The Gathering | Guest Lectures Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa

Are you curious about the Bible’s authenticity or do you firmly believe in its divine inspiration? Susan Lim reminds us that during times of chaos, the Bible can provide us with hope and guidance. It’s a valuable source of inspiration and a beacon of light during difficult times.

Susan C. Lim (PhD, UCLA) is a historian and writer. She has been a tenured professor of history at Biola University in La Mirada, California, and is a speaker at conferences, churches, and retreats. She resides in Southern California with her husband, Brian, and their two children.

If you have feedback on today’s episode, tweet us @calvarychapelcm, email info@cccm.com, or leave a review. We’d love to hear from you. Join us again next time as we continue to grow in our knowledge and understanding of the words, works, and ways of Jesus!

Have you ever wondered if you can know the will of God? Does God close doors? Does God let us disobey? Why is it so difficult to know what do do? Gerry Breshears takes a deep dive into Acts 13 as he uncovers the handful of approaches to discovering God’s will for your life.

Gerry has been professor of theology at Western Seminary since 1980. In addition to teaching and lecturing at several colleges and seminaries around the world, he speaks in many churches, is a pastor to pastors, and is part of The Bible Project.

If you have feedback on today’s episode, tweet us @calvarychapelcm, email info@cccm.com, or leave a review. We’d love to hear from you. Join us again next time as we continue to grow in our knowledge and understanding of the words, works, and ways of Jesus!

Have you ever asked yourself if you love your neighbors? Is that something that’s been on your mind lately? Sarah Yardley shares her experiences and how she tries to love her neighbors. This aspect of the Christian life shows how important it is to have love in our hearts for those around us—our friends, family, and community—so that we can impact their lives in a positive way and maybe even introduce them to Christ.

Sarah is a follower of Jesus who is passionate about faith, travel, reading, coffee, and community. She grew up at Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa in California, served at Reality Carpinteria, and currently lives in the United Kingdom, serving full-time with Creation Fest UK. She loves discovering what it means to follow Jesus and inviting others to know and follow him.

If you have feedback on today’s episode, tweet us @calvarychapelcm, email info@cccm.com, or leave a review. We’d love to hear from you. Join us again next time as we continue to grow in our knowledge and understanding of the words, works, and ways of Jesus!

John Dickson started out as a professional singer-songwriter but now works as an author, speaker, historian, and media presenter. 

A lot of people think Christianity is bad news, like it promotes hate, bigotry, or is just plain wrong. John says that, instead of trying to convince them otherwise, we should listen to their point of view. We need to appreciate what makes Christianity special, which is how much love Christians have for each other. And we need to remember that Jesus was perfect, but his followers are only human, so we shouldn't write off an entire religion just because some people don't always get it right.

If you have feedback on today’s episode, tweet us @calvarychapelcm, email info@cccm.com, or leave a review. We’d love to hear from you. Join us again next time as we continue to grow in our knowledge and understanding of the words, works, and ways of Jesus!

Justin Thomas leads Calvary Chapel Bible College as its President and Chief Executive Officer. He is a graduate of Western Seminary with an M.A. in Biblical and Theological Studies and pastored a church in Seattle, Washington, for 11 years.

You know what's astonishing? Divorce rates are going up, people are hooking up left and right, and it seems like being single is contrary to the call of the Christian. But Justin has a different take on it. He says that being single doesn't have to mean being lonely—it’s actually a chance to join the new humanity called the church, to do all things to the glory of God, and be fruitful in a Christian community.

If you have feedback on today’s episode, tweet us @calvarychapelcm, email info@cccm.com, or leave a review. We’d love to hear from you. Join us again next time as we continue to grow in our knowledge and understanding of the words, works, and ways of Jesus!

Ed Stetzer, Ph.D., is Dean of Talbot School of Theology at Biola University. He has planted, revitalized, and pastored churches; trained pastors and church planters on six continents; earned two master’s degrees and two doctorates; and has written hundreds of articles and a dozen books.

In this lecture, Ed talks about why the gospel is still important in our lives and culture today. He explains how the ideas of redemption and restoration go hand in hand and why they matter. As followers of Jesus, it's crucial that we show and share his love in a world that can be pretty messed up.

If you have feedback on today’s episode, tweet us @calvarychapelcm, email info@cccm.com, or leave a review. We’d love to hear from you. Join us again next time as we continue to grow in our knowledge and understanding of the words, works, and ways of Jesus!