Preach Christ Crucified! 1 Corinthians 1

^{1 Corinthians 1:18, 22-25
18} For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

This is a powerful verse for me as a Christian minister. For many consider my work, my fundraising, my life, my faith my choices foolishness. And to the world they are, they make no sense. But in the midst of the world and even some in the church criticizing what I do I must hold onto God who has called me to him and called me to his service. For I trust that God will use the message of the Cross through me to save some from darkness to light.

Here is a very helpful reminder for me in college ministry as many reject Christ:

²² Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, ²³ but we preach Christ crucified:a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, ²⁴ but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. ²⁵ For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.

Students at CU call themselves spiritual and think of themselves each as philosophers. They think they are wise and know for themselves right and wrong and truth. Yet I claim we are all foolish and God alone is wise. Students at CU demand signs and proof. They demand logic and science. But we continue to preach Christ crucified: as has been preached for over 2,000 years. 

Many reject this message and reject the God who created them. They reject Christ through whom the world was created. As John recorded of Jesus:

John 1:3-5
3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. ⁴ In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. ⁵ The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

To persevere rejection and continue my calling as a college minister I must remember: many will reject the message but a small few are called and will come to believe in the gospel and follow Christ. And for that hope I toil and strive that a few might be saved. 

I am only responsible for my own decision and actions to continue following Christ. Yet I hope God will work in peoples hearts through the message I preach. I love, hope, care for, outreach to, serve and pray for the 30,000+ students at CU. But I am not responsible for whether or not they respond to the message. I am only responsible for preaching it. And I hope in time that InterVarsity and Christian groups at CU could reach every single student with the gospel.

God I pray you would help me to persevere in preaching Christ crucified for your glory and that a few might believe and be saved. Help me to hold out hope against all opposition and rejection that some will believe and be saved. Raise up disciples of all nations at CU that they might carry your gospel far and wide that the whole world would be impacted by the light of Christ and the hope we have in Christ. 
Amen