By Dr. Kevin Brown, President of Asbury University
In previous chapels at Asbury, I have highlighted two dimensions of Jesus.
This is the Jesus who radically invites everyone. Specifically, the Jesus that broke convention and engaged the less than popular misfits of his day. Sinners. Tax Collectors. The Jesus who had an eye, and a heart, for the orphan, the widow, and the alien; those who were on the margins. The Inviting Jesus knocks on the door of our hearts and wants to share a meal with us, desires mercy over sacrifice, and says, “come to me and I will give you rest.”
You don’t come from a Christian background? Come.
You’re curious to learn more? Come.
You have a broken family? Come.
You have addictions? Come.
You have fears? Come.
You’ve made mistakes? Come.
You’re a sinner? Come.
That is the open invitation Jesus. We like this Jesus. Who wouldn’t like the inviting Jesus who always says “Come.”
This dimension of Christ is more demanding. Specifically, he says unpleasant and inconvenient things like “You have to die to yourself” or “Take up your cross” or “Not everyone who cries out to me ‘Lord, Lord’ will be saved, but only the one who does the will of my Father” or “The gate is narrow and the road is hard that leads to life.” The Discipling Jesus comes “bringing a sword”, pointing out the inconvenient truth that commitment to him will divide, even divide families. He even asks us to do the unimaginable, love our enemies.
It is easy to divide Jesus. Some people like to emphasize the Inviting Jesus; some the Discipling Jesus. But here is the thing: it is the same Jesus.
And that journey is not safe.
That journey is not predictable.
That journey is not easy.
And, very importantly, that journey will not leave us as we are.
Even more: The Journey. Demands. Everything.
At Asbury, our staff and faculty will do anything to will the good of our students. But we will not lower the bar on the radical humility, hospitality, and loving kindness of the inviting Jesus; and we will not lower the bar on the radical sacrifice, direction, and demands of the discipling Jesus.
One of my favorite authors, Tish Harrison Warren, put it this way when she visited Asbury: “The doorway to the Kingdom is cruciform in shape.” That is, the door is in the shape of a cross. And crosses are where things die. Specifically, where we die to ourselves.
But remember what Christ promised: “Those who lose their life for my sake will find it.” In other words, the invitation to follow Christ is an invitation to an abundant life (John 10:10). The overflowing, “more than enough” life.
That is why at Asbury we do not describe ourselves as being in the business of transmitting information.
Listen to Dr. Kevin Brown’s President’s Welcome to open the Fall 2026 Semester.
Dr. Kevin Brown serves as 18th president of Asbury University, bringing to the role a deep commitment to Christ-centered higher education, academic excellence, and faithful institutional stewardship. His leadership reflects both a long-standing connection to the Asbury community and a clear vision for guiding the University in a rapidly changing cultural and educational environment.
Learn More about President Brown and the leadership of Asbury University here.
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