Shows / RUF @ Western Carolina
RUF @ Western Carolina
Messages from the ministry of RUF at Western Carolina University. RUF is a ministry of the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA), to college campuses around the country and around the world, that seeks to reach students for Christ and equip them to serve. Whether you're a believer, a skeptic, exploring Christianity, wrestling with doubt, or just looking for community, RUF is for you!
Episodes
- RUF @ Western Carolina
Last Words - Place
What does it mean to think of ourselves as "sojourners and exiles" in the world? What does it look like to love our place, not just endure it?
- RUF @ Western Carolina
Last Words - Scripture
As Andrew's time as CM at Western winds down, listen in as we talk about the core of the Christian faith and life. This week, how does Scripture shape the way…
RUF @ Western CarolinaRelating through Conflict
We wrap up our series on relationships talking about conflict: our hope in conflict is that we have a reconciling God, which frees us to be reconciled to one…
RUF @ Western CarolinaDating 2 - The Fruit of the Spirit
Continuing our series on relationships, what would it look like if the fruit of the Spirit showed up in the way we date? And, if dating is "two friends…
RUF @ Western CarolinaDating 1 - Various Texts
We can't date wisely if we don't know what dating is! In this talk, we examine the definition of dating, and explore some implications for the ways we ought to…
RUF @ Western CarolinaMarriage - Ephesians 5
What is marriage? What is it for? And what does that mean for you today as college students?
RUF @ Western CarolinaSingleness - 1 Corinthians 7
This week we look at the topic of singleness. Paul calls it a gift, but do we see or experience it that way? What is singleness for, and how can we spend it…
RUF @ Western CarolinaRelating to Friends - Psalm 133
This week we look at friendship. What is it? How does it happen? And what stands in the way of us developing new friendships?
RUF @ Western CarolinaRelating to God - Matthew 6:9-13
We start our relationship series with the most fundamental of our relationships: with God. Looking at the Lord's Prayer, we discuss the three primary ways the…
- RUF @ Western Carolina
RUF 101 - Mary & Martha (Luke 10:38-42)
What is RUF? What do we want for you in your time at WCU?
RUF @ Western CarolinaEphesians - The Armor of God (6:10-24)
Finishing up the series on Ephesians, we look at the armor of God and see how this book is still all about Jesus.
RUF @ Western CarolinaEphesians - A New Way of Relating (5:21-6:9)
This week we look at Paul's instructions for the various relationships we have, asking what power looks like when it's used to serve rather than be served.
RUF @ Western CarolinaEphesians - Walk in Love (5:1-21)
Paul continues his instruction on what sanctification looks like in our lives. We explore a danger that can happen as we progress in sanctification: thinking…
RUF @ Western CarolinaEphesians - New Clothes (4:17-5:2)
What does it mean to "put off the old self" and "put on the new?" And what does any of it have to do with kudzu or Eustace Clarence Scrubb?
RUF @ Western CarolinaEphesians - Varied Grace (4:7, 11-12)
Paul says that God gave each individual in the Church a gift. What's yours, and what does it look like to use it for the building up of the body of Christ?
RUF @ Western CarolinaEphesians - One (4:1-16)
A shorter sermon this week, as we got to meet our incoming interns at Large Group! We're jumping into the 2nd half, where Paul brings his theological…
RUF @ Western CarolinaEphesians - A Gospel-Centered Life
We believe that we are saved by grace through faith, but our thoughts, actions, and fears betray that we think we're loved when we're good. What does it look…
RUF @ Western CarolinaEphesians - Brought Near
Eph 2:11-3:6 - This week we look at the communal aspects of the salvation accomplished for us by Christ. What does it mean that we've been united to one…
RUF @ Western CarolinaEphesians - Sturdy Faith
What does it look like to have a full picture of the Christian life? What happens when we leave out one leg of the stool? How do we get off balance?
RUF @ Western CarolinaEphesians - Eyes to See (1:14-23)
This week we continue looking at Ephesians 1, seeing the heart of Paul's prayer for that church. What is it that we most need?
RUF @ Western CarolinaEphesians - Loved by God (1:1-14)
Starting our series on Ephesians, we look at Paul's long declaration of praise to God, highlighting the adopting love of the Father, the redeeming love of the…
RUF @ Western CarolinaEcclesiastes: End of the Matter
How are we supposed to respond to the realization that life under the sun is all vanity? What does the preacher want us to do? And what on earth is a goad?
RUF @ Western CarolinaEcclesiastes: Lab Report - Justice
What does the Preacher say about the pursuit of justice in our world? What do we do with the seeming injustice that we see all around us?
RUF @ Western CarolinaEcclesiastes - Lab Report: Success
Pleasure won't give us meaning outside of God: what about work? Achievement? Accolades? Recognition?
RUF @ Western CarolinaEcclesiastes - Lab Report - Pleasure
The Preacher gives us his first experiment: can I find meaning in pleasure?
RUF @ Western CarolinaEcc 1 - What's the Point?
We start our short series on the book of Ecclesiastes this week, looking at the overall project of the book: what does the Preacher mean that "all things are…
RUF @ Western CarolinaThe Good Samaritan
Who is my neighbor? What does love of neighbor look like? What does it cost?
RUF @ Western CarolinaThe Pharisee & the Tax Collector
Where do we find our acceptance by God? What does it take for us to be welcomed, to be okay, to be justified?
RUF @ Western CarolinaLaborers in the Vineyard - A Story about Grace
Continuing our series on the parables, we look at Jesus' story about some workers who got what was promised, some who got more than expected, and the different…
RUF @ Western CarolinaThe Ungrateful Servant
This week we look at the parable of the Ungrateful Servant, asking what it means that we have been forgiven by God and how that frees us to forgive one another.
RUF @ Western CarolinaThe Rich Man & Lazarus
We continue our look at the parables with this story about Scripture. What do we make about Jesus' bold claim that miracles don't change people's minds…
RUF @ Western CarolinaThe Lost Sons
Continuing our series on the parables, we look at the parable of the Lost Sons in Luke 15. What does it mean to be lost? How do we find our way back home?
RUF @ Western CarolinaTreasure and Pearl
We start off our series on the Parables, and the new semester, with Jesus' brief parables on the treasure and the pearl.
RUF @ Western CarolinaSuCo 4 - The Lion and the Ring: Friendship
We wrap up our exploration of Narnia and Middle Earth talking about the virtue of friendship: why is it so important for us? How is it a help?
RUF @ Western CarolinaSuCo 3 - The Lion and the Ring: Life in the Shadowlands
Finishing out our conversation on salvation with Sanctification, we then turn to the vision of the Christian life and faithfulness these works set out. How do…
RUF @ Western CarolinaSuCo 2 - The Lion and the Ring: Sovereignty, Sin, and Salvation
Day 2 explores the reality of evil in Narnia and Middle Earth, as well as the unseen but ever-active hand of providence. We also look at Repentance and…
RUF @ Western CarolinaSuCo 1 - The Lion and the Ring: Christ Figures
I got to teach this seminar at SuCo, and wanted to share it here for any who want to give it a listen! This first day we talk about the goal of the seminar, as…
RUF @ Western CarolinaOrdinary - Sacraments
Finishing up our series on the ordinary means of grace, we take a look this week at the NT sacraments: baptism and the Lord's Supper. Where do they come from?…
RUF @ Western CarolinaOrdinary - Prayer
Continuing our short series on the ordinary means of grace, how can we enjoy prayer in a fuller way? How does it sustain us in the Christian life?
RUF @ Western CarolinaOrdinary - The Word
What does it take to grow as a Christian? What are we supposed to do? In this mini-series, we're working through the "ordinary means of grace," looking at the…
RUF @ Western CarolinaPsalm 51 - David & Nathan
How does David respond after being exposed for his sin? How should we?
RUF @ Western Carolina2 Sam 11 - David and the Woman
This week we look at the story of David and Bathsheba, asking how David could have gone so far astray. What does this reveal about sin in our own lives?
RUF @ Western Carolina2 Samuel 9 - David & Mephibosheth
What does a right response to the grace of God in our lives look like? Where does the power to respond in that way come from?
RUF @ Western Carolina2 Samuel 7 - David & God
Last time we looked at the Ark coming into Jerusalem, asking what happens when God comes into the center of our lives? This week we're looking at David's…
RUF @ Western Carolina2 Samuel 6 - David & the Ark
This week we skip ahead to the time when David is king over Israel. One of his first acts is to bring the Ark of the Covenant back to the center of the nation…
RUF @ Western CarolinaPsalm 57 - David & Saul
About half of the psalms contain an element of lament, but what does it mean to lament? Why do we struggle to do it? What might it sound like in our personal…
RUF @ Western CarolinaPsalm 133 - David & Jonathan
What is friendship? What stands in the way of our friendships? How can we be freed to be committed, present, and vulnerable as we build friendships with others?
RUF @ Western CarolinaI Samuel 17 - David & Goliath
This week we look at the familiar story of David and Goliath, asking how it fits into the bigger story of Scripture and points to Jesus' victory before it…
RUF @ Western Carolina1 Samuel 16 - Where are You Looking?
This week we start out our new sermon series looking at the life of David. Listen in as we meet him for the first time when Samuel anoints him as the next king…
RUF @ Western CarolinaMark 16:1-8 - Life with the King
This week we look at the empty tomb, taking a brief detour into the field of textual criticism.
RUF @ Western CarolinaMark 12 - Caesar and the King
How are Christians to navigate the political realities of the era they find themselves in? What are some of the complications, and what does it mean to "render…
RUF @ Western CarolinaMark 8-10 - The King's Followers
This week we look at the common ways that we can miss who Jesus is when we're too focused on what we want him to do for us.
RUF @ Western CarolinaMark 8:27-30, 9:2-13 - The King's Glory
This week we look at Peter's confession and the Transfiguration. What does it mean that Jesus is the Christ? What does it mean that he is God? And why does he…
RUF @ Western CarolinaMark 7:1-23 - The King's Challenge
Jesus' conflict with the Pharisees is escalating: why does Jesus call them "hypocrites?"
RUF @ Western CarolinaMark 5:21-43 - Waiting on the King
What do you do when the way God works doesn't make sense? When he seems "late" in giving you what you need?
RUF @ Western CarolinaMark 2:23-3:6 - The King's Rest
This week we look at two encounters Jesus had with the Pharisees on the Sabbath.
RUF @ Western CarolinaMark 2:1-12 - The Authority of the King
Continuing in Mark, we look at the surprising things that Jesus says in the healing of the paralytic.
RUF @ Western CarolinaMark 1:16-20 - Following the King
What does it mean to follow Jesus? This week we look at the call of the first disciples, and consider what it means for us when Jesus calls us to follow Him.
RUF @ Western CarolinaMark 1:1-16 - The Herald and the King
Fall '24 - This semester we're looking at the Gospel of Mark, learning what it means to follow the servant king. Listen in to the first large group of the year!
- RUF @ Western Carolina
Romans 8:18-27 - About Suffering...
What are we to do about suffering in the Christian life? What encouragement is there in suffering?