You are cordially invited
to the inaugural Dave L. Bland Lecture in Homiletics
Presented by Harding School of Theology 2025 Lecture.
“Character and Autobiography in Preaching”
by Dave L. Bland
Prices:
Dave L. Bland was born and raised on a farm in northern Colorado. He married his wife, Nancy Cochran Bland, in 1976. They have three sons and six grandchildren. Dave has preached in congregations across the country, including the Eastside Church of Christ in Portland, Oregon and the White Station Church of Christ in Memphis, Tennessee. He first taught courses at Columbia Christian College in Portland for fourteen years. In 1993, he moved to Memphis to begin work at Harding School of Theology as Professor of Preaching, where he taught for thirty years. Dave is the author of several books, including Proverbs and the Formation of Character (Cascade) and Creation, Character, and Wisdom: Rethinking the Roots of Environmental Ethics (Wipf & Stock). He is now retired Professor Emeritus at HST and serves the White Station church as an elder. He lives on an 80-acre farm in Somerville, Tennessee.
Dr. Kevin Youngblood serves as professor of biblical studies in the College of Bible and Ministry at Harding and as preaching minister for the Westridge Church of Christ in Pocahontas, Arkansas. During his 30 years of ministry, he has served churches in Pennsylvania, Tennessee and Kentucky. He holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Lipscomb University, a Master of Divinity from Westminster Theological Seminary, and a doctorate from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. His research and teaching interests center on Hebrew and Greek linguistics, biblical poetry, prophetic literature, and Septuagint studies. Dr. Youngblood is the author of the Jonah volume in the Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the Old Testament and is currently working on the Lamentations volume in that same series. He has four children: Karissa, who is married to Josh Williams, Carmen, who is deceased, Khyle and Gabriel, and two grandchildren, Grant Oliver and Grace Marie.
Jeff Peterson is the Jack C. and Ruth Wright Professor of New Testament at Austin Graduate School of Theology, where he has taught since 1993; he has also taught Biblical Greek and New Testament at Abilene Christian University, the University of Texas at Austin, and the Seminary of the Southwest. He grew up in Galena Park, Texas (near Houston), and earned a B.A. and M.A. from Abilene Christian University, the degree of Master of Divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary, and the Ph.D. in New Testament studies from Yale University. His publications include the popular book Things That Matter: A Guide to Christian Faith and the forthcoming book Folly to Gentiles: The Death and Resurrection of Jesus in the Faith of the First Christians. Peterson has spoken at the Pepperdine University Bible Lectures, the ACU Summit Lectureship, the Ministers’ Sermon Seminar in Austin, and numerous churches, serving frequently as an interim pulpit minister. Peterson has three children — Benjamin, Laura, and Brian, and is a member of the University Avenue Church of Christ in Austin.
Matthew is the Preaching Minister for the Beebe Church of Christ in Arkansas. He came to Harding from Southeastern Ohio to study Bible. After his time in Searcy, he earned an MDiv from Harding School of Theology. He is now a PhD in Preaching candidate at Baylor University. In August 2024, he began teaching full-time at Harding School of Theology, teaching courses in Preaching and Ministry. He has been married to Madison for thirteen years, and they have three children: a ten-year-old daughter, Shiloh; a four-year-old son, August; and a one-year-old son, Eliot.
Dr. Devin Swindle is a professor of Bible and ministry, director of the Kerusso Experience, and co-director of Inspire. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Bible and religion from Harding and a Master of Divinity in Old Testament and a Doctor of Ministry in preaching, both from Harding School of Theology. Swindle teaches courses in Old and New Testament texts, preaching and ministry. Additionally, he has served as pulpit minister for the Highway Church of Christ for 20 years
Originally from Paragould, Arkansas, Swindle and his wife of 26 years, Rachel Nelms of Walnut Ridge, Arkansas, have six sons: Isaac, Elijah, Samuel, Josiah, Eli and Jeremiah. When he is not preaching and teaching, he loves to cheer on the Harding Academy Wildcats, the Harding University Bisons, and the 11-time World Series champion St. Louis Cardinals.
Matthew Love • Dr. Devin Swindle • Dr. Phil Thompson • Dr. Rob O'Lynn
Dr. Devin Swindle • Spencer Furby • Dr. Jeremy Flowers • Matthew Love • Bob Turner
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