College Ministry 2019-2020

We live in a changing world where college ministry is becoming one of the chiefest forefronts of Christian evangelism both in the East and West. This is especially true since Bible literacy in the West has dropped so significantly as to be virtually non-existent.

Proposition

College campus ministry is contemplated by the Great Commission

The Command to Evangelize includes the College Campus

Paul’s Situation at Athens is comparable to what we experience today

Paul’s Sermon on Mars Hill is a good guide to basic college ministry outreach

The Great Commission Contemplates College Ministry

In the Church of Christ, we do things by command, example, and inference because that is the mechanism we find in the New Testament. Therefore, it behooves us to examine whether the proposition of supporting college ministry can be done according to command, example, and inference.

Matthew 28:18–20 NASB95

And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

19 “aGo therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,

20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

The Great Commission tells us thatwe are to make disciples n the course of our daily life. This is not optional, but the natural course of believing in and being obedient to Jesus as the Messianic King of the Jews. Thus, Christians in their colleges would be working to evangelize their friends and classmates and professors.

Mark 16:15–16 NASB95

And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. “He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned.

God’s command to evangelize every creature means all people. The necessary inference is that college campuses and the people there are a subset of the category “all people.” Therefore, by necessary implication,

16 “He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned.

Acts 19:8–10 NASB95

And he entered the synagogue and continued speaking out boldly for three months, reasoning and persuading them about the kingdom of God. But when some were becoming hardened and disobedient, speaking evil of the Way before the people, he withdrew from them and took away the disciples, reasoning daily in the school of Tyrannus. This took place for two years, so that all who lived in Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks.

Paul ministered in Ephesus for two years. But according to , he was there for three years. Since it was customary to count part of a unit of time as a whole, his ministry was actually between two and three years.

9 But when some were becoming hardened and disobedient, speaking evil of the Way before the people, he withdrew from them and took away the disciples, reasoning daily in the school of Tyrannus.

10 This took place for two years, so that all who lived in bAsia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks.

So effective was this work that the gospel emanated throughout the province of Asia, on the west coast of modern-day Turkey. During this time the churches at Colosse, Laodicea, and Hierapolis were founded (). Some believe all seven churches of were started at this time, but this cannot be asserted dogmatically. (Bible Factbook)

This is a clear example of a 1st century college campus ministry. Therefore, we have an apostolically approved example for college ministry because of the huge margin of success God gave it.

Statistical Observations

60-80% of young people leave their churches and are not faithful during the transition from high school to college. Thus, the retention rate of Christians from strong youth groups to college ministry participation and faithfulness is about 20%. (Internet research)

50% of people report not believing in Christianity because they think the Bible is either a) not historically reliable or b) discount the Bible because of evolution, which they have mostly heard for the first time in their high school or college classes, (Warren Wilcox WVBS Christian Evidence Evolution Lesson 1 2000)

Paul’s Circumstance in Athens is Analogous to the College Campus

Acts 17:16–21 NASB95

Now while Paul was waiting for them at Athens, his spirit was being provoked within him as he was observing the city full of idols. So he was reasoning in the synagogue with the Jews and the God-fearing Gentiles, and in the market place every day with those who happened to be present. And also some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers were conversing with him. Some were saying, “What would this idle babbler wish to say?” Others, “He seems to be a proclaimer of strange deities,”—because he was preaching Jesus and the resurrection. And they took him and brought him to the Areopagus, saying, “May we know what this new teaching is which you are proclaiming? “For you are bringing some strange things to our ears; so we want to know what these things mean.” (Now all the Athenians and the strangers visiting there used to spend their time in nothing other than telling or hearing something new.)

Paul went where the people were. He first sought out those who were most likely to be receptive, but also reached out to everyone.

17 So he was reasoning in the synagogue with the Jews and the God-fearing Gentiles, and in the market place every day with those who happened to be present.

Paul went where the people were. He first sought out those who were most likely to be receptive, but also reached out to everyone.

This is what I did during the course of last semester with the following activities:

· Developing relationships with college administrators who are positive about the renewal of this work

· Engaging students in significant spiritual discussion on 100 occasions in 2.5 months

· Being present daily in the cafeteria at the most populous time as to engage students

· Handing out 9 copies of Muscle and a Shovel to those who were interested

· Re-started the radio broadcast program, naming it “Bible Basics”

o The Spring term featured some general introductory material

o This summer focused on a series called The Bible and Common Sense

o I intend to use the Fall and Spring terms this coming year to focus on practical, moral questions and Christian apologetics, along with particular topics that come up as are needful

· Had 4 students and a staff member as a guest from Denmark as part of the college’s cultural exchange program during which they had opportunity to hear the Gospel and meet members at the church at Wilburton

· Had the Bible Chair facility used for the International Food festival preparations by 4 students and have been put on the permanent list of available volunteers for the future

This summer I will be

· Particing in both the junior and senior camps all week

o Teaching junior campdrs about giving and service

o Teaching senior campers about Christian morality

o Focus especially on developing relationship siwh tsenior campers so the will hopefully want to come to EOSC and be involved in the Bible Chair ministry

· Coninue developing relationship with campus personnel

· Preparing for the Fall term

In the coming year, anticipated events are as follows:

· Renewed presence at orientation week to get the word out about the Bible Chair

· Coordinate service projects as opportunity presents and campus administration is made aware and makes me aware of things I don’t know about

· Starting classes that will either run all year or specially during the month of August

o Christian Evidence

o Survey of the Bible

o Dating and Relationships

o How To and the College Experience

· The college is wanting the Bible Chair to make itself specially available on Friday and Saturday evenings since students that are resident don’t have anything to do on weekends and it is becoming a significant problem.

· Weekly Events I want to try to orchestrate

o Meal done by congregation and devotional lesson

o Game Night

o Movie Night

o Leadership Study

§ Men

§ Women

· Trunk-Or Treat Special Event (October 31)

· Homecoming (November)

· Thanksgiving dinner for students that can’t go home

· Holiday drive as a service project

· Possible Fall Retreat

· Getting back into the swing with Spring Semeter

· Renewed series on dating and relationships (February 2020)

· Spring Retreat (Spring Break)

· International Students Visit Wilburton (March 2020)

· International Food Festival (April 2020)

· Assist with college graduation where possible (May 2020)

· Special ceremony for ministry students graduating possibly at Wilburton or Bible Chair May 2020)

Epicureans believed the chief good in life is pleasure. These were predecessors to our modern hedonists and essentially pluralists.

The Council’s reduction of power forom serving as the Executive Steering Committee for the Athenian Empire to supervising religious affairs and education in Greece explains why Paul is brought to them for judgment. The important thing of note is that Paul is going to the proper place where his claims can be evaluated.

18 And also some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers were conversing with him. Some were saying, “What would this idle babbler wish to say?” Others, “He seems to be a proclaimer of strange deities,”—because he was preaching Jesus and the resurrection.

19 And they took him and brought him to the bAreopagus, saying, “May we know what this new teaching is which you are proclaiming?

In college ministry today, that placed is in the student union, the lecture hall, and in individual discussions with students and faculty members and administrators.

21 (Now all the Athenians and the strangers visiting there used to spend their time in nothing other than telling or hearing something new.)

Paul’s Sermon on Mars Hill Provides a Functional Approach

Acts 17:22–23 NASB95

So Paul stood in the midst of the Areopagus and said, “Men of Athens, I observe that you are very religious in all respects. “For while I was passing through and examining the objects of your worship, I also found an altar with this inscription, ‘TO AN UNKNOWN GOD.’ Therefore what you worship in ignorance, this I proclaim to you.

Paul does not start out by insulting them, berating or belaboring them, but starts out with common ground. That’s where we need to start sith people today: with the common ground that is clear and then work our way out systematically from there. As a result, we need to be able to adequately fulfill .

23 “For while I was passing through and examining the objects of your worship, I also found an altar with this inscription, ‘TO AN UNKNOWN GOD.’ Therefore what you worship in ignorance, this I proclaim to you.

Acts 17:24 NASB95

“The God who made the world and all things in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands;

Paul here makes the equivalent of both the cosmological and teleological arguments for the existence of God.

Paul here makes the equivalent of both the cosmological and teological arguments for the existence of God.

Acts 17:25 NASB95

nor is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything, since He Himself gives to all people life and breath and all things;

This reasoning by analogy also implies the ontolological (moral) reason for the existence of God, e.g.: we can’t come up with anything independent and new but can only process things through our senses and things which are part of our nature. Therefore, since morality and similitude exist, it is logical to believe that God exists as a cause of these phenomena in us.

Acts 17:26 NASB95

and He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation,

This truth is in direct, irreconcilable confrontation with evolution of any kind. Any theistic evolutionist who wants to quibble a out it is not attacked by us first, but by evolutionists themselves as being intellectually dishonest. Thus, we need to be competent in Christian evidence to refute the doctrine of evolution, prepare our young people so they won’t be shaken by it when they come to college for the first time.

This truth is in direct, irreconcileable confrontation with evolution of any kind. Any theistic evolutionist who wants to quibble a out it is not attacked by us first, but by evolutionists themselves as being intellectually dishonest. Thus, we need to be competent in Christian evidence to refute the doctrine of evolution, prepare our young people so they won’t be shaken by it when they come to college for the first time.

Acts 17:27 NASB95

that they would seek God, if perhaps they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us;

This is a rebuke of Epicureanism

Acts 17:28–31 NASB95

for in Him we live and move and exist, as even some of your own poets have said, ‘For we also are His children.’ “Being then the children of God, we ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and thought of man. “Therefore having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now declaring to men that all people everywhere should repent, because He has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man whom He has appointed, having furnished proof to all men by raising Him from the dead.”

This is a rebuke of Stoicism.

Paul grounds his argument in the historical fact of the Resurrection of Jesus ()

30 “Therefore having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now declaring to men that all people everywhere should repent,

31 because He has fixed a day in which He will judge cthe world in righteousness through a Man whom He has appointed, having furnished proof to all men by raising Him from the dead.”

Paul grounds his argument in the historical fact of the Resurrection of Jesus ()

Acts 17:32–34 NASB95

Now when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some began to sneer, but others said, “We shall hear you again concerning this.” So Paul went out of their midst. But some men joined him and believed, among whom also were Dionysius the Areopagite and a woman named Damaris and others with them.

Only 1 member of the Council was persuaded (1/500), but some others were persuaded as well. Jeremiah preached over 50 years and didn’t have a single convert to his message of preaching.

33 So Paul went out of their midst.

34 But some men joined him and believed, among whom also were Dionysius the Areopagite and a woman named Damaris and others with them.

Onlye 1 member of the Council was persuaded (1/500), but some others were persuaded as well. Jeremiah preached over 50 years and didn’t have a single convert to his message of preaching.

Conclusion

John 4:35 NASB95

“Do you not say, ‘There are yet four months, and then comes the harvest’? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look on the fields, that they are white for harvest.

It is my humble pleasure to invite you to continue the work with the Bible Chair and to encourage you in your local work and personal evangelism because the time for decisive action to share the Gospel with the lost is now.

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