As cheesy as this story may come across to some, I think this is a good challenge for all of us.  At the end of this short story I’ll issue you a couple questions for you to ponder…hopefully honestly.

Saturday night I was with my family at a friends house.  They have a pond that you can swim in.  So, we were swimming.  Karis, my oldest daughter (4 1/2) was wearing a life jacket while playing in the water.  She was splashing, playing in the sand, etc.  Then, she wanted me to take her out to the dock. 

So I swam over to her and she grabbed onto me.  I was telling her that the jacket would allow her to float and she didn’t have to hold onto me.  She wouldn’t let go for anything.  I didn’t want to push her too much, but I continued.  ”Karis, you have to trust daddy.  You know I wouldn’t tell you it would be ok if it isn’t, right?”  

“Yeah,” she said. 

“Ok, then.  Watch this.  Let go of my neck and hold my hands.”  She did that.  Whew!  

But she was shaking with fear.  I thought about just pushing her away, but that would’ve done her in.  So, I continued with my back toward the dock, facing her while holding her little hands.  I was encouraging her by letting her know I was barely even holding her up…it was the life jacket doing all the work.  She was encouraged and excited.  So I decided to try to get her to let go again.

She didn’t want to do that.  So eventually I said (actually with a little frustration), “Sweetheart, you’re not trusting daddy.”

She replied ever so firmly, “I don’t want to trust daddy.”

Aaaahhhh, there was the teachable moment.  I told her sometimes it’s scary to trust and because of that we don’t want to.  But, once we do we realize it was the best thing.  We talked for a few more minutes and she slowly began to trust me.  Before I knew it she was swimming all over the pond by herself – of course not wanting any help.  At one point I couldn’t see her and got spooked.  But then I saw her swimming with the dog in the middle of the pond.  It was so fun to see her go…

Question for you: in ministry, do you challenge people in your college ministry to take steps of faith?  Or, do you tend to rob them of the beauty of being in a position where they have to trust?

Second question: do you actually take steps of faith?  If not, how then do you expect those you lead to do so…?

I recently wrote an article called, “Guidance Toward Biblically Mature Conclusions.”  It’s about causing college-age people to think more deeply about (their) faith.  In this article I give 5 questions to ask them and how/why I’ve found them helpful to ask.  To read that, click here.

Yesterday was the release of Fee’s newest song, Glory to God Forever.  It’s on an album set to release in October called, Hope Rising.  To purchase the song click here.  This video is Steve explaining the heart behind the song – and the song is playing in the background.  Enjoy…

Steve Fee: Glory to God Forever from Catalyst on Vimeo.

Someone attending the training day last week took this picture from their seat and sent it to me. It’s the only one I have, so if you have one yourself send it my way.  To those who attended, thanks.  I really enjoyed meeting some of you – even if it was just a quick hello and me finding out where you’re from!

Telling whether someone is truly repentant can have difficulties.  Sometime words can be correct, but actions don’t follow.  Other times it’s in the words said that tell whether or not someone is truly repentant…in other words, there are times in which you don’t need to see actions/behaviors, because the words don’t even match up to a truly repentant person.

The video below could be a good discussion starter on this topic of understanding repentance – it just came out today.  Watch the video with your small group and ask some of the following questions.  If you don’t know, this is recording artist Chris Brown, who in February of this year beat up his girlfriend, Rihanna – also a recording artist:

Prior to watching the video:

• What is repentance?
• What are some ways in which we can tell whether or not someone is repentant?
• Do you know of any passages in Scripture that speak about repentance?

After the video:

• Based on his words, do you think he’s truly repentant?  Why or why not?
• What specifically did he say that led you to think that way?
• What is he NOT saying that led you to think that?
• Does scripture speak to public confession like this when we repent?  If so, where?
• What do you think the difference is between repentance and remorse?  

For your help, you can use this definition of remorse/sorrow: having a deep sense of guilt.  It speaks of someone who is sorrowful for what they have done, or have not done. 

Here is a definition of repentance:  Repentance is a change of mind to move away from sin and toward God.  It is a change of view, feeling, and purpose that respects God and comprehends sin from His perspective which will inevitably result in a change of the way we live life.

Luke 3:3 – What does this verse say repentance is for?

2 Corinthians 7:10 – what are the two types of sorrow mentioned in this verse?  What is the difference between them?

My time in Pittsburgh last week was great.  Here are some pictures I quickly pulled from their site, a brief summary of my time and some people I got a chance to hang with…

Main Sessions: I arrived Wednesday evening in time for dinner and to go to the main session.  I wanted to go because I spoke the next morning and wanted to get a feel of the conference – every one is different.  I’m told there was about 2000 high school students.  The theme was based around 1 Thessalonians 2:8 where Paul expresses the fact that he not only shared the gospel with the Thessalonian’s, but also his own life.  Love the theme.  Enjoyed being there and seeing some friends again.  These times are always filled with a variety of elements, but the heart of the conference is based around serving – which I think is good.  This conference really emphasizes serving, and the kids do so in the city every day.  Good stuff beyond the main sessions!

Speaking: Thursday morning I spoke on the idea of the Christian bubble.  We typically use the term, “holy bubble,” but I refer to it as the “unholy bubble.”  I looked at a passage where Peter shrinks into a bubble and is confronted by the truth that his conduct was “contrary to the truth of the gospel.”  I ended the time by praying for those that understand there is more to the Christian life than huddling up in our country-club-like “church.”  As I think about it now, I don’t think I used the term country club in the talk- which is probably good.  I don’t like talks that “bash” the church – I love the church – I just wanted to encourage people to really think about how they’re living out their faith.  I thought it went well.  Side note: it’s a bit awkward posting a picture of myself from the conference in this part.

Friday morning we did our CollegeLeader training.  It was 4 hours long, which included a 1/2 hr. lunch break.  There was a little over 100 people there and it was a good time of in depth discussion about college ministry.  People came from all over: West Virginia, Ohio…man, it was humbling to know some drove so far for just that time.  I wish I had a picture of our time together, but forgot to take some and the conference website didn’t include any either.  If I come across one, I’ll post it.  It was a fun time and I [...]

Continue Reading “Pittsburgh Re-cap”

I’ve had a great time here in Pittsburgh.  Spoke this morning at Momentum.  But, tomorrow is the NE CollegeLeader Regional training.  We can take registration at the door, but it isn’t ideal since lunch is being catered.  So, if you plan on attending, please register here.  Hope to see you tomorrow!

In my new book, College Ministry 101, I discuss what it looks like for a church to truly embrace college-age people.  I talk about what they need from leaders and give a bunch of practical advice and principles on how to implement these things in our churches.  But, in order to really grasp these things we need to understand why.  So, here are 3 quick reasons I would say it is vital for every church in every context to minister to college-age people:

High school graduates don’t feel a part of the larger church.  There might be some exceptions to this, but it’s very few.  Ask anyone that just graduated if they feel like an adult.  Shoot, ask just about any 24 year old if they do – at best you’ll get a, “not really.”  They need to be walked toward that by mature people.

The college-age stage of life is a transition stage.  This is clearly the stage of life where people are transitioning (or trying – some harder than others) from student life to adult life.  Some take longer than others to make the full transition, but everyone eventually does.  If the church doesn’t intentionally walk with them through this stage, who does?  We have to be there to guide their thought processes toward biblically mature conclusions.

Higher education has changed thought processes.  35 years ago when people graduated high school they were quickly moving toward adult-like living – and thus thinking.  Many would graduate and go immediately into a full-time job and supporting themselves.  Today, however, this has changed dramatically.  Graduating high school is now just the next stage of education – thus an extension of adolescent thinking.  As juniors and seniors in college they are thinking about adult life much like the juniors and seniors of high school were 35 years ago.  Maturity is different in ways, of course, but their thought processes regarding life direction is the very similar…just with unique freedoms.

Well, this week should be fun.  Today I’ve spent some time with some people from my college ministry in souther California.  They were here in Portland for a wedding, so it’s been fun hanging with them and showing them around Portland a bit.  Tomorrow is filled with meetings – but should be fruitful.  Then, Wednesday I fly out to Pittsburgh, PA.

There I will be doing a few different things.  Thursday morning I’ll be speaking at Momentum.  It’s a conference with about 3000 high school students.  It should be fun.  I’m looking forward to being there with everyone – the past couple years at that conference has been a lot of fun.

Thursday evening I’m having dinner with Scott Calgero, who is on staff with CCO (Coalition for Christian Outreach), which does a conference called, “Jubilee.”  That should be fun, looking forward to meeting him.  We have a few mutual friends, but have never met.

Friday, I’ll be teaching at our CollegeLeader training at Robert Morris University.  This will be 4 hours of intensive seminar time.  Should be fun.  This, by the way, is filling up.  So, if you want to register you should do so sooner than later.  You can do that here.

Anyway, I’m sure I’ll issue some updates from that time later this week…