Empowered to Advance: Our Mission on Campus

This morning, the focus is on the profound calling and purpose that Jesus has given to His people, especially as it relates to reaching the next generation on our college campuses. Reflecting on my own journey, I shared how my faith became personal during my college years through the ministry of Chi Alpha, a movement dedicated to reconciling students to Christ and transforming the university, the marketplace, and the world. The college campus is a strategic mission field, shaping the future of our culture, and it is vital that we, as Christ’s ambassadors, bring the gospel into these places where so many are searching for truth and belonging.

We explored Jesus’ words in Matthew 16, where He asks His disciples, “Who do you say that I am?” This question is central for every believer. It’s not enough to know what others say about Jesus; each of us must have a personal revelation of who He is. Peter’s confession that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God, becomes the foundation upon which Jesus builds His church—a church that the gates of Hades cannot overcome. This is not a defensive posture; rather, the church is called to advance, to storm the gates of death and bring life wherever there is darkness.

Jesus gives us the keys to the kingdom, entrusting us with the mission to bind and loose, to bring heaven’s reality to earth. Our purpose is twofold: to be a family and to be an army. As a family, we are called to love one another deeply, to be a city on a hill—a beacon of hope and light in a world that often feels like the Dead Sea Valley. When people walk into our gatherings, they should encounter radical love and acceptance, not judgment or exclusion.

But we are also called to be salt—scattered throughout the world, preserving, healing, and enhancing the places God sends us. It doesn’t take many; just a few on fire for Jesus can transform a campus, a city, or even a nation. We must not only gather but also scatter, carrying our testimony and the power of the Holy Spirit into every sphere of influence. The mission is simple: go and make disciples, knowing that Jesus is with us always, and that even the smallest act of faithfulness can turn the world upside down.

Key Takeaways

• 1. The Question of Jesus’ Identity Is Personal Each person must answer Jesus’ question, “Who do you say that I am?” for themselves. It’s not enough to rely on inherited faith or cultural assumptions; a personal revelation from the Father is essential. This encounter with Jesus as the Christ transforms everything and becomes the unshakeable foundation of our lives. [19:14]
• 2. The Church Is Called to Advance, Not Retreat Jesus’ promise that the gates of Hades will not prevail means the church is on the offensive, not the defensive. We are called to march into places of spiritual death and declare that the gates have fallen—there is now a way out through Christ. Our mission is to bring life and hope where there is none, knowing that death is already defeated. [28:12]
• 3. Our Mission Is Both Family and Army We are called to be a spiritual family, marked by radical love, unity, and hospitality—a city on a hill that draws people out of darkness. At the same time, we are an army, sent out to the hardest places, equipped by the Holy Spirit to make disciples and transform culture. These two aspects—gathering and scattering—are inseparable and essential to our calling. [46:45]
• 4. Being Salt Means Scattering with Purpose Salt preserves, heals, and enhances, but only when it is spread out. If we only gather and never scatter, we miss half our purpose. God calls us to be present in every corner of society, even in small numbers, trusting that a little salt can change an entire environment for His glory. [52:27]
• 5. Every Believer Is Equipped for Mission You don’t need to be a theologian or a preacher to make a difference; your testimony and the presence of the Holy Spirit are enough. Jesus has given us the keys to the kingdom and the authority to go. If you have a story of how Jesus has changed your life, you are already equipped to impact others and fulfill the Great Commission. [58:05]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [01:20] - What Is Chi Alpha?
• [03:41] - My Testimony: Belonging Before Belief
• [05:08] - The Need on College Campuses
• [06:47] - The Mission Field in Colorado
• [12:21] - Vision and Prayer for Chi Alpha
• [14:03] - The True Purpose of the Church
• [19:14] - Who Do You Say Jesus Is?
• [22:14] - Pebble and Petra: The Foundation
• [24:31] - The Gates of Hades Will Not Prevail
• [27:04] - Auschwitz and the Gates of Death
• [28:12] - The Church on the Offensive
• [35:55] - A Story from Jordan: City on a Hill
• [43:02] - Mount Nebo and the Promised Land
• [45:33] - What Do People Find in the Church?
• [49:30] - Salt of the Earth: Scattering with Purpose
• [53:49] - The Power of a Little Salt
• [55:14] - Gathering and Scattering: The Full Mission
• [56:28] - Equipped by the Holy Spirit
• [58:05] - Go and Make Disciples

Bible Reading

Matthew 16:13-19 (ESV) — > Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”

Matthew 5:13-16 (ESV) — > “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet. You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”

Matthew 28:18-20 (ESV) — > And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Observation Questions

1. In Matthew 16, what is the difference between what “others” say about Jesus and what Peter confesses about Him? ([19:14])
2. According to the sermon, what does Jesus mean when He says “the gates of Hades will not prevail against” the church? How is this different from a defensive posture? ([28:12])
3. What two metaphors does Jesus use in Matthew 5 to describe His followers, and what do they mean in the context of the sermon? ([49:30])
4. What does Jesus give to Peter and, by extension, the church in Matthew 16:19? What is the significance of the “keys of the kingdom”? ([24:31])

Interpretation Questions

1. Why is it important for each person to answer Jesus’ question, “Who do you say that I am?” for themselves, rather than relying on what others say or on inherited faith? ([19:14])
2. The sermon says the church is called to be both a family and an army. What does it look like for a church to live out both of these identities at the same time? ([46:45])
3. How does the idea of being “salt” and “light” challenge the way we think about gathering as a church versus scattering into the world? ([52:27])
4. The sermon mentions that you don’t have to be a theologian or preacher to make a difference. How does your personal testimony equip you for the mission Jesus gives? ([58:05])

Application Questions

1. Jesus’ question, “Who do you say that I am?” is personal. Have you ever had a moment where your faith became your own, not just something you inherited? If so, what happened? If not, what’s holding you back from making it personal? ([19:14])
2. The sermon describes the church as being on the offensive, storming the gates of death to bring life. Where in your life or community do you see “gates” that need to be stormed with hope and truth? What would it look like for you to take a step toward that this week? ([28:12])
3. When people walk into our church or small group, do they experience radical love and acceptance, or do they feel judged or excluded? What is one thing you can do to make our gatherings more like a “city on a hill”? ([45:33])
4. Jesus calls us to be “salt”—to scatter and make a difference wherever we go. Think of one place (work, school, neighborhood, etc.) where you are “scattered” during the week. What is one practical way you can be salt in that place? ([52:27])
5. The sermon says it doesn’t take many—just a few on fire for Jesus can transform a campus, city, or nation. Who is one person God might be calling you to reach out to, and what is a simple step you can take this week? ([53:49])
6. The speaker shared that your testimony and the Holy Spirit’s presence are enough to make a difference. What is your story of how Jesus has changed your life? Are you willing to share it with someone this month? Why or why not? ([58:05])
7. The church is called to both gather and scatter. Which of these comes more naturally to you, and which is harder? What is one way you can stretch yourself in the area that’s more challenging? ([55:14])