Faith for Life
How can we help students navigate their doubts about the Christian faith?
Navigating the faith journey of teenagers can be a challenging task. Embracing questions and uncertainties is a natural part of maturing in one’s faith. It takes bravery to confront these questions. As leaders and parents, we have a unique opportunity to walk with students through seasons of doubt. Encourage your teens to seek answers to the questions that make them skeptical.
With this training you get access to:
- Presenters notes to take with you
- Resources for ongoing study
- Expert-lead teaching on topics like church trauma, healthy doubt, deconstructionism, and theology
Teaching that Helps You Engage with Clarity
Healthy Doubt: How to do Theological Triage
Alisa Childers
It’s no secret that many people who grew up in church are deconstructing their faith. What fuels this phenomenon, and how can we think clearly and biblically about what we believe? How can we approach our doubts in a healthy way and discern what beliefs are more important than others? In this talk, Alisa will unpack the difference between doubt and deconstruction, offer a healthy approach to doubt, and help Christians think through the core beliefs of the Christian faith.
Doubting Towards God
Tim Barnett
How you respond to your doubts will either make or break your faith. Suppressing your doubts can destroy faith. However, expressing your doubts can lead to strong and lasting faith. Using the Bible as our guide, Tim will provide five practical steps on how to doubt well.
Understanding the Deconversion Crisis
Dr. John Marriott
The number of those leaving the faith continues to grow at an alarming rate. Responding to this trend requires knowledge of what is causing it. Understanding the Deconversion Crisis will identify the factors contributing to this troubling trend.
Bonus Session:
Wounded in the Sanctuary: Spiritual Abuse & Neglect in the Body of Christ
Joel Roberts, Pre-Event
The human condition is aimed at union and harmony with God, Others, Creation, and Self-Knowledge. Spiritual abuse and spiritual neglect distort the human condition, often resulting in rupture, deformation, or emaciation in the spiritual life of the victim. Understanding the source and impact of spiritual abuse is critical to coming alongside a process of restoration and reformation inherent to the Gospel.
Joel Roberts, MA, LPC, NCC received his Master of Arts in Counseling from Denver Seminary and specializes in men’s issues, couples, trauma, military life, spiritual abuse, and the complex intersection of faith and sexuality. Through engaging his own story, he knows the value of sitting with a good, well-attuned counselor.
Session Presenters
Joel Roberts
Joel Roberts is a Licensed Professional Counselor with a master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Denver Seminary and is pursuing a Ph.D. there as well. His research focuses on spiritual abuse. His clinical approach is rooted in narrative and existential therapy, helping clients retain their faith after traumatic experiences. Joel earned a bachelor’s in history and political science from Cedarville University and has over a decade of service in the Defense Department. He is married with two children.
Alisa Childers
Alisa Childers is a wife, mom, author, podcaster, blogger, and speaker. She was a member of the award-winning CM recording group ZOEgirl. She is currently a respected speaker at apologetics and women’s conferences and the host of her popular podcast, The Alisa Childers Podcast, and her YouTube channel. Alisa’s story was featured in the documentary American Gospel: Christ Crucified. She has been published at The Gospel Coalition, Crosswalk.com, The Stream, For Every Mom, Decision Magazine, and The Christian Post.
Tim Barnett
Tim Barnett has worked as a speaker for Stand to Reason since 2015. He is a dynamic speaker who provides a perfect blend of expertise and humor in each talk. Using easy-to-follow and visually engaging presentations, Tim trains Christians to think clearly about what they believe and why they believe it. Tim’s passion and energy will help motivate you and your group to love God with all your mind.
Dr. John Marriott
John serves at Biola University as the Research and Program Coordinator for the Biola University Center for Christian Thought and teaches in the Department of Philosophy. A former pastor, he holds a Ph.D. degree from The Cook School of Intercultural Studies. His dissertation focused on deconversion from Christianity to atheism.