MASTERCLASSTuesday 15 August

2017

Edwardstown Baptist Church

St Marys Cnr Rothesay Ave & Dorene St, St Marys

Please arrive at 9:15am for a 9:30 start. Finishes at 2:30pm.

Tuesday 15 AugustThis event is FREE with morning tea provided

NEW TO 2017

Hot Topics Q&A

South Australia

Register at www.biblesociety.org.au/masterclass

Masterclass is a one-day event for Christian students in Years 10 and 11. Three highly engaging speakers aim to inspire the next generation to grow in their knowledge of God; encourage the students to love others; and challenge them to discern the best choices to make on their Christian journey.This year we introduce the new Hot Topics Q&A panel at which our speakers will answer questions submitted before and on the day of Masterclass.

Paul writes in Philippians 1:9“ And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ”

Modelled on Paul’s prayer, Bible Society has designed Masterclass in three areas:1. Foundational: to inform students how to trust and

know God better through biblical foundational truths – “knowledge and depth of insight”,

2. Missional: to encourage students to love others and live missional lives – “love may abound”, and

3. Topical: to equip students as they deal with hot topics of today – “discern what is best”.

Bible Society would like principals, teachers, chaplains, youth leaders and parents to identify and invite students who would benefit from a day of investment in their spiritual development, and better prepare them to be leaders within their school and local community.

Masterclass is designed for a Christian audience. There is no limit to the size of your group. Book this date with your school and register your student and teacher numbers at www.biblesociety.org.au/masterclass

Questions – contact Gayle at masterclass@biblesociety.org.au Phone: 02 9870 5636

FO

UN DATIONAL

Dan PatersonRZIM Speaker, Ravi Zacharias International MinistriesHas science buried God?

TOPICAL

Natasha MooreResearch Fellow, Centre for Public Christianity (CPX)Am I a bigot? Tolerance and the lost art of free speech

MISSION AL

John DicksonFounding Director, Centre for Public Christianity (CPX)Better off without Christianity?

Speakers and Topics

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John Dickson Missional

John started out as a singer-songwriter, but he now works as a writer, speaker, historian of religion (focusing on early Christianity and Judaism), media presenter, Anglican minister and founding director of a multi-media think-tank (CPX – Centre for Public Christianity). John wrote his first book in 1993 and has since published more than a dozen titles. He writes regularly for mainstream outlets and appears in the media promoting ‘thoughtful Christianity’. He has also presented two historical documentaries which were shown on commercial television: The Christ Files and Life of Jesus.

John focuses on the big ideas that have shaped our world. He is committed to delivering creative, engaging content grounded in careful thought.

He lives with his wife and three children on Sydney’s North Shore.

Better off without Christianity?Abstract: Has Christianity done more harm than good? There is a fast-growing belief in Western society that the world would be better off without religion – including Christianity. The church is increasingly regarded as a burden, a spoiler, and even a poisonous influence on society. John will analyse the “mixed bag” of Christian history and practice, realistically evaluating both its dark side – such as the Crusades and the inquisitions – but also its beautiful side, such as its contributions to human rights, the origins of charity, and the beginnings of education, universities and hospitals. Students will see that when the church does terrible things, it is departing from its master, Christ. But when it is doing beautiful things, it is doing exactly what Jesus said to do. By the end, students will be equipped to share the gospel more effectively in a critical society.

Dan Paterson Foundational

Dan Paterson is a speaker with Ravi Zacharias International Ministries (RZIM) based in Brisbane. After some family tragedies in his childhood, Dan became troubled particularly by the problem of evil which led him to investigate the New Testament. Dan’s scepticism gave way to faith when he saw Jesus’ response to evil and suffering. He now has a driving passion to help sceptics and spiritual seekers make sense of the Christian faith.

After completing degrees in ministry and theology in Australia, Dan went to Oxford in England to take RZIM’s one-year course in Christian apologetics. After preaching all over the world, Dan returned to Brisbane to pastor and train evangelists. In 2015 Dan was invited to join RZIM as its national director in Australia. He now speaks regularly to audiences across the belief spectrum on life’s biggest questions and popular objections to the Christian faith.

Married to Erin, and with a young son Josiah, Dan loves reading, coffee, movies, the outdoors, and Australian Rules Football.

Has science buried God? Abstract: There is a strong subconscious belief in our culture that science has buried God. Some claim that Christianity has been an anti-scientific force in the world. Strong voices in the scientific community like Richard Dawkins and Stephen Hawking are convinced that science and God simply do not mix.So are they right? Does science make better sense in a Christian world or in an atheistic world? Do the discoveries of science point towards or away from a Creator? Is science even the right tool to adjudicate on the God question?

Natasha Moore Topical

Natasha Moore is a Research Fellow at the Centre for Public Christianity (CPX), a media company, based in Sydney, that exists to engage the public with a clear and compelling picture of the Christian faith. She studied languages at the University of Sydney, then went to the UK where she did her PhD in English Literature at the University of Cambridge. She’s written a book on Victorian poetry that you probably don’t want to read, and edited one called 10 Tips for Atheists … and other conversations in faith and culture that you might prefer. She’s worked at CPX for 3 years and has written for the mainstream media on topics that include books, movies, politics, food, domestic violence, Scripture in schools, war, Thanksgiving, and (of course) freedom of speech.

Am I a bigot? Tolerance and the lost art of free speechAbstract: Some say millennials are the most tolerant generation ever. They are fiercely for justice and equality; they care about the marginalised. But as they come of age, we’re also seeing a growing intolerance of disagreement. Former US President Bill Clinton has said: “We only have one remaining bigotry. We don’t want to be around anybody who disagrees with us.”Looking at student culture, same-sex marriage, how to be right (and how to be wrong), and the nature of God, Natasha will make a case for the beauty and importance of freedom of speech – and why millennials will need to fight for it. In their friendships and families, on social media, as students and citizens, young Christians have a unique opportunity to model what it means to disagree and to love at the same time.

Register at www.biblesociety.org.au/masterclass