This week at College Life, Cole Snowdon, one of the College Life residents spoke about the Good Shepherd in the fourth of Jesus' seven "I AM" statements. Cole talks through John 10:11-18 where we see that the Good Shepherd protects His sheep with His own life (vs. 11-13), the Good Shepherd knows whom He is protecting (vs. 14-16), and the Good Shepherd's ultimate protection comes through His death and resurrection (vs. 17-18).

One of the ways Jesus claims to be God throughout His ministry is through the 7 "I AM" statements, directly referring to God's name revealed to Moses in Exodus 3. The first one appears in John 6, as Jesus claims to satisfy as the Bread of Life. Kevin Choate teaches us that God's bread is given to the hungry (6:25-33), God's bread always satisfies (6:34-40), and God's bread lasts forever (6:41-50).

Kevin Choate teaches through James 3:1-18, alongside 1 Timothy 1:6-8, Psalm 120:1-3, and Matthew 15:10-20 to show us the danger of the tongue, the incoherency of the tongue, and the duality of wisdom.

You can read the transcript here.

Our trials don't have to hinder our walk with God, in fact, they can tell us more about what it means to walk in God's designed holiness. Kevin kicks off a new series in James, looking at how the various trails we face can give us a deeper insight into God's purpose, perspective and patience for our lives on earth. Reflection Questions:

1. What are some of the barriers in believing that God has a purpose for our trials? What are some helpful reminders when struggling with this idea?

2. Read 1 Peter 5:6-10:What role does humility play in salvation from God?What are some things we cast our anxiety before God? What does this say about what we are actively believing in those moments?Does knowing there is an actual enemy create a sense of importance in how we face trials?

3. Read Psalm 42. Go section by section and identify how the Psalmist rests his hope in God and not his situation.

4. Do you find that your mood/hope is affected more by your circumstances/situation than on the truth of who God is and his promises?

5. Who is someone you can you encourage this week with this hopeful message?

In the last part of the series on God's redemptive plan for the nations, Kevin talks about the Christians' future to come. He breaks down the Biblical timeline of end time events emphasizing how we are to live in light if the Millennial Kingdom to come. Reflection Questions:

1. Does it give you hope knowing that when Christ comes back, He will also judge? That means every wrong will also be punished, but also eventually undone. What is your reaction to this reality?

2. Read Psalm 110:1-2. What does Jesus's future rule sound like?

3. Have you considered that your good works will be judged? How are you stewarding the life God has given you?

4. Over the past few weeks, we have been looking at the story of Scripture. So far, diagnose if you understand your Bible and its History.

5. Read Matthew 24:36, many want to KNOW when the End Times begin and worry themselves endlessly. What is a better response to knowing how History will play out in the end?

6. The world will not continue forever, but will have an appointed end. Does that give you an urgency in life?

1. Do you ever find yourself living in an age of Law mindset rather than an age of Grace mindset? How so?
2. Read 2 Corinthians 3:6-18. Compare and contrast the Old and New Covenants.
3. Jesus's sacrifice is special in many ways. One way is that is has the power to take away sin (Hebrews 9:26). Does knowing this provide any type of freedom to you? What does trusting in this sacrifice look like? Read Romans 10:9-10
4. What is encouraging about the fact that righteousness is not based on our works/adherence to the law but is imputed to us through faith in Christ?
5. Read the seven woes to the Pharisees in Matthew 23. How would you explain this passage to someone who has never read the Bible? Do you relate to the Pharisees at all in this passage? How can we not be like the Pharisees here?