April 25, 2026 - Equipped 2026 - Day 3 - 9:00 AM Session

Location: Room 116

Instructor:  Keith Kasarjian

Title:  Leadership - Why Is There Suffering, Evil, and Death

Keith delivered a practical lecture on equipping “equippers” to help people grapple with evil, pain, and suffering, emphasizing pastoral sensitivity over philosophical debate. He cautioned against three common missteps (dismiss, deny, dogmatize), offered perspective on the scale and faith-testing nature of suffering, outlined multiple causes (laws of nature, personal sin, others’ actions, persecution for doing right, and testing), and presented a framework for understanding God’s will in three dimensions: ideal (Eden), ultimate (eternal salvation and heavenly comfort), and present in light of human sin (enduring consequences while God provides salvation through Christ). He illustrated points with personal experiences, international ministry contexts (including India and Odisha), biblical examples (Job, James, Paul, Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego), and a powerful story of prison evangelism in Cameroon that transformed suffering into gospel progress. The core aim was to better prepare leaders to walk with people through hard questions without pretending to have all answers, anchoring hope in God’s ultimate will.

Duration 39:52

April 25, 2026 - Equipped 2026 - Day 3 - 9:00 AM Session

In this episode, Jody explores the role of apologetics in preaching, emphasizing that defending the faith is not a competitive debate but a pastoral, truth-centered practice that both reassures believers and invites nonbelievers. Drawing heavily on New Testament texts—especially John, Luke, Peter, Paul, and Hebrews—the talk traces how the gospel roots redemption in creation: God as Creator, the Word becoming flesh, and the unfolding proclamation of Christ from Genesis through Acts.

Topics include: how Jesus reasoned from shared, observable reality to make spiritual claims; the importance of credible eyewitness testimony and converging-witness reasoning; the theological and philosophical basis for preaching (including the relationship between creation and revelation); and practical guidance for connecting the message of Scripture with listeners’ common experiences. The speaker underscores that apologetic preaching should combine conviction with compassion, avoid manufacturing meaning or seeking personal prestige, and aim to exalt God rather than the preacher.

Key points and illustrations: John’s prologue and the incarnation as foundational apologetic themes; Luke’s emphasis on orderly investigation and eyewitness testimony; Peter and Paul’s appeals to testimony and generational transmission of the gospel; Jesus’ method of using observable realities, moral accountability, and pointed questions to prompt thinking; and the metaphysical grounding of physical realities (e.g., math, forces, time) as pointers to a transcendent Creator. The episode also reflects on pastoral practices—how to meet people where they are, ask why, and lead thoughtful, loving, and reasoned responses to life’s big questions.

Listeners can expect a thoughtful, scripture-rooted case for why apologetics belongs at the heart of preaching and pastoral care, with practical examples and biblical passages to explore further. The speaker offers to share slides used in the talk for those who want deeper study.

Duration 45:33

April 25, 2026 - Equipped 2026 - Day 3 - 9:00 AM Session

This episode is a sermon-style teaching that carefully unpacks Genesis chapters 18 and 19, exploring how these two chapters lay foundational truths for the whole Bible: the fulfillment of God’s promise to Abraham and the unfolding of God’s righteous justice.

The speaker walks through Abraham’s encounter with the Lord and two angels—highlighting Abraham’s hospitality, the emphatic promise that Sarah will bear Isaac, Sarah’s skeptical laugh, and the profound question, “Is anything too difficult for the Lord?” The teaching points to a possible Christophany and ties the promise directly to the later fulfillment in Isaac.

Attention then turns to Abraham’s bold intercession on behalf of Sodom, the negotiation from fifty righteous down to ten, and a theological meditation on God’s dual attributes of righteousness (tzaddik) and justice (mishpat). The sermon emphasizes that God does not act rashly but judges with full knowledge and perfect moral clarity.

Genesis 19 is examined in detail: Lot’s compromised witness in Sodom, the violent mob demanding to “know” the visitors, Lot’s tragic offer of his daughters, the angels’ rescue, Lot’s hesitation, the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, and Lot’s wife becoming a pillar of salt. The aftermath—Lot’s daughters’ grievous scheme and the birth of the Moabites and Ammonites—is presented as consequence and warning about environmental influence.

Key takeaways include the interwoven truths of God’s promise and God’s justice, the social corrosiveness of unchecked sin, and practical warnings about the influence of place and companions (summarized with references to Paul, Jude, Ezekiel, Romans, and Luke). There are no guest speakers; this is a single-teacher exposition aimed at helping listeners apply the moral and spiritual lessons of these chapters to their lives and communities.

Duration 41:29

April 25, 2026 - Equipped 2026 - Day 3 - 8:00 AM Session

In this episode Brother Dan continues the series examining the operative phrase "from the beginning" in the New Testament, focusing on 1 John 2:7–11 and its connection to Jesus’ command to "love one another." He traces the phrase across the Gospels and Epistles, showing how the command appeared from the start of Jesus’ ministry and is reinforced throughout John, Romans, Galatians, Ephesians, Corinthians, Colossians and more.

The sermon outlines five vivid biblical descriptions of love—love as a badge, blockade, buffer, boundary, and bond—and explains what each image means for Christian life and witness. Brother Dan emphasizes that love should be visible to the world (John 13:34–35), fulfills the law (Romans 13:8–10), tempers conviction with affection (1 Corinthians 16:13–14), keeps us in bounds (Ephesians 5:1), and binds the church in harmony (Colossians 3).

He also gives five practical directions for where our love should flow: toward those who mistreat or hate us (Luke 6), toward those who have sinned and now come home (2 Corinthians 2), toward those we have already forgiven (Ephesians/Titus), toward our families (Ephesians 5; Titus 2), and toward people who are different or marginalized (James 2). Each category is illustrated with memorable anecdotes and pastoral counsel.

Along the way Brother Dan uses personal and cultural illustrations—from Texas and Tom Landry to a desert-island parable, a childhood football memory, a child with one hand at Bible class, and a cautionary reference to Madeleine Murray O'Hare’s diary—to underscore how love must look and act in ordinary life. He warns against factionalism, gossip, backbiting, and punitive treatment of repentant brothers and sisters, urging the church to practice forgiveness, reaffirmation, and visible unity.

Key takeaways include: Jesus’ command to love was present from the beginning of His ministry; love should be both principled and practical; love protects and corrects without harming; forgiveness requires active comfort and restoration; and a loving church is the strongest testimony to the world. Listeners will leave with scriptural pointers and pastoral challenges to love one another more deeply and visibly.

Duration 45:45

April 24, 2026 - Equipped 2026 - Day 2 - 7:00PM Session

Location: Auditorium

Instructor: Clay Leonard

Title:  Getting to Know God Through Revelation

This lecture explores the biblical concept of special revelation—God revealing Himself to specific people with specific details—contrasted with general revelation in creation. Through scriptural examples involving Moses (Exodus 19–34), Elijah (1 Kings 17–19), and Peter at the Transfiguration (Matthew 16–17), the speaker emphasizes that God’s primary mode of revelation is through His word and ultimately through His Son, Jesus Christ, as affirmed by passages like John 1:1,14 and Hebrews 1:1–2. The lecture culminates in an invitation to respond to Jesus’ call through faith, repentance, confession, and baptism, stressing that ongoing discipleship means “listening to Him.”

Duration 30:54

April 24, 2026 - Equipped 2026 - Day 2 - 6:30PM Session

Location: Auditorium

Instructor: Tim Lewis

Title:  You Meant It for Evil, God Meant It for Good

This lecture explores the theme "You meant it for evil, but God meant it for good," drawn primarily from Joseph’s story in Genesis. Joseph’s life is presented as a case study of how God can use suffering, betrayal, and hardship for a greater, redemptive purpose. The lecture extends this theme to the Apostle Paul’s imprisonment and the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. It also includes modern examples—such as a survivor of the Oklahoma City bombing and a story of a Bible confiscated in Soviet-occupied Hungary—to show that God continues to work through human pain and evil acts to bring about good, save lives, and spread the gospel. The central message encourages believers to maintain faith and trust in God during unjust suffering, letting their pain become a ministry that blesses others rather than pushing them away from God.

Duration 29:44

April 24, 2026 - Equipped 2026 - Day 2 - 6:00 PM Session

Closing out the 2nd day of the 2026 version of the Equipped Workshop hosted by the Cumberland Trace Church of Christ, Andy Baker leads the assembly in a few A cappella songs.

Duration 25:16

April 24, 2026 - Equipped 2026 - Day 2 - 3:30 PM Session

This lectureship sermon walks through Genesis chapters 15–17, exploring how God's promises are revealed and fulfilled in the lives of Abram/Abraham, Sarai/Sarah, Hagar, Ishmael and the promised son Isaac. Delivered by a minister at a Christian lectureship (no guest speakers), the message focuses on biblical-history, covenant theology, and practical application for believers today.

Genesis 15 is presented as a chapter of assurance: Abram's fear about being childless, God's repeated promise (look to the stars), and the covenant-ceremony with divided animals and the smoking oven/burning torch that confirms God's presence and sworn commitment. The preacher emphasizes that God is our shield and exceedingly great reward, and that past fulfillments of promise (culminating in Christ) give us confidence in future promises.

Genesis 16 examines the danger of human attempts to "help" God: Sarai's plan to use Hagar, the painful consequences of that decision, Hagars flight and encounter with the angel of the Lord, and the birth and future character of Ishmael. The sermon warns that planning for God reveals a lack of faith, produces dissatisfaction, and ultimately fails to achieve Gods intended purpose.

Genesis 17 highlights the renewal and clarification of God's covenant: Abram's name becomes Abraham, Sarai's name becomes Sarah, the covenant sign of circumcision is commanded (on the eighth day), and the promise of Isaacs coming is made explicit. The speaker notes the wisdom of the eighth-day command (medical context of clotting/prothrombin) and commends Abraham's prompt obedience, while noting God's broader mercy toward Ishmael.

Key takeaways and applications: God's promises can carry us through deep fears; they do not require our feeble adjustments; and they point to a bright future founded on Gods faithfulness and oath (Hebrews 6). Listeners are encouraged to trust God's timing, rely on His presence, and find hope in the fulfilled and yet-to-be-fulfilled promises revealed throughout Scripture.

Duration 37:26

April 24, 2026 - Equipped 2026 - Day 2 - 3:30 PM Session

Location: Room 116

Instructor: Richard Sutton

Title:  Leadership - How to Recover from Failure

Richard Sutton's lecture series explores the inevitability of failure in leadership and the path to restoration. He challenges the notion of a perfect leader, using his forty-five years of experience and biblical examples like Abraham, Moses, Elijah, and David to show that all leaders stumble. The key difference between a failed leader and a resilient one is not the misstep itself but the refusal to repent and learn, as exemplified by King Saul. The lectures identify common leadership failures—bad decisions driven by emotion, exhaustion and stress, and moral missteps—and offer practical and spiritual guidance for overcoming them.

Sutton uses the lives of Moses and Elijah to illustrate how to handle bad decisions and burnout. Moses, despite his failures driven by anger, was still used powerfully by God because of his profound humility. Elijah, after a great victory, faced burnout and despair, but God responded not with rebuke but with physical rest and gentle affirmation. This highlights that some struggles are physical and emotional, not purely spiritual. The series culminates with a detailed analysis of King David's moral failure with Bathsheba, presenting it as a story of progressive sin, cover-up, and confrontation. Despite his grave sins, David's redemption came through honest confession and repentance, demonstrating that God is not surprised by human failure and offers a path back through a broken and contrite heart. The overarching message is one of encouragement: leaders should stay humble, own their mistakes, prioritize rest, repent honestly, and receive God's restorative grace, knowing they are not alone and that God is not finished with them.

Duration 40:08

April 24, 2026 - Equipped 2026 - Day 2 - 3:30 PM Session

This episode is a sermon-style exploration of Genesis 11 (the Tower of Babel) that traces the biblical problem of pride from creation through the flood and back into post-flood humanity. Rebekah defines pride biblically as "an attitude or action that elevates oneself above God," and unfolds six key lessons drawn from the Babel account: pride transgresses God’s commands, forgets its place in the world, hurts other people, makes us insecure, is sneaky, and must be stopped.

The episode weaves Scripture with personal stories and practical application. Passages referenced include Genesis 1, 9, 11; Micah 6:8; Proverbs; James 4; John 13 (Jesus washing the disciples’ feet); Romans and Colossians on humility and compassion; Philippians 2 on Christ’s humility; and Daniel 4 (the humbling and restoration of Nebuchadnezzar). The speaker also quotes C.S. Lewis on humility and shares candid personal anecdotes — about parenting a teething baby, life as a preacher’s wife, and a childhood track story — to illustrate how pride can hide in suffering, service, and everyday attitudes.

Listeners should expect a mix of theological teaching and practical exhortation: the sermon shows how pride often opposes God’s explicit commands (for example, God’s command to fill the earth), how it redirects praise from God to ourselves, how it fractures community (the literal confusion and scattering at Babel), and how it ultimately undermines our security. The talk confronts subtle forms of pride (seeking recognition in worship or service, spiritual pride, and disguised bitterness in trials) and urges self-examination whenever we are tempted to ask, "What can I get?" rather than "How can I worship and serve?"

Practical applications include renewed focus on worship (prostrating before God rather than seeking personal acclaim), hospitality and friendliness to newcomers in the church, humility in Christian service, and honestly tracing personal struggles back to possible pride. The speaker emphasizes that God often humbles people for their good — using the Tower of Babel and Nebuchadnezzar as examples — and calls listeners to bow now, embrace humility modeled by Jesus, and trust God’s lasting recognition rather than temporary human praise.

No external guests are featured; the message is presented by the speaker as a pastoral, scriptural exhortation aimed at encouraging humility, repentance, and gospel-shaped community. The episode closes with an appeal to follow Christ’s example of self‑emptying love (Philippians 2) so believers might shine like stars by leading many to righteousness.

Duration 44:42