WHAT IF WE LISTENED TO WHAT EVERYONE HAD TO SAY —

AND DISCOVERED THAT GOD CAN SPEAK THROUGH US ALL?

Let’s face it. We learn better when we talk things out and hear different points of view. And yet our faith is mostly the product of someone else speaking to us, whether through sermons, books, podcasts, videos, blogs or tweets.

Exodus Interactive Forum is a Christian teaching forum where we allow participants to stop the discussion at any time to talk back: participate, ask questions, offer opinions, raise objections and even challenge the presentation. We believe there is no better way to wrestle openly and honestly with the issues we face as Christians. By listening to one another, we leave room to hear the Holy Spirit’s voice through the deliberation of the believers.

As you explore these podcasts, you’ll find people from all walks of life: college students and graduate students, persons finished with school and others who are working; people who are serious about wrestling with an infinite God and not always finding a way to fit Him into a box; people who want to challenge you and be challenged themselves; people who want to be deeply rooted and avoid shallow formulations of their faith. As Paul reminds us in 1 Thessalonians 5:21, we want to “test everything” and “hold on to what is good” so that our witness will withstand the challenge of an increasingly skeptical world.

Each week, many hours of research are dedicated to the topics presented as part of Exodus’ speaking series. We believe that each and every topic discussed – and in fact, each and every statement – should be consistent with the Scriptures. But our research does not stop there. We pore over numerous books written by some of the top Christian scholars on each topic, and conduct our independent research into both Christian and non-Christian sources to round out our knowledge base.

Our group is moderated by John Selbak, a practicing attorney and a professor in the MBA program at Azusa Pacific University and at Pepperdine University School of Law. With this background, we present coherent, credible arguments for the Christian faith designed to bring each topic to life. If there is an innovative way to look at a topic that we might think we have completely figured out, we will find it!

Our theme verse is 1 Peter 3:15-16:

“But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.”

If you are ready to join us and listen in as people interact with the Christian faith in a whole new way, check out one of the series from our Podcasts page.

Want to know more about Exodus? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.

FAQ’s

Q. What is an Interactive Forum?

Exodus is a teaching ministry where we allow any participant to stop the discussion at any time to ask a question, pose a different view point, or even to disagree with the point being expressed.

Q. Why do you encourage this level of interaction?

We believe the Holy Spirit speaks through all participants, not just the discussion leader. Often, despite hours of preparation by a speaker, the most salient points are raised by one of the participants. Other times, a question or comment from a participant yields significant insight that would have been lost had that person remained silent. While speaking to a group — rather than with them – may be necessary in larger gatherings, one way communication obscures the questions, emotions and struggles that frequently prevent participants from receiving and understanding the message. There is no more honest way to evaluate how someone is processing the message than to give them the freedom to interact with the speaker while the discussion is still ongoing, and while there is still a chance to address those issues directly.

Q. Doesn’t the discussion get out of hand?

Group facilitators are required to be well versed in teaching through the Socratic method. This means more than being able to facilitate a question-based discussion. It means being prepared with a significant amount of background material on related topics so that questions or objections can be used to enhance the presentation rather than detract from it. The group also fosters an ethos of respect and courtesy, and requires all comments to be directed to the speaker, not at one another, to maintain an orderly discussion.

Q. How do you choose the topics for each series?

We routinely survey group participants for suggestions about which topics are most on their minds. We are generally looking for topics which have not been covered in too much depth by most churches, or which have become obstacles to faith. Some of the topics are apologetic in nature, some address current issues facing the church, while others relate to discipleship, transformation, spiritual practices and the Christian life.

Q. How can I access the Exodus podcasts?

The easiest way is from our website, where you can read a description of each series and access individual podcasts. We also include other background information on our website related to these series. You can also subscribe to our podcast via the website or through iTunes.

Q. Why is the group called Exodus?

Most young adults are in a period of transition from the place they have known, to a kind of promised land in the future. The journey is a great part of the story during college, graduate school and young adulthood: sustained periods of hope and anticipation for the future, punctuated by moments of doubt, deeper questions and a search for meaning. There are great lessons that can be learned from our time in the desert, forged in the tension between the comfort of the past, the expectation of the future, and the reality of the here and now. Change and transition are givens during this time of life, but our goal is to come through such a time with a love for God that encompasses our whole heart, mind and soul.

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