Harbor, Pepperdine Bible Lectures

Preach Like You're at the Areopagus (Because You Are)

Justin Gerhardt

The landscape is changing and we must adjust. As more and more Americans identify as religious "nones," and as those who call themselves Christians become less and less conversant with the Bible, preachers bear a responsibility to shape messages accordingly. This session will offer practical thoughts on how to make sure our preaching actually connects with those we're called to reach.

The Addicted Christian: Addressing the Opioid Crisis

Brandon Holt, Jimmy Hurd

This class will discuss the global epidemic of opioid addiction and relate it to the experiences of Christians in our local churches. Brandon will share his personal experience as a minister who was addicted to pain medication and now serves as a licensed chemical dependence counselor while continuing his preaching ministry. We will offer suggestions for addressing the problem and give encouragement to those personally impacted by it.

The Mystery of Creation (This Cosmic Ball of Dust)

Josh Graves

This session explores the mystery of God and Planet Earth. What does the Bible, experience, and contemporary art teach us about this place we live? How do we learn to enjoy our world for the brief time we have with this one precious life?

Christian Unity (Part 1: Have We Lost Interest?)

Rubel Shelly 

Churches in the Stone-Campbell tradition have an historical interest in Christian unity. Do you hear much about it these days? Should we abandon the plea? Is it meaningful in our culture?

Preaching Today: A Conversation featuring Rick Atchley and Jeff Walling

Taylor Walling, Jeff Walling, Rick Atchley

Hear two veteran communicators talk about the craft of sermon writing, the dynamics of delivery, using a teaching team, and much more. The session will finish with a live Q&A - bring your questions! Moderated by Taylor Walling.

Our Brightly Lit Cages, Part 1

Chris Seidman 

We spend a lot of time bowing down to our devices and screens. It impacts our capacity to being fully present where we are. Technology is an awesome servant but terrible master. What makes the difference?

The Next Generation Speaks

Jeff Walling

Ambassadors from Pepperdine's Next Gen Preacher Search share their messages.

A Hard Rain's Gonna Fall: The Apocalyptic Theology of Bob Dylan

Mark Love, Aaron Metcalf

Everyone knows about Bob Dylan's "Christian phase," but Dylan's entire career features an apocalyptic faith that makes him both prophet and pastor. Come and enjoy a discussion of Dylan's music and it's impact on Mark and Aaron's life.

Holy Darkness: Walking with Others in Grief and Loss

Virgil Fry

Being a caring presence to someone in grief is difficult. Fellow faith travelers can be a loving source of hope. Let's discuss helpful and not-so-helpful phrases to say, and learn better how to listen more than talk.

Social Media: The Secret to a Halfway Productive Online Conversation

Matt Dabbs

This class will cover the habits, disciplines and perspectives that can help you have a spiritually healthy and beneficial social media experience as a Christian.

The Spirit of God in the Old Testament

Chris Heard

From its very first paragraph, the Old Testament repeatedly refers to a "spirit of God," or "divine breath," or "mighty wind" - a single Hebrew phrase can mean all three. What did the Old Testament writers trying to say when they spoke of a "spirit of God," and how does that relate to Christian thinking about the Holy Spirit?

What is the Spirit Doing Among the World's Refugees? (God's People are Passionate About Reaching Out to the Homeless)

Dan Bouchelle

God is using Isis and Radical Islam to bring Muslim background people to him in dramatic ways. This class will talk about how God has broken into the Muslim world in a dramatic ways for the first time in 1400 years.

Good Church. Bad Church. Black Church. White Church. (Part 2)

Fate Hagood

Continuing real talk conversations about the "what is's" and "what ain'ts" of Blacks, Whites, Race, Unity, and whatever's of our "One" church. What's really going on?

Heroes, Hot Tubs, and Headaches: Practical Advice to Survive and Thrive in Youth Ministry

David Fraze

Youth Ministry is incredible and awful, fun and not-so-fun, rewarding and punishing, great on your family and...you get the picture. Youth ministry is a dynamic roller coaster of ups and downs. Like most roller coaster enthusiest, the more drops, turns and curves the better. Youth ministry will not disappoint. If you want to thrive and survive the ride, you need to buckle up and listen to the safety instructions. Oh, you don't need to keep your hands inside the vehicle at all times. You can raise them if you want.

Spirit-Filled Ministry: Setting Those on the Margins Free

Ron and Lori Clark 

Jesus' synagogue sermon announced that his ministry would target those on the margins of society. When we planted the Agape Church of Christ, we felt called to offer a similar vision of hope to those in Portland who had been marginalized by oppression, consumerism, and (unfortunately) the very movement where we had been leading in ministry. This ministry of the Spirit quickly became overwhelming while providing tremendous blessings teaching us love, compassion, courage, and how to offer a Spiritual presence in Portland and the rest of our country.

Surrendering to Hope, Part 2: Guidance for the Broken

Sally Gary, Jim Holway

"Grace Beyond the Curse" and "Keeping Secrets"

4 Step Follow-Up Plan

Jon Reed

This class will share a detailed follow up plan to encourage your guests to become a part of your church family.

Release is Just the Beginning

Joe and Becky Almanza 

Join us as we share from our experience some insights into the mind of the broken and how you can make a difference in their success through authentic relationships.

Elder Selection: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

Jerry Morgan, Doyle Corder

We will review different elder selection issues and processes and offer some examples of good process than can be a blessing to your church and its leadership.

Take Courage! Fear Can't Keep Faith from Rising Up!

Sara Jackson, Emily Lemley

Sisters. Well-loved. But...life is still real with great griefs and true temptations. How do we take His courage when we feel overwhelmed and alone in the dark? Our stories and others' stories shine light on what God is doing to strengthen all of us right now.

Color Blind: 5 Ways To Begin Racial Reconciliation

Jana Unruh

A Midwestern, mostly white church prays to become 'Color Blind'. Learn from our beginner's successes, mistakes, and take away 5 practical ways your church can begin racial reconciliation. Come and be part of this critical conversation with engaged members, ministry and elder panelists from Overland Park Church of Christ in Kansas City.

The Golden Triangle of Growth: How Your Dreary Spirituality Derives From a Disregard of One of These Three

Chris Altrock

Life with God is described in Scripture as abundant and dynamic. Yet often we or our churches experience spirituality as dull and dreary. Dallas Willard discovered that the vibrant life intended for us comes through an emphasis on three things. Each is as valuable as gold, as vital as the side of a triangle. Explore this "golden triangle" and discover which of these three may be missing from your or your church's spiritual life.

Awake My Soul

Jacob Parnell, Kyle Sapp

Explore the relationship between human beings' capacity for appreciating music and the Holy Spirit. Equip yourself with tools that will enable you to communicate with other music-lovers the beauty, creativity, and majesty of God.

InterGenerate: How Churches are Becoming More Intentionally Intergenerational

Holly Allen 

This session will address challenges churches are facing as they bring the generations together and will describe three emerging intergenerational ministry practices.

Good Church. Bad Church. Black Church. White Church. (Part 1)

Fate Hagood

Real talk conversations about the "what is's" and "what ain'ts" of Blacks, Whites, Race, Unity, and whatever's of our "One" church. What's really going on? Don't be scared. We're all friends here.