Updates and information on the latest apologetic events near you.

Confident Christianity Conference
Rodney

Confident Christianity Conference 2018

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Confident Christianity Conference

 Are you able to give both intellectually and emotionally satisfying answers to tough questions about God and Jesus? Can you represent Christ’s message in a reasonable and compassionate way, even in the face of doubt and scepticism?

Join us for our annual line-up of top international and local speakers and be trained on how to sensitively and skilfully respond to the biggest objections Christians encounter today.

Be equipped to live a confident, yet gracious, faith in everyday life.

  • Be equipped with skills and knowledge for God conversations with your friends.
  • Be encouraged in struggles with doubts about your faith.
  • Get answers to some of the most common questions non-believers ask about your Christian faith.
  • Be motivated to engage others in conversations about your faith.

This is not an academic or overly-intellectual conference. We aim to have presentations with a balanced mix of teaching, training and encouragement to impact both the head and the heart.

Our 2018 Keynote Speakers

MaryJo SharpMary Jo Sharp in Auckland & Christchurch

Author and International Speaker

A former atheist from the Pacific Northwest who thought religion was for the weak-minded, Mary Jo has since become a Christian author and international speaker. She holds a Masters in Christian Apologetics from Biola University and is the first woman to become a Certified Apologetics Instructor through the North American Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention. A clear communicator with a teacher’s heart, she finds great joy in discussing the deep truths of her Saviour. She enjoys conversing with people of differing views, and bringing a practical approach to apologetics in the family home and beyond.

 

 

 

Dan Paterson

 Dan Paterson in Tauranga

Speaker for Ravi Zacharias International Ministries

Based out of Brisbane, Dan Paterson is a pastor and itinerant speaker for Ravi Zacharias International Ministries speaking in churches, schools and universities on how the gospel connects to life’s biggest questions and provides answers to the popular objections to the Christian faith. He has bachelors and masters degrees in ministry and theology, and is a graduate of the Oxford Centre for Christian Apologetics.

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From Previous Conferences

“It was incredibly valuable and encouraging to me to hear intelligent, rational arguments for Christianity. I had a sense of ‘Finally!’ Finally real reasons for faith and rational discussion of issues. Thank you so much.”
Joy B

“Well organised. Engaging topics and speakers were engaged in the content, and connected with the audience. Thought provoking.”
Philip H

“This was a fantastic conference equipping us with the skills needed to give a reason for the hope that we have.”
Fiona L

“This event had a good balance of practical knowledge regarding the Christian faith and for defending Christian faith. The things learned from the speakers were instantly applicable and compelling.”
Craig S

“Awesome topics with awesome speakers. Really helped me understand how to answer some of the toughest questions in Christianity.”
Andrew L

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Friday Night Conference Opening

FREE! Invite Your Friends!

At our free conference opening night features the first talk by our international speakers Mary Jo Sharp (Auckland & Christchurch) and Dan Paterson (Tauranga). This will be followed by a sample of short talks from our other speakers.

Christchurch Friday Night 18th May

Bishopdale Reformed Church, 90 Highsted Road, Bishopdale, Christchurch

Auckland Friday Night 25th May

Greenlane Christian Centre, 17 Marewa Rd, Greenlane, Auckland

Tauranga Friday Night 15th June

Saint Peters in the City, Cnr Cameron Rd & Spring Street, Tauranga

7:00pm – 9:30pm

Our opening night is provided free to encourage non-believers to come and hear some of the reasons why Christianity is both rational and true.

No registration necessary – just turn up on the night!

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Saturday Main Conference

Lunch and free DVD gift of your choice included

Christchurch Saturday 19th May

Bishopdale Reformed Church, 90 Highsted Road, Bishopdale, Christchurch

Auckland Saturday 26th May

Greenlane Christian Centre, 17 Marewa Rd, Greenlane, Auckland

Tauranga Saturday 16th June

St Peters in the City, Cnr Cameron Rd & Spring Street, Tauranga

8:30am – 6:30pm

Friday night is free – no registration is needed. But Saturday seating is limited – so register today here:

Saturday Conference Tickets:

Read more

ADULT tickets:

SUPER EARLYBIRD Adult Registration $70 (available until 31st March for all cities)

Earlybird Adult Registration $79 (available until three weeks prior to your city’s conference)

Regular Adult Registration $89

YOUTH (under 18) & STUDENT (with ID) & PENSIONER (with Goldcard) tickets:

SUPER EARLYBIRD Youth/Student/Pensioner $40 (available until 31st March for all cities)

Earlybird Youth/Student/Pensioner $45 (available until two weeks prior to your city’s conference)

Regular Youth Registration $55

FAMILY tickets (2 Adults & 2 Youth/Students – OR – 1 Adult & 3 Youth/Students)

SUPER EARLYBIRD Family $180 – Save $68 on regular price for 2A+2Y tickets (available until 31st March for all cities)

Earlybird Family Registration $198 – Save $50 on regular price for 2A+2Y tickets. (available until two weeks prior to your city’s conference)

Regular Family Registration $238 – Save $50 on regular price for 2A+2Y tickets

SPONSORSHIP:

We have a short list of people on benefits and very limited income who would love to make it along. Would you consider sponsoring some youth or adult tickets for them? Just purchase an extra ticket or two and drop us an email so we can release those tickets to those most in need. THANKS!

INCLUDED WITH TICKET:

Saturday Lunch

Free DVD gift included.

Buy tickets here

Check out Frequently Asked Questions about the conference here

Matches seperatorTopics Highlights:

  • Practical Apologetics in the Home
  • Can We Trust the Bible?
  • God and Science in Harmony
  • Worldviews in Conflict
  • Environmental Ethics from a Christian Worldview
  • A Christian Response to the Transgender Phenomenon 
  • What Does the Christian Worldview Have to Say About Artificial Intelligence
  • Historical Evidence for the Life and Work of Jesus 
  • The Suffering God and the Emotional Problem of Evil
  • Recognising the Deceptions of Humanism

And many others! Note: Due to speaker availability, not all speakers will be speaking at all conferences. Mary Jo Sharp is speaking only in Auckland and Christchurch, while Dan Patterson is only speaking in Tauranga.

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Free DVD Included

ALL SATURDAY ATTENDEES ALSO RECEIVE A CHOICE OF ONE OF THE FOLLOWING DOCUMENTARY DVD’S VALUED AT $15. We apologise if your first choice is not available on the day. Family tickets get a single DVD.

Case for Creator Case for Faith Living-Waters- Flight

metamorphosis Privileged Planet Jesus of Testimony DVD

Rodney

An Inside Look at the Work of the Thinking Matters New Zealand Foundation

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AN AUCKLAND EVENT

This event is for Auckland friends who are passionate about how the Gospel of Jesus has the power to transform lives, communities and culture itself.  Also for those who support the work of Thinking Matters through prayer, financial support or by attending our events – and who want to know more about us:

Transforming Culture With Clear Thinking Christianity

An Inside Look at the Work of the Thinking Matters New Zealand Foundation

 

The evening includes the following two presentations:

To Reform the World: The Story of the Clapham Sect

Dr Roshan Allpress – National Principal & CEO of Laidlaw College

What does it look like when small groups of Christians set out to orchestrate social and cultural change? Between the 1750s and 1830s, networks of Evangelicals across Britain engaged in wide-ranging efforts to reform society and reorient Britain’s national and imperial culture. Through a series of vignettes, this presentation will consider how the Clapham Sect fostered intergenerational faithfulness, pursued rigorous intellectual engagement with the issues of the day, and developed innovative modes of organisation and activism.

Roshan is the Principal of Laidlaw College, New Zealand’s largest theological college. A historian by training, with degrees from Canterbury and Oxford, Roshan has research interests in the origins of philanthropic and humanitarian networks, and the social and intellectual dynamics of groups who have orchestrated sociocultural reform (such as the Clapham Sect). Prior to Laidlaw College, Roshan worked for the Venn Foundation (formerly the Compass Foundation) and for Maxim Institute – cultivating networks of young Christian leaders, and developing resources for these growing networks. He lives in Auckland and is married with two children.

Inside Thinking Matters: Impacting New Zealand with Apologetics

Rodney Lake – National Director of Thinking Matters NZ Foundation

2018 marks the tenth year that Thinking Matters has been growing the local apologetics community and equipping Kiwi Christians to make a gracious and clear defence of their Christian worldview. In this talk Rodney shares our passion for equipping the New Zealand Church – with highlights from the last decade and our plans for the next. This talk will give our friends, partners and supporters a deeper look into what we do – and why we do it.

Rodney is the National Director of Thinking Matters NZ Foundation. He speaks at churches, youth groups, Christian schools and non-believers at outreach events around the country on the reasons why Christianity is true. He is an adjunct apologetics lecturer at Faith Bible College, teaches regular ‘Introduction to Christianity’ courses at Bethlehem College and serves on the board of Bethlehem College Limited.

 

WHAT: Two presentations followed by a time of discussion and audience Q&A with both Roshan and Rodney.
WHEN: Friday 9th February
TIME: 7:30pm-9:30pm.
WHERE: The Cafe at Greenlane Christian Centre. Click here for a map.
RSVP: None – just turn up.
COST: Free – so invite a friend!

Please share this with anyone who has an interest in the work we do!

Rodney

The Forge | Auckland

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The Forge Banner

What is The Forge?


 

The Forge is a monthly Thinking Matters gathering held in Auckland (Greenlane Christian Centre) which seeks to deepen people’s understanding and awareness of various Christian issues and culturally relevant topics discussed from a biblical worldview.

Every month, we invite a guest speaker to present on a given topic with periodic breaks in their talk to encourage discussion both with the speaker and those around you.  The point of this is to allow you to soak up the information you just heard, process it with your neighbors, and perhaps even challenge others with a different point of view.

A forge is a place where a blacksmith “makes or shapes an object by heating it in a fire or furnace and hammers it to create something strong, enduring and successful”.  This definition is what our vision was built on. Our desire is for these interactive events to be a place where messy and difficult topics can be cleaned up, re-shaped, and smoothed out to help uncover God’s beautiful designs in this crazy world.

After The Forge | Tauranga? CLICK HERE



UPCOMING EVENTS


Influencing the World

Presented by Dr Adam Claasen

A Jewish Teacher v Herod the Great

How did Jesus, an itinerant preacher with a dubious background from a rural backwater, become infinitely more influential in history than Herod the Great, one of the ancient world’s most accomplished leaders and builders? Dr Adam Claasen, senior lecturer of history from Massey University, looks forward to unpacking this topic which he presented at the Thinking Matters Confident Christianity Conference earlier this year.

This is a seeker friendly event. Please invite your friends.

About Dr Adam Claasen

Dr Adam Claasen is a university academic with nineteen years teaching and research experience in the field of history. He is a Smithsonian Institution Fellowship recipient and a Fulbright Scholar. In his spare time, he has been involved in a faith-based leadership institute and has taught on worldview, evidential apologetics, and Christian history at churches in New Zealand, Australia and the United States. He also talks on the intersection of faith and popular culture and the historical links between faith and science. He is married to Sandra and they have four sons.

Get Notified About Events

DETAILS:

WHEN: One Wednesday per Month (typically the first Wednesday – but exceptions happen depending on speaker availability)

TIME: 7 pm – 9 pm

WHERE: Greenlane Christian Centre, 17 Marewa Rd, Greenlane, Auckland

COST: Free – but a Koha for the speaker is encouraged

RSVP: None needed – just turn up and bring a friend!

LOCAL CONTACT:

Joshua King

EMAIL: joshua.king@thinkingmatters.org.nz

PHONE: 0225257837


Thinking Matters Calendar

View the Thinking Matters Events Calendar

Events Calendar

Please ensure you are signed up to our email list here (with Auckland ticked) to be notified of these events as they come up.

Also please contact us here if you want to help us run these events on the night.

Sign up here
The Future of Western Values
Rodney

The Foundation of Western Values with Dr Ravi Zacharias

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You can view a recording of the event here:

The Foundation of Western Values

Examining Christian Values in the Public Square

with international speaker Dr Ravi Zacharias

A cultural revolution is underway across the western world – and our shared meanings and values are being shaken apart with titanic force. Yet God in His wisdom has set foundations on which our lives are to be built, shaping both our public and private values. In this presentation Ravi examines and responds to the challenges facing these foundations within modern culture.

Ravi ZachariasRavi Zacharias has spoken for 44 years in universities and in public forums all over the world – from the opening of the United Nations General Assembly to the White House, and has spoken to the seats of government in England, Canada and the U.S.  He has authored or edited over twenty books and his weekly radio program airs on 2337 outlets worldwide.

For a full bio – including a list of his books – visit RZIM here.

Mark Powell The evening will be introduced with a TED-style talk by Mark Powell, who will speak on The impact of Faith on Business and Leadership.  He will unpack how we all have a faith from which we get our values – and how such faith links to modern business and leadership in more ways than you might think.

A popular New Zealand business leader with more than 30 years executive experience, Mark is best known for his role as CEO of the Warehouse Group, an iconic New Zealand retailer.

John Peachy The evening will be MC’ed by popular Christian radio talk-back personality, motivational speaker and leadership coach John Peachy.

 

 

 

 

Ravi is a dynamic and fascinating speaker who Thinking Matters is hosting for this once-only Auckland event you won’t want to miss.  Please let others know!

WHEN: Friday 3rd March 2017
TIME: 7:30pm – 9:30pm
WHERE: Harbourside Church, 48 Esmonde Road, Takapuna
COST: $5 Individual – $10 Family (cash at door)
IMPORTANT INFORMATION: We have very limited seating for this event.  Please see details here.

SIDE NOTE: Ravi will also be conducting a series of events in Dunedin from Sunday 26th February until Thursday 2nd March. You can check out details of his Dunedin events here.

Jesus the Game Changer - digital download
Rodney

Jesus the Game Changer – National Launch Tour

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Jesus Christ has made an incredible mark on human history and he continues to do so through his followers. Yet many people do not realise that the values Western democracies are built on originate in the life and teaching of Jesus. The equality of all, servant leadership, care for the poor and marginalised, to name just a few.

We are excited to announce the launch tour for the new DVD resource Jesus the Game Changer where host Karl Faase explores how Jesus shaped these foundations of Western culture, which we take for granted today. Check out the trailer for this series here.

REMINDER: We are half way through this series on Shine TV – you can catch episodes at 8pm on Tuesday nights for the next five weeks – last episode on 15th November 2016  (you can live-stream these here).

REMINDER: You can also purchase the full ten episodes for $59.95 + freight at our online store here.

During this tour we have a number of free public presentations – along with some more in-depth daytime seminars.  The seminars cover different material to the public presentations – so make it along to both if you can!

Everyone is welcome. The events are also friendly to seekers who want to know more about the teachings of Jesus – so invite a friend!

Karl Faase

Who is Karl Faase?
With over 20 years of involvement in media, Karl is one of Australia’s most experienced Christian radio and television presenters, with his programs broadcast and distributed in the USA, UK, Canada, France, Germany and New Zealand. He was a Baptist pastor for 20 years in Sydney and is now the CEO of Olive Tree Media – the organisation through which he produces programmes of excellence for Christian media and the wider Church, including Jesus the Game Changer and his last DVD series Towards Belief. You can see Karl’s full bio here.

Public Meetings are free – but an offering will be taken to help cover costs.
Seminars are $20 at the door. No registration needed. Tea/coffee provided either before or during the event.

AUCKLAND

Sunday 6th November

10:00am-11:30am – Church Service
Lincoln Rd Bible Chapel, 66 Lincoln Rd, Henderson
2.00pm-4.30pm – Seminar ($20 at door)
Greenlane Christian Centre Café, 17 Marewa Rd, Greenlane
6.30pm-8:00pm – Church Service (followed by casual Q&A in the café)
Greenlane Christian Centre, 17 Marewa Rd, Greenlane

TAURANGA

Monday 7th November

7.30pm-9.00pm – Public Meeting
Changepoint Church, 131 Poike Rd, Tauranga

Tuesday 8th November

*9.00am-10.30am – Seminar ($20 at door)
Bethlehem Baptist, 90 Bethlehem Rd, Tauranga

MATAMATA

Tuesday 8th November

*12.30pm-2.00pm – Seminar ($20 at door)
Matamata Bible Church, 11 Meura St, Matamata

HAMILTON

Tuesday 8th November

*3.30pm-5.00pm – Seminar ($20 at door)
Hamilton Central Baptist, 33 Charlemont St, Hamilton

TAUPO

Wednesday 9th November

*11.00am-12.30pm – Seminar ($20 at door)
Inspire Church, 65 Lakewood Drive, Taupo

ROTORUA

Wednesday 9th November

*3.00pm-4.30pm – Seminar ($20 at door)
Harvest Church, 324 Malfroy Road, Rotorua
7.30pm-9.00pm – Public Meeting
Harvest Church, 324 Malfroy Road, Rotorua

CHRISTCHURCH

Thursday 10th November

1.00pm-2.30pm – Seminar ($20 at door)
Hope Presbyterian, 24 Amyes St, Christchurch

WELLINGTON

Thursday 10th November

7.30pm-9:00pm – Public Meeting
Porirua Elim Church, 11 Heriott Dr, Porirua

Friday 11th November

9.00am-11.00am – Seminar ($20 at door)
Porirua Elim Church, 11 Heriott Dr, Porirua

PALMERSTON NORTH

Sunday 13th November

10.00am – Church Service
Lifechurch, 590 Featherston St, Palmerston North
2.30pm-4.00pm – Seminar ($20 at door)
Lifechurch, 590 Featherston St, Palmerston North
7.00pm – Church Service
St Albans Presbyterian, 339 Albert St, Palmerston North

 

*Tea and coffee will be available 30 mins prior at these seminars.  Other seminars will have a break half-way through.

This tour has been arranged in partnership with Willow Creek Association who are co-hosting these events with us.
Rodney

Alan Shlemon – New Zealand 2016 Tour Schedule

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We are excited that Alan Shlemon – our keynote speaker at our Confident Christianity Conference – is arriving in just a few days.

Alan ShlemonAlan is a dynamic and entertaining speaker who speaks to thousands of adults and students around the world at churches, conferences and on university campuses on some of the most difficult challenges of our day.  He has dedicated his life to training Christians – both young and old – to thoughtfully articulate their faith and values, as he knows that when people are properly equipped, they’re more confident talking to others about what they believe and why they believe it.  Check out a video on his work here.

Here is his full public speaking schedule:

HAMILTON

Thursday 28th April

The Power of a Question: How to have conversations about God without losing friends

Alan will equip you with two simple questions you can use in your conversations with friends and colleagues. You’ll come away more confident to engage others in friendly conversation and be better prepared to present Christ in an intelligent, yet gracious way.
7:00-9:00pm at Hamilton South Baptist Church, 131 Ohaupo Rd, Melville
A free event.  Click here for details.

AUCKLAND

Friday 29th April

The Power of a Question: How to have conversations about God without losing friends

This is our Auckland Confident Christianity Conference opening night – which is free for everyone – so bring a friend!
Alan will equip you with two simple questions you can use in your conversations with friends and colleagues. You’ll come away more confident to engage others in friendly conversation and be better prepared to present Christ in an intelligent, yet gracious way.
7:00-9:30pm at Windsor Park Baptist Church, 550 East Coast Rd, Mairangi Bay
A free event.  Click here for details.

Saturday 30th April

Confident Christianity Conference

Our all-day conference will equip you to give both intellectually and emotionally satisfying answers to some hard questions and learn how to defend the Christian faith in a reasonable and compassionate way.  We have a line-up of top speakers who will sensitively and skilfully respond to some of the biggest objections that Christians encounter today – to help you live out a confident, yet gracious faith in your everyday life.  At the conference Alan is giving two talks on Islam, to give you a better understanding of Muslims and their faith.
8:30am-6:30pm at Windsor Park Baptist Church, 550 East Coast Rd, Mairangi Bay
Cost $40 Students and Youth and $69 Adults.  Click here for more information and to register.

Thursday 5th May

Truth and Tolerance in a Whatever World: A full day apologetics and Christian worldview training workshop at Kingsway School

For Parents, Pastors, Youth Leaders and Christian Educators.  Topics include:

  • Who’s Waiting for Our Kids? Why Our Students Need Christian Apologetics
  • The Power of a Question: Engaging Our Culture with Conversations That Count
  • Truth and Tolerance in a Whatever World: Why Truth Matters More Than Ever
  • Addressing Homosexuality with Compassion: What Can I Say to my Gay Friend?

9:00am-3:30pm at Kingsway School, 100 Jelas Road, Red Beach, Auckland
Cost $45.  Click here for more information and to register.

TAURANGA

Sunday 1st May

If God Is Good, Why Is There Evil?

The problem of evil is the most common objection to God. If God is good and all-powerful, how can he exist if he allows evil to continue? Though this sounds persuasive, this challenge is riddled with difficulties. Alan will walk you through the solutions to this challenge and explain how, far from undermining God’s existence, the presence of evil turns out to be a powerful evidence that God is real.
Bethlehem Baptist Church morning services at 9:00am and again at 10:45am – At 90 Bethlehem Rd, Bethlehem

A Closer Look at Islam

Islam is gaining more attention every day, but popular beliefs about Islam seem to be missing the true nature of Muslim beliefs and practices. Alan will demystify what Islam really teaches and examine how it stacks up to Christianity, giving you a better understanding of Muslims and their faith.
City Church evening service at 6:00pm – At 252 Otumoetai Road, Otumoetai.

Monday 2nd May

Truth and Tolerance in a Whatever World: A full day apologetics and Christian worldview training workshop at Bethlehem College

For Parents, Pastors, Youth Leaders and Christian Educators.  Topics include:

  • Who’s Waiting for Our Kids? Why Our Students Need Christian Apologetics
  • The Power of a Question: Engaging Our Culture with Conversations That Count
  • Truth and Tolerance in a Whatever World: Why Truth Matters More Than Ever
  • Addressing Homosexuality with Compassion: What Can I Say to my Gay Friend?

10:00am – 3:15pm at Bethlehem College Performing Arts Centre, 24 Elder Lane, Tauranga
Cost $45.  Click here for more information and to register.

CHRISTCHURCH

Friday 6th May

The Power of a Question: How to have conversations about God without losing friends

This is our Christchurch Confident Christianity Conference opening night – which is free for everyone – so bring a friend!
Alan will equip you with two simple questions you can use in your conversations with friends and colleagues. You’ll come away more confident to engage others in friendly conversation and be better prepared to present Christ in an intelligent, yet gracious way.
7:00-9:30pm at Rutland Street Church, 12 Rutland St, St Albans
A free event.  Click here for details.

Saturday 7th May

Confident Christianity Conference

Our all-day conference will equip you to give both intellectually and emotionally satisfying answers to some hard questions and learn how to defend the Christian faith in a reasonable and compassionate way.  We have a line-up of top speakers who will sensitively and skilfully respond to some of the biggest objections that Christians encounter today – to help you live out a confident, yet gracious faith in your everyday life.  At the conference Alan is giving two talks on Islam, to give you a better understanding of Muslims and their faith.
8:30am-6:30pm at Rutland Street Church, 12 Rutland St, St Albans
Cost $40 Students and Youth and $69 Adults.  Click here for more information and to register.

Sunday 8th May

If God is Good, Why is there Evil?

The problem of evil is the most common objection to God. If God is good and all-powerful, how can he exist if he allows evil to continue? Though this sounds persuasive, this challenge is riddled with difficulties. Alan will walk you through the solutions to this challenge and explain how, far from undermining God’s existence, the presence of evil turns out to be a powerful evidence that God is real.
Rutland St Church morning service at 10:00 am – At 12 Rutland St, St. Albans

Truth and Tolerance in a Whatever World: Why Truth Matters More Than Ever

Relativism has taken hold in our culture and the result is a deep confusion over our Christian understanding of truth, tolerance, faith, and the Bible. Alan will examine some specific challenges we face in our hostile culture and provide you with some tools to help strengthen our understanding of biblical truth.
Cornerstone Campus Church evening service at 5:00 pm – At The Foundry (UCSA Events Centre) 90 Ilam Road, Upper Riccarton

Monday 9th May

Truth and Tolerance in a Whatever World: A full day apologetics and Christian worldview training workshop at Middleton Grange School

For Parents, Pastors, Youth Leaders and Christian Educators.  Topics include:

  • Who’s Waiting for Our Kids? Why Our Students Need Christian Apologetics
  • The Power of a Question: Engaging Our Culture with Conversations That Count
  • Truth and Tolerance in a Whatever World: Why Truth Matters More Than Ever
  • Addressing Homosexuality with Compassion: What Can I Say to my Gay Friend?

3:00pm-7:30pm at Middleton Grange School, The Grange Theatre (Preforming Arts Centre), 30 Acacia Ave, Upper Riccarton, Christchurch
Cost $45.  Click here for more information and to register.

 

Rodney

Truth and Tolerance in a Whatever World – Apologetics Training Workshop

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Truth and Tolerance in a Whatever World

Alan ShlemonA full day Apologetics and Christian Worldview workshop with Alan Shlemon – in Tauranga, Auckland and Christchurch.

We have a full day of practical training for parents, pastors, youth leaders and teachers where you will be equipped to better prepare your kids for an increasingly hostile culture.

Registration is only $45 for a full day of high quality training with one of the best apologetics communicators to visit NZ for a long time.

For more information and to register click here.

Rodney

Event: Are We Alone in the Universe? God and Planet Earth. By Dr Jeff Zweerink

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Are We Alone in the Universe? God and Planet Earth

Thinking Matters and Reasons for Faith are privileged to welcome Dr Jeff Zweerink from Reasons to Believe for this special event:

Are We Alone in the Universe? God and Planet Earth

Over the past two decades, astronomers have found thousands of planets orbiting stars beside the Sun. These “exoplanets” bring us closer to answering the questions nearly everybody wants to know: Does life exist beyond Earth?  How would we find any hypothetical life and what would the consequences be if we found it elsewhere in the Universe?  In providing answers to these questions, Jeff opens up questions of faith and science and what it would mean to mankind.

Jeff ZweerinkAstrophysicist and Research Scholar – Jeff Zweerink – is the Executive Director of Online Learning at Reasons to Believe where he encourages people of all backgrounds to consider their faith and how it connects with the evidence of science.

He writes and speaks on the compatibility of faith and science and on evidence for intentional design from multi-verse theory, dark energy and dark matter, and exoplanets. His speaking engagements take him to universities and conferences around the world.  He holds a part-time position at UCLA and is working on GAPS, a balloon experiment seeking to detect and understand dark matter. Jeff is co-author on more than 30 papers published in peer-reviewed journals, such as Astrophysical Journal, and Astroparticle Physics, and Astrobiology, as well as numerous conference proceedings.  Click here for a full bio.

WHAT: Lecture with Q&A
WHEN: Tuesday March 29th
TIME: 7:30pm – 9:00pm
WHERE: Kauri Room, Windsor Park Baptist Church, 550 East Coast Rd, Mairangi Bay, Auckland
RSVP: None
COST: Free – but Koha (donation) welcome

We hope to see you there!

Rodney

2016 Confident Christianity Conference is coming

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Confident Christianity Conference

We are excited to announce that this year our Confident Christianity Conference will be hosted in both Auckland (at Windsor Park Baptist Church) and Christchurch (at Rutland Street Church):

AUCKLAND: Friday 29th and Saturday 30th April

CHRISTCHURCH: Friday 6th and Saturday 7th May

Alan ShlemonThis year our keynote speaker is Alan Shlemon from Stand to Reason.  Alan is a professional speaker who has dedicated his life to training Christians – both young and old – to thoughtfully articulate their faith and values.  He is a dynamic and entertaining speaker who speaks to thousands of adults and students around the world at churches, conferences and on university campuses on some of the most difficult challenges of our day such as evolution, abortion, relativism, homosexuality, euthanasia, cloning, bio-ethics, and Islam.

Our other speakers include Mark Powell, Matthew Flannagan, David Riddell and many others.

Check here for full conference details and a list of conference topics

We rely heavily on word of mouth to get people along – so please tell your friends about this!

Jason

Auckland Event: Discussing The God Delusion and Has Science Buried God?

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Next month, a discussion group kicks off in Auckland to consider Richard Dawkins’ book The God Delusion and Has Science Buried God? by John Lennox. The group will meet on Monday evenings and include a mixture of discussion and clips from the debates between Lennox and Dawkins. Here are the full details:

Format: DVD screening interspersed with discussion.

When: 7.30pm Mondays (beginning on the 3rd of February).

Where: 15 Sainsbury Road, Morningside, Auckland.

Cost: Free (donations welcome).

For more details contact Gerald at gerald@gzv.co.nz or call him on 027 2468 218.

 

Stuart

Auckland Event: Introduction to Apologetics

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This year I have been running a beginners course on introductory apologetics. By popular demand, I am running this again during the next school term beginning Tuesday, 30 July. There are no course fees. Your only expense is the course textbook.

All are welcome, even those who are sceptical about Christianity. Each lesson can be understood by itself so feel free to come to any night that interests you. However, to get the full benefit and see the cumulative case develop attending all in order is recommended.

[pk_info_box width=”0″] What: Introduction to Apologetics: defending the faith with reason and evidence

When: Tuesdays, 7pm (beginning on 30 July, 2013

Where: Encounter Christian Centre 495 Rosebank Road Avondale New Zealand [/pk_info_box]

Read more

Jason

Auckland Conference: Science and Faith with Dr C. John Collins

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Much of Western culture assumes that science and faith are foes, that faith and scientific naiveté go hand in hand, and that science has disproved the Bible and made faith irrelevant if not completely indefensible and undesirable.

Come and hear Dr. C. John Collins explain why faith and science are actually friends, how good faith fosters good science, and how good science should actually lead people to be more open to faith and the Bible.

WHEN: Friday 19 July 7pm-9.30pm and Saturday 20 July, 9:00am-4:30pm
WHERE: City Presbyterian Church, 283 Karangahape Road, Auckland
COST: $40 ($20 for Students).

Coffee and tea will be provided but please bring your own lunch. Payment can be made at the door or online (for online payments: City Presbyterian Church 12-3066-0402436-00. Please include your name and “SAF”)
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Schedule:
Friday 19 July

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7pm Registration
7.30am Welcome and Introduction
7.45am Session 1: How good faith fosters good science
8.30pm Break
8.45am Session 2: Genesis 1-11: Poetry, history, science, and truth
9.30am Evening Tea

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Saturday 20 July

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9.30am Session 3: The Image of God And Human Uniqueness
10.15am Morning Tea
10.30am Session 4: Miracles, Science, and God-of-the-Gaps
11.15am Break
11.30am Session 5: Biology, Evolution, Design
12.15pm Lunch (please bring your own)
1.15pm Q&A session
2pm Afternoon tea

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Dr C. John Collins is Professor and Chair of Old Testament at Covenant Theological Seminary. With degrees from MIT, Faith Evangelical Lutheran Seminary, and the University of Liverpool (PhD), Collins is one of the few scholars uniquely placed to address critical issues that arise in our understanding of the Bible and the world.

While Collins’ early studies focused on linguistics and biblical languages, his latest work on miracles (The God of Miracles: An Exegetical Examination of God’s Action in the World), the historicity of Adam and Eve (Did Adam and Eve Really Exist?: Who They Were and Why You Should Care), and the book of Genesis (Genesis 1-4: A Linguistic, Literary, and Theological Commentary) have established him as a leading evangelical voice on the relationship between science and faith.

Professor Collins has served as Old Testament chair on the translation committee for the English Standard Version of the Bible, and Old Testament Editor for the ESV Study Bible. He and his wife have been married since 1979 and have two children.