Finishing Well

Dear Friends,

The countdown continues. Spring is in the air, maybe even summer with a high of 88 yesterday! Final exams and papers are right around the corner. Are you beginning to get restless? Spring fever settling in? We know that it can be difficult to press on with your classes when the end is so close and yet so far away….

We want to finish well, not only with classes but also with our ministries.

Philippians 3:13-14 "Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."

Some ways to finish well:

• Continue having your bible studies, weekly meetings & prayer until the end of classes


• Thank the administrative people on your campus that help make your ministry possible. Your advisor, the person who books the rooms, approves the posters, handles your finances.


• Have an end of the year get together: party, cookout, picnic, etc to celebrate and say good bye


• Find a special way that you can honor and thank graduating seniors?


• Make sure your club officers and student activities paperwork is all in order(This will save you the many headaches next fall that could come with-running around trying to get recognized as a student club instead of welcoming the new students who are our future)


• Is it possible to put in your room reservations for next year? In many cases waiting until September is too late. If you can reserve it now, do so.


• Continue planning and preparing for next semester(particularly the first six weeks) "If you win the first six weeks, you should win for the year." You can go to http://www.godsquad.com/leading/topics/plan.htm for some good planning resources.

Take these next few weeks to finish well and enjoy some good times of fellowship and fun with one another. You won’t regret it! We will be praying for you.

Sending your Seniors

Hello,

Soon the semester will soon be ending and your seniors will be graduating! April is over half gone and for many, within a month's time you will be scattering for your "summer" destinations. You are being sent from your ministry to show Jesus love to others in the various locations to which you will travel.

John 20:21 "Again Jesus said, ' Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you."
Matthew 28:18-20 "Then Jesus came to them and said, 'All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always to the very end of the age.'"

During each spring semester, you also have a special opportunity to send the seniors involved in your ministry. We want to encourage you to help your seniors end well on campus and prepare for after graduation (this may include yourself - if you are a senior!). Here are a couple of ways to do that:

At your last weekly meeting/bible study, consider doing something to celebrate your graduating seniors.

• Take time to thank them for their service to the Lord and to your ministry.
• If you have the budget, you could give a small gift. (memento from the college, an inspirational book or CD)
• Circulate a card and have students write a brief note.
• Have them stand and share their post college plans, have a time of prayer for them.

You will also want to help seniors to think about their spiritual life and how they can serve as a Christ-centered laborer post college. For many - their campus fellowship provides encouragement, fellowship, ministry and accountability that is hard to replicate once they move back home.
Here are a few questions to think about as you and others prepare for serving Christ after graduation:

1. What are some ways you would like to share your faith in your future work environment or in ministry after graduation?
2. How can you have an influence to help soften or improve the soil of our culture and increase the openness of others to the gospel?
3. What are some specific things you would like to do to proclaim the gospel or help positively influence others to increase openness to the gospel?
   

We pray for wisdom and guidance for you and the seniors you are sending as you both serve Christ and demonstrate his love to the others around you.

"Oh the Wonderful Cross"

Hello friends,

How amazing that we can call the instrument of death in Jesus' crucifixion, "The Wonderful Cross." This week is a great time to reflect on the significance of the gospel and what our wonderful savior accomplished on the cross.

I hope that you can take some time to reflect and treasure this special holy week. During this week I'd like to encourage you to join with me in taking some time to meditate on Jesus words from the cross.

I'd like to take this opportunity to take a look at the brief interactions recorded between Jesus and these two criminals in Luke 23:39-43.

"One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: ‘Aren’t you the Christ? Save yourself and us!’ But the other criminal rebuked him. ‘Don’t you fear God,’ he said, ‘since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.’ Then he said, ‘Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.’ Jesus answered him ’I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.’”

Please take some time to think about each of these criminals

What do you learn about each of the criminals? What are they like(try to think of 4-5 characteristics for each)? What are their similarities and differences?

In what ways are you similar to the criminals crucified on either side of Him? How does this make you feel?

What do you learn about Jesus? Why would Christ bring this repentant criminal of faith, you, me and so many others like us to paradise with Him?

Please take time to read and reflect on some of the other sayings from the cross. Here are a few references that predict details about or report the crucifixion of Jesus: Psalm 22:17-18, 69:20-21; Isaiah 53:4-12; Matthew 27:32-56; Mark 15:21-41; Luke 23:32-49; John 19:16-37

These specific verses contain the sayings from the cross: Matthew 27:46; Mark 15:34; Luke 23:34, 39-43, 46; John 19:26-28, 30.
Psalm 69:20-21

Hope you have a great Easter celebrating His resurrection and the victory that he has won over sin and death!