R.C. Sproul's Blog, page 593

VIDEO: CrossReference: The Well of Living Sight

If you want to expand your understanding of Christ’s person and work, deepen your love, and fuel your Christian service, this series is a great place to start. David Murray and HeadHeartHand have created a new discipleship resource to help Christians discover and enjoy Christ in the Old Testament. This first series of ten short teaching films centers on Christ’s appearances in the Old Testament as the Angel of the Lord.

Check out the Ligonier blog, Challies, or HeadHeartHand every Wednesday for a time-limited streaming version of each episode. View the first two episodes here. The DVD and study guide are available for pre-order, and will be launched this week at The Gospel Coalition Conference Preaching Christ from the Old Testament.

Episode 3: The Well of Living Sight

 

A Father's Gift

Every so often I come across a book that says a great deal in a small package. No pomp or pageantry, no star quality author, and yet the truths in it resonate well past the reading. I found that to be the case with Kenneth Wingate’s A Father’s Gift. An attorney and layman in the First Presbyterian Church of Columbia, South Carolina, Wingate does well advocating his heart’s passion for prudent living. He quickly summarizes a given verse and applies it without apology or reservation to his family.

A Father’s Gift assumes its readers are Christians, and takes every thought captive to its simple message. The Proverbs are a mine full of diamonds that we would do well to explore. Take heed, lest you fall. Wingate takes us on a journey through the various topics in Solomon’s legacy of wisdom: from wealth, health, and self-control to sexual purity and work. As Sinclair Ferguson puts it in the Foreword, “Ken Wingate now brings [Proverbs] into our needy culture, and I for one am grateful to him for sharing his gift as a father with other fathers –and mothers, and sons and daughters too.”

According to Wingate, A Father’s Gift is the fruit of 12 years’ study of lessons from Proverbs, packed into an ensemble of topical studies that really becomes “a personal gift for my three children…” No wonder, then, that in much of his language he takes on the mantle of family leader, mentor, teacher, coach, and servant. If the book succeeds in its mission, it will be due to its forthright application of Proverbs to Wingate’s own family, and by inference, to the wider family of Christ. The reader is really an invited guest, allowed to “eavesdrop on our conversation.”

A Father’s Gift maintains its relevance for a much larger audience through generous and specific examples from his own life. For starters, let’s examine its basic message to the Christian West in the area of wealth. “What’s wrong with becoming surety for someone? The trouble is that we are presuming on the future. We are assuming that when the debt collector comes to our door we will have the cash available to satisfy him.” A believer who freely participates in our credit-buried contemporary culture should read this section. Not only is Wingate ‘spot-on’ in his comments about debt; he has doubtless encountered as an attorney the many pitfalls of mounting and unsustainable debt, tragically among Christian families.

Besides being intensely practical, A Father’s Gift is remarkably well researched and carefully constructed. In its practical wisdom it addresses a generation left dangling between biblical Christianity and vacuous modernity. In some ways it is the modern counterpart to other studies like that of Charles Bridges with one difference: it is eminently readable.  Topics progress from the introductory “Abundant Life: Introduction to Proverbs” and continue to “The End of the Path.” In each topical chapter, the title is based on a stream of verses in Proverbs that center around it, followed by a summary and one-sentence key principle. In Wingate’s logical layout, a devotional reader might cover one chapter in 2-3 days.

On the topic of ‘guidance’ Solomon’s wisdom is appropriate as well. The strongest admonitions are reserved for the crude, careless individual addressed in Proverbs as a fool. Not only does the thoughtless person ruin his own life, but also the lives of all around. “The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice. “ (Prov. 12:15)  At the end of the chapter on Guidance, we are reminded “The Lord guides us by the principles revealed in his Word, by the provision or withholding of resources, by the counsel of others, and by the sanctified desires of our hearts.”

If you have ever admonished a family member for foolish decisions, you know the recipient either ducks culpability, gets angry and walks away, or listens and heeds instruction. Wingate’s style suggests experience dealing with childlike responses to Proverbs. Although he uses apologetic language, he gives none of the Bible’s authority away. For example, in the chapter on “Sexual Purity” he remarks “God is no cosmic kill-joy who attempts to squelch our sensual feelings. He simply knows that such passions can only be sustained and positively directed within marriage.”

The strengths of A Father’s Gift are its unflagging emphasis on the consequences of poor choices, its practical application of scripture, and reliance on the full Bible, not only Proverbs, for its case against sin.  Its only weaknesses are lack of a topical/terms index that would aid research, its brevity, and perhaps (for some) a bit light on gospel proclamation. I wanted to go deeper, to explore more of the relevant passages outside Proverbs, especially in the New Testament. Wingate articulates the clear gospel in his introductory chapter, after which he assumes that his readers are Christians. Many readers will be satisfied with this balance. But might he have used more gospel application?

It is important to note that readers of the whole book will find a balance between legal obedience and sanctifying grace. True Christians will recognize that the antidote to Proverbs’ foolish man is Godly wisdom, applied throughout life, and God’s wisdom is vividly showcased in the incarnation, life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ –our only hope of gospel obedience in this life. Good behavior is imperative for the born again Christian. Good behavior outside of saving grace is mere legal obedience, the kind of lawkeeping that leads ultimately to death.

On balance, A Father’s Gift remains an irresistible gem that shines with timely advice, biblical admonition, and wise counsel. Get it, read it devotionally, and share it with family and friends. Hand it off to the next generation: it provides counsel you alone may never get them to consider. And besides, its brevity becomes a positive factor in giving it away.

Terry Yount is a musician, freelance composer and writer living in Orlando, Florida. He has provided organ and instrumental music for Ligonier’s National Conference with Ligonier Sinfonia, which he founded. He also serves as Organist and Dean of Saint Andrew’s Conservatory, serves on the music faculty of Rollins College, and has performed for concert audiences in the United States, Canada, Europe, and Japan.    

Grace Unknown, or, It's a Wonderful Life

My dear wife is about in the middle of her treatment for her leukemia. Step one they call inception chemo. That involves roughly a month in the hospital with intense chemo. She made it through that and was happily found to be in remission. Now she goes once a month for a week of chemo, what they call consolidation chemo. The goal here is for remission to stick. She has had one of these treatments. Still ahead of us, God willing, is a stem cell transplant that has serious risks, but offers the hope of a cure. As with her previous two bouts with cancer I marvel at her strength, at her character, at her peace. I believe all of this is the result of the many hundreds if not thousands of prayers that have been made on her behalf. God has likewise upheld me and our children thus far through this ordeal. This too I believe is the result of faithful prayer by the saints.

I can’t, of course, prove objectively the power of your prayers on our behalf. It is certainly possible, however unlikely, that the Sprouls are simply a hardy bunch who would be doing this well without your prayers.  It’s far more likely that had you not been praying that we would have collapsed in a heap a long time ago. But just as our Lord would not tell Peter how John’s life would end, just as Aslan would not tell Lucy about what might have been, so we are not shown alternative endings. The strength my wife exhibits does carry with it an imprint that tells us its ultimate source. It reads on the bottom not “Made in China” but “Birthed in Heaven.” But there is no specific information, no tag that reads, “Prayed for by Prayer Warrior #7165.”

That may well be for an important reason. While we remain terribly grateful for your prayers, and ask that they would continue, we want your prayers not because of their power, but because of the power of the One who hears your prayers.  Prayer “works” not because of the power of the one making the prayers but because of the power of the One hearing the prayers. We are not, from one perspective, doing as well as we are because of the potency of your prayers. We are doing as well as we are because of the sovereign power of the One who ordained your prayers, who gave us this challenge, and who walks with us through the valley of the shadow of death.

We are told what we need to be told. That we want to be told more is proof that we haven’t sufficiently believed what has already been revealed.  Our prayers matter, in ways far too beautiful to be measured with a  prayer-ometer.  Your prayers are used by Him to make me think more deeply about prayer. They are used by Him to make us feel more closely His hand as we walk through this valley. They are used to fan the flames of my love for my wife and my children. They are used to teach me gratitude, to teach me that it is indeed a wonderful life, because of His marvelous death. Pray for us. And pray in gratitude that we serve a God who hears us, and loves us.

Visit Ligonier at The Gospel Coalition This Week

Attending The Gospel Coalition 2011 National Conference this week? Stop by the Ligonier booth to meet our team, pick up free issues of Tabletalk Magazine, and learn about Reformation Bible College and our new online study center, Ligonier Connect. We will also have a variety of teaching series and books from R.C. Sproul and other Reformation Trust authors, including Abortion, Believing God, The Consequences of Ideas, Does Prayer Change Things?, and Meaning for Men.

In addition, check out the conference bookstore for the following titles from Ligonier Ministries and Reformation Trust:

5 Things Every Christian Needs to Grow by R.C. Sproul
By Grace Alone by Sinclair Ferguson
Chosen by God DVD by R.C. Sproul
The Christian Lover by Michael Haykin
Defending Your Faith: An Overview of Apologetics (DVD & CD) by R.C. Sproul
Dust to Glory: An Overview of the Bible (DVD & CD) by R.C. Sproul
The Expository Genius of John Calvin by Steve J. Lawson
Feed My Sheep by Various
Foundations: An Overview of Systematic Theology by R.C. Sproul
Foundations of Grace by Steve J. Lawson
The Holiness of God (DVD) by R.C. Sproul
Holy, Holy, Holy: Proclaiming the Perfections of God by Various
In Christ Alone by Sinclair Ferguson
Jesus the Evangelist by Richard Phillips
John Calvin: A Heart for Devotion, Doctrine, & Doxology edited by Burk Parsons
John (Saint Andrew's Expositional Commentary) by R.C. Sproul
The Lightlings children's book by R.C. Sproul
Living for God's Glory by Joel Beeke
The Masculine Mandate by Richard Phillips
Pillars of Grace by Steve J. Lawson
Pleasing God (DVD) by R.C. Sproul
The Prayer of the Lord by R.C. Sproul
The Priest with Dirty Clothes children's book by R.C. Sproul
The Prince's Poison Cup children's book by R.C. Sproul
Roman Catholicism (CD) by R.C. Sproul
Sammy and His Shepherd by Susan Hunt
Sola Scriptura by Various
Surprised by Suffering by R.C. Sproul
Together for the Gospel 2006 (DVD) by Various
The Truth of the Cross by R.C. Sproul
The Unwavering Resolve of Jonathan Edwards by Steven J. Lawson
What Is Reformed Theology? (DVD & CD) by R.C. Sproul

The Marvel of the Gospel

Guilt is not just a feeling. It is not just a psychological condition, although it can become one. It is a legal standing.

When the foreman of the jury in a trial speaks the word Guilty, he is not commenting on the feelings of the accused. He is pronouncing a verdict. He is saying that the accused has been judged to have committed the crimes with which he was charged. The accused is guilty and will be treated accordingly—no matter what he or she may "feel."

Whether people feel guilty is not really the issue. My feelings, or lack of them, neither increase nor lessen my guilt. It is first and foremost a personal standing before a holy God, not a psychological condition.

My feelings, or lack of them, neither increase nor lessen my guilt.

The marvel of the gospel is that it deals with our objective guilt. Then we begin to appreciate our new standing before God. At that point, God begins to transform our feelings.

The stories of how individuals are converted vary enormously, but there is one strand that features constantly. They may have begun with no obvious awareness of guilt and no special sense of need for God. When probed a little, they might have been self-defensive, even self-justifying, but nevertheless they felt secure, safe.

But nobody can protect himself or herself fully and finally from God's invasions.

God often creates a sense of unease in people, which then leads them to a consciousness of sin, and then a deeper sense that they are guilty before God. Then He brings them beyond mere "feelings" of guilt to confess, "I am guilty before God." As the psalmist says, "If You, Lord, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand?" (Ps. 130:3).

Then God's Spirit brings us to faith in Christ. We see that He has taken the penalty for our sin. Our guilt is removed. We are pardoned. As we begin to understand the gospel better, the knowledge that we are no longer guilty begins to pervade our spirits and to influence our feelings. We are set free from both the guilt of sin and the guiltiness we feel in our consciences because of it. We can now begin to live in the presence of God. More than that, He welcomes us as His sons and His daughters.

Do you see what true spiritual therapy this is? The divine Counselor does not say to the person who feels guilt for sin, "You don't need to worry about this." That would be a counsel of despair. Such words have no power.

But when you say to someone who feels guilty, "You are guilty; you really are guilty," then you also can say, "But there is a way in which your guilt can be dealt with."

No therapist, no psychiatrist can relieve you of guilt. He or she may help you to resolve feelings of false guilt that can arise for a variety of reasons. Prescription drugs may provide certain kinds of ease. But no therapy, no course of drugs, can deliver you from real guilt. Why? Because being guilty is not a medical condition or a chemical disorder. It is a spiritual reality. It concerns your standing before God. The psychiatrist cannot forgive you; the therapist cannot absolve you; the counselor cannot pardon you.

But the message of the gospel is this: God can forgive you, and He is willing to do so.

First, however, you need to be brought to the place where you say, "I am guilty."

Is your response one of self-justification, even of anger? "How dare anybody say to me, 'You are guilty'!"

Does that apply even if the one saying so is God?

Until we acknowledge our sin and guilt, we will never come to discover that it can be forgiven. But when we do, actual forgiveness begins to give rise to an awareness of forgiveness psychologically, spiritually, mentally, inwardly. With that comes an increasing sense that the bondage of guilt has been broken. At last, we are set free. Wonder of wonders, we discover that at the very heart of the gospel is this fact: God has taken our guilt upon Himself in His Son Jesus Christ.

Excerpted from By Grace Alone.

Twitter Highlights (4/10/11)

Here are some highlights from the various Ligonier Twitter feeds over the past week.

Ligonier Academy Death to self and death to the world -prerequisites for enjoying life unto God.



Reformation Trust No unbeliever will suffer in hell because God lacked love, but "because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God." -Phillips



Ligonier We're supposed to be able to not only tell the world what it is we believe but also why we believe it. -R.C. Sproul



Tabletalk Magazine The man who does not love his wife is a monster (Calvin).



Reformation Trust Our aim in preaching is not to help our people feel treasured, but to help them treasure God. -John Piper in Feed My Sheep



Ligonier If you try to stand before God on the basis of your own person you will fail that test. -R.C. Sproul



Ligonier The Gospel is only Gospel when we first understand the Law and our situation under the Law. -R.C. Sproul



Reformation Trust Christ must be the beginning, middle, and end of every sermon. -Joel Beeke

You can also find our various ministries on Facebook:
Ligonier Ministries | Ligonier Academy | Reformation Trust | Tabletalk Magazine

Are There Still Prophets in Our Day?

Yes, and no. Too often we in the evangelical church see the prophet as a sort of white witch, a godly soothsayer that can see into the future and tell us what is going to happen. Not only do we not have anyone filling such an office in our day, there was never anyone filling such an office.  Foretelling the future never was and never will be the calling of the prophet. The prophet, instead, is called to speak God's Word to God's people.

The beginning of that Word from God always looked back rather than forward. That is, the prophet served as a kind of lawyer bringing suit for failure to keep covenant. Thus the beginning of the message was "You agreed to this covenant. You said you would honor it." It moved from this glance backward to an assessment of the present,  "You are not keeping the covenant. You are breaking this provision and that one." Finally, the prophet gives this typically general vision of the future, that God had revealed, "If you don't repent, judgment will come. If you do repent, God will spare you and bless you."

Because God spoke directly to the prophet in the Old Covenant, there certainly could be greater specificity to the prediction: your descendants will be slaves in Egypt for 400 years; the son of your adultery will die; the Assyrians are going to wipe the floor with you; you will return from exile; a prophet greater than Moses will come. This was God's message, and either implicitly or explicitly it always carried the notion of forgiveness for repentance and judgment for failure to repent.

Does God still speak this way? Yes, and no. No, because we have the complete Word of God. Yes, because the Word of God is God speaking in this way.  We do not have new prophetic messages, but we do have the prophetic message. It is complete, and speaks with all the thundering glory, all the refulgent promise of the prophets of old. As individuals, as families, as churches, as nations the message is the same- if we repent God will bless. If we do not, God will judge.

Prophets in our day then do not receive new revelation from God. They do, however, continue to proclaim the Word of God. Husbands prophesy to their wives when they wash them with the water of the Word (Ephesians 5:26). Parents prophesy to their children when they speak to their children of the things of God when they lie down and when they rise up and when they walk by the way (Deuteronomy 6:4-9). Churches prophesy to the world when they proclaim the faith once delivered (I Corinthians 11:4-5).

It is important that we affirm the overlap between Old Testament prophecy and prophecy in our own day. In both instances God's Word is being proclaimed. In both instances God's people are called to repentance. It is important also to note the differences. God spoke directly to the prophets of old. Now, His Word is complete. Those who claim to hear directly from God now besmirch the fullness of the Word, and mislead the people of God. On the other hand, those who refuse to speak His Word besmirch the power of the Word, and fail to lead His people. Speak. His Word.

Life in Death

We do not serve a reactive God. It is certainly true, an abiding truth, that the most fundamental covenant between God and man is this--obey Me and be blessed; disobey Me and be cursed. Praise the glory of His name there is an addendum--if you trust in the finished work of Christ, He will be cursed for your disobedience and you will be blessed for His obedience. That obedience leads to blessing, however, doesn't mean that God is sitting on His throne with a box full of roses on His right and a box full of thunderbolts on His left.  He is not watching to see what you will do, and reaching into the box appropriate for your choices.  The cursings for disobedience are organic, connected to the sin itself. In like manner, the blessings of obedience inhere in the obedience.

Consider what happens when we live for ourselves. We, because we are sinners, think if we will pursue our own pleasure, our own desires, our own reputation, our own wealth, that we will naturally acquire them. When we end up disappointed we think God interfered, that He snatched up our hard earned roses and hurled thunderbolts at us.  Having learned our lesson we seek to be more giving, more focused on others, we think then that God spared us the agony that such a life would naturally bring, and kindly dropped roses our way.

The truth is that we are naturally designed for things to work unnaturally. We gain our life when we lose it precisely because that is how our lives are gained. We were made for others, and our joy is found in service. We find ourselves when we lose ourselves. More is drinking from the ocean. Less is drinking our tears of joy in satisfaction.

When I am feeding or changing or carrying my profoundly disabled 13 year old daughter I don't receive roses from heaven. I receive instead something far more precious- smiles from my little girl.  Her eyes crinkle together and sparkle, and every now and then she lets out a little laugh. I see in her eyes not only her trust in me, but her delight. She, because such is her redeemed nature, is serving me. I, by the grace of God, am serving her. We together drink in the gospel.

She in turn shames me. If she, whose father is such a miserable sinner, who is weak and selfish, looks at me like that, why don't I look to my Father in heaven with even greater trust and joy? The good news, however, is the good news. Despite my failures, my weaknesses, my frailties, despite the very sin that keeps me from looking to Him in that way, in her eyes I see His. Though He knows my sin more than she does, more than I do He looks at me with the same delight that she does. He smiles. His eyes crinkle together and He laughs. My daughter loves me because my Father loves me. I love my daughter because my Father loves me. And when we love each other, there He is in the midst of us.

$5 Friday: Abortion, Jonah & More

Find $5 Friday resources on abortion, Jonah, sovereignty, and the Messiah. Sales starts 8 a.m. Friday and ends 8 a.m. Saturday EST.

View today's $5 Friday sale.

Thriving at College: An Interview with Alex Chediak

What are the ten most common mistakes college students make and how can they avoid them? Alex Chediak answers these questions and more in his newly released book, Thriving at College . Recently, Michael Morales, Dean of Admissions for Reformation Bible College, interviewed the author to explore the issues facing college students today.

Michael : Alex, we've had your assistance with some administrative duties at Reformation Bible College and have been blessed by your enthusiasm for being involved in the lives of college students. Can you give our readers some of your background in education?

Alex: I received a Bachelor's degree in Ceramic Engineering from Alfred University, and a PhD in Materials Science and Engineering from U.C. Berkeley. For two years I studied biblical Greek, preaching, missions, and related courses taught by Pastors Tom Steller and John Piper at The Bethlehem Institute (now called Bethlehem College and Seminary).

Michael: As you know, Reformation Bible College will be giving away your book Thriving at College: Make Great Friends, Keep Your Faith, and Get Ready for the Real World! (Tyndale) to every student accepted into our undergraduate programs. Why write this book? What led you to believe such a book was needed—what were you seeing or not seeing in the collegiate life of young Christian men and women that compelled you to write this?

Alex: College is this glorious, crucially significant "in between" stage. You're on the threshold of adulthood. Most enter college under their parents' care and financial support. But if it's done right, they'll graduate as men and women ready to assume an adult role in an interdependent society and as a functional, contributing member of a local church.

In short, college should be a launching pad into all that goes with Christian adulthood. Yet for some it's a time when they abandon the Christian faith, never to return, giving evidence that they never really belonged to Christ (I John 1:19). For others, their faith remains intact, but college is a somewhat frivolous season of entertainment, recreation, and amusement—an expensive vacation funded by Mom, Dad, and student loans. And many learn to privatize their Christian faith, worshiping God on Sunday but never seeing their academic life as an expression of their devotion to God.

I was particularly prompted to write this book by the widespread phenomenon of delayed adolescence – young adults failing to launch. A third of all 22-34 year old men are still living with their parents. Many college students have an entitlement mentality, as if a high GPA, a summer job, money, and success are all supposed to come easily (like the trophy in Little League they got for showing up). There's an inflated sense of self-worth, a sense of personal greatness not grounded in actual accomplishments. Thankfully, that doesn't describe all young adults or college students, but the trend is sufficiently common in our day that many commentators, Christian and otherwise, are taking notice.

I wrote Thriving at College to help young people transition well – to not just keep the faith, but to dig deeper than they ever thought was possible. To not just stumble upon a major, but to wisely discover their calling. To not just have a blast with friends, but to cultivate lifelong relationships of substance with those who most provoke them to trust and love God. To put away childishness, to make wise choices, and as missionary William Carey once said, to "expect great things from God and attempt great things for God." In short, to make the very best of their college years.

Michael: Can you offer our readers a basic outline of your book and how you think students can best utilize it (straight read-through before college or referencing section by section while at college, etc.)?

Alex: Sure, here's the Table of Contents. The preface and introduction set the stage, followed by ten chapters, each of which unpacks one common mistake (the "put off"), and one key principle (the "put on"). In addition, the book is broken up into four sections: general issues (maintaining the Christian faith, adjusting to the logistical realities of college, coming from high school), relationship issues (with friends, professors, girl/boyfriends, and parents), character issues (developing integrity, responsibility, reliability, and a healthy work/recreation balance), and academic issues (doing well in classes while not being neurotic about grades, selecting a major, possibly changing majors, finding internships, and wisely using summer and winter breaks).

The text of the individual chapters is broken up with interesting factoids as well as questions from actual students followed by brief responses. Tyndale actually hired several students, in different majors and attending different kinds of colleges, to read the chapters and supply questions. In addition, the actual text contains many real-life illustrations/examples from actual students. (Names and details were altered to protect the guilty.)

Sections can be read in any order, and each chapter can stand alone. I figure many students will read a chapter here, a chapter there, as issues pop up on their horizon. Others will read it straight through.

Michael: Given the subtitle, it seems clear you wrote this book primarily with the young Christian in mind. Do you think this book could also be used as a gift to the non-Christian friend or daughter entering college? Would you also recommend that parents read your book?

Alex: Yes and yes. While the book is grounded in an explicitly Christian perspective, living by biblical principles is a blessing to anyone who does so, whether they're a Christian or not. Alex and Brett Harris, who wrote the Foreword to Thriving at College, said of their best-selling book Do Hard Things that it was a message "from Christians, to Christians, but not only for Christians." I feel the same way about Thriving at College.

And yes, I hope that many parents will read it. Ideally, I envision parents of 16-17 year olds reading it with their children, preparing them for what's ahead, talking honestly and openly about the changes that are coming.

Michael: Alex, what would you say are the top two challenges young Christians face entering college? Are the challenges much different whether one goes to a secular university versus a Christian college?

Alex: The main issue is whether someone starting college has internalized personal responsibility, spiritual maturity, and a general work ethic, or are these qualities attributable to the external environmental structures set up by their parents and church community? If a high schooler had the privilege of growing up in a Christian home, and I hope she did, much of her life is structured: School, homework, family, church. Accountability everywhere.

In college? Not so much. It is true that many Christian colleges provide greater protections than secular universities, but if a student hasn't internalized the Christian faith, if he lacks an internal compass directed toward godliness and an internal anchor in His word, it is not hard to find temptations and unwise diversions at both Christian and secular institutions.

The second challenge is related to the first: keeping everything in perspective and God at the center. Even among committed Christians, maintaining balance is a perennial challenge. There are so many healthy, non-sinful recreational opportunities, but God still calls us to do our homework and study, too. It's good to work hard in school, but it's important to form solid, godly friendships, and to not become obsessed with getting high grades. Some are inclined to one extreme, and some to the other. It's important to cultivate an understanding that work and recreation are both gifts of God.

M ichael: Alex, we're excited about what the LORD is doing through you and the gifts He's given you to provide wise and biblical counsel to young Christians—and we're excited about your participation in the life of Reformation Bible College. Thank you for taking the time to answer these questions for our readers.

Alex Chediak is an associate professor of engineering and physics at California Baptist University. He and his wife Marni have three young children, Karis, Jonathan and Abigail. In addition to Thriving at College, Dr. Chediak is the author of With One Voice: Singleness, Dating & Marriage to the Glory of God.