Category: Devotional Resources - Harding School of Theology

Communion Meditation from Luke 24 – Parker Bullard

September 8, 2020 by Matt Carter

In Luke 24, Jesus visits with some disciples who do not recognize him until he breaks bread with them, at which point they do not see him anymore. Jesus was present but unseen with them just as he is present but unseen with us in communion.

Parker Bullard preaches for the Poncha Springs Church of Christ in Colorado. He graduated in 2020 with an MA and an MDiv from HST.

Harding School of Theology, a graduate school of theology (seminary) in Memphis, TN, has been equipping ministers since 1958. Accredited by the Association of Theological Schools, and offering degree programs at the master’s and doctoral levels, HST equips Christian leaders to higher standards of ministry scholarship and challenges them to a deeper faith in God. Combining academic rigor and interpersonal connections, HST emphasizes student engagement in ministry as they study. HST is associated with Churches of Christ, is part of the Stone-Campbell Movement, and is part of Harding University in Searcy, Arkansas.

The Development and Reliability of the Bible Part 2: The New Testament

August 27, 2020 by Matt Carter

Where did the New Testament come from? How did we end up with these 27 books?

Key take-aways:

The Apostolic Fathers were church leaders who wrote between the end of the first century and the first half of the second century.

Their use of the New Testament books in their writings gives us insight into how the church viewed these books.
For example, Clement of Rome wrote a letter to the Corinthian churches around the year 90 and referred to 1 Corinthians, Romans, and Hebrews.
Many of the books of the New Testament are cited by the church fathers.

Marcion was the first person we know of to list a canon. He was a heretic who only used edited versions of books that agreed with his false teachings.
The Muratorian Canon is a list using most of our NT books dating from the late second century (150-200).
The first known person to make a list that includes our 27 books, no more or less, was Athanasius writing in 373 AD.
Eusebius wrote a church history around 303 AD. He lists 22 books that everyone recognizes and a group of 5 books that most people recognize. These 27 match our modern 27 books.

Jimmy L. Stokes II has served as preaching minister at the Northeast Side Church of Christ in Bartlett, TN (metro Memphis) since 2010. Bro. Stokes grew up in the Memphis area and is active in the community on a variety of fronts and creatively engages community issues with faith, serves on the Planning Commission in Horn Lake, MS. God uses both his preaching and his musical talents to bless the church. Stokes earned a B.S. in Religious Studies at Southwestern Christian College. He is married to Akilah (Hill) and they have one daughter, Xaria.

Dr. Allen Black is the dean of HST and Professor of New Testament. He has been at HST since 1983, and teaches the Gospels, Hebrews, 1 Peter, and New Testament Exegesis. Black has served as Adult Education Minister at the Highland Church of Christ for over 35 years.

The Development and Reliability of the Bible Part 1: The Old Testament

August 21, 2020 by Matt Carter

Where did the Old Testament come from? Is there any reason that Christians should view it as the word of God?

Key take-aways:

The Bible did not arrive as a leather bound edition. These were individual writings collected in a book.
The Old Testament books were written over about a 1,000 year period.
We do not know as much about the writing and collecting of the Old Testament as we do about the New Testament.
The Septuagint (abbreviated LXX) is a Greek translation of the Old Testament made around 200 years before the time of Jesus. (Dr. Black discusses the LXX on this video.)
The Dead Sea Scrolls preserve ancient copies of almost all of the Old Testament.
Jesus and the Apostles quote, rely on, and consider the Old Testament as the authoritative Word of God.

Communion Alone – Matt Carter

August 6, 2020 by Matt Carter

Matt Carter has often said that the one part of worship you cannot do alone is to participate in communion. He may have been wrong … or maybe not.

He shares a communion meditation here that offers encouragement to those of us who find ourselves “alone” on a Sunday morning.

1 Corinthians 10:16-17

Dr. Matt Carter serves as Director of Admissions at HST. He spent many years in campus ministry and church planting before coming to the school. Matt’s current research focuses on the area of spiritual gifts and how churches can help Christians find their fit in the congregation. See the One Body Workshop website for more information.

Harding School of Theology, a graduate school of theology (seminary), has provided ministry training in Memphis, TN since 1958. Accredited by the Association of Theological Schools, and offering degree programs at the master’s and doctoral levels, HST equips Christian leaders to higher standards of ministry scholarship and challenges them to a deeper faith in God. Combining academic rigor and interpersonal connections, HST emphasizes student engagement in ministry as they study. HST is associated with Churches of Christ, is part of the Stone-Campbell Movement, and is part of Harding University in Searcy, Arkansas.

Lessons from the School of Quarantine

July 15, 2020 by Matt Carter

HST’s Dr. Matt Carter (admissions director) and his dad Jim Carter (elder, Campus View Church of Christ) share three lessons we can learn from the school of quarantine.

This was recorded as a devotional for Campus View. We lightly edited it to make it more widely applicable. Key take-aways:

The Passover (Exodus 12): The Israelites were quarantined in their homes – anyone outside died. But while they were stuck inside, God was doing a mighty work outside.
“Doubting” Thomas (John 20:24-29): Jesus met the disciples where they were in their doubt and fear and greatly increased their faith.
Pentecost (Acts 2): God’s people emerged from their isolation empowered by the Holy Spirit and God used them to change the world!

Jim Carter, elder at the Campus View Church of Christ, has long been known as an excellent Bible teacher. He and his wife Sue are also renowned in the church community for their generosity and hospitality. The Carters became a part of Campus View when Jim was in law school, and they helped establish the congregation’s campus ministry at the University of Georgia. Jim continues to practice law.

Dr. Matt Carter serves as Director of Admissions at HST. He spent many years in campus ministry before coming to the school. Matt’s current research focuses on the area of spiritual gifts and how churches can help Christians find their fit in the congregation. See the One Body Workshop website for more information.

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