion, Ind., entered her freshman year intent on keeping up with the spiritual demands of a Christian college. IWU requires chapel attendance three times a week — every week — and the unspoken rule, according to Sawyer, “is that you attend church Sunday morning as well.” Not wanting to appear lax to her new college friends, Sawyer met her weekly chapel requirements and attended church every Sunday. But after one semester of four sermons per week, she hit a wall. “The sermons at my campus church were always interesting and convicting, but I still dreaded Sunday mornings,” she says. “A week of boring chapel sermons kept me from listening intently.” So she started finding excuses to miss Sunday morning church. Weekends away. Exaggerated illnesses. Starbucks. “Basically, I was just sick of church.” Though Sawyer grew up attending every Sunday, in college she found plenty of reasons to quit the church habit. And her experience matches that of many other college students, whether or not they attend a Christian college with chapel requirements.
Give me A BreAk A 2007 study from LifeWay Research revealed that 70 percent of young adults who attended church in high school will put regular church attendance on hold during their college years (ages 18–22). Only 35 percent of those eventually return on a regular basis. There are plenty of reasons for college students to quit attending. Many, like Sawyer, are “over-churched” and just need a break. Others struggle to find a church home after having left the familiar congregation of their childhood or teen years. Many get fed up with what they witness in church —
God’sGod’s BrideBride — For— more Foron more ouron relationship our relationship with the with the church,church, check check out Edout Stetzer’s Ed Stetzer’s blog “Are blogYou “Area Wife-Hater?” You a Wife-Hater?” at threadsmedia.com. at threadsmedia.com.
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things like hypocrisy, a seeming lack of love, or apathy toward certain social issues. And some students simply have trouble fitting church attendance into an already full college schedule. That’s the case with Zack Ambold, a junior at West Texas A&M University in Canyon, Texas. “My schedule is crazy,” he says. He goes to early classes every Monday through Friday, then gets up early on Saturday mornings for a full day of work. “When Sunday arrives, sleeping in becomes the most important thing,” he says, “or at least it seems that way at nine in the morning.”
ChurChes are imperfeCt plaCes full of imperfeCt people, whiCh sounds like an ideal plaCe for the burnt out, stressed out, and spiritually overwhelmed. Yet Ambold wants to go to church, and realizes its importance. “I’m trying to find balance between work, school, life, and my faith, and that is no easy task.” The result, he says, is that he and his Christian friends feel “displaced.”
ChurCh doesn’T feeL neCessAry Jason Hayes, a former college minister who serves as the young adult ministry specialist for Threads (threadsmedia.com), says Ambold’s feeling of detachment is a common one, especially for college students whose faith developed around a single local congregation — their home church. Many students may enter college having become accustomed to responsibility and influence in their youth groups, Hayes says. But in college, when those things are gone, it’s hard to find a replacement. “They’re no longer leaders. They become disconnected,” says Hayes. “They don’t abandon the faith. They just abandon the church.” The research agrees. Along with Ed Stetzer and Richie Stanley, Hayes is the co-author of the book Lost and Found: The
What does the Bible say? Check out a few passages about the church’s purpose or where an active local church is assumed: • Matthew 16:15-19 • Acts 2:41-47; 6:3-6; 13:1-3; 14:23,27; 20:28 • 1 Corinthians 1:2; 5:4-5; 7:17; 9:13-14; 12 • Ephesians 1:22-23; 2:19-22; 3:8-11; 5:22-32 • Colossians 1:15-18 • 1 Timothy 3:1-15 • Titus 1:5-11 • 1 Peter 5:1-4 • Revelation 2; 3; 21:2-3
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90 percent of young adults under the age of 30 think they can have a satisfying relationship with god separate from church attendance. Younger Unchurched and the Churches that Reach Them. Their research found that 90 percent of young adults under the age of 30 think they can have a satisfying relationship with God separate from church attendance.
FInd A COnnECTIOn So college students, like Ambold and Sawyer, remain religious, and are as committed to their Christian walk as ever before. But church isn’t as important a part of that walk as it used to be. Is this spiritually dangerous? Not necessarily, say some pastors. “If you’re a part of the redemptive movement, you’re part of the church” already, says Jason Jaggard, who serves as the college lead catalyst for Mosaic, a community of faith in the Los Angeles area. His ministry is almost entirely campus-based, and doesn’t attempt to compete with the massive demands on students’ time and attention. “I tell students to follow Jesus as best you can, and when you need help, get it.” Jaggard admits that help “may or may not come from a group of people who have a building,
pews, and a sign out front.” While Jaggard doesn’t feel involvement in a local church is always the best answer, he does believe that communities of faith are the hope of the world and recommends that all students get involved in something. Other pastors are strong advocates of local church membership. “Nowhere in Scripture does it say that you and I should become a member of a church,” concedes Michael Criner, the college pastor at First Baptist Woodway, near Waco, Texas, and Baylor University. “But what you do find is that being part of a local church is implied throughout the New Testament.” Criner says church attendance isn’t a requirement for salvation, but involvement in the body of Christ does impact a person’s spiritual maturity. To argue against regular church attendance is a losing battle for Christ-followers, he says, “because you’re arguing against Jesus.” Criner cites Paul’s words in Ephesians 5:22-32. “Jesus died for the church,” he explains. “So to not be involved in the local church is, I believe, an act of disobedience. It’s not only a heart issue, but it’s simply who you are. If you’ve identified yourself as a follower of Jesus, then that makes you part of His bride — and to deny the bride is to deny part of your identity.” The bottom line is that involvement in a local church is an intrinsic part of the Chris-
Helpful Resources Want to learn more about the importance of the local church? Check out these resources: • Sent: Living the Missional Nature of the Church (Ed Stetzer) A 5-session call to young adults to get involved with the overall purpose of the church, from cultural engagement to understanding the larger role of the kingdom of God. • What Is a Healthy Church? (Mark Dever) Dever uncovers the key characteristics of a healthy church based on the New
tian life. Church doesn’t exist just to offer us a place to worship or listen to sermons. It’s a preview of the coming kingdom of God. It’s bigger than our frustrations and bigger than its own failures, because the capital-C Church (as a whole) is about community, accountability, and change. As the body of Christ, the church is God’s means of impacting the world around us.
involvement in a local church is an intrinsic part of the christian life. You might be sick of church, but don’t give up so easily. Keep trying. Find a way to connect. Find a place to serve. Overlook its failures with the same grace Jesus shows you. Churches are imperfect places full of imperfect people, which sounds like an ideal place for the burnt out, stressed out, and spiritually overwhelmed. Know any college students who fit that description? Me, too. See you on Sunday.
Jason Boyett is the author of the Pocket Guide series of books, including Pocket Guide to the Bible and Pocket Guide to the Afterlife (pocketguidesite.com). He blogs about faith and culture at jasonboyett.com and tweets at twitter.com/jasonboyett.
Testament, and challenges believers to fulfill our roles in the Body of Christ. • How to Stay Christian in College (J. Budziszewski) Budziszewski offers an excellent overview of the unique challenges Christians face on campus, and how to meet them without falling away from faith. • Welcome to College: A Christ-Follower’s Guide for the Journey (Jonathan Morrow) A detailed look at the tough issues Christian college students can expect, including how to deal with new-found freedom, difficult roommates, and spiritual-philosophical conundrums.
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Through a fresh and surprising look at Scripture you’ve heard before but never taken seriously, Interrupted will frustrate you, make you uncomfortable, and challenge your sensibilities. It’s the Bible study no one wants to do because everything might have to change. To Buy: threadsmedia.com/Interrupted • 800.458.2772 • LifeWay Christian Stores
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ReLAte
TELLInG ThE GOOd FrOm ThE bAd by Stephen W. SimpSon, ph.D.
I began graduate school with the goal of establishing my own psychotherapy practice. From almost the first day of class, however, I was told clinical psychologists should work in medical and research settings instead of private practices. No one ever gave me a good reason, but I heard it so often that I abandoned my aspirations. I took a job in a medical setting after I graduated. I hated it. So I quit and started my own practice, and I loved it. In college you face one big life change after another: moves, bills, internships, new friends, majors, theses — the list goes on indefinitely. On top of that, you’re in the midst of figuring out who you are and what characteristics and passions define you (a process that will continue well into your late 20s). When everything and everyone around you contradicts your preferences, beliefs, and values, doubt creeps in. You may start to question yourself or become afraid, imagining dire consequences for
going against the herd. These can range from a fear of being alone to fear of failure to fear of punishment. Small compromises can accumulate and create big changes. We all know someone who went away to college and returned a much different person. Such malleability isn’t always bad. Sometimes we need to change. For many, college is a crucial time of growth and discovery. The tricky part is deciding what needs to change and what doesn’t. Such discernment must be ongoing and intentional.
TruE Or FALsE? First John 4:1 says, “Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to determine if they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.” How do we recognize false intentions? Here are a few situations that can lead to the wrong type of change: 1. Allowing the end to justify the means.
It’s easy to rationalize conformity in the short run if it benefits your future. For example, last year’s Psych 101 final exam is being passed around your class and you know taking a peek will help secure your passing grade. But no matter how many times that test has been photocopied, it’s still cheating. 2. Putting money before passion. A lot of people abandon lifelong interests for shortterm cash. You might forsake a passion for the humanities in order to pursue a business degree because you think that’s the only way to get a big salary after graduation. Many people who do this feel a sense of regret that lingers until late in life. Financial responsibility is important, but life needs to have meaning and purpose beyond accumulating wealth. 3. Wanting to fit in. We all want to be liked. Nobody wants to be ostracized. These feelings are normal, but they can cause trouble if they lead to big changes. If you cut your
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RELATE
ThE PEEr PrESSurE Of OnE The most unrealistic expectations and unreasonable demands often come from within. The thoughts and feelings below require you to stand up to yourself.
1. CATASTrOPhIC ThInkInG OCCurS whEn wE ExAGGErATE COnSEquEnCES. For example, you might attach too much significance to an individual event. “If I don’t stay up all night studying for this test, I won’t get an A. If I don’t get an A, I might get a B in the class. If I get a B in the class, I won’t get into law school. If I don’t get into law school, I’ll end up on the street twirling one of those big arrows advertising a new outlet mall.”
hair a little different or buy some fashionable shoes, it doesn’t mean you’ve lost your soul. But if you stop eating for three days because your friends all have smaller waistlines, you’ve lost your way.
A ShIfT wOrTh mAkInG Not all impetus for change is dangerous, however. Here are some situations that can lead to growth: 1. New information. When I began college, I wanted to be a journalist. I soon discovered that beginning journalists must write whatever their editor assigns. I couldn’t handle writing about car accidents and county fairs for 10 years, so I jettisoned journalism. 2. New passion. As a sophomore, I took an Intro to Psychology class to fulfill a requirement. Twenty minutes into the first lecture, I was hooked. I found the study of human behavior fascinating — quite a relief, since I’d dumped my journalism major. 3. New relationships. There’s a big difference between following the herd and making a connection. We form bonds with friends, mentors, and colleagues that challenge us to grow. Conformity comes from
fear, but relationships can spur growth. 4. New convictions. Sometimes God reveals areas of our lives that need healing and grace. We all have spiritual blind spots and are unaware of sin. Other times, we feel shame that God needs to heal. Romans 12:2 encourages us to “not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” We must always be open to renewal. As we mature, we discover new passions and adapt to new challenges. But it’s important to remember who we are in the midst of change. What are the non-negotiable aspects of your identity? Make a list of five traits or values that you never want to change, and put it somewhere conspicuous. When a new expectation or demand threatens something on your list, hold your ground. If a change comes along that enhances something on the list, God might be giving you the opportunity to grow.
2. fEAr Of bEInG ALOnE fOrEvEr CAn LEAd TO drASTIC ChAnGES In OrdEr TO fIT In. Don’t let this unrealistic fear jerk you around. God made us social creatures. Even the shyest and most awkward of us settle into long-term friendships eventually.
3. “I’m nOT
EnOuGh.”
We all have insecurities with roots in childhood or adolescence. We were teased or criticized about a physical, mental, or emotional shortcoming. In order to avoid old feelings of shame, we often place unrealistic expectations on ourselves. Sadly, meeting even the most ridiculous expectations doesn’t eliminate the shame. Learning to love and accept yourself as God does is the only longterm remedy. Release the pressure you feel inside, and if necessary, share these insecurities with a trusted friend, pastor, or counselor. The fears we hide are the most powerful. Bringing them into the light makes them weaker. Allow those close to you to provide a corrective, healing perspective.
Dr. Stephen W. Simpson is a clinical psychologist and a professor at Fuller Theological Seminary. For more information about Steve and his books visit stephenwsimpson.com.
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BACK QUAD
HOW TO COnnECT AfTEr smALL GrOup
3 WAys TO ExpErIEnCE EAsTEr Every year Christians around the world gather to celebrate Christ’s resurrection. If you’re looking for a new tradition this Easter, here are a few ideas to get started.
the cross means to you. Maybe you’ll do this over a latte at the local coffee house or in a scenic location at your favorite park. Write down the ways you’ve sinned against God, and thank Him for dying on the cross RefResh youR memoRy to redeem you. After spending some time Maybe you’ve been a believer for a long in prayer, destroy the paper, knowing Jesus’ time and you think you know the Easter death on the cross paid for your sins in full. story by heart. Try reading it in another Bible translation like The Message or pass out The Living Bible. Or watch a movie about OK, so you’re way past the age of egg huntthe resurrection like “The Passion of the ing. But why not organize one for the kids Christ” or “The Greatest Story Ever Told” so from church, your nieces or nephews, or a the story will feel fresh and alive to you as family in need? There’s probably no better way to remember what Jesus did for you the Easter season approaches. than by giving of yourself to someone else. Get peRsonal And hey, it’s the perfect excuse to buy yet Take time to consider what Jesus’ death on another Cadbury egg.
1. say hi. If you don’t have a lot of time to chat, simply dropping an e-mail to see how someone’s week is going shows them you care. It’s also a great, time-efficient way to share prayer requests. 2. Be Random. Randomly bake cookies or pick up a gift card for your small-group leader to show you care. He or she will be very glad you did. 3. pass the BRead. Consider having a monthly or quarterly potluck with the members of your small group. Whether it’s chili night or an Italian feast, having dinner together is a great way to connect.
GOBIBLE GIvEAWAy There’s a new Bible on the market called The GoBible Traveler. It’s a pre-loaded, portable device with audio files of the entire Bible. Select the book and chapter you want to play or use the “Bible-ina-Year” feature for just 12-15 minutes a day while you walk to class or workout. Visit gobible.com for more details. Collegiate is giving two NIV GoBibles away for free! Just e-mail collegiate@ threadsmedia.com and tell us in 50 words or less what missions looks like in your life. You’ll be entered to win a free GoBible and the chance to appear in an upcoming issue of our magazine. Entry deadline: March 31, 2010.
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BACK QUAD
pILGrIm’s prOGrEss
by john bunyon
WhAT dOEs GOd Ask Of YOu? Jesus’ identification with the least is the cornerstone of the parable in Matthew 25. He tells of the day when the righteous will stand before Him, surprised at the credit they’re receiving for caring. In fact, some people believe this parable teaches that even people who didn’t know Jesus and certainly were not motivated by His kingdom will be welcomed as righteous simply for their attention to the least. While my soft side loves that concept, I don’t buy it. Many will stand before Jesus one day clutching good works in their hands, but they will leave His presence because they never loved Him. If we’ve learned anything from the rebellious nation of Israel, the Pharisees and Sadducees, and the meager offerings of the poor in Scripture, it is this: God is supremely concerned with our motives, and our works only count when they match our intentions. There is no back door into salvation, rerouted around the sacrifice of Christ. ... Jesus was describing the moment when His followers, His beloved sons and daughters, will stand before Him: “Of course we loved the poor, Jesus. You told us to. Of course we opened our homes and invited the lonely in. That was clear in the Word. Of course we clothed naked children and fed starving people. They are human beings made in Your image. We took care of the least in obedience to You, Jesus, but we never had the privilege of actually serving You. We did all that for You.” But Jesus will say: “No, you did that unto Me.” ... We clearly don’t comprehend how personally Jesus takes it when we love justice. He is so utterly identified with the afflicted that there is nothing more obedient, more pleasing, or more central than serving the marginalized. We have the privilege of serving Jesus Himself every time we feed a hungry belly, each moment we give dignity to someone who has none left, when we acknowledge the value of a convict because he is a human being, when we share our extreme excess with those who have nothing, when we love the forsaken and remember the forgotten. Jesus is there. Adapted from Interrupted: An Adventure in Relearning the Essentials of Faith by Jen Hatmaker
COnTrIBuTOrs — Back Quad contributors include Dan Ewald, Nathan Magness, Matt Spann, Laura Coggin, and Lindsey Bush.
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Hailed as one of the best allegories of all time, Pilgrim’s Progress tells the story of every Christian, from that first time we feel the Holy Spirit’s pull in our lives, to the moment we’re welcomed into heaven.
ThE dIsCIpLInEd LIfE pILGrImAGE Pilgrimage may sound like a lost discipline, one left to monks or the occasional crusader. But as Heather Zempel, author of Sacred Roads: Exploring the Historic Paths of Discipleship, writes, “The call of pilgrimage connects with the inner cravings deep inside us, where we know intuitively that the Christian life is a greater journey than a 100-foot walk down the center aisle of a church.” Add a pilgrimage to the Holy Land to your bucket list, but in the meantime, take a mini-pilgrimage to a local cathedral for meditation and prayer, watch a documentary about the Holy Land, or return to the place of your salvation or baptism. Pilgrimage “can be any journey that puts feet to your faith and connects you to God’s story,” summarizes Zempel.
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BACK QUAD
Do GooD
pUt Down the bottLe
homefront mother Knows best? Most of us have been there at some point — face to face with our parents, arguing over our future and the choices we’re making along the path. As the expression goes, there are “two sides to every coin.” And when it comes to those who care about us, it’s important to listen to their advice. Oftentimes, we allow stubbornness or our own selfish will to take over in an argument. Sure, our “desire” might be to focus all of our attention to one area of study. But maybe our folks are right. It might be important to have a back-up plan. According to the article “10 Tips for Parents of Prospective College Students” on JobWeb.com, an online career and job-search Web site, our parents have wisdom we can benefit from when it comes to picking a career path. Marcia Harris encourages parents to “mention factors to consider, such as job market demand, salary ranges, long-range opportunities, ... etc. Just because an occupation is ‘hot’ now does not mean it will be equally in demand in 10 years.” Because of their life experience, our parents have a better gauge of job trends than we do. Perhaps our desire is to choose a career path that seems easy, something that will require little-to-no effort on our part. In that case as well, our parents might know better. Maybe we do have low standards for ourselves. The other side of the coin is having your own calling. When the Holy Spirit speaks to you, He speaks to your heart. You know your dreams and goals — and you know by now the skills God has given you. Harris also warns parents that they have to do some letting go too, such as being OK with you not coming home for a summer in order to take that internship opportunity in another city or join that mission team on a trip overseas. As with everything in life, balance is key. Somewhere between submission to parents and stubborn self-interest is where you want to make clear-headed decisions for your life. Open up the lines of communication and really listen to what your folks say. Respectfully share your point of view. Avoid arguments and emotional reactions. If your mom or dad says something that sounds unreasonable, run their suggestions past other adults you respect. They may have a point, and if they do, listening to them could alter your future … for the better.
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thInK YoU hAVe It bAD? — Imagine being 7-year-old chess pro Josh Waitzkin, who feels parental pressure to be the “next Bobby Fischer” in the little-seen 1993 gem “Searching for Bobby Fischer” — a great Netflix choice.
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Monday, March 22, marks World Water Day — a day when thousands join together to bring attention to the overwhelming need for clean water around the world. This year, we challenge you to get involved, and Haiti Water Project (HWP) is one of the best places to begin. Haiti is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, and it’s one of the most water-impoverished countries in the world. In fact, 9 out of 10 people don’t have running water, and more than half of Haiti’s 8 million people don’t have clean drinking water. But there are solutions. Enter Haiti Water Project. HWP works to provide clean, safe water for communities in Haiti. Its goal is to create sustainable water resources for churches to meet the needs around them. One well can provide water for approximately 2,000 people, and one well or clean water resource at 500 local churches in Haiti equals about one million lives changed. Pretty amazing, huh? So where do you fit in? There are several possibilities, but here’s one specific and doable option: give up your bottles. In the U.S., we spent $15 billion on bottled water in 2008. That’s enough money to supply clean water for all 1.1 billion people in the world who don’t have access to fresh, safe water. Give the money you’d normally spend on bottled water in a month to HWP so Haitians can have safe water to drink and to live. It’s just that simple. For more on Haiti Water Project, log on to haitiwaterproject.com.
Do Unto others — You can help with clean water initiatives around the globe. In addition to HWP, check out charitywater.org, healingwatersintl.org, or johnsons.globalgiving.com to find out how.
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BACK QUAD
ShOp fOr A CAuSE Looking for a simple way to fight sex trafficking? Give gifts that give life and help educate others.
NOT fOr SALE With more than 27 million slaves in the world, human trafficking is one of the major issues today. What might be surprising is that there are more slaves now than during the height of the Trans-Atlantic slave trade in the 16th–18th centuries. Not for Sale (notforsalecampaign. org) is an organization that’s raising up the next generation of abolitionists. They provide insight on how to take a stand against human trafficking. Besides donations of time and money, there are other practical ways you can get involved:
+ Bags and blankets: Saribari.com and freesetbags.com sell products allowing women the opportunity to have freedom and a new life. + Soaps, lotions, and candles: Thistlefarms. org features products that are hand-made by the very women they benefit. + Jewelry and accessories: Nightlightinternational.com and shopinlight.com fosters hope for those in crisis by employing vulnerable women to make quality products.
politically — Lobby your Congressperson by calling or writing letters. conSciouSly — Sign up at Free2Work.org and read about companies suspected of involuntary servitude in their supply chain. On the flip side, support companies who promise to be free of involuntary servitude. interactively — Check the Web site for concert dates for the Backyard Abolitionist Tour, a lively interactive show that plays like a movie on stage. It’s a socially conscious concert that will leave you and your friends pumped up, in a whole different way from other rock shows.
dO yOu huNGEr fOr LOvE? “There is more hunger in the world for love and appreciation than for bread,” Mother Teresa once said. What a simple truth. At the deepest part of our souls, we long to be loved, to connect with others in ways that mean something. The God of the universe, our Creator, wants to be in a relationship with us — a truly mysterious concept that’s hard to grasp at times. We tend to hide from God and rebel against Him. That’s what the Bible calls “sin,” and it keeps us separated from God. Romans 3:23 says, “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Yet God loves us and wants to offer us
hope, purpose, and meaning. To do this, He sent His Son, Jesus, to buy us back from our sin. Romans 5:8 says, “God proves His own love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us!” Salvation can’t be earned. We receive it by faith alone. Ephesians 2:8 says, “By grace you are saved through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift.” Faith is a choice, demonstrated by our actions. Romans 10:9 says, “If you confess with your mouth ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”
If you’re choosing new life by committing yourself to Christ in faith and answering His call to “follow Me” (Matthew 16:24), pray a prayer similar to this: Dear God, I need You. I can’t live this life on my own. I know I’m a sinner, but I want to be in relationship with You. I believe Jesus died so I could experience forgiveness of all my sin. I accept Your offer of new, abundant, eternal life. From this day forward, I choose to follow You. If this expresses the prayer of your heart, we want to help. Call (888) 537-8720 or e-mail us at collegiate@threadsmedia.com.
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SImpLE AS ThAT
HoW ServiCe iS Key At MiDWeStern StAte by Nathan Magness It’s Wednesday morning at Midwestern State University (MSU) in Wichita Falls, Texas. Like every other campus across the country, you’ll find students making their way to class, eating breakfast at the cafeteria of choice, studying within the walls of the library — you know, the typical. Yet at MSU, your eye will likely catch a group passing out Pop-Tarts to students dragging, stretching, and yawning their way to class. This is just one of the many forms of outreach that has grown out of the Baptist Student Ministry (BSM) at MSU. “We’re not a club; we’re not a source of entertainment,” says Ben Edfeldt, campus minister of the BSM. “We want to focus on kingdom things — those things that truly impact our campus, community, and world. If students are going to be active in our ministry, they’re going to serve, they’re going to share their faith, and they’re going to make missions an essential component of their faith.” It’s this kind of focused philosophy that drives Edfeldt’s ministry at MSU. Beyond handing out every college student’s favorite toasted pastry, MSU’s BSM hosts biweekly lunches for students, offers a weekly worship/discipleship experience, provides trash pick-up in the girl’s dorm, and feeds the guys pancakes on Thursday nights. And this is just some of the on-campus ministry. “Aside from trying to impact our campus for Christ, we challenge our students to identify ways they can change their community,” Edfeldt explains. “We serve at our local homeless shelter at least once or twice during each semester. And for the past two years, we’ve led a Kids Club at a local apartment complex too. This has served as not only a great way to love kids who don’t experience love too much but as a good source of leadership development for our students.” But the work doesn’t end there. Every spring, the BSM hosts a mission trip, ranging from BeachReach at South Padre Island, Texas, to various projects around the country. And during the summer months, Edfeldt really challenges his students to further their mission work at home and around the globe. “My goal for all students is to participate in missions at some point during their college career. I think it transforms the students and fulfills a key component of our faith — to be Christian is to be missional,” Edfeldt says. “If I can get the students thinking outside of Wichita Falls, Texas, and the U.S., I feel that I’ve made an impact on the students.”
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BSM StUDentS LeAving WeeKLy WorSHiP AnD HeADeD to tHe AnnUAL HoMeCoMing BonFire.
CAMPUS MiniSter Ben eDFeLDt AnD A StUDent HeLP gUt A HoMe in gALveSton, texAS, AFter HUrriCAne iKe For tHe BSM’S 2008 CHriStMAS MiSSion triP.
DID YOu KnOw? — Wichita Falls is home to the Littlest Sky Scraper, a 1919 construction project where a Philadelphian architect cheated the city by building the landmark in square inches instead of square feet.
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On MIssIOn TO MExICO
my tASte of more By living with leSS by Matt Spann I was used to the American way of life where a person’s worth is determined by the amount of things they have, money is the bottom line, and spiritual riches are equal to the amount of good things you do. But on my first trip to Ciudad de Niños (“The City of Children”) in Ensenada, Baja, Mexico (my first time out of the country and on a mission trip), I felt closer to God than ever before. Life seemed simpler and God’s voice wasn’t drowned out. There I was, not surrounded by all of these material things I thought I couldn’t live without, and I saw more of Him. The closeness I experienced with God reached into the depths of my soul, the innermost part of what makes me, me. I’ve been back several times, and I’m very thankful for the many relationships I’ve formed with the people at the orphanage. There’s one kid I’ve literally watched grow up at the orphanage. It’s always fun trying to speak Spanish with the kids. I’m not that good at it, but after much practice, I can’t wait to show off my “R” rolling skills on the next trip. The children think my Spanish is so bad that last year they gave me their Spanish/English translation book. (Apparently, I needed it worse than they did.) We may be separated by cultures, languages, and distance, but God has woven our stories together, as only He can do. I guess His love truly has no boundaries. Maybe that’s what life is all about — loving God and loving others. When I’m serving others, I feel closer to God. When I’m thinking less about how I can get ahead and more about how I can love and help those around me, I truly feel God’s presence in my life. And I’ve learned God wants me to have this attitude no matter where I am. He wants me to love and serve when I’m home in the midst of corporate America and when I’m in foreign lands. I hope to carry this attitude with me in every relationship I have, and I pray the same for you.
“Through my time in the American Samoa in the South Pacific the Lord taught me much about trusting Him in every area of my life. There were many days when I felt inadequate for the job I had been given, yet I knew the Lord wouldn’t call me to something and not equip me. I was challenged to find my strength in Him rather than in my own abilities, and found once again that He is faithful — for He cannot be anything else.” — Ashton Bruce, graduate student, Union University
GO On MIssIOn — for more ideas on becoming a missionary, visit thetask.org, missionsinterchange.com, missionyear.org, and wordmadeflesh.org.
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HOw YOu CAn HELp — for more information on Ciudad de niños, go to cityofchildren.com.
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FINAL WORDS
WHAT I LEARNED IN COLLEGE by Derek Leman
College for me was a 12-year adventure with some starts and stops. I began on a path toward engineering, started following Jesus, and changed my path to theology.
I learned In college that labels don’t tell you who people are. Neither labels for major issues like conservative or liberal, nor labels such as religious, atheist, feminist, or “none of the above.” Labels are a way of preconceiving, and people rarely are what we preconceive them to be. If we get past labels or learn not to use them, we won’t miss out on knowing some great people.
I learned that levItIcus, far from boring, is one of the most theological books in the Bible. It may not be easy to recognize at first, but Leviticus is all about life, death, forgiveness, judgment, mercy, and the God of life and mercy. I learned that It’s actually possIble to grow tIred of ramen noodles. It’s also possible to go out of state to college with only the belongings that fit into a subcompact car and have everything you really need.
I learned that my JewIsh herItage is part of who I am in relation to Jesus, and I don’t need to keep the two areas of my life separate. Jesus didn’t. most of all I learned In college how much I don’t know. My father and grandfather tried to tell me, but I was too busy knowing it all. My college professors inspired me and intimidated me at the same time. Derek grew up in Georgia, started at Georgia Tech, spent three and a half years at Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, and finished in Atlanta at Emory University with an M.T.S. in Old Testament studies. Derek is a Messianic rabbi in Atlanta, the author of several books including Feast, and a father of eight children. Read his blog and watch his podcasts at derekleman.com
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“Worship God! ... he spreads snoW like a White fleece, he scatters frost like ashes, he broadcasts hail like birdseed — Who can survive his Winter? then he Gives the command and it all melts; he breathes on Winter — suddenly it’s sprinG!” — psalm 147:12 (the messaGe) 67
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