Veritas COMO

How do you actually read the Bible and why does it matter? This week, we wrapped up summer Veritas by talking about how Scripture isn't just a rulebook, but God's invitation into a relationship with Him. We covered practical ways to start reading your Bible, what to do when it feels confusing, and why the goal isn't just more information, it's a transformed life. If you've ever wanted to know where to start or how to make Bible reading a real part of your faith, this conversation is for you.

This week at Veritas, we had an honest conversation about alcohol and what it looks like to follow Jesus in a college culture where drinking is everywhere. We talked about why God gives good gifts with good boundaries, how to navigate the pressures of fitting in, and how faithfulness isn't about being self-righteous or finding loopholes, it's about living for God's glory. Whether you're 21 or not, the challenge is the same: will you trust Jesus enough to follow Him, even when it's different from everyone around you?

This week at Veritas we tackled a question that every college student faces: How should followers of Jesus handle conflict? We talked about why avoiding hard conversations rarely leads to peace, and how Scripture calls us to be peacemakers who actively pursue reconciliation. Rather than seeing conflict as a sign that something is broken, we explored how healthy conflict can actually deepen relationships, build trust, and help us grow. Most importantly, we looked at how the way Jesus has reconciled us to God becomes the model for how we forgive, seek peace, and move toward one another with humility and grace.

This week at Veritas, we kicked off our summer question series by talking about dating. Scripture shows us that both marriage and singleness are good gifts, but dating should ultimately point us toward Jesus. We talked about pursuing someone who genuinely loves and follows Jesus, setting boundaries that help us say yes to Him, and remembering that our identity is rooted in Christ, not in who we date.

This week at Veritas, we wrapped up the Sermon on the Mount by asking one final question: what are you building your life on? Jesus says storms will come, and when they do, the foundation will show. A life built on comfort, success, relationships, or control may look fine for now, but it won’t last. Jesus invites us to build now, build deep, and build on him because he is the only foundation strong enough to withstand the storm.

This week at Veritas, we talked about Jesus’ invitation to enter through the narrow gate. In a world full of options, flexibility, and fear of missing out on something better, Jesus calls us to a path that is narrow, costly, and hard—but leads to real life. The wide path may look like freedom, but it leads to destruction. The narrow path may look restrictive, but it leads to Jesus himself. Following him isn’t just about saying the right things, feeling spiritual, or doing Christian activities. It’s about knowing Jesus and being known by him.

This week at Veritas, we talked about what it looks like to respond with kindness in a world that teaches us to match energy, sort people into boxes, and give others what they give us. Jesus points us to a better way: not treating people how they treat us, but treating them how we would want to be treated. Because God met us with mercy when we didn’t deserve it, we’re called to initiate good, even when it’s hard, inconvenient, or undeserved. Kindness isn’t weakness or passivity. It’s the fruit of a life shaped by the kindness of Jesus.

This week, we wrestled with a hard question: what do you do when you pray and nothing happens? Jesus says in Matthew 7:7–8 to ask, seek, and knock. But what about when the answer is no? We were reminded that the struggle isn’t just unanswered prayer, it’s that we often fixate on what God can give us instead of who He is. Looking across Scripture, one thing becomes clear: God’s priority has always been presence. God is relentlessly pursuing relationship with His people. So maybe unanswered prayers aren’t evidence that God isn’t good… maybe they’re an invitation to trust His heart more than His hand.

This week, we were challenged to take a hard look at our own hearts before pointing out the flaws in others. Jesus’ words in Matthew 7 show how easy it is to focus on the speck in someone else’s eye while ignoring the plank in our own. Instead of living with a critical spirit, we’re invited to recognize our own sin, receive God’s mercy, and walk in humility. When we truly see how much grace we’ve been given, it reshapes how we treat the people around us.

What if the anxiety so many of us feel isn’t coming from having too little, but from constantly consuming more? This week, Patrick challenged us with Jesus’ words on worry and invited us to consider how the things we use to cope can actually keep us trapped. Instead of looking to more comfort, more distraction, or more escape, Jesus calls us to trust our Father, seek his kingdom first, and find the kind of freedom only he can give.