Lectures to Download

Authority And Epistemology: Download or Listen

Comparing Eastern and Western Worldviews: Download or Listen

Comprehensive Spirituality: Download or Listen

Is Art a Commodity or a Relationship?: Download or Listen

Music Faces Death: Download or Listen

Questions and Answers with Ellis: Download or Listen

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A description of the lectures available by Mr Ellis Potter

1. Comparative Worldviews

Compares the Biblical Trinitarian worldview with Monism and Dualism. It takes people out of their boxes and helps them to understand how and why intelligent and lovely people have a very unbiblical worldview. Then it helps them see why only the Biblical worldview supports and sustains our lives. 

Can be given in one hour, but is better at 4-6 hours with discussion. Many concepts are new to the average Western person. (Handout or board)

2. Comprehensive Spirituality

If we grow spiritually, what would that look like? Do we become more transcendent and less visible? This lecture explores the spiritual nature of people as originally created by God and the spirituality of the resurrected Christ. It helps people to understand the Lordship of Christ over all of life. (Handout)

3. Apologetic Considerations

Jesus is the answer, but what are the questions? This lecture has 12 points to help people develop a non-defensive, loving approach to non-Christians.  “The Gospel with open ears”. (Handout)

4. Authority and Epistemology

Explores the nature and function of authority in God’s reality and human life. Then looks at four authoritative sources of knowledge about God: Bible, Reason, Institution and Experience – BRIE, the “cheese” lecture or the la BRIE lecture. (Handout)

5. Music faces death. “Requiem for my friend” by Zbigniew Preisner. This requiem was written after the death of the filmmaker Kieslowsky by the composer of the music for his films. It is accessible to the average person, tonal (modal) and quotes many styles and centuries. The music gives permission to grieve deeply and still have hope. The lecture is a guided listening and requires a CD player. (Handout)

6. The Importance of Asking Honest Questions

“Don’t ask questions, dear, just believe as a little child.” This lecture explores what it means to believe as a little child (they constantly ask questions because they trust and believe there are answers). It helps people not to hide from God or each other and not to force people to pretend to understand or believe. (Manuscript handout possible)

7. Is Art a Commodity or a Relationship?

Should we relate to art in terms of our taste or a system of healthy diet or should we try to understand what the artist is saying and respond to it? Helps people realize that art is not just a product for sale but a communication for relationships. (Manuscript handout possible)

8. Filmgoers’ Discernment Guide 

Using a checklist of virtues and vices, this exercise helps people understand what a film is saying about an issue, not only whether it is present in the film. It helps people get beyond their own taste toward an objective critical facility in reading films. Requires watching a film and discussion after with handout.

9. A Visit to a Museum

Using this 4-page questionnaire, groups of people explore various experiences and discoveries in a museum and then compare notes. People learn to see by following a “guided seeing” and by listening to how others see.

10. Worldview Survey

An 8 page questionnaire, helping people understand the values, hopes, fears of people with various worldviews. Most participants learn how little they know about their neighbors and are challenged to take a loving interest. It takes 90 minutes to fill out the questionnaire in 4 parts, plus discussion time.

11. Dokimazo and Pierazo

Starting with I Thess. 5:21 (“test everything”) this exegesis and application helps people to discern the difference between testing to find the good and testing to find the bad.

12. “Stop, Look and Listen” 

A mini-lecture on how to slow down and relate more carefully to the culture around, trying to establish a Biblical mandate for creativity and discernment. This is followed by an interactive analysis of Rembrandt’s “Prodigal Son” (or other painting) and a short piece of music. People do not need any particular artistic or musical background in order to profit from this activity. (Requires cassette player or CD and the facility to hang a poster/print of the painting.)

The following web pages relate to lectures delivered by Ellis Potter

Universities and Colleges Christian Fellowship Lecture (June 2006)

www.cevigossau.ch (Lecture hosted by Cevi Gossau)

The real problem with Buddhism (Hosted by Christian Heritage, Cambridge, UK.)

L'Abri Lectures (Available for purchase on cassettes or CDs)

www.edinburghnavigators.co.uk (Click on the Resources link)

The following essays are written by Ellis Potter

Christian Listening

Apologetic Considerations

Copyright © 2007 Ellis Potter.