Harbor, Pepperdine Bible Lectures

Clinging to Hope

Beverly Ross

Disappointed, devastated, rejected, and broken - these are feelings that can overwhelm those of us who are suffering, leaving us void of hope. The pain and anguish can tempt us to give up, give in, or walk away from faith. Peter wrote his first letter to encourage people to hold on, to cling to Hope - the Living Hope. Let's look into 1 Peter to find some practical help for getting through hard seasons.

Our Brightly Lit Cages, Part 2

Chris Seidman 

There's a theology for technology? Absolutely! Flourishing more and floundering less in the purposes of God when it comes to our relationship with our devices and screens.

Marriage Takes Five: Inviting the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit into Your Marriage

Don Rose, Corrie Rose

My wife, Corrie, and I, we have always been inspired and encouraged by the well known poem "Marriage Takes Three" by Beth Stuckwisch, which emphasizes the importance of God in marriage. As we try to keep God at the center of our relationship, we see, too, how the Son and the Holy Spirit relate to and affect our relationship in different but no less vital ways. Our class focus is on inviting and embracing these relationships consciously and intentionally in our marriages and seeing how much more we can be blessed by them.

Christians Make the Best Atheists, Part 3

Luke Norsworthy, Jonathan Storment

We don't have temples for the old Greek gods like Zeus, Aphrodite, or Hermes but we are still just as enticed into worshipping them today. We need to learn to be better atheists towards these gods.

Jesus On Every Page: Redefining Biblical Literacy For Young Adults (And Everyone Else)

Taylor Walling 

Biblical illiteracy is rampant among young adults and twentysomethings. But what would it look like to read the Bible the way that Jesus read it? How would that change how we taught young adults to read and interact with God's Word? Join us as we consider the radical reshaping of biblical literacy on Jesus' terms.

Ancient Words Come Alive, Part 2: How to Read the Bible Without Losing Your Faith

Wade Hodges

How is it that the Bible can be both an invitation to faith for some and an obstacle to faith for others? This class will explore the importance of clarifying our assumptions about what the Bible is, how it works, and what we can legitimately expect from it when we read it.

Music, Muscle Cars, and Other Makeshift Ministries

Jason Darden, Aaron Stevens 

A session for those wanting to turn their passion into a church ministry.

Sexual Testimony: How the Church Can Participate in #MeToo

Jeremiah Gibson

The #MeToo movement reminds us of the devastating consequences of our nation's inability to provide comprehensive sex education and safe spaces for sexual conversation. This workshop will identify ways that adult communities can use testimony as a way of removing sexual shame and reclaiming their sexual selves. Participants will learn strategies for working through limiting messages/negative experiences regarding sex and gender, as well as tips for identifying and communicating sexual needs.

La Iglesia y la Immigración en la Era del Presidente Trump (The Church and Immigration in the Age of President Trump)

Dan Rodriguez

Back to the Basics: Loving God and Loving Neighbor

Ryan Lassiter 

We want to reach the world with the good news that Jesus is Lord, and everyone seems to have a trendy way to "do church" in order to accomplish that goal. What if we became a community of people who embodied the greatest commandments instead? Let's get back to the basics of faith, loving God and loving neighbors.

Leaving Church: What I'm Learning

Jennifer Christy

Years of theological education and training, years of professional work and life experience...but what can really prepare you for congregational ministry? And how can you gracefully transition out of a role when your time is up? How do you return to being a member after serving as a minister? What does ministry look like in the public sector? I'm still learning but let's share this journey together.

O.T. OpEd (Part 2: Love at the Margins)

Phil Ware 

Old Testament characters who sing the song of Jesus!

The Joy of Rebels and Warriors

Paula Harrington 

Finding our joy, hope, and encouragement in the life of Jesus and those who courageously follow him.

Neighbors: Crossing the Road to Consider the Experience of the Suffering

Jeff Brown

In what ways can the "Good Samaritan" serve as guide to help us navigate racial tension and inequality? How might crossing the road to consider someone else's experience expand our understanding of both God and the World? Jesus willingly enters our suffering and disciples of Jesus must learn to do the same.

Though Unseen He Meets Us Here': Where Is Jesus When We Take Communion?

Darryl Tippens

Ministry Insights from Elijah (Part 2: When We've Had Enough)

Randy Roper 

We rejoice in life's mountaintop experiences - those distinct moments when we recognize the presence and power of the Holy Spirit among us. But we know life is not lived on the mountaintop. Like Elijah, we must descend from the summit and face the discouragement and difficulties that so often await us. What do we do when we feel like we've had enough?

The Psychopathology of Toxic Faith & A Church Plant

Lawrence Murry

Sacred Startups: The Holy Spirit's Work in Us

Greg Swinney

Every day is a fresh start for us. We hear about new businesses starting, runners starting the race and the next new diet we will start "tomorrow." Somehow we know when it's time to have a fresh start. The Holy Spirit is all about supernatural fresh starts. Join us in this session to learn about the Sacred Startups of the Holy Spirit throughout the Bible and the potential for new beginnings in our lives today.

Experiencing the Spirit in Ephesians (Part 3: Drinking the Spirit)

Bobby Valentine

This class offers a way of sharing the reality of the Spirit with people through reading Ephesians. This third class will reflect on the role of the Spirit in worship and ethics as believers embody the life of Christ in the world.

Land of Hopes and Dreams

Greg Taylor

How the former Garnett Road Church of Christ in Tulsa, OK is continuing The Journey after 50 years

A Dwelling Place: Bringing the Love and Peace of Christ to Muslims

Craig Young 

Craig will combine over 25 years of personal mission experience in Marseille, France with his specific doctoral research to share what God is doing among Muslims in his corner of the Mediterranean rim. As Muslims immigrate to the West in record numbers, hear and be encouraged by some real life examples of love in response to one of the most pressing missional needs of our time. Consider what a dwelling place full of the love and peace of Christ can produce in the hearts of those born and raised in the Muslim world.

Racial Reconciliation: A Millennial's Nightmare and Vision

Steven Brice

With countless protests, boycotts and views being shared on social media, it appears that the church could become marginalized. Let's have a conversation on what the church needs to do on the frontline of healing racial divides.

Finding God at the Margins (Part 2: Among the Downtrodden)

Charles Kiser 

God is at work at the margins of society, among those many would least expect. What if we didn't have to take God with us into relationships with neighbors in poverty? What if he is already there and we simply have to discover what he's doing?

Tricks, Tales, and Twisted Tongues: Lying to the Holy Spirit

Trevor Thompson

People lie; the question is always why. In one of the most disturbing stories in the Bible, Ananias and Sapphira attempt to deceive the Spirit. The result is divine homicide. The dead couple no longer tell tales. What does this tawdry tale teach about life in communities of the Spirit?

Unpacking the Rotation Model, Part 2: A Little Something for Everyone

Carrie Gotcher, Wendy Humphries, Marian Parker

Short on volunteers, kids disengaged, parents not interested, shallow curriculum? Carrie Gotcher, Marian Parker and Wendy Humphries will share their experiences teaching children using the rotation model and how it has brought life to their ministry.