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The three Bible lectures will be given by Dan Schowalter, Chair of the Religion Department and Professor of Religion and Classics at Carthage College in Kenosha, WI. His academic interests include the development of the New Testament, archaeology, honors offered to the Roman Emperors, and the modern Science and Religion dialogue. Dr. Schowalter lectures and conducts travel seminars for the Biblical Archaeological Society and Carthage College. His Dissertation, The Emperor and the Gods: Images from the time of Trajan was published by Fortress Press. He has many other published writings. His M.Div and Th.D degrees are from Harvard University.

Bible Lecture 1 - Archaeology and the New Testament: What’s the Connection?
Archaeology has always been an important tool for study of the Old Testament, but excavation results have been applied less often to analysis of New Testament documents. How is it possible to get beyond the “footsteps of Jesus” and use the latest discoveries in archaeology to enhance understanding of the earliest churches and the scriptures which they produced?

Bible Lecture 2 - Excavations at Roman Omrit: Has an Imperial Temple been discovered in Northern Israel?
The sixth season of excavations at Omrit in northern Israel has recently been completed. What is now a remote location was in the first century a monumental temple at the crossroads of several major trade routes. The layout and decoration of the temple are coming to light, and work on identification is progressing. Could this be the temple of Augustus built by Herod the Great? (Josephus, Antiquitates 15.363)? Could it be the true location of Caesarea Philippi? What does the history of the Omrit temple reveal about culture, society, and religion in this critical geographical location?

Bible Lecture 3 - Against All Odds: The growth of Christianity in the Roman Empire
The Jesus movement began as a tiny and diverse group on the fringes of Roman society. In spite of doctrinal disputes, leadership struggles, and intense persecution from the Roman authorities, the early churches continued to grow and develop. What do the books of the New Testament and other documents from the early churches reveal about how these people of faith were able to persevere against all odds, and how should their success inform the lives of believers and believing communities today?

The Congregational Lecture: The Rev. Shawn P. Stapleton
Rev. Stapleton is Senior Minister of First Congregational Church, Beloit WI. He also serves as moderator of the NACCC’s online forum, and as vice-president of the Wisconsin Congregational Association’s Ministerial Association. A fundamental facet of Christianity is the call to “go and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19). It is to this call that the Christian joins his or her voice to that of the prophet Isaiah; in response to God asking “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” we reply, “Here am I. Send me!” (Isaiah 6:8). In his Congregational lecture, the Rev. Stapleton will share with us the Gospel portrait of discipleship through the lens of the Gospel of Luke.