
Harbor, Pepperdine Bible Lectures
Christian scholars and church leaders at Harbor, Pepperdine University’s annual Bible Lectures, inspire listeners with this collection of topics on Christian living, relationships, ministry, and biblical insight.
Latest episodes

May 17, 2022 • 38min
Hope Knows No Defeat
Teacher: Jim Martin
Many Christians, including ministers and other church leaders, describe the last two years as being very hard. Yet, this is the time to be intentional regarding practices and habits that can give us strength and courage. This class will offer something helpful for all us who want to live as a people of hope.

May 17, 2022 • 35min
Healing the Roots of Discrimination
Teacher: Todd Lollar
Todd shares his discovery of the three roots of discrimination found within the church. In his bestselling book, Weak is the New Strong, he guides readers down the path of self-discovery as he shares his personal story of revelation upon realizing that God’s power is displayed through his weakness, Cerebral Palsy. In this session, Todd will not only help attendees discover how God’s power is displayed through their own weakness, he will also discuss the implications of not viewing others in that light. As he shares in his book, he experiences the most discrimination within the church, and in this session he will help you learn how to heal the roots of that discrimination for all involved.

May 17, 2022 • 37min
Encountering God Through Scripture Prayer Practices
Teacher: Falon Barton
While reading the Bible for information is important, the story of the Bible is meant to help us experience the living God. We will learn five spiritual practices that give us a more holistic understanding of the Bible and, most importantly, draw us deeper into the presence of God. For anyone who leads small groups or teaches Bible classes — or who wants to breathe new life into their own Bible study — these practices will help the Bible come alive in whole new ways.

May 17, 2022 • 43min
Step Outside the Box
Teacher: Tiffany Dahlman
Tiffany is the pulpit minister of a church with an open pulpit. How does this work? What are the benefits of equipping a variety of voices from within the congregation to preach the Sunday sermon? These and other questions, like, "How do I convince my elders that I'm not taking a week off if we open the pulpit?" will be answered in this session that has applicability for church members, church leaders, and preachers alike.

May 17, 2022 • 47min
Five Surefire Steps to Renew Your Church...Though It May Die in the Process
Teacher: Jason Locke

May 17, 2022 • 46min
Navigating Polarizing Relationships
Teacher: Kelly Haer
Are differences polarizing your relationships with family, friends, or co-workers? Are you struggling to interact with others and make sense of situations when you don't see eye-to-eye? This workshop will equip you to categorize types of differences and identify the varied relational impacts amidst these dynamics. Having named the relational landscape, you’ll learn to apply a framework for emotional-relational health that will empower you to maximize relational connection and satisfaction among polarized relationships. Hosted by the Boone Center for the Family.

May 13, 2022 • 46min
Ministry Hacks
Teacher: Jacob Parnell
"90% of ministry is stealing other people's good ideas."–my buddy Allyn Bradley. If you're doing ministry in a church with a small team (or no team), come hear some ways that you can multiply ministry resources and opportunities simply by being connected with other ministers and helping organizations. I'll share some stories of how networking has blessed the 75-member northern California church where I serve and give attendees the chance to share their networking success stories as well. It's a collaborative session about the value and necessity of collaborating!

May 13, 2022 • 37min
Evolution and the Pandemic
Teacher: Janet Ray
For decades, people of faith have been told that that evolution is a lie. In order to sustain the ruse, scientists must hide evidence for creation and refuse to publish intelligent design articles in journals. If we believe that scientists aren’t telling us the truth regarding evolution, it is not a stretch to believe that scientists are trying to deceive us in other things. We are now reaping the consequences of decades of science denial in the response of far too many Christians during the COVID19 pandemic. This presentation explores the impact of science denial on the Christian witness.

May 13, 2022 • 39min
Rhetorical Analysis of a Controversial Sermon
Teacher: Grace Hall
In 2014, the Campbell Church of Christ made the decision to add an instrumental service on Sunday mornings. In preparation for this move, the preaching minister gave a sermon that wrestled with the Biblical, theological, and doctrinal history of the a cappella tradition in the churches of Christ. This session will break down the rhetorical strategies used to navigate such a charged topic and provide a roadmap for others who need to address similarly difficult topics.

May 13, 2022 • 47min
Bridges Out of Poverty
Teacher: Jessica Knapp
One result of the financial insecurity of the last several months has been an increase in the number of homeless and at-risk families. We will explore what steps we as the church can take to help our neighbors in need. We will talk about the difficulties of dealing with mental health issues, systemic struggles faced by our friends as well as finding the balance between helping and hurting.