Hero makers

Friday, August 9, 2019
Just like Jesus, we’re pivoting conversations to core business

One of the things I love about Jesus is that He’s direct. Jesus had a habit of pivoting the direction of a conversation to core business.

Like when Nicodemus, one the Pharisees, “came to Jesus by night and said to him, ‘Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him’” (John 3:2, ESV). Which is an interesting statement coming from a Pharisee, especially since they didn’t really get on with Jesus, to say the least. So, for a Pharisee to come to Jesus, declaring they knew he was a teacher come from God, is a bit rich.

But note the response. Jesus cuts through any and all foolishness, answering: “‘Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God’” (3:3, ESV). The statement throws Nicodemus off his game. He doesn’t understand what Jesus means because Jesus had changed the direction of the conversation.

Jesus continues to clarify in verse 5: “‘Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God’” (3:5, ESV). Among other things, Jesus was challenging Nicodemus to focus on what’s important: a call to embrace a renewing of our hearts, to be “born again,” to experience the working of God personally in our lives.

That’s what’s exciting about Avondale: you can see God moving. Our students, empowered and supported by our staff members and those of Avondale College Seventh-day Adventist Church, are growing spirituality on campus. The church has this year adopted a theme called Hero Maker. This is a contextual way of talking about, and focusing on, making disciples—and that’s what’s happening on campus.

The staff members of our college community are pouring into the lives of other staff members and students, and they in turn are pouring into the lives of others. Whether it’s our Friday evening worship program Salt (with a vision to “create and prepare disciples ready to influence the world”—how good is that?), or our students leading other students in Bible studies, supported and empowered by the pastoral team and me, or our second annual Festival of Faith (its theme: On Purpose, for His Purpose), God’s doing big things at Avondale.

He’s been moving before the beginning of time itself. He was doing something 2000 years ago when Jesus was physically walking the earth. He continues to move in powerful ways in 2019.

The Spirit of God is moving on this campus. And, just like Jesus, Avondale College Church and Avondale College in general are pivoting our conversations to core business: we’re focused on discipleship—becoming Hero Makers.

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Brock Goodall
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Brock Goodall

Pr Brock Goodall is chaplain on the Lake Macquarie campus of Avondale College of Higher Education.

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