I come from a Christian Baptist school (doesn't mean I'm Baptist), and we'd always have chapel about every week. The best year we ever had of Christian speakers was my senior year, which I'd like to share. And, I know that unlike many others unfortunately, I wholeheartedly remember and apply every note I wrote down to my life today because of how meaningful and impactful I found the blessing of chapel, and I don't see why I shouldn't share this with others in need, and if possible, a review/any corrections from those who are well-versed on Scripture. If you do take your time reading this, thank you so much & God bless you! (:

Colossians 1:15–20

• Submission begins with the Father.
• Jesus protects us from temptation.
• Jesus is the image of the Father and the full revelation of the Father.
• Jesus is the image of the invisible God whom we cannot see.
• Jesus is the Creator; everything was made through Him and for Him by the Father.
• Jesus is the Sustainer. Before all things, God sustains everything.

Teleological Argument

An intricate, constant, interdependent, and highly precise, human-loving design of life.

10/22 — Colossians 1

1. Jesus is the preeminent one: the head of the body, and the firstborn from death.

• Gnostics in Colossae

1. Jesus is the mediator: prominent and preeminent.

10/29 — Romans 12:2

• Paul reminds them of their past and current selves, urging them to be mindful of the future:
  1. Mind
  2. Actions
• A transforming mind causes behavior to transform. Identifying what fills the heart transforms the mind.
• Stability: Stand fast and do not shift. Salvation cannot be lost.

Core of Christianity

• Embracing vulnerability and weakness.
• Like a family, we submit to one another.
• American Christianity vs. Galatians 5:19–21: Cruelty can uncover anger, but we must choose how to respond.
• Walk in freedom and keep in step with the Spirit.

11/5 — Missions Week

2 Main Principles:

1. Embrace your identity in Christ.
2. Pursue your purpose in Christ.

• We are a royal priesthood, set apart and treasured.
• Jesus went to the cross instead of you because you are deeply cared for by God.
• Be active in the Church and recognize your role in making disciples.
• Don't do it because you have to; do it because you want to.

11/12 — Mark 2:1–12

• Jesus has time for you; He calls us sons and daughters.
• Jesus won't embarrass you.
• The paralytic didn't just need physical healing—he needed Jesus and the forgiveness of his sins. We all have ideas of what we think we need, but it is healthy to remind yourself of what is actually true.

11/19 — Colossians 1:24–30, 2:1

• There are a lot of ministers who make it all about themselves.
• Our goal is to make the Word fully known. Paul highlights that even being in jail serves to share the Word.
• If Christ isn't being proclaimed, the message is faulty. Christ needs to be reflected in your life.
• Rely on His energy. Being a Christian is difficult, but you are never alone.
• Prayer: Ask Him, "What am I doing that is keeping us from growing together?"

General Reflection

• Worldly things we fight too hard for will likely be given away or disappear after we die.
• Focus on Boldness.

12/3 — Colossians 2

• Suffering is purposeful.
• The Church needs your unique gifts to encourage others.
• Grow, mature, and walk it out.

Path for Growth:

• Walk in Him.
• Be rooted.
• Good order = firmness in faith.
• In spirit = committed to prayer.
• Their lines were unbroken (unity).
• Their discipline was intact (deliberate).
• Their faith in Christ was unshaken (convinced).

Applications from Colossians 2:2

• Unity and growth are ongoing responsibilities for the saints.
• Integrity becomes iconic when you need it most.
• The way we receive Jesus is the way we should walk out our faith—it shouldn't just be a thoughtless tradition. The seed has been sown; now it's your turn to grow it.

The Growth Cycle: Sleep, Creep, Leap

• Sleep: Drawing in water, nutrients, and soil.
• Creep: Steady, quiet growth.
• Leap: An abundant explosion of life. The leap stage is the proof stage.
• Conclusion: Walk in Him, not in yourself. Build a solid foundation.

12/10 — Mark 2

• Jesus treats an outsider, Levi, with grace. Jesus already knew He would die for him.
• Are you going to move when Jesus tells you to?
• Levi immediately invited his lower-tier tax collector friends. Jesus doesn't make mistakes or accidents.
• People once tried to push Jesus off a cliff; the fear of man is a dangerous idol.
• Heal the soul, then the body.
• As a generic theological note, you cannot simply remove an idol; you have to replace it with God as the boss of your life.
• The Gospel isn't just about making people better. Jesus always has more to offer.

1/7 — Colossians 2 / 2 Timothy 2

• Whether you choose to or not, whatever you keep leaning into will become ingrained in your mind.
• Confronting the fallacies of Moralistic Therapeutic Deism.

1/14 — Colossians 2:11–15 & Romans 2:29

• The sign of the covenant is no longer outward, but inward (circumcision of the heart).
• Jesus was cut off from the Father at the cross so that we would never be cut off from Him. The New Testament sign of this is baptism.
• We need baptism to be accountable for our sins.
• God sets boundaries when we sin (Romans 6:1–7).
• The world thought they captured Jesus, but Jesus actually captured them. We are no longer cut off from God, but cut off from our trespasses.

1/21 — Genesis 12:3 & Romans 10

• Blessed to be a blessing.
• Romans 10:2 warns against having a zeal for God that is not according to knowledge.
• The 613 laws of Moses were given to the Israelites, but they pursued the law through works rather than faith.
• Romans 10:8–10: Paul says if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that He rose from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.
• The Gospel should be openly shared.

1/28 — Colossians 2:16

• Legalism is destructive. An atmosphere of judgment only breeds pride.
• Once Jesus came, He fulfilled the law, freeing us from legalism.
• We are under the law of liberty and freedom, not the rigid law of Moses. Legalism falsely claims that Jesus wasn't enough.
• Does your behavior defeat sin, or does it just puff you up and make you prideful?

2/4 — Colossians 2:20

• The world used to teach: "Love your neighbors and hate your enemies."
• Divided hearts are hard to recognize. Ultimately, it’s all about how close we are to Christ.
• Don't just die to yourself; let your idols be transformed by Him.
• Prayer: "Lord, I need you to draw closer to me. I need you to help me. When I am struggling, you are the One interceding on my behalf."

2/18 — Reflection on Faith

• Live for Him rather than for what this world offers.
• When you feel lost, look constantly to Jesus. Set your mind on things above, not on earthly things.
• Seek and you will find. Understand the "why" behind the command.
• Unaddressed sin is like a pet tiger—eventually, it grows and turns on you.

2/25 — Colossians 3:5

The Deadly Sins

• The sin we don't kill will eventually kill us.
• Your life reveals your identity—it aligns either with God or with worldly patterns. True Christians do not remain comfortable in habitual sin.
• Becoming numb to sin silences the Holy Spirit.
• It is better to drift into an unknown stream than to consciously choose a path whose title should be repugnant to a Christian.
• Naming your sin forces you to either face it or intentionally ignore it.
• God should be your ultimate joy and provider.

3/4 — Mark 12

• The Shema: The greatest commandment.
• The Golden Rule: Be righteous as God is righteous, especially in how you treat others. This is the selfless way to live.
• Jesus fulfills the entire story. Your identity is found in what you live for.

3/11 — Colossians 3:8–15

"Little" Deadly Sins

• Sins listed: Anger, Wrath, Malice/Slander, Impurity, Sexuality, Evil Desires, and Obscene Talk.
• Not all sins manifest the same way. Anger is often settled and long-lasting, whereas wrath is a sudden, intense outburst of rage.
• Slander is injurious and destroys reputations. Obscene talk is morally disgraceful filthiness. Dishonest speech reflects a liar's heart. Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks.
• If a statement is true but not loving in the moment, hold it back.
• Focus entirely on your own need for the Holy Spirit rather than pointing out the flaws of others. Don't do it for them—do it for God.

3/25 — Colossians 3:12–17

• When we remove a negative behavior without replacing it with something good, the old habit naturally creeps back in.
• Replace it with: Compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.
• When we forgive, we must completely release it and never hold it over the person again.
• Patience means wanting the absolute best for others. Above all, put on love.

4/1 — Holy Week Notes

• Scripture readings: Matthew 21, Zechariah 9, and Isaiah 25:1.
• Reflecting on maintaining an obedient body and spirit.

4/8 — Colossians 3:18–25 & Exodus 20:12

Humility: The Example of Jesus

• There is no authority except that which comes from God (Ephesians 5).
• Scripture frequently uses marriage and family relationships as an analogy for our relationship with God.
• Healthy Relationships vs. Red Flags: Love must be self-sacrificing. Love freely, even choosing to love the unlovable through obedience and sacrifice.
• Work and serve with a good attitude. Fathers should not provoke or discourage their children by constantly pointing out errors or making unreachable demands. Maintain reasonable expectations.
• Be careful with teasing or irritating behavior.
• Obey and work hard for the Lord out of reverence for Him, not just when people are watching.

4/22 — Mind Wars

Psalm 27 & Romans 12

• Be mindful of who is speaking into your thoughts—whether it is the people around you or your own inner voice. Offer your mind as a living sacrifice to God.
• Crippling comparison and mental trauma can force you to grow up too fast. Constantly needing to win arguments can also stem from trauma.
• Do not store up or downplay your problems, or they will eventually explode.
• Think of your neural networks as trees in the brain (neuroplasticity). Practicing emotional acceptance means labeling your emotions honestly.
• STOP: Take perspective, talk back to your thoughts, and keep it practical. Speak kindly to yourself regarding how much pain you actually feel, and soothe your nervous system.
• Actively seek Scripture to replace toxic centers of thought.

4/29 — Speaker Notes (John 15 & Matthew 7:23)

• Jesus is the vine and we are the branches; good fruit comes naturally when we stay connected.
• It takes real faith to walk in the direction Jesus points you toward.
• Branches don't choose how to grow on their own; they rely on the vine to fulfill their purpose.
• When people stumble, He meets them with deep compassion. Everyone is in a completely different stage of growth and rooting. Cling closely to your roots.

5/6 — 2 Corinthians 5

• Identity is received, not achieved. Trying to fabricate your own self-identity is impossible and unstable.
• We are called to the ministry of reconciliation.
• Jesus became our sin so that, in Him, we might become righteous.
• Allow every single card in your deck to be hidden securely in Christ, rather than trying to hold onto pieces of it yourself.

Canada still achieved historic milestones as co-hosts, securing their first-ever World Cup point, win, knockout goal, and knockout victory to fuel a thrilling run to the Round of 16.