Christian Audio Lectures – Olive Tree Blog

Think of your favorite Christian author. Now imagine sitting in a classroom with them. You could learn the ins and outs of how they reached conclusions in their book. You could learn more about the topics you most care about, from the person you look up to! That’d be pretty neat — and it’s exactly what digital lectures provide. In this post, we’ll share the types of lectures that are available to you. Then, we’ll end with tips on building your own Bible courses… all from your own home!

WHAT IS AN AUDIO LECTURE?

Of course, all lectures contain audio. Someone gives a lecture by speaking. But we emphasize “audio” because there isn’t any video attached. This isn’t a TED Talk. Instead, think of it like an exclusive podcast. Hours and hours of podcasting, in fact.

Here are three aspects that make these audio lectures unique.

Lectures are not audiobooks.
Lectures are recorded conversations, instead of pre-written speeches.
And lectures are academic, yet suitable for everyone.

Lectures Are Not Audiobooks

The lecture may be given by an author who also narrated an audiobook. She may even talk about the content of the audiobook. But, the lecture is not an audiobook. This information is often supplemental to books that are already published.

Lectures Are Recorded Conversations

Right now, on our store, it appears that most lectures are recorded live in the classroom or field. You can find a statement in the product description about it.

Our audio lectures are ever-growing, though. So, always make sure to check the description.

Lectures are Academic, Yet Suitable for Everyone

We don’t mean that every lecture is suitable for everyone. Instead, we mean that there are so many lectures out there, you’re sure to find one that fits your needs. Think of it this way: you start with an exploratory class, then move onto Intro to the New Testament, and finally work up to Systematic Theology II.

DIFFERENT TYPES OF AUDIO LECTURES

Now that we’ve covered what audio lectures are, let’s look at a few.

Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus

Have you heard of Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus by Nabeel Qureshi? It flew off shelves (both literal and digital shelves) in 2014 when it released. Now it has sold over 400,000 copies and holds a New York Times Bestseller title. If you haven’t heard of it, just know that a lot of people love this book.

What you may not know is that there are lectures expanding on the content of this popular book. Qureshi takes listeners deeper into apologetics and evangelism among Muslims with this complete audio lecture course. In eight sessions of about 30 minutes each he explores Muslim culture, the most common Muslim objections to Christianity, and the core doctrines on which Islam stands or falls.

This isn’t the Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus book or audiobook. Though, we also have those in our store. Instead, this takes your learning with Qureshi even further.

The Color of Compromise

The Color of Compromise is another popular book, turned audiobook, turned audio lecture. Jemar Timsby provides an acclaimed, timely narrative of how people of faith have historically—up to the present day—worked against racial justice. The book is not a call to shame or a platform to blame white evangelical Christians. It is a call from a place of love and desire to fight for a more racially unified church that no longer compromises what the Bible teaches about human dignity and equality.

For those who love this book and learned poignant lessons from it, Timbsy also released audio lectures. They “provide an in-depth diagnosis for a racially divided American church and suggest ways to foster a more equitable and inclusive environment among God’s people.” In this lecture, you’ll hear Timbsy speak live, and from the heart, about the topic he poured so much of his life into.

AUDIO LECTURE AND TEXT BUNDLES

What if you could get the book, audio lecture, and any other related content all for one low price? Zondervan Academic created audio and text bundles just for this reason. Now, you can get your textbook and enter the lecture hall, all inside the Olive Tree Bible App.

Let’s look at some examples to get the full picture of this bundled experience.

Philippians: Story of God Bible Commentary + Lectures

In this special Olive Tree collection you can read and listen. First, read the Philippians Story of God Bible Commentary volume. Then, listen to author and world-class biblical scholar Lynn Cohick’s lectures on Philippians 1-2 and Philippians 3-4. She’ll give you supplemental information from the commentary and help you apply what you learn.

Thanks to Zondervan, we’re able to offer these bundles at a discount. It’s definitely cheaper to buy these items together instead of separately.

The Ultimate Bundle: The New Testament in Its World Text & Audio Lecture Collection

The New Testament in It's Word Audio Lecture Collection in the Olive Tree Bible App

The New Testament in Its Word is a book by N.T. Wright and Michael F. Bird. It offers an introduction to the history, literature, and theology of the first Christians. You’ll learn to answer questions such as:

What is the purpose of the New Testament?
Who was Paul and why are his letters so controversial?
What was the first-century understanding of the kingdom?
As twenty-first-century people, how do we recover the excitement of what it was like to live as Christians in the first or second centuries?
What is the real meaning of the resurrection in its original context?
What really were the Gospels?

Now, that’s just the book! This bundle comes with audio lectures — two volumes, to be exact! They are both high quality live-recordings of college-level lectures that cover the important points from each subject as well as relevant material from other sources. These lectures serve as your passageway from the twenty-first century to the era of Jesus and the first Christians.

And we’re not done yet! This bundle also comes with a workbook! Written by N. T. Wright and Michael F. Bird, it follows the textbook’s structure and offers assessment questions, exercises, and activities designed to support your learning experience.

CREATE YOUR OWN BIBLE EDUCATION

Imagine the possibilities! Here are some “courses” you could take:

Better yet, you can do all your studying from your couch, home office, or backyard! You can sit down and read if you have the time. Or, pop in some headphones and keep learning while mowing the yard. The classroom has never been so versatile.

START LEARNING FROM AUDIO LECTURES TODAY