72nd Annual Pepperdine Bible Lectures May 5-8, 2015 From the Killing Fields To the Mission Field okhom Hun suffered yet survived the brutality of Pol Pot’s Khmer Rouge S(1975-1979) in which over 3 million Cambodians died. Hun lost 16 members of his family, including his father, who was killed in front of him. Most Cambodians who found refuge in the U.S. and other countries have little desire to return to Cambodia. Hun converted to Christianity from Buddhism in 1981. After years of Christian service in the U.S., he returned to Cambodia in 2009 to serve as a full- time missionary. Hun’s life underscores the power of God’s forgiveness. Wednesday, 9–10 pm The Present and Future of Spiritual Leadership ased on the findings of a large-scale research project undertaken by Pepperdine and the BBarna Group, David Kinnaman will reveal the state of spiritual leadership in America today—and consider the future for current faith leaders and those will answer the calling to a pastoral vocation. What are their greatest challenges in ministry, for family life and when it comes to their own emotional, intellectual, and spiritual growth? How effective are their churches for catalyzing transformation in lives and communities? And how are faith leaders perceived and misperceived by the wider culture? David Kinnaman is the president and majority owner of the Barna Group, a visionary research and resource company located in Ventura, California. He is the author of two best selling books, unChristian and You Lost Me, which focus on the spiritual lives of teens and 20-somethings. Under his leadership, the Barna Team created the FRAMES project–brief meaningful books on contemporary culture. During Kinnaman’s 19 years at the firm, he has supervised or directed interviews with more than 400,000 individuals and leaders. He and his wife Jill have three children, Emily, Annika, and Zack. Th rsday, 9–10 pm pepperdine.edu/biblelectures Message from the President The entire University community is honored to have you with us. Some of you are experiencing this remarkable annual gathering for the first time while some others have not missed the Pepperdine Bible Lectures in decades. In any event, I know you will bless us with your presence and in the many ways that you will contribute to the spirit of this event. May our God be honored in all that we say and do. If I may, I would like to invite you to come along as we take a walk with our brother James this week. If we will listen carefully, each of us will hear him as he reminds us that "FaithWorks." Most all of us have learned to lean into a trusting relationship with God through his Son; indeed, faith works and it is the most dependable element of our lives. A working faith is important to all of us and, especially to today’s university student. Gone are Sunday-only Christians attending worship out of a sense of duty. Replacing them are those who choose to live out their faith through service in locations as close as the foot of our campus, extending to faraway unsettled corners of the world. Th se of us serving in Christian higher education may not change the world, but I think we are educating those who will. Th t is my prayer. In the fourth chapter of his book, James writes: “Draw near to God and he will draw near to you.” Let us use this week, this campus, and this fellowship to draw nearer to God. Whether early in the morning as the beauty of the day unfolds, or late at night after a long, thought- provoking day, let God draw near to us as we draw ever closer to Him. May this week and its precious moments be etched indelibly in each of our lives. Th se Pepperdine University 72nd annual Bible Lectures are meant to call us to action and to a deeper faith. Join us as we take a walk with James. And re w K. Bent on President 1 Message from Mike Cope I still have my old Bible from high school Learning from the days—a treasured old King James Version given to me by my parents. It’s interesting to Book of James me to leaf through it to see where the pages are most worn. WEDNESDAY The e are sections of the Old Testament that Finding Jesus in James (The Word of Truth from an “Epistle of Straw”) are like new, and the pages of Revelation are Ron Cox almost stuck together. 8:30-9:15 AM But when I turn to James, the pages nearly fall out. Verses are underlined, and Paul, James, and Luther notes fill the narrow margins. (Faith, Works, and Justification Randy Chesnutt I grew up learning to love the book of James. Perhaps some of that wasn’t 9:30-10:15 AM healthy: a constant focus on works without being anchored in the security of Patient Anticipation (James 5:7-11) God’s grace. Rick Ross 1:30-2:15 PM But now as I return to James, confident of God’s amazing grace, I marvel again at the power of his words: a rebuke of any dumbed-down “discipleship” THURSDAY that is reluctant to put faith into action. The Search for Wisdom James believes in religion—at least religion in the proper sense of living (Engaging Israel’s Wisdom Literature) out one’s faith. We often hear, “I’m spiritual but not religious.” James might Rick Marrs encourage a bit less “spirituality” and a little more old-time religion (as 8:30-9:15 AM defined, e.g., in 1:27). What Does It Mean to Say, “If the Lord Wills”? In Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress, one of the interesting characters Christian (Providence in the Book of James) meets is Mr. Talkative—a garrulous soul who is more interested in discussing Ron Highfiel faith than in putting faith into practice. 9:30-10:15 AM To people like Mr. Talkative, James urges that they “keep a tight rein on their Preaching James (Part 1: Practicing tongues.” Less talk, more action. Christian Character) David Bland What a timely challenge this is for the church today when, relishing the grace 1:30-2:15 PM of God (as we should), we can easily become allergic to any talk of works. FRIDAY James is a wonderful antidote to this tendency as he reminds us that faith Abraham, the Father of the Fearful means following the example and teaching of Jesus—lived out in this world! Tim Willis 8:30-9:15 AM We look forward to having you join us on Pepperdine’s beautiful campus as we—in addition to worshiping and reconnecting with friends!—enter into Rahab, the Mother of Faith the challenging world of James where faith is expressed in loving action. Kaylynn Myers 9:30-10:15 AM Preaching James (Part 2: Putting Spirituality in Working Clothes) David Bland Mich ael W. Cope 1:30-2:15 PM Director of Ministry Outreach 2 pepperdine.edu/biblelectures pepperdine.edu/biblelectures TUESDAY EVENING 2015 Keynote Josh Ross Memphis, Tennessee "Count It Pure Joy!?" (James 1:1-18) Speakers WEDNESDAY MORNING THURSDAY EVENING Dusty Rush Jeff Walling Norcross, Georgia Malibu, California "Ushering 101" "O Be Careful Little Tongue" (James 2:1-12) (James 3:1-12) WEDNESDAY EVENING FRIDAY MORNING Terry Rush Antenor Gonçalves Tulsa, Oklahoma Itu, Brazil "God's Magnificent Obsession" "A Wisdom Books Won't Teach You" (James 1:25-27) (James 3:13-4:10) THURSDAY MORNING FRIDAY EVENING Sara Barton Jonathan Storment Malibu, California Abilene, Texas "Arrogance Dismantled" "FaithWorks: Living Out the Way of Jesus" (James 4:11-5:6) (James 2:14-26) EARLY MORNING WORSHIP WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY Jennifer Hale D'Esta Love Amy McLaughlin- Christy Malibu, California Sheasby Beaverton, Oregon Abilene, Texas Jason Locke Eddie White Shane Hughes Fresno, California Colorado Springs, Colorado Campbell, California 3 2015 Bible Lectures SINGING GROUPS Won by One Metr o Pr aise Pepperdine University, California Carson, California pepperdine.edu/churchrelations/wbo cochristmetro.com Psall o Minis tries The Z OE Gr oup Los Angeles, California Nashville, Tennessee psalloministries.org zoegroup.org 4 pepperdine.edu/biblelectures pepperdine.edu/biblelectures Hall al Singers College P r aise Midland, Texas Fresno, California hallalworship.com collegecofc.com International Bible Lectures Chorale Join with a hundred beautiful voices from around the globe for this new chorale experience! A selection of songs will be distributed months before the concert so that you have time to rehearse your part. The erformance will take place in Smothers Th atre on Th rsday evening, with rehearsal on Wednesday evening. Directed by Sherdale Smith, a vocal instructor for aspiring artists and community choirs, and minister of music for Cypress Church of Christ in Cypress, California. Born in Brookhaven, Mississippi, Sherdale Smith is the second of four children. He was nurtured by his grandmother, “Mama Gussie” in the “woods” of his small town. Mama Gussie sang in the choir at the Center Street Church of Christ, and Sherdale would stand alongside her every Sunday while she sang her testimonial song, "Can’t Nobody Do Me Like Jesus" and each week she said to him, “Come on, son, and help Grandma sing this song.” Without hesitation, her grandson would lend his voice, and it was there that Sherdale was introduced to music. Sherdale has lent his voice, direction, and education of music to an eclectic community of musicians and organizations, including TAKE 6, the Norwood Kids Foundation, BET Gospel Celebration, Los Angeles Preparatory School of Performing Arts, A Place Called Home, LAUSD after-school program “TheHarmony Project,” and the Pepperdine University Gospel Choir.