FRIDAY CAMPUS BIBLE STUDY ON ZOOM

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FRIDAY CAMPUS BIBLE STUDY ON ZOOM

PART 2: DISCUSSION ON BALANCING ACADEMICS AND FAITH

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Mar 20, 2025

Transcript

Welcome to our campus Bible study and Prayer meeting on Zoom! If you want to join us live on Zoom, we meet on Fridays at 7 PM. The Lord’s Chosen Campus Fellowship is improving the student lifestyle of righteousness and holiness so that we draw closer to God and accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour.

Part 2: Balancing Faith and Academics – Insights from Our PhD-Led Discussion

Our second session on Balancing Faith and Academics was led by our PhD student, who brought a wealth of wisdom, practical strategies, and biblical insights. If you missed it, here’s a recap of the powerful lessons shared!

📌 The 6 O’Clock Student – Finding True Balance

"Learn to be a six o’clock student." Our PhD speaker used the analogy of a clock to illustrate balance. When it’s 6:00, the hands of the clock are perfectly aligned, one pointing up and the other down. This is how we should approach faith and academics.

A six o’clock student does not let their spiritual life completely overshadow their academics, nor do they allow academic stress to push out their time with God. True balance means being excellent in both—excelling in school while prioritizing prayer, evangelism, and devotion.

"If one side suffers, the other is affected. If we neglect our spiritual life for school, we risk losing direction and strength. If we ignore our academics for spiritual activities, we may struggle with fulfilling our God-given potential. Balance is key."

⏳ Time Management: The Foundation of Balance

"It’s not that we don’t have time; it’s that we don’t make time for the right things."

One of the biggest struggles students face is time management. Many of us feel overwhelmed because we don’t structure our time well. The PhD speaker encouraged us to categorize our tasks:

1️⃣ Very important and immediate – These must be done now.
2️⃣ Very important but not immediate – These should be scheduled soon.
3️⃣ Important but not urgent – These can be spaced out over time.

"If you don’t plan your time, distractions will plan it for you."

A major point emphasized was that procrastination steals time from our spiritual lives. When we delay assignments, we end up sacrificing prayer, Bible study, or fellowship to make up for lost time. Start early, plan ahead, and be disciplined.

🛑 The Power of Saying NO

"If you don’t control your time, people will do it for you."

Many of us struggle with saying no—whether it’s social invitations, long conversations, or unnecessary commitments. Our PhD speaker emphasized that learning to say no is key to success.

"Your time is like currency. If you don’t guard it, others will spend it for you."

However, saying no should be done wisely. We are still called to serve others and be present when needed, but we must learn to discern between necessary commitments and distractions.

🎤 Evangelism Builds Confidence and Faith

"Public speaking is a skill that grows when you step out in faith."

Our PhD speaker also highlighted the connection between evangelism and personal growth. Some of us shared testimonies about how sharing the gospel helped build confidence, boldness, and communication skills.

One participant shared: "I used to stutter badly, but as I started sharing my faith, my confidence grew."

Key takeaway: Evangelism is not just for others—it strengthens us, too.

Many of us also discussed ways to integrate evangelism into a busy schedule, such as:

Sharing flyers on the way to class
Having faith-based conversations with classmates
Praying for opportunities to bring Christ into daily life

Even in a busy season, we can find small but impactful ways to share the gospel.

💤 Night Prayers vs. Early Mornings – How to Adjust

One participant shared a dilemma: "I’ve been attending midnight prayers, but I know my body works best in the morning. How do I balance both?"

The PhD speaker responded: "Your body will adjust to the habits you consistently maintain."

Rather than sacrificing one for the other, we were encouraged to train our bodies to function efficiently within our schedules. Over time, with consistency, our bodies will adapt to being effective both at night and in the morning.

📚 Study Strategies: How to Retain More and Study Smarter

One sister shared how she was struggling with a massive workload and wasn’t sure how to study effectively. The advice given was:

✅ Break complex topics into simple connections. Instead of memorizing, tell a story that links different concepts together.
✅ Use visual learning. Watching YouTube tutorials and seeing concepts explained can improve understanding.
✅ Summarize in a personal way. Instead of just writing notes, explain concepts in your own words—as if you’re teaching someone else.
✅ Use time blocks wisely. Focus on the most important and immediate topics first before moving on.

Our PhD speaker also encouraged us to use multiple learning methods—visual, audio, and written. Watching subject-related videos on YouTube can help simplify complex topics.

"If a textbook explanation is confusing, find a simpler way to understand it. There’s always another approach."

🔄 Reflection and Next Steps

Our PhD speaker reminded us that God calls us to excellence in both our faith and academics. Balance is not about giving equal time to everything, but about prioritizing wisely and keeping God at the center of all we do.