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Join Talbot professor Dr. John Bloom for an engaging look at how recent finds in the field are shaping our understanding of the biblical world. This session explores whether the events of the Bible hold up under archaeological scrutiny and examines the fascinating trends emerging from the latest excavations.

ӣ����Ƶ the Breakout Speaker: John A. Bloom earned a Ph.D. in Physics from Cornell University, then went to seminary and completed a second Ph.D. in Ancient Near Eastern studies (Old Testament backgrounds) so that he would have advanced formal training in both science and theology. For over 30 years he taught physics at Biola University. He also started the M.A. in Science and Religion program at Biola’s Talbot School of Theology in 2004, in collaboration with the Christian Apologetics program, and continues actively teaching in these MA programs. Dr. Bloom enjoys teaching courses that integrate Christianity and science because of the importance of these topics both in today’s culture and to other scientists. He enjoys archaeology in particular because of the ‘hands on’ evidence it provides supporting biblical history.

Everybody in ministry eventually learns that the work itself threatens to block us from vital communion with God. The pace, the pressure, the demands and the details throw us into a dangerously distant orbit from the God we serve. This breakout shows how a practical, applied theology of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit is an empowering resource for Christian service.

ӣ����Ƶ the Breakout Speaker: Fred Sanders is a theologian who studies and teaches across the full range of Christian doctrines, but always with a special focus on the doctrine of the Trinity. Since 1999, Fred has taught in the Torrey Honors College, an undergraduate program in the great books, at Biola University. 

Fred studied art (drawing and printmaking) in college, earned an M.Div. at Asbury Theological Seminary, and a Ph.D. from the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, CA. He and his wife Susan (who have been friends since they met at age 11) are members of Grace Evangelical Free Church in La Mirada, CA. They have two adult children.

Fred has written several books and articles; his most important are The Deep Things of God: How the Trinity Changes Everything (Crossway, 2010); The Triune God (Zondervan, 2016); and Fountain of Salvation: Trinity and Soteriology (Eerdmans, 2021).

In "Faithful But Tired: Meeting God in the Truth of Your Life," professors from the Institute for Spiritual Formation will help you understand how the Lord works to mature you in faith. Come and learn about how God grows you ever-increasingly into the likeness of Jesus, and what it is like to walk with the Spirit in every season of your soul.

**Attendees who attend all 4 of the “Faithful But Tired” Breakout Sessions will receive complimentary access to The Journey. Must attend all 4 to receive access.

ӣ����Ƶ the Breakout Speaker: Kyle Strobel is the director of the Institute for Spiritual Formation, and the author of Formed for the Glory of God: Learning from the Spiritual Practices of Jonathan Edwards, and co-authored the books Where Prayer Becomes Real: How Honesty with God Transforms Your Soul, and most recently, When God Seems Distant: Surprising Ways God Deepens Our Faith and Draws Us Near.

Ministry leaders care for people. That's why we are in ministry. But people sometimes tire us out, especially when we are performance driven or still caught in the unhealthy need to earn recognition. When we understand our biblical identity in Christ, we can rest in the completed work of Jesus; and minister from a place of confidence and freedom. This session will emphasize the book by Drs. JP Foster and Matt Williams.

ӣ����Ƶ the Breakout Speaker: Matthew Williams is professor of New Testament and director of the Accelerated Masters Programs at Talbot School of Theology, Biola University, where he has taught since 2002. Prior to that, he taught as a missionary in Spain from 1996-2002. Williams was awarded professor of the year by Biola University, and continues to preach and teach in various churches and conferences throughout the United States and Spain. He has published Finding Freedom in Jesus: the 21 attributes of your identity in Christ with Dr. JP Foster, and What the New Testament Authors Really Cared ӣ����Ƶ with Kenneth Berding, along with video Bible studies: Gospel of John: Finding Identity and Purpose, The Parables of Jesus, The Forgiveness of Jesus, The Life of Jesus, The Last Days of Jesus, The Prayers of Jesus, The Miracles of Jesus. He is also the general editor for Spanish biblical and theological books, which have sold nearly 200,000 copies: Comentarios Bíblicos con Aplicación: Serie NVI, Biblioteca Teológica Vida, and Colección Teológica Contemporánea.

Today’s church is more generationally diverse than ever. This session explores how technology, mental wellness, social change, and economic uncertainty have shaped Generation X, Millennials, Generation Z, and the emerging Gen Alpha. Participants will leave with practical leadership strategies to build trust, motivation and engagement across generations.

ӣ����Ƶ the Breakout Speaker: Dr. Jake Aguas is an Associate Professor at Biola University and a leadership consultant with 15 years of HR experience at JPMorgan Chase. An expert in generational dynamics and emotional intelligence, he has authored three books and trained organizations like In-N-Out Burger and Chick-fil-A. He specializes in improving organizational performance through international consulting and research featured in outlets like The Washington Post.

Jesus and his message matter to us! This session will help us focus on the intended message of scenes in the gospels. We will introduce hermeneutical principles for uncovering the meaning of stories and teachings in the gospels, and learn three key questions to help direct our reading of the gospels.

ӣ����Ƶ the Breakout Speaker: Gary Manning is Professor of New Testament Language and Literature at Talbot School of Theology, Biola University. His research and teaching focuses on the Gospels, Greek and the use of the Old Testament in the New Testament.

There are a bewildering array of commentaries on the market written at a variety of different levels. How do you choose the best ones for preparing a Bible study or a message and how can you use them most effectively? This session will be immensely practical in helping you streamline and enrich your preparation.

ӣ����Ƶ the Breakout Speaker: Clinton E. Arnold is Research Professor of New Testament at Talbot School of Theology, Biola University. He earned his Ph.D. at Aberdeen University in Scotland (1986). He served as the Dean of Talbot for 10 years (2012-2022) and is the past President of the Evangelical Theological Society (2011). Clint is the editor of the 20-volume Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament for which he wrote the volume on Ephesians. He has recently published a commentary on Colossians for the Word Biblical Commentary series. He is also the author of 3 Crucial Questions about Spiritual Warfare (Baker) and Powers of Darkness (Intervarsity Press). Clint serves as a preaching/teaching pastor at Church Project Orange County (in southern California). He is married to his wife, Barbara, and they have three adult sons and three grandchildren.

In "Faithful But Tired: Meeting God in the Truth of Your Life," professors from the Institute for Spiritual Formation will help you understand how the Lord works to mature you in faith. Come and learn about how God grows you ever-increasingly into the likeness of Jesus, and what it is like to walk with the Spirit in every season of your soul.

**Attendees who attend all 4 of the “Faithful But Tired” Breakout Sessions will receive complimentary access to The Journey. Must attend all 4 to receive access.

ӣ����Ƶ the Breakout Speaker: Berry Bishop, Psy.D., is the Associate Director of the Institute for Spiritual Formation. She is a spiritual director as well as a licensed psychologist in California.

Nietzsche has famously quipped: “What is now decisive against Christianity is our taste, not our reason.” The most powerful objection to the Gospel no longer has to do with whether Christianity is true. The objection is that Christianity is bad, distasteful. Christianity has nothing good to offer to a thinking, caring human being. In this seminar, we shall investigate this objection and develop some ways to respond.

ӣ����Ƶ the Breakout Speaker: Greg Ganssle (Ph.D. Syracuse) is Professor of Philosophy and Chair of the Department of Philosophy at Talbot School of Theology. He works in philosophy of religion, philosophical theology and the philosophy of Nietzsche. He has written or edited six books and has published over thirty-five papers and chapters.

Church is no longer obvious. With the hypocrisy of moral failures, the complications of polarized politics, and the pressures of life in general, many people are opting out of church. But what are we missing when we do? Dr. Imes offers a fresh vision for what the church is and can become.

ӣ����Ƶ the Breakout Speaker: Dr. Carmen Joy Imes is an associate professor of Old Testament at Talbot School of Theology, Biola University, in Southern California. She is the author of Bearing God’s Name: Why Sinai Still Matters, Being God’s Image: Why Creation Still Matters, and Becoming God’s Family: Why the Church Still Matters. Her primary areas of expertise are Exodus and the Psalms. Carmen releases weekly videos on her and you can find her writing on various websites, including and . Carmen has appeared on over 200 podcasts and radio outlets. She enjoys traveling to speak at churches, schools, conferences and retreats. Carmen is passionate about equipping the church to engage the Old Testament well and to see its relevance for the Christian life. She is a fellow of Every Voice.

Our triune God is a person to love, not a book to study, principles to believe or a confessional statement to affirm. We do practical theology when we think about our God, connect with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and align our lives to God’s ways. For this reason, theological education is the communal process of falling in love with our Creator.

ӣ����Ƶ the Breakout Speaker: is a professor of Christian higher education in the Ph.D. and Ed.D. programs in educational studies at the Talbot School of Theology at Biola University. He graduated from the University of Guadalajara, Dallas Theological Seminary, and the University of North Texas, where he earned a Ph.D. in higher education. Dr. Esqueda has several publications on theological education, Christian higher education, and literature, including the coauthored books Anointed Teaching: Partnership with the Holy Spirit, The Cruciform Faculty: The Making of a Christian Professor, and The Hispanic Faculty Experience: Opportunities for Growth and Retention in Christian Higher Education. He is an academic leader and practical theologian with extensive worldwide experience, and an avid soccer fan.

In the rapidly shifting sands of the 21st-century West, many Christian leaders are looking for fresh technologies and novel models to meet the challenges and opportunities of our modern moment. Instead of looking for new approaches, this session invites us to consider those ancient strategies lived out by our first-, second-, and third-century ancestors in the faith as they patiently thrived and exponentially grew in the unfriendly cultural soil of the Roman Mediterranean.

ӣ����Ƶ the Breakout Speaker: Dr. James Petitfils is an Associate Professor of New Testament and Early Christianity at Biola University. He researches and publishes on a variety of subjects including storytelling in the Roman world, ancient Christian martyr texts, and leadership in Mediterranean antiquity. Along with research and teaching, he has been a pastor in the South Bay for over 25 years, currently serving as the Beach Pastor at the River Church of the South Bay. He’s been married to his love and partner in ministry, Braelyn, for over 21 years and together they have a beautiful daughter, Micelli, and three beach boys, Brixton, Zion and Tiger. They are also foster parents and have fostered five cute-as-can-be little angels over the last few years. James enjoys surfing, family beach days and burritos.

In "Faithful But Tired: Meeting God in the Truth of Your Life," professors from the Institute for Spiritual Formation will help you understand how the Lord works to mature you in faith. Come and learn about how God grows you ever-increasingly into the likeness of Jesus, and what it is like to walk with the Spirit in every season of your soul.

**Attendees who attend all four of the “Faithful But Tired” Breakout Sessions will receive complimentary access to The Journey. Must attend all four to receive access.

ӣ����Ƶ the Breakout Speaker: Kyle Strobel is the director of the Institute for Spiritual Formation, and the author of Formed for the Glory of God: Learning from the Spiritual Practices of Jonathan Edwards, and co-authored the books Where Prayer Becomes Real: How Honesty with God Transforms Your Soul, and most recently, When God Seems Distant: Surprising Ways God Deepens Our Faith and Draws Us Near.