Archive for the 'Gospel' Category

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The Next College Students

Published on January 4, 2011 by Chris Bean in Calling, Campus Ministry, Faith and Gospel.

2010 witnessed my failed attempt at reading a book per week and commenting on them here. I think I made it to…15 books?! And only “reviewed” 12 of them on my blog. But hey…failure rarely stops me from engaging a good challenge. This time, I’ll be looking for connections to campus ministry and the collegial context as I read and reflect.

That connection wasn’t hard to see in this first completed book of 2011. Gabe Lyons does a great job of building on the research and material in his previous book UnChristian to identify a third option for being Christian today which should be quite appealing to college students as well as any-aged person who wants to participate fully with God’s mission to restore and redeem all of Creation.

I was personally captured by the very first line in the very first chapter: “Seven years ago, I was twenty-seven years old and embarrassed to call myself Christian.” Although for me it was about 8 years ago and I was 31 at the time…but I remember that angst. I was a youth pastor at the time, finishing a masters degree, and working part-time at Starbucks. The friends I was making in the cafe environment were many of the young adults whose negative opinions of Christianity showed up in Gabe’s previous book. (By the way, you can read more about Gabe and find out the kinds of things he’s up to here.)

Anyway, fast-forward a few years and here I am working with college students at the University of Cincinnati, hoping to see hundreds of students get a vision for their “calling” to find brokenness in the world and positively affect it. That’s what these “Next Christians” do, as Restorers…they approach the world and culture through a lens of grace.

Most Christians tend to fall into two categories (as Gabe points out): Separatist or Cultural Christians. Separatists are offended by the world and culture so they withdraw and express church & faith in insular ways, maintaining purity and holiness by condemning and withdawaing from the world. Cultural Christians tend to blend right in with the culture and operate from a very philanthropic posture (so-called “social gospel”) which is disconnected from the redemptive truth of the whole Gospel/Jesus.

But Restorative Christians are rediscovering the whole Gospel of God’s original intent for Creation which is marred and broken by sin, yet redeemed in the life/death/resurrection of Christ, which then leads to the follower of Jesus partnering with God in His mission to restore ALL Things through Christ (Colossians) until the ultimate Consummation of the Kingdom when Christ returns and all is as it ought to be. At this point, I really must credit the CCO and their campus ministry training which prompted my own discovery of this fuller approach to the Gospel. Gabe recently spoke to a gathering of CCO folks who work on 100 or so campuses and I remember thinking, “Did Gabe get a lot of his material from us?”   ;-)

Some key points which Lyons makes along the way:  Restorers are…

  • Provoked, not offended. Showing up is their defining practice.
  • Creators, not critics. Anything that incarnates Christ and communicates restoration.
  • Called, not employed. Restorers don’t have jobs…they serve in a vocation. Where your talent and heart come together is your calling. (insert plug for Jubilee Conference here)
  • Grounded, not distracted. In order to live this way, we must be deeply anchored to Christ.
  • In Community, not alone. Restorers need and want to come alongside others and experience intentional relationships and community.
  • Counter-cultural, not relevant. Many churches and pastors are guilty of emphasizing relevance over Gospel-infused living that champions the common good.

The other highlight section for me was a description of five significant disciplines in which Next Christians tend to engage:

  • Immersed in Scripture. Restorers value the story of God over entertainment and other distractions and spend time in God’s Word.
  • Observing Sabbath. Restorers realize that our modern emphasis on productivity often emotionally and spiritually bankrupts us and our families because we are not being restored.
  • Fasting for simplicity. Restorers find ways to limit consumption, excesses, and distractions.
  • Choosing Embodiment. Being present (face to face, relationships, etc) is more important than productivity or connectivity.
  • Postured by prayer. Many Christians are rediscovering the discipline of fixed-hour prayers as well as intentional times of prayer in community.

Overall, I think this book affirms what I see God doing in the lives of many Christians around me, including myself. Gabe also does a great job of communicating the value which certainly exists in the Separatist and Cultural expressions of Christianity. And the story of a conversation with Billy Graham (which is shared in that first chapter of the book) lends credibility from an amazing evangelist and friend of Jesus. There’s no doubt in my mind. God is up to something with this next generation of Christians, millions of which are on college campuses around the world right now!

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My Biggest College “Do over”

Published on December 27, 2010 by Chris Bean in Calling, Campus Ministry, Celebration, discipleship, Faith, Gospel and worldview.

If I had to point to one experience or moment which had the most impact on “my” decision to get involved in campus ministry, it would be the Jubilee Conference.

If I could go back and have one “do over” during my own college experience, it would be to attend the Jubilee Conference. (Register now and plan to join me for this transformational opportunity in February).

Get $20 off your registration price for a new registration when you use the discount code “CHRISTMAS”. This discount code is good through 12/31/2011 at 11:59PM EST; so, make sure to register before the NEW YEAR!

If I could recommend to current college students one particular experience with the potential to change their lives, attitude, and vocational path…it would be the Jubilee conference.

Over the past couple of years of intentional hanging out with students, the most regretful statement I continue to hear is something like this:

“Yeah, I’m majoring in ________ but I have no idea what I’m going to do with it.”

or

“I’m pursuing a degree in ____________ but what I really want to do is __________.”

If you’re a college student and you’ve ever said something like that…go here and watch this video.

It’s really tragic to find a great percentage of college students have never thought deeply about their academic calling or entertained the possibilities that God has an over-the-top sweet plan for them to make a difference in the world by aligning their passion, academic path, and future vocation.

Yet another reason for a student to attend the Jubilee Conference this February in Pittsburgh!

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Notes from Philippians 4

Published on November 21, 2010 by Chris Bean in Campus Ministry, discipleship, Faith, Gospel and Prayer.

Last week I was playing around with a Bible App which has been floating in web land for awhile now. I downloaded it to my Android phone over a year ago and have been using it as a Bible reader. I was looking for a way to extend some of our campus bible studies into the virtual realm so that more students could get involved even if they couldn’t physically attend our groups.

Once you sign up and login, you can search for our group (Journey 2:8 at UC) and then find the weekly bible study event. When you click on the event, Journey 2:8 Gathering, you will then see the passage of Scripture and theme we’re studying for the week along with questions, polls, and other resources. My hope is that  we would create a bit of community online which might encourage all of us to spend more time reading and studying God’s Word.

Here’s a note I just posted about the Scripture we were dealing with last week.

Often, I come across passages of scripture that are familiar and have been quoted so many times that they almost lose their impact. Verses can become cliche and a simple platitude that we recite rather than a principle by which we live.

I’m afraid that has happened for me with several of these verses found in Philippians 4. As I’ve been steeping my heart, mind, and soul in this passage over the past couple of weeks, I’m gravitating to these three verse (6, 11, & 13) and sensing that God is trying to teach me more about thanksgiving, contentment, and Christ as Source.

Thanksgiving does not appear to be the natural human response to life’s circumstances, conflicts, and anxieties. Many times throughout the Story of God (scripture) however, we find this gesture being modeled or encouraged. And strangely enough I find that it is nearly impossible to be anxious, bitter, and stressed out while simultaneously being thankful for the many blessings that God has allowed into my life. With Thanksgiving Day just ahead of us this week, it is certainly appropriate to look at life through a lens of thankfulness.

Contentment seems to be my nemesis. I remember a few years ago that someone encouraged me during a time of transition to focus on contentment. It continues to be a lesson I’m learning, especially in terms of material things and financial provision. That is the context of Paul’s statement in v.11. He has learned to be content “whatever the circumstances.” Really?! Is that just something people say or actually believe and live? And how is that possible? Well, this so-called “secret” as Paul describes it probably has a lot to do with verse 13.

Strength/Source. This verse is one of those potential cliches which gets thrown around and plastered onto every possible context. I remember quoting this verse back in the weight room at college as I was trying to bench press a new max. I’ve seen it printed on the back of shirts while running in a marathon. I’ve heard it preached and applied to just about any challenging circumstance that people may face. Perhaps it applies in all these situations, but the meaning which Paul intended was originally connected to this real-life challenge of financial deprivation. Paul’s “secret” ability to thrive regardless of having much or very little is found in his connection with the Source of life, strength, help, peace, provision, grace, etc. And during the challenging economic times which many are facing today, staying connected to the One who continually provides and strengthens is crucial.

As I lean into a more simple and purposeful approach to life, these lessons of thanksgiving, contentment, and connection are not just religious cliches and verses to hang on my wall at home…they are words of life and truth to live out of each moment.

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