Some Encouragement
Hey Cru!
We hope you’ve enjoyed your first few weeks at home. We’d like to offer the following encouragement:
Set aside time each day for prayer and Bible reading.
All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16-17)
Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. (Colossians 4:2)
Outside of the routine of Cornell, it easily becomes difficult to consistently read the Bible and pray. It will be much easier if you set aside time (perhaps right after you wake up in the morning, perhaps right before you go to bed) each day. And perhaps ask a friend to gently hold you accountable.
Get involved with your local church.
And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers…. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.
(Acts 2:42, 46-47)
You’re not at Cornell and there isn’t Real Life every Friday and a bus to pick you up and bring you to church every Sunday. But regular fellowship with other Christians is important as we seek to encourage one another to pursue God. And regular Biblical teaching is important as God works through His Word to change our hearts and our minds to love Him and enjoy Him and experience Him more.
Hang out with your friends.
For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.” (Romans 1:16-17)
Hang out with your friends from your neighborhood and your high school. Seek to encourage one another with the truth of the Gospel - it’s what both your Christian and nonchristian friends need to hear!
Listen to some sermons online and read some good books.
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me–practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you. (Philippians 4:8-9)
At Real Life this semester, we’ve watched messages by Louie Giglio, Mark Driscoll, and John Piper. These guys have hundreds, and in Piper’s case, thousands, of messages online that you can watch or listen to. You can find (almost) everything Piper’s ever written or spoken online at www.desiringgod.org. In fact, many of you have one of his books - Don’t Waste Your Life - we’d encourage you to read it this winter if you have a chance.
We love you guys, and can’t wait to see you again in January and hear what God’s been doing in your lives! We’d love to be praying for you guys specifically - if you have any requests you’d like us to be praying over, feel free to email us or the listserv.
-Ben, Carmen, Liang, & Sindri