|
If you would like to have Alan speak at your event, here is a list of topics he is prepared to cover. To find out how to schedule Alan, contact Amy at amy@str.org.
Pro-Life Mission Trip
Whether you're a pro-life beginner interested in learning the arguments, or you'd like to become a more effective advocate for the unborn, or you're simply looking for an unusual option for a retreat, Alan has created an immersive pro-life mission trip for your student or adult group. The experience provides rigorous training in the art of pro-life persuasion using proven scientific and philosophical arguments, role-play of common abortion-related conversations, and real-life engagement/discussion with pro-choice advocates. At the end of the training, your group will be taken to a local urban area to survey pedestrians about their views on abortion, creating opportunities for you to practice your newly-learned pro-life skills. It's an event that's certain to test, sharpen, and strengthen your pro-life ideas and arguments. (Length of time: two to four days. Groups in Southern California need not schedule the training on consecutive days.)
A Closer Look at Islam
Will the real Islam please stand up? Is this religion violent or peaceful? Oppressive or freeing to women? True or false? We’ll take a closer look at Islamic teachings and practices and compare them to Christianity to gain a better understanding of Muslims and their faith.
Do Muslims Follow the Real Jesus?
Islam’s holy book, the Qur’an, has a very high view of Jesus. Muslims are required to believe in Jesus, but what do they believe about Him? Was He a sinless, miracle-performing Messiah, merely a prophet, or a little of both? Alan will help make sense of Islamic beliefs and show how their view of Jesus provides common ground to point them to the real Jesus.
Jihad, War, and Killing in Islam and Christianity
There’s a lot of talk about jihad in a post 9/11 world. Is it a real Islamic teaching? Some spokesmen for Islam say yes while others say no. Alan will walk you through Islam’s authoritative sources to get the definitive answer. Then he’ll answer the next most asked question: Isn’t a form of jihad found in Christianity too?
How to Reach Your Muslim Neighbor
Nearly 20% of the world’s population is Muslim. That’s a lot of Muslims. But sadly, few Christians are trying to reach those Muslims with the truth. Alan will show you a method of reaching your Muslim neighbor that builds common ground, respects their faith, and uses their own scriptures to point them to the truth.
Ambassadors for Christ: The Essential Skills
Did you know you represent Jesus in everything you do and say every day? Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 5:20 that we are all ambassadors for Christ. How well do you represent your King in the areas of knowledge, wisdom, and character? Get trained so you fulfill your role as a knowledgeable, winsome, and persuasive representative on critical issues of the Christian worldview.
Tactics in Defending the Faith
Have you ever been tongue-tied in a conversation about religion? You just need a few tactics tools to help you maneuver in conversation no matter what the subject. You’ll learn how to recognize faulty reasoning, expose bad arguments, and use questions instead of statements to make your point. I guarantee that with these tactics you will be able to make an impact in any conversation, on any topic, and with anyone.
Homosexuality: Truth and Compassion
Homosexuality is here to stay. It’s becoming more a part of our culture every day, but Christians aren’t prepared to respond in a truthful and compassionate manner. We’ll study essential issues of homosexuality so you’re prepared to articulate the biblical position, what causes homosexuality, how to treat homosexuals, and how to respond to same-sex marriage.
Same-sex Marriage and the Future of Family
With new legislation for same-sex marriage, the future of family is at stake, and the legal implications will likely lead to restrictions in religious liberties. What are you doing about it? Do you know how to explain why we should reject same-sex marriage and why homosexuals should join us in this opposition? In this timely session, Alan will help you understand these issues and train you to defend the future of family.
Making Abortion Unthinkable
Abortion kills more children in one day than the number of people who died on 9/11. You’ll learn the best and most effective arguments against abortion without having to appeal to the Bible. However, instead of learning to debate this issue, you’ll learn how to dialogue--how to graciously persuade people of the truth on the most important social issue of our day.
Making Sense of Bioethics
Abortion, stem cell research, cloning--these are cutting edge issues, but ones that can be confusing to many Christians. With this training, you will not only understand the ethical reasoning involved with each of these issues, but you'll be able to persuasively share your convictions in a way that takes biblical principles on these issues seriously.
Euthanasia: The Ethics of Life and Death
Everyone dies. Sometimes, however, how one dies can get complicated. We’ll make the topic less confusing by giving Christians some handholds on the issue some basic tools to navigate through different end-of-life scenarios. By keeping some important distinctions in mind, you’ll be able to apply biblical principles of human dignity to the topic of euthanasia in a way that makes sense.
Evolution: Fact or Fiction?
Are Christians anti-science when they reject evolution? The culture thinks so, but it depends on which definition of evolution you’re talking about. We’ll look at the reasons people believe in evolution, why they’re mistaken, and how the evidence points to an intelligent Designer instead.
Truth and Tolerance in a Whatever World
“It’s true for you, but not for me.” That’s relativism in a nutshell, but it’s also the motto that represents the reigning belief system in our country. We’ll look at how relativism has infiltrated morality and religious belief, and how we’re being pressured to follow the culture’s lead. Then we’ll offer some tools to respond to this problem.
Bad Arguments against Religion
There might be some good arguments against religion, but these aren’t them. We’ll take a look at some of the most common arguments offered against religion and show what’s wrong with them. Arguments like, “God can’t exist if evil exists,” “science has disproved religion,” “there is no truth,” or “Christians are intolerant” are just a few that you’ll be equipped to address.
How to Stay Christian in College
Christians in college are compromising their faith or ditching it all together. Evolution, religious pluralism, abortion, tolerance, homosexuality, and relativism are just a few topics that challenge their convictions. We’ll take a close look at each of these ideas and learn to adequately respond to them so believers have a better chance to stay Christian in college.
The Case for Intelligent Design
Are humans merely the products of chance, time, and slime? We’ll learn the most compelling reasons some scientists are embracing the idea that an intelligent Designer best explains the evidence in the universe and biology. Drawing on the latest scientific trends, we’ll look at arguments that will equip you to engage our culture in a winsome and persuasive way.
|
