Harbor, Pepperdine Bible Lectures

Restoring Restoration: The Compelling Vision of Churches of Christ - Don McLaughlin

Religion should come with a warning: promise and peril lie ahead! Some of the most beautiful stories in global history emerge from deep religious traditions. We also know the past and current horror of weaponized faith. The genius and passion of any movement remain vulnerable as faith is passed from one generation to the next, and Churches of Christ are no exception. In this session we will explore the promise, peril, genius, and passion of the American Restoration Movement and the Churches of Christ.

Teacher:
Don McLaughlin

Running in a Dry Place: Lessons from Hebrews for Racing in the Desert (Part 1) - Jeff Walling

How do you keep running when you are dry, parched and tired? There are lessons in the desert we will never learn while running in the park. Come take a lap with Israel to find hope among miracles, mistakes and mourning.

Teacher:
Jeff Walling

What Is Truth? (John 18:37-39) - Donny Pierre

Some people believe truth is relative, others believe truth to be absolute, why? Who or what can we trust to know the truth today? Can we trust science, politics, academia, media, the bible or the Church? Once we believe we know the truth, how does that influence how we act or not?

Teacher:
Donny Pierre

Overcoming Toxic Leadership and Healing the Wounds Left Behind - Gregg Marutzky

James 3:13-18 describes leadership from above and leadership from below. True leadership is from above and toxic leadership is from below. Toxic leadership thrives in the toxic triangle of unaccountable environments, authoritarian leaders, and susceptible followers. Gregg proposes a tutelary triangle of accountable contexts, inclusive leaders, and courageous followers to combat toxicity in organizations. As a minister and therapist, Gregg offers research regarding healing wounds from leadership. This presentation will offer insights to leading in the 21st century in our churches in the midst of rapid change and increasing challenges.

Teacher:
Gregg Marutzky

Liminal Faith: When the Story Feels Unfinished - Lori Ann Wood

Is it possible to increase your faith when life isn’t turning out the way you’d imagined and prayed for? The truth is, Scripture shows us that our lives are part of God’s much bigger story, and may not feel complete or resolved in our lifetime. Lori Ann Wood is a lifelong Christian, a heart failure survivor, and multi-award-winning author of Divine Detour: The Path You’d Never Choose Can Lead to the Faith You’ve Always Wanted. She’ll explore the challenge of maintaining—and even growing—faith in the middle of a difficult narrative. If you’re traveling a detour you never saw coming or living a story you didn’t want (or if you love someone who is), her experience and insight will leave you with renewed hope and practical steps forward.

Teacher:
Lori Ann Wood

Your Church Needs a Renewal Team! - Judy and Woody Square

What could you accomplish at your congregation with a team made up of representatives of every age group, gender, ethnicity, and walk of life? Part focus group, part think tank, part advisory board, the Renewal Team at the San Leandro Church of Christ has been helping the congregation navigate change and challenge over the past 5 years. Learn the value of listening to the Holy Spirit speak through diverse voices in your congregation and trusting them to help lead your church into the future.

Teachers:
Judy and Woody Square

The Intentionality of the Church: Rethinking God’s Purpose and Our Role - Danny Quintero

In this session we will be talking about the intentionality of the church (mostly as an institution). Should we meet exclusively to say a prayer, sing, take communion, give an offering, listen to a sermon, and go home? Do we know what our communities need? A midweek Bible study? Is that enough? Do we need to do something else or different? Let us analyze some ideas, ask ourselves questions, and reevaluate if our practices are what God expects of us, as well as what the world needs.

Teacher:
Danny Quintero

Panelishts:
Joel Foster, Lucas Hutchinson

The Gospel According to Being a Loser - Klint Pleasant

As both a college basketball coach and theologian, Klint has had to balance a passion for "winning" with his identity as a Jesus follower. In a world in which the loudest voice and most passionate person tends to win the day, Jesus gives insight related to the formula for real winning; and it has very little to do with numbers and money. Let's take a fresh look and perspective related to the way of Jesus when it comes to "winning and losing." A class for anyone who has struggled and wrestled with the meaning of "success" within a Christian framework. Pleasant: a coach, student of the Enneagram, trauma survivor, and author/speaker shares insights related to the true pursuit of success according to Jesus.

Teacher:
Klint Pleasant

From Crossroads to Frontiers: Navigating Faith in a Post-Christian Landscape - Mike Shepherd

Embark on a compelling journey with Mike Shepherd, a dual-citizen with a unique perspective on faith in diverse cultural narratives. This class invites those ready to explore the depths of belief in a post Christian landscape, seeking to harmonize ancient scriptural truths with the pulse of today's society, much like the exemplars of faith in the Hebrews Hall of Faith. In a world that often seems divided, how can we hold fast to our beliefs with compassion and love, becoming beacons of light rather than critics of culture? Mike's insights, born from a life lived at the intersection of Australian and American spiritual climates, offer a rich tapestry of understanding to his audience. In this engaging class, we will: Cultivate a nuanced understanding of spirituality that stands resilient amidst secular currents while radiating compassion and kindness. Foster a faith that is both vibrant and reflective, capable of engaging with the post-Christian landscape with authenticity, grace, and a heart for service. Join us for a session that promises not just to inform but to transform as we seek to navigate the frontiers of faith with intelligence, heart, and the spirit of Christ's love and adventure.

Teacher:
Mike Shepherd

RelateForward: Equipping Families for Generations of Faith - Kelly Haer and Dee Dee Mayer

Hosted by the Boone Center for the Family. Faith in Jesus Christ is where an abundant life begins. And yet in this post-truth era, parents who yearn to see their children follow Jesus are struggling to pass their faith to the next generation. As the Barna Group’s research makes clear, “Christianity today has less influence on Gen Z than on any previous generation.” The Boone Center’s upcoming new program, RelateForward, will empower families and ministry leaders to meet the challenge of transferring faith to young people and help bring about God’s commitment to advance the Gospel to the next generation. Join us for an insightful discussion about how to empower families to transfer faith to children.

Teachers:
Kelly Haer and Dee Dee Mayer

You Might Not Love What You Think: Reading Cultural Liturgies - James K.A. Smith

Spiritual formation is less about fueling the intellect and more about rehabituating our loves. Our loves are caught more than they are taught. Our hearts are apprenticed by practices that function as pedagogies of desire. But this is also how our loves are mal-formed and disoriented—trained to desire security, comfort, and domination rather than the shalom of God’s kingdom. This session will train us to recognize the “cultural liturgies” in which we swim.

Teacher:
James K.A. Smith

Preaching for Transformation - Wade Hodges

The writers of Scripture seem to prioritize transformation over conveying information. What do sermons look and sound like when preachers do the same?

Teacher:
Wade Hodges

“By Faith”: A Space of Spiritual Practice from Hebrews - Cynthia Michaud Ownby

Join us as we sit in the text of Hebrews 11 and make space to hear from God what it means for us, individually and communally, to also live by faith. Our time of prayer will be followed by discussion.

Teacher:
Cynthia Michaud Ownby

Persevering Passion: Lessons on Spiritual Zeal from George Whitefield - Lisa Smith

Ever wish you could sit down with the famous eighteenth-century revivalist George Whitefield and learn his secrets for pursuing God over a lifetime with reckless love and abandon? Join Pepperdine University English professor Lisa Smith as she shares the surprising backstories of Whitefield’s most unique life events as well as his own words of passion for God from his personal journals, letters, and autobiography. The international preaching sensation who helped start the First Great Awakening will come alive in this presentation designed to encourage all followers of Jesus to live lives of passion and purpose.

Teacher:
Lisa Smith

Hope for the Church, While Grieving the Past - Dave Berry

The church is declining in numbers, yet there is hope for the future. This class will examine material from several different sources and call on practical experience to help congregations grieve the past, while finding hope for the future. We will learn how to honor the past, live in the present and have hope for the future.

Teacher:
Dave Berry

Before You Quit - Jim Martin

Sometimes we may become discouraged and be tempted to quit. This could be a marriage, a friendship, a ministry, or anything else that has been valuable in the past. This class will offer a few spiritual resources that may be helpful as you navigate these decisions

Teacher:
Jim Martin

Living the Exile Life - Robin Gough

To be a Christian is to be an exile. We are citizens of a new kingdom. But for now, we are living as exiles in a foreign land. And the Bible has a name for the country we’ve been exiled to: Babylon. As exiles living in Babylon, we need to think biblically, Christianly, through cultural and political issues. But the problem is that we run the risk of looking just like Babylon. In this class, we will discuss ways we can disentangle our Babylonianism from our Christianity and live the exile life.

Teacher:
Robin Gough

All Ages Becoming: Leading Intergenerational Small Groups - Holly Allen

As churches seek to become more intentionally intergenerational in outlook and practice, the first question that typically arises is, “How can we bring the generations together in a way that is spiritually rich for everyone?” This presentation will walk class participants through guidelines for an all-age small-group gathering that begins with an inviting (non-embarrassing) ice breaker, then moves to a transition that welcomes the presence of Jesus, engages Scripture in fresh age- inclusive ways, models household prayers, and closes with a blessing over the participants. The presentation draws from the authentic experiences of a church that implemented intergenerational small groups over the 2023-2024 calendar year. Participants will leave with two weeks of curriculum written for intergenerational small groups.

Teacher:
Holly Allen

Cats, Dogs, and Moving Day - Jack Williamson

Adolescence is a time of transition in which almost everything is changing in the hearts, minds ,and bodies of our kids. This class will present two metaphors to help parents better understand adolescence and parents teens more effectively. This tried and tested information will be helpful to anyone working with teenagers.

Teacher:
Jack Williamson

Better Witness: Christian Presence in a Pluralistic World - John Barton

The 21st century is one of increasing complexity and uncertainty, and it calls for Christians who are rooted and open, confident and humble, prophetic and teachable. This class will explore such themes for understanding Christian faith development and witness

Teacher:
John Barton

A Word About Faithfulness: Heb. 3:1-6 - Rachel Collins

Speaker:
Rachel Collins

Aha! Five Surprising Spiritual (and Encouraging) Truths about the Next Generation - Tim Spivey

Teacher:
Tim Spivey

Postures and Practices for a 15:28 Church: Acts, Discernment, and the Mission of God - Mark Love

In Acts 15:28, James announces that the Gentiles have been included by God, including the line, "It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to Us. . . ." This epochal moment is central to Luke's understanding of the early church, and it should be for ours as well. What would it require for your church to be a 15:28 church?

Teacher:
Mark Love