SPEAKING

I’d love to serve at your campus or church, whether in person or on Zoom. Below are some of the topics and formats I’ve offered recently.

1. Evangelism Training

Theology of Witness
Discerning God’s work in the other person
Conversation skills
Five thresholds of conversion
“My Evangelism Profile” to help you witness in your natural strengths

2. Faculty Witness

Sharing Christ with colleagues and students

3. Stump the Chump (Q&A)

Christians and their friends can ask any question about Christianity. My job is to offer a thoughtful, concise reply.

4. God, Suffering, and Evil

Why does God allow bad things to happen to people? If God is loving and powerful, why doesn’t he do something about human suffering? Why is God seemingly silent in the face of suffering?

5. Origins of the New Testament

How did we get the New Testament? Who decided which books belonged in it? What was left out—and why?

6. Why Believe in the Gospels?

Is the life of Jesus made up? Exaggerated? Based on superstition and wishful thinking? What evidence do we have for the truth claims of the Gospel accounts?

7. Why Believe in the Resurrection of Jesus?

A biblical and logical case for the amazing events of the “Third Day.”

8. What is Christianity?

Explaining the basic message of the Christian faith.

9. Christianity and Slavery*

Understanding Christianity’s complicated relationship with slavery and responding thoughtfully to common criticisms.

10. Christianity and Colonialism*

Understanding Christianity’s complicated relationship with Colonialism and responding thoughtfully to common criticisms.

11. How to Talk with Atheists about God

Strategic, caring conversations and thoughtful responses to common objections.

12. How to Talk with Muslims about Faith

Strategic, caring conversations. Responding to objections

13. Old Testament Violence

Why is there so much killing in the Old Testament? Why does the God of the Old Testament seem so different from Jesus?

14. Science and Christianity

Friends? Foes? Or separate domains?

15. The Hiddenness of God

With heaven and hell in the balance, why doesn’t God make himself more obvious? Is it possible to sincerely seek God and not find him? And if so, where should we look?

16. Christianity and other Religions

Is Christianity the only way to find God? Don’t all religions claim to be true? Which one, if any, is “right”–and how can we know?

17. Rest (a Devotional Topic)

Reflections from an Activist on Sabbatical: Why do we need rest? What does biblical rest look like? And can rest be portable—that is, can we take it with us? (I gave this talk to students at the McCombs School of Business at the University of Texas.)

*Research conducted on slavery and colonialism for my forthcoming book, Stump the Chump, based on many of the apologetic conversations I’ve had on campus in recent years. These sensitive topics call for Christians to respond with humility and care.

Some Recent Campuses

University of Alberta
University of British Columbia (Vancouver)
University College of the Cayman Islands
University of Michigan
University of Minnesota
University of Montana
University of Texas at Austin
University of Wisconsin-River Falls
Macalester College
Harvard University
New York University
Rice University
Stanford University

Typical Campus and Church Visits

1-3 days at a campus or Area
- Noon and/or evening presentations
- Afternoon appointments with staff, students, and faculty
- Visiting Small Groups wherever they meet
- Cost: There is no speaking fee for campus or Area visits. Housing and meals are appreciated when possible
Weekend Retreats for Campus or Church
- Recently, I served as retreat speaker for Harvard Business School Christian Fellowship and “Grad InterVarsity” at Stanford.
Church visits
- Pulpit fill
- Adult education, such as Sunday School
- Youth Ministry

Let’s Connect

If you’d like to explore a possible campus, church, retreat, or Zoom event, feel free to contact me. I’m happy to talk through possible topics and formats.

rick.mattson@intervarsity.org

651.295.5814