Polishing the Pulpit - Sevierville 2026: Full Schedule

arrow_back View All Dates

8:15am EDT

The Weight of a Split Second: A Warning About Social Drinking

Saturday August 15, 2026 8:15am - 8:45am EDT

Speakers

Daniel Burton

Daniel has been married to his wife, Amanda, since 2007, and they have two children, Owen and Hadley. They attend the Cookeville church of Christ. Daniel serves there as a deacon and strives to live with a servant’s heart.

Saturday August 15, 2026 8:15am - 8:45am EDT
Ballroom A

College Young Adults

9:00am EDT

Maintaining Holiness Consistently (Genesis 39:1-15)

Saturday August 15, 2026 9:00am - 9:45am EDT

Ballroom A

Speakers

Ross Haffner

Preacher, Southwest church of Christ, Austin, TXFaculty of Southwest School of Bible Studies

Saturday August 15, 2026 9:00am - 9:45am EDT
Ballroom A

Spiritual Growth

10:00am EDT

How to Overcome Difficult Questions in Evangelism: "Are You Saying My Family Member Went to Hell?"

Saturday August 15, 2026 10:00am - 10:45am EDT

Ballroom A

Knowing how to respond, when to respond, and what to say is critical during Bible studies. Come and learn how to deal with the most difficult questions. Your answer weighs heavily on people's eternal souls.

Speakers

Rob Whitacre

Director, HTHSOE

Rob Whitacre was born in Carbondale, Illinois. He was raised near San Antonio, TX, attending the Northern Oaks church of Christ. He married Nicole of Nashville, TN, in August of 1996. They have one daughter, Hannah and one son, Jared. He comes from a God fearing family of preachers... Read More →

Saturday August 15, 2026 10:00am - 10:45am EDT
Ballroom A

Evangelism

11:00am EDT

What Comes After the Moment You Wish Had Never Happened?

Saturday August 15, 2026 11:00am - 11:30am EDT

Ballroom A

Failure feels permanent when it’s public. This session tackles shame, regret, and the lie that one moment defines your faith forever.

Speakers

B. J. Clarke

Director, MSOP

If you would love to learn the Book, and learn how to preach the Book (tuition free) at the Memphis School of Preaching, I would love to talk to you about how you can do just that!

Saturday August 15, 2026 11:00am - 11:30am EDT
Ballroom A

Members

12:30pm EDT

Hurry Back Session: Tech Solutions Panel - Social Media Ministry

Saturday August 15, 2026 12:30pm - 1:15pm EDT

Ballroom A

Panelists:
• Josh Robinson
• Paul Mays
• Dan Fraley

Speakers

Josh Robinson

Manna Project and Uplift Media

Josh Robinson is the Director of Communications for the Manna Project. Josh is also experienced in video and media production and operates Uplift Media, helping the church reach the lost online. Josh is a part-time instructor at the Georgia School of Theology (teaching technology... Read More →

Paul Mays

Hymnist, Paul Mays A Cappella Hymns

Paul Mays is a hymnist (writer of hymns) and travelling evangelist. He and his wife, Yvette, are parents to Sophia and Chloe. All four worship at the Westside church of Christ in Salem, Virginia.

Paul works extensively on social media, sharing his original A Cappella teaching hymns, recorded teaching videos, and live teaching videos which generate many Bible studies. Paul broadcasts live hymn studies at 1 PM Eastern and 9 PM Eastern on Digital Bible Study on Facebook and YouTube... Read More →

Dan Fraley

My name is Dan Fraley, and I am the pulpit preacher at Little Beaver Church of Christ. I also preach at the Mouth of Road Creek Church of Christ. I have been preaching full-time since 2017. I am a graduate of the Tricities School of Preaching and Christian Development. I hold a Bachelor... Read More →

Saturday August 15, 2026 12:30pm - 1:15pm EDT
Ballroom A

Ministry

1:30pm EDT

Hot Button Issues: The New Tolerance: When Speaking the Truth Feels Like Hate

Saturday August 15, 2026 1:30pm - 2:00pm EDT

Ballroom A

How to stand firm when moral clarity is labeled intolerance — equipping Christians to defend truth with grace in hostile spaces.

Speakers

David Sproule

Evangelist, Palm Beach Lakes church of Christ

David Sproule is a native Floridian, born and raised in West Palm Beach. He attended Freed-Hardeman University, graduating with a degree in Bible. While at Freed-Hardeman, he met and married Traci Smith. David has been preaching the gospel since 1994, serving congregations... Read More →

Saturday August 15, 2026 1:30pm - 2:00pm EDT
Ballroom A

Contemporary Issues

2:15pm EDT

The Things God Wants You to Drop (Hebrews 12:1)

Saturday August 15, 2026 2:15pm - 2:45pm EDT

Ballroom A

Speakers

Parker Webster

Preaching Minister, North Lexington Church of Christ

Parker is the preaching minister for the North Lexington Church of Christ in Lexington, KY. Prior to moving north, Parker preached for the Carriage Oaks congregation outside Shreveport, Louisiana. Parker is the son of Wade and Jennifer Webster and He is married to the former Sabrina... Read More →

Saturday August 15, 2026 2:15pm - 2:45pm EDT
Ballroom A

Teens

3:00pm EDT

What It Means to Be Brave When Courage Gets You Labeled

Saturday August 15, 2026 3:00pm - 3:30pm EDT

Ballroom A

Standing for truth often comes with social cost. This lesson explores courage without aggression and conviction without bitterness.

Speakers

Don Blackwell

Executive Director, Gospel Broadcasting Network

Don and his wife Sheri have been married since 1991 and have three grown children and three grandchildren. Their son, Brandon, and their son-in-law Casey are gospel preachers. Don has been preaching since 1994 when he separated from active duty in the United States Air Force. He has... Read More →

Saturday August 15, 2026 3:00pm - 3:30pm EDT
Ballroom A

Teens

3:45pm EDT

Seven Minutes of Wisdom on Dating, Love, and Purity

Saturday August 15, 2026 3:45pm - 4:30pm EDT

Ballroom A

Speakers and topics:
• Cameron Freeman — Why God's Design for Boundaries and Marriage Are Beautiful
• Matt Wallin — How Far Is Too Far? A Better Question
• Michael Shepherd — Lust vs. Love: Knowing the Difference
• Dean Thompson — Practical Steps to Become the Kind of Person Worth Marrying
• Bengy Slocumb — How to Handle Heartbreak with Grace
• Joshua Cantrell — What Respect Looks Like in a Relationship

Speakers

Cameron Freeman

Matt Wallin

House to House Heart to Heart

I have worked with House to House Heart to Heart since 2006, where I have overseen production and promotions of the House to House magazine. I currently serve as the Director of Promotions. I received a business degree and a Bible degree from Faulkner University and a Masters in... Read More →

Michael Shepherd

Dean Thompson

Evangelist, University church of Christ

Dean Thompson has been married to his lovely wife, Jasmine, since 2017. God has blessed them greatly with two beautiful children, Nico and Eden Thompson. He is a 2015 graduate from Wingate University, where he also played football. He holds a BS degree in Communication Studies, along... Read More →

Bengy Slocumb

Minister, Shannon Church of Christ

Joshua Cantrell

Preacher, Avondale church of Christ

Joshua Cantrell is the pulpit minister for the Avondale church of Christ in Decatur, Georgia. He is a graduate of the Memphis School of Preaching (2015), and Nations University (BA, 2019). He is originally from Phenix City, Alabama. He is the host of the Diligent Podcast, a work of... Read More →

Saturday August 15, 2026 3:45pm - 4:30pm EDT
Ballroom A

Teens

6:00pm EDT

Hurry Back Session: Lukan Models of Faith: Stephen—A Model Witness

Saturday August 15, 2026 6:00pm - 6:30pm EDT

Ballroom A

Speakers

Melvin Otey

Professor of Law & Preacher, Faulkner University & Perry Hill Road church of Christ

Melvin preaches for the Perry Hill Road church of Christ in Montgomery, AL, and serves as Professor of Law at Faulkner University’s Jones School of Law, where he teaches criminal law and procedure courses. He formerly worked as a trial lawyer for the Criminal Division of the... Read More →

Saturday August 15, 2026 6:00pm - 6:30pm EDT
Ballroom A

Textual

8:00pm EDT

Lessons from the Women in John: Mary the Mother of Jesus

Saturday August 15, 2026 8:00pm - 8:30pm EDT

Ballroom A

While Mary’s virtue and faith are seen throughout her story, this lesson highlights what we learn and what she learned at a wedding in Cana in John 2.

Speakers

Celine Sparks

speaker/author/instructor/humorist

Celine Sparks is the author of Whatever Happened to Fried Chicken?, How to Train Your Dragon, Because I Said So, and most recently, If Mama Ain’t Happy. She served for 15 years as the humorist for Christian Woman magazine, and has freelanced for a number of other publications.
Celine lives in Huntsville, Alabama where she and her husband, Scotty, worship and work with the Meridianville Church of Christ. Celine loves her physical family (4 kids and their 3 spouses, and two grandchildren who have adopted her) and enjoys being with her spiritual family as... Read More →

Saturday August 15, 2026 8:00pm - 8:30pm EDT
Ballroom A

Women