How to Grow in College

Your 20’s are for Training

Make a big deal about this. Say it in different ways.

Then ask… “Why?”

Why spend your 20’s (College years/YA Years) focusing on getting training?

Imagine yourself in ten years. What types of things do you hope to have in your life?

Spouse (1 hour)

Children (1 hour)

Church

Job (8 hours): Dad

Home with Kids: mom

Own a house (30 mins)

Now go back and place an estimated amount of time you think you should give to each of those things each day.

What about chores

preparing meals for those kids

Laundry for the family

Grocery shopping

Managing income:

Budgeting

Finances

Point: Ten years from now, you will need to be focusing on different things. You will be in your building phase of life. And the prime opportunity to focus in on your training will have passed. While you should strive to be a lifelong learning, your twenties are your years of concentrated training.

Examples of Christian, Mark and John Little

Key areas you want to focus on growing in:

Job

Finances

Ministry

Family

Problem Solving

Marriage

Parenting

Walk with God

There are godly ways and ungodly way to handle each of these areas of you life.

You aren’t going to learn these tonight. It’s going to take intentionality and time.

Here’s how…

A Recipe for Growth in College

1. The right CONTEXT: where real life and ministry happen.

Disconnect:

Church -> Class like

Then you go live.

Learn -> Do -> Evaluate.

Evangelism -> Evaluate

Testimony -> Evaluate

Doing a DBS -> Evaluate

Dating -> Evaluate

Proverbs 26:11 ESV

Like a dog that returns to his vomit is a fool who repeats his folly.

Goal: Lab, not Lecture

Ideal: Public University + part of a Christian group.

In the world, not a Christian bubble.

Part of a team trying to reach others for Christ.

That context needs to include the next two ingredients.

2. COACHES who will give correction.

Athletes improve faster with a coach… Why?

People somehow think it’s different with their faith.

Go to church and learn.

It’s hard. A pastor can’t spend time each week with each person at their church.

This is why we need to train more Disciples of Christ, who will be able to coach others. 2 Tim. 2:2

2 Timothy 2:2 ESV

and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.

You want people in your life who will speak truthfully to you in order that you might grow.

Proverbs 15:31 ESV

The ear that listens to life-giving reproof will dwell among the wise.

Proverbs 12:1 ESV

Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates reproof is stupid.

Proverbs 15:12 ESV

A scoffer does not like to be reproved; he will not go to the wise.

Different coaches to have:

A Discipler - Faith, life, character

Your tInstructors for classes - Education

Christian professionals in your field.

3. A Godly COHORT.

Cohort = Those you do life with. Reference group.

Josh Jenkins, Andy and David Worcester.

Podcasts, books, experiences.

Working together.

Have other aquantences - You spend some time with.

Many flip it

Cohort - Non-Christian peers.

Aquantences - people at church.

But Jesus spent time with sinners, didn’t he?

Proverbs 13:20 ESV

Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.

Psalm 1:1 ESV

Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers;

Hebrews 10:24–25 ESV

And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

4. A personal COMMITMENT to learn.

Humility Prov. 11:2

Proverbs 11:2 ESV

When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom.

A proud person thinks they don’t have much to learn.

Tenacious teachability:

Asking questions of your coaches.

Sermons

Working through good books.

Andy -> too expensive.

Proverbs 3:13–14 ESV

Blessed is the one who finds wisdom, and the one who gets understanding, for the gain from her is better than gain from silver and her profit better than gold.

Studying the Bible.

Proverbs 18:15 NIV

The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge, for the ears of the wise seek it out.

5. An ambition to glorify CHRIST, not self.

You can focus on personal growth, but if your life isn’t centered around Christ, it is all in vain.

Level up… for what?

Climbing the wrong ladder.

Ecclesiastes 2:11 ESV

Then I considered all that my hands had done and the toil I had expended in doing it, and behold, all was vanity and a striving after wind, and there was nothing to be gained under the sun.

I love the apostle Paul’s perspective:

Acts 20:24 NLT

But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus—the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God.

Galatians 2:20 ESV

I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Will you capitalize on this opportunity?

Twenties are for training.

Dive into these areas to grow in.

Ingredients for Growth:

context

Coaches

Cohort

Commitment

Christ-Centered

Discussion Questions:

Who’s shaping you most right now — and what would change if your main friend group was running hard after Jesus?

Why do athletes need coaches — and how could a spiritual coach help you grow?

Besides academics, what areas of life do you most need to grow in during your 20’s?

What would you gain by making Challenge your main community this semester?