© 2022 Christ Chapel College A Ministry of Christ Chapel Bible Church
Published by Christ Chapel Bible Church 3701 Birchman Ave., Fort Worth, TX 76107 www.ccbcfamily.org | 817-731-4329
Welcome to Fort Worth! In our humble opinion, you’ve just moved to the coolest city in Texas and are about to experience four of the best years of your life.
Now, who is Christ Chapel College? Great question! Allow us to introduce ourselves.
We’re the college ministry of Christ Chapel Bible Church. We’re a family that gathers every Sunday to worship Jesus in a coffee shop called Common Grounds. A lot of us gather throughout the week to learn more about Jesus and how His death and resurrection have the ability to change everything about our lives. We take advantage of every break by going on life-changing trips to places like Denver, Austin and Belize. We hang out a lot and throw some pretty epic parties. But ultimately, our hope is that we’re a family who can provide you with a home away from home.
As you leave home to come to college, you’ll quickly find that a good home is rare. And it’s something we tend to take for granted until we don’t have it anymore. Why is it so rare? Well, ideally, home is familiar. Home is comfortable. Home is restful. Home is full of laughter and joy. Home is where you can let your guard down and be yourself. Home is where you know that you’re loved despite who you are or what you’ve done. Home is the best. As a ministry we strive to provide you with a home away from home. If you’re feeling a little homesick we’d love to invite you over to check out our home. You can find us at Common Grounds at 9, 11 a.m. and 8:30 p.m. on Sundays.
We also know that starting college is a pretty daunting task. That’s why a few of our family members have laid out some advice that will hopefully make your college experience less intimidating and a whole lot more fun.
Welcome to Fort Worth!
-The Christ Chapel College Team
Find a full staff listing at www.ccbcfamily.org/college
Sadly, Christians are typically known for the things they’re against, rather than the things they’re for. Here’s what we’re about.
Jesus is the point. Our sin and brokenness has separated us from God. But Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection has restored for us an opportunity to have a personal relationship with God. We now get to approach God with humble boldness and gracious confidence as sons and daughters. Not because of anything we’ve done, because of who Jesus is and what he’s done for us.
We believe God has graciously chosen to reveal Himself to us through His Word: the Bible. And our response is that we strive to be a people who treasure the Word of God shown by our knowledge of it and our obedience to it.
Jesus is the man. The Bible calls Him the Lion and the Lamb. That means He’s strong, bold, courageous and hates sin. But He’s also merciful, empathetic, compassionate and gracious. The more we follow Jesus, the more we figure out how to look like Him and reflect His character to those around us.
It’s completely possible to enjoy life if you don’t know Jesus. The problem is that Jesus came to give life and life abundantly. That means you’ll never experience fullness of life without a relationship with the One who offers it most extravagantly. We have a heart for people who don’t know Jesus because we truly believe they’re shortchanging themselves.
God tells us that He has created every person in His image. We call it the imago dei. That means every single person has an inherent dignity that should be respected. We
strive to protect and fight for those created in the image of God when their dignity is under attack.
It’s often that we find ourselves in circles of people who are like us; what we like to do, how we like to dress, what we like to eat, etc.
But what would it look like to be with those who aren’t like us? To be together others and not have anything in common yet still be connected on a deeper level? That’s Uncommon Community and we believe it is uniquely found in the Gospel.
Life can be pretty brutal. But Jesus provides a joy that doesn’t change when our circumstances do. He helps us see that our hope is not in this world, but in Jesus and His promise to restore and redeem this broken world. So we endure the ups and downs of this life with joy because we know our hope is in Jesus, not our circumstances.
9 a.m. | 11 a.m. | 8:30 p.m.
Common Grounds
3110 Greene Ave., Fort Worth
BeWe believe the Christian life is not designed to be stagnant, and no matter how experienced you are in your faith, you should continue to grow!
Family Nights are small group gatherings hosted by Christ Chapel families that meet every other week to share a meal together. You’ll love getting to know your coaches as you hang out in their homes, hear about their faith, and dig into God’s word together.
Student Groups are an opportunity to grow through peer-to-peer discipleship. They meet weekly to dig into Scripture while walking deeply in accountability together. If you’re looking for community in college that pushes you in your faith, join one!
For more information and how to sign up, go to the college website
Serving is one of the ways that we get love others like how Jesus has loved us. And we want to help connect you with several opportunities to serve those within this ministry as well as those in the city of Fort Worth.
We don’t want to settle for people just feeling greeted at the door when they could be welcomed and wanted. Be a part of our Welcome Team! On Sundays, we take a quick moment to huddle up over donuts and coffee then we hit the front steps ready to welcome new friends!
Do you ever wonder how the chair you sit in on Sundays gets there? That’s because of our hospitable Ops Team! Come lend a helping hand in transitioning the room from a coffee shop into a place where hundreds of students can come and hear the Gospel and worship.
Worship combines so many fun elements into one space! What are your gifts and interests? Here are some major ways to be involved in corporate worship at Christ Chapel:
The Tech Team helps create a space for others to come and worship Jesus! We need your willing hands to help produce Sunday’s worship experience by running song lyrics, queuing lights, and overall help set the vibe for others to worship.
Sing? Play an instrument? Want to be developed musically? We’re looking for drummers, singers, guitarists and keyboardists to lead from their heart every Sunday!
Christ Chapel partners with great organizations throughout Fort Worth. Below you’ll find some of our favorites, but there are even more opportunities listed on the ServeBridge VOMO. To register to serve, head to, https://beaneighbor.vomo.org/org/ serve-bridge. You will be able to view and volunteer for all listed opportunities through ServeBridge alongside some amazing ministries in this city.
“And he arose, and came to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran to him…” Luke 15:20
The PAC is an organization designed to reach college students who, like the prodigal son, are “far off” from Christ. We do this by training our PAC student leaders to be local missionaries within their classrooms, workplaces and social spheres. If you’re interested in partnering with The PAC as a student leader, or to find out more information about who we are, go to thepacfw.com or check out the Instagram: @thepacfw!
North Texas is ranked in the top areas for human trafficking in the nation. We partner with several organizations and local law enforcement agencies to combat sex-trafficking in our area. We view sextrafficking as slavery and a direct attack on the image of God (all humans are image-bearers). Therefore, we endeavor to raise awareness, educate and activate our people to rescue adults and children from slavery.
Hope Farm is a leadership program guiding at-risk boys to become Christ-centered men of integrity. Hope Farm invests in both boys and their moms because they believe we all have a role in building thriving families and communities.
If you are looking for a real-life, practical way to step in and follow God in loving others right now, Justin’s Place is a great way to do that because the ministry is all about creating relationships with families that live in the Stop Six neighborhood of Fort Worth. Right now they’re looking for people to deliver Mom’s Night Out boxes and a photographer to help them capture life at Justin’s Place.
Rivertree Academy is a school in Fort Worth that provides community-funded education for under-resourced students. Their mission is to educate students to learn well, love well, work well and lead well.
Join the battle for our kids! Come with us as we partner with parents to show kids that Jesus is better than anything in this world! We serve kiddos on Sunday mornings during the worship services at our campuses.
Christ Chapel has a ministry focused 5th graders to help them develop a mature and lasting faith in the gospel of Jesus Christ before they begin their teen years. We want to make this time as exciting and engaging as possible. Each Sunday morning we gather for games, worship, teaching and discussion all designed to get students interacting with God’s Word and one another.
This ministry believes that middle schoolers are pretty much the coolest people on the planet and they can’t imagine a more exciting place to be! We teach the amazing story of the Bible and help middle schoolers learn what it means to follow Jesus in their world.
Come as you are and leave completely changed! Jesus, the Bible, relationships and memorable experiences make up HSM. Ultimately, we want to see real students follow the real Jesus. Our large group gatherings are a chance for all of HSM to hang out together for worship, teaching and, of course, fun and games. We meet once a month. Home groups are safe spaces that allow students to be known by incredible leaders, experience authentic community among their peers and most importantly grow in their knowledge of and relationship with Jesus.
What’s something you wish someone would have told you coming in as a freshman?
“Money truly goes by SO fast and before you know it you’re a poor college kid.”
– KAYLEE WESTRA, CLASS OF 2021
“Learn to manage time. Take advantage of free minutes to study instead of huge blocks of time. Every year it’s harder to change your GPA, so set yourself up well now.”
– ASHLEY-CATE GREIG, CLASS OF 2020
“I wish someone would have told me the importance of getting involved. Whether it be with the church or school. It’s an opportunity to meet good people and a chance to help others.”
– CAMERON ROMPAL, CLASS OF 2020
“I wish that someone would have told me that you might not find your niche or friend group immediately. I thought I would find my best friends my first week of college. Although I was in many friend groups throughout my first few years of college, I never felt like I truly fit in with them. My friend group was constantly changing and will always be changing. I was extremely discouraged throughout freshman year because I didn’t feel like I had a ‘group.’ However, it wasn’t until my second semester junior year that I feel like I found my group. The group of friends that I finally found this past semester are the most loyal, fun, loving and encouraging people I have ever met. I’m constantly blown away by them, and I wish that freshman me would have known that it’s ok to not have that quite yet.”
– AUDREY SPILLER, CLASS OF 2020
“One thing I wish that I would have been told as a freshman would be to get as involved as possible. Clubs, church, events on campus, concerts, anything and everything that you can do, do it! There are so many opportunities that we’re given and it only lasts for so long, so take advantage of it!”
– CIERA BEAL, CLASS OF 2021
“I wish someone would have told me to be prepared for the freedom you have in college. It can be hard to adjust, especially freshman year, because you go from being managed by your parents to managing yourself.”
– GRAHAM PARTON, CLASS OF 2020
“Friendships and your path in college do not develop overnight. Have faith and peace that your life in college will become your own soon enough.”
– DAVIS DONALDSON, CLASS OF 2020
“Coming in as a freshman I wish I was told more about Renovate and home groups.”
– TAYLOR CONGDON, CLASS OF 2020
“Just be yourself. And try to do things that are outside of your comfort zone, because college is all about meeting new people and doing cool things!”
- COLIN ONDERDONK, CLASS OF 2021
“Embrace the TCU experience and do as much as you can your freshman year. Go on road trips, to away football games, to your friend’s lake house, to Austin, etc. For the majority of freshmen (excluding pre-med students), this year will be the easiest year as far as schoolwork goes. So go make memories. Focus in the classroom and do well in school, but enjoy your time as a freshman.”
2020
– DAVID GAW, CLASS OF 2020
“It’s going to be hard. And you’re not the only one. The best thing someone told me was that I was going to have to get comfortable with being uncomfortable.”
– SUMMERLIN SNIFFEN, CLASS OF
“Don’t wear a lanyard with your ID on it, lol. But for reals, if you’re worried about being awkward and standing out as a freshman, you’re going to. Relax, be outgoing and approach people! No one is going to look down on you for being a freshman.”
– KAYLEE WESTRA, CLASS OF 2021
“When they say a party starts at 9:30 it means it really starts at 10:15. Don’t show up ANY earlier. Please. Just don’t.”
– ASHLEY-CATE GREIG, CLASS OF 2021
“Don’t try to dress like the stereotypical ‘frat guy’ you see on Instagram. Just be yourself.”
– CAMERON ROMPAL, CLASS OF 2020
“Although this might sound ironic, I would not shy away from asking questions of those older than you about college. The moment you believe you have it figured out is when you make those classic freshman mistakes.”
– DAVIS DONALDSON, CLASS OF 2020
“Don’t just go with the flow if you don’t feel comfortable with it! You will be respected way more if you act with integrity and intentionality!”
– CIERA BEAL, CLASS OF 2021
“I would say, honestly, don’t even worry about looking like a noob. I think the most important thing that you can learn in college is how to be yourself.”
–AUDREY SPILLER, CLASS OF 2020
“You are going to look like a noob regardless, so just embrace it. Don’t try to be that cool guy who thinks he has everything figured out. Introduce yourself to random people, ask for advice from older students and be willing to try new things.”
– DAVID GAW, CLASS OF 2020
“I would go deeper into relationships I valued instead of trying to be friends with everyone on campus. Go deeper, not wider.”
– ASHLEY-CATE GREIG, CLASS OF 2020
“I would be more open. Both to people and to experiences.”
– SUMMERLIN SNIFFEN, CLASS OF 2020
“If I could relive freshman year, I would definitely not have said ‘no’ as many times to fun outings with friends! While studies are v important, so is enjoying your time in college. You need to find a good balance! Freshman year FLEW by, I so wish I could do it again!!”
– KAYLEE WESTRA, CLASS OF 2021
“Show up to class on time and don’t worry about ‘fitting in.’ Just be yourself.”
– CAMERON ROMPAL, CLASS OF 2020
“Even if you meet your next best friends, I would continue to put yourself out there and meet others when it might seem like you don’t need to anymore.”
– DAVIS DONALDSON, CLASS OF 2020
“I had a great freshman year, but if I could relive it, I would probably go even more out of my way to build relationships. And I’d probably study more too.”
- COLIN ONDERDONK, CLASS OF 2021
– CIERA BEAL, CLASS OF 2023
“I came into my freshman year really tense and nervous just because it was a brand new experience for me with a ton of new people. My advice is to just relax and enjoy reaching out to make new friends because almost all freshmen feel tense the first few months whether they show it or not.”
– GRAHAM PARTON, CLASS OF 2021
“I would have actively sought out older guys to mentor me. There are so many guys who were passionately pursuing after the Lord and who possessed much more wisdom than I had freshman year, so I wish I had intentionally reached out to them and let them guide me through my first year. Seek out older people and learn as much as you can from them. Shoot, reach out to me and I would love to meet up with you weekly.”
– DAVID GAW, CLASS OF 2020
If you could relive freshman year, is there anything you would do differently?
“I remember at the beginning of my freshman year, people were scrambling to make as many friends as possible.
I’ve learned that some of the purest friendships form organically and in the unlikeliest of ways. Take your time to find your crew and don’t be stressed if it doesn’t happen right away.”
Do you have any advice for students entering into Greek life?
“Sororities/fraternities are so fun and will give you friends and a community, but do not find your whole identity in it! You’re not going to find the fullness, joy and satisfaction in it if you do! Remember who you are as a son or daughter of the King. He sees you without the letters you wear.”
– KAYLEE WESTRA, CLASS OF 2021“Do not compromise your values to fit the mold of what another fraternity or sorority is looking for.”
– DAVIS DONALDSON, CLASS OF 2020
“Your letters do not define you. Your letters do not determine your worth. Your letters don’t determine who you are, who you associate yourself with or how you live your life. Your letters can give you your best friends, but you are not restricted to only being best friends with those in your organization. Embrace the opportunity that you have to minister to those in your organization and love them well, but also remember you aren’t limited to just that organization.”
– AUDREY SPILLER, CLASS OF 2020“When you are rushing, just be yourself. It’s very easy to notice if you are trying to act a certain way to look cool. Raises questions. Also, pick the guys you get along with the best. They all are the same and don’t try to pick the ‘top house.’ Top house never matters, it’s just about other people’s
perception of you that matters. Only join a fraternity for the right reasons and be careful.”
– CAMERON ROMPAL, CLASS OF 2020
“Remember your identity is more than who you pledged. Take a look around the new community you have around you and decide whether they are going to push you in all areas.”
– ASHLEY-CATE GREIG, CLASS OF 2020
“Just be yourself! Greek life is such a great experience and you will end up exactly where you’re meant to be!”
- SUMMERLIN SNIFFEN, CLASS OF 2020
“There are a ton of solid Greek organizations at TCU, so it’s not a matter of “top house.” It’s about finding where the best fit for you is. Stay true to yourself, and don’t sacrifice your morals or values to fit in. It’s easy to tell when people are trying to be someone they aren’t; just be yourself, and you’ll be fine.”
- JAKE SHELDON, CLASS OF 2024
“Focus on the people, not the status of the organization or the so-called ‘rank.’ People matter, so choose the organization where you see yourself meeting your best friends and not the organization with the best social status.”
– DAVID GAW, CLASS OF 2020
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“As someone who never got involved with Greek life, I’ve learned that there are so many other places where you can find community and lifelong friends! Sometimes it can feel like you’re left out or that you might be missing out on something. But there are tons of other people in your shoes. Don’t feel pressured to join something that doesn’t fit you!”
CIERABEAL, CLASS OF 2021
“Get involved in organizations that you are passionate about and that you would enjoy doing. You will find your people there too. I joined Young Life and loveee it. If you didn’t go Greek your freshman year and realize you would like to, you could always rush as a sophomore. That’s ok, too.”
TAYLORCONGDON, CLASS OF 2020
“The community through church or other ministries are often far easier to find than those you seek in Greek life. Don’t worry about being left out.”
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DAVISDONALDSON, CLASS OF 2020
“Don’t resent those who are in Greek life. It might look like everyone and their mother is in Greek life, but that totally isn’t true. Greek life isn’t the end all, be all. It’s just another thing that people are involved in. You have the chance to make lifelong friends other ways! I think one of the coolest things about not being in Greek life is that you aren’t tied down to one specific organization. You aren’t obligated to one certain organization. You can make friends in so many other organizations. You also have the freedom to invest in other campus organizations and be all-in in other places.”
– AUDREY SPILLER, CLASS OF 2020
“Be patient but not passive. It took me until my second semester to start finding my group. Lifting at the rec and playing pickup basketball helped me meet people with similar interests.”
– CHRISTIAN BOZANIC, CLASS OF 2023
“Try and get involved in anything you can. Find groups/clubs that fit your interests and goals. In a school ruled by Greek life it can be hard for non-Greek students to make friends. Push yourself out of your comfort zone socially and take every opportunity to build community.”
– ASHLEY-CATE GREIG, CLASS OF 2020
“Just because you’re not Greek, does not mean you will be judged or have no friends. Some of the most amazing people I’ve met aren’t affiliated with a Greek organization! If you put yourself out there, you will be accepted and loved!”
– KAYLEE WESTRA, CLASS OF 2021
“Get involved! TCU is such a close knit community as a whole and getting involved in something, even if that’s not Greek life, is great!”
- SUMMERLIN SNIFFEN, CLASS OF 2020
“It’s totally fine to not go Greek! I would definitely suggest that you plug in somewhere on campus, whether that’s church or a student organization. It’s good to have some sort of community even if going Greek isn’t for you.”
– COLIN ONDERDONK, CLASS OF 2021
“Don’t feel pressured to go Greek if that’s not your thing! There are more people who choose not to join Greek life than you think. Get to know the people in your class, join clubs or other organizations, and put yourself out there even if it’s uncomfortable! It may take time, but you will find the people you connect with by getting involved and being yourself!”
– LUCAS ARCALA, CLASS OF 2023
Do you have any advice for freshmen who choose not to go Greek?
“It’s totally fine to not go Greek! I would definitely suggest that you plug in somewhere on campus, whether that’s church or a student organization. It’s good to have some sort of community even if going Greek isn’t for you.”
- COLIN ONDERDONK, CLASS OF 2020
“HIGHLY recommend going to Belize!!! But also go on fun trips with friends to Austin or Waco or wherevs!”
– KAYLEE WESTRA, CLASS OF 2021
“Purple Frog karaoke nights. Show up in a T-shirt with a great group of friends.”
– ASHLEY-CATE GREIG, CLASS OF 2020
“No doubt, go on the Belize mission trip. Best thing I have ever done during my college experience.”
– CAMERON ROMPAL, CLASS OF 2020
“Take a spontaneous trip! Go on adventures with people! One of my favorite memories from all of college is a spontaneous trip to go see a concert. It was such a fun night and it was so fun to adventure with new friends. We are in such a cool stage in life where we have the freedom to simply go. Take every opportunity to adventure and explore new places.”
– AUDREY SPILLER, CLASS OF 2020
“Walking the Trinity river with your friends or playing pickle ball is a definite must at TCU!!”
– MACYN WILLINGHAM, CLASS OF 2023
“The Christ Chapel College trips are really incredible. Also, freshmen should find ways to get out and explore Fort Worth. It’s a really cool city.”
- COLIN ONDERDONK, CLASS OF 2021
“For sure make it to a football game whether you like football or not. The games are an absolute blast.”
– GRAHAM PARTON, CLASS OF 2021
“Say yes to the most random, spontaneous adventures and you will never regret it. Late night trips to Dallas or Waco are always worth it.”
– DAVIS DONALDSON, CLASS OF 2020
“Something epic you have to do is the Exodus Retreat! It changed my life and I would not be in Young Life or where I am today without it.”
– TAYLOR CONGDON, CLASS OF 2020
“Every student needs to go to Billy Bobs in the stockyards and learn how to two step / swing dance because you’ve never experienced Fort Worth until you’ve seen the biggest honky-tonk in the world.”
– JAKE JESTINGS, CLASS OF 2023
“I’m a huge brunch person, so Yolk, in downtown Fort Worth, is one of the best places to go.”
– CIERA BEAL, CLASS OF 2021
“Easily Torchy’s. You just can’t overthink it here.”
– DAVIS DONALDSON, CLASS OF 2020
“Press Café!”
- SUMMERLIN SNIFFEN, CLASS OF 2020
“Uncle Julio’s or Sushi Axiom”
– ASHLEY-CATE GREIG, CLASS OF 2020
“Heim BBQ ... nothing better.”
– CAMERON ROMPAL, CLASS OF 2020
“I love taking my parents to Clearfork, Press Café, and Bartaco. My family also absolutely ADORES Melt.”
– AUDREY SPILLER, CLASS OF 2020
“Joe T.’s or HG SPLY or Sweet Sammies for dessert or Press Café! #basic”
– KAYLEE WESTRA, CLASS OF 2021
“H3 Ranch in the Stockyards. The New York strip steak there is absolutely fire.”
– DAVID GAW, CLASS OF 2020
“I love so many places like HG SPLY CO, Sushi Axiom or Press Café! Anywhere on Magnolia is also good! Oh and of course Joe T.’s!”
– TAYLOR CONGDON, CLASS OF 2020
“My favorite place to eat is a restaurant called the Silver Fox right near campus.”
– GRAHAM PARTON, CLASS OF 2021 “Hopdoddy or Torchy’s Tacos”
- COLIN ONDERDONK, CLASS OF 2021
“One of my favorite things I’ve done with a group of friends is go to the Coyote Drive-In Theater. Grab someone’s car and a solid crew, pack snacks and blankets, pick a good movie, and you’re set for a great night!”
– CIERA BEAL, CLASS OF 2021
“My favorite thing to do in Fort Worth is probably walk around Magnolia Avenue with friends. I also love to go to the zoo! I bring all of my visiting friends there!”
– AUDREY SPILLER, CLASS OF 2020
“EAT. I’m pretty sure my friends and I fund Eatzies.”
– KAYLEE WESTRA, CLASS OF 2021
“Exploring new shops and restaurants all over downtown, Clearfork and Magnolia!”
– ASHLEY-CATE GREIG, CLASS OF 2020
“If you don’t have class Friday morning, Billy Bob’s on a Thursday night can be a lot of fun!”
– CAMERON ROMPAL, CLASS OF 2020
“I like going downtown when they have events like the art festivals and stuff, or biking/walking along the Trinity Trail and going to the farmers market and stuff.”
– TAYLOR CONGDON, CLASS OF 2020
“I love cycling/running on the Trinity Trail by the Trinity River. Running a few miles then meeting some friends at Woodshed BBQ right on the river is a solid Sunday afternoon activity.”
– DAVID GAW, CLASS OF 2020
We’re in the middle of the “Me Too” movement. As a result, we’ve all heard stories about men who made decisions that changed the trajectory of their life. We could all name men who have lost their families, careers and reputations over some dark decisions. And I guarantee you that none of these men ever thought they would be in this position. I guarantee you that none of these men thought they would be the one to make a decision that cost them everything. You know why? Because no one ever thinks they’re going to experience that kind of downfall.
I bring this up for a very specific reason: There is not a single person who comes into college thinking they’re going to be the one who makes a decision in a weak moment that will drastically change the trajectory of their life.
No one comes into college thinking, “I’m going to be the one who drinks so much at that party that I lose my virginity to a complete stranger.”
No one comes into college thinking, “I’m going to be the one who so desperately wants to be accepted that I’ll betray everything I believe in an attempt to get a group of people to like me.”
No one comes into college thinking, “I’m going to be the one who develops an addiction because my identity is so wrapped up in what people think of me.”
No one thinks that.
Yet, I cannot tell you how many college students walk up to me and say, “I feel so empty. I feel so lost. I don’t even recognize myself. And I have no idea how I got here.” Sadly, it’s an extremely common story. It breaks my heart and I don’t want that for you.
But here’s the good news: That doesn’t have to be your story. That doesn’t have to be the story of your college experience. The story of your college experience doesn’t have to be a story marked by unnecessary pain, brokenness and regret. Your story doesn’t have to be one marked by downfall.
The question is: How? How do we avoid unnecessary pain, brokenness and downfall?
That’s a great question to ask because downfall always starts the same way for everyone. It doesn’t sneak up on you. It doesn’t catch you by surprise. It starts with a choice. And that choice is whether or not we take sin seriously.
There’s a story in Genesis 4 about two brothers named Cain and Abel. Cain was a farmer. And Abel was a shepherd. One day they both bring offerings to God. Cain brings some produce, which makes sense because he’s a farmer. That’s what he has to offer. And Abel brings some animals, which makes sense because he’s a shepherd. That’s what
he has to offer. And the text tells us that God had regard for the offering of Abel but He did not regard the offering of Cain. And that word for “regard” in the Hebrew is a word that means “to look upon” or “to notice.” So, in other words, God noticed Abel’s offering, but for whatever reason, God did not notice Cain’s.
Now, people have tried for a long time to speculate as to why God noticed Abel, but not Cain. And most people assume that Cain did something wrong. But the text never tells us that. It just explains that God noticed Abel, but not Cain, and we don’t really know why.
And Cain apparently didn’t know why either because his response was to get angry. But when Cain gets angry, God does something really cool. He draws close to Cain and gives him two things: comfort and a warning.
The Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry, and why has your face fallen? If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is for you, but you must rule over it.”
- Genesis 4:6-7
How loving and compassionate is God in this moment? God cares enough about Cain to engage him and say, “Why are you so upset? What’s wrong?” Which goes to show that Cain didn’t do anything wrong and God sure doesn’t seem angry. In God’s sovereignty and wisdom, He simply chose to acknowledge Abel rather than Cain. Yet, God cares enough to step in and say, “Why are you upset? Why are you angry? You’re good, bro.” But the most
gracious thing about God stepping in is the warning He gives Cain. He says, “Sin is crouching at your door and its desire is for you. But you must rule over it.”
This is huge because Cain is at a fork in the road. God steps in and says, “I get that you’re upset because things didn’t go the way you wanted them to. I know you think I overlooked you, but I’m not overlooking you now. I’m here to tell you that sin is at your door and it wants to own you. So you’ve got a decision to make right now as to how you’re going to respond.”
And if you know how the story ends, Cain ignores God’s warning. He doesn’t take sin seriously, and makes the choice to kill his brother. As a result Cain is forced to endure the consequences of his sin. He becomes a wanderer and the soil he works as a farmer is now cursed. And I would be willing to bet that as Cain began wandering and tirelessly worked the soil to no avail, he would stop, wipe the sweat from his brow and think, “How did I get here?” College year is full of these fork-in-the-road moments when God graciously pulls up a chair and says, “Sin is crouching at your door and it wants to destroy you. What are you going to do? How are you going to respond? Are you going to take sin seriously?” And my prayer is that you don’t respond the way that Cain did. My prayer is that you don’t wake up one morning and think, “What did I do? How did I get here?” My hope is that you take sin seriously. But how do you do that?
We need to be violent in putting sin to death.
If I were to personify sin I would tell you that sin is never on your side. Sin is never rooting for you. Sin is never accidental in ruining your life. Sin’s entire goal is to destroy you. Its goal is to cause you to miss out on the
“Avoiding downfall starts with deciding if you take sin seriously.”
fullness of what God has for you. As a result we need to be violent in putting sin to death.
Yet, if we’re honest, we’re not usually violent at putting sin to death because that seems extreme. So we just manage our sin thinking that if we just train it like a pet, then we’ll be fine. But sin is not a pet. It cannot be trained.
I’ll explain it like this: A few years ago I was watching this Crazy Animal Attacks show during Shark Week because Shark Week is legit. And one of the clips was of this lion tamer who was asked to bring a lion on the red carpet of a movie premiere. So they dress up the lion in a tux and once the bulbs start flashing this lion turns and attacks his tamer. As they’re interviewing everyone afterward, they all say, “I don’t know what happened. He’s so tame. This is so unlike him!” And I see that and I think, “Really? You don’t know what happened? He’s a lion! You put an apex predator in a tuxedo! What did you think was going to happen?”
Yet we treat sin the same way. We forget that it’s a lion and treat it like a pet convincing ourselves that we can manage it or tame it. Then we’re confused when it destroys us. Don’t fall into that.
If you know how you’re wired, if you can detect when sin is crouching at your door, don’t try to tame it. Be violent in putting it to death.
If you know that pornography is a struggle, then be violent in putting that to death. Why? Because sin is crouching at your door and its desire is for you.
If you can’t be alone in a room with your boo without taking each other’s clothes off, don’t be alone in a room together. Be violent in putting sin to death. Why? Because sin is crouching at your door and its desire is for you.
If you don’t have the self-control to go to a party without doing something you regret, maybe you need to spend a season not going to parties. Be violent in putting sin to death.
Maybe you don’t struggle with stuff like sex or alcohol. Maybe you struggle with pride. You need to put that to death too. Because pride can just as easily derail your college experience. Maybe you’re the person who is prone to look down on people who fall into certain sin because you would never stoop that low. If that’s you, you’ll lose any chance of people confiding in you or coming to you for help in their time of need because they’re so worried about you judging them.
Or maybe you struggle with self-righteousness so you run the risk of going four years of college convinced that you’re good with God because you didn’t have sex or get drunk or party, but you don’t love Jesus any more than you did as a freshman. Yeah, you’re incredibly moral, but you don’t
know Jesus any better. That self-righteousness should also be put to death.
Wherever you fall, we need to be violent in putting sin to death. And here’s the best part: You don’t have to do it alone. Christian community exists to help you put sin to death. And trust me, if we want to avoid the path of Cain we need to be violent in putting sin to death.
Now, what do you do if you’ve already made a decision that has affected the trajectory of your life?
Maybe you’re sitting there thinking, “This is really depressing because I’ve already made some mistakes. I’ve already made some decisions that make me feel like I’m ruined.” If that’s you, can I joyfully tell you that you’re not ruined?
Our God is a God who redeems everything. There is nothing you’ve done that is too big for the cross of Jesus Christ. When He died for your sin, He died for all of your sin. There may be consequences for your sin, but there’s no condemnation for your sin. Rest in the grace of God and then move forward. Move forward understanding that the gospel has freed you from being a slave to sin. Walk in holiness because you can and it brings joy.
College can be an incredible experience. But there will be a few fork-in-the-road moments that force us to figure out if we take sin seriously. My hope is that you trust God enough to listen when He graciously pulls up a chair and says, “Sin is crouching at your door. What are you going to do?”
Join the broader community of young adults in Fort Worth. We’re all about being renovated by Jesus, for Jesus. Through weekly community, people who want to be obedient to God’s calling on their lives learn how to live and work purposefully in our city. We get excited when people who are far from Christ experience community outside our church walls, and eventually become renovated by the love of Jesus! We host big gatherings each month, and we’d love to see you there!
You’re going to have so many opportunities to introduce yourself and present yourself to new people that you might find yourself developing a script. “I’m an engineering major from such-and-such city, an athlete from such-and-such high school, a pursuer of this or that dream, a reader/ follower of this person or that idea, a champion of these causes. All these things, that’s who I am.” You will get your identity script perfected, well-articulated, perhaps creatively curated, and attractively presented in 50 engaging words or less.
We all do this in new setting; We tick off a list of identifying factors, the things we want known about us. But is that really our identity?
Webster’s says that identity is the distinguishing character of an individual, the essence of who a person is. That list of accomplishments we tick off, those are traits, but they certainly aren’t the whole of who we are. Identity is the whole. And deep within us is a desire to know our whole, true identity.
Here’s a great book that addresses the quest for identity, but it probably won’t be on any required reading lists: Are You My Mother? By P.D. Eastman.
It’s the simple children’s story of a little bird hatching and breaking into life apart away from its mother bird. The clumsy little bird searches everywhere asking all kinds of animals and things (including an excavator’s crane) “Are you my mother?” The cover famously depicts an absurd scene: the baby bird perched on the nose of an old hound dog asking again, “Are you my mother?” The little story pulses and resonates with the human desire to be attached to something, the desire to know who you belong to and from what you have come. It answers the earliest version of “Who Am I?”
That little bird’s exhaustive search was unnecessary. If he had just stayed put, right beside the broken shell that formerly housed him, his mother would have returned, dropped him into her nest and made it abundantly clear! How like that little bird we are – searching for things that are clear, trying to solve mysteries and answer questions that have already been answered.
If we believe in the God of the Bible and accept His word as our truth, then we don’t have to search for our identity because God has already given it to us. In Genesis 1, God
says, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.”
We are created human beings, image-bearers of God. We were God’s idea from the start: He wanted us, He dreamt us up, He envisioned us, He fashioned and formed us and brought us into being, and He gave us our identity as His image-bearers. Our personal God created people, imperfect and human, but with the capacity to interact with God and with the capacity to serve as His representatives on the earth.
We mistakenly think our identity evolves. It evolves from our successes or failures, from our desires, from the harm we experience or the marginalized group we associate with, or even worse, from the impressions others have of us. But God declared this identity before human beings experienced anything: before they had any desires or impressions, before they sustained any harm, committed any sins, and before they had any experiences that “shaped” them. Before anything, the creator declared the identity of His creation – human beings are image-bearers of God. And God said it was good!
We were supposed to be sparkling mirrors walking through the earth, reflecting the glorious image of a just and good God. But sin cracked the surface, and everything got distorted. That’s when God did the unbelievable – when we wrecked our identity with sin, God paid dearly to restore it! That’s how much He cares about humans carrying His image into the world.
It was gracious for God to create us as image bearers; we certainly didn’t deserve that. And it was gracious of God to put Jesus on a cross to cover our brokenness and restore His image in us. His grace is a gift, and all who receive it are image -bearers of the most high God, broken by sin, redeemed by a merciful Savior, forgiven, and made new in the glittering image of Jesus. And today we live to carry the image of Jesus into the broken world, encouraging all to find healing and a restored identity in Him.
We have unique personal characteristics for sure! Some will bear the image of Jesus through athletics, or business, or art, or community and family involvement. Some will use their past injuries and healing as platforms. The opportunities are varied are endless, but the identity is sure and set.
Don’t be a baby bird, senselessly searching for something you already possess. The search is over. God has given you a good identity. The question is: will you choose to accept it?
One of the most relentless questions young adults face is “Who are you?”
“And he arose, and came to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran to
- LUKE 15:20
The PAC is an organization designed to reach college students who, like the prodigal son, are “far off” from Christ. We do this by training our PAC student leaders to be local missionaries within their classrooms, workplaces and social spheres.
We invite students to something better. Through parties, event and trips, we have lots of epic fun.
We invite students to something bigger. We incorporate things like events, parties, and trips in order to give students a chance to connect with a larger community.
We have fun. Whether in our PAC groups, on long road trips, or sharing a meal, we love to have fun!
We want all to feel welcome. Whatever your background, passions, or life story, you are welcome and we want you to be here.
We love Jesus.
We do what we do because the love of Jesus changed our lives and we know it can do the same for you.
Each semester we recruit a team of dynamic leaders into a welcoming community where we model the gospel, learn to engage our world, and deepen our faith and understanding of who God is and who He says we are. Our leaders gather weekly to be trained, equipped, and encouraged and then sent out as a community on mission to their campus. For more info on how to join our leadership team, please contact Asher Frailey at asherf@thepacfw.com.
him…”
