Jon's Speaking Topics

Thinking Biblically About Suicide 
This is the most important talk many will hear and that has little to do with the presentation of Jon and everything to do with what so many people are facing right now in their lives. Whether it's something you wrestle with personally or it's a friend who's struggling, suicide has affected all of us and is at the center of the cultural conversation. In this talk Jon seeks to give you some tools to address suicide in your own life, or in the life of someone who's close to you. He does this by answering three questions: Why is this important? Why do people contemplate suicide? What can we do? This topic is too important not to discuss.  

The Problem of Evil
This was Jon’s nail in the coffin as he tried to persuade Christians to abandon religion and join him as an atheist. If God is so good, why is there so much evil? This is the question that has caused more people to struggle with their faith than any other. So much so it’s been called the “Rock of Atheism.” In this presentation Jon takes a look at the problem as it’s classically stated, showing that it’s not a problem for the Christian at all. Actually, it’s a problem for the skeptic.

Is the New Testament Reliable?
We are people of a book, The Book in fact. But what if the Bible is actually unreliable? What if it’s just a collection of antiquated stories, never meant to be trusted? In this presentation Jon puts his years of experience in the legal world to work and builds a multifaceted case for why there are good reasons to trust that the New Testament documents we read today accurately record history. Jon will show you how to build a cumulative case for the historicity of the New Testament using things like early dating, eyewitness testimony, embarrassing stories, and more. Can we trust the Bible? Absolutely.

Hello, My Name Is: Atheist
In this interactive role-play Jon puts on the hat of an atheist and presents the top five reasons not to believe in God. Having been an atheist for more than 25 years, Jon brings a conversation that is very convincing and often proves to be a great way to introduce an apologetic series. The aim of the discussion is to show the participants their misunderstandings of atheism, and to help them learn why they believe, not just what they believe, thus highlighting the need for apologetics. This has proved to be a great eye opener for students and adults. 

Tactics: How to Graciously Share Your Christian Convictions
Have you ever been asked by a friend or co-worker to defend why you believe what you do? Or, have you ever avoided getting into a conversation because you didn’t want to get caught in the hot seat or look foolish? Jon’s dynamic presentation is designed to equip you with tools that will help you enter into and then guide conversations regarding any number of issues found in our culture at large. Learn how to steer a conversation through the use of questions while keeping the burden of proof on the person making the claim. And yes, learn how to get out of the dreaded hot seat.

Being an Ambassador: An Introduction to Apologetics
If you’re looking to introduce your group to apologetics or simply wanting to brush the dust off things that have already been taught, this is the experience for you. In this talk, Jon gives a general overview of what apologetics is and offers biblical support for it. He then goes on to show why it’s important to be a 2 Corinthians 5:20 Christian.

The Truth About Relativism  
We live in a relativistic world. One in which truth has become secondary to feelings and pleasure. During this talk, Jon will explain the history of relativism and show how it's become the prominent belief in our culture, influencing all areas of life, including morality and even the church. He then offers some tools that help others see what's wrong with relativism and why it doesn't accurately reflect the world around us.

Intelligent Design: What It Is & Why It Matters 
Did you know that there are two to three times more atheists on college campuses than in the culture at large? Why do you think that is? In this talk, Jon first shows that Darwinism has permeated all areas of our lives, not just academia. From there, he helps you understand why that matters in practical ways. Finally, Jon points to a number of pieces of evidence that indicate the world around us is designed by an Intelligent Designer. In the process we see where Darwinism has failed. If you have ever wondered if something or someone created the universe and everything in it, this is the presentation for you.

Kalam Made Simple
Have you ever looked up at the night sky and wondered how it all started? Have you and a friend ever asked the question, “Why is there something rather than nothing?” In this talk, Jon focuses on the Kalam Cosmological Argument, digging into its two premises and conclusion showing that with just a little work anyone can master one of the most powerful arguments for the existence of God.

Abortion Made Unthinkable
There are almost 3,000 abortions performed each day in the United States. As many as 1 in 4 of those are done by people who consider themselves to be Christian. It’s time we become equipped and take a stand against abortion. Jon will put to use his many years of experience street preaching and evangelizing outside places like Planned Parenthood to help equip you with powerful and effective tactics in pro-life persuasion. You’ll learn how to engage in healthy, compassionate dialogue moving beyond the debate and rhetoric and towards truth and clarity. Learn to defend life and persuade others on one of the most important ethical issues of the day.

Why I’m A Christian:
An atheist's bump into reality
Why do you believe what you say you believe? For many years Jon would ask his believing friends that very questions. The answers he got were not persuasive and usually he left the conversation more affirmed in his atheism. The reason we should believe something is because it accurately reflects the way the world really is. In this talk Jon explores his past as an atheist and shows why he had to make the worldview change he did as his atheism started bumping him into reality. Some bumps were harder than others.

The Death of Humanness
Advancements in stem cell research, cloning, physician-assisted suicide, and euthanasia have muddled moral distinctions about human value. As a result, some human beings can be killed with impunity. Which ones? What characteristics are required and who decides? Not only does Jon reveal the answers, but he also explains why you won’t always make the cut.

Homosexuality: Truth and Compassion
What should our relationship with friends and family who identify as gay or lesbian look like?  Jon will help you answer that question in a way that’s faithful to the truth, but with grace. He’ll clarify what both Scripture and science say about homosexuality and then offer practical principles that will help guide your interactions with friends and family in an uncompromising, yet compassionate way.

Pursuing Justice
Justice has always been at the forefront of the cultural conversation. But when we say "justice," what do we mean? What is true "justice"? The focus of this talk is to offer a full-bodied concept of justice and to apply that concept to all areas of life. At the end of our time, you’ll see that the answers to the cries of injustice aren’t found in recent movements or ideologies. Instead, only when we return to a true understanding of justice will our culture be healed and injustices remedied. Simply put, the answer to injustice is biblical justice.

So the Next Generation Will Know
Young people are leaving Christianity at an unprecedented rate. How can believers better understand, relate to, equip, and train our youth? This talk explores why young people are disengaging from the church and encourages Christians to respond with reasonable explanations to challenges while developing authentic relationships with people. Jon offers five practical ways to help the next generation see that Christianity is the true story of reality. He discusses the difference between teaching and training, encourages inoculation verse isolation.