Cedarville Magazine, Spring 2017

Chapel Notes Let’s look at Mark 2. Jesus is in this house, preaching the Word. And one guy has an idea: “I’ve heard what Jesus has done in other cities, and I believe if we get the paralytic to Jesus, then Jesus could heal him. What do you guys think?” They get there; the place is packed. At least one guy said, “Here’s what we’re going to do: We’re going to put him on the roof.” I can’t help but believe the paralytic propped himself up and said, “Do what?!” Imagine Jesus. He’s preaching, and dust begins to sprinkle. More dust. Then a hand comes through. Another hand. A hole begins to appear, and four heads look down. If you’re a coach, you want these four guys on your team. You know why? “We’re going to do whatever it takes. We’re not going to stop until we get him to Jesus.” When you’re blessed to graduate from this great university, that will be an incredible accomplishment, but the task is still unfinished. Paul said in Acts 20:24, “I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.” It’s not about your convenience or comfort; it’s about being exactly where He wants you in obedience to Him. God can do extraordinary things through you when you’re completely obedient to Him. There’s a church in Tennessee that planted a church in Vancouver, Canada. They had a Texas barbecue in Vancouver because they thought it would attract lots of people, and one of the girls that went was Chin-Lou. Chin-Lou was from China, not a believer, and she started coming to a Bible study. About two months later, she gave her heart to Christ. Chin-Lou called home and told her parents. They said, “If that’s what you want to do, that’s fine, but don’t hassle us all summer about this.” She said okay, but she asked, “Can I invite my friends over when I get home?” And they said, “Sure.” She was discipled fall through spring semester, and that summer she went home and invited 40 friends to her house. She wrote down 20 different proverbs on index cards, and as they fellowshipped and had a good time, she passed those cards out and said, “I want you to stand and read the proverb on the card and tell why you think it’s true.” One by one, they stood, read the proverb, and told why they thought it was true. At the end, Chin-Lou said, “All 20 of those are very true, and they come from the Bible. And there’s something else I learned from the Bible: God loves me. He loves me so much, He sent Jesus to die on a cross for me.” Of those 40 friends, 23 came to know Christ that night. Through the summer she discipled them, and two years later, there’s a church in China. My point is this: A church in Tennessee planted a church in Vancouver, and God threw in another as a bonus. You have a freshman in college, who knows very little about the Gospel, but loves Jesus, goes home, leads people to Christ, and God plants a church where it’s illegal to do so. There’s no limit to what our God can do through you. Whatever God’s leading you to do, I pray you do it the very best you can, but then prayerfully consider where God might have you on mission, and be obedient to Him in all things. Whatever it takes. Kevin Ezell is President of the North American Mission Board. Whatever It Takes, Live Life on Mission The following is an excerpt from an October 19, 2016, chapel presentation by Kevin Ezell. Listen to his full remarks at cedarville.edu/chapel . We’re going to do whatever it takes. We’re not going to stop until we get him to Jesus. Join the University family in chapel each day via the live stream broadcast ( cedarville.edu/chapellive ) or Facebook Live ( cedarville.edu/facebook ). Past messages are also archived at cedarville.edu/chapel . Mar. 16 Russell Moore President of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention Washington, D.C. Mar. 21 Paige Patterson President of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary Fort Worth, Texas Mar. 22 Chad Williams Former U.S. Navy SEAL 22 | Cedarville Magazine