Chapel Theme for the 23-24 School Year

Jeremiah 29:11 is a verse that provides encouragement for believers while also highlighting the sovereignty of God, a flourishing kingdom, and what it means to be a people of hope. The verse reads, “”For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”” These words from God to the prophet Jeremiah serve as a powerful reminder of the authority of our sovereign God and how fixing our eyes on Him brings flourishing and hope. For the 2023-2024 Chapel Series, we are eager to see the truths of Jeremiah 29:11 transform students’ understanding of who God is, whom He has made them to be, and what He has created them to do.

Sovereign God

“For I know”. The first three words of Jeremiah 29:11 may be easy to miss as we rush into reading what the Lord has planned for us, but as we begin our chapel series, we want to dwell here for a while. The Creator of the universe and of you and me knows all things. He knows every hair on our heads (Matt. 10:30) and the number of stars in the sky (Ps. 147:4). He knows our every thought before we think them and our every word before we say them (Ps. 139:2-4), and “all the days ordained for us were written in His book before we even one of them came to be”(Ps. 139:16). These first three words reveal that the plans God has for His people are established in His sovereignty. He “declares” them. He knows and has perfectly designed a path for each individual.

God’s sovereignty is an incredible characteristic to understand, and when believers consider other aspects of His character alongside it, like His love, mercy, and grace, they can rest in His care and direction. The recognition of God’s sovereignty brings comfort and trust as followers of Christ understand that their lives are in the hands of a loving and all-powerful God.

Flourishing Kingdom

Because of Jesus’ atoning self-sacrifice on the cross, we can “prosper” and have “hope and a future”! Through the “Flourishing Kingdom” portion of our chapel series, it is our desire that students taste and see God’s goodness to them in both mundane and mighty ways.

God’s plans are enacted in order that we may “prosper”, however, God’s plans for His people are not merely for our own good. We know that God works all things together for both our good and His glory (Rom. 8:28). When we know God’s goodness to us and He transforms our lives, we want others to know His abounding love and abundant grace. As believers, we become proclaimers of His kingdom, working in our spheres of influence so that others may know Christ. In this way, followers of Christ contribute to the flourishing of God’s kingdom on Earth! We pray that students flourish in God’s love and disciple others to do the same.

People of Hope

In a world often marked by despair and uncertainty, believers are marked by hope (John 16:33). The hope that Christians possess is not merely wishful thinking or a temporary optimism. It is grounded in the unchanging character of God and His promises in Scripture. It is only found when we repent of our sins and believe in Jesus’ perfect life, atoning death, and victorious resurrection (1 John 1:9, Rom. 10:9-10, Eph. 2:8-9). Hope provides peace and strength to endure as Christians navigate the challenges and uncertainties of life, knowing that their ultimate hope is secured in Christ and eternity with Him.

Because of their Hope in Christ, believers stand out. They are bright lights in the darkness. They are filled with a joy that does not waver based on circumstances, and they do not fear the future because they trust in the One who holds tomorrow. We are eager for students to learn more about what it means to be people of hope!

Partnership

In providing you the three-part framework for our chapel series this year, it is our desire that you feel equipped to engage with WCGS students and discuss the various chapels throughout the year with them. As WCGS dives deeply into the truths taught to us in Jeremiah 29:11, may the WCGS community be encouraged to trust in the sovereignty of God, embrace their role in building a flourishing kingdom, and live as people of hope. As a family or friend of the school, please join us in praying that the truth of Scripture would be impressed on our community this year. We long for Jeremiah 29:11 to be a guide that points us toward the King.