Pepperdine Bible Lectures 2018

Teacher: Bradley Steele Since their inception, the weekly celebration of the Lord’s Supper has remained a distinctive practice in Churches of Christ. However, though most congregations remain unified in the practice of weekly celebration, their actual execution of that celebration varies rather widely. This class constitutes a call to a renewed celebration of the Eucharist through the retrieval of the Eucharistic theology of Scripture and the early Church.

Teacher: Ron Clark During the Covid pandemic Kairos was faced with a dilemma concerning church planters, campus leaders, and assessing future leaders. We quickly pivoted and witnessed our planters develop hybrid models of ministry. Kairos also developed online assessment labs (Discovery and Strategy Labs) and continued to train and prepare leaders to begin new ministries in 2022. This online format opens the door for global assessment, training, and planting throughout the world. In this session we will discuss how the digital age affects leadership development, discernment for calling, and preparing future leaders in Jesus’ kingdom.

Teacher: Tim Spivey Capturing Your Church's Future

Teacher: Wade Hodges A Theology of Ministry From Ecclesiastes

Teachers: Scott and Kim Lambert We cannot shy away from difficult conversations that matter and we need safe places to have them. Join Scott and Kim Lambert, co-founders of The Conversation Group, to discover why Christian leaders around the world are actively seeking mentorship relationships and leaning into impactful conversations. You will be encouraged by the four principles above and discover how they can impact the relationships you are navigating.

Teacher: Shon Smith These days few guarantees seem to be worth more than the paper they are printed on, but in 2 Peter 1 we find a guarantee that one can take to the bank. It is the guarantee that one can make a profound impact on this world for the glory of Jesus. This guarantee, however, hinges on a growing faith. Join us for this class to discuss qualities that every disciple must allow the Holy Spirit to form in them to make the greatest impact through them.

Teacher: Ghavinn Crutcher Texting rather than talking. Gathering likes and followers. Making friends via a gaming console. Unrelenting 24/7 news cycles. Ready or not, the rise of social media, and 24/7 Internet access has changed the way we relate to one another (and ourselves), leaving in its wake a whole new set of challenges for those who use it.

Teachers: Everett and Earlene Bryson The world system in which we all live has many different theologies and principles when it comes to serving seniors, the sick and shut-in, the poor, the needy and others. Some think that there is no value in taking care of these individuals. However, Jesus Christ teaches the value in serving and meeting the needs of indigent people. In this session “Senior Ministry: Taking Care of Jesus, we will examine the principles of serving those in needs and the ultimate benefits of this type of service through the message of Jesus in Matthew 25:31-40. This session is part of the Sunset Haven Senior Ministry Series.

Teacher: Candace Nicolds Do you sometimes struggle coming up with texts for your next sermon series? Perhaps you find yourself defaulting to some of your favorite texts, or those that seem “easy” to preach. In this class, we will discuss some of the positives (and negatives) that come with following a lectionary, look at some of the different lectionaries available, and explore some of the resources that are available for preachers and/or worship-planners who use a lectionary.

Teacher: Ben Fike We knew there would be disagreement in church, but nobody warned us about the alternate realities! And yet, doesn’t it sometimes feel as if we’re living in a completely different world from those around us? Many of the conflicts we deal with these days seem to have much less to do with what we see than how we see it. Modern psychology gives us a helpful label for identifying how otherwise similar people might arrive at wildly different interpretations of what they see: cognitive biases. This class will explore several common biases and how awareness of bias in ourselves and others can help us communicate more effectively and others, even and especially those with whom we disagree.

Teacher: Allen Wai Jang Health is viewed as a gift from God and a way of relational living in community. Health promotion and religious beliefs are integrated into the normal cycles of life to celebrate life, enhance coping, wholeness, and improve community well-being. I will use Tai Chi and Qigong exercises as a model to illustrate intentional contextual practices that can foster a congregation’s sense of mutual dependence and foster persons’ ability to both give and receive care.

Teacher: Dave Altizer A very personal reflection from a man with two sons; one an alcoholic and one an aspiring chemist/neuroscientist. For parents and churches dealing with two sons, and with Luke 15 as a backdrop, this session aims to offer hope, partnership, and encouragement from a man who is still on the journey with his two sons.

Teacher: Cheryl Russell A message from Ephesians 2 about the possibility of cultivating a new Kingdom imagination that reflects the fullness of God.

Teachers: Chris Goldman, Piper Ditzler Deconstruction of faith is a critical discussion in our time impacting everyone. Reconstruction of relationships seems out of reach to so many. Division and disbelief is running rampant. Avoiding the conversation is simply not an option. On Wednesday and Thursday evenings, the Northwest Church Worship Band and Chris Goldman will explore these two topics through scripture, story, music, live art, and suggestions for a more hopeful tomorrow. (Wednesday - Deconstruction; Thursday - Reconstruction).

Teachers: Greg Anderson, Grady King, Doug Peters HOPE Network leaders discuss leadership structure in Churches of Christ: assumptions, frustrations, and a biblical model of gift-based shared leadership. Polity angst is one of the top reasons for a minister’s transition resulting in congregations yearning for solidarity, health, and growth.

Teacher: Richard Beck Surveys declare that America is now officially a "post-Christian" nation. Churches are in numerical decline and the faith is failing to pass on to our children. How do we proclaim the gospel to a skeptical, disbelieving world? Join Richard Beck to learn how recovering sacred wonder and radical amazement can revitalize faith in a faithless world.

Teachers: Melvina Brown, Hannah Parmelee As campus ministers, we generously give students our time, emotional energy, and wisdom, and our life with God. Our lives with God must be constantly refreshed with the Divine Life. When they aren’t, we are weary, burdened, and burnt-out, and our families and ministries suffer along with us. “Campus Ministers’ Waters of Life” is time to renew in the abundant waters of God. We will look at the soil of our souls, the care they need, catch a vision for more of life with God, and pray for one another.

Teacher: Pat Bills Panelists: Sara Barton, Randy Harris, Amy Bost Henegar That churches have been through an unprecedented season of heartache and turmoil is no secret. And preachers have felt the weight of loss, the challenge of meeting high expectations, and a pressure to hold “all the things” together. Join us for a workshop that will offer you hope and encouragement for the task of preaching and leading. Come and be reminded of your call and gospel conviction.

Teacher: Jerry Rushford Panelists: Wes Crawford, Dyron Daughrity, Jamey Gorman, John Mark Hicks, Loretta Hunnicutt, Stanley Talbert This workshop will encourage a conversation on the many different categories in Restoration history that attract us and compel us to research and write about them. It might also lead to a discussion about which categories have been neglected in our storytelling, and make suggestions for new categories in future publications.

Teachers: Marian and Tim Parker We are all born with a desire to connect to The One who desires us the most. The richness and diversity in God's creation speaks to each child, but not every child experiences or learns in the exact same way. We will explore the ideas and truths in the stories found in scripture using a variety of different methods—science, art, games, drama, history, and storytelling—to help you, your volunteers, and your students find their unique place in the greatest story of all.