A Message: The Place of Chi Alpha In Your College Experience

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This is message Joe Zickafoose, former campus minister at Southwest Missouri State University, Springfield, used at his first campus meeting to introduce students to Chi Alpha. It is as applicable today as it was then.

Missouri State U

Introduction

A. Did you make a good decision to come to (name of campus)?

  1. What is XA?  It is not a fraternity or sorority. It is not a do good club, or something you need improve your resume. 
  2. It is a movement of college students earnestly following Jesus.

B. Tonight: the place of Chi Alpha in your college experience.

  1. You now know the place of the resident hall, cafeteria, classroom.
  2. But what is the place of Chi Alpha? What will it do for you.

C. The answer is found in Chi Alpha’s mission statement which is taken from Acts 2:42-47.

  1. A snapshot of the experience of the church as Jesus intended it to be.
  2. Five main features of the early church’s experience that makes up our mission’s statement. 

I. Worship—the direct experience of God

 A. You want a spiritual life that is real, not just ritual.

  1. Many people have given up on church but haven’t given up on God.
  2. But without a means for gathering with a group to worship, your spiritual life will be powerless, directionless and dull.

B. Our number one priority when we meet at XA is to meet with God.

  1. The Bible says that God is eager to meet with us. Psalms 149:4 “…for The lord takes delight in his people.”
  2. As we draw near to God in praise, he draws near to us. James 4:8.

II. Fellowship—growth in friendship

A. You want some close and meaningful friendships?

  1. The need to belong and to be included is urgent when you get to college.
  2. Making friends is one of the highest priorities of college students

B. Choosing the right kinds of friends is critical.

  1. The Bible says, “Do not be misled: Bad company corrupts good character.” I Corinthians 15:33.
  2. Our friends are among the most important influences that shape who we are, in our study habits, in our character, in our spirituality. 
  3. Chi Alpha provides an opportunity to meet the kinds of friends you will want to keep for the rest of your life.

III. Discipleship—The how-to’s of your spiritual life

A. You want some informed guidance on how to grow spiritually.

  1. Lots of individuals and groups are offering direction and advice on your spiritual life. 
  2. You need to get in with some folks who know what they are doing.
  3. The staff of Chi Alpha have received extensive training in the Bible and student ministry.
  4. Student Bible study leaders have been trained in a semester-long leadership course and receive additional guidance in regular leadership meetings.

B. Our source for spiritual guidance is the Bible. Psalms 119:105, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.”

  1. Chi Alpha meetings and small group Bible studies emphasize the relevance of the Bible in your daily life at school.
  2. If you get involved in Chi Alpha you will get to know your Bible and see how to apply it’s eternal truth every day.

IV. Witness—The struggle for the Truth

A. You want to know the truth

  1. Sad, but true: much of what you will learn in college will be disproven, obsolete, or irrelevant in ten years. 
  2. The words of Jesus have stood the test of time and are proven true and relevant in every generation by people in every part of the world and in every station of life. 
  3. The Bible has been certified as true by history and archeology. Anyone who claims differently is ignorant of the facts. No other religious book can make this claim. 

B. Jesus said, “You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

  1. Jesus is saying that when you really know the truth, it will make a difference: it will set you free.
  2. The truth of the Bible will enable you to live a life full of love, joy and peace.
  3. That’s a message that everyone at (name of campus) needs to hear and that’s why Chi Alpha is at (name of campus).

V. Prayer—Make a real difference in the world

A.  You want to make a significant difference in the world.

  1. Have you ever noticed that even with all the efforts of multitudes of concerned people, many bad situations just seem to get worse?
  2. The reason is we often lack the wisdom and the power to make things better.

B. God, who has both the wisdom and the power, answers prayer.       

  1. This doesn’t mean that we don’t need to take any action but if we are praying people we will take direction for our action from God who is all-wise and knows the end from the beginning.
  2. In Chi Alpha we set aside times for prayer. We believe that this ministry will only go forward on its knees.
  3. God is creating an unprecedented desire in the hearts of collegians to seek him in prayer.

Conclusion

A. You may be thinking to yourself, “I am not a Christian” or “I’m not that kind of Christian.”

  1. Being a Christian means that you are an active follower of Jesus Christ and he is leader and master of your life. 
  2. Being a Christian means that you are in relationship with God characterized by obedience and the desire to please him.

B. Becoming a Christian is a matter of praying to God to forgive you for not living for him in the past (sin) and surrendering your life to him. 

  1. Repent: Being sorry and deciding with God’s help to change and seek to obey him. 
  2. Believe: To trust in Jesus and ask him to come into your heart
  3. Confess: To tell someone you have a made the decision to surrender to Christ.

C. Out of reverence to God and to those who wish to become Christians, I would like to ask you to bow your heads and close your eyes.

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