One question: Are you ready to get your bowl on?? Of course you are! We will be meeting at the Union building at 7:30pm this Friday to have a fun night of bowling and hanging out. After a long (and probably stressful) first week of classes, come out and have a time a relaxation and fun with other friends.
The cost is $2.25 for shoes and 2.25 per game with your student ID. Hope to see you there!
The podcast from this week's Fold talk is up. Jake Mentzel delivered the first message in the Sermon on the Mount series, giving an overview of the study and why we will be going through this sermon delivered by Jesus. If you weren't able to make it to the Fold on Tuesday, you'll definitely want to listen to this talk!
This is a quick reminder that discipleship groups will be starting tonight at 8pm. There will be meetings in North, Central, and South campus. Below is information for each area you live in. We hope to see you there!
Join us in Psychology 101 at 8pm this evening as we spend time praising God and hearing from His Word.
Tonight we begin a series on the most famous sermon ever preached: The Sermon on the Mount. And it was preached by Jesus Himself.
No other sermon has been more quoted or referenced in history. If you've ever sung "This Little Light of Mine" or if you've heard someone reference the Golden Rule or pray the Lord's Prayer, you've heard a reference to the Sermon on the Mount. If you've ever heard someone say, "Judge not or else you'll be judged"--if you've ever heard someone say, "Turn the other cheek" or "Go the extra mile,"--if you've ever heard someone say something like "Blessed are the meek", you've heard someone quoting from this one sermon of Jesus.
We're really excited to dig into this teaching of Jesus and we hope you'll be just as excited to hear what He taught His disciples that day.
What: The Fold - Sermon on the Mount
When: 8pm every Tuesday
Where: Psychology 101
I know it's been awhile (a summer to be exact) but we're back and in effect! School has officially started, so I wanted to post a song that would be a timely encouragement to you on campus each day. The song is called Shot Clock (Brand New Day) and parallels the believer's everyday life with that of a basketball player with 24 seconds left on the shot clock. The main thrust of the song is to see each day as new day to live to the glory of God. Be encouraged!
It's not too late to catch a ride to church this Sunday. Just shoot us a message on Facebook or visit our contact page.
Services start at 8:30 and 11, with Sunday School at 10.
College is a great opportunity to waste your life. Here's an idea: don't. Make the most of your time at college by treasuring Christ above all things.
I'm going to take a wild guess and say that if you're reading this, you've probably seen some of our chalk around campus. Maybe a few t-shirts. Maybe even a flier or two.
If you're a Christian and a new student on campus, our students have been out and about doing their best to let you know that we're here for you.
So consider it official: You are invited to our Fall Kick-Off meeting.
We've even done our best to make it super easy for you to make it: we're going to be right by CultureFest and we're going to start as soon as it's over.
So join us tonight! Come, meet other Christians, and find out what ClearNote Campus Fellowship is all about.
Oh yeah... be sure to catch a ride to the sweet after-party that's going to follow: food, drinks, and awesome opportunities to connect with other Christians. You don't wanna miss it.
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What: Fall Kick-Off Meeting
Where: Woodburn 101 (Right by Showalter Fountain)
When: 8pm (Right after CultureFest)
New student on campus?
Hey, we remember what it was like. You show up, mom and dad leave, you breathe a slight sigh of relief and maybe shed a tear... or two... or more.
And then you realize that it's for real. You're finally a college student. You're on your own.
Depending on the kind of person God made you to be, it's either really scary or really exciting. Most likely it's a little bit of both, right?
We're here to help. We want to provide you with all the resources you need to grow in your faith while you're in college. More than that, we want to provide you with opportunities to impact others with the Gospel.
Take it from us: College is awesome. Challenging? Sure. What you do with the next four years is going to set the direction for your entire life. Let us help you set the right trajectory.
Join us this Thursday at 8pm in Woodburn 101. It's your chance to find out more about who we are and what opportunities we have to offer you as a college student. It's also a great opportunity just to come and meet other students who share your convictions.
After the Kick-Off, be sure to come to the house-party. There will be food and even more time to get to know other Christians on campus. In the meantime, check out the website and find a couple of questions to bring with you to the Kick-Off.
by Braden Gogel
As a college student you may (scratch that… you do) frequently find yourself making plans for yourself. We’re faced with hundreds of decisions every day which have both short and long-term effects. We constantly find ourselves formulating plans – what to eat, who to date, when to study, who to hang out with this weekend, when to visit home, what career to pursue, when to go to bed and wake up, etc. There is hardly a moment when you’re not taking action based on a long line of decisions. And you should never be making these decisions alone.
There is wisdom in seeking the counsel of others who are mature in the faith. God says in Proverbs 14:12, “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.” We know from God’s Word that the heart is dreadfully twisted and hard to understand. Even if our intentions are initially Godly, we may eventually find ourselves heading down a road that surprises us.
I once knew a young man who learned this lesson first hand. This young man (we’ll call him Jim for our purposes here), was interested in a young woman (Megan) from his church. Jim sought counsel from several other mature Christian men who knew him and Megan. They all encouraged him to pursue the young woman, which he did – and liked very much.
Once he was in a committed relationship, however, he gradually began ignoring the counsel of the same men who had encouraged him to pursue Megan – particularly in the area of physical boundaries. Jim didn’t think that these men understood his relationship with Megan. Why did they think that he should have such “legalistic” physical boundaries with his girlfriend? Jim’s intentions in hugging and snuggling were to show Megan that he cared for her and he believed that these things brought honor to God. He never imagined that he and Megan would find themselves in sexual sin, but one thing led to another, then another, until they were deeper in sin than either had ever imagined. Exactly as his counselors had warned. And the consequence they paid for their sin was great; their relationship was irreparably damaged and Jim found himself fighting a long, hard battle with alcohol and lust.
This story may focus on one man’s sin, but there is clear application for your own life. Do you seek the counsel of others in your decision-making, however big or small? What about in those areas where you think you have everything figured out and under control? If you’re being honest with yourself, the answer to one or both of these questions is probably “no”. Be careful that you do not find yourself on a road similar to Jim’s, whether with regard to your career or class schedule. Seek the counsel of mature Christians who will not “tickle your ear” and allow you to continue in self-deception.
by Jake Mentzel
For all of you students soaking up the summer sun back home, we owe you an apology. We've done a horrible job of keeping you updated on what's been going on in Bloomington this summer.
First of all, the Summer Bible Study has been awesome. We've consistently been packing 35ish students into the home of Adam Spaetti—an absolutely unheard of number of students for a summer bible study in a small college town. God has been blessing our study through Nehemiah and it's going well.
Second of all, we've had some awesome opportunities to serve the church and the community. Many students have spent the summer reaching out to children in the area through Backyard Bible clubs. Others have given themselves to doing work around the church—like cleaning up the property after the fireworks show.
Apart from all the movie nights and game nights and road trips and mission trips, there have also been other random fun things... like hymn-sings. Last Sunday Pastor Bayly decided during his sermon to invite the whole church over to his house for an old-fashioned hymn-sing. There must have been at least 70 people that showed up. Check out this clip:
by Paul Belcher
“I, wisdom, dwell with prudence, and I find knowledge and discretion. The fear of the LORD is to hate evil; pride and arrogance and the evil way and the perverted mouth I hate. Counsel is mine and sound wisdom; I am understanding, power is mine. By me kings reign, and rulers decree justice. By me princes rule, and nobles, all who judge rightly. I love those who love me; and those who diligently seek me will find me. Riches and honor are with me, enduring wealth and righteousness. My fruit is better than gold, and my yield better than choicest silver. I walk in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of justice, to endow those who love me with wealth, that I may fill their treasuries.” Proverbs 8:12-21
What is wisdom to a professor who has no fear of God? Do professors who hate Jesus Christ have any love for His Word, the Holy Scriptures? During my religious studies classes several professors constantly berated and belittled the Holy Bible. They would quote Scripture out of context and most of the students would sit by and drink in the poison. Where do these professors find wisdom? If they hate God’s authoritative Word, then who has the authority? The professor thinks he does, of course. After all, he has been taught for decades how much smarter he is than God, so why can’t he teach others to think the same way? Reader, this is not wisdom. This is foolish pride that will be exposed on the Day of Judgment.
Wisdom, on the other hand, says what is excellent, right, and just. Wisdom detests wickedness. Wisdom is contrasted with crooked perversion and faultiness. With wisdom there is no hidden agenda and no deception because there is no reason to hide anything: wisdom is good and true. Wisdom is for those who have discernment, and it is accessible only to those who seek it. Wisdom is to fear the Lord, to reject evil, pride, and perverse speech.
Wisdom is beyond value; it is beyond any wealth of the world. For those who are in Jesus Christ, He is our wisdom. The cross was and is foolishness to the world, but to our God it showed His perfect wisdom. In the right hands, wisdom is power. In wisdom and power our Messiah will govern the world. He has the power to tread His enemies in the great winepress of His wrath. He has the wisdom to shame the foolishness of the world. Will you trust and obey this great, wise, King of glory?
by Lane Bowman
A few months ago I wrote about the search for wisdom. Wisdom is not something we passively obtain, but should actively pursue, especially to the neglect of our vain, youthful interests. The result was that we would know and fear the Lord, and how wonderful this understanding is. But Solomon goes on to say even more about the outcome of this endeavor:
"So you will be delivered from the forbidden woman, from the adulteress with her smooth words, who forsakes the companion of her youth and forgets the covenant of her God; for her house sinks down to death, and her paths to the departed; none who go to her come back, nor do they regain the paths of life." - Proverbs 2:16-19
Deliverance is the result of the pursuit of understanding. Did you know you're endangered by every woman on the magazine racks and the TV screen? Yes, you. And of course, she's not just an image, but in the seat next to you. It is true that you need deliverance.
If you're a man seeking wisdom, you're delivered from her who entices your soul down to a bottomless pit of lust and destruction. You're delivered from her smooth words in the sensual song that aims to lead your heart astray. She speaks sweetly and gives no reason for caution or hesitation, but her poison will leave you dying. She has long forgotten the covenant of her God, and is seducing you to abandon yours. Her path goes down the steep side of Everest and you've got nothing but your sneakers. Her slippery slopes have no ropes to save you and there is no +1UP. The warning is that none make it back, so don't even consider following her for a moment.
If you're a woman, you're delivered from being a temptress with your dress and your lips. I know the summer temperatures have been hot, especially for late spring, but obedience comes at a cost. If modest attire does not suit your style, then wantonness will be your downfall--both for you and the men in your company. And your words will be just as revealing as your dress, being laced with flirtation. Remember, she has cast off her husband and he is long gone. She has put out of her mind all the promises of God and never intends to recall them. She is a snare not only to herself, but to those whom she captures.
But the pursuit of wisdom will deliver you--from the snare or being a snare. The Lord "is a shield to those who walk in integrity." - Proverbs 2:7
by Forest Gafford
We all have plans for our summer. Maybe you plan to see family, or hang with old friends from high school. There are lots of things we can do. All plans aren’t devoted to family though. Do we have other secret plans like staying up late on Facebook, sleeping in daily, and just waiting around for classes to start? What about that week devoted to nothing at all? Why not? It was a long semester and we have earned it.
Solomon, the wisest man to ever live, has something to say about the ‘Schools out’ mentality:
A little sleep, a little slumber,
A little folding of the hands to rest,
Then your poverty will come as a robber
And your want like an armed man.
-Proverbs 24.33, 34
Summer break presents a great temptation for a little sleep and a little slumber. Isn’t that the way we think of it? We say to ourselves, “It’s only a few weeks after all. I’ve worked hard for this and I deserve a break. The semesters were long, finals were hard, and I need time to recoup. I might get a job over the summer, not sure yet, we’ll see what happens.”
Be warned, poverty will come like a robber, and want like an armed man. What does that mean? Does that happen today? Yes, it does happen today and young men are the ones overcome by it. These are men that have never been independent of their parents. They are 30 and don’t pay their own bills. They still require their family to provide for them. It was real easy for them to get along thus far because their parents have always been there to take care of everything until they were ready to launch out. Unfortunately, they never made it to the launching pad.
Sin desires to use summer break as an opportunity to indulge in comfort. Like the adulterous women that Solomon warns about in Proverbs 5, laziness promises good things today but will bring poverty upon you like a thief in the night. Don’t be caught off guard. Arm yourself against your flesh--it is your enemy.
How can a young man prevent poverty from falling on him? He can obey the wisdom of the Proverbs. Proverbs is written by a father to his son. So heed to the advice of this godly man. Work hard and don’t use summer break as an opportunity to indulge the flesh. Give your heart to serving the Lord with your work. Take on new responsibilities in the church. Serve your employer like you should serve God. Fight sin that desires to bring poverty upon you. You have been called to serve God--do so by serving the bride of Christ, the Church. Use your new freedom for hard work and service to the Church. Then poverty and want will not fall upon you.
