Chapel at Cedarville

This morning in chapel, Ken Ham, founder of Answers in Genesis, shared how science confirms the Bible.

The Bible is God’s revelation that helps us think rightly about everything. However, our culture is attacking it, and many people believe science and Scripture are at odds with one another. They ask, “Don’t we live in a scientific age? Hasn’t science disproved the Bible? How can the Bible’s stories be true?”

More churches need to be teaching the answers to these questions. 1 Peter 3:15 urges us to be equipped to defend the Gospel with gentleness and respect.

Two Types of Science

Ham defined science as “the state of knowing; knowledge as distinguished from ignorance or misunderstanding.” There are two types of sciences. The first is observational science — the information you gather through your senses. For example, pretty much all scientists will agree on the color of the Grand Canyon’s rock layers and how thick those layers are.

The second type, historical science, deals with things that happened long ago when we weren’t there to see. For example, we didn’t watch how the Grand Canyon’s layers were laid down. Although we believe it happened quickly in Noah’s Flood, much of the world believes it happened over a much longer period of time.

God, who was there when those layers were laid down, has recorded what happened for us. The Bible is a book of historical science. If that’s true, it should also make sense when we observe the present world. And it does, over and over again.

Creation Points to the Creator

Just look at the DNA codes in our bodies containing billions of bits of information! They are so complex that they could never have arisen by random chance. Dr. Werner Gitt, in his book In the Beginning Was Information, explains that “a code system is always the result of a mental process.” DNA is just one example that cries out that God created the Earth in the beginning.

If a scientist finds an arrowhead in a cave, they immediately know a person was there to create it sometime in the past. But when they see these far more complicated DNA codes, most of them attribute it to random chance. Why is this?

Romans 1:20 says that we are able to see God’s attributes through the things He has created. But even when faced with the evidence, many people don’t believe in Him because they are not neutral. Humans have naturally wicked hearts that are bent against God.

So although evidence is very good because it confirms God’s Word, the most important thing is that Word because it is what convicts and saves. Always point people to the Bible and the God who has sent us a Savior! This is what Answers in Genesis does. If you’re interested in further resources, go to answersingenesis.org to learn more!

This morning in chapel, Dr. White preached through Ecclesiastes and reminded us that without God, nothing else is never enough.

Wisdom Alone Is Never Enough (Ecclesiastes 1:12–18, 2:12–17)

The first passage explains why we cannot rely solely on wisdom and learning things about this world. This is because the more we understand about the world, the more we see all its problems and brokenness and realize we do not have the power to fix them. Wisdom does not give us the ability to put shattered pieces back together.

The second passage says that although having wisdom is very good, we will ultimately fade and die just like everyone else. We will not be remembered long after we are gone. If you’re living your life for your own legacy, it will not last, but if you’re living to be part of God’s great story, that will last.

The problem is not seeking wisdom but trusting wisdom as our ultimate source of security. We should enjoy God’s good gifts without expecting them to take His place.

Wealth Alone Is Never Enough (Ecclesiastes 2:1–11)

In this passage, Solomon explains that although he enjoyed all the earthly treasures possible, they could not satisfy him. It’s so easy for us to get caught up in the next trend, the next purchase, or the next relationship. We think we will be satisfied “if only” we had that thing. But if you try to experience all the wonderful material possessions that the world has to offer, you will still come up lacking and dissatisfied.

Work Alone Is Never Enough (Ecclesiastes 2:18–23)

Solomon also says that you can spend your entire life working hard, achieving great success, and saving up an incredible fortune, but this is vanity too. Although work can be wonderful, it can also be heavy and burdensome. It can steal all the wonderful little moments that God gives you with your family and friends. If this life is all there is, work means nothing. There is a longing inside each of us that points us to Jesus instead.

With God, We Receive Joy and Purpose (Ecclesiastes 2:24–26)

God has given us many good gifts to enjoy, and He wants us to receive them with deep gratitude, but our identity must not rest in them; it must rest in Him. If you are a believer, you have been adopted into His family, and that is your firm foundation. No matter what this life brings, you can have joy because you are simply a pilgrim passing briefly through the world. There is a far greater treasure set before you!

So enjoy every moment in life, but remember that the deepest desires of your heart are satisfied only in Christ. He alone gives the joy and purpose you long for.

Do Not Lose Heart! 

Preaching from 2 Corinthians 4:1–18, SGA Chaplain Landon Heft gave a message on the encouragement Christians have in a world where more than half of young adults report feeling sad or apathetic every day. 

You Can See the Glory of God (4:1–6) 

As believers, we can see the glory of God when others cannot. When the world is broken, people run to equally imperfect crutches, like grades or relationships, to fix the brokenness. As believers, we can run to the glory of God, which is perfect. We can see the glory of God through the Gospel and return to it endlessly for encouragement. The glory of God is a perfect treasure which brings us hope in suffering. 

Your Gospel Suffering Brings Others Life and God Glory (4:7–12) 

Christians can take heart in the fact that their suffering brings God glory. Our weakness is a wonderful thing because it highlights God's strength. Heft specifically references the appreciation God has for our suffering in Psalms.  

Suffering does even more than bring God glory. We are also able to bring life to others through our suffering. We are encouraged and filled with purpose by working to help those around us in God's name. Serving and sacrificing brings us joy. Heft uses the example of missionaries to remind us that giving ourselves up for God and others can feel like no sacrifice at all. 

You Have an Incredible Hope (4:16–8) 

Finally, Heft reminds us that when we suffer in this world, our suffering is temporary. We have an eternity in heaven with God to look forward to! Even as our "outer self" and body wastes away on Earth, our "inner self" can grow even closer to God and increase in joy. When we fix our eyes on eternity, hope carries us through our suffering here. 

Living in the Comparison World 

Brian White, Lead Pastor at Harvest Church in Indiana, spoke today from Psalm 73, connecting Asaph's struggle with comparison to the struggle we face today in a comparison-filled world. Just like Asaph overcame comparison through an intentional relationship with God, we can overcome a comparison-based mindset the same way today. 

Be Aware of the Threat of Wrong Comparisons 

We need to understand our tendency of comparison, and how it threatens our relationship with God. First, we should recognize the issue, understanding when we become envious and are in a battle of comparison. Comparison easily leads us to question God's justness. 

Consider the comparison. Often, our comparisons are entirely focused on external appearance. In Psalm 73, Asaph believes wicked people have "no pains until death," with plenty of food and no toil. Despite being wicked, they seemingly have an endlessly easy life, which we can struggle to reconcile with the belief that God blesses the pure in heart.  

Pastor White pointed out some examples of "wicked but easy" lifestyles in college. People may cheat in class and still get better grades than you. Others may not be pure in dating relationships but never struggle to find them while you do. Both situations can cause us to question God's justness and compare ourselves to others. 

Be Intentional in Relationship With God 

The turning point of Asaph's story comes with his entrance into God's sanctuary. Pastor White called us to do the same, directing our attention to God and spending time with Him instead of endlessly mulling over comparison. Rather than focusing on ourselves, with sour souls and bitter hearts, we should focus on God and grow in spiritual endurance. 

By aligning our affections with Christ, we will start to focus less on our relationship to others and more on our relationship with Him. Everything on earth can fail, but when we only desire God, we can be satisfied. Through pursuing an intentional relationship with God, we overcome comparison and the false beliefs about God which it inspires. 

Pastor White left us with one question: "What will you do with comparisons that threaten your spiritual stability?" He challenged us to respond by running to Christ, not to self-pity.

This morning in chapel, Brian White, Lead Pastor at Harvest Church, preached through Ephesians 2 and encouraged us with the truth that God loves us enough to change us completely.

Consider Your Past (vv. 1–3)

Think back to when you were dead in your sins. White defined sin as “doing what is wrong based on what God says is right.” It is disobeying God’s commands and violating His standards of truth. You were completely lost and hopeless.

In this passage, God magnifies our sin so that He can magnify His grace. He helps us see that our sin defined and devastated us. There are only two types of people — spiritually dead and spiritually alive — and everybody starts in the first group.

Because of this, we deserve the wrath of God. Wrath is sometimes viewed as anger, but it may be more accurate to view it as punishment from God. Our sin also causes us to be separated from Him.

Consider the Change (vv. 4–10)

When Paul wrote Ephesians, he wanted us to see our sin and consider our past so that we would appropriately see the change, realizing that we are now defined by grace.

The same God who punishes sin also makes a way for us to have a relationship with Him. This is because He loves us! No matter how big of a sin debt you have, He is rich in mercy and is able to cover it. He wants to save you, not to crush you. We can be as if we never sinned because He sent His Son to pay our debt with His blood.

God then raised Jesus from the dead, and Jesus raises us up with Him. We are not just barely alive, but truly, fully alive.

It’s so important to remember that we didn’t deserve and couldn’t secure that change. The only reason we move from spiritual death to spiritual life is because of the love of God. The way to receive that life is not through working hard enough or doing enough good things; it’s something you receive by faith.

Your Response

When you consider your past and consider the change, what is your response? If you haven’t turned in faith to Jesus, your response should be to do so today. If you have already done that, you can humbly and gratefully pray, acknowledging who you were before Jesus and how He is the only reason things are different now.

When God says He loves us, these are not empty words. We can have a lasting confidence rooted in His love because of Ephesians 2. Let’s praise Him for that love and tell others that they, too, are loved.

Praise Be to God 

Zeke Klenzman, Junior Class Chaplain, taught from 1 Peter 1:1–12 about praising and rejoicing even in suffering. As believers, we have an exilic calling, which we face with the strength of our resurrection hope, and respond to with faith filled rejoicing at our glorious privilege.  

Exilic Calling (v. 1–2) 

As Christians, we have been chosen by God for an exilic life. We are far from our heavenly home but must be careful to avoid worldly living. Being chosen by Christ means facing exclusion from the world and not living with endless worry or a focus on temporary, earthly treasures.  

Resurrection Hope (v. 3–5) 

The foundation of our exilic life is our born-again hope. Because of God's great mercy and Christ's resurrection, we have an inheritance in heaven. The inheritance awaiting us in heaven is much greater than anything on earth, and it gives us powerful hope. 

Faith Filled Rejoicing (v.6–9) 

We praise the God who has given us hope, even when we suffer. Continued rejoicing through suffering reminds us that even when things are hard, we have an inheritance in Christ awaiting us. Though our faith is tested on earth, suffering serves to strengthen it. Rejoice in the hope of Christ continuously! 

Glorious Privilege (v. 10–12) 

Through looking at the Old Testament prophets' hope, we see how we have a knowledge of grace they never did. Even the angels desire to see our future inheritance of "the spirit of glory and God." We must recognize the incredible privilege we have as believers, and that privilege motivates us to live a life of rejoicing. 

Application Questions 

Klenzman leaves us with three questions to ask ourselves about if our lives reflect 1 Peter 1:1–12: 

1. Does your free time reflect your love for Jesus?  
2. When you are stressed or burdened, where do you find comfort and refuge?   
3. What are the top three things you talked about this week? Are any of them reflecting God? 

Our chapel speaker this morning was Ryan Bangert, Senior Vice President for Strategic Initiatives and Special Counsel to the President at Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF). He preached on Acts 4 and told many powerful stories of ways God has used ordinary Christians to stand up for His truth in a world that is against Him.

Courage Displayed by the Apostles

The men in Acts 4 faced opposition because of their Christianity, but they didn’t respond with private passivity. They led with Spirit-guided action that will always produce a response. In this passage, we can see a response both from those opposed to the Gospel and those called to the Gospel.

Notice the boldness of the apostles. Their courage showed the rulers that they had been abiding with Christ. What changed was not their temperament or education, but Who they had spent time with.

Courage Displayed by Believers Today

Just like them, believers today are called to exhibit courage in the face of opposition. We have an extraordinary God who accomplishes amazing things for the Kingdom through people who lead with boldness.

Bangert told a story of a therapist who was not allowed to share the truth with her young clients because of a law passed in Colorado. If she told these children God’s good design for gender, she would be fined and stripped of her counseling license. She was not allowed to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.

This woman answered with courage by reaching out to ADF, who challenged that law. The Supreme Court ruled 8–1 that Colorado’s law violated her first amendment rights to freedom of speech. This is a wonderful example of how ordinary people, empowered by an extraordinary God, accomplish amazing things for the Kingdom by leading with courage that starts on our knees in prayer.

Courage Displayed by You

No matter where God has put you in the world and no matter what He has given you to do, you are on the front lines of an eternal conflict raging today between truth and error. You are called to exhibit courage.

This is not easy. You may take a courageous stand and feel like you are alone in doing so. Maybe the story won’t end exactly the way you would have written it. Remember that God is working and has a plan for your life, even in those difficult times.

Real courage is not the kind of courage that hates and insults your enemies. Real courage is grounded in the love of Jesus Christ.

Courage is not manufactured. It’s a byproduct of a life lived first in quiet communion with Jesus. Let’s abide with Christ and spend time on our knees in prayer so that we can go out and stand boldly for the truth.

Ministry in the Marketplace 

Dr. Mark Whitacre, Vice President of Culture and Care at Coca-Cola Consolidated and guest speaker at Cedarville's Impact 2026 conference, spoke about two aspects of faith in the workplace. First, he shared how his company, Coca-Cola Consolidated, promotes the Gospel in the workplace and ministers to employees. Afterward, Dr. Whitacre shared his own testimony of how he came to know God and how Christianity influenced his values at work. 

Promoting a Gospel Culture in the Workplace 

Dr. Whitacre emphasized three ways Coca-Cola Consolidated pours into their employes: chaplains, prayerful mentorship, and physical blessings. Through these ministries, the company prospers and has the highest retention and productivity rates in its industry. 

All 124 Coca-Cola Consolidated plants have chaplains; there is a chaplain present for every 200 employees. Dr. Whitacre emphasized that the purpose of the company is to bring employees to God. Chaplains can pour into employees, encourage them, and provide direct lines of contact through the company. Through the chaplains, hundreds of employees are saved or recommit to Christ. 

Coca-Cola Consolidated also features 154 prayer groups and yearlong discipleship programs for their employees, helping their faith grow. The company pays for books, dinners, and retreats centered around and plugging employees into God's Word and teaching them to be better spouses, parents, and workers through prayer, Scripture, and testimony-sharing. 

Finally, Coca-Cola Consolidated helps meet employees' physical needs. Through their benevolence fund, the company blesses employees who struggle due to illness in the family or when an employee's spouse loses their job. They also have their own disaster relief team to assist employees after a crisis.  

Personal Testimony 

To end, Dr. Whitacre shared his personal testimony of how Christ caused him to turn away from corrupt business practices. While an atheist and working at a corrupt company, he learned about an illegal price-fixing operation. His wife, a Christian, influenced him to report them to the FBI despite the huge material wealth the family would be risking. With the help of a new mentor, his wife's continued prayer, and God's work on his heart, Dr. Whitacre came to know Christ and changed his perspective on work to serve God, not money.

Thomas White, President of Cedarville University, spoke about gambling and encouraged us to ask, “What are my actions teaching my heart to love?”

Dr. White defined gambling as “staking money or something valuable on an uncertain outcome where the person has no ability to influence the results in hope of receiving a greater return through the wager.” He walked us through four questions to analyze our actions.

Question #1: Does this seek my neighbor’s good?

Scriptures like Proverbs 3:27–29 call us to love our neighbors by seeking their good. We must consider others when we decide what to do with our money.

Love considers a neighbor’s loss. In gambling, someone profits at their neighbor’s expense. Love also honors a neighbor’s worth. If you bet on sports, you may begin to resent injured players or referees who make a bad call because they are losing your money. This is the wrong heart posture to have.

Question #2: Am I seeking a shortcut?

Scripture tells us to work with diligence. Proverbs 28:19 talks about working in the field God has given you, and verse 20 talks about valuing faithfulness more than speed.

Faithfulness might look like showing up for your shift or completing your assignment when you’d rather do something else.

Betting sells you the shortcut — asking to abandon the Father’s will by skipping the hard work and getting the reward quickly. Satan offered Jesus the same thing. But as Christians, we should be willing to work, save, wait, and give.

Question #3: Is this becoming my master?

Societal harm comes from gambling. A lottery can be sold as a way out of hardship for people in need. As Dr. White said, “when one person’s financial desperation becomes another person’s business opportunity, something has gone wrong.”

We can become addicted to the dopamine hits that gambling gives us. Respect your personal limits. Proverbs 25:28 talks about a man without self-control. You might promise yourself that you’ll be done after one more game, but when you lose, your emotions will tell you to keep going.

If you let your desires direct your decisions, your freedom to gamble may become bondage and addiction. Respond to warning signs when you notice them.

Question #4: Am I trusting in God’s provision?

Proverbs 30:8–9 encourages us to pray for the provision we need and to remember God. The goal is not to secure a life in which we never need Him; the goal is to walk with Him faithfully in plenty or in poverty.

We are also encouraged to faithfully manage what we have been given. Everything is the Lord’s. Would you use His money to gamble?

Consider your motives. Faithful stewardship does not eliminate every risk, but are you serving the Master’s purposes with that risk or yours?

God gives us money, and we should use that money to give generously to others. If you’re stuck deep in a gambling problem, come to Him! His mercy and forgiveness are greater than all your sins.