CONYC Indy: Recent Episodes
Campus Outreach
Matt Reagan finishes conference by covering Matthew 9:35-10:1 and answering the question: now what?
Matt Reagan uses Mark 10:17-31 to continue answering the question: is Christianity hard or easy?
Matt Reagan discusses Hebrews 10:11-18 to answer the question: is Christianity hard or easy?
WC Garret uses Romans 5:6-10 to explain that there is no better love than the love of God.
Men, women, friendship, relationships, sexuality, marriage, is there anything else that needs to be said to get you to attend? These issues dominate our culture, campuses, and personal lives but often get addressed with either unhelpful critique or unhinged celebration. Don't come for definitive answers but, rather, insights and questions to foster and fuel a conversation that is both important and urgent. God offers us a better story than any other being told, let's see what he has to say.
Psalm 16:11 says that there is "fullness of joy" in the presence of God. I don't know about you, but I don't want to settle for "going through the motions." Join us as we explore what it means to walk with God in His way, for His glory and our good.
Hear from a panel of leaders about why the world needs great Christian leaders in all professional spheres of life. If you are looking for a vision of how God could use you in your future career to impact the kingdom as a leader, you should attend this seminar!
For most Christians the topic of evangelism is the source are the source of persistent guilt. Most of us know that we should share our faith with friends and family but are constantly plagued with three barriers: 1)Motivation: Why should I share my faith? Is is really that important. 2) Method: I want to share my faith but where do I start and who do I share the gospel with? 3) Fear: I want to share my faith but I'm afraid that people will think I'm weird or will be upset with me. This talk will address these three concerns by discussing the character that evangelism requires, the motivation that evangelism requires, and the method that evangelism requires.
What is the vision that Christ has for your life? This seminar is for those looking to disciple others, and for those who want to be discipled themselves. Come and learn how to have a life of impact through gospel-centered discipleship.
Life is full of choices, and college is often a season filled with some of the biggest decisions—what major to choose, which relationships to invest in, and what path to pursue after graduation. But how can you know what God wants you to do?
Rest is something God invites us into, but do we really even know what rest is? Let's learn how to quiet our minds and stop carrying more than we ought by seeing what Biblical rest for our soul looks like.
Matt Bradner uses Matthew 13:31-32 to show that decisions that may seem insignificant can lead to great destinations or great destruction. Therefore, it is important that we actively take steps closer to God, rather than away.
Matt Bradner uses Matthew 28:18-20 to examine The Great Commission and to explain Christians’ spiritual calling to make disciples.
Matt Bradner uses Psalms: 133:1-3 to demonstarate how God has purposed us to be good Christian teammates that together make up a great team.
Nate Bishop uses Romans 12:1-8 to explain how God has, is, and will continue to work in our lives.
Nate Bishop uses Romans 3:9-20 to explain that because all have sinned against God, all are accountable to God.
Nate Bishop uses Romans 1:8-17 to explain how the gospel is good news always. He explains how the Gospel never disappoints, always saves, radically transforms, and fully sustains.
If you're coming to the New Year's Conference and have expressed barriers to believing in the Christian faith, or, if you are a believer but have doubts that feel difficult to overcome, this seminar will take time to engage with a few common barriers to belief, and hopefully, find the truth to help with overcoming your barriers to belief and persistent doubts.
As a Christian you are welcomed into the family of God. While that truth connects us with believers all over the world, it is given particular expression in the local church for the benefit of every believer — including college students. Being a part of a local church is an incredible resource for you now, and learning to appreciate this resource during the college years will help prepare you for the post-college years when ongoing community and discipleship are critical! Join us as together we seek to appreciate the gift of a local church family.
To be discipled by Jesus is to learn from him, and by his grace to become like him. But what role do others play in my discipleship, and what role is Jesus calling me to play in the discipleship of others? Let’s learn together from Jesus, as he shows us what impact could be produced from a lifelong pursuit of discipleship for ourselves and for others.
In Luke chapter 5 we see a story of four friends trying hard to get their paralyzed friend to Jesus for healing. They're so desperate, they're willing to rip the roof of a house off for their buddy to encounter Jesus. They end up receiving so much more than they anticipated. Do you have a desire for your friends to know Jesus like these guys? Come hear about why God wants to use YOU for evangelism and learn about some practical and simple ways to share your faith with your friends. Let's be willing to rip off the roof to get even one person to Jesus.
Could I really be making decisions right now about friendship that would change the rest of my life? What messages do I get from the culture that are spot on about God’s design for healthy friendships? Anything better that God offers?
A secure identity. We all want one, but struggle at having one. The greatest barrier to a secure identity is something we talk little about...our shame. Come learn how to function out of a secure identity in Christ by dealing with your shame.
Why is decision making so hard? What are some practical steps I can take to make wise decisions? We all need help in making decisions. In this seminar, we will answer the questions above by giving you a Biblical perspective on decision making. If you need help in making hard decisions, this is the seminar for you!
Discover how college students can change the world by being purposeful leaders. This seminar will help you understand the link between self-discovery and lasting impact, so you can create a legacy that inspires future generations.
Will Witherington uses Romans 8:19-21 to help us understand The Plan for God's Mission.
Will Witherington uses Revelation 5:1-14 to help us understand The Scope of God's Mission.
Tony Dentman is a speaker, author, as well as a life and fundraising coach. He is the Founder and Executive Director of the Funding Tribe Foundation (2018). He is passionate about leadership, diversity, and fundraising, and has a career history of coaching and equipping team members to excel and grow into roles of expanded scope and responsibility. He has over 14 years of experience as a fundraising coach and has trained hundreds of leaders.
Taylor Swift did a commencement speech at NYU in 2022 in which she told them, “It can be really challenging to figure out who you are on a particular day as you are figuring out where you want to go. I have good news, It’s totally up to you. I have terrifying news, It’s totally up to you.” Ever feel pressure to validate yourself, follow your heart, figure out who you are, do anything you put your mind to, or any of a dozen other popular mantras? Let’s think about the good, the bad, and the impossibility of it all.
John O uses Psalm 32:1-11 to help us understand that God's Perfect Joy is Reserved for Forgiven People, Not Perfect Ones.
A Christian without a church is a Christian skirting with trouble. College students are often a lost generation in the church as many students skip or pull away from the church throughout college and years after. However, this is not as the Christian life was intended to be. Attend this seminar to discover why the local church should be prioritized during your time in college and beyond.
Who do you say you are? Who does God say you are? Understanding how to align these two answers may matter more than anything else.
We all struggle to fight sin and to develop our character! The Bible is clear on direction of what it means to fight our sin and what it means to be a Christian. This seminar will discuss what the Scripture teaches in regard to struggling with sin and what it means to follow Christ!
Anxiety cannot be avoided. We need some coping tools as we face this everyday challenge. Learn about some practical ways God has designed us to resist being overcome.
Why is it so uncomfortable to witness to our loved ones? It can be intimidating to discuss Jesus; however, we want to do everything we can to make sure that our loved ones have heard the good news of the Gospel. Sharing the Gospel is an act of love and courage because we care about the eternal destiny of our friends. Join us as we learn to share the love of Jesus with our friends and family.
John O takes us through Ephesians 1 to help us understand how God's Choice of Us, In Christ, Frees Us From the Past's Chokehold.
John O takes us through Genesis 3 to help us understand how It’s God's Business to Make Beauty Out of Chaos.
Is Christianity all about what I can and can’t do? Is the way I live my life as important as what I believe? Does God really care about my day to day activities and decisions? These questions and others will be addressed in this seminar! The goal of this seminar is for you to walk out encouraged in your faith and desire to walk with God for a lifetime full of joy! I am truly excited to share with you why your character matters to God!
-Andy Hardin
Want to look over notes you missed?
Character Seminar Notes HERE
Character Seminar Slides HERE
Seminar Handout HERE
Audio not available
A Christian without a church is a Christian skirting with trouble. It is common to refer to college students as a lost generation in the church’s life. Many students choose to skip or pull away from the church throughout college and even the years after. However, this is not as the Christian life was intended to be. Now is the time to commit to gathering together as brothers and sisters in Christ. Attend this seminar to discover why the local church should be prioritized during your time in college and javascript:noop();beyond.
-Jym Gregory
Audio not available
Pastors through books and teaching have attempted to persuade Christians that technology is a good gift from God that our sinful hearts use for good or ill. Listeners are convicted, but little changes. Why? If you have thoughts about your technology use (maybe over and over), but found lasting changes hard to come by, this talk may be for you. In a technological age, if you change your relationship with technology, you will change your life.
For our last session Patrick Lewis explains four distinctives of “The Call of Jesus”.
- Jesus’ call is intrusive- meaning he has a tendency of stepping in to our lives in uncomfortable situations.
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His call is clear
- Mark 1:15-And saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”
- Luke 9:23-And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.
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His call is a command
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Matthew 28:18-And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. (This is a command not a suggestion)
- 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
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His call is enabling
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When he speaks his commands, he also empowers you to respond
- Through his Holy Spirit he enables you to do the things you don’t think you can do
- 2 Corinthians 5:14-15 For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised. This is how he enables us; he works through us and as we understand his love it compels us.
His call has gone out to us, do we hear it? It’s important to know that not responding to his call is to reject.
Patrick leaves us with some things to think about as we go home.
- When was the last time Jesus interrupted your life?
- What are the things that he has told you that were clear that you’re still avoiding and pretending they are unclear?
- What are the things you are being called to do that you are afraid of?
This evening we were introduced to a new speaker Patrick Lewis. He reads from the Gospel of Mark 4:35-41.
35 On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.” 36 And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. And other boats were with him. 37 And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. 38 But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” 39 And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. 40 He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?” 41 And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”
Patrick Lewis explains:
- Jesus is Lord over storms within us
- Jesus is Lord over storms around us
- Jesus leads us through storms to rescue others from the storm
When he leads us somewhere that is unfamiliar or scary, we start questioning Jesus and asking him, “don’t you care?”, and if you did you wouldn’t let me be here. This is a lack of faith, and we need to cling to him in the storms. Patrick explains that by having faith in Jesus means losing control and having an unpredictable irresistible force in our life. We need to know that we can run to Jesus with our storms, and he can end them. Jesus says in Mark 5:19, “Go home to your friends and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you”. He’s explaining that he came here for you and he wants to rescue others through you, so follow him. When the ultimate storm does come, we can be confident and know that we’ll spend eternity with him.
Paul Poteat began with addressing 3 Huge Questions that we should ask ourselves.
- Who is God? (Satan says: He’s not trustworthy, he’s not out for your best)
- Who are You? (Satan says: You can be your own God, you can choose to be good/bad)
- How do You Live? (Satan says: Do what you want, create truth)
Judges 21:25 “In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes”
Don’t drink the water! Our hearts are conflicted and is often being deceived. How do you set yourself up for these moments? Do you read your bible to be prepared? Jeremiah 2:13 “For my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed out cisterns for themselves, broken cisterns that can hold no water”. When we get what we want its not satisfying us. Real freedom is to do what is right. We limit our freedom to experience greater joy in various things. (Sports, relationships, school, etc.. )
John 4:13-15 “Jesus said to her, Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” We all need living water and Jesus is that!
This evening Pastor D opens by reading from the next eight verses from John 10:
11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. 13 He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. 17 For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.”
As we discovered in the previous session, He’s “the door” but now we learn Jesus is also the “good shepherd”. In order for us to get into the sheepfold, we must go through the door and through the shepherd.
The good shepherd not only protects his sheep but is willing to die for them. Why? Because there is an intimacy and closeness between him and the sheep. As the sheep, we know this and can recognize his voice. We know he gives us protection, care and recognize the benefits we get from following the shepherd. The issue is we as the sheep are prone to wander when we don’t get what we want. Pastor D explains two reasons why some of us struggle with our belief in Jesus.
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We haven’t gotten to know the shepherd well enough so therefore we never have experienced his goodness.
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Because of not experiencing his goodness we just keep on roaming around looking for better places, more satisfaction, more fulfillment, or places outside of God just like the sheep.
The word of God is a gift given to us from God that from the more we know it more connected we are to Christ.
Pastor D explains three things to look at if you are struggling with closeness and intimacy with God.
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What do we do about being intentionally about spending time with God?
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What does your prayer life look like?
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You’ve simply left the sheepfold/community.
Jesus is the good shepherd that will die for his sheep and he’s not done saving his people and he wants us all to come to him.
This morning Pastor D opens his second session by reading John 10:
“Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber. 2 But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. 5 A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.” 6 This figure of speech Jesus used with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them.
7 So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. 8 All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. 9 I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. 11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.
Pastor D. explains that in today’s culture we do not like the idea of “exclusivity”. He encourages us to view this word differently as it relates to a relationship with Jesus. This passage is not meant to be exclusive it is meant to be inclusive. A relationship with Jesus is available to all people but the only way is through Jesus. Pastor D says, “God does not desire our good works he desires us to be Holy. When we believe in Jesus, we are now holy because God sees the believer covered in the righteousness of Jesus”. Once we believe in him, we don’t have to find our own way in life because he is our shepherd. All our satisfaction and fulfilment is found in him. All we need to do is trust him because he is the door and the one, we are searching for, its all found in him if we just believe.
Who do you say you are? Who does God say you are? This may matter more than anything else, that you understand how to align these two answers.
Derrick Puckett also known as “Pastor D” opens this first session with a question, “Do you really believe in Jesus and does Jesus truly satisfy me?”. Next, he explains the importance of Jesus using the phrase “I am”. He explains that “I am” means that God is:
#1 Self-existent
#2 Not dependent on anything else
3 God is immutable (unchangeable)
4 God is eternal
Exodus 3:14 says, “God said to Moses, I AM WHO I AM.” And he said, “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘I AM has sent me to you”. He is trying to remind Moses and the people that he is God and he always with you no matter how far you get off track he is still God and still for you. Jesus uses this phrase twelve other times in the book of John and seven of those times he uses this phrase to explain who he is. He explains the importance of recognizing our idols whether it be sports, people, ourselves or other things we all have idols. The problem with idols is that we always will try to look for more from these things. This causes us to misplace our trust and hope. God says that I'm here and I'm trying to get your attention! He will always be forever. We always get in the way of ourselves to experience God's great glory. Pastor D reads Philippians 4:13 and reminds us that we need to be content with knowing God is with us. He ends with the same question he began, “Do you really believe in Jesus and does Jesus truly satisfy me?”.
You may be wondering how you got to this conference, as you find yourself on a journey of questioning Christianity. We want to meet you where you are. While I prefer sitting down over a cup of coffee to listen to objections and talk about the Christian faith, this is my best attempt to provide another place for questions to be addressed. We will cover a framework for some of our questions with a Q&A and resources to follow.
Why is it so uncomfortable to witness to our loved ones? It can be intimidating to discuss Jesus; however, we want to do everything we can to make sure that our loved ones have heard the good news of the Gospel. Sharing the Gospel is an act of love and courage, because we care about the eternal destiny of our friends. Join us as we learn to share the love of Jesus with our friends and family.
Where do you turn when bad things happen? What does the Bible say about God’s involvement in your suffering? None of us escape the pain of a broken world, but there is still hope when life hurts.
We all have assumptions of who we are and how the world works. Our experiences in life can often challenge these assumptions and leave us feeling disoriented. Come hear how the Bible helps us uncover who we are and what God is doing in the world.
Do you believe a story can change the world? That a promise can leave a lasting impact upon one person, entire families, and future generations? God uses ordinary people to take the extraordinary story of Christ to all the world. Hear about how multiplication leaves a legacy and proclaims God’s promises from one generation to the next.
Tony closed this years New Years Conference with a very applicable message on time. This session was all about how we ought to live our “dash”, meaning our life. Bringing in the New Year we have to consider our time and how we will spend the year. Our lives are a very short “dash”. How are you going to live your “dash”? Tony read and focused on Matthew 9:35-38:
35 And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction. 36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; 38 therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”
He shared some very insightful tips to live our “dash”. Tony encouraged us that our “dash” should be spent in the world, being a laborer in the harvest. Our lives are not just about getting saved, but getting to experience the work that God has done and continues to do. God chooses to use His people as laborers. Tony closed with a spectrum of where these students were at in their walk with God. From conversion (trusting in Jesus to making disciple makers. Where are you? Where do you want to be? How do you get there? Tony answers some of these questions in this session.
This evening Tony brought us a quick, but very necessary message about being faithful watchmen and watch women. His message came from a passage in Ezekiel 33:
7“So you, son of man, I have made a watchman for the house of Israel. Whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them warning from me. 8If I say to the wicked, O wicked one, you shall surely die, and you do not speak to warn the wicked to turn from his way, that wicked person shall die in his iniquity, but his blood I will require at your hand. 9But if you warn the wicked to turn from his way, and he does not turn from his way, that person shall die in his iniquity, but you will have delivered your soul.
He gave us three important points to be watchful men and women of the faith. We have this calling to be the watchman in others’ lives. This call is given to all believers of Jesus Christ, in order that the Gospel would be spread. The message was very powerful and brought a helpful mindset for how all believers of Jesus Christ should ring in the New Year and every day of their lives.
Most of us came to college looking for a spouse, and that is a great thing to desire. Yet the path from being single to married is is often surprisingly difficult to travel in our day and age and people often fail to experience the fullness of what God intends. Come and hear our story, and some of the lessons we learned along the way.
Analyzing the Complexities of Race & Christianity
God’s eternal Word has much to say to us about how we understand race and race relations. This seminar is designed to draw us back to the Bible so that we might better understand the gospel’s implications for racial reconciliation.
We all have a passion to be great, to be significant, and to be successful, and Jesus says he knows the way to true greatness: Humility. By magnifying the virtue of humility, he obliterates the world's view of success, frees us from the constant demands of performing, and reminds his followers of their desperate need of Him. On the flip side the Bible also shows us the dangers of pride, and how it will distort the grace of the Gospel and our minimize our need of a savior, or blind us to it completely. "If you want to be first, you must be last of all and servant of all."
When we hear the word ‘masculinity', it often conjures up images of men who are muscular, rude, and perhaps a little stubborn. Some celebrate this as true masculinity. American pop culture is (rightly) shifting away from this view, but now masculinity is seen as a dangerous social construct that should be minimized. But is that how God intended it? What does it really mean to be a man created in the image of God? This seminar looks at God’s design in creating men, what it means to live out of this design, and how to create a culture where both masculinity and femininity are celebrated.
Note: We think that a better understanding of masculinity and femininity results in a greater understanding of God’s heart and greater love and friendship between genders. This talk is meant to be paired with the seminar on femininity.
How do I make a decision about what to do after graduation? How do I think biblically about discerning God's will for my life? We will look at what the Bible has to say about making big decisions that impact your future.
Prayer is a clear mandate from God, but isn't it entirely too tough to thrive in? Everything is going against you: busyness, distraction, social media, etc. We're going to spend time looking at what prayer is, why we pray, and how to pray in hopes that our prayer lives become constant, enlivened and new!
Evangelism is better together. Jesus sent his disciples "two by two" to share his gospel, and he continues to send communities of his followers to love people and share his good news together. This seminar will cover how doing evangelism in and through community is more powerful, more dynamic, and more effective than doing it alone.
A Lifelong Walk With God
Were Jesus' 30 years of life prior to ministry insignificant? Are your countless hours spent sleeping, eating, and working less important to God than "spiritual activities"? Join us as we explore the greatness of living faithful in the mundane parts of life.
What career should I pick? Who should I date? Should I go to class today? Decision making has a tendency to “should” all over us, and it can get messy. Come learn how to sift through your confusion, and ultimately make decisions in faith.
—Chase Walker
1 in every 4 adults wrestle with depression and nearly 19% of the population struggles with an anxiety disorder, which means it is likely that either you or someone you are very close to is hurting. Often times in the midst of such darkness and confusion, we can wonder if there is any hope for deliverance or healing. In this seminar, we will look at God's Word and see that even in the valley of the shadow of death, our God is near, faithful, and there is hope for the downcast and anxious.
Too often, femininity is over-simplified by the church or over-sexualized by the culture. It is often defined in relation to certain personality traits, relationship status, or physical attraction. But what does it really mean to be a woman created in the image of God? This seminar looks at God’s design in creating women and how they uniquely display him to the world.
Go into your phone settings and check your screen-time usage. If you are like most college students it's high. Now consider how much Netflix, Youtube, and social media you consume. The point is this: as Christians we must figure out how to handle our usage and consumption of technology. This seminar will be extremely practical and help you leave knowing steps to take to manage your technology usage.
—Stefan Sauder
"I find your lack of faith disturbing." –Darth Vader. It's not about if you live a life of faith—you do—but rather, what is your faith in? In this seminar we will examine why faith is central for the Christian and how your faith can lead to greater intimacy with God.
Have you ever been in a fight? Do you feel like a crazy person? Come hear two "recovering crazies" talk about how they have sought to glorify God in their conflict.
What comes to mind when you think of church? Duty, delight, or something in between? The goal of this seminar is not to guilt you into going to church more. Instead, this seminar will equip you with a Biblical perspective on why Jesus loves the Church and provide tools to help you deepen your relationship with God's people in your own life.
What are you ambitious for in life? A relationship? Keeping a Snapchat streak? Ministry success? A higher level in Call of Duty? God created us to be ambitious for something in life. Two questions that need answering are; “What should we be ambitious for?” and “How do we become ambitious for the right things?”
Do you ever feel like sin has its grip on you? That no matter how hard you try it seems like you won’t ever overcome it? In this seminar we will explore what the Bible says about sin, it’s effects on us as believers and how by God’s grace we can fight it.
If you are new to sharing your faith with others or if you need to regain perspective on why we share our faith this seminar is for you.
We want to live by the theme "life is good" but the reality is most of us have experienced painful hardships or will at some point. Naturally, hard things make us ask questions like, "Where is God?" "Why is this happening?" or, "How do I respond?" We will share examples from our own lives and use the Bible to try to answer these questions.
—Nate & Elli Van Zee
Family. Boo Thang. Bestie. Yourself—Have you ever had a relationship that left you wounded? Or maybe you’re still dealing with the remnants of a rocky past? In this seminar, we will discuss how God wants to expose our hearts, redeem our story, and make us whole.
Some of us are familiar with theological categories that help explain what is wrong with the human condition and how redemption happens in our lives. Do you ever wonder how psychology intersects with these concepts? Come and hear from Elisa and Eric about their pursuits of how people change by combining the perspectives of theology and psychology.
Why Some Disciples Make and Others Don’t
'Disciple’ is who we are and what we do. It defines our identity in Christ and drives our purpose for Christ. ‘Disciple’ is our frame of reference for our entire Christian worldview and has grounded and grown the church for two thousand years. Join the most noble and urgent call of Christ, "Follow Me and I will make you fishers of men.”
Have you ever opened your Bible and thought, "what does this mean?" Do you ever ask yourself, "why is it so hard to consistently study my Bible?" If you've asked either of these questions then join us as we explore how to study our Bible in a way that sticks and leads to intimacy!
—Lincoln & Ashley Peters
You have the most important truth to tell the world. What's one of the best and easiest ways to talk to people about this truth? It's through your personal story of how God redeemed you! God wants to use your story to reach other people! So, what does this look like? This seminar will seek to accomplish just that!
Are you confused or intimidated by the Old Testament? If we are honest, studying these ancient texts is a daunting task. But what if I told you that every page of the Old Testament is as much about Jesus as every page of the New Testament, and even those obscure old stories are part of his greater story? Come and see the Big Picture of the Bible, and learn to see Christ in the Old Testament.
Jesus left his followers with a clear commission: make disciples of all nations. Yet, billions around the world still live with no access to the gospel. Are we missing something? Come learn how you can and why you should join Jesus in blessing the nations.
We use stories to help us navigate through the mess that is life in a broken world. Many of these stories contain partial truths that were helpful at one point, but now are insufficient. Could it be that God is telling a better story for your life than the one you tell yourself?
Sexuality is as relevant, controversial, and powerful a subject as anything in our culture. We are constantly shaped and influenced by the commercials, shows, music, media, and conversations with others regarding our view of Sex. Even deeper, though, is our own experience and understanding of sex that influences our desires, identity, and struggles. That sounds like something we should talk about.
This morning we welcomed our other speaker, Tony Dentman, and he talked with us about relationships on a very real and open level. He opened up with a reading from Genesis:
3 Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You[a] shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” 2 And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, 3 but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’” 4 But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. 5 For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” 6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise,[b] she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate. 7 Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths. 8 And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool[c] of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. 9 But the Lord God called to the man and said to him, “Where are you?”[d] 10 And he said, “I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, and I hid myself.” 11 He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten of the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?” 12 The man said, “The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit of the tree, and I ate.” 13 Then the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this that you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”
From this passage, Tony gave us a list of essentials to perfect love, he used scripture throughout Genesis to explain the acronym he created to gain “perfect love'“. He used relationships between a man and woman as an example of what our relationship with Christ ought to look like. Both relationships have progressional steps to more commitment and to greater intimacy. Just like a marriage on the Earth, you cannot half commit yourself to God, it must be a 100% commitment to live for Him. The ultimate description of a welcoming into relationship is Jesus’ death on the cross. Jesus proposed to us with his arms open and all we have to do is say “yes”.
Mack finished his time with us this evening talking about obeying Christ from a passage in John 14, titled “I Am the Way and the Truth, and the Life”:
“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God;[a] believe also in me. 2 In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?[b] 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. 4 And you know the way to where I am going.”[c] 5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you had known me, you would have known my Father also.[d] From now on you do know him and have seen him.”
He explained where Jesus discusses the importance of obedience and how Jesus links obedience to love. He lists a few ways for why we should obey Christ. In addition to this, he listed some critical things needed to live an obedient life. Obedience of God’s Word and to the Gospel is part of an obedient life. To say the Gospel takes but a minute, to learn it takes a lifetime.
Another passage Mack used was 2 Corinthians 5 to give a little detail on the opportunity given to God’s people. He has allowed us and called us to be ambassadors for Him. Being ambassadors for Christ calls us to be bold with the Gospel. Ambassadors, followers of Christ are called to other things as well. These are surrounded by being a part of a community of believers. We must; be a part of the church, know the church, and love other churches. The church being Christ’s body as a whole, including all its members. On way, Mack explains being a part of the church is to do as Hebrews 10:24-25 tells us, to build up others. Knowing the church means to allow the church to speak into your life and to understand the importance of having people pour into you as a member.
In conclusion, Mack states the kind of church we as Christians ought to want. That being a certain kind of church, not one that is American or African or Asian, but one that teaches Jesus’ Gospel. This Gospel centered community must be a community we live in for our lifetime, for the long haul, not just while in college and while you are a part of Campus Outreach.
We ended our first full day of New Years Conference talking about Christ’s lordship in our lives. Mack opened the session with a quote about our days. “There are two days we are really worried about, “today and “The Day”, meaning the day we stand before God.”, Mack Stiles.
Mack explained the lordship of Christ through a passage many have heard before:
I Never Knew You
21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’
Matthew 7:21-23.
The fall of most people is not making Jesus the Lord of their lives, they do this because they desire to be their own god. If that is not the tendency of those people, it is they do not want God to mess up or change their lifestyles. They point to themselves and claim they are the reason they are able to get to Heaven. The tendency to make this claim is a tendency of a self-righteous person. God is the only one who makes a person righteous. Mack explains in detail that our desire should not be that we know Christ, but that Christ knows us and for Jesus to claim knowing us. Mack closes by asking eight important questions for the audience to ask themselves to investigate if they know God and He knows them.
In our second session, Mack Stiles continued to bring the heat of God’s Word to hundreds of college students. He began discussing the simplicity of living for God and serving him daily. Christ’s death on the cross was the ultimate gift, freely given, that we don’t deserve, is it that difficult for us to live for him? Mack focused on a passage in Mark to better explain this concept;
And Jesus went on with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi. And on the way he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” And they told him, “John the Baptist; and others say, Elijah; and others, one of the prophets.” And he asked them, “But who do you say I am?” Peter answered him, “You are the Christ.” And he strictly charged them to tell no one about him. And he began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes and be killed, and after three days rise again. And he said this plainly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. But turning and seeing his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan! For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.” And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it. For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? For whoever is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”
Mark 8:27-38 (ESV)
Mack used this passage to challenge the audience with the question of “Who do you think I am?” that being Christ. After this challenge, Mack transitioned back to what it truly means to follow Christ and how it ought to show in our lives. He used the above verses to display that. Finally, we must consider a few things. If Jesus died on the cross and paid the penalty for our sins, why not give up your life? What is there to lose on this earth if you will gain Heaven?
Mack Stiles started the first session off explaining the Gospel of Christ using four helpful questions to help the audience break it down. The questions Mack asked were not only for the students attending who have never heard the Gospel, but also the students who have heard it and need to teach it to themselves. Believers of Jesus Christ are encouraged to never stop preaching the Gospel to themselves.
- Who is God? What does the Bible say about Him?
- Who am I?
- Who is Christ? What did he do for me?
- How do I respond?
To briefly summarize the answers to these questions; it is important to look at what perspective we are answering them from. Often times people will try to answer the questions above from our own personal experiences or views. This way of thinking is faulty.
Final thoughts: Mack gave some really neat perspective for what living in this world is like. He compared it to living in a shipwreck; you will find much treasure (worldly pleasures) and much brokenness on the ship. This is not the way it is supposed to be. As we look at these treasures, we must remember the reality of Satan’s deception. He will minimize our sin, lie, and promise untrue things. Satan over promises and under delivers. The sin of disbelief, not believing who God says He is is what ultimately plagues us in our walk with God. To believe the truths God reveals to us, we must continue preaching the Gospel to ourselves. Ask yourselves these questions and search for the truths in God’s Word. Jesus was our ransom, which means we were kidnapped by Satan (Romans 5:12), but Jesus gave his life as a ransom or a payment for our bondage. This sets us free. The cross was not plan B, it was plan A (1 Corinthians 15:21).
Relationships are messy, and you may have a lot of questions. In this seminar Matt and Julia Bradner will answer 4 big questions about relationships.
Matt Bradner wrapped up New Year’s Conference with this last session. Many things go together to make some good combinations. One combination made Jesus marvel: a low view of self and a high view from others. This story can be found in Luke 7:1-10. Matt explained that this personal humility and public honor was a marvelous combo, one that Jesus marveled at.
Paul explained the qualifications for the overseers of the church in the same way that Luke described the centurion in the previous passage. He says in 1 Timothy 3:6-7:
He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil.
Matt Bradner discussed the prioritization of doing good: making disciples. The Great Commission tells us everything the basics of what we need to know about making disciples. Here it is in Matthew 28:18-20:
And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."
Jesus tells us why, tells us what, and tells us why again. Why #1: all authority has been given to Jesus. What: Discipleship. Why #2: Jesus gives the promise of his presence. But that’s not all. There’s another why in verses 16-17:
Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted.
The same message is for those who doubt and those who worship.
Matt Bradner discussed different aims that we all have: do good, do bad, or do nothing. And doing nothing is not necessarily better than doing bad. God calls us to do good, to be a force for good in every area of your life for the rest of your life. Titus 3:4-8 says:
But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. The saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works. These things are excellent and profitable for people.
God says to devote themselves to good works, not just abstain from evil. Matt expressed the importance of doing good with everything you are: your mouth, your eyes, your hands, your heart and more. Be a force for good not to get salvation but because you have it.
Matt Bradner, the second speaker at NYC, started off his time talking about how there are things in our lives that are holding us back from accepting Jesus and following him. Even those of us who have said that we want to follow Jesus, there are still things that get in the way of our walk with him. Jesus encountered 3 different people who some of us can relate to in Luke 9:57-62:
As they were going along the road, someone said to him, "I will follow you wherever you go." And Jesus said to him, "Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head." To another he said, "Follow me." But he said, "Lord, let me first go and bury my father." And Jesus said to him, "Leave the dead to bury their own dead. But as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God." Yet another said, "I will follow you, Lord, but let me first say farewell to those at my home." Jesus said to him, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God."
Matt goes through each of these situations and describes each specific circumstance these people who approached Jesus were in at the time.
The Bible says that God created us male and female. What do our differences show us about God? We believe God's word paints a beautiful picture of gender that goes beyond cultural stereotypes and leads to freedom and flourishing for both men and women.
Why all things matter when done in the name of Christ... especially the mundane. If God is only glorified when we're doing "spiritual stuff" why is it that we spend so much time in class, at work, going to parties, watching Netflix, and sleeping? If God already has all the glory he needs what does it mean to bring Him glory? We'll talk about what it really means to glorify God in all things.
How is God at work around the world? What impact is the gospel having beyond our borders? How can college students be involved in this global movement now? Come be envisioned and inspired to join with God in his global mission.
Have you ever thought, "If God would just give me proof then I would believe"? Most of us have at some point. The bold claim of Christianity is that God has proven his existence through a historical person in historical events. Come hear how faith might not exclude evidence, but demand it.
The Old Testament takes up nearly 75% of the Holy Bible, but many Christians find it difficult to understand and inapplicable to life as a Christian. Too often it is effectively ignored. Come hear an introduction to what the Old Testament says and how it applies to your life today.
The average American checks their phone 80 times a day. Wether we realize it or not, our phones are radically impacting our lives. In this seminar we will seek to answer these two questions; How is your smartphone changing you? And should you be concerned?
Not only does Jesus claim to be God, He tells us that we must love Him above all else: our family, relationships, parties, as well as our dreams and ambitions. In this seminar we will answer two questions. 1. What does it mean for Jesus to be the Lord? 2. Is Jesus really worth my life?
Why is the Bible so important for Christians? Where should you even begin if you want to read it? Whether you are investigating Christianity or are a Christian, this seminar will help clarify what the Bible is, why it’s so essential for us if we want to know God, and how to start reading and understanding it.
God's plan of salvation includes using His people to spread His glory to all the world. Are you equipped for the task? This seminar will take a look at what a Christian needs to reproduce their life as they faithfully live out their calling to follow Jesus. Learn what it looks like to be a disciple maker who has an eternal impact for the Kingdom of God!
Who am I? Most of us as women are asking that question. Am I my grades, my dating status, my dress size, my social media popularity, my failures or success?We all crave a sense of worth and want to matter in this life. In this seminar we will identify those things which we often look to to define us and then see how God defines our worth in Christ.
Want to transform the World? Lucky for you God’s power is promised to EVERY person, big or small, who chooses to GO on mission. Come hear how creating an evangelistic culture on your campus could change not only your life but thousands upon thousands!
Whether it’s the latest rom com, your instagram feed or even well-meaning friends and family, it can seem like your life doesn’t start until you’re in a relationship. As Christians, we know that the Bible considers singleness a gift, yet it can often feel lonely, hard, and painful. What does it look like to fight for contentment in a season of life that you didn’t ask for?
In this Seminar we will look at several of the common causes of Anxiety and then look at ways to help overcome and work through it.
The story of God bruising the hip of Jacob is a powerful example of how God intends to "prepare" his people for leadership. This seminar will explore how the Biblical yet paradoxical leadership traits of meekness and weakness will be used by God to transform you into a powerful leader for the purposes of God in the world.
When faced with our sin we have two options: passivity or activity. Often, rather than waging war on our sin we negotiate how to live with it and ignore its destructive force in our lives. In this seminar we examine how to identify, fight, and defeat the sin that so easily ensnares us.
As a Christian, you are called to be part of a church community. But how do you choose a church? The pastor? Teaching? Worship? Young adults ministry? And once you're there, what does it mean to REALLY be a part of the church?
D. A. Horton defined reconciliation: to once again be conciled (removal of animosity) to someone. There has never been a conciliation between the ethnicities. We use the word ethnicity instead of race because there is only one race - the human race. However, there are many different ethnicities among the human race. There will only be ethnic conciliation when the church stops withholding compassion. D. A. used this passage from Luke 10:25-37 to give a biblical example of compassion:
And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, "Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?" He said to him, "What is written in the Law? How do you read it?" And he answered, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself." And he said to him, "You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live." But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?" Jesus replied, "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him. And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, 'Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.' Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?" He said, "The one who showed him mercy." And Jesus said to him, "You go, and do likewise."
The Gospel of Christ unites us and makes unlikely people brothers and sisters. Doctrine shouldn’t divide us, it should unite us.
D. A. Horton continued to talk about the Gospel’s transforming power. Going through 1 Peter 2:9-10, he discussed the different parts of this paragraph in depth:
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
He discussed what it means to be a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, and a people for God’s own possession. Because of this new identity that God has given us, we are able to proclaim the excellencies of God, to give him glory by being an image bearer. Satan will try to steer you away from God’s goodness. He has done this since the beginning of the world, starting with Eve, with these to lies: doubt God and doubt God’s goodness. But God’s Word is more powerful. Because of the Gospel, you were made a new creation now that you have received mercy. You were made holy to give him glory, to proclaim the excellencies of his name.
The world you live in today on the college campus is constantly changing with overwhelming questions about freedom, identity, happiness, and your future. Where does your faith fit into this changing world? Come to this seminar to understand more about how to follow Christ in the world you live in today.
To graduate is an exhilarating experience that is unique in a global context. However, more than being the finish line, it is the beginning of your next chapter of life, so are you prepared for what awaits once you step off the stage? Come dialogue with us about perspectives and tools that can help equip you for walking with Jesus during what may be the most crucial chapter of your faith journey.
The Christian life is rich with promises of experience with God and in life. However, our circumstances would often cause us to believe otherwise. In this session, we will be talking about how walking by faith leads to a deeper intimacy with God and a richer experience of life.
In the first part of the second session D. A. Horton explained how sin separates us from God, but he hasn’t planned it to stay that way. David, a man after God’s own heart, sinned against God. D. A. uses Psalm 51:1-6 to show how King David confessed his sin, repented of it, and received grace and mercy from God.
Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin! For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment. Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me. Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being, and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart.
Because God confronted David’s sin with the Gospel, he can receive grace and mercy. Likewise, when our sin is confronted with the Gospel, our sin is not just covered. It is REMOVED. Once we’re covered by Jesus’ blood, our slate is wiped clean. After receiving compassion and mercy, we are called to show compassion and mercy to others. It’s easy to point out the sin in other people’s lives, but we miss the sin in our own lives. D. A. tells us the call of being changed by the Gospel to show compassion and mercy to others as God shows it to us.
Does it seem like there is a lot of gender segregation in the Church...and maybe even in Campus Outreach? Is this behavior driven by purity and wisdom, or does it go beyond what the bible teaches? Come hear a discussion about the ways avoidance of this kind can hurt and confuse men and women, and even miss the mark of what God intended for friendship.
What should my major be? Who should I date? What career should I pursue? What is God's will or calling for my life? This seminar will help you with steps to making wise decisions!
For many minorities who become Christians, they are met with what seems to be a dilemma; “Now that I am a Christian, do I check my ethnicity at the door?” With so much going on in today’s society it is important for the minority to grasp the implications of their ethnicity and their walk with Christ. Come join us as we discuss why its important for you to embrace your new life in Christ and be proud of your ethnicity God gifted you with.
What’s more fundamental to your walk with Christ than knowing your identity in him? Hmmm...Yeah…I don’t know either. While most of us have heard words like “justified” or “adopted”, too often those realities remain largely untapped in our daily life. This seminar will focus on how to take those ideas, and allow them to set you free in Christ.
How you speak says a lot about you. Are you battling old habits, bad language, crude jokes, or gossiping? Jesus has big things to say about these common struggles, and they might not be what you think.
Would you describe your prayer life as rewarding? In Matthew 6, Jesus promises a reward for those who pray. Come to this seminar to discover and experience the reward Jesus has for those who pray!
D. A. Horton kicked off the first session explaining the Gospel. He approached the story of the Bible like a Netflix series: there’s a few different seasons, but it’s all part of the same plot, and there’s one main character. We would like to think that the main character is us, but it’s God. He has connected His story to our story through Jesus and Jesus alone. His blood sacrifice was the only sufficient payment for the infinite debt we owe to God. “It is impossible for a finite creature to obtain something that is infinite.” D. A. explained it like trying to obtain the whole Atlantic Ocean by standing in it and putting it all into a 32-ounce cup. It can’t be done. You’re not going to be holding the ocean, it’s going to be holding you. God’s power has purpose for our life. God lacks nothing; he doesn’t need our praise. He deserves it. He demands it. He desires to show his power to pay the debt we racked up--our sin. Romans 1:16-17:
For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, "The righteous shall live by faith."
He wrapped up the session saying when we declare spiritual bankruptcy to God, He comes in and pays our debt. However, he doesn’t just pay our debt to give us an even $0. He fills our account with the perfect record of Jesus. He sees us as holy and blameless because he is holy.
In the first rally of the “Greater” conference, Muche Ukegbu points us to the wondrous ways in which God has made the world to grab our attentions and affections, but sin warps this awe to seek after the things of this world for contentment. He then explains that the things that capture our affections steer our lives. Because of this, we are looking for a sense of belonging and it has led to an identity crisis. Muche gives a solution to this crisis through 1 Peter 2:9-11:
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul.
God has given us a glorious identity that is corporate, precious, and purposeful. Corporate in its dignity and diversity; precious in God’s pursuit of us; and this glorious identity is purposeful in the transformation God gives us though it. Muche wraps it up with this fundamental conclusion: “The cornerstone of a secure identity is living out of seeing God rightly.”
Unfortunately, the audio for this talk is not available.
Do you wrestle with discontentment or feelings of shame? Are deep friendships with other women hard to come by? Can women make an impact in the Kingdom? If any of these questions sound intriguing, come hear some perspective and biblical principles on how to be a woman who is surrendered to and sold out for the Lord.
The culture around us, whether at school or in our future workplace, is becoming increasingly post-christian and anti-christian. The Bible calls us to be wise as serpents but innocent of doves. So how do we do that? What if a friends asks you to come to his same-sex wedding, or to film it, or to stand in it? What if a family member asks? Your new job asks you to lie to protect your boss. Come learn how to navigate these tensions and how to love people who may not like you.
This world is hard. Have you experienced disappointment, death, abuse, or other forms of suffering? We can know in our head that God is good, but why would he allow these things to happen and how do we believe that He is good with our hearts? How do we faithful walk forward with God, when we are angry with Him and where do we put the emotions we feel? Come here our story and how we have navigated a difficult season in our life to God's glory.
If you are leading people that are walking with Christ and want to help equip them to help others walk with Christ this is the place for you!
Emotions! We all have them and they are changing daily, often controlling us both in good & bad ways. The problem is that it's hard to process your own emotions correctly, let alone emotions from other people. This seminar is designed to help you process your emotions from a biblical perspective and have stability even when emotions are running wild.
What is Gods will for my life? What major should I choose? Who should I live with? Should I participate in this activity? What should I do with my life after college? Should I date him or her? What should I do with my summer? How should I spend my money? These are the many questions we ask ourselves. This seminar will help you navigate through how to make Godly decisions. We will tell you specifically what Gods will is for your life!
Let's be honest, you've checked your phone twice since you've read the title of this talk...and I've checked mine a whole lot more while writing this. We both have a unique problem that no other generation has experienced, but it's not all bad. In a world currently experiencing chaos, we have more potential to change the course of the future than any generation that has ever lived. But the unique challenges we face daily really are holding us back from doing what we've always truly wanted to do: make meaningful impact in the world. Come hear a biblical perspective on what to do with our noble aspirations and ignoble distractions.
Perhaps you're at this conference but you're not entirely sure what you believe. Maybe a friend brought you and you're trying to figure out what exactly Christianity is and why all these people are so excited about it. Come and hear Christianity explained simply and learn why Jesus is so great for us today.
If you have lead someone to Christ, or have a group of young Christians that you are leading, this seminar will help you with some practical next steps on how to establish young Christians in their faith
Both Christians and non-Christians struggle with the question, "Does my life really matter?" As a Christian is this even a question that I am allowed to ask? This seminar will address living a significant and impactful life in the midst of a world that defines success as what you earn in money, respect, beauty, social media likes, etc.
Fear paralyzes, faith gets you moving. Fear blinds, faith enlightens. Fear enslaves, faith sets free. Stop trying to control and start letting go. Sounds easy, right? Not exactly. Come learn what it's like to walk in a lifestyle of prayer and faith. Who knows, you may begin to test the limits and dream bigger!
Whether you recently became a Christian and are wondering what the Christian life is all about, or whether you have been a Christian for some time now but are starting to feel like you're plateauing and just going through the motions - this seminar is about returning to the heart of the Christian life: enjoying a vibrant relationship with Jesus Christ.
If you require air to breathe, water and food for sustenance, and have a pulse, then you probably have experience with anxiety. But is anxiety always a sin? If it's in some ways intrinsic to being human what do we make of it? Come hear some biblical perspective on anxiety and how to cope.
Mike Jackson concludes our “Greater” conference with the subject of worship. He poses the question: How important is the subject of worship to you? Everyone is worshiping something and if worship is the most important subject, then the leader of our worship is our most important leader. Mike then dives into Psalm 103:1-4 to explain that each of us need to be our own worship leader.
Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,
Mike then charges us to not just worship God with lip service, but to worship Him with our whole selves. When we recognize our souls wandering to something other than God, we need to bring our souls back to Him and His promises.
He then leaves us with these consequences of continually worshiping God with our whole selves: 1, Transformed lives 2. We become like what we worship
Paul continues our theme of “Greater” by explaining how Jesus has created a Greater Life for us. God has given us a great purpose in life; therefore our time here on earth has great impact for eternity. Paul expounds on this idea through Matthew 4:19-20:
And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Immediately they left their nets and followed him.
This model exemplifies how we can fulfill this purpose with our lives. Follow me (Jesus) Die to self Start Small
Paul left us with the challenge: “Who is 1 person you could pray for or talk to about Jesus?”