Ryan Center for Biblical Studies at Union University

03/25/2026

Mark your calendar for next year: March 12-13, 2027, we will host Dr. Jim Hamilton of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary for Songs of the Coming King (a weekend of teaching on the Psalms).

03/12/2026

14TH ANNUAL RYAN CENTER BIBLE CONFERENCE
CONFERENCE SCHEDULE

Friday, March 21

1:30 p.m. Dr. Robert Stewart
A Charge to Pastors (& All Christians) to Engage in Apologetic Training

2:05 p.m. Dr. Brad Green
Apologetics & Romans 1: What do we know people know when we talk to them about the Gospel?

2:40 p.m. BREAK

2:50 p.m. Dr. Steve Ortiz
The Good the Bad and the Ugly: Did the United Monarchy Exist? Recent archaeological discoveries on the Kingdom of David and Solomon

3:30 p.m. Dr. Mark Dubis
Is Christianity too Heavenly-minded to be of Earthly Good?: The New Heavens & the New Earth as an Apologetic for the Christian Faith

4:05 p.m. BREAK

4:15 p.m. Dr. Ray Van Neste
Reel Truth vs Real Truth: Social Media and Attacks on the Bible

4:50 p.m. Dr. Michael McEwen
The Ministry of Nearness: Jesus as a Model for Evangelism Through Consolation

6:00 p.m. Dinner in the Carl Grant Events Center

6:45 p.m. Welcome, introductions

7:00 p.m. Plenary 1: Dr. Robert Stewart
Can We Know Anything about the Past, and If So, How?
Saturday, March 22

8:00 a.m. Breakfast

8:30 a.m. Plenary 2: Dr. Robert Stewart
How Do We Know That We Have What the Biblical Authors Actually Wrote?

9:30 a.m. Dr. Eric Smith
Discerning Thoughts & Intentions: Apologetics and the Heart-Searching Word of God

10:15 a.m. Plenary 3: Dr. Robert Stewart
Did Jesus Teach that He was God?

11:15 a.m. Dr. Lee Tankersley
What Does the Bible Have to Say for Itself?: Holy Scripture’s Self-attestation

12:00 p.m. Lunch

12:45 p.m. Plenary 4: Dr. Robert Stewart
Why Should I Believe That Jesus Was Raised from the Dead?

1:45 p.m. Q&A with Dr. Robert Stewart and other speakers

02/21/2026

We're one month from our conference. You don't want to miss this. 12 sessions - defending the Bible as the Word of God: https://www.uu.edu/centers/biblical/bible-conference/

02/11/2026

The conference schedule:
Friday, March 20
• 1:00 p.m. Welcome, name badge, packets (lobby of the Grant Events Center)
• 1:30 p.m. Conference begins (all registrants welcome at all sessions)
Dr. Robert Stewart (New Orleans Baptist Seminary)
Dr. Brad Green (Union University)
Dr. Steve Ortiz (Lanier Center for Archaeology, Lipscomb University)
Dr. Mark Dubis (Union University)
Dr. Michael McEwen (B&H Academic Books)
Dr. Ray Van Neste (Union University)
• 5:30 p.m. Afternoon sessions ending
• 6:00 p.m. Dinner in the Carl Grant Events Center
• 6:45 p.m. Welcome, introductions
• 7:00 p.m. Plenary 1: Dr. Robert Stewart, Can We Know Anything about the Past, and If So, How?

Saturday, March 22
• 8:00 a.m. Breakfast for attendees
• 8:30 a.m. Plenary 2: Dr. Robert Stewart, How Do We Know That We Have What the Biblical Authors Actually Wrote?
• 9:30 a.m. Dr. Eric Smith, Discerning Thoughts & Intentions: Apologetics and the Heart-Searching Word of God
• 10:15 a.m Plenary 3: Dr. Robert Stewart, Did Jesus Teach that He was God?
• 11:15 a.m. Dr. Lee Tankersley, What Does the Bible Have to Say for Itself?: Holy Scripture’s Self-attestation
• 12:00 p.m. Lunch
• 12:45 p.m. Plenary 4: Dr. Robert Stewart, Why Should I Believe That Jesus Was Raised from the Dead?
• 1:45 p.m. Q&A with Dr. Robert Stewart and other speakers

02/11/2026

A sample of topics covered in the conference:

Can We Know Anything about the Past, and If So, How?
How Do We Know That We Have What the Biblical Authors Actually Wrote?
Discerning Thoughts & Intentions: Apologetics and the Heart-Searching Word of God
Did Jesus Teach that He was God?
What Does the Bible Have to Say for Itself?: Holy Scripture’s Self-attestation
Why Should I Believe That Jesus Was Raised from the Dead?

02/11/2026

Speakers at this year's conference:
Dr. Robert Stewart (New Orleans Baptist Seminary)
Dr. Brad Green (Union University)
Dr. Steve Ortiz (Lanier Center for Archaeology, Lipscomb University)
Dr. Mark Dubis (Union University)
Dr. Michael McEwen (B&H Academic Books)
Dr. Ray Van Neste (Union University)
Dr. Eric Smith (Southern Baptist Seminary)
Dr. Lee Tankersley (Cornerstone Community Church)

02/11/2026

We're looking forward to the 14th Annual Spring Bible Conference on March 20-21. This year's theme is Contending Earnestly: Becoming Faithful Stewards of the Word of God, & our main speaker will be Dr. Robert Stewart, Professor Emeritus of Philosophy and Theology at the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. More information will be posted shortly. If you want to register ASAP, https://bit.ly/4rjHaoa -- it's only $30 for a short time!

09/18/2025

Save the dates for the 14th Annual Spring Bible Conference hosted by the Center. This year -- March 20-21, 2026 -- our main speaker will be Dr. Robert Stewart, professor emeritus of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. Dr. Stewart will be speaking about the truthfulness of the Bible from an apologetics perspective. Registration information will be released shortly.

09/18/2025

The School of Theology & Missions sponsors an annual scholarship essay contest that is open to high school juniors and seniors. Students may explore a specific biblical text or theological concept directly or apply the Bible and theology to questions of worldview, apologetics, or ethics. Please pass this along to high school students (and teachers) that you know. Top essays are awarded scholarships for Union. The essay submission deadline is December 1, 2025.

09/18/2025

Join us next Monday, September 22nd, as we host biblical archaeologist Dr. Steven Ortiz. Dr. Ortiz trained under the preeminent archaeologist William Dever and served on the faculties of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Dr. Ortiz is presently the director of the Lanier Center for Archaeology at Lipscomb University with active projects in Israel, Egypt, and Jordan as well as research projects in Cyprus, Sudan, and Kazakhstan focusing on the development of Christianity in the region. Dr. Ortiz will be speaking about The Importance of Biblical Archaeology at 3:30 p.m. in Harvey Auditorium (Barefoot Student Union Building).

03/18/2025

Thanks to WBBJ reporter Emily Goodwin for an excellent job covering the Scripture Reading Marathon:

A local Christian University is uniting with others through scripture.