“When the days drew near for him [Jesus] to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem.” (Luke 9:51, ESV).

Mission-Focused is the fourth and final core value of North Greenville University. Jesus Christ exemplified keeping his focus on his mission. As the days drew near for Christ’s arrest, death by crucifixion, burial, and resurrection, Jesus was resolute in keeping his focus. He came to seek and to save the lost by offering his life to bear the sin burden for all humanity. He knew what awaited him in Jerusalem but still set his focus resolutely on his mission. Nothing, not even the enemy, could deter him.

At North Greenville University, we must be resolute in keeping our focus on the mission. It is so easy for Christian institutions, including the church, to drift away from their mission. Many times, the drift is unintentional. However, drift is always away from the mission. The current flows in only one direction. A mission is a specific task that a group or individual is charged to pursue. Focus involves adjustment for a distinctly clear vision. The mission of North Greenville University is to build graduates who are transformational leaders for church and society. Spiritual formation is essential to the process. Jesus commanded the church to make disciples through evangelism and disciple-making (Matt 28:18-20). You have to be a disciple before you can make disciples. Believers are called to grow in the faith and model a Christian lifestyle before they can effectively pour their lives into others. Therefore, at the core of our mission, we must be disciples who make disciples.

With Christ as our example, North Greenville University is Mission-Focused and intentionally and continually insulating the institution from mission drift. 

“And one of the scribes came up and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, asked him, ‘Which commandment is the most important of all Jesus answered, ‘The most important is, Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength^’” (Mark 12:28-30, ESV).

Academic excellence is another of the four core values of North Greenville University. When Jesus asked what was the greatest commandment of all, he immediately responded by quoting a passage from Deuteronomy 6:4-5. Jesus stated that the greatest commandment is to love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. What did Jesus mean by calling believers to love God with their minds? Christianity is a rational faith. It is important for believers to give a reasonable defense of the faith to unbelievers in our culture. Since many people in the United States do not have respect for or even knowledge about God’s Word, it is increasingly important to defend the faith through apologetics that are grounded in philosophy that is biblically faithful and addresses the key questions of life such as how did life begin, what is our identity, does life have a purpose, how do we determine what is right and what is wrong, can we find redemption, what can heal the divisions in our world, is there any hope, and how are we to live?^[1]

In truth, all academic disciplines point to God. That is why theology has been referred to as the queen of the sciences by many academicians historically. Thomas Aquinas considered theology a science because it addresses both natural and special revelation. During the Middle Ages, theology was named queen of the sciences, a view affirmed by the philosopher Immanuel Kant. In Medieval universities, the various disciplines of learning knew they needed an overarching objective standard. The Bible fulfilled this role. However, this truth has been denied by many scholars who hold to naturalism. They stress the need to deny God’s existence and teach that an educated person must move beyond a belief in the supernatural. Perhaps the primary motivation of at least some who hold this view is that if there is no God, there is no accountability. Therefore, everyone can do what is right in his/her own eyes (Judges 21:25). The problem with this philosophy of life invariably infringes on the rights of others and forces them to live under the authority and the oppression of the voices of those who are in power. The absence of law always leads to chaos.

Because North Greenville University is Christ-Centered and Biblically Faithful, every academic discipline must integrate faith and learning. The College of Business and Entrepreneurship teaches that the best professional practices are rooted in the principles of the Bible such as treating people well, serving others, building leaders, and developing excellence. The College of Communication and Fine Arts embodies the richness of creation and beauty. They train educators, worship leaders, actors, actresses, artists, and communicators how to influence the culture in a positive way, bringing glory to God. Christian Studies prepares students for the rigorous academic study of the Scriptures and their application. They shape hearts that are spiritually sensitive to focus on academics, preparing ministers, intercultural leaders, youth ministers, educators, and others. Humanities teach the lessons of history, the richness of literature and creativity, and the use of languages to understand and reach the world. The School of Criminal Justice trains students to live out the command to do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with God (Micah 6:8). Through social research and counseling, psychology helps students to make sense of the world and teaches ways to serve and help others. The sciences discover and affirm God’s design and purpose for creation. Students are prepared to be teachers and researchers, impacting the world for the glory of God. Education trains teachers to integrate faith through the learning process instilling biblical values in the lives of others. Teaching is a calling from Christ, the master teacher. Students are trained as teachers not only to fully equip their students academically, but to fully equip them for life through love, grace, and forgiveness. Wellness and the health sciences affirm the wonder and intricacies of the human body and teach people how to enjoy life and health through physical education and outdoor leadership. Sports management offers a platform for influence in athletics, coaching, ministry, and missions. Mathematics reveal order, consistency, and truth.^[2]

Academic excellence is the goal of every institution of higher learning. What sets NGU apart from most other institutions, is our holistic approach to education, instilling the biblical faith into every academic pursuit. We prepare students for more than a career. We prepare them for life to impact the culture and for eternity as students become transformational leaders for church and society.

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^[1]See Chuck Colson and Nancy Pearcey, How Now Shall We Live? (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House, 1999) and John P. Newport, Life’s Ultimate Questions (Dallas: Word, 1989). 

^[2]Much of this paragraph is adapted from the NGU website and other university documents. 

“For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account” (Hebrews 4:12-13, ESV).

Biblical faithfulness is another one of the four core values of North Greenville University. What is so special about the Bible and why should we be faithful to its teachings? As the verses above state, “The word of God is living and active.” The biblical text refers to Jesus as the living Word of God (John 1:1-17) and to the Scriptures as the written Word of God (2 Tim 3:16). The written Word of God, the Bible, is the infallible, inerrant record through which God reveals himself to us. The Bible is not a word about God, but rather it is the very word of God. It is true without any mixture of error (see “The Baptist Faith and Message 2000”) because the biblical writers spoke directly from God as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. If mortals were the authors of the Scriptures alone, they could not be trusted. I am very much aware of most of my imperfections and my fallibility as you are of yours. But God moved the authors of the Scriptures by the power of the Holy Spirit to record exactly what God wanted to communicate without error (2 Pet 2:20-21).

All we know about God is what he has chosen to reveal to us. God is the source of the Bible; it is God-breathed or inspired. 2 Timothy 3:15-17 reveals that the Scriptures are able to teach salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. The Bible teaches, reproves, corrects, and trains believers in righteousness, equipping them for every good work. To be biblically faithful is to place the Bible as the standard for all of life. It is the lens through which believers see and interpret the world. The Scriptures reveal the light of God that pierces through the darkness. Nothing can be hidden from him. He sees all and holds us accountable for our thoughts and actions. The Bible is the standard for all faith and practice.

A word of warning: the Bible, in its entirety, is God-breathed. Many people fall into error when they magnify one text of Scriptures above all others. They often make that text the lens through which the rest of the Bible is read. This practice is flawed and leads to error and improper interpretation. The Bible in its entirety is the lens through which we interpret God’s revelation. When properly understood, the Bible never contradicts itself. The most reliable interpretation of the Scriptures is through the Bible itself.

NGU represents these unchanging truths to the university family, local churches, and our culture. The university is unapologetically committed to biblical faithfulness. It is the standard through which our lives, churches, and cultures must be evaluated. If we are to build transformational leaders for church and society, we must be Biblically Faithful and Christ-Centered (see last week’s “Weekly Walk”).

Steps to Biblical Faithfulness

1. Read the Bible. If the Bible is the standard for faith and practice, we must know what it says.
2. Pray that the Lord would illuminate the truth of his Word to you.
3. Determine to use the Bible as your compass for life. When culture and popular opinion flows against the truth of God’s Word, determine to follow the objective standard that God reveals to you and reject the subjective standards of the culture. Cultural winds are inconsistent in the way they blow, but God’s way is consistent and always better than your way.
4. Apply God’s Word to your life. How will you put into practice what God has revealed to you from his Word?
5. Pray for the leadership of NGU. May we be found biblically faithful to God’s eternal purposes.

“If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth” Col 3:1-2 (ESV).

Christ-Centered is one of the four core values of North Greenville University. There are really only two ways that people live their lives, Christ-centered or self-centered. One of the surprising confessions of newlyweds is that they never realized how selfish they were before they married someone. A major part of our sinful nature is that we want things our way, but Christ’s way is always better. Jesus is the Messiah, the anointed one of God. He is the only Savior, Lord of lords, King of kings, fully God, and fully man. He is both the center and the subject of all of life for believers. Only Jesus can turn our selfishness into being centered in Christ.

Christ-centeredness begins with a personal relationship with Jesus through faith and repentance. He is Lord of all. He lived a life of human flourishing (life to its fullest) while revealing to us the perfection of our Creator. Jesus was in the beginning with God, the active agent in creation. He is God. He is the living Word of God who became flesh and lived among humanity. He is full of grace and truth. Grace without truth leads to permissiveness. It breeds deception, compromise, and a false view of freedom. It can even become an excuse to sin by rationalizing the behavior. On the other hand, truth without grace leads to an empty orthodoxy that reveals itself as legalism. It breeds self-righteousness and arrogance which ironically may appear on the surface as humility but is, in reality, a false humility. Jesus was full of grace and truth, the perfect balance. Being centered in Christ is to embrace this balance of grace and truth. Jesus spoke the truth seasoned with grace and he expressed grace within the bounds of truth.

NGU must be Christ-Centered if we are to fulfill our mission of building transformational leaders for church and society. Spiritual formation is at the heart of this task. Transformation is usually caught more than taught. As we live lives reading and applying God’s Word, exhibiting a life of prayer by seeking God’s leadership, and modeling personal holiness as we walk alongside others) in their spiritual journeys, we are intentionally building transformational leaders. 

As a Christ-Centered community, we must pray for all of our constituents. Spend time in prayer for our students. Faculty members may want to pray over their class rosters, remembering every student in every class. You might be the only person praying for that student. Ask God to bring conviction, repentance, and faith to the lives of unbelievers. Ask God to show you how to grow in your faith, balancing grace and truth. It is a privilege to be a part of this Christ-centered community that seeks to live as academic disciples of Christ.

“You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy” (Lev 19:2b, ESV).

The concept of personal holiness has become blasé for many contemporary believers even while it remains a central precept of spiritual formation. This loss of personal holiness has also infiltrated the church. I believe a lack of holiness is the greatest barrier to spiritual awakening in our nation.

In my quiet time on 1 Samuel 5-6, I was reminded of how seriously God takes holiness. People were judged in tangible ways for their rejection of God’s call to holiness. Yahweh is holy and he calls his people to holiness. Biblically, the term normally means “to be set apart.” It is used widely in the Bible but ultimately points to God as the one who is qualitatively different or set apart from creation. In the New Testament, holiness takes on the sense of ethical purity or freedom from sin resulting in godly living.^[1]

Action Plan

1. Personal holiness begins with me. I need to ask the Holy Spirit to reveal my sins to me. I will write down each one of them, confessing and repenting of my sin, asking God in his mercy to forgive me and cleanse me. I will read Psalm 51, asking God to create a new heart in me and to restore the joy of his salvation.
2. I will refuse to allow sin to reign in my mortal body (Rom 6:12-14). Sin has no dominion over me since I am in Christ Jesus and he has set me free from the bondage of sin.
3. I will work with the Holy Spirit to live a godly life. Jesus, who knew no sin, became sin for our sake so that in him we could become the righteousness of God (2 Cor 5:21). God imputed the righteous of Christ to us, making us holy through his salvific work. However, while we have been delivered from the dominion of sin, we still find sin at work in our lives attempting to retake the territory the enemy lost through salvation. Jerry Bridges refers to this conflict as “The Battle for Holiness.”[2] I will resolve to be obedient to God’s revealed truth rather than my sinful flesh in this battle.
4. I will pray consistently for spiritual awakening on our campus and in our nation. As I examined the details of spiritual awakenings in the biblical text and in more recent history, I discovered that God moved his people to pray for spiritual awakening, the evangelization of the lost, and the growth of disciples and the local church before God sent awakening.
5. I will share my faith regularly with unbelievers. It is easy for us who work in a Christian context to become isolated from building relationships with unbelievers. I will find ways to enter the world of those who do not know Jesus. It could be in a relationship with a neighbor, a student here at NGU, other scholars in my field, parents whose children play sports or instruments with my children, etc. The “Who’s Your One” emphasis begins with praying regularly for an unbeliever that you know and to have gospel conversations for the purpose of leading this person to faith in Christ. When a person receives Christ, the disciple making process begins. Who’s your one?

Holiness is not optional for those who follow Christ. Hebrews 12:14 states, “Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord” (ESV). God takes holiness seriously. Do you?

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^[1]S. Grenz, D. Guretzki, & C. F. Nordling C. F. in Pocket Dictionary of Theological Terms (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1999), 60.

[2]Jerry Bridges, The Pursuit of Holiness (Colorado Springs: NavPress, 1978, 1996, 2006), 59.

“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one“

“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates” (Deuteronomy 6:1-9, ESV).

One of my frustrations during my youth ministry years in the local church involved conversations with parents about encouraging their students to be involved in the student ministry. Many parents would respond, “Well Johnny and/or Julie are maturing and need to learn to make their own decisions about church.” I responded, “So, you let them decide whether or not they will go to school tomorrow?” “Of course, not,” came the reply. “They have to go to school.” Then I would state, “So, school is required, but church attendance is optional.” These parents were failing in their God-given responsibility to give spiritual direction to their children.

Graham Nash wrote the song, “Teach Your Children” that was recorded by Crosby, Steel, Nash, and Young in 1969. The song was written in the midst of the antiwar movement of the period. Nash wrote the song out of concern that parents would teach their children about the horrors of war and the need for peace. The song also addresses the truth that parents have much to learn from their children. Nash’s work speaks to our times as well. Many parents are allowing and even encouraging their elementary-age children to make their own decisions related to gender preferences that bear the burden of lifelong consequences. Today we are just beginning to see the tip of the iceberg that is yet to come related to gender dysphoria. God has entrusted parents with the stewardship of our children. We are responsible to the Lord for how we raise them. Many other forces in our culture seek the opportunity to replace our God-given parenting roles so they can influence our children according to their beliefs and philosophies.

The context of Deuteronomy is Moses’ final address to the children of Israel, the group he has led for more than 40 years. He begins his address by offering a brief history of the wilderness journey including the people’s constant rebellion and sinful choices. In chapter 5, he reviews the law given by the Lord at Sinai. Then he moves into the heart of God’s call to obedience in the text above. Children are to be taught God’s Word constantly and consistently because it is instructive for life, liberty, salvation, and spiritual formation. Many in our culture are working to destroy biblical faith, the nuclear family, and the spiritual principles of the Scriptures. However, the Lord reveals that the Bible offers words of life and spiritual liberty.

Biblical Truths to Ponder

1. There is only one God. He manifests himself in three persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, but he is uniquely and mysteriously one. He is the Creator of all that exists, who offers redemption and salvation to all who receive him.
2. Love God with all your heart and all your soul and all your might. Jesus referred to this text as the primary commandment for our lives. Love for God along with love for our neighbors are the foundational cornerstone that all of the law and the prophets depend (Matt 22:35-40). Our relationship with God is preeminent in our lives. It matters more than anything else. This love for God includes our feelings, our intellect, our strength, and all of our being.
3. The Words of the Scriptures are to be on our hearts constantly. As we walk with God, his Word guides and strengthens our spiritual lives. We are commanded to meditate on his word constantly (Josh 1:8).
4. Teach God’s Word diligently to your children and talk of it when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. I recall when my son, Stephen, was about 3 years old. I was leaving for work one morning and he asked if I had my Bible. We had never discussed this issue, but he had observed that I regularly took my Bible with me to work. He knew it was important to me. What values are you instilling in your children?
5. Keep God’s Word ever before you. Hang it on your doorposts and in your house.

“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, ESV).

Prayer is the privilege of believers to communicate with God. However, for many of us, we often fail to take advantage of this privilege. Communicating with God through prayer is a central spiritual discipline (or exercise) for all those who follow Christ. Richard Foster states, “To pray is to change. Prayer is the central avenue that God uses to transform us. If we are unwilling to change, we will abandon prayer as a noticeable characteristic of our lives.”[1]

While Don Whitney, an expert in spiritual disciplines, argues that Bible intake is the most important spiritual discipline,[2] Foster proclaims that prayer is the most central spiritual discipline.[3] From my perspective, they are both correct. For believers to experience growth in their spiritual formation, they must be reading, studying, meditating, memorizing, and applying the Scriptures. However, it is equally important to grow in intimacy with God through prayer. In the Bible, prayer moves from magic to the heights of spiritual communion where the will of God is revealed and God’s activity is divulged.[4]Neither prayer nor Bible intake is to be done in isolation. They work in tandem to expose God’s character, priorities, and pursuits.

Jesus, the incarnate Word of God, who is God, modeled a life prayer for his disciples. The Bible records that Jesus had intensive times of prayer in the wilderness following his baptism and his encounter with the devil. He prayed earnestly before choosing the Twelve, at his transfiguration, and at Gethsemane the night before his crucifixion. Further, prayer was a primary topic in his teaching. Prayer should not be a public religious production, but rather sincere time of seeking and following the will of the Father. Prayer is offered in faith with a forgiving spirit. One of my mentor’s, Buddy Freeman, presents a strong case that unforgiveness may be the greatest obstacle to genuine prayer. Prayer ushers in perpetual communion with God. William Carey professed, “Prayer—secret, fervent, believing prayer—lies at the root of all personal godliness.”[5]

A Suggested Prayer Plan

1. Read a passage of Scripture listening for the voice of God as he speaks to you. Psalm 139: 23-24 could be a good place to begin, “Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous [wicked] way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!^” (ESV).
2. Praise God for who he is and thank him for what he has done. He is our creator, savior, redeemer, helper, healer, and so much more. He is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. He never leaves or forsakes us. He is always present with us.
3. Confess and repent. We know our struggles very well. John 1:8-9 states, “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (ESV). Turn away from your sin willingly by God’s grace.
4. Pray for your family by name. Consider the challenges that each family member is facing. Ask God to intervene in their lives, drawing them close to his side, and directing their steps as they move forward.
5. Pray for your pastor and your church. These are difficult and challenging days for those who serve in leadership. Pray for your pastor’s family. Ask God to give him grace and boldness as he prepares to preach Sunday.
6. Pray for NGU. Pray for our students. Through academic discipleship across the curriculum, students are challenged to become transformational leaders for church and society. Pray for your colleagues and friends who serve at NGU. Pray for Dr. Fant and our leaders. May we be the faithful institution that God has called us to be in these arduous times. 
7. Pray for the lost. Life is short and eternity is long. Pray for the people you know who are far from God. May the Holy Spirit use you and others to draw them to salvation and discipleship.
8. Pray for the nations. Pray that the Lord will raise up laborers and strategies to reach people from every tribe, nation, and tongue for the glory of God and the advancement of the gospel. The Joshua Project is a helpful resource (https://joshuaproject.net/). They list unreached people groups daily.[6]
9. Pray for all those who are hurting and the divisions in our world. We have been reconciled to God through Christ’s finished work on the cross. May we be ministers of reconciliation for God’s glory in our world (2 Cor 5:17-21).

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[1]Richard Foster, Celebration of Discipline, rev. ed. (San Francisco: Harper San Francisco, 1988), 33.

[2]Donald S. Whitney, Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life, rev. ed. (Colorado Springs: NavPress, 2014), 22.  

[3]Foster, 33.

[4]C. W. F. Smith, “Prayer,” in The Interpreter’s Dictionary of the Bible, vol. 3 (Nashville: Abingdon, 1962), 857.

[5]Quoted in E. M. Bounds, Power Through Prayer (Chicago: Moody, n.d.), 23.

[6]Unreached people groups are defined as those who have less than 2% evangelical Christians among them. 

“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14, ESV).

The wonder of the incarnation, the Word becoming flesh, brings depth, mystery, grace, and truth to the celebration of Christmas. The Word, the Lord Jesus, was in the beginning. He was with God and he is God, the second person of the Trinity. He was the active agent in creation, crafting the universe with care and beauty. He is eternal. There was never a time when he was not, nor will there be a time when he is not present.

He is the creator and sustainer of life. The life that he offers guides our way, even in the dark times. During 2020, we have dealt with much darkness—the heaviness of the pandemic, fears, divisions, concerns, isolation, heartaches, and even death. However, the darkness will never be able to extinguish the light. Even though those who have not received Jesus are unable to comprehend him, the light of the Word shines in the darkness. The good news of the gospel is the light of Christ that shines in the darkness, illuminating and guiding all who will follow him through repentance and faith.

The eternal, living Word of God became flesh. He was a child born in poverty with a feeding trough for his crib. He was conceived not by the will of humans, but by the power of the Holy Spirit. The point of the virgin birth of Christ is that God initiated salvation for all who believe. He did something for us that we could never do for ourselves. We are saved by grace through faith and that is the gift of God. We cannot earn it and we certainly do not deserve it.

In this Christmas season, reflect on John 1:1-14. We have beheld the glory of the only begotten son of the Father. Jesus is full of grace and truth. Grace without truth is permissiveness; truth without grace is cold, impersonal, and empty. The Lord merged grace and truth in Jesus’ virgin birth, sinless life, vicarious death, victorious resurrection, triumphant ascension, and his promise to return as King. This is the good news of the gospel and why we celebrate Christmas as Christ followers.

Action Steps

1. Praise God for the birth of the Savior. Reflect on the wonder of the incarnation. The coming of the Christ child may seem like a strange way to save the world, but God’s field of vision through his infinite wisdom is so much greater than ours. Trust God.
2. Enjoy the life that God gives. You were created with a divine purpose. The Father knows you thoroughly and is aware of all of your needs and desires. He has ordained a plan for your life. The best life is discovered as you respond in obedience to the Lord, living out his purposes for your life.
3. Worship the Savior. During the pandemic with its fears and restrictions, it has been challenging to join with other believers in worship. Find a way to worship during this Christmas season. If you are unable or uncomfortable to gather with the church in person, use virtual means to stay connected to the body of Christ. Worship together as a family. Praise the Lord in the good times and in the challenges. Let everything that has breath praise the Lord (Ps 150:6).
4. Live your life in holiness. Ask the Lord to search your heart. If the Holy Spirit convicts you of sin, repent and return to the Lord.
5. Read the written Word about the living Word. Read and reflect on the narratives of Christ’s birth in Mathew 1-2 and Luke 1-2.
6. Share the hope of Christmas with others. Find creative ways to connect with family, friends, neighbors, and co-workers to encourage one another.
7. Pray for missionaries. Many are separated from their families in the places where they serve. Pray that the Lord will encourage them and open doors of opportunity to share the hope of the gospel. Also, pray for missionaries who are unable to be in the places where God has called them because of the pandemic. Ask the Lord to comfort their uncertainties and to strengthen them as they await the opportunity to connect or reconnect with their places of service.