Think Conference 2023
Please join us on January 13 - 15 for a weekend conference featuring guest speaker, Dr. Ched Spellman. The goal of Think is to address important topics that we must think about in a distinctively biblical way.
This year at Think we are addressing how our Bible came to be and why it matters. Dr. Spellman will teach the story of canon formation and answer the questions: why the fourfold gospel account, and why not the apocryphal gospels?
We will have four sessions over the weekend and we encourage you to come be part of this special conference as Dr. Spellman helps us think through how we can have absolute confidence in the Scriptures. Click here to register!
SCHEDULE
Friday 1.13 | 6:00 pm
SESSION ONE - THE STORY OF CANON FORMATION
How and why did the NT come to be? (What is the evidence for canon formation? What were the "catalysts" for a NT collection? How can we respond to cultural critics who say the canon was a late, arbitrary, or sinister development?)
Saturday 1.14
8:00 am | Coffee, Kolaches ($3/kolache) & Fellowship
9:30 am | SESSION TWO - THE FOURFOLD GOSPEL
Why these Four and No More? (What were other alternatives to a fourfold Gospel? What about these four made them distinctive?)
11:OO am - 12:15PM | LUNCH (ON YOUR OWN)
12:30PM | SESSION THREE - WHAT ABOUT THE APOCRYPHAL GOSPELS?
(How did the earliest churches recognize the canonical Gospels? How could you tell the difference between the canonical Gospels and something like the Gospel of Thomas or the Gospel of Judas?)
1:45 PM | Q & A
Sunday 1.15| 9:00 & 10:30 am
SUNDAY SERMON - THE GOSPEL AS A STORY THAT TAKES TWO TESTAMENTS TO TELL
(the implications of the biblical canon for the life of the church)
**Childcare (up to 3rd grade) is available for those who have pre-registered and will be for the Friday night and Saturday morning sessions only. Childcare registration is now full.**
Contact the Church Office with any questions.
DR. CHED SPELLMAN
Dr. Ched Spellman teaches courses in biblical and theological studies at Cedarville University. His research interests include theology, biblical hermeneutics, literary studies, and the discipline of biblical theology. The lion’s share of Dr. Spellman’s interest in teaching and scholarship is directed toward grappling with the textual and theological features of the biblical literature within the context of canon. He is also interested in exploring ways to connect the academic study of the Bible to the life of the churches.
One Holy Book by Ched Spellman
How did the Bible come to Be, and Why does it matter? This book tells the story of how the Bible came to be and makes a case for why this history matters. Beginning with the basic questions believers are often asked about the origins of the Bible, Spellman introduces strategic steps you can take to understand and explain how the biblical writings were written and then gathered together into a treasured collection of authoritative Scriptures. Examining the story of canon formation is both challenging and rewarding. The gains from this historical and theological heavy-lifting will strengthen your own grasp of the Scriptures and give you confidence to discuss canon formation with others. The book includes a discussion guide for churches and small groups as well as a series of further resources for possible research directions. These features of the book are designed for it to function well as a supplementary textbook in an academic course in biblical or theological studies.