The Christ-Centered Mind:

Top Ten Faith Challenges in College

Three Outcomes

1. Take a Dive – students walk away from their faith commitment and no longer profess to be Christian.

2. Withdraw to Survive experience.

– students learn to compartmentalize their faith as a personal choice while struggling through the complexities of the college 3. Strengthen and Thrive – students grow spiritually and strengthen their faith through the challenges of the college experience.

Top Ten Faith Challenges

1. The Faith Challenge

Faith Identity Faith substance Faith Commitment

Top Ten Faith Challenges

1. The Faith Challenge 2. The Freedom Challenge 3. The Diversity Challenge 4. The Time Challenge 5. The Social Challenge

Top Ten Faith Challenges

6. The Relationship Challenge 7. The Community Challenge 8. The Input Challenge 9. The Output Challenge 10. The Commitment Challenge

Action Points for Prospective College Students

• First • Third , accept the fact that your faith will be tested.

• Second , take the time to understand what you believe.

, take responsibility for your personal choices and your faith. • Finally and most importantly, make a radical preemptive strike

now

about your future.

Action Points

We must pay more careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard so that we do not drift away.

~Hebrews 2:1

Action Points

Therefore, I urge you, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God —this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

~Romans 12:1-2

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Myths of the Prevailing Culture Love and Sex

Love is a feeling and sex is the adult way to express it.

Sex is just like everything else; in order to make wise choices about it, you have to experience it.

Without sex, you’ll never know whether you’re compatible with someone; without living together, you’ll never know whether a marriage would work.

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Myths of the Prevailing Culture Love and Sex

Sex outside of marriage is romantic.

Sex outside of marriage holds relationships together.

Sex outside of marriage is a sign of commitment. Sex is a physical need and physical needs can’t be wrong.

Sex is for pleasure and pleasure can’t be wrong.

Marriage is boring because there isn’t any variety.

Challenges for Current Christian College Students

• “I can coast at a Christian college.” • “It’s not my fault.” • “It’s MY life.”

Challenges for Current Christian College Students

• “I can coast at a Christian college.” –

DECIDE who you want to become.

• “It’s not my fault.” –

TAKE RESPONSIBILITY for your choices

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• “It’s MY life.” –

ACKNOWLEDGE that it’s really not your life.