Genuine Love and Humble Service

Friday Night Devotional by Mike Dai, 1/30/2016

As those in the inner-most circle of Jesus, the disciples were certainly familiar with His remarkable works. In John’s gospel alone, they witnessed Jesus heal a paralytic man, multiply fish and bread to feed five thousand, walk on water, and raise Lazarus from the dead. In John 13, on the day before His crucifixion, Jesus and His disciples gathered together for the Feast of the Passover in the upper room, where Jesus would do something equally astonishing to His miraculous works.

“[Jesus] rose from supper. He laid aside His outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around His waist. Then He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet…” (Jn 13:4-5)

Testimony of the Week: Elkana Chan

Elkana is a sophomore studying applied math and enjoys making good use of her swipes on other people. She also enjoys journaling, studying Cantonese, and observing the world around her in her free time.

I remember hearing the Parable of the Lost Sheep in church for the first time as a young child, and having difficulty understanding it. As it tells of a shepherd leaving his 99 sheep to seek out his single lost sheep, I, considering myself righteous, didn’t understand why it affirmed that there would be “more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance” (Luke 15:7). I believed I had always known God, and didn’t think I had sinned apart from occasionally lying or disobeying parents or adults, so I didn’t understand my need for true repentance because my sin separated me from God.

On fighting sin: Joseph in Potiphar’s house

Friday Night Devotional by Jeremy Birch, 1/22/2016

The story of Joseph in Potiphar’s house (Gen 39) is one that offers strong encouragement in our day-to-day, moment-to-moment fight against sin. Joseph, after being blessed by God with success in his new station in Egypt, was faced with persistent, pernicious temptation to immorality that would dishonor both his earthly and heavenly masters. Here are some lessons we can draw from the example of our brother Joseph:

The Myth of Head Knowledge

written by Grant Gates

Christian speakers often talk about the difference between head knowledge and heart knowledge. The difference, we are told, is between facts and theories comprehended by the intellect and understandings that affect our emotions and actions. This distinction is presented as a dichotomy. One should avoid piling up too much head knowledge without also acquiring heart knowledge; head knowledge must be allowed to sink to the heart. How one does so is left as an exercise for the reader, with a hint indicating that maybe one should pursue application, and maybe the Bible and prayer are involved. There is, however, a simple solution: the dichotomy is false, because its premise is as well.

God’s Perfect Provision

Friday Night Devotional by David Chow, 1/15/2016

After God frees Israel from Egypt, 40 years of wandering in the wilderness ensue while on their way to the Promised Land of milk and honey. Not long after their journey begins, Israel questions God’s wisdom in bringing them out of their enemy’s captivity, for in Egypt they at least had meat and bread, but now God’s people suffer from hunger. God graciously commands bread to rain from heaven and enough for each day is provided. No more and no less. (Exodus 6)

Unfortunately, Israel grows tired of bread and complains, “Oh that we had meat to eat! We remember the fish we ate in Egypt that cost nothing, the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic.” (Numbers 11)

Testimony of the Week: Minsoo Kim

Minsoo is a third year political science major! He likes basketball, Kobe Bryant, Brian McKnight and Korean stuff. His favorite thing to do is to sing Brian McKnight songs in a Korean accent while playing basketball like Kobe.

O Father, I thank thee that in fullness of grace
thou hast given me to Jesus, to be his sheep,
jewel, portion;
O Jesus, I thank thee that in fullness of grace
thou hast accepted, espoused, bound me;
O Holy Spirit, I thank thee that in fullness of
grace thou hast
exhibited Jesus as my salvation,
implanted faith within me,
subdued my stubborn heart,
made me one with him for ever. (The Valley of Vision, The Trinity)

I was born in Korea to a nonbelieving family. When I was around 4, my brother started going to a nearby church to play basketball with his neighborhood friends, and my family naturally started to accompany him. Shortly afterwards in 2001, my parents decided to immigrate to the United States.

Testimony of the Week: Patrick Gonzalvo

Patrick is a second year political science and economics major aspiring to be a lawyer. He enjoys movies (maybe minor), music, reading, and Arsenal Football Club.

I was raised in a Catholic household in the small island of Guam which is located in the Pacific Ocean. My parents and their parents have all been part of the Catholic Church for generations. Growing up they would bring my brother, sister, and I to the Catholic Church. The church focused on the idea that if you do good works you could go to heaven and that you can be absolved from your sins if you confess them to the priest. The only thing the priest would tell you to do was to recite a prayer a couple of times and you would be “forgiven” for the sins you committed.

Heart Aflame: You Just Need to Obey

written by Dr. Steven J. Lawson

Can you imagine a Christian couple actually praying about living together before marriage? Can you fathom a young woman, who professes Christ, even bothering to pray about whether she should marry an unbeliever? Can you grasp a Christian businessman having to pray about whether he should tell the truth in a transaction? When the word of God is so clear, praying to discern God’s will becomes a convenient excuse—or even a prolonged filibuster—to avoid doing what the Scripture commands.

Testimony of the Week: Sherry Ho

After Sherry graduated UCLA in 2014, God sent her back home to the Bay and she is currently a member at Pillar Baptist Church. While the game plan is to start nursing school at Duke University next week, her heart hopes to be a stay-at-home wife and mom one day! She loves people (sometimes), whales, and sass. GO BRUINS!

“I have a great need for Christ, and I have a great Christ for my need.” C.H. Spurgeon

In my non-Christian home, I didn’t grow up hearing the gospel, memorizing verses, singing praise songs to Jesus. God was nowhere on my radar. Instead I learned that I could earn what I wanted and therefore I bought into the lie that if I was a relatively “good kid”, obedient, studious, and talented, I could get what I craved the most: man’s approval.