Harbor, Pepperdine Bible Lectures

Renewed

Chris Goldman, NWChurch Worship Band

A musical and spoken word worship experience built upon Isaiah 40 - 43, music by the NW Worship Band, and a desire to breathe spiritual energy into all who participate.

Abba Father: Immanuel

Teacher: Bobby Valentine

 

Keep Calm and Carry On: How Ministers/Leaders Can Move Forward When Ministry is Difficult (Part 2)

Teachers: Scott Lambert, Jim Martin

Spiritual leaders need encouragement to keep pressing forward in challenging Kingdom work. Approaches and tactics to wrestle with burnout, stress and anxiety will be accompanied by words of blessings, courage and prayers over each person in attendance. Both nights will offer practical insights as well as the feeding of each leader's soul. End the Harbor day with a time of encouragement to stay courageous in serving God and His people.

Reimagining Church in a Changed World

Teachers: Jason Locke, Tod Vogt

Panelists: David Berry, Charles Kiser, Ryan Smith, Chale Wesson

In this Reimagining Church workshop, the panelists will look at how to move beyond the tired and futile hamster wheel of worship improvements, revolving
preachers, rebrandings, facility improvements, and the like. Instead of just rethinking how to improve the weekly hour of worship, what if we as churches
rethought how to do life together? What if Christian communities both new and old could imagine and live into a new future of being the church in the
world? This session will look at concrete ideas for how to break out of existing frameworks.

Love, Justice, and Hope: Theological Perspectives

Teacher: Stanley Talbert

This class explores theological perspectives on love, justice, and hope. If “God Loves Forever,” what are the implications of human love for God, the neighbor, and the self in the 21st century? The class will think with theologies of love, justice, and hope while constructing an ethic for the church’s engagement in our contemporary world.

A Biblical Theology of Justice

Teacher: Esau McCaulley

Words have meaning in context. What should the Christian mean when he or she speaks of justice? What are its foundations, aims, and purpose. Related to this question is the doctrine of sin. Is sin personal, corporate (systemic), or some combination of the two? This seminar will outline a Christian definition of justice rooted in the vision for the Kingdom of God that emerges across the canon.

A Message from the Church to the LGBTQ+ Community: The Same Spirit is at Work for God’s Purpose in All of Us

Teacher: Rubel Shelley

The message of Scripture is that same-sex activity is outside God's will, but our culture tells us that "authentic personhood" and "one's true identity" must not be denied. The role of the Holy Spirit is to empower virtue and to enable Christians -- whether heterosexual or homosexual by orientation -- to live in chastity and fidelity as we are transformed into Christ's likeness.

Vox Dei: Hearing and Discerning the Voice of the Lord

Teachers: Josh Ross, Chris Seidman

Life and ministry is much richer when we’re not the only ones doing the talking. We’ll pull on the thread of the Lord’s voice that runs throughout Scripture and talk practically about the challenges of discerning and following His voice in our lives today. We’ll also enjoy a few testimonies, and laugh (or cringe) over a few misguided experiences along the way.

What Kind of Development Work Would Jesus Do?

Teachers: John Barton, KIBO Group

John will share experiences and lessons learned in his work with Kibo Group International, and his thirty years of involvement in cross-cultural church work and community development.

Hope and Help for Anxiety

Teachers: Sharon Hargrave, Dee Dee Mayer

Many of us worry from time to time, but those who suffer from anxiety often experience fear that limits daily life and activities and makes it hard to find joy. Anxiety also impacts our ability to relate to one another in healthy ways. Over the last decade, mental health issues have been on the rise, with anxiety and depression taking the lead.

The National Institute for Mental Health reports that 31 percent of adults in America experience an anxiety disorder at some point in their life. These numbers are not different for people in the church. In fact, research shows that approximately one in five people sitting in congregation each week are struggling with a diagnosable anxiety disorder, and pastors are not immune to this statistic.
Join Sharon Hargrave and Dee Dee Mayer as they share new resources created through the RelateStrong Leadership Series to support people seeking to constructively address anxiety personally or in those they lead and serve. Whether a lay leader or a minister, this session is for you.

Compelling Preaching: What We Learned from Multiple Perspectives

Teachers: Greg Anderson, Grady King

In 2022, Hope Network Ministries facilitated a nationwide Compelling Preaching survey on behalf of Pepperdine University's Office of Church Relations. The purpose of this class is to review some of the key takeaways from the data, process where we are aligned and where we are disconnected, and offer suggestions to church leaders on how to equip their congregations for more compelling preaching.

When God Withholds: Learning the Story of the Persistent Widow

Teacher: Cliff Barbarick

The parable of the persistent widow in Luke 18 grapples with a universal human experience: sometimes the loving God responds to our cries for justice with silence. How do we understand such moments, and what do we do? To explore this story, we will learn it by heart and tell it to one another. It's possible—and fun!—to learn the story quickly, and the process deepens our appreciation for this deceptively simple parable.

God Has a Timeshare in Hell

Teacher: Michael Chaffin

The Hebrew Scriptures are filled with superlative language describing the faithfulness of God. "The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases," or "Give thanks to the Lord for he is good, his love endures forever." These are words of protest as well as praise; words offered in the midst of suffering, not simply once it has passed.

What might these extreme expressions of inexhaustible loyalty mean for God's groaning creation? What are the ultimate implications for a God of such character?

Psalm 139 shifts our expectations of God's promises by expanding our experience of his presence.

What the New Testament Tells Us About God’s Love

Teacher: Kindy De Long

"God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us" (Romans 5:5). God's love is at the center of the story of Jesus. It is why the Word was made flesh, why Jesus died rather than conquered, and why we experience grace through Christ. Focusing on God's love in the New Testament, this class will explore what it means to be loved by God and how being loved by God changes us.

Permission Already Granted: Rethinking Perceptions of Spiritual Authority

Teacher: Bryn Valencia

There is a gap between believing women are fully welcomed to lead in the Church, and seeing that liberty realized in our local churches – how do women and men live healthy, vibrant lives of faith and leadership in this in-between season? Rooted in the fundamental belief of the Imago Dei residing within every person, this class will help us unlock creative solutions for reclaiming hope, empowered soul care, and active engagement while in a season of waiting.

Loving Sundays: How Sundays Can Be Your Best Day of the Week

Teacher: Jovan Barrington

You're invited to attend this class that focuses on how to make Sundays meaningful, fulfilling, and enjoyable. We will discuss topics such as the importance of gathering with your church, participating in spiritual practices, and alleviating anxiety and disappointments while cultivating celebration and joy. This class is open for ministry leaders and anyone who wants to make Sunday a great day and create a deeper connection with God. Join us and discover how Sundays can be your best day of the week.

Husband of One Wife: ”Nothing Else Needs to be Said” (Part 2)

Teacher: John Mark Hicks

As congregations process pastoral leadership and the inclusion of women, one of the most frequent barriers is three Greek words traditionally translated “husband of one wife.” These two classes explore the interpretation and practice of this “qualification” in the history of the church (with emphasis on the Restoration Movement) and offer an understanding of this Greek idiom that does not exclude women in the context of 1 Timothy 3.

Becoming Wounded Healers: Responding to Religious Trauma

Teacher: Charles Kiser

Many people leave churches and faith because they have experienced spiritual abuse and trauma due to toxic religious narratives. In this session we explore the concepts of spiritual abuse and religious trauma, and present pastoral leadership practices and postures that foster congregations that are healing for the spiritually traumatized.

Overcoming Struggles in Sharing Your Faith

Teacher: Mark Mayo

Learn how to share your faith with gentleness and respect. In a world that is dark and divided, we will discover new ways to bridge the gap
and bring the one true answer to hope and peace-Jesus Christ.

OASIS: An Invitation to Real Rest

Teacher: Carlos Isaziga

What do you do when you can’t shake the feeling of being tired? Maybe it’s a simple all too common physical depletion of energy, or are you dealing with a weariness much deeper than that?

Society is feeling the effects of fatigue on many different levels, Jesus makes an invitation to a life of rest and refreshment.

Ministry That’s Digital and Relational

Teachers: Dudley Chancey, Josh Griffin, Mike Shepherd, Jeff Walling

In a world of ever-increasing and -invasive technology, which way should youth ministers turn? How can we reach teens who live in a digital world yet desperately seek authentic relationships? Sharing truth in imaginative ways has never been more important. Come hear some recent research and fresh ideas on how to leverage technology to give you more time to lean into relational ministry from experts and creative voices in the field of student ministry.

The Path of Most Resistance: Tested Strategies for a New Church Growth Model

Teacher: Pat Bills

We are living in a time where churches are struggling with their attendance and morale is low; things just aren’t “what they used to be.” But what if churches actually embraced a strategy that measured success in different ways than before? Join me as we explore specific strategies that have “grown” our church into becoming a smaller more faithful and focused community of disciples.

In the Midst of Good News: A Workshop on the Gospel of Mark

Teacher: Nick Zola

The Gospel of Mark is likely the earliest surviving written story of Jesus. It’s fast paced and action packed, revealing some rough language yet real literary artistry, with an abrupt start and a surprising twist at the end. In this workshop we will explore the good news Mark conveys to his listeners and how to relate that good news ourselves, if we dare.

Jesus Goes to College: Ministry in the Secular Context

Teacher: K. Rex Butts

This class will explore the participation of the local church in the mission of God among college contexts. The operatives of transforming and planting will shape this discussion.

Breaking the Fourth Wall in Preaching

Teacher: Cheryl Russell

Dialogical preaching and the opportunities and advantages it provides for churches in the new missional era.