Harbor, Pepperdine Bible Lectures

A Word About Disgrace: Heb. 13:9-13 - Jenn Gash

Teacher:
Jenn Gash

Fundamentos de Cuidado Pastoral | Foundations of Pastoral Care - Alejandro Ezquerra

En esta presentación, Alejandro Ezquerra explorará los elementos y habilidades que deben desarrollar aquellos interesados en proveer cuidado pastoral en la iglesia, en el hospital o en cualquier circunstancia. In this talk, Alejandro Ezquerra will introduce some Clinical Pastoral Education elements and practices to ministers and people interested in developing better skills to minister in times of crisis.

Teacher:
Alejandro Ezquerra

Can Old News Be Good News? - David Ayres

Every week, preachers face the pressure of coming up with something new to say about a book that has been talked about for 2000 years. Originality is an essential element for effective communication – but what can we possibly say that hasn’t already been said before? In this class, we will explore how and why good preaching endeavors to gain a fresh hearing for an old, old story.

Teacher:
David Ayres

Sharp Sword: Psalms as the Voice of the Spirit in Hebrews (Part 2) - Bobby Valentine

The Sermon to the Hebrews begins by telling us that God spoke in the prophets and today speaks in the Son. The Son, and the Spirit, continue to speak. The sermon claims that Jesus, and the Spirit, is speaking in the Psalms. We will explore Hebrews “sharp sword” which is none other than Jesus and the Spirit speaking in the Psalms, Today.

Teacher:
Bobby Valentine

Helping Marriages Flourish - Dee Dee Mayer

Hosted by the Boone Center for the Family. One of the most powerful and transformative relationships we will ever have is the covenant relationship of marriage. God designed something special and sacred in marriage as a gift, and yet marriage can be difficult and painful. As human beings, it is easy to grow apart rather than together as we work through the struggles of life, family, and ministry. Research shows that marriage enhances economic wellbeing, improves health, and increases longevity. So how can we build our marriages to be places of deep connection and peace? Join Dee Dee Mayer, DMin, LCSW in this powerful workshop designed to restore your vision of healthy marriage with practical steps to build intimacy and connection.

Teacher:
Dee Dee Mayer

The Best Story They’ve (N)ever Heard: Rediscovering the Beauty of Basic Christian Beliefs - Josh Strahan

Over the last several years working with college students and teaching adult Sunday School classes, I’ve been saddened by the large number of Christians who cannot articulate the basics of their faith. They may know several Bible stories and carry around a generic ethic of “love others,” but they don't know what the essentials of the Christian faith are. Because of this, they are unaware of how these basic beliefs should inform their daily lives; they don't realize how these essential beliefs offer a distinct perspective on the world; and they find themselves unable to share with others why Christianity is so incredibly compelling. In this session, I hope we can see anew the unique hope and beauty and life found in core Christian convictions.

Teacher:
Josh Strahan

From “This I Know” to “You Are My All in All”: Jesus and Children Together - Shannon Rains

The relationship between Jesus and children is the topic of sermons and deep theological papers. It’s been imagined through art and is joyfully described in time-worn songs. While our society clamors for the attention of our children, this workshop will provide practical ways of leading children into life with Christ.

Teacher:
Shannon Rains

Teach Us to Pray: Raising a Generation Who Love to Spend Time with God - Taylor Walling

The disciples asked Jesus to teach them how to pray. Kids and students today may not sound like the apostles, but the next generation is hungry for spiritual experiences. In this class we'll reinvestigate the example of Jesus, rediscover prayer practices worth passing on, and restore the priority prayer should have among God's people now and in the days to come.

Teacher:
Taylor Walling

Seeking Leaders With Christlike Hearts - Bryan Fojtasek

What does it take to be an effective leader in a local church, nonprofit, or ministry environment? This is a question that countless churches have wrestled with, whether it's in the context of recruiting volunteers to serve in existing ministries, installing elders to shepherd the congregation, or searching for new ministers to love and lead the church. This class will explore a simple but essential truth from God’s Word: The best leaders strive to have a heart like Jesus did, because who we are on the inside will always be more important than what we do on the outside. The goal of this class will be to give existing leaders a roadmap on how to love and lead like Jesus did, as well as give churches some important principles to keep in mind as they think about recruiting new leaders to serve their congregations. We’ll be incorporating some key passages from the Bible and recommending some great resources that explain why churches sometimes gravitate towards toxic leaders—and how to avoid making that same mistake in your congregations.

Teacher:
Bryan Fojtasek

IMAGE - Carlos Isaziga

Humanity is captivated by the aesthetics of our world. What captures the eyes usually captures the heart. Images flood our minds and hearts through multiple channels. So what do we do when the IMAGE of God has been distorted? Why have we opted for creation rather than the creator? This distorted image of God forms an image of ourselves, others and the way we see the world. Can we recapture & repaint the beauty of who God is?

Teacher:
Carlos Isaziga

Ministering Away from Fundamentalism - Adam Matthews

Fundamentalism is a reactionary phenomenon informing believers of every religion around the world. So, what is it? What fruit has it borne? And how should an understanding of fundamentalism change our ministry, especially preaching? In this session we’ll briefly discuss fundamentalism, what it is, where it comes from, how it has shaped Christian’s interpretation of the Bible, behavior, and rhetoric, and what should change in the future.

Teacher:
Adam Matthews

Raising Resilience: A Framework for Ministers for Themselves and their Congregations - Connie Horton

Ministry is tough! It's critical that ministers attend to their own resilience as well as have a framework and tools that can help them support their congregations in being resilient in challenging times. Pepperdine's RISE program will be shared and possible applications from parenting workshops, youth ministry, adult classes, sermons, and pastoral conversations will be suggested.

Teacher:
Connie Horton

Love Requires Words: Sharing Faith in 21st Century America (Part 2) - Neil Reynolds

This class includes a hybrid of teaching and panel discussion exploring the virtue of sharing Christ with our neighbors.

Teacher:
Neil Reynolds

Panelists:

A Leadership for the Ages of the Church (Part 2) - John Boyles

Part 2 of this class considers how the historical lives of Christians and the leadership can inform our own consideration about leadership in the church today. After a brief review of the results from part one and surveying some exemplary trends in church history, we will focus our attention on the particular context of the Church in the US to consider how the past provides wisdom for our present leadership needs.

Teacher:
John Boyles

The Quality of Mercy: Six Stories of Ordinary Saints, Extraordinary Mercy, and the Search for a Theology of Beauty (Part 2) - Leonard Allen, Darryl Tippens

You will recognize the characters in these six stories; you will smile, laugh, and feel some of the grief along the way. And you will get glimpses into the varied texture of our lives—the unexpected people who bless us, the desert experiences, the need for forgiveness, the gifts along the way, the surprises of grace.

Teachers:
Leonard Allen, Darryl Tippens

Wanting What God Wants - Jarrod Robinson

What would it mean for us to become more and more like Jesus—not based primarily on our behaviors—but instead flowing from our deepest desires? What if we learned how to want what God wants? For us? For the people around us?

Teacher:
Jarrod Robinson

Except in Parables: The Mystery of the Parables of Jesus - Mark Manassee

It is said Jesus did not speak "except in parables.” The parables are part of what made Jesus a master teacher. This class will discuss the nature of parables, how they hide and reveal, and how one might teach or preach from the parables.

Teacher:
Mark Manassee

The Restoration Collective - Pat Bills

Discouraged? Weary of hearing how our churches are shrinking, aging, and becoming irrelevant? Come hear why we believe there can be hope for the future of our tribe. And hear how you can be a part of this exciting movement.

Teacher:
Pat Bills

Panelists:
Jovan Barrington, Cyntha Ownby, Doug Page

Practicing Theological Attentiveness in Preaching (Part 2) - Sara Barton, Ahmi Lee

How do you preach sermons that are authentic, biblical, and culturally sensitive? Drawing from Lee’s book, Preaching God’s Grand Drama, this session explores practices of attentiveness that ground sermons in biblical theology, local context, and global realities.

Teachers:
Sara Barton, Ahmi Lee

Real Life Discipleship - Jonathan Storment

The past few years have been a wake-up call for the American church. From the New York Times to the Atlantic to the Washington Post people on the outside of church are rightfully pointing out that American churches are more “sociological than Christological.” That’s a fancy way of saying American Christianity appears to be hollow . . . there’s nothing really there. People on the inside of churches are just as materialistic, politically idolatrous, misogynistic, and racist as people on the outside (sometimes even more so!). Churches of Christ have a history of failing to keep the main thing the main thing. From focusing on worship styles and forms to demonizing other churches in town we have historically often failed to reach out to new people and to disciple the people in our pews in the actual ways of Jesus. In order for our churches to flourish, in order for our cities to have a fair chance to see the real Jesus, we need to go deeper in the ways of discipleship that Jesus actually gave us. “Real Life Discipleship” will be a call to keep the center of the Gospel the main thing, with practical tools and training for how to implement a more robust form of discipleship in our churches.

Teacher:
Jonathan Storment

Comeback Churches - Jon Reed and Kevin Withem

Hope for renewal and revival for churches that are small or stuck

Teachers:
Jon Reed, Kevin Withem

Becoming Love - Kevin Knight

A few years ago, I confessed to a friend, "I get jealous when I hear others say they married their best friend, because I didn't." In the same conversation I challenged us both to learn to love our wives better. What resulted was a year of Jesus teaching me how I could be more loving. I also learned in the process that my jealousy was based on a false assumption. Let's discuss some of what I learned!

Teacher:
Kevin Knight

Nurturing Compassion for Young People in Your Congregation - Kyle Williams

The studies have shown for decades the uptick in young people leaving the Church after high school. Many churches have struggled to respond to the shifting topography of culture and identity. Perhaps what is needed most are churches that are truly investing in their young people and passing on a faith built on compassion, not doctrine alone. But where to begin? If you are struggling to help your congregation to journey with and mentor young people, this session will offer some helpful ideas and conversation.

Teacher:
Kyle Williams

Homegrown Staff: Finding Ministers in Your Own Congregation - Caleb Borchers

For many congregations, finding the right individuals to serve on their ministry staff is a difficult season that involves a broad search and interview process. But what if God is growing your staff within your own community? In this class we will explore the ways developing future ministry staff from within a congregation can be done, the theological and practical reasons to do it, and share how our own church has thrived through such an experience. We will realistically tackle the challenges and blessings. As churches confront budgetary challenges and preacher shortages, this process may become an essential way to find more workers for the harvest.

Teacher:
Caleb Borchers

Harry Potter, Hobbits, and Holiness: A Humble Journey with God - Joe Neal

We are all on epic quest for truth and justice. Unfortunately, we too often forget ourselves among the hazardous obstacles and tantalizing temptations along the way. The struggle of pride and power overtake us. We long to act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with our God. We long to be heroes who are clothed in humility. How can we get back on the righteous path and fulfill what God requires of us? In this lecture, we will explore the topic of humility by examining epic stories illustrating the struggle between good and evil. We will put our trust in the example of Jesus and learn specific exercises on how to grow downward in holiness.

Teacher:
Joe Neal