The Living Word Initiative
Equipping congregations through faithful Christian scholarship and biblical teaching.
Bringing Samford’s Theologians and Biblical Scholars to Your Churches
Serving the Church has always been central to Samford University’s mission. Through The Living Word Initiative, congregations can connect with experienced faculty from Samford University’s Department of Biblical and Religious Studies for engaging, biblically grounded teaching that encourages pastors, equips believers, and strengthens the local church.
The Living Word Initiative extends the expertise of Samford faculty in biblical studies, theology, and church history beyond the classroom, creating opportunities for churches throughout Birmingham, Alabama, and the Southeast to learn directly from Samford scholars.
Churches Can Invite Faculty to Teach Through
- Sunday/Wednesday evening Bible studies
- Sunday school classes and teaching series
- Conferences and seminars
- Guest preaching/teaching
- Special lectures
Whether a church is planning a single event or an extended teaching series, the goal is to connect congregations with faculty members whose areas of expertise align with their needs and interests.
Sample Lecture Topics
Sample Lecture Topics
Old Testament
- The Life of Abraham
- Exodus: At the Heart of the Biblical Story
- The Book of Judges: Rescue from the Enemy Within
- Where is God in our Suffering? And Old Testament Perspective
- What does it mean to be “Wise” according to the Old Testament?
- Encountering the Song of Songs
- The Not So Minor Prophets
New Testament
- Understanding the Jewish World of Jesus
- Excavating the Land of Jesus
- Jesus as the God of Israel in the New Testament
- Matthew’s Portrait of Jesus
- Seeing the Gospel of Mark with New Eyes
- Reading Romans Today: Understanding Paul’s Most Famous Letter
- The Apostle to the Gentiles: Understanding Paul
Theology/History
- Early Christians and Pagan Challenges
- Who are the Church Fathers and Why do They Matter?
- Thinking about the Trinity
- Evil and Suffering: Christian Perspectives
- The Bible and the History of Christian Worship
- Why the Reformation Matters
- Who was Augustine and Why Does he Matter Today?
- Living in the Love of God: Being Happy and Human
Serving Churches & Building Partnerships
The Living Word Initiative is designed to serve churches of different sizes, traditions and ministry contexts while strengthening the relationship between Samford University and the local church.
To achieve the goal of including as many churches as possible, funds have been raised from generous donors and organizations to compensate these Samford faculty for sharing their expertise in Churches that might not otherwise be able to afford it. In short, don’t let cost keep you from benefitting from this program!
At its heart, The Living Word Initiative seeks to encourage pastors, equip congregations, and support the work of Christ’s Church while extending Samford’s longstanding commitment to academic excellence, Christian service, and faithful engagement with the world.
Contact us for more information about The Living Word Initiative or to discuss bringing a Samford faculty member to your congregation.
