Each semester, a chapel theme is chosen, centered around a specific passage of scripture.
This year, Dr. Pettit chose "Walking in the Spirit" from Galatians 5 for the first semester theme, and he chose "Run the Race" from Hebrews 12 as second semester's theme.
What does “walking in the Spirit” mean? What does it look like for the 21st century Christian? All too often, we let the sharp and relevant concepts of Scripture become familiar and cliche? phrases. We all too easily revert to speaking in absent-minded Christian jargon. Our fall semester Chapel theme, Walking in the Spirit, provided the opportunity to explore the rich truths of Galatians 5:13-26, where Paul calls both legalist and libertarian to the same guiding principle: the freedom to “serve one another with love” (v. 13). This paradoxical freedom can only be experienced by the daily crucifying of self and walking in the Spirit.
St. Augustine echoes Paul when he makes the following appeal:
“If you keep silent, keep silent by love: if you speak, speak by love; if you correct, correct by love; if you pardon, pardon by love; let love be rooted in you, and from the root nothing but good can grow. Love and do what you will.”
“The goal of a Biblical education is not to spiritually survive, but rather to spiritually thrive." —Dr. Steve Pettit
President Steve Pettit preached sermons related to the semester’s discipleship theme, "Run the Race." This study of Hebrews 12, encouraged the BJU family to stay the course, exploring the importance of perseverance in the life of a believer.
The passage also focused on how God expresses His love to His children, including both His controlled and purposeful chastening as well as His intentional and overwhelming kindness.
Also this semester, BJU Bible faculty preached around secondary theme, "Looking Unto Jesus," which was based out of Hebrews 12:2. This study followed the pattern of Jesus’ conversation with the disciples on the road to Emmaus shortly after His resurrection and focused our attention on seeing Jesus in the Old Testament.