Lecture RL-03 - Audio Lectures On the Common Lectionary - Year A

by Rick Lowery

Our online course for Year "A" of the Lectionary with Dr. Rick Lowery begins with Advent and covers the whole year through a series of radio-style audio lectures. Adult learners will find that Rick's teaching reinforces  their own commitment to life-long learning and encourages them to draw closer to the written Word of God.  And the Church, particularly when study groups join together to listen to Rick and share with one another their own understandings and questions, will find new places of renewed vision and vitality.

For complete information, be sure to see all of the pages listed in the sidebar on the right side of the page.

Dr. Rick Lowery, renowned Bible scholar and popular Bible teacher -- especially in the disciplines of First Testament Studies -- will begin to deliver regular lectures in his role as a Christian College of George Faculty ,starting with Lectionary "Year A". His teaching will begin just before Advent 2016, and will continue for twelve months. Through a series of Audio Lectures, "Rick" will guide listeners through examination of the First Testament lections and will not only help us to understand the context and nuances of centuries-old history, prophecy, wisdom, and literature, but will also bring to life -- in his own inimitable way -- the meanings of the Scriptures for living, learning and loving as Christians and as Proclaimers of the Gospel in the twenty-first century.

Students will want to pay special attention to the texts, which are noted in all popular Lectionary guides, and to the contemporary events in our world today as they listen to and learn with Rick. While there will be lectures for the specific texts for Advent, as we move through the liturgical year the lectures will become periodic -- announced to those who have enrolled and on the public pages of the Online Learning Platform -- and will address several lections at one time. This teaching method will afford the students an overview, a kind of broad-brush sweep of the context and content of a "season" of Scripture.

In online forums, participants will then share their observations of the texts and the teaching with each other -- even uploading their own exegesis, reflections and homiletic material. With this format, we will surely experience a community of continuing education about the Lectionary, the First Testament, and the various tasks and creative encounters with the text which contribute to meaningful preaching.

For those who desire to attribute this learning experience to their portfolios for ministerial competency, you may surely draw attention to the two competency areas of Biblical Knowledge and Proclamation of the Word. If you seek specific guidance in this task, contact your Commission on Ministry or Dr. Bob Harris, President of Christian College of Georgia (770-815-9078).

Please note: For this series, we are introducing Audio Lectures in place of Video Lectures. While perhaps a bit less engaging for the novice, those who know (or know of ) Rick Lowery will appreciate the fact that his lectures contain the wisdom of ancient texts brought to life by his own ministry experience throughout the year; in other words, in audio format we ensure that the knowledge he shares with us is as fresh as the morning News.

Students will be engaged in new ways with new insights as they come around the "radio-styled" lectures with Rick and hear his depth of understanding and explanation of the texts. Preachers will find stimulation for study, hearing a living commentary on the First Testament while reflecting on their own familiarity with the Gospel lections from Matthew (and John as we move into Easter). Adult learners will find that Rick's teaching reinforces their own commitment to life-long learning and encourages them to draw closer to the written Word of God. And the Church, particularly when study groups join together to listen to Rick and share with one another their own understandings and questions, will find new places of renewed vision and vitality.

The variety of ways to join in this year-long opportunity is limited only by your creativity. If you have an idea for a group study or for a lectionary study-group, please contact www.TransformingTheChurch.org to arrange for participation in the way which best meets your need.