Harbor, Pepperdine Bible Lectures

Latest Episodes:

What Is Truth? (John 18:37-39) - Donny Pierre May 01, 2024

Show notes

Some people believe truth is relative, others believe truth to be absolute, why? Who or what can we trust to know the truth today? Can we trust science, politics, academia, media, the bible or the Church? Once we believe we know the truth, how does that influence how we act or not?
Teacher:
Donny Pierre

Overcoming Toxic Leadership and Healing the Wounds Left Behind - Gregg Marutzky May 01, 2024

Show notes

James 3:13-18 describes leadership from above and leadership from below. True leadership is from above and toxic leadership is from below. Toxic leadership thrives in the toxic triangle of unaccountable environments, authoritarian leaders, and susceptible followers. Gregg proposes a tutelary triangle of accountable contexts, inclusive leaders, and courageous followers to combat toxicity in organizations. As a minister and therapist, Gregg offers research regarding healing wounds from leadership. This presentation will offer insights to leading in the 21st century in our churches in the midst of rapid change and increasing challenges.
Teacher:
Gregg Marutzky

Liminal Faith: When the Story Feels Unfinished - Lori Ann Wood May 01, 2024

Show notes

Is it possible to increase your faith when life isn’t turning out the way you’d imagined and prayed for? The truth is, Scripture shows us that our lives are part of God’s much bigger story, and may not feel complete or resolved in our lifetime. Lori Ann Wood is a lifelong Christian, a heart failure survivor, and multi-award-winning author of Divine Detour: The Path You’d Never Choose Can Lead to the Faith You’ve Always Wanted. She’ll explore the challenge of maintaining—and even growing—faith in the middle of a difficult narrative. If you’re traveling a detour you never saw coming or living a story you didn’t want (or if you love someone who is), her experience and insight will leave you with renewed hope and practical steps forward.
Teacher:
Lori Ann Wood

Your Church Needs a Renewal Team! - Judy and Woody Square May 01, 2024

Show notes

What could you accomplish at your congregation with a team made up of representatives of every age group, gender, ethnicity, and walk of life? Part focus group, part think tank, part advisory board, the Renewal Team at the San Leandro Church of Christ has been helping the congregation navigate change and challenge over the past 5 years. Learn the value of listening to the Holy Spirit speak through diverse voices in your congregation and trusting them to help lead your church into the future.
Teachers:
Judy and Woody Square

The Intentionality of the Church: Rethinking God’s Purpose and Our Role - Danny Quintero May 01, 2024

Show notes

In this session we will be talking about the intentionality of the church (mostly as an institution). Should we meet exclusively to say a prayer, sing, take communion, give an offering, listen to a sermon, and go home? Do we know what our communities need? A midweek Bible study? Is that enough? Do we need to do something else or different? Let us analyze some ideas, ask ourselves questions, and reevaluate if our practices are what God expects of us, as well as what the world needs.
Teacher:
Danny Quintero
Panelishts:
Joel Foster, Lucas Hutchinson

The Gospel According to Being a Loser - Klint Pleasant May 01, 2024

Show notes

As both a college basketball coach and theologian, Klint has had to balance a passion for "winning" with his identity as a Jesus follower. In a world in which the loudest voice and most passionate person tends to win the day, Jesus gives insight related to the formula for real winning; and it has very little to do with numbers and money. Let's take a fresh look and perspective related to the way of Jesus when it comes to "winning and losing." A class for anyone who has struggled and wrestled with the meaning of "success" within a Christian framework. Pleasant: a coach, student of the Enneagram, trauma survivor, and author/speaker shares insights related to the true pursuit of success according to Jesus.
Teacher:
Klint Pleasant

From Crossroads to Frontiers: Navigating Faith in a Post-Christian Landscape - Mike Shepherd May 01, 2024

Show notes

Embark on a compelling journey with Mike Shepherd, a dual-citizen with a unique perspective on faith in diverse cultural narratives. This class invites those ready to explore the depths of belief in a post Christian landscape, seeking to harmonize ancient scriptural truths with the pulse of today's society, much like the exemplars of faith in the Hebrews Hall of Faith. In a world that often seems divided, how can we hold fast to our beliefs with compassion and love, becoming beacons of light rather than critics of culture? Mike's insights, born from a life lived at the intersection of Australian and American spiritual climates, offer a rich tapestry of understanding to his audience. In this engaging class, we will: Cultivate a nuanced understanding of spirituality that stands resilient amidst secular currents while radiating compassion and kindness. Foster a faith that is both vibrant and reflective, capable of engaging with the post-Christian landscape with authenticity, grace, and a heart for service. Join us for a session that promises not just to inform but to transform as we seek to navigate the frontiers of faith with intelligence, heart, and the spirit of Christ's love and adventure.
Teacher:
Mike Shepherd

RelateForward: Equipping Families for Generations of Faith - Kelly Haer and Dee Dee Mayer May 01, 2024

Show notes

Hosted by the Boone Center for the Family. Faith in Jesus Christ is where an abundant life begins. And yet in this post-truth era, parents who yearn to see their children follow Jesus are struggling to pass their faith to the next generation. As the Barna Group’s research makes clear, “Christianity today has less influence on Gen Z than on any previous generation.” The Boone Center’s upcoming new program, RelateForward, will empower families and ministry leaders to meet the challenge of transferring faith to young people and help bring about God’s commitment to advance the Gospel to the next generation. Join us for an insightful discussion about how to empower families to transfer faith to children.
Teachers:
Kelly Haer and Dee Dee Mayer

You Might Not Love What You Think: Reading Cultural Liturgies - James K.A. Smith May 01, 2024

Show notes

Spiritual formation is less about fueling the intellect and more about rehabituating our loves. Our loves are caught more than they are taught. Our hearts are apprenticed by practices that function as pedagogies of desire. But this is also how our loves are mal-formed and disoriented—trained to desire security, comfort, and domination rather than the shalom of God’s kingdom. This session will train us to recognize the “cultural liturgies” in which we swim.
Teacher:
James K.A. Smith

Preaching for Transformation - Wade Hodges May 01, 2024

Show notes

The writers of Scripture seem to prioritize transformation over conveying information. What do sermons look and sound like when preachers do the same?
Teacher:
Wade Hodges