“In this world there are three types of people; those who
Make things happen.
Watch things happen.
Wonder what happened.”
– – Author Unknown
Which will you be today?
Opportunities to Engage
We believe that our individual relationship with God matters now. Do you?
How we invest our time now matters for eternity. The people we bring with us in our journey of faith are eternal souls who are preparing for what God has promised. The people who do not have a personal relationship with the Living God matter, too. For these and other reasons we gather for encouragement, for studying what God has written, and for considering how to invest our time well.
The greatest gift we can give to ourselves and other people is the light of knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. Through believing and obeying God’s written word, the Holy Bible, we enter into a dynamic relationship with the Creator God who made us to know Him and express His goodness.
Learning means there are things we don’t know or understand. Education is about learning what it is that you don’t know so that you can discover the value and learn it. The Bible, God’s operator’s manual for living, has a lot to say about life, eternity, and relationships.
Come discover what He has said along with us!
When and where do we meet?
Mondays - Men's Discipleship
Men’s Intentional Discipleship, Establish 101
This is the best course to lay foundations for future growth.
If you are serious about growing in faith and your capacity to serve God, this is the most impactful, most practical, most elemental, most enduring course we can give you. Don’t settle for less. John 17:3
Commitment: Two lessons per week. 36 lessons
Walking through the same material face-to-face takes about 60 hours.
By video, the commitment is 22 hours. Write down your questions, then call Randy to discuss what you have learned.
Course: establishseries.com
Chart: Progress Chart
The chart has video links to help you complete the course and check boxes to help you remember what you have completed already.
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Does your worldview match God’s? How do you know?
What lies have you been believing?
What gives God the right to tell you what to do? Why should He be worshiped?
The Establish Series is one of the most beneficial studies I know of to help you establish solid foundations for enduring Biblical faith. (1 Corinthians 3:10-15)
Most Bible studies address “what” or “how.” This study addresses “why,” laying foundations for faith in the character of God.
You can view or complete this course online at establishseries.com
Also, see there Establish Discipler 102, 103
By Appointment - Men's Discipleship Establish 102
PreRequisite: Completion of Men’s Intentional Discipleship, Establish 101
This is the course helps you lead others and equip them for ministry while you grow in your character and response to God.
This is mostly one-on-one mentoring while you disciple someone else using Establish 101.
Bible Essentials
This class is conducted as necessary when students are available. Sometimes Thursday afternoons.
In any path of learning there are things that must be taught and understood before other things can be unsderstood and mastered. Also, skills in more basic concepts may be required to develop skills and practical application in other things.
The same is true with Bible knowledge, practical living, and spiritual growth. We hope to teach you some basic concepts that with undergird lifelong beliefs that result in effective personal growth as well as skills to help other people.
For example, Peter lays out the path to spiritual fruitfulness in 2 Peter 1. First he says that we have everything we need by faith in Jesus Christ. So, everyone must understand what that means before we go on. From there he states that to avoid being barren and unfruitful, acting like the forgetful, ignorant and the blind, we must add to our faith virtue (right living or moral excellence), knowledge (information), temperance (self-control), patience (steadfastness), godliness (God-likeness), brotherly kindness (caring for others), and charity (loving selflessness).
We will talk about the identity of Jesus, His attitude toward us, what He has done for us, how He views us, what He expects of us, and how we can engage with Him in what He is doing. We will talk about practices, disciplines, attitudes, skills, and habits that will bring you the most joy on your journy into eternity.
Dating & Relationships
On demand. This is a topic that is relevant to the daily lives of many students in college.
The main focus is on being rightly related to God and having the best guilt-free relationship with your future spouse (and current friends).
How can we relate to each other with integrity and freedom while we look for the person with whom we will spend the rest of our lives? What does God say about dating, sex, marriage, and building for a better future? Whom should we date and why or why not? What behaviors result in the most satisfying future? Wht does character have to do with it? How do we become the kind of person that the person we are looking for is looking for? These topics make great group discussions and passionate interactions as we work through those God-given emotions while seeking to honor God in the way we live.
Some great resoources to give you a jump-start are these:
Tuesdays - During the school year
Cru Weekly Meeting. You can make a difference!
We meet every week during the school year on Tuesday at 7 PM in Ely Hall downstairs in Club Room 23A.
We have snacks, Bible study, group interaction, and some time to get to know one another.
Your personality, gifts, talents, perspective, and ideas are needed, too. Come to learn & serve.
Establishing a thriving community on campus is essential for making a difference on campus for years to come. When it comes to community, if you are not there you can’t have it.
Being a community means being there yourself and inviting others to join you.
We often hear from students that they want to grow in their faith. We can’t do it for your, but we can show you how.
Commit yourself follow through.
Here are some resources to help you get started wherever you are…
- View all of the videos at establishseries.com/101-videos-2022. Catch up or get ahead! The information is life-changing.
- There are many other opportunities to grow at Truth Pursuit and “Come And See“.
- Why we teach the way we do… stilluntold.org/basis/#foundations
Wednesdays
Ladies Bible Essentials study – (College & Career Women’s Bible Study)
Diana hosts a Bible study in the Smyth home from 7pm to 8:30pm on Wednesdays.
This is for young ladies, both college and career (or in between).
The main topic is Bible Essentials for Christian growth.
We meet at the home of Randy & Diana Smyth near the Westfield State U’s South Parking Lot. (11 Dickens Drive)
Saturdays
WYAD. Westfield Young Adult Discipleship.
This is for young adults, both college and career (or in between).
We are a faith-based group, which means that we believe God and study His book to learn more. (The Holy Bible.)
We are working through the amazing “Interlocked” series, which you can see online at interlocked.online.
You are welcome at any time. We started Lesson 51 on June 8, 2024.
Like many things in life, the character of our gathering will be what you (and others) bring to it.
The thing about community is that you have to be there to have it or create it.
So, come make a difference. Come help make it awesome!
Join us every Saturday from 7-10 PM, even during the summer.
We meet at the home of Randy & Diana Smyth near the South Parking Lot. (11 Dickens Drive)
Even if only for a few minutes or an hour, come join us!
(Yes, we will have food!)
Sundays
There are many students in the area who attend other colleges and universities. Other young adults have completed school or have chosen another career path. A lot of them attend church at Westfield Evangelical Free Church.
Need a Ride to Church? Let us know you need a ride. Ride Please?
Westfield Evangelical Free Church has solid Bible teaching and friends from the other groups.
WEFC | Map
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More Opportunities to Engage
Foundations
Want to grow spiritually?
It’s going to take some work on your part. It’s one of those “nothing ventured nothing gained” kind of things. We can help you. You will need to let us know you are serious. You will need to consistently commit some of your time. We will work with you to map out a realistic plan and schedule that fits your school commitments. There are some things you need to know and do before other things can be learned and applied. If you are willing-hearted, we will assist you in personal development toward character growth, personal disciplines, caring for other people, equipping for ministry, and servant leadership. You have to want it to get it. everyperson.com | Help | Progress | Foundations
Evangelism
It’s not about converting people. It’s about giving people the information they need to understand the nature of the gift and to realize the value of the treasure. (In the identity and person of Jesus Christ.)
The greatest gift one person can give to another is the information that leads to saving faith in the one person who is the Giver of every good and perfect gift: Jesus Christ. We will study God’s great gift of eternal life, the irreducible minimums of the Gospel message, and how to share God’s gift with other people. Then we will go outside and talk to people.
Who is God? Who is Jesus? Who says? What is the message? Whose message is it? How do we respectfully and kindly engage people about the greatest gift we could possibly give them? How do we overcome the misinformation about the nature of God and our motives for telling people about Jesus? What are the essentials that people need to know? How do we overcome a fear of rejection? What does prayer have to do with it?
Let us help you engage with the people around you in meaningful and winsome ways. It’s about eternity. Commit to engaging and we will show you what we are learning while we learn from you. Meanwhile…
Missions4Kids | Best Thing| Momentum | Ambassador Series | What is the point of the Bible? | Truth Pursuit
Discipleship
On the highest authority in heaven and on earth (there is no higher authority) Jesus commanded us, His disciples, to go to every person, every ethnic group, in every part of the world to preach the Good News, baptize believers, and teach them to observe/obey all that He commanded us. That is why we are engaged in discipleship.
Disciple just means follower. We seek to establish Christ-followers. This is the best thing we can do for people (after leading them to believe Jesus) and is the best thing for the people all around each disciple.
We have men’s discipleship groups and women’s discipleship groups. If you want to participate, please contact us.
The men are studying the Establish Discipleship series. You can catch up or follow along using this resource. Establish Progress