Pepperdine Bible Lectures 2018

Teachers: Leonard Allen, Darryl Tippens The weekly observance of the Lord's Supper has long been a key identity marker of Churches of Christ, yet even as the practice has been forcefully defended as an essential ordinance of the church, for many believers the spiritual power and purpose of communion have been mysteriously reduced. “When Jesus Comes to Dinner” will explore the Bible’s and the ancient church’s rich and multifaceted understanding of the Eucharist with a call to restore its fuller meaning. The session will invite participants to join in crafting fresh language for creative communion services.

Teachers: Sandy Johnson, Dusty Rush Ministry in 2022 is hard. Many church leaders are overwhelmed with the, now seemingly impossible task of gathering Christians for one hour each week. Creating onramps for engaging these same Christians in substantive discipling can seem all but impossible. In this session, we want to claim that discipling is not dead while exploring together practical ways churches can train followers of Jesus to fully participate with God in missional living.

Teacher: Claire Allensworth How does the soul develop and change? Do we have a vision for how intimacy with God can grow throughout our lifetime? How can we assist others into a more soul-full life with God? Join us as we consider the journey of the soul as modeled by Saint Teresa of Avila and consider key questions, challenges, and opportunities at each stage of our dynamic life with God.

Teacher: Jay Hawkins Christians have become more comfortable talking about the Holy Spirit yet something is amiss. Why has our current church and cultural situation caused an increased thirst for the Spirit? What practical steps forward can we take?

Teacher: Rhonda Lowry Characteristics of Christian community that can sustain itself while rowing against the current

Teacher: Jim Martin Many Christians, including ministers and other church leaders, describe the last two years as being very hard. Yet, this is the time to be intentional regarding practices and habits that can give us strength and courage. This class will offer something helpful for all us who want to live as a people of hope.

Teacher: Todd Lollar Todd shares his discovery of the three roots of discrimination found within the church. In his bestselling book, Weak is the New Strong, he guides readers down the path of self-discovery as he shares his personal story of revelation upon realizing that God’s power is displayed through his weakness, Cerebral Palsy. In this session, Todd will not only help attendees discover how God’s power is displayed through their own weakness, he will also discuss the implications of not viewing others in that light. As he shares in his book, he experiences the most discrimination within the church, and in this session he will help you learn how to heal the roots of that discrimination for all involved.

Teacher: Falon Barton While reading the Bible for information is important, the story of the Bible is meant to help us experience the living God. We will learn five spiritual practices that give us a more holistic understanding of the Bible and, most importantly, draw us deeper into the presence of God. For anyone who leads small groups or teaches Bible classes — or who wants to breathe new life into their own Bible study — these practices will help the Bible come alive in whole new ways.

Teacher: Tiffany Dahlman Tiffany is the pulpit minister of a church with an open pulpit. How does this work? What are the benefits of equipping a variety of voices from within the congregation to preach the Sunday sermon? These and other questions, like, "How do I convince my elders that I'm not taking a week off if we open the pulpit?" will be answered in this session that has applicability for church members, church leaders, and preachers alike.

Teacher: Jason Locke

Teacher: Kelly Haer Are differences polarizing your relationships with family, friends, or co-workers? Are you struggling to interact with others and make sense of situations when you don't see eye-to-eye? This workshop will equip you to categorize types of differences and identify the varied relational impacts amidst these dynamics. Having named the relational landscape, you’ll learn to apply a framework for emotional-relational health that will empower you to maximize relational connection and satisfaction among polarized relationships. Hosted by the Boone Center for the Family.

Teacher: Jacob Parnell "90% of ministry is stealing other people's good ideas."–my buddy Allyn Bradley. If you're doing ministry in a church with a small team (or no team), come hear some ways that you can multiply ministry resources and opportunities simply by being connected with other ministers and helping organizations. I'll share some stories of how networking has blessed the 75-member northern California church where I serve and give attendees the chance to share their networking success stories as well. It's a collaborative session about the value and necessity of collaborating!

Teacher: Janet Ray For decades, people of faith have been told that that evolution is a lie. In order to sustain the ruse, scientists must hide evidence for creation and refuse to publish intelligent design articles in journals. If we believe that scientists aren’t telling us the truth regarding evolution, it is not a stretch to believe that scientists are trying to deceive us in other things. We are now reaping the consequences of decades of science denial in the response of far too many Christians during the COVID19 pandemic. This presentation explores the impact of science denial on the Christian witness.

Teacher: Grace Hall In 2014, the Campbell Church of Christ made the decision to add an instrumental service on Sunday mornings. In preparation for this move, the preaching minister gave a sermon that wrestled with the Biblical, theological, and doctrinal history of the a cappella tradition in the churches of Christ. This session will break down the rhetorical strategies used to navigate such a charged topic and provide a roadmap for others who need to address similarly difficult topics.

Teacher: Jessica Knapp One result of the financial insecurity of the last several months has been an increase in the number of homeless and at-risk families. We will explore what steps we as the church can take to help our neighbors in need. We will talk about the difficulties of dealing with mental health issues, systemic struggles faced by our friends as well as finding the balance between helping and hurting.

Teacher: Jack Williamson At the beginning of Jesus' ministry years, both Matthew and Mark tell us that he began saying: “Repent, for the Kingdom of God is at hand.” Teaching his disciples, he famously prays, ”Your Kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” Within a few years after the death and resurrection of Jesus, Paul is writing letters and planting churches. Standing on the shoulders of Jesus, he carries on this message of a Kingdom that has already come with power but has not yet been fully realized. It is God’s kingdom. It is the legacy to which we are called. It is the power to set us free and change the world one faithful person at a time.

Teachers: Woody and Judy Square Questions and doubts fill our minds when we discover that our adult child has left the faith: What did I do wrong? Will I lose my credibility as a church leader? How do I respond when people ask about my child? Do I keep trying with my child? How? This class is an honest exploration of the thoughts, feelings, and struggles we have when our children reject the faith of their childhood and some coping skills/strategies from a couple who is in the thick of this difficult journey.

Teachers: Alexander and Eleni Melirrytos Embracing God's message on "The Way."

Teachers: Jeff Garrett, Jim Johnston, Ray Meadows This session will explain the amazing impact that Jesus Christ is having in Huntington WV, the city that CNN, in 2016, called “America’s Drug Death Capital.” God is doing amazing things in The Movement that is transforming the lives of individuals, families, and communities. Hundreds of people who were suffering from addiction have given their lives to Christ, enjoy extended periods of sobriety, get their children back, obtain employment, and become productive members of society. Rocky, Jim, and Jeff will describe what grace looks like through the eyes of recovering alcoholics and addicts. God is doing amazing things in Huntington WV. He can do the same in your city!

Teacher: Jovan Barrington