Viewpoint - The Bible and Culture

Navigating Online Threats to the Family (with Haley McNamara)

How do we protect the vulnerable - children and the elderly - from the growing and ever-changing threats surrounding the internet and social media? How can Christian parents and caretakers walk in wisdom in this area, and how can we also advocate for laws and cultural shifts that will bring an end to exploitation? These are the questions we take on in this live Viewpoint class session from May of 2026. Our guest was Haley McNamara, who is the Executive Director and Chief Strategy Officer at the National Center on Sexual Exploitation (NCOSE).  She leads joint campaigns within areas of legislation, litigation, and corporate advocacy regarding the full web of sexual exploitation issues. Her advocacy work has contributed to policy improvements in social media, online advertising, retail, and hotel industries. You can learn more at https://endsexualexploitation.org/

War in the Middle East

How do we think biblically about war - especially war in the Middle East? Are these events tied to biblical prophecy about end times? And most importantly, how do we have conversations with people who are fearful or anxious and point them to the hope of the gospel? This episode features a live class session held at Highlands Church and hosted by pastors Joe Infranco and Ed Lutz, discussing the recent conflict between Israel, the U.S. and Iran, and how we can be ambassadors for Christ in the midst of a turbulent world.

A.I. in Church?

Artificial Intelligence tools are finding their way into every aspect of life, from our phones to our cars, inboxes, photos and beyond. But what about church? Can A.I. aid in faithful Bible study? Should pastors use A.I. to help write sermons? Should church members turn to A.I. for answers to questions about faith, the Bible and Christianity? This episode features a live class session that discussed these questions and many more as we look at where A.I. is headed, the impact it's having on churches and faith conversations, and what biblical discernment looks like in the face of these powerful tools. The class was led by Pastor Ed Lutz and features Highlands Elder Jim McGuire and guest Steve Laureanti - an intellectual property attorney and Christian author who has extensive experience examining the question of what place A.I. tools have within businesses, industries and churches.

Bold Public Faith: Sharing Gospel Hope in a Culture of Conflict (Live Class Session)

What do the recent acts of violence in our country show us about the deep brokenness in our culture? What opportunities do we have as Christians to bring the hope of the Gospel to a nation that is hurting, confused, fearful, angry and looking for answers? In this live class session held at Highlands Church, our panel of pastors takes a deeper look at the events surrounding the murder of Charlie Kirk, the boldness with which he shared his faith, what it says about our current cultural moment, and what the Bible teaches us all about sharing the hope of Jesus Christ with others.

Masculinity (with Dr. Jeffery Ventrella)

What does it mean to "be a man"? Our culture is wrestling with all kinds of definitions - from the hyper-masculine on one side to those on the other who claim there is no defining characteristics and we can completely decide for ourselves. But what does the Bible say about what it means to be a man? What does God's created order have to do with it? What characteristics should men aspire to? Dr. Jeffery Ventrella has written extensively on the subject of the Bible and culture and provides a great framework for our discussion, including the pitfalls of social media's "man-o-sphere", and even mixed messages the church itself has sent young men over the last 20 years.  You can find more of Dr. Ventrella's work discussing the Bible and culture at Truth Xchange: https://truthxchange.com/