Page 19 - Cross Booklet Draft ver1

NECESSITY OF COLLEGE

In his book, clearly communicated to those who Good missionaries need skill to see Bottom line, if you don? know the
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Thriving at have never heard. Great friends, and understand the host culture?s Bible (and the culture) well, you
College, Alex along with believing family? all who worldview and then to bring biblical won? be able to expose the wrong
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Chediak gets love you deeply? will be the most truth to bear on it. This is part of thinking that has blinded the minds
it right when likely ones to consistently and what Paul means when he says that and hearts of your new friends. You
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he identifies three main priorities knowledgeably pray for the gospel his missionary team sought to ?de- won? be able to help them make
for college: make great friends, to spread through you. So, we need molish arguments and every pre- sense of why the good news is
keep (and grow) your faith, and get great friends because we need tension that sets itself up against good.
ready for the real world? without a prayer. Not only that, but deep rela-
heavy debt burden. Let us consider tionships developed during the Now, does this mean you need to
each of these from the perspective college years could also become complete a degree from a bible
of a (potential) cross- cultural future team members or perhaps college or seminary? Maybe, maybe
worker. serve as consultants if their work not. At the very least, it means you
and experience overlaps with the should take several key courses like
business you pursue in your new biblical interpretation (hermeneu-
location. Solid friendships also help tics), biblical theology, systematic
you grow and persevere in your theology, and church history. Talk
faith, which leads us to the second with your church elders for recom-
priority. mendations on good organizations,
bible schools, and seminaries that
Second, potential cross- cultural offer classes like these.
workers need to keep and grow in
their faith. A primary responsibility Before you attempt to dismantle a
for the cross-cultural worker is clear worldview opposed to the Bible, you
gospel communication. Under- need to know the biblical worldview.
standing precedes clear communi- Good missionaries know their Bible,
cation. During the college years you the knowledge of God, and [to] take know how all Scripture points to
should be reading your Bible, talking every thought captive to make it that one pivotal person throughout
about what you?e learning, and sit- obedient to Christ? (2 Corinthians all history, and know how the Scrip-
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ting under the teaching of godly el- 10:5). The primary weapon Paul tures engage the culture they are
ders in the context of a local took up for this work was the bringing the gospel to.
church. Scriptures.
First, potential cross-cultural work- Your understanding of the gospel,
ers need deep friendships at home. and the overall structure and mes-
When you move from your home sage of the Bible, should deepen RESOURCES
country to a new country for the and strengthen. You should be ac-
sake of the gospel, you need friends tive in prayer, closely observing how 1. https://www.imb.org/2018/03/13/why-put-
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to partner with you. Of course you God answers your prayer. You?e
need financial partnerships, but you developing disciplines and a foun- missions-on-hold-to-go-to-seminary/
also need prayer partnerships. dation that will serve you well in 2. https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/
Making Christ known in difficult spiritually dark and dry places. why-go-to-seminary/
places is tough. The enemy works Third, potential cross-cultural work-
aggressively to prevent the good ers need to think strategically about 3. How to Read the Bible for All It's Worth by:
news about Jesus from being Gordon Fee and Douglas Stuart
what getting ready for their real