Harbor, Pepperdine Bible Lectures

Monkey Science - Janet Kellogg Ray, Jessica Knapp

Evolution was the science that first offended, but in fighting against evolution for so long, evangelicals developed a whole way of talking about science. We will explore factors that lead Christians to shun science evidence and expertise in favor of emotion and partisan sentiments. Why did so many Christians resist covid precautions and vaccines, yet will gladly take an aspirin for a headache? Why do so many Christians deny the science of climate change, but trust science when they board an airplane? This workshop will explore the political and religious drama that got us to where we are today. Ultimately, the challenge is to live as people of faith in a modern scientific world. We will also hear from Jessica Knapp, campus minister at the University of Arizona.

Teachers:
Janet Kellogg Ray, Jessica Knapp

Revitalizing Churches: Reaching our Unchristian Neighbors with Alpha - Michelle Tepper and Jonathan Storment

Hosted by Jonathan Storment. Explore Alpha. How to create a safe space for people from outside the church to discover and develop a relationship with Jesus, while cultivating within the current church members a culture of invitation, hospitality, listening, and dependence on the Holy Spirit.

Teacher:
Michelle Tepper

Host:
Jonathan Storment

Communicating Creatively and Compassionately to a Doubting Generation - Jeff Walling

"Join seasoned communicators Sean Palmer, Don McLaughlin, Jeff Walling and other special guests to discuss the challenge of communicating creatively to a generation that is questioning everything like never before. Full-time and volunteer youth workers are invited to gain insight and encouragement, for the most important task of all: passing the baton of faith to the next generation.

Teacher:
Jeff Walling




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Heritage21: Renew! Repurpose! Replant! - Doug Peters

Churches have Lifecycles - just like the people that comprise them. Some are in need of Renewal. Others may not see a future and need to be good stewards as they Repurpose their kingdom resources to help Replant for the future. Heritage21 is ready to serve!

Teacher:
Doug Peters

Sharp Sword: The Psalms as the Voice of Jesus in Hebrews (Part 1) - 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

Faithful Words, Faithful Actions: Embracing Four Biblical Principles for Transformative Living - Sean Palmer, John Alan Turner

Join Executive Coach John Alan Turner and Sean Palmer, acclaimed teaching pastor at Ecclesia Church in Houston, TX, for a compelling session at Pepperdine University's Harbor. In "Faithful Words, Faithful Actions," we delve deep into the heart of Christian living, reimagining the wisdom of 'The Four Agreements' through the lens of Scripture. This session offers a refreshing perspective on using our words, assumptions, personal reflections, and actions to not just navigate, but thrive in our spiritual and communal lives. Drawing on their rich experiences and theological insights, John and Sean invite you on a journey to explore how timeless biblical truths can be lived out with authenticity and passion in today's world. Perfect for those seeking to deepen their faith walk, this session promises to be an enlightening blend of practical wisdom, spiritual depth, and engaging discussion.

Teachers:
Sean Palmer, John Alan Turner

Who’s in Your Cloud? - Jeff Brooks

Everyone needs a cheering section. Who are the people in your life that have made an indelible imprint on your heart? Friends, teachers, coaches, camp counselors, and teammates. A nosy neighbor or a devoted grandmother. Through prayers, tears, and cheers,their faith kindled yours. What can you learn from the "Heroes of Faith" and how can you live like one?

Teacher:
Jeff Brooks

The Gospel According to the Trinity - Nick Perez

Churches of Christ and the Restoration Movement generally have had a nip/tuck relationship with the Trinity historically. This class will affirm the orthodox trinitarian assumptions within churches of Christ. Then work will be done to situate the gospel within a trinitarian framework with special attention given to Hebrews 9.14.

Teacher:
Nick Perez

God’s Pursuit of Love Through Loss, Grief, and Disappointment - Ghavinn Crutcher

Have you ever felt like life has left you feeling like you can’t catch a break? You keep experiencing loss after loss, whether it is from losing loved ones or experiencing disappointments that you are having a hard time shaking, If this sounds familiar I want you to know that you are not alone. There is some hope and good news, scripture shows us that through all of our hurts, God still pursues us, he still finds ways to let us know that we have purpose and that when we allow ourselves to see him in the struggle that there is also room for joy in our lament.

Teacher:
Ghavinn Crutcher

There Is No Finish Line - What Running Marathons Has Taught Me about Life, Leadership, and Following Jesus - Lars Coburn

I love running with my neighbors in Track Town USA. Five marathons later, you could say I’ve been assimilated into the “runners religion.” ⁣Every race comes with the anticipation for the next mile marker, the next aid station, the next smile, the next “you got this,” and the next familiar friend cheering you on. ⁣It’s painful to push through cramps and sore muscles. It takes dedication to place one foot in front of the other for another mile. You can’t pretend in a marathon. It exacts a toll. ⁣Perhaps, like me, you’ve hit a wall. It’s mile 14, and you’re collapsing, or muscles are seizing up, and you just hope to finish.⁣ I only finished #2 & #3 because I chose to lay down and do some stretches mid-race and because my wife was there to cheer me on when I was ready to give up. ⁣True humility is gained from the curbs of life when our pride and independence fail us. Life and leadership involves pushing through more than 26.2 miles - remember, just like the old Nike slogan goes: there is no finish line.⁣

Teacher:
Lars Coburn

Helping Millennials Thrive - Stanley Winters

Millennials are facing crisis in four defining areas of life: Relationships, Mental Health, Meaning and Purpose and Faith, let’s help the next generation experience all God has for them.

Teacher:
Stanley Winters

Inspirational Women of Faith…the Light on my Path - Sara Young Jackson

As we study the great heroes of the faith in the book of Hebrews, this class will focus on the women of the Bible who both inspire and challenge us. There are great examples of women whose lives demonstrated deep faith, perseverance, hope, confidence, and courage in the midst of trials. We will also look at the “great cloud of witnesses” that surround us. Women we have known in our lifetime who have inspired us to live, “by faith”. Come prepared to share with others in the class the women who inspire you!

Teacher:
Sara Young Jackson

Preventing the 2020 Relational Wars - Chris Goldman

How this election cycle can either make or break many relationships.

Teacher:
Chris Goldman

7 Crucial Principles for Congregational Discipleship - Tod Vogt

Join us to explore 7 crucial principles for anyone wishing to lead congregational discipleship. The workshop will be split between leadership principles and basic discipleship principles. These principles will give you a solid handle on how to lead a discipleship ministry for your church. For example, learn the Irrigation Principle, the Jazz Principle, and the Vanguard Principle. All of these will help your discipleship ministry bear Kingdom fruit!

Teacher:
Tod Vogt

Building an Intergenerational Church - Stacy Jones

In this class we will explore the nuances of the cross-generational, multi-generational, and intergenerational church classifications. We will seek to establish the framework for a theology of intergeneration as well as explore what many church congregations need to consider for their long term survival.

Teacher:
Stacy Jones

What Must I Do to Inherit? - Tim Willis

One part of the gospel message that often flies under the radar is the topic of inheritance. In this class we will snoop around that topic a bit, looking at the history behind expressions like "inherit eternal life," "children of Abraham," "heirs of the promise," "heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ," and others that inform how we understand our identity as Christians.

Teacher:
Tim Willis

Remembering Tom Olbricht (November 3, 1929 - August 21, 2020) - Jerry Rushford

Teacher:
Jerry Rushford

A Leadership for the Ages of the Church (Part 1) - John Boyles

Part One of this class explores the historical setting and context for the leadership characteristics listed in 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1. We will consider the lives of early Christians in their ancient societies as well as their communal life together in order to better understand the kinds of virtues that emerge as essential for leaders in the community.

Teacher:
John Boyles

If a Man Dies, Shall He Live Again? - Allen Wei Jang

(Job 14:1, Hebrews 2:14-15) A search through culture and time for the "unknown god."

Teacher:
Allen Wei Jang

Forgotten Scriptures, and Why They Matter - Nick Zola

We all know the heroes of faith in Hebrews 11: Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Moses, Rahab, etc. But who are the people who “were tortured, refusing to accept release, in order to obtain a better resurrection” (Heb 11:35)? Come learn about the martyrs of 2 Maccabees 6-7 and other “forgotten scriptures” that inspired early Christians to persevere in their faith.

Teacher:
Nick Zola

”Love was His Meaning”: The Theology of Julian of Norwich for Today - Candace Nicolds

In the fourteenth century, the woman known as Julian of Norwich received a series of sixteen visions which she recorded in the book, Revelations of Divine Love. Twenty years after this mystical experience, Julian wrote an expanded version of her revelations that included her meditations on the visions in the years after they occurred. In this class, we will take a brief look at Julian's theology based on her writings and consider whether it has any relevance for today.

Teacher:
Candace Nicolds

Don’t Hit Snooze: 4 Stories to Wake Up Your Students’ Faith - Joel Foster

Crafting a robust biblical youth ministry can often leave our students feeling like the stories we share are detached, useless, or not all that relevant to their current lives. In this class, we will explore 4 themes from stories in the Hebrew and Christian scriptures that can reorient our students to a deeper and more beautiful faith that draws them to better love God, love others, and love themselves.

Teacher:
Joel Foster

Love Requires Words: Sharing Faith in 21st Century America (Part 1) - 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:
Bruce Bates, Graham Clifford, Bri Clifford, Scott Lambert, and Doug Peters

Spiritual Life: More Than a Brain on a Stick - Katelyn Brackney

We are often told our bodies are a problem to solve or a hindrance to overcome, but there is another story. A better story. This story is one in which humans are invited to embrace our whole selves—including our minds, hearts, souls, and bodies—as created good and in God’s own image. Together, we will look at the Bible and theology to embrace a more holistic and embodied spiritual life shaped by the story of God from Genesis through the life of Christ.

Teacher:
Katelyn Brackney

The Quality of Mercy: Six Stories of Ordinary Saints, Extraordinary Mercy, and the Search for a Theology of Beauty (Part 1) - 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