2021 Apologetics Conference

Reliability of the Scriptures


The second annual Apologetics Conference was held in Gridley, Illinois on October 9, 2021.

You can watch recordings of the sessions below.



Main Sessions

Introduction to the Conference

Harvey Kaeb (Gridley, IL)

Nick Gutwein (West Lafayette, IN)

Scott Bahr (Detroit, MI)

Is the Bible the Word of God?

John Wiegand (Silverton, OR)

The Bible is God’s revelation of himself to men and women. In this session, we will explore the inspiration of scripture, the truth of scripture, and the sufficiency of scripture as we grow in knowing and loving God the Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit.

How Did We Get the Bible?

Fred Witzig (Washington, IL)

We have good reason to trust that today’s biblical text accurately reflects what God intended for us. In this session, we will explore how God has preserved his Word, and whether everything that should be there actually is.

How to Preach/Teach on Controversial Topics

Jeff Waibel (Leo, IN)

This session will cover practical approaches to preaching/teaching passages that present difficulties due to translation issues or challenges to their authenticity.

A Call to Love the Word

Joe Gerber (Champaign, IL)

This session will challenge and encourage us to love the Bible with our hearts, not just our minds.​

Breakouts

Does the Bible contradict itself?

Daniel Currier (Congerville, IL)

How do we handle biblical passages that appear to contradict each other? Do these instances challenge the reliability of scripture? In this session, we will talk about how to address common challenges to the Bible’s inerrancy. 

​Can I Read the Bible Incorrectly?

Darren Plattner (Champaign, IL)

How should I read my Bible? Should it be taken literally? In this session, we will explore how to respond to the skeptic as we examine principles of biblical interpretation.

Does the Bible Endorse Genocide?

Clint Bahler (Indianapolis, IN)

How do we handle biblical accounts of God’s people destroying entire cities? In this session, we will explore the character of God and how that is reflected in the ways he deals with his people. [We apologize for the poor audio quality.]

Does the Bible Condone Slavery?

Brian Sutter (Washington, IL)

The Bible certainly includes examples of slavery, but does it endorse it? We will explore the overarching storyline of the Bible as it relates to the human race and how we might thoughtfully respond to this objection.

Is the Bible Sexist?

Heidi Gerber (Champaign, IL)

In an interesting, practical, and honest way, Heidi will provide an in-depth examination of common, challenging questions regarding the treatment of women in the Bible. She will also provide guidance on how to navigate this emotionally charged issue with unbelievers.

Speakers