Faith Baptist Bible College and Theological Seminary

Pastor Dave Heisterkamp shares his personal testimony of how God used students from Faith Baptist Bible College to lead him to Christ at age 21. He examines the radical changes that occurred in the apostle Paul's life after his conversion and draws parallels to his own transformation from a broken party guy to a passionate follower of Christ.

Scripture Text

2 Corinthians 5:13-21

Main Points or Ideas

1. New Passion for Christ - Paul went from hating and persecuting Christians to being controlled and compelled by Christ's love. The love of Christ acts like a dam that constrains us from certain things while propelling us forward with incredible force toward God.
2. A New Promise of Change - Verse 17 declares that if anyone is in Christ, they are a new creation - the old has passed away and the new has come. Change is not a maybe for believers; it's a certainty. Have-to's become want-to's.
3. A New Perspective About People - Paul's view of people completely changed after his conversion. Instead of separating himself from others as a Pharisee, he began to see everyone through the lens of the cross with compassion, recognizing that he was once lost too.
4. A New Purpose in Life - Believers are given the ministry and message of reconciliation. We are ambassadors for Christ, and our banner is not separation but reconciliation - bringing enemies close as friends, making the broken whole, and drawing the distant near.

Conclusion

God melted Dave's heart and molded his life through the faithful witness of a Faith student named Deb, who demonstrated Christ-like convictions by refusing to compromise her standards. Her boundaries and convictions, rather than building fences, created a compelling testimony that led a broken young man to surrender his life to Christ.

Rand Hummel addresses the fear many Christians have of sharing their faith with friends, calling it "materia phobia" - the fear of witnessing. He challenges young people to overcome this fear and actively share the gospel with their unsaved friends, emphasizing that God has not given us a spirit of fear but of power, love, and sound mind.

Scripture Texts

2 Timothy 1:7; Romans 1:16; 1 Peter 4:16; Psalm 118:6; 1 John 4:18; Colossians 1:16; 1 Peter 3:18; Romans 10:13; Acts 3:19; Romans 6:23

Main Points or Ideas

• God has not given us a spirit of fear - Christians cannot blame timidity or natural shyness for their failure to witness, as God provides power, love, and sound mind to share the gospel
• Perfect love casts out fear - When we truly love our unsaved friends, we will overcome our fear of rejection because we don't want them to spend eternity separated from God
• Many live in a "Christian bubble" - Too many young Christians only associate with other Christians and need to intentionally reach out to unsaved friends who are hurting and need Jesus
• There are only two religions in the world - Every religion except Christianity is based on "do" (earning salvation through works), while Christianity is "done" (salvation completed through Christ's work on the cross)
• Witnessing is about relationships - The most important relationship is a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, and teens respond best to their peers sharing this truth
• Some will reject, ignore, or postpone - Not everyone will accept the gospel, but our job is to share faithfully, not to save people
• Use simple tools - If you can read, you can witness using gospel tracts like "The Bridge" to clearly explain sin, salvation, and the need for personal faith in Christ

Conclusion

Hummel challenges each listener to think of three unsaved friends and commit to sharing the gospel with them individually before Christmas, emphasizing that our job is simply to share the truth about Jesus - God does the saving.

Rand Hummel challenges youth to examine their speech patterns, explaining that our tongues reveal the true condition of our hearts. He emphasizes that we talk about what we think about, and we think about what we love, making our words a direct reflection of our inner spiritual state.

Scripture TextPsalm 19:14

Main Points or Ideas

• The Whining Tongue - Complaining and griping displease God and reveal an unthankful heart. Jesus told his followers to stop murmuring, and Paul instructed believers to do all things without murmurings and disputing.
• The Lying Tongue - Lying is an abomination to the Lord and shows we love ourselves more than others. When we lie, we act like Satan, who is the father of lies, and it reveals a deceitful heart.
• The Hurtful Tongue - Contrary to the saying "sticks and stones will break my bones, but words will never hurt me," words do hurt deeply. Corrupt communication should never proceed from our mouths, and attacking others with bitter words reveals a mean heart.
• The Angry Tongue - Quick anger stirs up strife and shows foolishness, while being slow to anger demonstrates great understanding. An angry tongue reveals an angry heart that refuses to forgive.
• The Wicked Tongue - Filthy talking, foolish talking, and taking God's name in vain are not funny or cute. This type of speech reveals a wicked heart that doesn't understand the pain behind immoral situations.
• The Wise Tongue - God wants us to have tongues that are thankful, truthful, kind, forgiving, and clean. This includes being kind to family members, forgiving others as God has forgiven us, and keeping our speech pure.

ConclusionSince our tongues are tattletales of our hearts, we must carefully guard our speech and pray daily that the words of our mouths and meditations of our hearts be acceptable to God. The invitation extends through Christmas break as an opportunity to renew relationships with family through careful speech.

Rand Hummel challenges believers to examine their view of God and how it affects their daily lives. He emphasizes that our theology - what we believe about God - directly impacts the fruit we produce in our lives, and calls listeners to be imitators of God as His dear children.

Scripture TextEphesians 5:1

Main Points or Ideas

• The Command to Imitate God - The verse "Be therefore followers of God, as dear children" contains nine words that can change your life. The word "followers" means to imitate or be imitators of God, requiring us to know God really well.

• Wrong Theology Produces Bad Fruit - When we believe lies about God (that He doesn't love us, won't forgive us, doesn't care, is angry with us), we produce negative fruit in our lives like loneliness, anger, bitterness, and hopelessness. The speaker illustrated this with a tree diagram showing negative characteristics.

• Right Theology Produces Good Fruit - A proper view of God produces good fruit like love, joy, peace, patience, and self-control. When we truly understand that God loves us, forgives us, cares for us, and wants the best for us, our lives change.

• How to Grow in Love for God - Two essential steps: First, get to know God better by spending significant time with Him (not just ten minutes). The speaker shared his personal experience of spending two hours daily in Psalms for 18 months. Second, understand who you are - admit your wickedness and sinfulness, recognizing yourself as the chief of sinners.

• The Example of Dear Children - Children are strong in faith and naturally trust. As God's dear children, we should approach Him with childlike faith, believing He is wonderful, loving, and forgiving, and that He rewards those who diligently seek Him.

ConclusionGrace and peace are multiplied in our lives through the knowledge of God and Jesus Christ. To experience this multiplication, we must grow in our knowledge of God while honestly acknowledging our sinful nature, allowing us to be true imitators of God as His beloved children.

Drawing from Joshua chapter 24, Dr. Paul Hartog challenges students at the start of a new academic year to renew their commitment to serving the Lord with the same dedication that Joshua called the Israelites to demonstrate. Just as Israel stood on the threshold of conquest in the Promised Land, students stand on the cusp of a new semester requiring renewed spiritual commitment.

Scripture Text

Joshua 24:14-15 (with context from Joshua 24:1-31)

Main Points or Ideas

1. The Challenge - Serve the Lord not only in action but also in attitude, with fear (reverential awe), sincerity (wholeness and integrity), and truth (genuine commitment). This involves both outward obedience and inward heart commitment.

2. The Exchange - Put off the false gods and idols that compete for our loyalty (materialism, convenience, grades, relationships, procrastination, lack of self-discipline) and put on true worship and service to the Lord, following the biblical pattern of "put off/put on."

3. The Choice - Make a personal, pressing, and exclusive decision about whom you will serve. Joshua presents the choice as absurd - why would anyone choose powerless, man-made idols over the living God who has demonstrated His faithfulness throughout history?

4. The Resolve - Demonstrate determined leadership like Joshua, who declared "as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." This involves leading by example and influencing others within your sphere of influence, whether in the dorm, on sports teams, or in studies.

Conclusion

Joshua's challenge to covenant renewal remains relevant today, calling believers to serve God with both action and proper attitude, to exchange false loyalties for true devotion, and to demonstrate resolute leadership that influences others toward faithful service to the Lord.

Drawing from the "hall of faith" in Hebrews 11, Pastor Lezza compares this chapter to looking through a family photo album, seeing snapshots of how faith has worked throughout history. He focuses on verses 13-16, which initially seemed discouraging because they speak of people who "died in faith" without receiving the promises, but reveals how this teaches us to live as strangers and pilgrims looking for a better, heavenly country.

Scripture Texts

Hebrews 11:13-16; Hebrews 11:1-2, 6-7; John 14:2-3; 2 Peter 1:4

Main Points or Ideas

1. Faith Defined - Faith has two parts according to Hebrews 11:1: substance (like a title deed - the promises of God we possess) and evidence (structuring our lives around what we believe, not just agreeing with facts)

2. Faith Displayed - Examples like Noah building an ark for 120 years based on God's warning about unseen rain, and Abraham leaving his homeland not knowing where he was going, show that true faith moves us to action based on believing God's promises

3. Faith Delayed - These heroes died in faith without receiving the promises, but they were:

• Persuaded (convinced of the truth)
• Embraced it (welcomed it like a greeting, making it part of who they are)
• Confessed they were strangers and pilgrims (recognizing this world is not their home)
• Declared they sought a better country (living for the heavenly city Jesus is preparing)

Conclusion

We must remember Lot's wife, who had spiritual privilege but looked back longingly at the world she was rescued from, and instead look to Jesus who endured the cross for the joy set before Him. As those privileged to grow up in the gospel, we should live as strangers and pilgrims, satisfied in Christ and looking forward to the better country He has prepared for us.

Pastor Tim Capon addresses Bible college students about the intense, condensed training they will experience at Faith Baptist Bible College. He emphasizes that this time is not just a pause in life but a significant transition where students will face many important decisions that will shape their future ministry and walk with God.

Scripture Text

Romans 12:1-2

Main Points or Ideas

1. Finding and Committing to a Local Church

• Talk with the right people (parents, pastor, godly mentors, and God)
• Start looking by attending several different churches to experience variety
• Spend time getting to know the people by introducing yourself and meeting with the pastor
• Ask important questions about your motivations and whether the church is a good fit for growth and service
• Make a decision, settle it, and plug in to work - devote yourself completely rather than being a consumer or spectator

2. Your Salvation - Understanding the Gospel

• Paul addresses both believers and those who may not yet be saved in the Roman churches
• Pastor Capon shares his personal testimony of being saved at age 28 during missions conference at Faith Bible College, realizing he had never truly trusted Christ despite attending church and even applying to Bible college
• The importance of examining yourself to see whether you are truly in the faith rather than assuming salvation

3. Your Life - Presenting Yourself as a Living Sacrifice

• Because of God's mercies, believers should present their bodies as a living sacrifice to God
• This is a once-for-all presentation that puts your life at God's disposal
• It means giving God a blank sheet of paper and saying "here's my life, use it as you will"
• This decision lays the foundation for every other decision you will make in life

Conclusion

Pastor Capon urges students to make these three crucial decisions: find a church and plug in completely, make sure of their salvation, and present their lives as living sacrifices to God. He emphasizes that today would not be a bad day to settle these matters and put one's life at God's disposal.

Dr. Jim Tillotson addresses the critical issue of moral purity, specifically focusing on pornography addiction and sexual sin among college students. He emphasizes that these struggles are common but warns that continued sin leads to a hardened heart that becomes insensitive to God's Word and will ultimately hurt future marriages, children, and ministry opportunities.

Scripture Text

Hebrews 3:7-19

Main Points or Ideas

• An Example Not to Follow (verses 7-10) - The nation of Israel serves as a warning against hardening our hearts despite seeing God's power and provision. Just as Israel continued in unbelief after witnessing God's miracles for 40 years, students today can become spiritually insensitive through moral sin, particularly pornography addiction.
• God's Response to a Hard Heart (verses 10-11) - God was angry with Israel's generation and prevented them from entering His rest due to their continued unbelief. Similarly, God hates sin but loves sinners, and while He can forgive and restore, there are consequences for hardening our hearts against Him.
• Good Advice (verses 12-13) - The passage warns against developing "an evil heart of unbelief" and encourages believers to exhort one another daily. Victory over sexual sin requires confession to others for accountability and healing, as referenced in James 5:16 and Galatians 6:1-2.

Conclusion

Students must respond to God's conviction while their hearts are still sensitive, as waiting will only make the decision harder as hearts become more callous. The key to victory over sexual sin is confession and accountability with others, not trying to overcome it alone.

Speaking to Bible college students at the beginning of their semester, Dr. Les Ollila emphasizes the critical importance of obedience to God's Word. He shares personal testimonies of revival that occurred when young people stopped sitting on their disobedience and chose to obey what God had already revealed to them, setting the stage for examining different responses to God's wisdom.

Scripture Text

Proverbs 1:22-33 with additional references throughout Proverbs

Main Points or Ideas

Category 1: The Fool

• Rages against God's wisdom and authority rather than simply disagreeing
• Sins with confidence and rejects wisdom completely
• Is probably lost spiritually and doesn't respond even to severe correction
• Has no place in a Christian institution because their influence spreads and corrupts the atmosphere

Category 2: The Scorner

• Will not listen to instruction or rebuke
• Will not love those who reprove them and seeks out like-minded rebels instead
• Will hate you if you try to correct them
• Must be dealt with severely and ultimately removed from the group to prevent contention and strife

Category 3: The Simple One (The Redeemable)

• Lacks knowledge but is teachable and hungry to grow
• Believes everything and is easily influenced, particularly by scorners
• Does not foresee evil and walks headlong into dangerous situations
• Learns from object lessons when seeing scorners and fools disciplined
• Represents where most Christians begin and can grow into wisdom with proper guidance

Guidelines for helping the simple:

• Protect them from scorners and fools
• Expose them to wise people
• Don't give them too much freedom until they mature

Conclusion

Dr. Ollila concludes by emphasizing that we all begin as "simple ones" who need to grow in wisdom, and he expresses gratitude for the privilege of investing in students' lives. He warns against ingratitude using the example of King Joash, encouraging students to thank those who have poured into their lives, as ingratitude always ends in tragedy.

Introduction

Over the course of nine months, Faith students are exposed to God's Word hundreds of times through chapel messages, devotions, Bible classes, and sermons. The question is not how much they hear, but whether they are transformed by it. There are opposing forces that keep people from receiving the full effect of God's Word in their lives, and they need to be ready to overcome them.

Scripture Text

Luke 8:4-21

Main Points or Ideas

• Reject Disinformation - Satan uses disinformation to snatch God's Word from your heart before it can transform you. He introduces skepticism, doubt, and resistance through thoughts like "I've heard this before," "This is boring," or "I've failed too many times for God to change me." Submit to God, resist the devil, and draw near to God to overcome these lies.

• Go Deeper Than Just Emotion - Some people respond emotionally to God's Word but have no root system to sustain them during times of testing. They believe for a while but fall away when faced with opposition, temptation, or adversity. Don't allow yourself to be ruined by shallow emotional responses - make up your mind to have a heart that's soft and ready to receive God's Word.

• Eliminate All Competition - The cares of life, riches, and pleasures can choke out God's Word like thorns choking plants. Daily concerns, financial worries, and the pursuit of pleasure can distract you from listening to and living by God's Word. Cast your cares on God, seek His kingdom first, and resolve not to be controlled by temporary pleasures.

• Take a Positive Stance Toward God's Message - Come to God's Word with an honest and good heart - an open, unprejudiced mind that is predisposed to believe and follow what you hear. Be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger. Own the Word by holding it fast, making it your own through concentrated effort, and then let it own you as you bear fruit with patience and perseverance.

Conclusion

Listening to and living by God's Word is not just obligation but a conveyor of grace into your life. God's Word will build you up and give you your inheritance as it shines His favor into your life, saving, sanctifying, enabling, and equipping you for ministry.