Session 1 – Apologetics & The Reliability of the Bible. The Bible is reliable, reasonable, and a sure foundation for the Christian faith. The Stand Firm Conference will equip Christians to give a logical defense of the faith, identify stumbling blocks in society, and influence culture for Christ.

Christ leads people to salvation through His power. As Christ seeks and saves the lost, He powerfully works to lead sinners to repentance and faith. His power is displayed in the physical world and His church. This message explores how Christ uses displays of His power to lead the lost to salvation.

Keep in step with Christ as He builds His church. Jesus promised to build His church. He has continued to fulfill that promise throughout the centuries with both maturing and numerical growth. This message explores the ways Christ builds His church and the church’s responsibility to participate in this mission.

Live out your new identity in Christ. In salvation, God’s people receive a new identity in Christ. That new identity prepares and equips the saints to represent and serve their Savior. This message looks at three characteristics of the believer’s new identity and its implications for life.

Christ orchestrates His gospel mission. Jesus continues orchestrating circumstances and situations to work out His mission to seek and save the lost. This sermon explores how, through the conversion of the lost and the commissioning of His people, Christ is accomplishing His gospel purposes.

Christ is seeking and saving the lost. Jesus is actively drawing sinners to repentance and faith. He is working through The Holy Spirit, His Word, and His people to make the message of salvation known to those who need to hear. This message looks at Christ’s mercy to reach the lost with His good news!

Humbly Surrender to God and His Word. God is God and we are not. He will do as He pleases and will not be manipulated by others. We must come to Him on His merciful terms and serve Him as He leads. This message explores the folly of trying to manipulate God and the need for our surrender to Him.

God will use the evil done against you for His good will. God’s people will suffer persecution at the hands of the wicked. But what the wicked mean for evil God will work out for His good purposes. God’s people can trust Him with the unseen and the unknown even when trouble abounds. This message explores God’s work to accomplish His purposes while the wicked rage against Him and His people.

Those who reject God’s witness reject God. God has always left Himself a witness in this world. God has made Himself known through His messengers, His Word, and His Savior. This message looks at the rejections of a rebellious world against God and His witnesses.

God gives strength and peace to His persecuted people. God often calls His people to proclaim the gospel before hostile people. Many times, such bold witness is met with persecution. But God gives grace to His persecuted people. This message looks at the grace God gave Stephen, in Acts 6-7, to endure persecution and martyrdom for the faith.