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.
Fox Valley in-person cohort begins September 10, 2026.
APPLICATIONS CLOSE SEPTEMBER 3
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.
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.
CHOOSE YOUR COHORT
💻 ONLINE FELLOWS COHORT
Begins September 14, 2026
Participate remotely through the Hammer & Anvil online community and live cohort meetings.
Best for men outside the Fox Valley or those for whom remote participation is the best fit.
📍 FOX VALLEY IN-PERSON COHORT
Begins September 10, 2026
Join other Christian men for face-to-face cohort meetings in the Batavia/Fox Valley, Illinois area.
Best for men who value in-person fellowship and can regularly attend locally.
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.
In-person Fellows are responsible for their own travel and meals associated with Fox Valley meetings.
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.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Do I need formal theological education?
No. Hammer & Anvil is not restricted to seminary students, pastors or professional theologians. You should come ready to learn and work.
How much time should I expect to spend?
Approximately 3–5 hours per week, including reading, challenges and meetings.
How often does the cohort meet?
Twice per month for approximately 90 minutes. There are no cohort meetings in January.
How much is tuition?
Full tuition is $324.
Are books included?
No. The seven required books are purchased independently.
Where does the in-person cohort meet?
In the Fox Valley/Batavia, Illinois area.
When does the online cohort begin?
September 14, 2026.
When does the in-person cohort begin?
September 10, 2026.
When do applications close?
September 3, 2026.
What happens after I apply?
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.
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.
Online cohort begins September 14.
Fox Valley in-person cohort begins September 10.
Brotherhood. Boldness. Biblical Soundness.