BROTHERHOOD • BOLDNESS • BIBLICAL SOUNDNESS

STEP UP AS A THEOLOGICAL LEADER

The Hammer & Anvil Fellows Program is a six-month intensive for Christian men who want to think biblically, defend the faith confidently, disciple others faithfully, and become stronger leaders in their homes, churches, workplaces, and communities.

Online cohort begins September 14, 2026.

APPLICATIONS CLOSE SEPTEMBER 3

APPLY FOR HAMMER & ANVIL FELLOWS PROGRAM →

Application takes approximately 15–25 minutes and includes a no-obligation discovery conversation.

CHRISTIAN MEN WERE NOT CALLED TO BE PASSIVE CONSUMERS

You can listen to sermons every day.

You can subscribe to dozens of podcasts.

You can watch debates, follow theologians, collect books and save apologetics videos.

But eventually somebody is going to look to you.

Your child asks a difficult question.

A friend challenges Christianity.

Someone at church is struggling with doubt.

Your family needs spiritual direction.

A younger man needs guidance.

At that moment, it isn't enough to remember that you once heard somebody else explain the answer.

You need convictions you understand.

You need the ability to articulate them.

You need practice defending them.

And you need the character and leadership to use what you know in service to other people.

Hammer & Anvil exists to help Christian men develop exactly that kind of theological leadership.

 
BEGIN YOUR APPLICATION →
 

THIS IS MORE THAN AN ONLINE COURSE

The Hammer & Anvil Fellows Program is built around formation rather than passive consumption.

During the six-month Fellows Program, you'll read serious Christian works, participate in moderated cohort discussions, complete demanding challenges, practice apologetics, examine your leadership, and develop plans for putting your convictions into action.

You'll do this alongside other Christian men who have also decided that theological growth deserves intentional effort.

STUDY

Develop deeper understanding of the Christian worldview, philosophy, apologetics, discipleship and leadership.

PRACTICE

Write, present, defend, discuss and put what you're learning into real-world action.

BROTHERHOOD

Grow alongside Christian men pursuing the same goal rather than attempting everything alone.

THREE MILESTONES.

SIX MONTHS.

 

MILESTONE 1

BIBLICAL WORLDVIEW & PHILOSOPHY

September–October 2026

Ground your thinking in a thoroughly biblical worldview.

Explore foundational questions involving:

  • Epistemology

  • Ethics

  • Eschatology

  • Christology

  • Metaphysics

  • Human nature

  • Purpose

Milestone Challenge

Develop and present a worldview position paper explaining your convictions across the major categories of a comprehensive worldview.

Required Reading Includes

The Bible Based Worldview — Joel Settecase
We Are All Philosophers — John Frame
On the Incarnation — St. Athanasius

MILESTONE 2

SCRIPTURE-FIRST APOLOGETICS

November–December 2026

Learn to defend the Christian faith with confidence and humility while grounding your apologetic method in God's Word.

Explore:

  • Special Revelation

  • Culture and Society

  • Doubt and Skepticism

  • The Problem of Evil

Challenges

Challenge 1: Write an apologetics paper answering a significant objection.

Challenge 2: Engage in a real-world apologetics defense.

Required Reading Includes

Scripture First Apologetics — Joel Settecase
He Is There and He Is Not Silent — Francis Schaeffer

JANUARY

BUILT-IN BREAK

There are no cohort meetings in January. Use the month to rest, catch up and prepare for the final milestone.

MILESTONE 3

MANLY LEADERSHIP

February–March 2027

Develop your ability to disciple, lead discussions, identify and use your gifts, apprentice leaders and serve others faithfully.

Topics include:

  • Making disciples

  • Spiritual gifts

  • Facilitating discussions

  • Apprenticing leaders

  • Family discipleship

  • Personal ministry direction

Challenges

Complete Working Genius and Spiritual Gifts assessments.

Develop and present a Personal Ministry Mission Plan.

Required Reading Includes

Leading Others — Mac Lake
Bible Based Family Discipleship — Joel Settecase

WHAT COULD SIX MONTHS OF INTENTIONAL FORMATION CHANGE?

Hammer & Anvil is designed to help you become increasingly capable of:

✓ Explaining a coherent Christian worldview
✓ Understanding why you believe what you believe
✓ Identifying assumptions beneath objections to Christianity
✓ Defending the faith with confidence and humility
✓ Having better theological conversations with your children
✓ Leading intentional family discipleship
✓ Contributing more meaningfully within your church
✓ Facilitating discussions and helping other men grow
✓ Understanding your gifts and leadership strengths
✓ Developing a clearer personal ministry direction

We don't promise instant mastery.

We do provide a serious framework in which you can study, practice, be challenged and grow.

COHORT DETAILS

💻 ONLINE FELLOWS COHORT

Begins September 14, 2026

Participate remotely through the Hammer & Anvil online community and live cohort meetings.

APPLY FOR THE ONLINE COHORT →

THE COMMITMENT

The Hammer & Anvil Fellows Program is designed for men with real responsibilities.

But it is not designed to require no effort.

Expect approximately:

3–5 HOURS PER WEEK

Includes reading, challenges and cohort preparation.

2 COHORT MEETINGS PER MONTH

Approximately 90 minutes each.

SEPTEMBER–MARCH

No cohort meetings in January.

CERTIFICATION EVENT

April 2027.

TUITION

$324

Your tuition includes:

✓ Six-month Hammer & Anvil Fellows curriculum
✓ Two moderated cohort meetings per month
✓ Circle community access during the program
✓ Working Genius assessment
✓ Hammer & Anvil Society membership during the program
✓ Cohort resources
✓ Opportunity to earn formal Hammer & Anvil Fellow certification

Not included:

Required books are purchased separately.

START YOUR APPLICATION →

THE BOOKS ARE IMPORTANT. THE WORK IS MORE IMPORTANT.

You could buy these books and read them alone.

We hope you read good books whether or not you join Hammer & Anvil.

But Hammer & Anvil gives you something a stack of books cannot provide by itself:

A structure.
Deadlines.
Discussion.
Practice.
Feedback.
Challenges.
Brotherhood.

The question isn't merely whether you can finish the reading, but whether you can take what you're learning and articulate it, defend it, teach it and lead with it.

WHO SHOULD APPLY?

Hammer & Anvil may be a good fit if:

✓ You are a Christian man age 18 or older.
✓ You affirm The Think Institute's Statement of Faith.
✓ You want to develop a stronger biblical worldview.
✓ You want greater confidence defending Christianity.
✓ You care about discipling your family or other people.
✓ You want to become a more capable leader.
✓ You're willing to read, write, discuss and practice.
✓ You want Christian brotherhood and accountability.
✓ You can realistically commit approximately 3–5 hours per week.

WHO SHOULD NOT APPLY?

Hammer & Anvil is probably not the right program if you're looking primarily for:

A passive video library.
A program requiring virtually no reading or preparation.
A credential without substantive work.
A place to argue theology without pursuing Christian maturity and leadership.

You do not need to be an expert.

You do need to be willing to work.

CERTIFIED HAMMER & ANVIL FELLOW

Men who successfully complete all three curriculum milestones will be formally recognized by The Think Institute as Certified Hammer & Anvil Fellows.

Certification recognizes the diligence, practice and theological work completed throughout the program.

But the certificate is not the ultimate goal.

The goal is the man who earns it.

Graduated Fellows may also have opportunities to help launch and lead future local cohorts, multiplying opportunities for other Christian men to pursue the same kind of formation.

APPLY NOW

FAQ

    1. Biblical Worldview — Learn to think biblically about life’s biggest questions.

    2. Family Discipleship — Learn to lead your household spiritually.

    3. Apologetics — Learn to defend the Christian faith with biblical soundness and boldness.

    Each two-month milestone includes reading, written responses, cohort discussions, a short presentation, and a practical challenge.

  • Fellows will read seven books, along with utilizing various other articles, resources, and videos as needed.

  • Participants will read seven books:

    1. The Bible Based Worldview — Joel Settecase

    2. We Are All Philosophers — John Frame

    3. On the Incarnation — Athanasius

    4. Bible Based Apologetics (formerly Scripture First Apologetics) — Joel Settecase

    5. He Is There and He Is Not Silent — Francis Schaeffer

    6. Leading Others — Mac Lake

    7. Bible Based Family Discipleship — Joel Settecase

  • Yes. Get a concise program overview here:  https://drive.google.com/file/d/1k7ZLkz3g43Q2nLjVuEu_kvQEZI0D3wTJ/view?usp=sharing

  • Yes, participants will be invited to memorize six passages of Scripture that are directly relevant to the program’s curriculum. 

  • The 2026–2027 cohort is the inaugural cohort—the Fellows Program has not run before. 

  • Applications are currently closed as of September 3, 2026. Any applications that come in after that date will be considered for a potential future round of the Fellows Progam (dates TBD). 

  • The application takes approximately 15–25 minutes. The process includes a discovery call with The Think Institute team so both sides can determine whether the program is a good fit. Submitting an application does not obligate you to enroll.

  • Admission decisions will be finalized before the Fellows Program launches on September 14, 2026. Future application and admissions dates will be announced for future rounds of the Fellows Program at a later date. 

  • No. Hammer & Anvil is not restricted to seminary students, pastors or professional theologians. You should come ready to learn and work.

  • Approximately 3–5 hours per week, including reading, challenges and meetings.

  • It is a six-month program, running from September 14, 2026 to March 25, 2027, with a break from meetings in January. The certification event will take place in April 2027. 

  • The Fellows Cohort meets for a video call twice per month on Mondays for approximately 90 minutes, from 8:00–9:30 CT (9:00–10:30 ET; 6:00–7:30 PT). 

  • Full tuition is $324. For non-Society members, full amount is due up front. For existing Society members, there is no additional cost beyond your current Society membership dues.

  • No. The seven required books are purchased independently.

  • Yes. Every required book is available in at least one accessible format—print, ebook/PDF, or audiobook. However, not every title is available in all three formats. Participants may use whichever available format they prefer. 

  • It is a combination of guided instruction, presentations, and open-table discussion. Everyone prepares a 400–600-word Tutorial Brief before each meeting; one designated Fellow gives a 5–7-minute presentation, and the cohort then discusses, questions, tests, and applies the ideas together under guidance.

  • Fellows cohort calls are structured, curriculum-based sessions: everyone completes assigned reading, writes a Tutorial Brief, works on a Milestone Challenge, and comes prepared for a rotating presentation and guided discussion.

    Hammer & Anvil Society calls are broader, ongoing discipleship and fellowship meetings without the Fellows Program’s required curriculum, assignments, presentations, or certification track.

  • Yes. Fellows are expected to build genuine brotherhood outside the formal meetings by connecting, praying for one another, and checking in for encouragement and personal accountability. The program provides the structure, but relationships require each Fellow’s active participation.

  • Both. The readings and assignments provide the structure, but Fellows will also have opportunities to share personal struggles, challenges, prayer needs, and areas requiring accountability. No one will be pressured to disclose more than he is comfortable sharing.

  • We are anticipating a cohort of approximately 6–12 men, but we leave the final number up to the Lord.

  • After graduation, Fellows will be invited to continue in the Hammer & Anvil Society as alumni—remaining part of the broader brotherhood while maintaining the closer friendships formed within their cohort. However, whether they continue in the Hammer & Anvil Society or not, all Fellows will be encouraged to launch their own ministry mission projects, applying what they have learned in the contexts of leadership God has entrusted to them.

WILL YOU STEP UP?

You don't need to know everything.

You don't need to have every theological question solved.

You don't need to become a pastor or professional apologist.

But if you believe it's time to become more serious about understanding biblical truth, defending the Christian faith, discipling others and exercising faithful leadership, Hammer & Anvil was built with men like you in mind.

Applications for the inaugural cohorts close September 3, 2026.

APPLY FOR THE HAMMER & ANVIL FELLOWS PROGRAM→

Brotherhood. Boldness. Biblical Soundness.