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​89TH ANNUAL BIBLE LECTURESHIP

PROMISE AND PROVIDENCE: A Faith Journey through Genesis

We are excited to announce the theme for the 89th annual Freed-Hardeman University Lectures (March 16-20, 2025): “Promise and Providence: A Faith Journey through Genesis.” Though we will be meeting a bit later in the spring due to renovations on Loyd Auditorium, our journey through Genesis will begin with the story of God creating the universe and humankind, followed by humanity’s sinful rebellion against Him in the garden (Gen. 1-3). Through God’s provision and patience, we will explore the stories of the global flood, Babel, and the distribution of humankind throughout the earth (Gen. 4-11). We will walk alongside men and women of faith such as Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebekah, Esau, Jacob, and many others, witnessing how their faith is refined, strengthened, and tested through their sojourning as the people of God (Gen. 12-36). God’s promise to bless His people in their faithfulness (Gen. 12:3; 15:6) will serve as an anchor throughout the tumultuous stories of Jacob and his family, leading us through the journey of Joseph, and eventually Israel, to Egypt (Gen. 37-50). May we remember God’s promises as we continue our journey in faith, trusting that He will provide even in times of trial (Gen. 50:20).

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2024 Lectureship Resources

Triumph of the Lamb: The Battle with Evil in Revelation

Below are resources for the 2024 Bible Lectureship at Freed-Hardeman University. We truly hope you will consider taking full advantage of every opportunity the FHU Lectureship offers. It is our prayer that the 2024 Bible Lectureship will be a blessing and an encouragement to you. Feel free to use the provided resources to promote the upcoming Lectureship

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Make your donation! Your gift helps Freed-Hardeman University continue to host a great Bible lectureship each year.

Download the Mobile App

Our Freed-Hardeman Lectureship app is the perfect companion for the Annual Bible Lectureship.

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Bible Lectureship Information

Housing and Dining

Housing

On-Campus Housing (dorms)

University on-campus housing may be available in some of the residence halls. This accommodation can be VERY LIMITED and availability is not known until late January. Men will be housed in men’s housing and women in women’s housing. The cost is $25 per night for a single room or $15 per night for a shared room. All those staying must abide by all university policies. Please be aware that the administration requires overnight guests to complete a background check. More information about the background check will be provided upon completion of the housing request form. On-campus housing guests need to provide their own linens (mattresses are extra long), towels and toiletries. If you have any questions, please contact Lieh Brumback at [email protected].

Submit your Housing Request

Campers/Motor Homes (very limited space; reservations usually made a year in advance)

Spaces for RV (not meant for campers with slide-outs on both sides) and one vehicle available. Space, water, and electrical service cost is $20 per day payable at FHU Business Services Office (in Loyd Aud.) upon arrival. No power cables or hoses are provided by FHU – bring extra of both as some spaces are 100+ feet from service hook-ups. Space reservations cannot be held after first day of Lectureship for late arrivals as we have no way to keep vehicles out of reserved spaces if the RV’s are not in them by the beginning of the event. Call FHU Facilities at 731-989-6413 for reservations in advance.

Mid-South Youth Camp (MSYC) 

Cost will be $20 per person per night.

To make a reservation email Courtney Insell ([email protected]) the following information:

  • Name (Individuals or Family)
  • Number in Party
  • Nights of Accommodation (Feb 5, 6, 7, 8 and/or 9)
  • Cell Phone Number

Motels/Hotels

Several area motels/hotels have agreed to offer special rates for lectureship guests. These are starred below. Please note these are not recommendations, only listings of available housing.

You must request “FHU Lectureship” week rate to get the discounted prices shown below (entries shown with an asterisk *).

Jackson, Exit 80-A off I-40

Comfort Suites Hotel **

61 Casey Jones Lane

731-868-1700

$136 + tax (Suite; Full Breakfast included)

Country Inn & Suites** 

1935 Emporium Drive

731-660-0077

$79 (Single King)

$89  (Double Queen)

(Breakfast included)

Booking

Must book by January 7, 2024

Call sales manager with any questions/concerns

Double Tree** 

1770 Highway 45 By-Pass

731-664-6900 or 800-342-7336

$129 + tax

Must book by January 12th for this rate

Fairfield Inn & Suites**

1335 Vann Dr.

731-736-4550

Ask for Freed-Hardeman University rate

Hilton Garden Inn**

1324 Vann Dr.

731-868-3500

Booking 

$151

In Jackson, Exit 85 off I-40

**Best Western Plus Executive Residence*

2443 Christmasville Cove

Jackson, TN

731-300-3370

$119

Comfort Inn*

40 International Cove

731-421-2711

Ask for Freed-Hardeman University rate

Courtyard Marriott**

200 Campbell Oaks Dr.

731-891-9164- speak with Kirsten

$119

Hampton Inn and Suites

150 Campbell Oaks Dr.

731-427-6100

$124

Holiday Inn Express & Suites* 

55 Parkstone Place

731-736-1174 or 1-800-HOLIDAY

Ask for Freed-Hardeman University rate

Residence Inn by Marriott** 

126 Old Medina Crossing

731-935-4100

Ask for Freed-Hardeman University rate

SpringHill Suites Marriott*

2407 Christmasville Cove

Jackson, TN 38305

731-240-1500

$139 (King)

$139 (Double Queen)

Booking

Must book by January 14th

In Henderson

Americana Inn*

Hwy 45 By-Pass

731-989-0111

Remaining rooms are limited. Call for cancellations.

Stillwaters Farm (3 types of accommodations available) **

375 Oak Grove Ln

731-989-4251 or 321-537-1404

stillwaters-tn.com

In Selmer

Econo Lodge

644 Mulberry Ave

731-645-8880

$90+ tax (King)

$95+ tax (2 Doubles)

Southwood Inn

631 Mulberry

731-645-4801

$82 (1 King for 1 person)

$87 (1 King for 2 people)

$88 (2 Double beds for 1 person)

$94 (2 Double beds for 2 people)

* FHU Lectureship Discount

** FHU Lectureship Discount, Highly Rated Property

Dining

Download a list of restaurants in the Henderson/Chester County, Jackson and Lexington areas.

 

Directions

From Jackson
(Allow 45 minutes) I-40 to Exit 80A/Hwy. 45 Bypass South. Continue to light in downtown Jackson at Highland/Hwy. 45. Turn RIGHT and continue to Henderson.

From Nashville
(Allow 3 hours) I-40 to Exit 108 to Hwy. 22/Lexington. Continue through Lexington to Hwy. 100/4-way stop. Turn RIGHT and continue to Henderson.

From Memphis
(Allow 2 hours): I-40 to Exit 18/Hwy. 64 toward Somerville. In Whiteville, turn onto Hwy. 100 and continue to Henderson.

From Corinth
(Allow 1 hour): Continue on Hwy. 45 North, taking the bypass around Selmer to Henderson.

Campus Map

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1. Hardeman House
2. Bulliner-Clayton Visual Arts Center
3. Theatre Offices
4. Henderson Church of Christ
5. Paul Gray Hall
6. Crews-Colbert Activity Center
7. Black Box Theatre
8. Hall-Roland Hall
9. Old Main Administration Building Chapel Hall
10. Wallace-Gano Dining Hall and Burks Student Center
11. The Quad
12. The Commons
13. Draughon Center for Musical Arts
14. Hope Barber Shull Academic Resource Center and Libraries
15. Dixon Hall
16. Scott Hall
17. Thomas-Landon House
18. Bradfield Hall
19. Heritage Commons and Bucy Tower
20. Associates Science Center
21. Pruett Book Center
22. Gardner Center Admissions Office
23. Campus Safety and Security
24. Brown-Kopel Business Center Ayers Auditorium
25. Anderson Science Center
26. Benson Hall
27. Farrow Hall
28. Sewell Hall
29. Woods-East Residence Hall
30. FHU Prime Care
31. Financial Services
32. Heritage Towers
33. Brewer Sports Center Main Arena, Auxiliary Gym, Hall of Fame Room
34. Loyd Auditorium Butts Family Conference Room
35. Joy Simon McDaniel House
36. Clayton Chapel
37. Porter-Terry Hall
38. Tyler Residence Hall
39. R.L. Witt Tennis Center
40. Carter Facilities Building
41. Softball/Baseball Indoor Practice Facility
42. Morgan Softball Stadium
43. Riley Soccer Complex
44. Intramural Softball Field
45. Carnes Baseball Field
46. Dan Kirkland Wells Clubhouse

47. Softball Fieldhouse

48. Mill Street Parking Lot
 
History of the Lectureship

According to the Skyrocket, December, 1949, the first Bible Lectureship was conducted in January, 1926. It was known as the “Preacher’s Course” and lasted a month. The first “Preacher’s Course” as outlined in the 1936 Skyrocket included: Church History, The Restoration, Bible Geography, Evidences of Christianity, Popular Religious Errors, The Sunday School, Young Preachers’ Meetings, English, Spelling, Sight-Singing, and Special Lectures.

The library was open day and night to provide to the visitors of the “Preacher’s Course” opportunity to do research on the topics discussed at the lectures. The depression brought a lapse of about a decade in the continuity, but the courses were resumed in 1937. The Lectureship Banquet was held in the “Old Dining Hall” (Draughon Building, first floor). A debt of many thousands was placed on the college in 1926. It was paid in January, 1937. They burned the mortgage during the first special Bible Lectureship. Bro. and sis. N. B. Hardeman helped to burn the mortgage.

The Lectureship was held during the 1936-1937 school year and lasted a month. It was later reduced in length and in the 1940’s it lasted 2 weeks. Since 1966, the FHU Annual Bible Lectureship now comes during the first full week in February.

Special January Courses with H. Leo Boles Added to Faculty

It is the earnest desire of Freed-Hardeman College to render every help possible. We know that there are a number of preachers who cannot spend an entire session in school, and who, being largely isolated in their work, feel the need of contact and discussion of the various problems. An interchange of thought and the opportunity for revising and rearranging sermon matter can but be helpful. To fill this need a special program was drafted for January, 1937. The interest manifested and the good accomplished were beyond our fondest hopes. About seventy preachers from seventeen different states attended. There was a general request for a repetition of these courses and, accordingly, they were repeated in 1938, 1939, 1940, 1941, 1942 and will be continued through a part of January, 1943. There will be courses suited to the work of elders and deacons and they are urged to attend. Efficient leadership is the great need of most congregations everywhere (FHC catalogue 1943-1944 Bulletin.)

The speakers for the second annual “Preacher’s Course” in 1938 included such notables as: H. Leo Boles, N.B. Hardeman, L.L. Brigance, John T. Lewis, L. O. Sanderson, and Foy E. Wallace. H. Leo Boles had two classes daily along with lectures nightly on “the Problems of Young People.” N. B. Hardeman spoke daily on “The Bible Lands.”

In 1942 a series of debates attracted considerable attention. I don’t know whether there were debates prior to this time or not. Our “Contemporary Discussion” is based on the heritage of this kind of open discussion. The first of the debates that year was on Jan. 6th on the question: “Whether or not preachers have now the same miraculous powers as in the days of the apostles.” Brother Guy N. Woods affirmed and Brother David Bobo denied. Several other topics were discussed by other debaters.

In 1942 some of the “Akin Boys” (preacher-students whose education was funded by the Akin scholarship) gave biographies of the pioneer preachers.

Brother H. A. Dixon, former president of Freed-Hardeman taught sight-singing, vocal music, and theory during the early 1940’s.

In 1944 the Sky Rocket (the student newspaper) announced that room and board will be around $1.50 a day, and requested that visitors drop a card to Freed-Hardeman College so arrangements could be made.

The Special Courses of 1946 were cancelled because of the lack of accommodations in the town which was taxed to provide lodgings for the regular student body. Alumni Frank Van Dyke and Howard Parker, preaching in Jackson, tackled the problem and secured homes in Jackson to provide lodging for 100 visiting preachers. The course proceeded as planned.

In the 1954 Lectureship Lora Laycook held a pre-school demonstration class. “Miss Lora” presented Bible truths in creative ways to young minds. She also taught Bible lessons with song, using familiar tunes of known hymns.

She was the only woman to speak on the Lectureship that year, and the first one as far as we know.

In the 1950’s tea was served to visiting ladies on Thursday afternoon in the home of Mrs. D. E. Mitchell.

In 1955 and other years, free coffee for visitors was available in the cafeteria throughout the lectures from 1:30-4:30.

Missionary updates and news of missionaries was presented early-on in the Lectureships. Mission panels appeared in 1960.

During the 1950 Lectureship, there was an electric power failure that deprived the church auditorium of both heat and light. The eagerly awaited sermon to be given on Friday by H. A. Dixon, of Florence, Alabama, had to be cancelled.

The college chorus and quartet presented programs of spiritual music during Lectures of 1951, under the direction of Kelly Doyle.

A workshop for Bible teachers appeared on the 1958 Lectures.

The comment of one visitor in 1954 seemed to express the feelings of most who were present: “Like a tired and thirsty traveler reaching an oasis, so I have been impressed with the refreshment of the good things offered here.”

Directors of the lectureship include the following: N. B. Hardeman, G. K. Wallace, H. A. Dixon, W. A. Bradfield, Frank Van Dyke, Thomas B. Warren, William Woodson, Winford Claiborne, David Lipe, and Doug Burleson.

Thanks to Marilynn Tollerson for much of this information.

Past Lectureship Themes
2022 – He Went About Doing Good: The Compassion of Christ in Luke

2021 – Encountering Ecclesiastes: Finding Meaning in a Meaningless World

2020 – Our Place in His Story: Remembering the Past, Anticipating the Future

2019 – Out of Egypt: Liberation and Covenant in Exodus

2018 – Entrusted with the Faith: Multigenerational Mission in Timothy and Titus

2017 – Identity in Crisis: Daniel’s Vision for the Future

2016 – In My Place: The Servant Savior in Mark

2015 – Give Us a King—Faith, Failure, and Forgiveness in Samuel

2014 – The Patience of Hope—First and Last Things in Thessalonians

2013 – We Will Serve the Lord—Conquest and Deliverance in Joshua to Ruth

2012 – The Behavior of Belief—Faith and Life in James to Jude

2011 – Proclamation and Promise—Major Themes in the Minor Prophets

2010 – Perfecting God’s People—Christ and Culture in Corinthians

2009 – Crying Out to God—Prayer and Praise in the Psalms

2008 – Behold the Lamb—John’s Gospel of Belief

2007 – Hear O Israel—Preserving a Godly Heritage in Deuteronomy

2006 – Better Things in Hebrews—A Call to Faithfulness

2005 – A Light to the Nations—Judgment and Hope in Isaiah

2004 – Opening Our Eyes to Jesus—From Darkness to Light in Acts

2003 – When We Hurt—Tragedy and Triumph in Job

2002 – Exalting Christ in the Church—Unsearchable Riches in Ephesians-Colossians

2001 – New Beginnings—God, Man, and Redemption in Genesis

2000 – Receiving God’s Righteousness—Grace and Glory in Romans

1999 – Hearing Wisdom’s Voice—Proverbs at the Millennium

1998 – At His Coming

1997 – The Great I Am—Our Unsearchable God

1996 – Settled in Heaven—Applying the Bible to Life

1995 – Family, Church, and Society—Restoration and Renewal

1994 – Worship in Spirit and Truth

1993 – Christ in You, the Hope of Glory

1992 – Building Stronger Christian Families

1991 – Advancing Christianity

1990 – Giving a Reason for Our Hope

1989 – Glory to God: Through Christian Living and Through Preaching

1988 – Love for God and His Word

1987 – Grace Abounding

1986 – Ethics for Daily Living

1985 – Just a Christian

1984 – Everyday Christianity

1983 – The Church of Tomorrow: Horizons and Destiny

1982 – World Evangelism at Home and Abroad

1981 – Church Growth—A Blueprint for Stronger Churches

1980 – Eternal Truths

1979 – The Living and Abiding Word

1976 – Freedom: Heritage, Accomplishments, and Prospects in Christ

1975 – The Church Today: Current Issues, Problems, and Challenges

1974 – The Church and Fellowship

1973 – Jesus Christ the Son of God

1972 – The Bible Versus Liberalism

1971 – The Church of Christ—Essential, All Sufficient, Indestructible, Perpetually Relevant

1970 – The Church Faces Liberalism

1969 – Challenges Facing the Church Today

1968 – Proclaiming the Unchanging Faith

1967 – Freedom by Truth

1966 – The Church and the World

1965 – World Vision for Christ

1964 – The Church on the March

1963 – Christianity in Our Time

1962 – Building for Christ

1961 – Sources of Strength for the Church

1960 – Changeless Gospel in a Changing World

1959 – The Book of Books

1958 – The Church through the Centuries

1957 – Christian Education

1956 – Challenges to Youth

1955 – Service to God

1954 – No Theme

1953 – No Theme