Undergraduate Chapel: Spring 2014 [Video]

The Spiritual Development staff lead their audience in a reflection on the previous Monday's chapel by Dr. Todd Pickett. They emphasize the God's loving faithfulness toward his children and the gratitude that believers should have in response. The staff encourage their audience to present themselves honestly and vulnerably before God, understanding that they will not be greeted with shame but rather love and patience.

After a brief introduction of the 2013 Ruby Awards recipients from President Barry Corey, Dr. La Verne Tolbert addresses Biola's student body. She shares her testimony of being healed of a deep wound from a difficult mother situation as a child. Tolbert encourages her audience to identify the lies that the enemy tells them about themselves and to live with the knowledge and freedom of their true identity in Christ.

Dr. Allen Yeh speaks about insecurity and vulnerability. He shares the many bits of armor he hides behind and identifies with his audience. Yeh explains that he is just like every other Christian: a sinner, saved by grace. Make a difference, Yeh says, but do it for Christ.

Rebekah Davis and Keaton Tyndall of Biola's Student Missionary Union introduce the 2013 Missions Conference. Sharing testimonies from the international mission field as well as the vision of SMU, they encourage their audience to walk as empowered servants of the almighty God. They share their own visions of participating in a movement filled with the power of God, and urge their audience to aspire after the same.

Shelly Cunningham explains the value and importance of being ordinary. She refers to John 6, where Jesus blesses a boy's five loaves and two fish, to illustrate that God has ordained people's means for every moment. Cunningham asserts that the work of God is accomplished when his people choose to give what they have in the moment.

Dr. John Coe explains that the Great Commission is not about leaving one's culture, but about making full-fledged disciples of people everywhere. Jesus' command to "go" and make disciples, Coe says, is not so profound a command; it simply means to go forth, and to make disciples wherever one is.

Dealing with Emotions While Remaining Hopeful / Danny Strange

Dr. John Coe explains that the Great Commission is not about leaving one's culture, but about making full-fledged disciples of people everywhere. He shows from Scripture that the role of Christians in the world is to grow others in every aspect of spiritual formation. The greatest place for a person to start fulfilling the Great Commission, Coe says, is right where he or she is.

My Walk as an Artist / Lia Chavez

Dr. Clay Jones presents an apologetics approach that challenges the thinking of Jehovah's Witnesses. By highlighting a contradiction in their definition of Jesus, Jones shows that Christians can help Jehovah's Witnesses to reconsider their doctrine and hopefully reevaluate their perception of the trinity.

Michael Ahn, Assistant Director of Chapel Programs, discusses periods of consolation and desolation in the life of a Christian. He explains that periods of consolation are gifts from God that orient the heart toward the creator, but they are not permanent. He encourages his audience, explaining that periods of desolation are also gifts from God, and they serve to teach believers that God loves them even in the depth of their sin.

President Barry Corey addresses the student body directly following Founder's Weekend. He identifies and outlines seven of Biola's core commitments, highlighting the ways that the University has succeeded and presenting the ways that the University will continue to progress. Corey celebrates Biola's commitment to its original standards and reminds his audience that it is ultimately the standards of Christ to which Biola must hold.

Rick Bee presents the 2013 Alumni Awards. As a panel, the award recipients share insight and advice from their careers and ministries. The alumni encourage students to take advantage of the immense resources Biola has to offer, to be grounded in their faith, and to seek out beauty in their lives.

Lisa Sharon Harper looks at Jesus' description of judgement in Matthew 25 and explains how it supports the equality of all people. She shows how the text emphasizes that people cannot love Jesus without loving the poor. Harper explains that the biblical implication of a righteous person is one who deals in equality.

Tiffany Dawn shares her testimony of struggling through an "insatiable quest for beauty." She explains that she misplaced her identity in her body image, which lead to eating disorders and a created need for affirmation from men. This changed, Dawn says, when she realized that in Christ she is a daughter, she is a "nomad-warrior," and she is redeemed.