College Friday Night Fellowship
“Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ.” Colossians 1:28
Harvest College Ministry is dedicated to the motto of Light and Heat. It is our firm conviction, that when there is true understanding of the Word in our minds (Light) there will result true and outward affections in the heart (Heat). Both are needed, one is not good without the other. Harvest College exists to point collegians to Bible learning for Bible living. And therefore those seeking to commit to the ministry can expect to find sound biblical teaching and a vast variety of ministries to exercise their affections. We are resolved to be dedicated in the following six areas:
- The Word.
- Prayer.
- Family.
- The Local Church (EFCSD/Harvest).
- Community.
- Excellence.
Fall 2011 Theme: In the world, but not of the world
“15 I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. 19 And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth.” – John 17:15-19
For the Christian, there are two extremes that we easily fall into. One is that of the Christian bubble, where we are daily and constantly saturated in the Christian community and church-related activities. While it is good to be spiritually saturated, it is easy to be so separate from the world that we are pretty much isolated into a spiritual village where we have our little huts far away from the rest of society. Society may see that we stand out, but we make no effort to go beyond that and intentionally build relational ties with the rest of the world.
On the other hand, there is the extreme of seeking to reach out to the community and to be a witness to those who are without the truth. A danger with this exists when we integrate so well with the world that we are no longer distinct from the world but instead are like any other non-Christian, speaking, thinking, and living like any other person.
The vision this year is that we may be distinctly different and set apart from the world in the way we live: in actions and in speech. While we seek to be distinct, we must also embrace that we are in this world for a specific reason. We were once lost sinners who are now beginning to understand and embrace the grace and mercy that God has demonstrated by sending His Son to die for us. We are still sinners, but we are now seeking to live with a purpose and direction that centers on Christ. We still sin each day, and slowly, but surely, we are being led by the Spirit to understand God more and embrace Him more. The hope is that we may continually seek not only to learn truth but to understand it in such a way that it evidently affects our qualities as God’s children. God’s demonstration of love for us leads us to an appreciation that is so great that we in turn seek to obey and love Him, as well as to love the people He has created: the saved sinners who have begun walking with God as well as the sinners who are still lost.
What is Open Mic Night, you ask? Well, Open Mic Night is an evening in which you have an opportunity to share what God has been teaching you with the entire fellowship. It’s a time set aside to give God glory, and to encourage your brothers and sisters. It’s definitely a blessing to hear how the Lord has been working among the individuals of Harvest College.
With that said, time to share is extremely limited. So, if you would like to make sure that you get an opportunity to share, email me (college@harvestsd.com) to reserve a spot!
There are also certain guidelines you should know before sharing:
- Open Mic Night is for the purpose of praising and thanking God. Sharing is to be centered and focused upon him. It’s not a time for shout-outs to your small group leader.
- Speak with grace – this is not a time for heavy rebuke. You are welcome to encourage the congregation, but do it in a spirit of love.
- Try to keep it short – respect the fact that other people would like to share too. < 5 minutes would be most excellent. Preparing ahead of time would facilitate this too.
We look forward to hearing from you this Friday. And remember, if your heart starts a-poundin’ while you’re sitting there listening to others share, maybe you should get up and share too.
Contact Us
If you have any questions, comments or concerns regarding the upcoming school year 2011-2012, please feel free to e-mail Tim Lin at college@harvestsd.com
