Reflecting on my Time at Moody Bible Institute
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 24 ธ.ค. 2024
- Three years ago I came to Moody Bible Institute, eager to learn all that I could about the bible and theology. Today, I filmed my final video in my Moody dorm room which has served as my makeshift studio for the past three years. When I came to Moody, I had 30 subscribers. As of today, this channel has over 40,000. This video is equal parts reflecting on Moody and thanking you all for being along for the ride. I'm so grateful for your love and support. It has truly meant the world. Here's to what's next!
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About Gospel Simplicity:
Gospel Simplicity began as a TH-cam channel in a Moody Bible Institute dorm. It was born out of the central conviction that the gospel is really good news, and I wanted to share that with as many people as possible. The channel has grown and changed over time, but that central conviction has never changed. Today, we make content around biblical and theological topics, often interacting with people from across the Christian tradition with the hope of seeking greater unity and introducing people to the beautiful simplicity and transformative power of the gospel, the good news about Jesus.
About the host:
Hey! My name is Austin, and I'm a 23 year old guy who’s passionate about the beautiful simplicity and transformative power of the gospel. I believe that the gospel, the good news about Jesus, is really good news, and I’m out to explore, unpack, and share that good news with as many people as possible. I'm a full blown Bible and Church History nerd that loves getting to dialogue with others about this, learning as much as I can, and then teaching whatever I can. I grew up around Frederick, MD where I eventually ended up working my first job at a church. They made the mistake of letting me try my hand at teaching, and instantly I fell in love. That set me on a path for further education, and I'm currently a student at Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, IL, studying theology. On any given day you can find me with my nose in a book or a guitar in my hands. Want to get to know me more? Follow me and say hi on Instagram at: @austin.suggs
Video Stuff:
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Edited in FCPX
Music:
Bowmans Root - Isaac Joel
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Wishing you all the best in your future endeavors. I love your statement: "Don't let yourself know more _about_ God than you know God." I think I'll print that out and put it above my desk.
Thats such a good line - and its a mistake its too easy to make in training new Christians
Sooo good and something that spoke to me immediately. I have been going down all the rabbit holes since accepting Christ into my life. Its very easy for someone like me to "research" my way into knowledge, but its really a way to separate myself from truly seeking the personal relationship. Thank you for distilling it down. Truly Gospel Simplicity there...
Austin, I have been following you from your very first uploads, particularly the John 6 and first Bible study with Catholics. Back in 2019, I was in Afghanistan, where my own journey began into church history. I listened to Scott Hahn, Dr. Brant Pitre, Catholic answers, and many more. I remember feeling so joyed when I discovered your channel because you were particularly humble to Catholics, despite your disagreements with them. 10 minute Bible hour was another favorite of mine to listen to. Since then, it has been so humbling to watch your journey intensify through interviews and deeper theological understanding of different denominations, Catholicism and Orthodox specifically. God Bless you, it’s been nothing but fun brother. You are a true gift
Blessings Brother. I have not long since became a catechumen at a new Orthodox Church that opened in my small town in Scotland. Your platform provided a valuable service to me by presenting all the content you have in such a good faith. It was was one of many places I have spent hours (I’m a trucker so I have time to listen) researching church history etc much like yourself. If it wasn’t for people like yourself, Pageau, Jay Dyer, Jordan Peterson, Paul Vanderklay etc and all the Clergy that have got involved over the years on all you guys channels I’m sure my own life would not be the one I now thank God for every day. To give a little context, that’s far from what I did for the first 30 years of my life. All the best to you Bro, keep up the good work! Loving others is working!
Congratulations Austin! Thank you so much for all of your videos. You’ve made me a better Catholic Christian. I hope we will be seeing you again!
Congratulations, Austin. The best is yet to come. Remain faithful and steadfast and set the world on fire with love of Our Lord Jesus. I entrust you to His Sacred Heart.
Dear Brother , this platform snd your outstanding interviews with various Orthodox speakers impacted me and my family greatly . Such spirit filled , kind and knowledgeable Orthodox theologians . I’ve sent these “ diamonds” to others . They have since begun their catechetical journey as Orthodox. Your insightful, respectful and honest interviews are a blessing . Well done good and faithful servant . Glory to God .
Wow! Congratulations Austin!! Can't believe you found time to make videos for the channel! I'm RCC but absolutely love your posts! I learn a lot from you and respect your gentle and respectful approach. Thank you!!
Thanks so much!!
Have enjoyed your content for a long time, Austin. Was in Chicago a week and a half ago and attended a Mass at St. John Cantius, which I have you to thank for learning about. Best of luck with the wedding and whatever comes next!
Austin, Congratulations! Moody must be very proud of such a fine young Christian and already accomplished theologian. May God continue to richly bless you as you serve Him in the future.
So happy for you! Your channel has been a wholesome oasis of theology and God’s love that I could always turn to when the world tried to overwhelm. Here’s to your next adventure after Moody! I shall drink a tall glass of sweet tea to your health.
Thank you so much!
@ Austin ! My heartiest congratulations on your graduation and impending wedding ! Change in hairstyle when you move into a new phase of life ! My best wishes to you !
CHRISTIANITY VS BIBLE & ISLAM
ISLAM & THE BIBLE, AGREE WITH THE F0LL0WING
Jesus could only perform miracles with god's permission ( Acts 2:22 )
0nly one God ( Mark 12 : 29 - 31 )
Jesus was a human, not God ( Numbers 23 : 19 )
Jesus was a great Prophet of God ( 1 Timothy 2:5 )
No one can see God and this proves Jesus is not God ( 1 John 4:20 - John 5:37 )
Only God knows the future & Jesus does not know the future, which proves Jesus is not God ( Mark 13:32 )
The biggest joke ever is 👉🏻NO BOOK IN THE WORLD CAN DEFEND CHRISTIANITY 🤦♂
discovering your channel was the most beautiful thing that happened to me on youtube. thank you for all the content youre presenting on this channel
Austin, I have subbed for the last few years. Your excellent interviewing style, plus your honest authenticity and love of learning are refreshing.
thank you. congratulations on your graduation.
Congratulations and thanks for including us on your journey. God Bless you as you continue your walk.
Austin, I remember when your channel was starting and I saw your guitar hanging out in the background! (I'm a musician heheh). It's been nice following you for a while, congratulations and God bless you my friend.
I'm a traditional Catholic, and I'm going to seminary in the SSPX. It's been nice to see someone around my age dive into texts, and see your enthusiasm!
Good work, keep on serving Our Lord, walking with Him in grace in all that you do.
Congratulations Austin! I was hooked on your channel from the first one I watched - St John Cantius tour.
th-cam.com/video/tqOi8JViVes/w-d-xo.html
Hi Austin, I am a former Moody student, and then I transferred to another university this past year. But I came across your "Why I Chose Moody" video in 2020 I think, and subscribed from there. I remember being impressed with your tenacity to consistently post videos even though you then had low views. I saw you around Moody's campus, but never met you. Just want to say it's been cool to watch your channel grow, and I've had some people ask me if I knew you from Moody as they've come across your channel on their own.
May God be with you and bless you in your future endeavors, and congratulations on graduating from the school that D. L. Moody founded!
Thanks so much for the encouragement!
Hey so I am on the cusp of joining Moody so please tell me where you decided to go instead and why you left in a quick word?
Hi@@christianmandefro7475 ! I love Moody, and Moody was very formative for me, and I'm so thankful for the time God allowed me to spend there. The past couple of years, Moody has been going through multiple transitions in their campus and administration that I saw was negatively impacting the students. I'm not against Moody, but it is going through a time of growing pains.
I transferred to LeTourneau University and am majoring in Scripture and Theology with an AMAZING theology department.
May God give you wisdom in what He has for you. Blessings!
Hi! I just stumbled across your channel. Congratulations on graduation! I graduated from Moody in 2002!!! I’m in awe of your depth of study and insight. I often reflect on what I would say to a freshman me back in 1998. Thank you for sharing! Blessings to you!!!
God bless all your future endeavors. Your channel has tackled very interesting topics that no one else has. You have shown that Christians have so much more in common and our differences shouldn’t divide us. Your videos about Catholicism is respectful and beautiful.
Congratulations and many prayers for your future! May God bless you and keep you and your lovely bride. You've been a bright light to many over the past few years.
I’m grateful to have “stumbled” across your videos. I think the first one was your tour of John Cantius (a place on my list to visit this summer). You’ve made me think, pray, learn and consider. Thank you!
I think that's the 1st video of his that I watched! His videos are enjoyable.
I’ve enjoyed and have been blessed by your interaction on Gospel Simplicity 🥰
What a great ride ! Look forward to what is next !
Congratulations on your graduation, Austin. Thanks for all the great interviews these past couple years. It's been very informative and sometimes inspiring. May the Lord continue to guide you in your future.
Feels like you’re an old friend brother! Thankful for your work and hope it has been as fruitful for you as it has been for us. Have a happy wedding!!
Congratulations on finishing up your studies at MBI and welcome to the alumni community! Yes, Moody does change us-which is good I'd say-all of us should be changed by 4 years focusing on the Bible! Also, fun that you're in Culbertson Hall-that was my mom's guess-my dad was on the 10th floor there until he and my mom got married as students.
That's so neat! Thanks!
Congratulations and best of luck to you on the next chapter of your life's journey. Thank you for creating all this content and allowing your viewers to learn alongside you.
Also graduating from a small Protestant college tomorrow. Congratulations Austin!
A sincere and heartfelt thank you for all you have done and all that you'll continue to do! Wishing you the very best always!
Congratulations, Austin
I have really enjoyed your videos and conversations and good to know you. You have really been a blessing to many people on this channel. God bless you in your vocation.
Subscribed towards your shift away from Let’s chat and Bible verse videos, but was lucky enough to catch a couple of both. Since then, the videos released have been eye-opening and makes me appreciate the similarities and differences between the denominations. Thanks.
Congrats Austin, thanks for sharing the journey brother. Grace and peace!
Congrats Austin! It’s been awesome to watch your journey and see your growth. Thank you for all you do. I find myself coming to your channel when I need something positive to see in all the negativity of this world. Your humility is so refreshing and gives me hope! Continued Prayers for you 🙏🏽God bless!
The traditional Latin Rite Catholic greeting for a bishop is "Ad Multos Annos" May you (serve as a bishop) many years. (loose translation) But I think it also applies to you Austin. May you have many hears seeking truth, and dispelling misinformation that Catholics, Orthodox and Protestants have about what the other does, teaches and believes.
I wish you the best, Austin. God will continue to be with you on your journey. You're in my prayers 🙏🏽✝️❤️ and I look forward to seeing more videos.
You are such a refreshing find! Glory to God for his use of you and your allowance of his Spirit.
May you be blessed on your narrow path. Congratulations to you on your coming marriage!
Thank you, thank you.
Congratulations, Austin. Maaaan, have you done a lot with your time!
Thanks!
Bendiciones en tu nuevo capítulo. Tu aproximación al cristianismo, la patrística y la teología han significado una inspiración para mi camino en la Fé. Un abrazo fraternal desde Colombia.
this channel has been amazing my friend, it has been a blessing to explore all the church traditions with you. your openness to ideas has been great to see and very beneficial for my own journey. thank you
Wow that’s great. I haven’t watched all your videos…yet. But many. I’ve enjoyed & deeply respected your approach & style, as I’ve said a few times. I’ve had a couple critiques here & there. What I hope & pray is that wherever life, career, marriage leads you, that you never walk away from the Lord, faith in Him & His Church; and that you never take too seriously the praise of men.
Congratulations, Austin! Graduating is a big turning point. I’ve enjoyed your channel immensely and learned a lot. I’m looking forward to where you take us next. Enjoy the next few weeks! Graduation and getting married are big joys and changes.
Congratulations and all the best going forward! God bless you and yours abundantly
Congratulations for your very informative and enjoyable videos! You have one of my favourite youtube channels!
Upward and onward!! So grateful for you and this channel! Can’t wait to see what’s next!
Excited for what's to come next for you! Congratulations!🥳🎂🎉
Congratulations!! You have blessed so many people through your channel. God bless you as you transition to your new phase of life.
Thank you Austin. You remain in our prayers. May we all _know God_ better, deeper, stronger, truer, purer, and more gratefully. God bless you! 🙏💎🌻☀️✝️
How can I keep from singing Your praise
How can I ever say enough
How amazing is Your love
How can I keep from shouting Your name
I know I am loved by the King
And it makes my heart want to sing
That video of you going to your first Catholic Mass at my parish has 176k views.
You've made good stuff and I'm exited to see what comes next.
Congratulations! A big milestone for you. May God continue to bless and guide you all the days of your life.
I know someone who lived in Texas and came to Chicago to go to Moody (as a Protestant), just the way you did, Austin. While on duty as a Chicago police officer, he saw St. John Cantius Church, my parish, and went inside on his break. He was astounded by the church in all its beauty. He later went to Mass there too. Then he started going to Mass, still as a Protestant, closer to his home. That was my old Parish and where I met him. His journey seemed to be a long one, but not really in the grand scheme of things. Everything in God's time.
While at my old Parish (the one closer to his home), he learned the Catholic faith from one of the priests there, Fr. Flynn. He received private instruction from him, which is so much better than any RCIA class. I don't like the way RCIA classes are run and what those classes entail. I myself taught the faith to one particular Protestant preparing to become Catholic. She learned more from me than from her RCIA class. Anyway, sorry for the tangent, this guy eventually became Catholic and brought his financée into the faith as well. He's now married to her and has a child with her. And it all started with a visit to Saint John Cantius Church in Chicago. 🙏🏽✝️❤️
Austin, if you ever decide to look into the Catholic faith more, it would be great if you took classes at my parish, Saint John Cantius Church. They are the real deal, a true traditional parish. The Canons there would teach you the faith the way it should be taught. Believe me, I've seen an RCIA book and booklets and I know what the RCIA class teaches. Not good. Learn the faith at a traditional parish, even if it's not Cantius. But it would be great if it was Cantius. I may be biased but I'm speaking truth here about the Canons at my parish. I know you've met the Canons and especially Father Joshua, the Pastor and Superior General of the Canons Regular of St. John Cantius. They have several different classes that they teach. Greek. Latin. Hebrew. They have CCD Faith Formation and of course, RCIA. I hope you consider at least taking a class or two there even if you do not decide to convert to Catholicism. 🙏🏽
You’re so fortunate to have St. John Cantius. I go to a TLM parish, but if all “Novus Ordo” parishes were like St. John Cantius, that would be beautiful.
@@gk7754 "Not enough" is what that person got from her RCIA class. I taught her more. We video chatted every single day for me to teach her. And it was several hours each day. Even with her being Protestant, we would both pray the Rosary together during our time video chatting and her learning the faith. She loved praying the Rosary. She had the same book that I had to pray the Rosary. She loved doing the longer version of the Rosary. It took her about 45 minutes to pray on her own. We did the shorter version when we prayed together.
@@EpoRose1 So true! I wish all parishes were like that. I have also attended Mass at an ICKSP parish. There is another parish where I go sometimes when I can't sleep (chronic pain) and have to go to a late Sunday Mass. They do a very reverent Mass there but they don't do the TLM. I asked the pastor of that parish a few years ago if he would ever consider doing the Latin Mass. He said he didn't know Latin that well and does not know the Latin Mass. I told him about my parish and that they have a lesson plan for the TLM. He didn't seem interested. I don't know why. Perhaps it's just a matter of not knowing. 🤷🏻♀️
Thank you Austin. The future is bright with people like you in it. I will be sending prayers and good wishes to both Aliza and your wedding day and may God continue to bless you both in Jesus Name.
Ending so soon?! Congratulations, I hope this is not the end of GS and we'll see more of you. God bless and congratulations on your upcoming wedding.
Praying for you. Congratulations on graduating.
Congratulations! I hope you will embrace all that you have embraced to be true,
Thank you for all the work you have done, I am positive your efforts will move the church closer to the unity our Lord desires.
Austin, I listen to many of your videos. I enjoy all your interviews. You are such a eloquent, intelligent young man. I see you teaching Christian theology & history. We need pastors but our young people need christian , God fearing, Bible believing teachers to teach the truth! You would be great at whatever you do! God Bless you & May He use you mightily for His Kingdom. 😇✝️🙏🕊
Austin, you are certainly an interesting guy. You are kind and thoughtful...definitely a one of a kind.
May God bless you and Eliza on your upcoming marriage, and may He bless you on your journey to finding His amazing truth...you are certainly going places...and have been a true blessing to all who watch your unique content! ❤
🎉 Congratulations Austin ❤
Congratulations for all you achieved. Wishing you well for the next part of your journey.
Definitely a success and not a failure! You're right, Austin! 🙏🏽✝️❤️
this is indeed bittersweet. happy for you and your bright future, sad for us. hope to see more of you in the future!
That was really lovely. Thank you. Jon
A job well done, Austin!
And your haircut got better, too!
All the best to you and congratulations. I enjoy your channel. Wish you had a few more Lutheran and Anglican theologians on your channel.
Wishing you greater days ahead, as days of heaven upon the earth. Onward and upward!
Dale amigo tu canal fue muy clave para mi búsqueda y equilibro teológico, mucho éxito en lo que viene!
Congratulations bro!!!
Thanks!!
Congratulations!!
Love following your faith journey. I am Latin Catholic but respect all Christians.
Greetings and respect from the Netherlands!
May God bless you and guide you beyond your expectations, Austin, now that your studies at Moody Bible Institute have ended, and you will soon begin a new life as a husband.
You're unlikely to find this on a 2-year old video, but I am a Culby 4 alumnus too, class of 2011! I'm binge watching you and other Moody TH-camrs and it's hitting me with such nostalgia. Anyway, when the first thing you said in this video was that you were on Culby 4, I had to write a comment. I might have even been in room 403 (I was definitely on that side of the hall), but I don't actually remember which room numbers on 4 I was in; during my 4 years, I moved once or twice up or down the hallway. I've enjoyed your various videos on choosing Moody, first impressions there, and this one at the end as well. I just wish I would have been following you all along during your journey while there. I'll have to go find a new Moody Freshman who's vlogging and try to keep up with them from here on out.
What a trip down memory lane! I'm sure watching Moody videos brings back so many memories
Wishing you the very best where ever life and God takes you.
Congratulations! "Don't let yourself know more about God than you know God." That's one heck of a way to say it. Thank you for sharing your journey!
"and if the band you're in starts playing different tunes, I'll see you on the dark side of the moon."
Congrats Austin!!!!
Keep up the good work!
CONGRATS BRO!!!!
👏 Congrats!
Well, Austin, what happens next? Congratulations and best wishes!
Your mentor’s advice was good. You could also summarize Jesus’ message like that: “the Law matters but not the way that people matter.”
God bless you!
Congratulations on your graduation and moving on to married life!
I watched you before you adopted the name Gospel Simplicity. I can’t believe you are the same fellow.
Cool didn’t know you were in Chicago
Well done mate.
GBU Austin 🙏🏻🙏🏻
Are you done with interviewing people and are you done with this channel? I can’t tell you how much God used you and your channel to grow my faith and dare I say even perhaps changed my Protestant faith to a more historical orthodox faith… God bless you sir. I wish you the best and look forward to seeing how God uses you. ❤️
Your corner of Christendom is a quite a bit different than mine, but I think your sincere and intelligent approach to the Christian faith will be fruitful for the communion you serve. I enjoyed your videos a great deal.
I love all your videos. You look great with a hair cut ! Bring back the beard and you will be in "in business" :)
Congratulations and all the best to you Austin!
Does this mean your days of doing videos are over, or are you going to start that early church fathers reading discussion group?
Congrats, Austin!!! And thank you for what you've done (and will continue to do) on this channel. An unrelated question - is that an orthodox prayer rope/ bracelet? Where did you get it? I've been looking for one.
Hi Katy, Austin may have a better source for you, but my wife and I got ours from the Ancient Faith store. store.ancientfaith.com/prayer-ropes/
In a sense you did become a pastor of a megachurch as your number of subscribers shows. Hope you always know God, love Him and serve Him. God bless!
Stay On Line. I've learned a lot from you.
Congrats! Where are you going next?
Congrats. You’re leaving Moody with a congregation 43k strong. 😜
I have been watching you and learning a lot. I was a Moody student in the 1990s on Culby 11. Remember to study the lives of Jan Huss and the Moravian Brethren missions movement of Count Zinzendorf and Leonard Dober and George Muller and Hudson Taylor and and Roger Williams and William Carey whom God used to change the world by the gospel and bible translation transforming people groups and the fact that the Roman Catholic Church council burnt Jan Huss at the stake set forth a Holy Spirit movement since Wycliffe and Huss that produced the best fruit in church history including DL Moody Bible institute. Freedom from Catholic tyranny in the Middle Ages was such a blessing . Yes the best church fathers to emulate are John Huss and Zinzendorf and George Muller and Hudson Taylor and William Carey and millions like them who never took the Eucharist as the actual transubstantiated body of Christ but yet they still were full of the Holy Spirit not at water baptism but at surrender trust to Christ Himself. They had the “real presence of Jesus “ all day everywhere and transformed people and without connection to the Bishop of Rome. Romes Council of Trent “anathematized” them but Gods Spirit evidently anointed them as His people born again of the Spirit at a separate time before they took water baptism . Either the Roman Catholic Church is right and all the Manchurian revival and Pyongyang revival and Hudson Taylor’s China Inland Mission and William Carey’s Baptist ministry was Anathema cursed Protestantism according to supposed infallible Council of Trent or their Roman Catholic councils and magisterium are wrong. We believers in Christ do not call ourselves Protestant . This is a label they gave us . We just love Jesus . We don’t believe in “Sola-Fide” but we believe we are saved by Christ alone ! Not saved by a religious system set up in Rome who burnt Jan Huss at the stake !! Sure many Roman Catholics simply trust Jesus and are saved . Many Roman Catholics sincerely love Jesus and want to experience Jesus bowing before the Eucharist sincerely , but the best fruit in church history did not take the Eucharist that way . But some Roman Catholics get busy and proud and speak condemning words over us like Trent . But we have the victory in Jesus and we pity them in their judgmental perfectionist attitude while their system and authority are far from perfect. I am writing you from Kathmandu where many Nepali are being transformed by Jesus and the Bible by the Holy Spirit and they have no idea about any Pope or Rome. And Indian Christian’s are hurt by the legacy of the Goa Inquisition. When Roman Catholics persecuted Thomas Christian’s until they submitted to Rome. Does not this speak clearly what bad fruit Roman Catholic teaching authority has done in history ??
thank u
please interview ken johnson
Thank YOU for your openminded and humble way of searching truth .. and not to forget your wonderful hairdresser. Only now I can fully understand, why such a great and beautiful girl fell in love with you. Best, Martin from Austria, Europe
Where are you going for grad school?