News & Resources 

Breakout Sessions

How does the Bible challenge us to be significantly involved in church?
Andy Davis : Patterson Hall 119
Although it is part of God’s wise plan for every Christian to be fruitfully involved in a healthy local church, many people struggle in finding their place in church and thriving there. In this seminar we will discuss from the Scriptures the value and role of local church in the growth and fruitfulness of individual Christians, and to give a helpful overview of what Christians should look for in a Spirit-filled and healthy church.
11:15 a.m., 1:30 p.m.

How do I read the Epistles?
Ben Merkle : Appleby 207
What does Peter mean that Jesus “went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison” (1 Peter 3:19)? Does Paul really believe we should baptize people for the dead (1 Cor. 15:29)? What does John mean that “there is sin that leads to death” (1 John 5:16)? Reading an epistle or letter can be a challenge because there are difficult texts since we are only listening to one side of a conversation. This seminar will provide an overview of how to correctly read epistle and provide the student the necessary tools to avoid misinterpreting a text.
11:15 a.m, 2:45 p.m.

How do I read the first five books of the Bible?
Chip McDaniel : Appleby Bethea
This session will introduce how to read the books of Moses against the background of other ancient Near Eastern creation and flood stories, how to approach the narrative, law and the ceremonies as Christians, and how to fit these books into the larger story of the Bible.
11:15 a.m., 1:30 p.m.

How does Jesus Christ relate to the whole Bible, especially the Old Testament?
Chip McDaniel : Appleby Bethea
From start to finish the Bible presents a unified story. Parallels found in the great episodes of salvation show that God’s work as the Creator-Redeemer is a leading theme of the Bible.
2:45 p.m.

How do I read the Gospels? Why are there 4 Gospels?
David Alan Black : Adams 212
Our session is all about the Gospels – what they are, and how to read them. The Gospels form a unique genre of literature. They are “good news in that they represent a proclamation of Jesus’ actions for our salvation written from a specific theological perspective. Our session will examine the four Gospels from the standpoint of their historical setting and unique literary purposes. We will seek to answer the question “Why do we have four accounts of the life of Christ–not fewer and not more?” Along the way we will seek new answers to old questions concerning the Gospels’ historicity and apostolicity based on my book Why Four Gospels? The Historical Origins of the Gospels. Our goal is to affirm the complete reliability of the Fourfold Gospel as a testimony to the words and deeds of King Jesus.
11:15 a.m., 1:30 p.m.

What does the Bible say about discerning a call to full-time ministry?
Dennis Darville : Adams 211
The notion of “calling” has fallen out of favor in the larger culture. Of the many reasons for this, one is the idea that “calling” presupposes a “Caller.” This has largely become socially unacceptable. Unfortunately, a secular world and life view has become all too dominant in the church as well. Consequently, career paths are presented as something we choose based merely on the economy, aptitudes, and lifestyle aspirations or some other anthropocentric categories. Our breakout session will deal with the biblical idea of God supernaturally calling men and women into specific vocations; not the least of which is vocational ministry.
11:15 a.m., 2:45 p.m.

How does the Bible challenge us to risk by taking the Gospel to the nations?
George Robinson : Binkley 101
Have you ever been told that, “The safest place to be is in the center of God’s will”? If so, you were lied to. God’s word and Christian history are full of stories of people who were living in the center of God’s will and it cost them their lives! Those who know and understand the security that the gospel provides don’t live their lives by worldly risk assessment principles. Our churches are full of young men and women willing to climb mountains and jump out of perfectly good airplanes. But when the adrenaline is gone there’s nothing left but a fading memory. What if Christian young men and women gave their lives to something greater than trying to impress one another with empty pursuits? The amazing grace of the gospel frees its recipients to abandon both our white-knuckled grip on safety and our ridiculous pursuit of vainglory. Risk is inherent to the life of free Christians because Jesus taught, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.” (Luke 9:23-24). Come hear how you might know the kind of freedom that beckons you to “risk it all” for the sake of the gospel–and in so doing, find real life.
11:15 a.m., 2:45 p.m.

What is the “story” that the Bible tells?
Heath Thomas : Adams 118
Getting the big-picture “story” of the Bible is crucial for living well in God’s world. It affects evangelism, discipleship, and spiritual formation. This breakout will explore the “big-picture” of the Bible to understand its narrative shape: what God is doing in the world and how I fit in his work. While some reduce the Bible to doctrine, history, literature, or rules, this breakout group will find out what it means to read the Bible as a grand story in which we find ourselves, with practical considerations on how this discovery affects the life of faith.
1:30 p.m., 2:45 p.m.

What is a Christian worldview (in relation to other worldviews)?
Jamie Dew : Patterson Hall 107
What do we believe? And, why is this unique in comparison to other belief systems? In this seminar, we will explore some of the particulars of the Christian Worldview. Specifically, we will look at what we believe about that nature of reality, the possibility of gaining knowledge, the nature and existence of God, our understanding of right and wrong, and why human beings are distinct and special. With this as a backdrop, we will then consider how this view is better than other beliefs systems.
1:30 p.m., 2:45 p.m.

What does the Bible say about my future vocation?
Jeremy Chasteen : Adams 111
One’s college career is often defined by uncertainty. Students are frequently overwhelmed by the transitions they encounter within college life, particularly in the area of career and vocation. As a result, many graduates are left in occupational limbo, much like a state of extended adolescence. If students do not graduate with the perfect job, or salary, idleness and discontentment will likely set it. College students need a biblical understanding of vocation and the will of God. In this breakout we will explore how the Bible gives direction for discerning His will for one’s future vocation. College students would benefit from exploring what the scriptures say in regards to choosing a vocation along with exploring additional resources, such as Kevin DeYoung’s Just Do Something, in order to embrace a biblical view of work as well as biblical manhood and womanhood. Ultimately, we are made to worship, which should be our motivation in our pursuit of an occupation.
1:30 p.m., 2:45 p.m.

Is the God of the Old Testament a moral monster?
Jeremy Evans : Patterson Hall 223, Center for Faith & Culture
The new atheists (Richard Dawkins, Daniel Dennett, Sam Harris, and Christopher Hitchens) all argue that God is a moral monster, and that the Bible, of all things, is the best resource for proving their point. In this session we will take up the challenge and address some of the Old Testament passages that the new atheists suggest provide rationally compelling evidence to think that, even if God exists, He is not worthy of worship.
11:15 a.m., 1:30 p.m.

What does the Bible say about a Christian’s responsibility to the inner city?
Jerome Gay : Patterson Hall 112
God has a heart for all people and that includes those in the inner city, we must respond to the reality of the gospel by intentionally sharing and showing it (the gospel) to the marginalized. While international missions are great and necessary, more and more urban missionaries are needed and it’s important that the Body of Christ doesn’t neglect our neighbors here in the states. I will address the myths of the inner city, the message to the inner city and the mission of the inner city missionary.
1:30 p.m., 2:45 p.m.

What does the Bible say about what it means to be “human?”
John Hammett : Binkley 102
In 1986, Robert Fulghum wrote an entertaining and insightful book, All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten, reminding us of the enduring value of some very basic concepts. Biblical teaching on humanity is much in keeping with Fulghum’s idea, for almost all the major elements of biblical teaching are at least introduced to us in the first three chapters of the Bible, though subsequent sections of Scripture deepen and expand on those concepts. In this break-out session, I will give an overview of eight of these basic concepts, though time will limit me to only touching the surface of each one. These are: We are created by God (Gen. 1:26-27). We are created in the image of God (Gen. 1:26-27). We are created male and female (Gen. 1:27-28; 2:18-25). We are created to work (Gen. 1:26, 28; 2:15). We are created with a complex constitution (Gen. 2:7). We are created for community (Gen. 2:18). We are not today as we were created; we are fallen (Gen. 2:16-17; 3:1-24). We are not today as we will one day be; we are being sanctified and will be glorified (Gen. 3:22-24; Rev. 22:1-2).
11:15 a.m., 1:30 p.m.

LOGOS Bible Software Presentation
Kendell Stellfox: Patterson Hall 111
In this breakout session, you will be given an introduction to LOGOS, the revolutionary Bible study software that will greatly enhance the way you study the Scriptures.
1:30 p.m., 2:45 p.m.

How do I read the Prophets?
Mark Rooker : Appleby 205
The Prophetic books constitute the largest singular section of the entire Bible. We will first investigate what constituted a prophet in ancient Israel and the nature of their roles. We will also examine the nature of their messages. These messages are informed by the previous covenant arrangements of the Abrahamic and Mosaic covenants. The overall concern of the prophets’ was Israel’s faithfulness to her covenant responsibilities. But the prophets were more than just God’s spokesmen who were directed by God to give a timely word. As they wrote under inspiration they were often directed to give a word that addressed future events. In this session we will address the issue of predictive prophecy, a feature of the Bible that makes it a book like no other. Finally, we will examine some prophetic texts that illustrate and exhibit the features of the Prophetic word. At the conclusion we will take time for questions and discussions.
1:30 p.m., 2:45 p.m.

How do I read the Psalms?
Michael Travers : Jacumin Simpson, Eitel Auditorium
In this breakout session, we will consider how to read the Psalms as they were written. The Psalms are Hebrew poems and, as such, they require us to read them differently than we read other types of literature in the Bible. As poems, the Psalms present concise and intense expressions of the psalmists’ experiences, emotions, and thoughts. Emotions range from elated joy in God, to gratitude for answered prayers, to anguish over feelings of being forgotten and rejected by God, to outright condemnation of enemies. At the same time, the Psalms are God’s words. Who God is and what He has done are the subjects of many of the Psalms. In short, the Psalms are poems where God and people meet. As poems, the Psalms demonstrate recognizable and repeated characteristics which we can use to help us read well. In this session, we will ask four questions to help us read the Psalms actively and accurately as poems. Then we will apply those questions to Psalm 19 by way of illustration. Finally, there will be time for interaction, discussions, and questions during our time together.
11:15 a.m., 1:30 p.m.

What does the Bible say about the Bible?
Nathan Finn : Adams 217
There is no end to opinions about the Bible. Some believe it is an anthology of ancient stories. Others believe much of it is mythological. Some see the Bible as a rulebook. Others treatit as a collection of pithy sayings. Some believe it is God’s written word to humanity. Others believe its just one sacred writing among many. Christians have historically argued that the Bible is uniquely inspired by God. It recounts the “true story of the whole world” in a way that is truthful, authoritative, and competent to guide each of us in our journey through life. This breakout session will discuss what the Bible teaches about itself. What did the biblical authors believe about the sixty-six books that comprise the Bible? What did they believe about its inspiration? Its authority? Its inerrancy? Its sufficiency? What did Jesus himself think about these topics? This session will sketch out a biblical theology of the Bible.
11:15 a.m., 2:45 p.m.

How can I be a witness to my college professors?
Rick Hove : Binkley 105
You think you are in a specific class because it was the easiest class you could find that met late in the day, but is it possible God has placed you in each class to be a blessing to your professor to perhaps point him or her to Christ? This seminar
will explore various ways God can use you as an “aroma of Christ” to every professor.
11:15 a.m., 2:45 p.m.

How does the Bible challenge us to make disciples on a college campus?
Rupert Leary : Patterson Hall 101
In the remaining minutes of the 4th quarter of Jesus’ public ministry on earth, he calls his disciples together for one final play call. The Great Commission mandate in Matthew 28:18-20 is the clearest and most concise passage on the call to discipleship in the Bible. In this seminar we will explore not only what it means to be a disciple, but also what is what it means to make disciples on the college campus. We will be principle-centered and application oriented as we unpack the 4 crucial leadership development categories every disciple maker needs to effective multiply his/her life. If we reach the college campus, we reach the world and Jesus’ strategy for reaching the world is by gospel-centered discipleship.
11:15 a.m., 2:45 p.m.

What does the Bible say about sex, dating, & marriage?
Spence Shelton : Appleby Chapel
God created sex. What God creates must be good. Awesome actually. Ergo, sex is awesome. This session is designed to show you how God has designed Sex, Dating, and Marriage to be much richer, fulfilling, and more love-filled
than religion or Lady Gaga can offer.
1:30 p.m., 2:45 p.m.

What place does the Bible have in the proclamation of the Gospel?
Thomas West : Adams 112
Three questions will be asked, discussed, and answered in order to answer the assigned question for this breakout session. First we will consider “What is the Bible?” and briefly consider issues such as inspiration and authority. Second we will consider “What is the Gospel?” which is an incredibly popular discussion these days. We will see that the Gospel is the Good News of redemption and what God is doing through the person and work of Jesus Christ. With these two questions answered we will be ready to consider “What does it mean to proclaim?” With this section we will see three things: (1.) The Bible tells us what to proclaim—it gives us our Content, (2.) The Bible tells us how to proclaim the Gospel—it teaches us to Contextualize the Gospel, and (3.) the Bible tells us why to proclaim the Gospel—it
is our Command and Commission.
11:15 a.m., 1:30 p.m.

How does the Bible challenge us to take care of orphans and the fatherless?
Tony Merida : Binkley 104
Many people today are interested in caring for orphans, such as pop stars, famous athletes, politicians, and talk show celebrities. Consequently, there are many views on the subject. But what does the Bible say about adoption and orphan care? In this session, we will consider the biblical foundations for caring for the orphan in a
specifically gospel-driven, gospel-reflecting way.
11:15 a.m., 1:30 p.m.

What is the Gospel (in relation to counterfeit gospels)?
Trevin Wax : Adams 218
What if the biggest danger to the church of Jesus Christ is not blatant heresy, the moral failures of church leaders, persecution, the rise of Islam or the loss of our rights? What if the biggest threat is counterfeit gospels within the church, ways of
thinking and speaking about the good news that lead to a gradual drift from the truth of Scripture? The biblical gospel is like a three-legged stool. There’s the Gospel Story–the grand narrative of Scripture (Creation, Fall, Redemption, Restoration). Within that overarching framework, we make the Gospel Announcement about Jesus Christ (His perfect life, substitutionary death, resurrection, exaltation). The gospel announcement then births the Gospel Community: God’s church–the embodiment of the gospel, the manifestation of God’s kingdom. In this session, we will look at the biblical gospel in a way that helps us see through the many counterfeits that would tug at our hearts.
11:15 a.m., 2:45 p.m.