Our Commitments

In-Depth Bible Study

At RUF we believe in having fun, but also that the quality of our fun and relationships as a group will be better, more mature, and more fulfilling when our lives are being transformed by a real encounter with all of God's Word.  We don't believe that God's Word should be trifled with.  We disagree with sermons and preachers who read a text of Scripture then move on to discuss whatever they seem to want to talk about.  As Christians we need to 'think God's thoughts after Him.'   And He has given us His thoughts, interpretations, passions, goals, desires...in SCRIPTURE.  Preaching needs to be grounded in the text of God's Word.  For this reason we highly value consecutive expository preaching.  This is going chapter by chapter, verse by verse, through God's Word.  This method might not 'preach' like other methods, but it is faithful to the Word of God!  At RUF our desire is that you walk away from one of our sermons NOT saying, 'Man, what a great preacher!' but instead saying, 'Man, what an awesome God!'

The Student's Vocation

The vocation of university student is just that - a university student. RUF takes this seriously and strives to equip students to be faithful and growing Christians who are conscientious in their studies. The campus is not reduced to a convenient pretext to do evangelism, but rather the place where God has providentially placed students to prepare for legitimate vocations after graduation. Far from being a hindrance to spirituality, academic study is a way to honor God. 

Being Rather Than Doing

RUF ministries will have a variety of activities on the schedule, but we do not expect everyone to be involved in everything. We have no agenda to bury students in a crush of activities, something that often burns them out. Rather, we desire to help students become people who truly know and love God, and whose lives are profoundly affected because of it. This, rather than a flurry of activities, will make their life and witness more effective and authentic.

Challenge and Thinking

We believe in absolute truth, and we also believe the most helpful thing we can do for people is to help them learn to recognize and discover that truth themselves. We avoid giving a set of pat, canned answers. We encourage thoughtful questions and place a strong emphasis on critical thinking, learning how to interpret and understand the Bible properly, and then applying it to all of life today.

The Visible Church

RUF is not a substitute for a local church. We are the church going to the campus. Essential to our ministry is a commitment and accountability to the visible church. RUF is not only accountable to and under the guidance of the church, but it is concerned to see students integrated into the life of the local church. The church is where students will spend the rest of their Christian lives, not a campus fellowship. By encouraging student involvement in local churches, RUF situates students to continue their growth in grace long after RUF and college are over.