The Five Ds of The Christian Faith: Chapel Reflection With Al Moss

There are a few essentials that Christians must live by and can’t compromise on, according to Al Moss, Kuyper’s Director of Faith Formation.

“We must all do things like walk in love, extend grace and walk uprightly, but the one I want to speak about today is faith,” he told students, staff and faculty gathered in the Vos Chapel on September 10 for the first chapel service of a new academic year focused on the theme “Christ Is Our Firm Foundation.”

This theme will permeate chapel services throughout the year as Kuyper students, faculty and staff explore and practice what it means to build their lives upon the good news of Jesus.

Moss told the gathered community that just as the heart is vital to the body, so is faith vital to the follower of Christ.

Drawing on the story of Jesus healing a blind man named Bartimaeus, found in Mark 10:46-52, Moss identified five crucial aspects of this way of life, which he referred to as the five Ds: Desperation, Difficulties, Determination, Deliverance and Discipleship.

He painted a vivid picture for the audience of what it must have been like to be Bartimaeus, desperately calling out for Jesus, overcoming the difficulties of blindness and naysayers to reach Him, determined to do whatever it took to get there, delivered from his suffering and continuing in discipleship afterward.

Moss added that this story holds special significance for him.

“I chose this message because I have been Bartimaeus, sitting on the roadside of my own life. When I was introduced to Jesus, I could not miss the opportunity either,” he said, his voice tinged with emotion.

Many, he said, will reach their own moments of desperation, overcome difficulties to reach Jesus, exercise determination to get there, experience deliverance and continue to walk in discipleship. But no matter how dark the moments might seem, Jesus will meet us there, he emphasized.

“So, I encourage you,” he concluded. “Do not be ashamed to cry out to God.”