Loading ...The Purpose of Lectureships
I do not go to as many of these events as I would like. I am still in school so mostly I feel that my intensive classes are functioning as a lectureship week. Though I am going to Pepperdine this year. Never been to California and never been to Pepperdine, so this should be exciting. I know there are some things that people do not like about the Pepperdine lectureship, but I have been in school a long time and heard a bunch of stuff I might not like and I have read a ton of books that I do not like every sentence in those books. I am a big boy and can think for myself, if someone says it, does not mean I have to believe it.
This is making me think about the purpose of lectureships in the churches of Christ. It seems to me, and I could be wrong, that there are some lectureships that talk about the ground already won in the battle for Christ over and over again. This is great, I like hearing about the civil war a lot. I am glad we won those victories and I have a great respect for those battles of the past. But when I go to a lectureship, I do not need to hear about the old battles won, but how to win new ground for Christ. How can I win this present battle for the Lord?
So yea, I might hear some stuff that is “out there” but I would rather hear it and allow the community to judge it than to hear another lesson on how to shoot a canon. I need laser help, not gun powder lessons. What are we dealing with in today’s world and how can we use this to spread the message of Christ. I need help for the future.
A lectureship is not a local church. These are places for new ideas to be shared. Then we can think about our own context in the local church. I want to hear fresh ideas at these lectureships, and I believe these are the places to give them. We need to think present-future.
So what do you think about our lectureships in the churches of Christ? Are they helpful? Which ones do you like the best? Love to hear some thoughts on this.
Related posts:
- Review of “Winning on Purpose”
- The Purpose Behind the Action
- Review of “Prophet of Purpose”
- Reflections on Pepperdine
- Reflections on HCU Workshop
About The Author
You are going to enjoy yourself much at the Pepperdine Lecture’s and their content is well-balanced between ideas shared by academically focused leaders and those by leaders serving in some capacity of local ministry. As for some who like to cry wolf regarding the Pepperdine Lectures, their cry is more myth than fact and based upon more gossip than truth.
Besides the Lectures themselves, Pepperdine University is a beautiful campus, one of the prettiest in our nation. I am always tossed between Pepperdine and Cornell as to which is more splendid but I lean toward Pepperdine because its leaders have welcomed the beauty of God on its campus as well.
I don’t know yet whether I will make it or not but one of my personal favorites was when everyone sang “How I Love the Great Redeemer”. To hear 15,000 Christian singing that hymn will raise the hair on the back of your neck.
Enjoy and be filled with the joy and power of the Spirit while you are there.
Grace and peace,
Rex
Many lectureships are designed as a way to showcase the school or the campus and to help raise funds for the school. The content is designed with their target audience and supporters in mind. This is not bad, it is actually a great strategy.
I don’t attend any for the whole time because many rehash the same content over and over and avoid the topics I need and want. They use the same formula every year and the results are of course the same. They are great places to network and spend time with old friends.
I attend Youth Specialties convention every year because they address the topics that I need to grow as a minister. I like being challenged. I would love for a place to address controversial topics and let both side tell why they believe and practice it the way they do. But in a world of determining who is faithful and sound who would ever want to do that.
I agree with K.R.B. that you will certainly find more than enough to enjoy at Pepperdine. I will be going this year again after missing the previous two. The lectures i’ve attended at PU
have all been great and the praise/worship times are the best i’ve been a part of. And the Malibu view cannot be beat.
Thank you for the comments. I agree with you Rusty.
I’ll be at Pepperdine for the first time this year as well. I have only experienced the FHU lectures, which I have always found very dull and agenda based. I am looking forward to something a little fresher in my opinion.
Too many people view certain lectures as the “spokesman” for the church of Christ. If we take them for what they are, basically a workshop, then they are very uplifting and encouraging!
I hope and pray it is a fun week for you at the Pepperdine lectureship this year. I have never been, and hope to do so at some point in the future. God bless you, your family, and the work y’all are doing.