This crash course dives into the addictive nature of social media and how it’s designed to keep us hooked. Participants will learn how to identify harmful habits, build healthier practices, and find ways to use social media with purpose, so you can connect meaningfully and show up as a faithful presence and fruitful witness online. Taught by Jill Thomas (LISW), Laura Wifler, and Alanna Sellinger.

Other Details:

• Social Media Personal Survey, Symptoms, and Playbook Handout
• "Facebook Files," podcast on Spotify
• "The Social Dilemma," documentary and website

Which Battles are Worth Fighting?:  This session discusses lessons from the Fundamentalist-Modernist controversy. A great need in the church today is theological triage: which issues are worth fighting over? Going back 100 years into church history provides helpful perspective on which doctrines we should be willing to divide over—and which are not. Despite the negative connotations of the word “fundamentalist,” the early fundamentalists can actually help us consider how to prioritize the gospel amidst our theological disagreements. This session provides an overview of what the early fundamentalists stood for, and how their legacy relates to contemporary conversations. Taught by Gavin Ortlund.

This session is a part of Equip Weekend: Church History (Fall 2024).

Overcoming Anxiety:  This session discusses how the Puritans can help with anxiety, one of the most acute and prevalent modern struggles. We have resources in our theological traditions that can speak to this struggle, as the Puritans excelled at applying the gospel as a balm to the human heart. Special attention is given to the role of the Holy Spirit in providing assurance of the love of God. Taught by Gavin Ortlund.

This session is a part of Equip Weekend: Church History (Fall 2024).

Tales of Martyrs:  This session discusses faithful courage from forgotten stories-- inspiring and often neglected stories of faithfulness amidst suffering in church history. Special focus will be given to how Christians responded to persecution in the early church, and the courage of missionaries and martyrs who brought the gospel into Northern Europe in early medieval history. Taught by Gavin Ortlund.

This session is a part of Equip Weekend: Church History (Fall 2024).

How to Thrive in a Hostile Culture:  This session discusses lessons from the early church-- how the early Christians responded to a hostile and ungodly surrounding culture with neither retreat nor attack. Special attention is given to the early Christians’ attitude toward entertainment (gladiator games, theater, etc.), which provides many lessons for how Christians today should respond to television and social media. Taught by Gavin Ortlund.

This session is a part of Equip Weekend: Church History (Fall 2024).

This crash course tackles some of the most troublesome texts of violence in the Old Testament so we can better understand how to make sense of God for ourselves and others. Taught by Rudy Hartmann.

Other Resources:

• Crash Course Notes & Handout

From toddlers to teens, parenting takes all sorts of shapes through the years. This crash course will help you understand the nature of each stage of your child’s development, and how this impacts all aspects of your parenting approach for the purpose of cultivating a meaningful and lasting relationship. Taught by Jill Thomas, therapist at Abounding Hope Counseling.

Other details:

• Crash Course handout
• Parenting Resources handout

This crash course gives practical tools and biblical insights for you and your spouse to assess your marriage, enhance communication and intimacy, and prioritize one another amidst the busyness of life. Taught by Joel Jorgenson, therapist at Cornerstone Counseling Center.

Other Details:

• Class handout

Grandparents play a unique and profoundly influential role in the lives of their grandchildren, but often grandparents themselves don’t understand their enormous potential as spiritual influencers. This crash course is designed to encourage and equip Christian grandparents by teaching biblical principles that will encourage you to leave a legacy of faith to your grandchildren. It will help you overcome obstacles, equip you with best practices to implement in perpetuating your faith, and offer opportunities to learn from other like-minded grandparents. You’ll leave full of inspiration, ideas and practical tools to help you be more intentional in your grandparenting. Taught by Jon Ness with Legacy Coalition.

Transitioning to post-college life presents a new stage of life with excitement and challenges. From first jobs and paychecks, to moving (or staying!) and navigating friendships, dating, marriage and singleness, there are many things to anticipate. This crash course is designed for almost-college grads to recent grads (1-3 years) to discuss how to transition into post-grad life wisely and live faithfully in this unique stage of life. Taught by Alanna Sellinger with Matt and Bethany Snyder, Jacob and Elle Johnson, Carson and Elle Gardner, and Allie Frank.

Other Resources:

• Next Steps and Local Church handout
• 5Hs Reflection Guide handout