The Person of Welcome

Can We Bring Good to our World through Hospitality?

Friday, October 9, 2026: We live in a tense cultural moment. Our disagreements and differing ways of viewing the world can feel like life or death. When we sense that the stakes are raised, it is easy to be defensive and suspicious of others who are different from us. Sometimes, those who identify as Christians seem prone to stoking the flames of discord. But this kind of tension and clash of beliefs is not new to our context. In the midst of similar times of societal anxiety, Jesus Christ lived and modeled a different way, without compromising on his convictions.

Just Another Artifact?

Considering the Bible’s relevance in society and the university

Friday, September 11, 2026: The texts that make up the Old and New Testaments were written over the span of a thousand years, by multiple authors, in multiple languages, and across a variety of places. Yet, the texts that form the sacred Scriptures for both Jews and Christians, more than two millennia after they were written, continue to hold importance for people of faith, they continue to be published and printed, continue to be referenced in public discourse, and continue to be taught in institutions of higher learning. But should they?

Faculty Hors d’Oueuvres

Thursday, April 23, 2026: This will be a time to meet other faculty and staff interested in connecting Christian faith to university life, to learn about the Christian Study Center movement, and our hopes and dreams for a similar expression at Ohio State. Invite a colleague to come grab a bite to eat together. 

More Than A Religious Teacher

Is Jesus history’s most under-appreciated philosopher?

Friday, March 27, 2026: We’re used to seeing Jesus as a figure for the afterlife, but we rarely talk about his insights for this life. Whether you’re a believer or a skeptic, there’s no denying the legacy of the life and teachings of Jesus in our world. A widely respected historian and Bible scholar, Jonathan Pennington (PhD, St. Andrews), is hosting a conversation on the possibility of Jesus as the ultimate philosopher. Consider this a masterclass on the ancient art of human flourishing.

Faith in the Field

Seeking an integrated life in a compartmentalized world

Friday, February 20, 2026: Many have noted today that we constantly feel pressured to live fragmented lives. Faith seems to be relegated to the private sphere, quite separate from our public lives. This experience can be felt in the field of healthcare, as much as any other field of work in our society. Join us as we hear from Joy Walton, MD, an OSU alum and former professor in the College of Medicine at Ohio State, as she discusses the pressures of fragmentation that can be faced with her work in healthcare, and what it might mean to pursue an integrated life today.

What’s Not Said in the Classroom?

Behind a Christian Professor’s Teaching

Friday, January 16, 2026: Do you ever wonder what Christian professors are really thinking? This talk will explore how Christian faith can inform teaching in the public university classroom. Dr. Raison will share the things he doesn’t say out loud (in class), and will discuss how he seeks intellectual humility in his work. He will also explore how Biblical concepts like grace and justice serve as major components in teaching and mentoring students.

Forgiveness in a World of Hostility

A Historical and Biblical Exploration

Friday, December 12, 2025: In our increasingly polarized culture, bitterness and resentment can seem not only justified, but appropriate. When we have been offended or harmed by another we tend to turn a cold shoulder, if not scheme to pay them back. Our circles are increasingly made up only of those we perceive are safe enough not to hurt us. This is not new. Followers of Jesus in antiquity likewise lived in a cultural context that exhibited retribution rather than forgiveness. And yet, these early Christians discovered and embodied a new and distinct way of life.

Momento Mori

Remembering our Mortality for a Meaningful Life

Friday, November 14, 2025: We live in an age that sanitizes death. For many of us death seems like a distant concept, so far on the horizon of life that it feels unreal. We live in the moment by ignoring our mortality. But perhaps there are others of us that have gone through deep heartache, so many dark thoughts, that death feels like a fog hanging over us. What if remembering our mortality could be more than a downer, more than an escape, but a means to a life well-lived?

Is There Evil?

Retrieving the Language of Evil in the Public University for the Common Good.

Friday, October 17, 2025: When we look at the world around us, and even our own lives, we have the sense that all is not right. We are eager to name injustices and to alleviate suffering. And yet, in our polarized society we can have competing stories of what exactly is wrong with the world. Join us as we explore how Christian Scripture might have resources to name what is wrong, while providing a vision for becoming and being agents for good in God’s world.

Love of Neighbor in an Age of Fear

What the Bible teaches us about Immigrants

Friday, September 19, 2025: When it comes to encountering people that are different than us, and in the midst of our societal turmoil, it is easy to feel anxiety. In light of the presence of those from other cultures and places, some might wonder if life as they’ve known it is at stake. Is there more to the story? Former OSU businesslaw professor and founding pastor at Vineyard Columbus, Rich Nathan, will examine some key passages from Christian Scripture on God’s heart for immigrants among us.

We Call This Friday Good

How have Christians observed Good Friday, & why does it matter?

Friday, April 18, 2025: As many Christian practices increasingly focus on the "happy" elements of the faith, Good Friday observances are in danger of becoming nothing more than a nominal holiday: a fleeting thought that occurs roughly two days before Easter egg hunts. Why is such a trend troubling, why might this trend be taking place, and what do Christians stand to gain from a renewed interest in Good Friday? Dylan N. Crosson is a Ph.D. Candidate at The Ohio State University where he studies Musicology.

Why Does Virtue Still Matter in a Secular Age?

Reflections on Aristotle and Aquinas for the 21st Century

Friday, March 21, 2025: Does character matter? What are virtues and are they relevant today? How might faith help or hinder one’s character formation? Theologian Dr. Ben Burkholder (PhD, Duquesne) will be speaking on the topic of the relevancy of virtue ethics for today, followed by audience Q&A.