Oasis: College & Young Adult Ministry

In the final week of the "Foreshadowing: From Symbol to Savior" series, we are reminded that the story of God, from before the creation account in Genesis to the visions of John recorded in Revelation, has always been for God to be near to His creation and for His presence to be accessible to humankind.

The second week of the "Foreshadowing: From Symbols to Savior" series looks at the difference between the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden and the Fruit of the Spirit from Galatians 5. The fruit that God forbid in the garden brought about destruction and brokenness. But God's plan of redemption, healing, and growth would come through the gift of the Fruit of the Spirit, empowering the people of God to live in relationship with Him and others. Starting from the key idea that we often grab what looks good, scripture reminds us that "sin always overpromises and underdeliver", while God "grows what is truly good". 

The first week of the "Foreshadowing: From Symbols to Savior" series, starts with the story of Numbers 21, showing how God’s response to Israel’s disobedience foreshadows the salvation found in Jesus. After the Israelites repeatedly complain and reject God’s provision, He disciplines them by sending venomous snakes, yet simultaneously provides a surprising means of rescue: a bronze serpent lifted on a pole, which heals anyone who looks at it in faith. This strange, illogical act becomes a powerful symbol of God’s redemptive plan—punishment meant not for revenge but for restoration. Jesus identifies Himself with this image in John 3:14–15, revealing that just as the Israelites looked upon the snake to live, humanity must look to the crucified Christ to be saved. As the very next verse (John 3:16) reveals, salvation has never been earned by effort but received through humble belief, and that God’s discipline always aims to lead His people back to life, even when His method seems unexpected or absurd.

In Psalm 23, David portrays God as a Good Shepherd who provides, protects, and remains present with His people. He describes God leading him to rest, restoring his soul, guiding him toward righteousness, and staying close even in life’s darkest valleys. God defends him against enemies, blesses him abundantly, and promises His goodness and presence for all his days. The psalm emphasizes God’s care, provision, guidance, and unfailing companionship. The God who leads, protects, and provides in Psalm 23 is the same Jesus who knows His people personally and gives His life for them. In John 10:14–15, Jesus identifies Himself as the Good Shepherd, claiming a personal and intimate knowledge of His followers—just as He knows the Father and the Father knows Him. He demonstrates the depth of His love by stating that He lays down His life for His sheep, revealing the sacrificial nature of His care.

The final week of the Divine Design series focuses on sexual temptation. With the key idea being that “sex is different”. Followers of Jesus should approach sexual temptation by grounding their identity in Christ as children of God. Drawing from 1 Corinthians 6 and Matthew 5, we see that while culture may say “I have the right to do anything,” not everything is beneficial, and sexual sin uniquely affects a person’s own body. Because sex unites two people into “one flesh,” believers are called to treat their bodies as belonging to the Lord and empowered by His resurrection life. Scripture commands Christians to flee sexual immorality, take temptation seriously, and remove anything that leads them into sin, as Jesus’ strong language about cutting off what causes stumbling illustrates. Overall, sex is spiritually significant, sexual sin is uniquely damaging, and God calls His people to resist temptation through decisive action and a clear understanding of who we are in Christ.