 |
| Monday, December 10 Speaker - Tim Griffin Dean of Students Pastor Tim Griffin read the Christmas story from the Gospel of Luke. "When we're drowning in the waters of life, God reaches out to us, and that's the essence of the Christmas story," Griffin said. "Find a moment and let God help you think deeply about how He has reached out to you. Like Mary, treasure in your heart the things God has spoken to you." Watch Video |
| Monday, December 3 Speaker - Brian Mueller GCU's president and CEO, Brian Mueller, spoke about the need for Christians to be God's agents of change in the world, citing the examples of 19th-century evangelist D.L. Moody and Shelby Valint, a 12-year-old girl who has benefited from groundbreaking work by the Translational Genomics Research Institute. "When God does something, He does it big and He makes bold moves," Mueller said. Watch Video |
| Monday, November 26 Speaker - Marc Moore Chapel audience heard from Marc Moore, a member of the pastoral staff at Christ's Church of the Valley in Peoria. Using James 5:14 as the basis for his remarks, Moore said, "In the Bible, confessing (our sins) isn't getting it off your chest - it's eradicating the issue. ... If we can master the confession of sin in our lives, we can live healthier." Watch Video |
| Monday, November 19 Speaker - Russ Pennell Russ Pennell Shares on Community at Chapel GCU's head coach for men's basketball, Russ Pennell, offered his thoughts on community. "The way community works is very simple," said Pennell, who was interviewed by Dean of Students Pastor Tim Griffin. "It's when you're willing to do something for someone else that might put you out but will enhance their life.... All of us have been called to serve the person next to us." Watch Video |
| Monday, November 5 Speaker - Jon Demeter Jon Demeter of Athletes in Action made the analogy of going through life with a backpack full of bricks to make a point about forgiveness. Every time we don't forgive someone, that's another brick in our backpack. And when we do that, "we begin to live life feeling loaded down," Demeter said. "We need to trust God to take the bricks out, so that we can live life free and not be bitter. ... What are the bricks that are inside for you? Whose names are on those bricks?" Watch Video |
| Monday, October 29 Speaker - Jim Bull Jim Bull, senior pastor of Palmcroft Baptist Church in Phoenix, said it is impossible to live in a godly community with a "me first" orientation. Bull used Paul's letters in Philippians and Romans as the basis for his message. "We are wired to want to be first," he said. "But in his letters, Paul called for us to live in community, give up ourselves and not be concerned about ‘me first' - but be aware that there is a world full of other people." Watch Video |
| Monday, October 22 Speaker - Jamie Rasmussen Jamie Rasmussen, senior pastor of Scottsdale Bible Church, offered the Chapel audience three "problem-handling truths" designed to help in coping with disappointments and setbacks. Using the parable of the prodigal son as his basis, Rasmussen said (1) life isn't always going to be fair, (2) no one owes us anything and (3) God loves us anyway. "These aren't magical," Rasmussen said, "but I carry them with me into life. They work, they take the edge off and they bring me closer to God." Watch Video |
| Monday, October 15 Speaker - Pastor Tim Griffin Dean of Students Pastor Tim Griffin used Jesus' words from Matthew 5:14-16 ("You are the light of the world") to challenge Chapel's audience and also to introduce Chuck Howard, GCU's strength and conditioning coach. Howard described how he ended up in Phoenix after attending college in the Midwest and living and working on the East Coast. "What will you do with the platform God has given you?" Griffin asked those in attendance. Scheduled speaker Ben Henderson, a mixed martial arts star, was unable to appear. Watch Video |
| Monday, October 8 Speaker - Josh Riebock Familiar to GCU Chapel audiences, Josh Reibock spoke about the apostle Paul's teachings on honesty in Colossians. "If you're lying, what are you trying to protect?" Riebock asked. "Lies are a way of escaping reality. Paul says, ‘Don't create a mirage.' A life in Christ is supposed to engage in reality." When we lie to God, Riebock said, we "commit to never knowing Him." Watch Video |
| Monday, September 24 Speaker - Dean Steve Gerali Using the loaves-and-fishes story from John 6 as his text, Dean Steve Gerali of the College of Theology spoke about obedience to Christ, saying it is neither suffocating nor unattainable. "When you start to understand obedience, what it means to follow Jesus, it's the most freeing thing you can ever experience," Gerali said. "He prompts us to be part of a great thing He's doing. ... Obedience is being caught up in something great." Watch Video |
| Monday, September 17 Speaker - Jeremy Jernigan Jeremy Jernigan, executive pastor of Central Christian Church of the East Valley, shared a message that unity does not mean we all have to agree on everything - and that thoughtful uncertainty and doubt are not evil. Jernigan said differences in opinion can be healthy. "Unity is not the lack of division," Jernigan said. "Biblical unity is the result of intentional harmony. ... Let's humbly acknowledge that we have doubts, and come together to harmonize in His church." Watch Video |
| Monday, September 10 Speaker - Brian Mueller GCU's president and CEO, Brian Mueller, addressed Chapel on the subject of forgiveness, saying it is the defining characteristic of Christian community. "Grace is costly to the giver," Mueller said. Watch Video |
| Monday, August 27 Speaker - Pastor Tim Griffin Chapel began the year this morning with a rousing message from Dean of Students Pastor Tim Griffin, who encouraged the audience to strive for selflessness through the busy year ahead. This year's Chapel theme, "Community: One Spirit, One Purpose," is inspired by the second chapter of Philippians. Griffin said each of this semester's speakers will address "how to treat each other and how to build community" as the University grows. "It has to be about the person sitting next to you ... the person sitting behind you," Watch Video |
