Harding’s 91st Annual Bible Lectureship will kick off Sunday, Sept. 28-Oct. 1, continuing Harding’s tradition of bringing speakers from across the country to communicate God’s message through a series of lectures.
The theme for this year’s Lectureship is “Return! Studies in Ezra, Nehemiah and Esther.” Keynote speakers include Alan Robertson, Gary Smith, Jim Martin, David Young, B. Chris Simpson.
There will be programs specifically designed for women, a special student lecture series, as well as Spanish and Chinese lectures.
Senior Shelby Coble, a student lecturer, will be presenting her topic “Claim Your Inheritance.” Coble said she is excited to share her personal journey and hopes students can relate and join in with her. The focus of her lecture is centered on seeking the reasons why we are children of God.
“If you know who God is and what God says you are, then you have a better understanding,” Coble said. “You are able to grasp better what your mission is and what your purpose is as His child.”
Coble says she wants students and other attendees to seek who God is and where his purpose falls when he provides his children with opportunity.
“We each have something to do that God has placed in our hearts,” Coble said. “God has given us the talents and passions to do them and seek after what that is.”
Coble said that the importance of Harding’s Lectureship tradition is bringing people to educate the students and faculty and foster growth.
“I think Lectureship is a great atmosphere in which we can see what God is doing outside of Harding,” Coble said. “We can see what he’s working on with people that are coming here.”
Senior SA president Philip Habegger is also leading a student lecture, and he said he is excited to have the chance to share what he has learned. Habegger’s lecture is titled “Return to Sender: Learning from the Theology of the Global South.”
“It’s about knowing that we have a lot to learn from the Global South,” Habegger said. “We think we’re always bringing the gospel to them, but really they have so much Gospel and truth that they bring to us.”
Junior Tyler Newton will also be presenting a student lecture titled “God’s Eternal Purpose.” Newton said his lecture relates to the entire story of the Bible and God’s desire to walk with his people for eternity.
“If God has structured everything, his entire plan around being with us again, the least we can do is do the same for him,” Newton said. “We should strive to structure our lives around being focused on him and wanting to be back with him one day.”
Newton said Harding’s theme of “A Community of Mission” is found in the center of Lectureship.
“If we can change someone through God’s message, then Lectureship was a success,” Newton said.
Students are encouraged to attend seminars not solely for class credit, but rather for a chance to be in a position to learn or teach. Students will have a chance to attend lectures, Bible studies and concerts centered on this theme.
Visit www.harding.edu/lectureship for more class information and the full schedule.
