In May 1966 Jerry Falwell graduated from Baptist Bible College. 60 years later, his son, Jonathan, came for a visit. He is the 2016 commencement speaker of BBC.
Jonathan let us know of a time when he visited BBC campus with his dad. They went to his old dorm room in Berea Hall. And for an hour, he sat and recounted how he spent afternoons praying for God’s power and for God to use him. At that time, he was just a typical college student. But because of what God did to him in that college dorm, God used him to reach millions of people.
4 questions that were given to Jerry Falwell, while at BBC, set his life. Jonathan said his father would ask himself these questions every day of his life.
- What would I try to do if I thought I might succeed?
- What goals would I set if I knew I couldn’t fail?
- What price am I wiling to pay?
- What sacrifices am I willing to make?
In Genesis 6:14-18, God asked Noah to do something really big and crazy – build a big, big boat on land far from water. But Noah trusted God even when it didn’t make sense. If we’re going to do something big for God, we need to trust Him totally.
Like Noah, we have been divinely warned. Our world is running away from God and judgment is coming. What will we do? Will you do something BIG?
Principles learned from Noah’s life…
- It starts with your daily walk (Genesis 6:9). Noah walked with God. Before God told Noah to do a big job, Noah walked with God. Doing big things for God doesn’t start on the mountain. It starts in the private moments with God. The greatness of tomorrow begins and depends on the quietness of today. Often we are so busy doing for God we
- It takes an absolute trust in God (Genesis 6:17-18, 22). Noah did exactly what God’s Word told him to do. He went in the boat, even before it started to rain, because He told him to. You will never do big things for God if you question the Word of God (Bible). You cannot find God’s will until you are in God’s Word.
- Recognize that it takes waiting on God to have big vision for God (Genesis 7:1, 4-5, 7, 10-12). Noah was wiling to wait on God’s timing no matter how long it took.
Personal Take-aways from Noah’s life…
- Don’t ever compromise your faith in God.
- A storm does not always mean you are out of God’s will. God had to put Noah through a storm to realize the victory.
- Waiting on the Lord is better than relying on our own wisdom. Following God’s way through is always better than trying to find a way out.
In Acts 17 Paul and Silas went to Thessalonica. Paul talked with the religious leaders. But they opposed him. They cried ‘these who have turned the world outside down have come here.’ His enemies recognized that Paul and the message he preached was changing the culture. We need to be like Paul and share the message of Jesus Christ so the world will publicly acknowledge that the world is changing toward God.
“God never called me to be popular. He called me to be faithful.” – Jerry Falwell
You can read about other messages/sessions at: ALL IN – 2016 BBFI Fellowship Meeting
You can also read some of my articles about having a BIG impact: Leaving a Legacy, 4 Great Coaching Questions, Crazy Commitment.
Jonathan Falwell is the Senior Pastor of Thomas Road Baptist Church in Lynchburg, Virginia. He served under the leadership of his father and founding pastor, Jerry Falwell, from 1995 until his father’s death in May 2007. He was called to be the Senior Pastor on June 3, 2007 by a unanimous vote of the church congregation. His responsibilities include the preaching duties of the church, the management of over 250 staff members, communication with over 20,000 church members, long-term planning for ministry outreach, as well as the planning of special outreach events that reach well over 250,000 individuals in person each year in addition to the church’s regular attendees, and millions more through the church’s television ministries. Rev. Falwell preaches at the main worship services each Sunday morning. TRBC has over 12,000 in attendance each Sunday and an additional 8,000 for its midweek services.
Baptist Bible College celebrates 66 years of ministry in 2016. As a 1982 alumnus, I am pleased to celebrate this event at my alma mater. These have been some of my thoughts of the Monday, May 2 evening session.
Please share your thoughts.