WELCOME TO THE HARDING LECTURES

WELCOME TO THE HARDING LECTURES
Dear friends,
Welcome to the campus of Harding University and to our 92nd annual Bible Lectureship! Lectureship is a tradition
that is as old as the University itself. Harding began as a college where faith permeated the campus. It is our prayer
and our goal that such faith still shapes all that we do here. In our most recent mission statement, we reaffirm that
“we are, at our core, a Christian university.” The annual Bible Lectureship is a cherished expression of our longstanding
commitment to teach the word of God and to serve the church.
One of my favorite stories from Lectureship took place a few years ago when I found a friend of mine in the McInteer
rotunda as people were packing up and heading home after the four-day event had concluded. I asked him how
his experience had been, and he said, “Incredible!” He told me that he was heading back to his home state to share
with his preaching friends what he had experienced. He said, “I’m going to tell them that at Harding University
they still believe the Bible, and they’re not mad at anybody!” I chuckle every time I remember my friend’s words, but I think he said it well;
our annual Bible Lectureship seeks to proclaim clearly and boldly the inspired Scriptures with a gentle, kind, loving and Christ-like spirit.
Again, welcome to campus! I pray that your experience here this week is helpful, uplifting, inspirational, challenging and spiritually refreshing.
And I hope you will go home and tell people that you found a special event that takes place at the end of September each year on the
campus of Harding University where “they still believe the Bible, and they’re not mad at anybody!”
May the Lord bless you richly,
Bruce D. McLarty
President
Dr. Bruce D. McLarty
President
Dear guests,
“The disciples came to Jesus and asked, ‘Why do you speak to the people in parables?’ Jesus replied,
‘The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you but not to them.
Whoever has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what
he has will be taken from him. This is why I speak to the people in parables.’” MATTHEW 13:10-13
I join Dr. McLarty in welcoming you to Lectureship! It is our prayer that you will leave this year’s Lectureship with
an abundance — an abundance of knowledge about the message of the parables, an abundance of insight into the
secrets of the kingdom, and most of all an abundance of appreciation for Jesus, the master teacher!
We have assembled a lineup of dynamic speakers to unlock the treasures of the parables. My thanks to them for
their willingness to share the fruits of their scholarship.
In addition, the Lectureship Committee spent many months in careful preparation. I am indebted to Scott Adair, Dan Williams
Tom Alexander, Andrew Baker, Dale Manor, Karl McLarty, Sherry Pollard, Bill Richardson, Steve Reeves, Daniel
Stockstill, Devin Swindle, Phil Thompson, Anessa Westbrook and Noel Whitlock for their vital contributions. I am
Lectureship Director
especially grateful to Teresa Castleman, my administrative assistant, for her creative suggestions and her invaluable work in coordinating the
many moving parts that make up this annual event.
Finally, our deepest appreciation goes to you, our Lectureship guests, for your support and encouragement, your active participation in this
program, and above all for your work in the kingdom.
Dr. Dan Williams
Lectureship Director
2 • Harding Lectureship 2015