CONYC Indy

Pastors through books and teaching have attempted to persuade Christians that technology is a good gift from God that our sinful hearts use for good or ill. Listeners are convicted, but little changes. Why? If you have thoughts about your technology use (maybe over and over), but found lasting changes hard to come by, this talk may be for you. In a technological age, if you change your relationship with technology, you will change your life.

For our last session Patrick Lewis explains four distinctives of “The Call of Jesus”.Jesus' call is intrusive- meaning he has a tendency of stepping in to our lives in uncomfortable situations. His call is clearMark 1:15- And saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” Luke 9:23- And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.His call is a commandMatthew 28:18- And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. (This is a command not a suggestion)19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,His call is enablingWhen he speaks his commands, he also empowers you to respondThrough his Holy Spirit he enables you to do the things you don't think you can do2 Corinthians 5:14-15 For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised. This is how he enables us; he works through us and as we understand his love it compels us. His call has gone out to us, do we hear it? It's important to know that not responding to his call is to reject.Patrick leaves us with some things to think about as we go home. When was the last time Jesus interrupted your life? What are the things that he has told you that were clear that you're still avoiding and pretending they are unclear?What are the things you are being called to do that you are afraid of?

This evening we were introduced to a new speaker Patrick Lewis. He reads from the Gospel of Mark 4:35-41. 35 On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.” 36 And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. And other boats were with him. 37 And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. 38 But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” 39 And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. 40 He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?” 41 And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”Patrick Lewis explains:Jesus is Lord over storms within us Jesus is Lord over storms around usJesus leads us through storms to rescue others from the stormWhen he leads us somewhere that is unfamiliar or scary, we start questioning Jesus and asking him, “don't you care?”, and if you did you wouldn't let me be here. This is a lack of faith, and we need to cling to him in the storms. Patrick explains that by having faith in Jesus means losing control and having an unpredictable irresistible force in our life. We need to know that we can run to Jesus with our storms, and he can end them. Jesus says in Mark 5:19, “Go home to your friends and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you”. He's explaining that he came here for you and he wants to rescue others through you, so follow him. When the ultimate storm does come, we can be confident and know that we'll spend eternity with him.

Paul Poteat began with addressing 3 Huge Questions that we should ask ourselves.Who is God? (Satan says: He's not trustworthy, he's not out for your best)Who are You? (Satan says: You can be your own God, you can choose to be good/bad)How do You Live? (Satan says: Do what you want, create truth)Judges 21:25 “In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes” Don't drink the water! Our hearts are conflicted and is often being deceived. How do you set yourself up for these moments? Do you read your bible to be prepared? Jeremiah 2:13 “For my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed out cisterns for themselves, broken cisterns that can hold no water”. When we get what we want its not satisfying us. Real freedom is to do what is right. We limit our freedom to experience greater joy in various things. (Sports, relationships, school, etc.. ) John 4:13-15 “Jesus said to her, Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” We all need living water and Jesus is that!

This evening Pastor D opens by reading from the next eight verses from John 10: 11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. 13 He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. 17 For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.”As we discovered in the previous session, He's “the door” but now we learn Jesus is also the “good shepherd”. In order for us to get into the sheepfold, we must go through the door and through the shepherd.The good shepherd not only protects his sheep but is willing to die for them. Why? Because there is an intimacy and closeness between him and the sheep. As the sheep, we know this and can recognize his voice. We know he gives us protection, care and recognize the benefits we get from following the shepherd. The issue is we as the sheep are prone to wander when we don't get what we want. Pastor D explains two reasons why some of us struggle with our belief in Jesus. 1. We haven't gotten to know the shepherd well enough so therefore we never have experienced his goodness.2. Because of not experiencing his goodness we just keep on roaming around looking for better places, more satisfaction, more fulfillment, or places outside of God just like the sheep. The word of God is a gift given to us from God that from the more we know it more connected we are to Christ. Pastor D explains three things to look at if you are struggling with closeness and intimacy with God.1. What do we do about being intentionally about spending time with God?2. What does your prayer life look like?3. You've simply left the sheepfold/community.Jesus is the good shepherd that will die for his sheep and he's not done saving his people and he wants us all to come to him.

This morning Pastor D opens his second session by reading John 10:“Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber. 2 But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. 5 A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.” 6 This figure of speech Jesus used with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them.7 So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. 8 All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. 9 I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. 11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. Pastor D. explains that in today's culture we do not like the idea of “exclusivity”. He encourages us to view this word differently as it relates to a relationship with Jesus. This passage is not meant to be exclusive it is meant to be inclusive. A relationship with Jesus is available to all people but the only way is through Jesus. Pastor D says, “God does not desire our good works he desires us to be Holy. When we believe in Jesus, we are now holy because God sees the believer covered in the righteousness of Jesus”. Once we believe in him, we don't have to find our own way in life because he is our shepherd. All our satisfaction and fulfilment is found in him. All we need to do is trust him because he is the door and the one, we are searching for, its all found in him if we just believe.

Who do you say you are? Who does God say you are? This may matter more than anything else, that you understand how to align these two answers.

Derrick Puckett also known as “Pastor D” opens this first session with a question, “Do you really believe in Jesus and does Jesus truly satisfy me?”. Next, he explains the importance of Jesus using the phrase “I am”. He explains that “I am” means that God is: #1 Self-existent #2 Not dependent on anything else #3 God is immutable (unchangeable) #4 God is eternal Exodus 3:14 says, “God said to Moses, I AM WHO I AM.” And he said, “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘I AM has sent me to you”. He is trying to remind Moses and the people that he is God and he always with you no matter how far you get off track he is still God and still for you. Jesus uses this phrase twelve other times in the book of John and seven of those times he uses this phrase to explain who he is. He explains the importance of recognizing our idols whether it be sports, people, ourselves or other things we all have idols. The problem with idols is that we always will try to look for more from these things. This causes us to misplace our trust and hope. God says that I'm here and I'm trying to get your attention! He will always be forever. We always get in the way of ourselves to experience God's great glory. Pastor D reads Philippians 4:13 and reminds us that we need to be content with knowing God is with us. He ends with the same question he began, “Do you really believe in Jesus and does Jesus truly satisfy me?”.

You may be wondering how you got to this conference, as you find yourself on a journey of questioning Christianity. We want to meet you where you are. While I prefer sitting down over a cup of coffee to listen to objections and talk about the Christian faith, this is my best attempt to provide another place for questions to be addressed. We will cover a framework for some of our questions with a Q&A and resources to follow.

Why is it so uncomfortable to witness to our loved ones? It can be intimidating to discuss Jesus; however, we want to do everything we can to make sure that our loved ones have heard the good news of the Gospel. Sharing the Gospel is an act of love and courage, because we care about the eternal destiny of our friends. Join us as we learn to share the love of Jesus with our friends and family.

Where do you turn when bad things happen? What does the Bible say about God's involvement in your suffering? None of us escape the pain of a broken world, but there is still hope when life hurts.

We all have assumptions of who we are and how the world works. Our experiences in life can often challenge these assumptions and leave us feeling disoriented. Come hear how the Bible helps us uncover who we are and what God is doing in the world.

Do you believe a story can change the world? That a promise can leave a lasting impact upon one person, entire families, and future generations? God uses ordinary people to take the extraordinary story of Christ to all the world. Hear about how multiplication leaves a legacy and proclaims God's promises from one generation to the next.

Tony closed this years New Years Conference with a very applicable message on time. This session was all about how we ought to live our “dash”, meaning our life. Bringing in the New Year we have to consider our time and how we will spend the year. Our lives are a very short “dash”. How are you going to live your “dash”? Tony read and focused on Matthew 9:35-38:35 And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction. 36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; 38 therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”He shared some very insightful tips to live our “dash”. Tony encouraged us that our “dash” should be spent in the world, being a laborer in the harvest. Our lives are not just about getting saved, but getting to experience the work that God has done and continues to do. God chooses to use His people as laborers. Tony closed with a spectrum of where these students were at in their walk with God. From conversion (trusting in Jesus to making disciple makers. Where are you? Where do you want to be? How do you get there? Tony answers some of these questions in this session.

This evening Tony brought us a quick, but very necessary message about being faithful watchmen and watch women. His message came from a passage in Ezekiel 33:7 “So you, son of man, I have made a watchman for the house of Israel. Whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them warning from me. 8 If I say to the wicked, O wicked one, you shall surely die, and you do not speak to warn the wicked to turn from his way, that wicked person shall die in his iniquity, but his blood I will require at your hand. 9 But if you warn the wicked to turn from his way, and he does not turn from his way, that person shall die in his iniquity, but you will have delivered your soul. He gave us three important points to be watchful men and women of the faith. We have this calling to be the watchman in others’ lives. This call is given to all believers of Jesus Christ, in order that the Gospel would be spread. The message was very powerful and brought a helpful mindset for how all believers of Jesus Christ should ring in the New Year and every day of their lives.

Most of us came to college looking for a spouse, and that is a great thing to desire. Yet the path from being single to married is is often surprisingly difficult to travel in our day and age and people often fail to experience the fullness of what God intends. Come and hear our story, and some of the lessons we learned along the way.

Analyzing the Complexities of Race & Christianity God’s eternal Word has much to say to us about how we understand race and race relations. This seminar is designed to draw us back to the Bible so that we might better understand the gospel’s implications for racial reconciliation.

We all have a passion to be great, to be significant, and to be successful, and Jesus says he knows the way to true greatness: Humility. By magnifying the virtue of humility, he obliterates the world's view of success, frees us from the constant demands of performing, and reminds his followers of their desperate need of Him. On the flip side the Bible also shows us the dangers of pride, and how it will distort the grace of the Gospel and our minimize our need of a savior, or blind us to it completely. "If you want to be first, you must be last of all and servant of all."

When we hear the word ‘masculinity', it often conjures up images of men who are muscular, rude, and perhaps a little stubborn. Some celebrate this as true masculinity. American pop culture is (rightly) shifting away from this view, but now masculinity is seen as a dangerous social construct that should be minimized. But is that how God intended it? What does it really mean to be a man created in the image of God? This seminar looks at God’s design in creating men, what it means to live out of this design, and how to create a culture where both masculinity and femininity are celebrated.  Note: We think that a better understanding of masculinity and femininity results in a greater understanding of God’s heart and greater love and friendship between genders. This talk is meant to be paired with the seminar on femininity.

How do I make a decision about what to do after graduation? How do I think biblically about discerning God's will for my life? We will look at what the Bible has to say about making big decisions that impact your future.

Prayer is a clear mandate from God, but isn't it entirely too tough to thrive in? Everything is going against you: busyness, distraction, social media, etc. We're going to spend time looking at what prayer is, why we pray, and how to pray in hopes that our prayer lives become constant, enlivened and new!

Evangelism is better together. Jesus sent his disciples "two by two" to share his gospel, and he continues to send communities of his followers to love people and share his good news together. This seminar will cover how doing evangelism in and through community is more powerful, more dynamic, and more effective than doing it alone.

A Lifelong Walk With God Were Jesus' 30 years of life prior to ministry insignificant? Are your countless hours spent sleeping, eating, and working less important to God than "spiritual activities"? Join us as we explore the greatness of living faithful in the mundane parts of life.

1 in every 4 adults wrestle with depression and nearly 19% of the population struggles with an anxiety disorder, which means it is likely that either you or someone you are very close to is hurting. Often times in the midst of such darkness and confusion, we can wonder if there is any hope for deliverance or healing. In this seminar, we will look at God's Word and see that even in the valley of the shadow of death, our God is near, faithful, and there is hope for the downcast and anxious.

Too often, femininity is over-simplified by the church or over-sexualized by the culture. It is often defined in relation to certain personality traits, relationship status, or physical attraction. But what does it really mean to be a woman created in the image of God? This seminar looks at God’s design in creating women and how they uniquely display him to the world.

"I find your lack of faith disturbing." –Darth Vader. It's not about if you live a life of faith—you do—but rather, what is your faith in? In this seminar we will examine why faith is central for the Christian and how your faith can lead to greater intimacy with God.

Have you ever been in a fight? Do you feel like a crazy person? Come hear two "recovering crazies" talk about how they have sought to glorify God in their conflict.

What comes to mind when you think of church? Duty, delight, or something in between? The goal of this seminar is not to guilt you into going to church more. Instead, this seminar will equip you with a Biblical perspective on why Jesus loves the Church and provide tools to help you deepen your relationship with God's people in your own life.

What are you ambitious for in life? A relationship? Keeping a Snapchat streak? Ministry success? A higher level in Call of Duty? God created us to be ambitious for something in life. Two questions that need answering are; “What should we be ambitious for?” and “How do we become ambitious for the right things?”

Do you ever feel like sin has its grip on you? That no matter how hard you try it seems like you won’t ever overcome it? In this seminar we will explore what the Bible says about sin, it’s effects on us as believers and how by God’s grace we can fight it.

If you are new to sharing your faith with others or if you need to regain perspective on why we share our faith this seminar is for you.

We want to live by the theme "life is good" but the reality is most of us have experienced painful hardships or will at some point. Naturally, hard things make us ask questions like, "Where is God?" "Why is this happening?" or, "How do I respond?" We will share examples from our own lives and use the Bible to try to answer these questions.—Nate & Elli Van Zee

Family. Boo Thang. Bestie. Yourself—Have you ever had a relationship that left you wounded? Or maybe you’re still dealing with the remnants of a rocky past? In this seminar, we will discuss how God wants to expose our hearts, redeem our story, and make us whole.

Some of us are familiar with theological categories that help explain what is wrong with the human condition and how redemption happens in our lives. Do you ever wonder how psychology intersects with these concepts? Come and hear from Elisa and Eric about their pursuits of how people change by combining the perspectives of theology and psychology.

Why Some Disciples Make and Others Don’t 'Disciple’ is who we are and what we do. It defines our identity in Christ and drives our purpose for Christ. ‘Disciple’ is our frame of reference for our entire Christian worldview and has grounded and grown the church for two thousand years. Join the most noble and urgent call of Christ, "Follow Me and I will make you fishers of men.”

You have the most important truth to tell the world. What's one of the best and easiest ways to talk to people about this truth? It's through your personal story of how God redeemed you! God wants to use your story to reach other people! So, what does this look like? This seminar will seek to accomplish just that!

Are you confused or intimidated by the Old Testament? If we are honest, studying these ancient texts is a daunting task. But what if I told you that every page of the Old Testament is as much about Jesus as every page of the New Testament, and even those obscure old stories are part of his greater story? Come and see the Big Picture of the Bible, and learn to see Christ in the Old Testament.

Jesus left his followers with a clear commission: make disciples of all nations. Yet, billions around the world still live with no access to the gospel. Are we missing something? Come learn how you can and why you should join Jesus in blessing the nations.

We use stories to help us navigate through the mess that is life in a broken world. Many of these stories contain partial truths that were helpful at one point, but now are insufficient. Could it be that God is telling a better story for your life than the one you tell yourself?

Sexuality is as relevant, controversial, and powerful a subject as anything in our culture. We are constantly shaped and influenced by the commercials, shows, music, media, and conversations with others regarding our view of Sex. Even deeper, though, is our own experience and understanding of sex that influences our desires, identity, and struggles. That sounds like something we should talk about.

This morning we welcomed our other speaker, Tony Dentman, and he talked with us about relationships on a very real and open level. He opened up with a reading from Genesis:3 Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You[a] shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” 2 And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, 3 but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’” 4 But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. 5 For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” 6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise,[b] she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate. 7 Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths. 8 And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool[c] of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. 9 But the Lord God called to the man and said to him, “Where are you?”[d] 10 And he said, “I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, and I hid myself.” 11 He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten of the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?” 12 The man said, “The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit of the tree, and I ate.” 13 Then the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this that you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”From this passage, Tony gave us a list of essentials to perfect love, he used scripture throughout Genesis to explain the acronym he created to gain “perfect love'“. He used relationships between a man and woman as an example of what our relationship with Christ ought to look like. Both relationships have progressional steps to more commitment and to greater intimacy. Just like a marriage on the Earth, you cannot half commit yourself to God, it must be a 100% commitment to live for Him. The ultimate description of a welcoming into relationship is Jesus’ death on the cross. Jesus proposed to us with his arms open and all we have to do is say “yes”.

Mack finished his time with us this evening talking about obeying Christ from a passage in John 14, titled “I Am the Way and the Truth, and the Life”:“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God;[a] believe also in me. 2 In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?[b] 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. 4 And you know the way to where I am going.”[c] 5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you had known me, you would have known my Father also.[d] From now on you do know him and have seen him.” He explained where Jesus discusses the importance of obedience and how Jesus links obedience to love. He lists a few ways for why we should obey Christ. In addition to this, he listed some critical things needed to live an obedient life. Obedience of God’s Word and to the Gospel is part of an obedient life. To say the Gospel takes but a minute, to learn it takes a lifetime. Another passage Mack used was 2 Corinthians 5 to give a little detail on the opportunity given to God’s people. He has allowed us and called us to be ambassadors for Him. Being ambassadors for Christ calls us to be bold with the Gospel. Ambassadors, followers of Christ are called to other things as well. These are surrounded by being a part of a community of believers. We must; be a part of the church, know the church, and love other churches. The church being Christ’s body as a whole, including all its members. On way, Mack explains being a part of the church is to do as Hebrews 10:24-25 tells us, to build up others. Knowing the church means to allow the church to speak into your life and to understand the importance of having people pour into you as a member. In conclusion, Mack states the kind of church we as Christians ought to want. That being a certain kind of church, not one that is American or African or Asian, but one that teaches Jesus’ Gospel. This Gospel centered community must be a community we live in for our lifetime, for the long haul, not just while in college and while you are a part of Campus Outreach.

We ended our first full day of New Years Conference talking about Christ’s lordship in our lives. Mack opened the session with a quote about our days. “There are two days we are really worried about, “today and “The Day”, meaning the day we stand before God.”, Mack Stiles. Mack explained the lordship of Christ through a passage many have heard before:I Never Knew You21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’ Matthew 7:21-23. The fall of most people is not making Jesus the Lord of their lives, they do this because they desire to be their own god. If that is not the tendency of those people, it is they do not want God to mess up or change their lifestyles. They point to themselves and claim they are the reason they are able to get to Heaven. The tendency to make this claim is a tendency of a self-righteous person. God is the only one who makes a person righteous. Mack explains in detail that our desire should not be that we know Christ, but that Christ knows us and for Jesus to claim knowing us. Mack closes by asking eight important questions for the audience to ask themselves to investigate if they know God and He knows them.

In our second session, Mack Stiles continued to bring the heat of God’s Word to hundreds of college students. He began discussing the simplicity of living for God and serving him daily. Christ’s death on the cross was the ultimate gift, freely given, that we don’t deserve, is it that difficult for us to live for him? Mack focused on a passage in Mark to better explain this concept;And Jesus went on with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi. And on the way he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” And they told him, “John the Baptist; and others say, Elijah; and others, one of the prophets.” And he asked them, “But who do you say I am?” Peter answered him, “You are the Christ.” And he strictly charged them to tell no one about him. And he began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes and be killed, and after three days rise again. And he said this plainly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. But turning and seeing his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan! For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.” And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it. For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? For whoever is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.” Mark 8:27-38 (ESV)Mack used this passage to challenge the audience with the question of “Who do you think I am?” that being Christ. After this challenge, Mack transitioned back to what it truly means to follow Christ and how it ought to show in our lives. He used the above verses to display that. Finally, we must consider a few things. If Jesus died on the cross and paid the penalty for our sins, why not give up your life? What is there to lose on this earth if you will gain Heaven?

Mack Stiles started the first session off explaining the Gospel of Christ using four helpful questions to help the audience break it down. The questions Mack asked were not only for the students attending who have never heard the Gospel, but also the students who have heard it and need to teach it to themselves. Believers of Jesus Christ are encouraged to never stop preaching the Gospel to themselves. Who is God? What does the Bible say about Him?Who am I?Who is Christ? What did he do for me?How do I respond?To briefly summarize the answers to these questions; it is important to look at what perspective we are answering them from. Often times people will try to answer the questions above from our own personal experiences or views. This way of thinking is faulty.Final thoughts: Mack gave some really neat perspective for what living in this world is like. He compared it to living in a shipwreck; you will find much treasure (worldly pleasures) and much brokenness on the ship. This is not the way it is supposed to be. As we look at these treasures, we must remember the reality of Satan’s deception. He will minimize our sin, lie, and promise untrue things. Satan over promises and under delivers. The sin of disbelief, not believing who God says He is is what ultimately plagues us in our walk with God. To believe the truths God reveals to us, we must continue preaching the Gospel to ourselves. Ask yourselves these questions and search for the truths in God’s Word. Jesus was our ransom, which means we were kidnapped by Satan (Romans 5:12), but Jesus gave his life as a ransom or a payment for our bondage. This sets us free. The cross was not plan B, it was plan A (1 Corinthians 15:21).

Relationships are messy, and you may have a lot of questions. In this seminar Matt and Julia Bradner will answer 4 big questions about relationships.

Matt Bradner wrapped up New Year’s Conference with this last session. Many things go together to make some good combinations. One combination made Jesus marvel: a low view of self and a high view from others. This story can be found in Luke 7:1-10. Matt explained that this personal humility and public honor was a marvelous combo, one that Jesus marveled at. Paul explained the qualifications for the overseers of the church in the same way that Luke described the centurion in the previous passage. He says in 1 Timothy 3:6-7: He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil.

Matt Bradner discussed the prioritization of doing good: making disciples. The Great Commission tells us everything the basics of what we need to know about making disciples. Here it is in Matthew 28:18-20: And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age." Jesus tells us why, tells us what, and tells us why again. Why #1: all authority has been given to Jesus. What: Discipleship. Why #2: Jesus gives the promise of his presence. But that’s not all. There’s another why in verses 16-17: Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. The same message is for those who doubt and those who worship.

Matt Bradner discussed different aims that we all have: do good, do bad, or do nothing. And doing nothing is not necessarily better than doing bad. God calls us to do good, to be a force for good in every area of your life for the rest of your life. Titus 3:4-8 says: But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. The saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works. These things are excellent and profitable for people. God says to devote themselves to good works, not just abstain from evil. Matt expressed the importance of doing good with everything you are: your mouth, your eyes, your hands, your heart and more. Be a force for good not to get salvation but because you have it.

Matt Bradner, the second speaker at NYC, started off his time talking about how there are things in our lives that are holding us back from accepting Jesus and following him. Even those of us who have said that we want to follow Jesus, there are still things that get in the way of our walk with him. Jesus encountered 3 different people who some of us can relate to in Luke 9:57-62: As they were going along the road, someone said to him, "I will follow you wherever you go." And Jesus said to him, "Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head." To another he said, "Follow me." But he said, "Lord, let me first go and bury my father." And Jesus said to him, "Leave the dead to bury their own dead. But as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God." Yet another said, "I will follow you, Lord, but let me first say farewell to those at my home." Jesus said to him, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God." Matt goes through each of these situations and describes each specific circumstance these people who approached Jesus were in at the time.

The Bible says that God created us male and female. What do our differences show us about God? We believe God's word paints a beautiful picture of gender that goes beyond cultural stereotypes and leads to freedom and flourishing for both men and women.