Speaking Topics

Topics Tailored to College/Young Adult Audiences

The Girl In The Orange Dress: Searching For A Father Who Does Not Fail 
     Love on The Edge: How to Sustain A Heart for Justice After College   IM4U!: Living Into The Truth That God is FOR You  

Speaking Topics for General Audiences

               IM4U!: Living Into The Truth That God is FOR You                Squeeze: Being Freed From The World's Mold
Indiana Jones Discipleship: Responding To Your Holy Hunches
Rembrandt, Lost Stuff & The Father's Heart For You: Finding Yourself (Being Found!) In The Picture of God's Love For The World

Scroll down for more info on featured topics & others...

DISCIPLESHIP

Discipleship in Suburbia: Living Out Jesus’ Care for the Poor from Your MiniVan  Think you can't change the world? Think again! Be inspired to reach out in love to the one God loves, even when you're living in the 'burbs. As one wise woman said, “I don’t have to do everything, just the next thing.” Be encouraged and challenged to engage with the world that God loves.

The King’s Dream: Pursuing Racial Reconciliation in ____ (insert your town here)  Move beyond belief to action. Start with baby steps that tear down walls and build real bridges of hope and change.

Love On The Edge: How To Sustain a Heart For Justice After College  I felt nervousy the year I graduated from college.  I could see, as I looked at the younger and older adults around me, that the cares of the world (i.e. cost of health insurance, car payments, mortgage, etc.) had all but stifled those who'd been committed to a life of justice as students.  I was afraid it would happen to me.  Consider some of the people, principles and practices that will support and sustain you to live an ongoing life of love.

Squeeze: Being Freed From The World's Mold  Suffocating from the world's rigid mold of how you should appear, spend, dress, live, work and worship?  Discover the radical freedom that comes as we're sprung from the world's mold & are transformed into Christ's image.  (Phew!  Don't you just feel like you can breathe again?)

Indiana Jones Discipleship: Responding To Your Holy Hunches  You know that anxious nervousy feeling you get inside when you pull up at a red light next to someone who's there asking for food or money?  Ooh, yuck!  Right?  Begin to recognize divine nudges and holy hunches (and what's just indigestion) that move us to action.  Seriously, this is exciting stuff.

 SPIRITUAL GROWTH

Rembrandt, Lost Stuff & The Father's Heart For You: Finding Yourself (Being Found!) In the Picture of God's Love For The World  For years I'd squint at Rembrandt's famous painting of the Prodigal Son and mutter, "Mmm, it's just not working for me."  Because I'm not a wanton sinner (and yes, I realize how silly that is) I couldn't find myself in the picture.  Thankfully, Jesus paints many rich pictures of his Dad from all kinds of angles so that we'll get it.  Finally.  [FYI: This talk is a great opportunity to invite the unchurchy.]

I M 4 U !: Living Into The Truth That God is Altogether FOR You  What would your life be like if you truly believed that God was for you?  You might be surprised!  Liberated from lies, growing in love for God and others is what happens when we really begin to catch on to the transforming truth that God is entirely for us.

Breathe: Choosing The Slow Lane In a Fast-Paced World Are you more driven by the Protestant work ethic than by the One who inspired all the protest? There’s nothing spiritual about living in overdrive. Consider slowing down the pace of your life.

LOSS & REDEMPTION 

The Girl In The Orange Dress: Searching For a Father Who Does Not Fail  All of us have been formed by the faces around us, especially the earliest ones.  When our caregivers have failed, as all human ones are prone to do, we can be tempted to suspect both that we are unworthy and that the One Jesus calls Father cannot be trusted.  Listen for the ways that Jesus knocks himself out to convince us us both of his Father's love and of our worth as image-bearers of God.  

ADOPTION

Adoption Matters  Margot shares her story of being adopted and reunited with her birthmother as a young adult.  Hear from an adult adoptee & adoptive mom what growing up as a person who was relinquished and adopted might feel like for your child.

The Truth Will Set You Free: Liberating All Members of The Adoption Triad  In the shadows of secrecy and falsehood, shame and guilt are left to fester in human hearts. Members of the adoption triad discover healing and freedom as they embrace the truth which sets people free.

“This is My Son, The Beloved”: Biblical Texts for the Adoption Community  Re-discover some wonderful texts of the Old and New Testaments which allow individuals to grieve losses, to receive God’s care, and to trust in the Father who does not fail.

PRACTICAL SKILLS FOR MINISTRY

Bringing the Scriptures to Life: Practical Skills for Reading the Bible in Public   If God’s word is at the center of our worship, then why does it often feel like the most lifeless part of a service? Learn how to prepare your heart, mind, and body to read the Word in public.  For lay persons and clergy. 

COMMUNITIES WELCOMING INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES

The Able Body: Christ’s Body Is Most Able When Members Living With Disabilities Share Their Gifts   Find out how your congregation can begin to welcome and include individuals living with mental and physical disabilities in the life of the church.