PAST ROUNDTABLE EVENTS

What Was the Reformation and Why Does It Still Matter?

November 5, 2017

October 31st marks the 500th anniversary of the Reformation, which started when Martin Luther nailed his 95 theses on the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany. Echoes of that event have continued to shape our concept of God throughout the following years.

Join us as Dr. Barbara Pitkin guides us through a consideration of the Reformation and its relevance today. Dr. Pitkin is a senior lecturer of Religious Studies at Stanford University who specializes in the history of Christian thought, with a particular emphasis on the religious developments in late medieval and early modern Europe.

Created to Create: A Theology of Technology

September 10, 2017

Audio Recording

Is the Bible anti-technology? Is God a tech startup founder? Should we embrace technology or fear it?

We live in a time of unprecedented technological and cultural change. In a few short years, we have embraced a new set of tools that have completely revolutionized the way we communicate, relate, work, and play. Are these technologies progressing humanity to the next level? Or do they signal the downfall of society as we know it?

Many of us in the Silicon Valley use and build these tools. But what is the relationship between technology and God’s intention for his creation? What does the character of God tell us about how we make and use tools? How can we use and create technology in light of a relationship with Jesus Christ? 

More information available at allthingsnew.tech. 

Do All Religions Lead to God? The Challenge of Modern Pluralism

April 2, 2017

The Silicon Valley is home to people of all kinds of religious backgrounds: Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus, Christians, Jews, Jehovah’s Witnesses, and many more. A growing number of these people believe that all religions lead to God. Is that true? What does the Bible say about that? Do other religions really teach that? Laurie Schlaepfer, a professor of World Religions and a devout follower of Jesus, will guide us through these questions as we consider what it looks like to follow Jesus in a pluralistic society.

How to Be Sent: Evanglism with Matt Mikalatos

November 6, 2016

In our culture there is an enormous taboo about discussing spiritual things. It’s only natural that in this environment Christians would feel hesitant about telling others about Jesus. but what if there is another way? Author and speaker Matt Mikalatos shared how we can engage in spiritual conversations with friends where we live, work, learn, and play despite cultural taboos to the contrary.

Biblical Foundations for Same Sex Issues

November 15, 2015

Notes Booklet 

What does the Bible say about same sex behavior? How does it fit into a framework for understanding biblical sexuality? At this theology roundtable, we will discuss a way to understand same sex issues in the context of the whole Bible. We will consider sexuality in terms of the creation, brokenness, and redemption of mankind. Scott Grant and Paul Taylor will lead biblical reflections and discussion.

21st Century Christian Apologetics

October 4, 2015

How do we explain and defend the Christian faith to a changing world? What are the most compelling ways that the Gospel answers questions that our 21st century culture is asking. Dr. David Skell, a professor at the University of Pennsylvania Law School, led an evening of considering these questions and sharing from his recent book, True Paradox: How Christianity Makes Sense of Our Complex World.

Same-Sex Issues

October 12, 2014

Ron Sanders is the former director for Cru at Stanford and a current adjunct professor at Fuller Seminary. He led us in a discussion of the biblical, social, and political questions surrounding same-sex issues in our culture. What does the Bible say? How does that translate into social and political decisions? How should the church engage with the LGBT community?

Jesus as the Only Way

May 4, 2014

Notes Booklet 

Is Jesus the only way to salvation? Do all religious paths lead to God? How is it fair that only those who believe in Christ are saved? Does Jesus even claim to be the exclusive path toward God? Everybody everywhere wants everyone to be included. How does that fit together with a God who says that only certain people are saved? Is Christianity exclusive? Led by Paul Taylor.

Hell

Mar 9, 2014

Notes Booklet 

Does a loving God send people to eternal damnation? Is Hell real? Christians have understood judgment in many different ways. Some view hell as endless punishment. Others claim that the unredeemed cease to exist after death. Others deny the existence of judgment at all. We will look at the historical positions that people have held, the biblical arguments that support their positions, and the view at PBC. Led by Paul Taylor.

The Power of the Poem

Jan 26, 2014

Audio Discussion of Scripture, faith, and poetry led by Brian Morgan and John Felstiner. Brian, a pastor at Peninsula Bible Church in Cupertino, has a life-long passion for the Psalms and for restating great truths of the Bible as Christians create their own ‘poems of faith’. John Felstiner, an emeritus professor of literature at Stanford draws deeply on his roots in Judaism to reflect on issues of faith and beauty in language.

The Trinity

Sep 29, 2013

Notes Booklet

 Christians worship one God who is eternal: endless, omnipotent, omniscient. Christians worship one God who is complex – three persons infinitely bathed in love. This  Theology Roundtable includes a discussion of these matters. Is the doctrine of the Trinity biblical? Is it reasonable? Does it make any difference?

End Times

May 19, 2013

Notes Booklet  

Our culture tells many different stories of how the world might end. During this roundtable, Paul Taylor addresses some of the ways people have interpreted the end times prophecies of the Bible, explores the history and position of PBC, and talks about what the end of the world has to do with our lives for today.

Justice and the Gospel

Feb 10, 2013

Notes Booklet

The prophets in the Old Testament longed for and promised a time when God’s justice would be experienced on the earth. The coming of Jesus inaugurated his kingdom, but injustice is still rampant in our world. How do we as Christians engage with efforts to bring justice to this world? Guest teacher, Danny Hall.

Violence in the Old Testament

Nov 4, 2012

Notes Booklet 

In the Old Testament there is so much war and violence sanctioned by Yahweh. Is this the same loving God portrayed in the New Testament? Guest teacher, Dr. John Goldingay, professor of Old Testament at Fuller Theological Seminary, led our exploration of this complicated concept.

Creation

Sep 23, 2012

Notes Booklet 

“Creation” is an immense and dynamic topic. The origin and nature of the universe are matters of concern for thinking people of all stripes – philosophers, scientists, followers of various religions, random pundits. An immense and dynamic topic indeed.

Women in Ministry

June 10, 2012

Notes Booklet, Should Women Teach Men Paper by Scott Grant.

What roles are available for women to serve in ministry and leadership? How do different groups understand the Bible’s commands? What is the practice of Peninsula Bible Church? During this roundtable, we discuss three common positions on women in ministry.

Atonement

Mar 25, 2012

Notes Booklet

How does Jesus dying on the cross save us? Are you interested in gaining a better biblical and historical understanding of the atonement? During this roundtable, we discuss three categories of atonement theories and five prominent biblical themes of the atonement.