Curriculum Vitae

Curriculum Vitae: Sean J. McDowell, Ph.D.

Associate Professor 3, Talbot School of Theology

EDUCATION

Ph.D. Apologetics and Worldview Studies, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (2014)

M.A. Philosophy, Talbot School of Theology (summa cum laude, 2003)

M.A. Theology, Talbot School of Theology (summa cum laude, 2003)

B.A. Biola University (summa cum laude, 1998)

Major: Communications; Minor: Bible, Business

ACSI Teaching Credential (Current)

Vanguard University Teaching Credential Classes (2004)

EXPERIENCE

2014 to present: Talbot School of Theology, Biola University

  • Position: Associate Professor teaching classes such as In Defense of the Resurrection, Why God Allows Evil, and Gospel, Kingdom & Culture.

2003 to present: Capistrano Valley Christian Schools

  • Full-time Teacher (2003-2013): Bible Department Chair, Bible teacher for Old Testament Survey, Apologetics, Philosophy & Ethics, Theology, Comparative Religions, Advanced Bible
  • Part-time Teacher (2103-2024): Taught one-two Bible classes per year.

1998 to present: International Speaker

  • Spoken for organizations such as The Association of Schools International (ACSI), Download Youth Ministry, Cru, and Focus on the Family.
  • Guest on the Dennis Prager Show, the Hugh Hewitt Show, Stand to Reason, and popular YouTube channels, such as the Warrior Poet Society, The Beat (Allen Parr), and Think Biblically (Mike Winger).
  • Spoken for churches such as Prestonwood Baptist Church, Emmanuel Faith, Mariners Church, Johnson Ferry Baptist Church, Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa.
  • Spoken at universities such as UC Berkeley, Grace, Drake, Vanguard, Southern Evangelical Seminary, UC Irvine, National University of Singapore, Indiana Wesleyan, and more.

2011 to 2014: Adjunct Faculty at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

  • Taught three different classes: (1) Engaging the New Atheism; (2) A Historical Look at the Resurrection of Jesus; (3) Addressing Homosexuality: Clarity and Compassion

PUBLICATIONS

Books:

Author, Co-author, or Editor:

  • The Fate of the Apostles: Examining the Martyrdom Accounts of the Closest Followers of Jesus: expanded and updated (Routledge, 2025).
  • “Evidential Apologetics,” in Perspectives on Apologetics, ed. Timothy Paul Jones (B&H Academic, 2025).
  • Apologetics for an Ever-changing Culture, editor (Harvest House, 2024).
  • More Than A Carpenter, co-written with Josh McDowell, update (Tyndale, 2024)
  • 12 Crucial Truths of the Christian Faith: Building Our Lives on the Unshakable Foundation of God’s Word, co-written with Josh McDowell, updated and revised from The Unshakable Truth (Harvest House, 2024).
  • End the Stalemate: Moving Past Cancel Culture to Civil Conversation, co-written with Tim Muehlhoff (Tyndale, 2024)
  • Set Adrift: Deconstructing What You Believe Without Losing Your Faith, co-written with John Marriott (Zondervan, 2023).
  • Evidence for Jesus: Timeless Answers for Tough Questions about Christ, co-written with Josh McDowell (Zondervan, 2023)
  • A Rebel’s Manifesto: Choosing Truth, Real Justice and Love Amid the Noise of Today’s World (Tyndale, July 2022)
  • Chasing Love: Sex, Love, and Relationships in a Confused Culture (Broadman Holman, 2020).
  • So The Next Generation Will Know, co-written with J. Warner Wallace (David C. Cook, 2019).
  • Sharing the Good News with Mormons: Practical Strategies for Getting the Conversation Started, co-edited with Eric Johnson (Harvest House, 2018).
  • The Apologetics Study Bible for Students, general editor (BH 2010, revised and expanded 2017).
  • Evidence that Demands a Verdict: Revised and Expanded, with Josh McDowell (Thomas Nelson, 2017)
  • The Resurrection and You, with Josh McDowell (Baker, 2017).
  • The Beauty of Intolerance, with Josh McDowell (Barbour Publishing, 2016)
  • A New Kind of Apologist, editor (Harvest House, 2016)
  • The Fate of the Apostles (United Kingdom, Routledge Press, 2015)
  • Same-Sex Marriage: A Thoughtful Approach to God’s Design for Marriage, co-written with John Stonestreet (Baker, 2014)
  • The Bible Handbook of Difficult Verses, co-written with Josh McDowell (Harvest House, 2013)
  • 77 FAQs About God and the Bible, co-written with Josh McDowell (Harvest House, 2012)
  • The GodQuest novel, co-written with Bob Hostetler (Outreach, 2011)
  • The GodQuest, co-written with Stan Jantz (Outreach, 2011)
  • Is God Just a Human Invention? And Seventeen Other Questions Raised by the New Atheists, co-written with Jonathan Morrow (Kregel, 2010)
  • The Unshakable Truth, co-written with Josh McDowell (Harvest House, 2010)
  • More Than a Carpenter, update with co-author Josh McDowell (Tyndale, 2009)
  • Apologetics for a New Generation, General Editor (Harvest House, 2009)
  • Evidence for the Resurrection, co-written with Josh McDowell (Regal Publishing, 2009) *Retailer’s Choice Award Winner, 2009
  • Jesus: Dead or Alive: Evidence for the Resurrection Teen Edition, with Josh McDowell & Ariel Allison (Regal Publishing, 2009)
  • Jesus is Alive! Co-written with Josh McDowell (Regal Publishing, 2009) *ECPA Christian Book Award finalist 2010
  • Understanding Intelligent Design: Everything You Need to Know in Plain Language, with William A. Dembski (Harvest House, 2008)
  • Ethix: Being Bold in a Whatever World (B&H Publishing, 2006)
  • Josh McDowell’s Youth Ministry Handbook (Word, 2000)

Book Chapters, Articles, and Curriculum

  • Shane Enete & Sean McDowell, “Way of life: A future research agenda for how worldviews impact financial attitudes and behaviors,” in Financial Planning Review, e1177 (5 Jan, 2024).
  • Teen Bible Study: Think Biblically: Addressing Cultural Issues with Clarity and Boldness (Lifeway, 2022)
  • “Sexual Purity for a New Generation,” in Know. Be. Live: A 360 Approach to Discipleship in a Post-Christian World, ed. John Basie (Forefront Books, 2021), 114-125.
  • “Disruption Is Nothing New,” Youth Ministry in This Season of Disruption, ed. Mark Oestreicher (San Diego, CA: Youth Cartel, 2020).
  • “The Deaths of the Apostles and Belief in Jesus’ Resurrection,” in Festschrift for Gary Habermas, ed. Michael R. Licona & David Beck (Lexham Press, 2020).
  • Chasing Love: 9 Session Study for Teens (Lifeway, 2020)
  • “Called to Honor: Water into Wine (John 2:1-11)” Guest Lecturer for The Gospel of John: Finding Identity and Purpose 12-Session DVD Complete Kit, ed. Matt Williams (Rose Publishing, July 1, 2019).
  • “A Philosophical Affirmation of Marriage from Natural Law,” in Marriage: Its Foundation, Theology, and Mission in a Changing World (Moody Academic, 2018).
  • D6 Curriculum: What Makes Christianity Unique and Why Is Jesus the Only Way, co-written with Gabriel Pagel (2018).
  • Why I Believe student curriculum, co-written with Timothy Fox (Fall, 2018).
  • “Evidence for Faith” curriculum with DYM University (March 2018)
  • “Five Apologetics Lessons from the Writings of Martin Luther King, Jr.” Christian Research Journal, Vol. 41, No. 1 (2018), p. 58-59.
  • “The Evidence Tactic: Giving Reasons for God,” in Sharing with Mormons, ed. Eric Johnson & Sean McDowell (Harvest House, 2018).
  • “Moral Relativism and Its Essential Flaw,” in Harvest Handbook on Apologetics, ed. Joseph M. Holden (Harvest, 2018), 373-376.
  • “How Culture Has Changed Since Evidence that Demands a Verdict,” Christian Research Journal (Fall, 2017).
  • “Porn and Parenting in the 21st Century,” Christian Counseling Today (CCT), Vol. 22, No. 1 (2017), 10-14.
  • AWANA: 32-lesson apologetics curriculum for students (July 2017)
  • “The Fate of the Apostles” CSB Study Bible (Broadman Holman, Spring 2017).
  • “Did the Apostles Die as Martyrs?” Apologetics Study Bible (Broadman Holman, Summer 2017).
  • “Were the Apostles Really Martyrs?” Christian Research Journal (Vol. 39, No. 2, 2016).
  • “Responding to Revisionist Talking Points about Homosexuality and Same Sex Marriage,” Luther Rice Journal of Christian Studies (Vol 2, Spring 2017).
  • How Can Students Best Defend Their Faith in College” Salvo Magazine (Fall 2016)
  • “How Students Can Thrive in Their Faith in the Classroom” Salvo Magazine, Issue 39 (Winter 2016), 20-21.
  • “How Can Students Stand Strong for Their Faith in College” Salvo Magazine (June 2016).
  • “What Really Happened to the Apostles: A Review of After Acts” (Brian Litfin, Moody Publishers, 2015) the Gospel Coalition (June 2015).
  • “Responding to Pro-Gay Talking Point,” Christian Research Journal (Fall, 2015).
  • Four lessons for D6 Curriculum: 2.0, including “Why Does God Allow Evil?” “Why Does God Allow Suffering?” “Is Hell Real (In Light of a Loving and Benevolent God)?” “Why Do Evil People Prosper?” (Fall 2015; http://d6family.com/d6-curricu...)
  • “Do Levitical Prohibitions on Homosexuality Apply Today?” Christian Research Journal, Vol 38, No. 2 (Fall, 2015), 44-49.
  • “Myths of Evolution,” Decision Magazine, March 2015, p. 14.
  • “Teaching Apologetics to the Next Generation,” Christian Research Journal, Vol 38, No. 2 (Jan 2015), 48-53.
  • “What Skeptics Wish Christians Knew,” Christian Research Journal (May/June 2011).
  • Sean McDowell & Josh McDowell, Focus on the Family Thriving Magazine interview, (February 2011).
  • Sean McDowell & Josh McDowell, “Youth Culture in Transition,” YouthWorker Journal (May/June 2010), 22-25.
  • “How Ready Are You?” With All Your Mind (Spring, 2010), 1-3.
  • “2012: Is the World Coming to an End?” The Brink Magazine (Summer 2010), 63.
  • “Speaking Truth…In Love” The Brink Magazine (Spring 2010), 63.
  • “Could Jesus Have Survived the Cross?” The Brink Magazine (Winter 2009-2010), 63.
  • “Why Would A Loving God Command Genocide?” The Brink Magazine (Fall 2009), 64.
  • Book Review of Ask Me Anything 2, by J. Budziszewski, Christian Research Journal Volume 32, No. 1 (2009).
  • Book Review of Thank God for Evolution and Saving Darwin, Christian Research Journal (forthcoming in 2009)
  • “Objection Overruled: Answering the Top Ten Objections to Intelligent Design” with William A. Dembski, Christian Research Journal, Vol. 31, No. 5 (2008).
  • “The Doctrinal Difference” Christian Research Journal (March 2008). This article was reprinted in What is Truth? The Best of the Christian Research Journal (Charlotte, NC: Christian Research Institute, 2009), 58-65.
  • “Apologetics for an Emerging Generation” in Passionate Conviction, edited by Paul Copan and William Lane Craig (Nashville, TN: B&H, 2007).
  • “Is the New Testament Reliable?” Decision, pages 20-22 (November 2007)
  • “Where the Rubber Meets the Road” Clear Direction (Randall House: June-August 2007), 6-8.
  • “Apologetics for a New Generation” Christian Research Journal, vol. 30, no. 1 (2007), 20-29.
  • Chapter 34, “Answering Postmodernism” in The New Evidence, by Josh McDowell (Thomas Nelson, 1999).
  • “True for you, but not True for Me” YouthWorker Journal (Jan/Feb 2006), 28-32.
  • “The Worldview Difference” YouthWorker Journal (November/December 2006), 54.
  • “In Search of Certainty” AFA Journal (January 2004), 20.
  • “Dating 101” Breakaway Magazine (March 1998)

AWARDS

  • ACSI Exemplary Status for Apologetics Training Trip (2008)
  • San Juan Capistrano Chamber of Commerce Educator of the Year (2008)
  • Charles Feinberg award, the top award for a Talbot graduate (2003)
  • Evidence that Demands A Verdict receive the “Bible Reference Works” book of the year for 2018 by the ECPA.

PERSONAL INFORMATION

  • Marital Status: Married (Stephanie), three children (Scottie, Shauna, Shane)
  • Hobbies: reading, exercising, basketball, playing with my kids
  • Assistant Coach, Biola University Men’s Basketball, 2001-2003