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CHIC2K3 Students Hear Story of the 'Radical Christ'
By Craig Pinley
KNOXVILLE, TN (August 5, 2003) - Rob Bell, teaching pastor of Mars Hill Bible
Church of Grandville, Michigan, challenged students at CHIC2K3 to make a
radical leap of faith in being disciples of Jesus, using Matthew 4 and the
calling of the 12 disciples as foundational illustrations.
"May you hear the voice of the Rabbi when he says, 'Come, follow me,' Bell
said in concluding his sermon delivered to thousands of youth and adults
attending the Evangelical Covenant Church event on the campus of the
University of Tennessee in Knoxville.
The discipleship element was evident throughout Monday evening's worship
service. CHIC2K3 leaders were given candles to light to symbolize how we as
Christians can be spiritual lights in the darkness of a secular world.
Leaders then met with small groups throughout Thompson-Boling Arena - the
massive building was filled with lights from top to bottom.
Students also were provided an opportunity to donate money to Covenant
ministry overseas as leaders presented CHIC2K3 participants with a project
for them to support. Funds from this year's CHIC2K3 offering will be
earmarked for medical mission work in Congo and Sudan. Participants gave
more than $125,000 to support Covenant World Relief three years ago in
Knoxville. This year's total will be announced later this week.
Although his sermon focused on the gospel lesson, Bell opened the evening
more like a college professor in a religion class as he set the context for
the Matthew 4 account. He explained the Old Testament disciplines that the
most gifted children went through in order to become rabbis. He did so with
a quick talking, constantly pacing and humorous style that kept students
engaged during nearly an hour of preaching.
"Rabbis were like rock stars in the first century," said Bell, noting that
children were clamoring to be disciples and to carry the rabbi's teachings
(known as the yoke) effectively. He then showed how radical Jesus was in
calling ordinary people to great things, a contradiction of everything his
traditions taught. He read excerpts from the story of Jesus calling Simon
(Peter), Andrew, James and John as he encouraged others to accept a Jesus
who had long ago accepted them.
"This is a radical, subversive rabbi," Bell said in describing the calling
of fishermen disciples. "This rabbi is saying to people that the Kingdom of
God is now and here. This rabbi is saying to me, 'JV loser boy, you can be
like me' . . . you'd better believe that these guys drop their nets.
"I'm assuming you believe in God, but I'm telling you that God believes in
you," Bell continued. "He sees you, he knows your brokenness . . . and the
rabbi says, 'Come, follow me.' God has faith in you. Otherwise, he wouldn't
be here. But what does it mean for you to drop your nets and go wherever
Jesus leads?"
Atlanta's Candi Pearson and Steve Fee of Charlotte, North Carolina, shared
their musical talents as Monday's Main Stage began. Curt Cloninger and
Emily Kaufman later combined for a modern presentation of how Lazarus was
healed by Jesus.
Copyright © 2008 The Evangelical Covenant Church. |
