RUF @ Western Carolina

If we think about sex the way that the world does, then the Bible's sexual ethic feels restrictive and repressive, and just don't make sense. But viewing sex, what it's for and what it does, through a Biblical lens brings clarity to both the Bible's command and our current confusion about sex. 

This week we take a look at the fruit of the Spirit, and imagine what it would look like to date in a way that wasn't shaped by fear, but by Christlikeness.

Why is dating so hope-filled AND stressful? What's unique about this particular relationship, and how do we navigate it in a healthy, God-honoring way? This week, we start to try and answer that question by looking at some of the typical behaviors we have in dating and simply asking if it fits with the definition of dating.

The Bible calls singleness a gift, but if we're honest, it's one that most people wish came with a receipt. This week, we look at singleness: the goodness of it, the purpose for it, and some encouragement on how to use and enjoy your singleness even as you hope for something different some day.

What does friendship look like? What does it take to get there? How does the Gospel free us to pursue friendship with one another without fear? 

In any relationship, there will be tension and conflict. This week, we look at what the Bible says about conflict, our hope for resolving conflict, and some practical wisdom on ways to speak and listen to effectively get past our conflict.

Following up on last week's sermon on how the Gospel frees us to love and honor our parents, this week we talk about what that looks like in practice. What should a healthy parent/child relationship look like in college? How can you move toward a healthier relationship with your parents in wisdom? 

Thanks to Jonathan Inman, of Grace & Peace Church, for filling in this week! 

Continuing in our relationship series, we talk this week about what the church is, how to find a healthy one, and what it looks like to relate to the church in a loving way.

Continuing in our series on relationships, this week we look at Isaiah 6:1-8 to get an understanding of who He is and what He has done for us so that we might understand what our response to God should be.

Listen in as we kick of our Spring ‘22 series on relationships, looking at what the Bible tells us about our relationships with God, the church, friends, dating, and more! 

We can know and believe the Gospel, that "Jesus + Nothing = Everything." But it's news that's so big and good and life-changing, that in some areas of our life we struggle to let the Gospel take root in our heart and trickle out into every area of our life. This week we see how that happened to Peter (Cephas), and how Paul responded to it. We also consider some areas where this might be the case i...

This week we look more at the heart of the Gospel, that Jesus + Nothing = Everything, and some of the ways that we mess with that equation. (Special thanks to Matt Howell for some help with the sermon!) 

Recording from our first Large Group of the 2021-22 school year, where we (hopefully!) answer the question "What is RUF? Why are we here?" and kick-off our series on Galatians all at the same time! 

This week, we look at Mark 2:1-12, the story of Jesus healing the paralytic to answer the question "what is RUF all about?" 

This Fall we're looking at the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) together, which is Jesus' introduction to what it means to follow Him as He brings the kingdom of heaven. This week we look at the very end of the sermon where Jesus contrasts two builders. Who is he talking about? What does it mean to be a wise builder or a foolish one? 

This Fall we're looking at the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) together, which is Jesus' introduction to what it means to follow Him as He brings the kingdom of heaven. This week we look at Matthew 6:24-34, where Jesus addresses our worry, stress, and anxiety. Why should we, as children of a heavenly Father, worry less? What is the root of our worry and anxiety? What does it look like to rest in...

This Fall we're looking at the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) together, which is Jesus' introduction to what it means to follow Him as He brings the kingdom of heaven. This week we look at Matthew 6:5-15 where Jesus teaches us how to pray. How are we supposed to view God as we come to Him in prayer? What kinds of things do we pray for? 

This Fall we're looking at the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) together, which is Jesus' introduction to what it means to follow Him as He brings the kingdom of heaven. This week we look at Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18, discussing the way that Jesus exposes our motivations in "practicing our righteousness" (or "doing Christian things"). Why do we so often struggle with the temptation to do it "to be see...

This Fall we're looking at the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) together, which is Jesus' introduction to what it means to follow Him as He brings the kingdom of heaven. This week we look at Matthew 5:38-48, examining Jesus' teaching on our rights: is it okay to "get even?" Who are we to love? And how on earth are we to live up to this high standard Jesus has been teaching about? 

This Fall we're looking at the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) together, which is Jesus' introduction to what it means to follow Him as He brings the kingdom of heaven. This week we look at Matthew 5:17-22, examining Jesus' teaching on God's law, what it takes to be part of His kingdom, and what to do when the demands of the law seem too great for us.

This Fall we're going to be looking at the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) together, which is Jesus' introduction to what it means to follow Him as He brings the kingdom of heaven. This week, we focus in on the introduction (5:3) to the introduction (5:1-12, the Beatitudes) to the Sermon on the Mount (which is the introduction to following Jesus!), asking what it means to be "poor in spirit," wh...

Who is my neighbor? Who do I have a duty to help? Jesus' plain but challenging answer to this question is serious heart check to us! Mercifully, it's also a story about how Jesus goes out of his way to love the needy: me and you. 

Numbers 11 - What does the prayer part of our devotional life sound like? How do we deal with disappointment in the "in-between" we find ourself in? What does it mean to pray honestly, no matter what we're feeling? 

Many of us struggle to maintain a regular devotional life that actually changes us. Why do we find this so hard? What are our quiet times actually for? How can we actually enjoy communion with God and guard it from being just another thing to check off our list?