Billy Strother, Ph.D.

Faculty
Billy
Strother
Program Director of the Compelling Preaching Initiative, Professor of Preaching and New Testament
Email
billystrother@cccb.edu

EDUCATION

DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY IN PREACHING AND NEW TESTAMENT            MAY 1995

The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, KY

  • Primary Area:  Preaching
  • Secondary Area:  New Testament Studies
  • Dissertation:  “Rhetorical Analysis of Selected Key Sermons in Luke and Acts”
  • Comprehensive exams taken in Preaching, New Testament Literature, New Testament Theology, and New Testament History

 

SUPPLEMENTAL GRADUATE STUDIES IN PREACHING AND NEW TESTAMENT

Vanderbilt Divinity School, Nashville, TN         Spring 1989

Saint Meinrad’s School of Theology, St. Meinrad, IN       Summer 1989

 

MASTER OF DIVINITY             MAY 1987

The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, KY

 

BACHELOR OF ARTS             MAY 1984

Cincinnati Christian University, Cincinnati, OH

 

DIPLOMA IN GERMAN             MAY 1978

The Defense Language Institute-Foreign Language Center

The Presidio of Monterey, Monterey, CA

 

ACADEMIC EXPERIENCE

Dean of Graduate Studies

Professor of Preaching and New Testament         Spring 2020 – Present

Central Christian College of the Bible, Moberly, MO

 

Professor of New Testament and Preaching           2004-2014

Point University, West Point, GA

  • Courses taught:  Life and Letters of Paul; Petrine Epistles and Jude;

1 & 2 Thessalonians; Church Growth and Evangelism; 

Contemporary Religious Movements; Preaching and Story; 

Introduction to Preaching; Advanced Preaching;

History of Christian Preaching; Expository Preaching;

New Testament and Preaching Seminar:  The Parables of Jesus;

New Testament and Preaching Seminar:  The Resurrection Narratives;

New Testament and Preaching Seminar:  Luke-Acts;

New Testament and Preaching Seminar:  1 Corinthians;

New Testament and Preaching Seminar:  The Miracles of Jesus;

New Testament and Preaching Seminar:  The Compassion of Jesus;

New Testament and Preaching Seminar:  James and Jude

 

Associate Professor of New Testament and Preaching, and         1989-1995

Chair of Biblical Studies (Graduate School Division)

The Cincinnati Bible Seminary of Cincinnati Christian University, Cincinnati, OH

  • Served as full-time graduate school professor
  • Chaired the Biblical Studies Division of the seminary, overseeing the

New Testament, Old Testament, and Biblical backgrounds departments

of the graduate school

  • Served on the Long-range Strategic Planning Committee
  • Supervised faculty professional development
  • Assisted in the development of outcomes based assessment program
  • Courses taught: New Testament Introduction; New Testament

Interpretation; New Testament Backgrounds Seminar; Acts Seminar;

The Life and Message of Paul; Paul’s Earlier Epistles; The Pastoral Epistles;

The Prison Epistles; Non-Pauline Literature Seminar; The General Epistles;

The Petrine Epistles and Jude; Advanced Greek: The Epistles of John;

Advanced Greek: The Book of Acts; Fundamentals of Preaching;

Preaching and Teaching Artfully (Variety in Rhetorical Forms);

Cross-listed for (New Testament or Preaching credit) series

of rotating seminars Preaching the New Testament: Interpreting

Scripture for Preaching and Teaching series of courses:  

The Resurrection Narratives, The Life of Christ, and The Parables

 

Adjunct Professor of New Testament and Preaching       2002-Present               

Kentucky Christian University (Graduate School), Grayson, KY

  • Graduate courses taught:  The Gospel of Luke; The Gospel of Matthew;

Romans; Narrative Preaching; Expository Preaching:  Luke-Acts;

Preaching and Teaching:  The Resurrection Narratives; Pastoral Theology:

and Historical Foundations of Ministry

 

Supervised Ministry Experience, External Supervisor           2014-2015            

Columbia Theological Seminary, Decatur, GA

 

Adjunct Professor of Preaching         Spring 2013              

McAfee School of Theology, Atlanta, GA

  • Graduate course taught:  Preaching

 

Adjunct Professor of New Testament and Preaching           1993-2008

TCM International Institute, Heiligenkreuz, Austria

  • Graduate courses taught:  Preaching and Teaching the New Testament;

New Testament I—The Gospels & Acts; New Testament II—Romans 

through Revelation

  • Grad courses taught in Austria, Estonia, Russia, Belarus, Czech Republic,

Ukraine, and Poland

 

Adjunct Professor of Preaching and New Testament         Spring 2006              

Lincoln Christian Seminary, Lincoln, IL

  • Graduate course taught:  Preaching Luke-Acts

 

Instructor in New Testament and Preaching   November 2003

International Christian College of Manila 

 

Academic Dean and Professor of New Testament and Preaching           1994-1998

Guyana Christian College, New Amsterdam, Guyana

 

Adjunct Professor of Human Dignity           1994-1995

Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science, Cincinnati, OH

 

Adjunct Professor of New Testament and Preaching           1987-1988

The Louisville Bible College, Louisville, KY

 

PASTORAL EXPERIENCE

Senior Pastor

Harmony Christian Church, Georgetown, KY             March 2015- February 2020

  • Serve as the lead pastor

 

Teaching Pastor           2003-2004

Indian Creek Christian Church, Indianapolis, IN

  • Served as the primary preaching associate and resident theologian with a 

congregation averaging over 4,500 persons in Sunday morning worship

 

Senior Pastor           1995-2003

Northview Christian Church, Danville, IN

  • Sunday morning worship in this rural Indiana congregation grew from one

to three services, and from an average of 150 to 600 persons in Sunday

morning attendance

 

Senior Pastor-Church Planter           1990-1995

Southwest Christian Church, Harrison, OH

  • Served, bi-vocationally, as the preacher for this new church plant

 

Senior Pastor           1988-1989

Glenview Christian Church, Glasgow, KY

 

Senior Pastor             1984-1988

Camden Avenue Christian Church, Louisville, KY

 

ADDITIONAL PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Founder and Director       2004-Present

Christ-Centered Ministries, Newnan, GA

  • A parachurch leadership consulting ministry specializing in the

professional coaching of senior pastors while serving as a spiritual

and professional resource to the primary church lay leadership teams.

 

Interim Preaching Ministries        

Spring Road Christian Church, Lanett, AL             March 2010 – October 2011

Heritage Christian Church, Fayetteville, GA   March – December 2009

McDonough Christian Church, McDonough, GA             July 2008

First Christian Church, Cumming, GA             June 2008

Castle Christian Church, Cumming, GA     April – September 2007

Christian Church Buckhead, Atlanta, GA         March 2007

First Christian Church, Carrollton, GA       June – December 2006

Christ’s Church at Whitewater, Fayetteville, GA     August – October 2005

Mount Carmel Christian Church, Stone Mountain, GA             November 2004 – July 2005

Glenview Christian Church, Glasgow, KY   July1989 – January 1990

First Christian Church, Scottsburg, IN       March – October 1990

 

Co-Director           1997-2004

Preaching Summits International, Indianapolis, IN

  • An annual two-day gathering with a series of seminars on the subject of

contemporary preaching held in Indianapolis, Indiana, drawing the

participation of over 400 preachers; and an annual four-day gathering in

Harare, Zimbabwe, of around 100 preachers

 

Guest Speaker and Lecturer       1989-Present

  • Since 1989, have traveled to Austria, Curacao, the Dominican Republic,

Estonia, Germany, Guyana, the Philippines, Republic of Belarus, Russia,

Trinidad, Ukraine, Zimbabwe, and throughout the U.S., teaching on

primarily the graduate level (with a few undergraduate courses), as well as

preaching or teaching at conferences, leadership retreats, and in churches

 

Contributing Author           2006-2008

Preaching Standard (www.preachingstandard.com)

  • Provision of regular contributions of sermons and illustrations to the

online sermon support ministry of Standard Publishing, Cincinnati, OH

 

PROFESSIONAL PRESENTATIONS

“Preaching the Resurrection of Jesus”       9 March 2020

Workshop presented at the annual National Preaching Summit, Indianapolis, IN

 

K.T. Norris Lectureship in New Testament 7-10 March 2017

Maritime Christian College, Prince Edward Island, Canada

Lectures:  “Resuscitations, Revivifications, Resurrections, and Revenants”

 

“Racial Reconciliation Sunday and MLK Honors,”

Keynote Speaker

Central Christian Church, Atlanta, GA   19 January 2014

 

“Restored”

Keynote speaker at Indiana State Christian Men’s Meeting;   September 2013

Two main sessions:  “Restored—Four Days with No Formaldehyde”

And “Restored—The Parable of the Wacky Traveler”

 

“Do You Think God Has Forgotten Me?”       January 2013

McAfee School of Theology, Chapel, Atlanta GA

 

“Preaching the Parables of Jesus”       January 2013

Two workshops presented at the Festival of Preachers in Atlanta, GA

Sponsored by the Academy of Preachers

Co-Director, Academy of Preachers Preaching Camp   September 2012

Point University, West Point, GA

 

“Preaching to the Wounded When You Are” and “Ethos, Pathos, & Logos in Preaching”       January 2012

Two main sessions presented at the Leadership Boot Camp sponsored by the 

International Conference on Preaching at Christ’s Church of the Valley, 

Phoenix, AZ

 

“Journeys in Luke”

Three morning Bible studies presented to all participants at the annual   November 2011

ICOM (annual International Conference on Missions), Atlanta, GA

 

“Preaching the Parables”             May 2011

Workshop presented to the Georgia Minister’s Association

 

“Preaching to the Wounded When You Are” and “How to Preaching a Parable”                 March 2011

Main speaker presenting two main sessions and two workshops at the annual

National Preaching Summit, Indianapolis, IN

 

“Playing Hurt”                     April 2010

Keynote speaker and workshop leader for the Georgia Christian Convention

Helen, GA

 

“Preaching the Resurrection Narratives”   September 2008

Workshop presented to the Georgia Minister’s Association

Atlanta, GA

 

“501(c)3 or 33 A.D . . . The Supernatural  Nature of the Church.”             July 2007

Workshop presented at the North American Christian Convention

Kansas City, MO

 

“Unity, Because It’s All about Jesus” Series           April 2007

Keynote speaker and workshop leader for the Georgia Christian Convention

Jekyll Island, GA

 

”If This Isn’t the End Times, Then What Is?”       October 2006

Two seminars covering the major views of eschatology presented at

Eastside Christian Church, Conyers, GA

 

“It’s All about Jesus” Series             July 2006

Keynote speaker for the week at the Lake James School of Missions

Angola, IN

 

“Breaking Out:  How to Turn Around a Plateaued or Declining Church”         March 2006

Leadership series presented at Ben Hill Christian Church, Atlanta, GA

 

“Breaking Out:  How to Turn Around a Plateaued or Declining Church”       January 2006

Georgia Ministers Association, Atlanta, GA

 

“Leading the Church in the 21st Century”       Summer 2005

A series of six seminars presented at Mount Carmel Christian Church

Stone Mountain, GA

 

“Fear This! . . . The Authentic Man in Christ”   November 2005

A series of seminars presented at the Spring Road Christian Church

Lanett, AL

“Mega Doctrines of the Bible”         Spring 2005

A series of six seminars presented at Community Christian Church

Sharpsburg, GA

 

“Feeding the Alligators”         March 2005

Leadership seminar presented at First Christian Church, Jonesboro, GA

 

“Long Range Strategic Planning”       January 2005

Leadership seminar presented at Spring Road Christian Church, Lanett, AL

 

“Microman in an Armani Robe” (Luke 19:1-10)             July 2004

Thursday morning main speaker at Family Camp, Restoration Acres,

Hillsboro, OH

 

“Word and Preacher:  Ethos, Pathos, Logos, and Christos for Contemporary Preaching”         March 2004

A seminar presented at the National Preaching Summit, Indianapolis, IN

 

“Leading or Being Chased?”  Main speaker for the leadership series presented at         March 2004

Rockville Christian Church, Rockville, IN

 

“Rekindling Success after You Have Failed Miserably!”     February 2004

Adult Christian singles retreat, Trafalgar, IN

 

“How Many Church Members Does It Take to Change a Light Bulb?”       October 2003

Main speaker for a series of leadership seminars at Hanging Rock

Christian Camp, Covington, IN

 

“Postmodern Answers to Evangelism:  ‘Wash Away Your Sins Bubble Bath’ and         August 2003

Other Silly Solutions to Sin” 

A leadership seminar presented at Castleton Christian Church, Indianapolis, IN

 

“The Splagchna of Jesus”             July 2003

A series of lectures presented at the Nationwide Youth Roundup

Sedalia, CO

 

“Feeding the Alligators”     February 2003

Main speaker for four leadership seminars at Latonia Christian Church,

Latonia, KY

 

“My Dog Smells!”   December 2002

Main speaker for the leadership seminars at Roachdale Christian Church,

Roachdale, IN

 

“Microman in an Armani Suit” (Luke 19:1-10)             May 2002

The Festival of Preaching, Kingsway Christian Church, Avon, IN

 

“Do You Think We Are Going to Die?”             May 2002

Commencement speaker.  Saint Louis Christian College, St. Louis, MO

 

“Postmodern Answers to Evangelism:  Wash Away Your Sins Bubble Bath and         March 2002

Other Wacky Schemes!”

The Conference on Evangelism, Hilliard, OH

 

“The Power of Vision in the Parables of Jesus”             July 2001

A series of lectures presented at the Nationwide Youth Roundup

Sedalia, CO

“Evangelizing in a Postmodern World”       January 2001

A leadership lecture presented for Person to Person Ministries at

Salt Fork State Park, OH

“Ten Pitfalls of Church Leadership”             June 2000

Main speaker for three leadership seminars presented at

Lebanon Christian Church, Lebanon, IN

 

 “The Three Tasks of Preaching”     February 2000

A series of lectures presented at the National Preaching Summit

Harare, Zimbabwe

 

“Narrative Preaching”     February 1999

A video lecture produced for use at the National Preaching Summit

Harare, Zimbabwe

 

“Preaching Introductions and Conclusions That Connect”     February 1998

A video lecture produced for use at the National Preaching Summit

Harare, Zimbabwe

 

 “How to Find a Youth Minister”   November 1997

Workshop presented at the Indiana Christian Youth Convention

Indianapolis, IN

 

“Encounter” and “Why I Believe”             July 1997

Christ in Youth Conference, San Diego, CA.  

 

“What’s Hot in Youth Culture”   November 1996

Workshop at the Indiana Christian Youth Convention, Indianapolis, IN

 

“Encounter” and “The Lukan Journey”             July 1994

Christ in Youth Conference, San Diego, CA.  

 

“Bedrock or a Crawlspace?”   November 1993

Founder’s Day main speaker, Louisville Bible College, Louisville, KY

 

“The History of Prayer”       October 1993

Seminar on prayer, Indian Creek Christian Church, Indianapolis, IN

 

“New Testament Genre and Its Implications for Contemporary Preaching” September 1993

Presented to the Fellowship of Professors, Johnson Bible College,

Knoxville, TN

 

Adult Bible Study Leader     February 1993

Christ in Youth Conference, Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic

 

Adult Bible Study Leader             July 1992

Christ in Youth Conference, Milligan College, Johnson City, TN

 

 “I’m Dysfunctional, But I’m O.K” and “It’s a Family Tradition”     February 1992

Main speaker, Ohio Mini Youth Convention, Hillsboro, OH

 

Adult Bible Study Leader           June 1991

Christ in Youth Conference, Adrian, MI

 

“The Mega Meal!” (Luke 14:15-24) November 1990

Main session speaker and moderator of the open forum entitled

“The Role of Women in the Church,” The Conference on Evangelism,

Cincinnati Christian University, Cincinnati, OH

 

“The Gospel Embodied, the Gospel Multiplied, the Gospel Unhindered”           Fall 1990

Twelve lectures on the Book of Acts.  White Oak Christian Church,

Cincinnati, OH

 

“Josephus and Luke:  Can the Speech Material Be Trusted?”           July 1990

The Biblical Backgrounds Workshop, the North American

Christian Convention, Denver, CO

 

“Teenage Mutant Ninja Christians”         June 1990

Christ in Youth Conference, Adrian, MI

 

“Will the Restoration Movement Ever Move Again?”         April 1990

Main speaker at Weldon Christian Camp, Weldon, OH

 

“The Truth about Spiritual Gifts”       Spring 1990

A series of eight special lectures at First Christian Church, Scottsburg, IN

 

“Weeds, Seeds, and Beads” (Matthew 13:1-46)     August 1989

Convocation speaker, Cincinnati Christian University, Cincinnati, OH

 

PUBLICATIONS

“Two Questions (Part 2)”

Blog on e2elders.org. February 21, 2020

 

“Two Questions (Part 1)”

Blog on e2elders.org. February 14, 2020

 

“Worst Communion Devotion Ever (Part 2)”

Blog on e2elders.org, November 9, 2019 (@ https://e2elders.org/worst-communion-devotion-ever-pt-2/)

 

“Worst Communion Devotion Ever (Part 1)”

Blog on e2elders.org, November 9, 2019 (@ https://e2elders.org/worst-communion-devotion-ever-pt-1/)

 

“Easter:  More than Peeps and Chocolate Bunnies” (@ http://pointublog.com/2014/04/16/easter/) 

 

A Review of Ben J. Katt’s The Power of Persuasive Preaching.  In Stone-Campbell Journal.  Vol. 11, No. 2, Fall 2008.

 

A Review of Robert Kysar’s and Joseph M. Webb’s Preaching to Postmoderns:  New Perspectives for Proclaiming the Message.  In Stone-Campbell Journal.  Vol. 11, No. 1, Spring 2008.

 

A Review of James L. Resseguie’s Narrative Criticism of the New Testament:  An Introduction.  In Stone-Campbell Journal.  Vol. 10, No. 2, Fall 2007.

 

“Preaching in the Digital Age,” an Interview in The Gold & Blue, Spring 2007, pp. 11-15 (available @ http://www.acc.edu/s/310/images/editor_documents/content/The%20Gold%20amp;%20BlueThe%20Gold%20amp;%20Blue,%20the%20magazine%20for%20alumn/Spring%202007.pdf).

 

“The New Birth (John 3:1-10).”  In New Testament Christianity for Today.  Ed. Robert Shannon.  Eugene, OR:  Wipf & Stock Publishers, 2006.  

 

“From Hero to Zero.”  A sermon published on www.preachingstandard.com, 2006.

 

“Ananias and Sapphira, a Couple Who ‘Souled-Out.’”  A sermon published on www.preachingstandard.com, 2006.

 

“The Obituary of Pluto.”  An illustration published on www.preachingstandard.com, 2006.

 

“Do You Know the Maker?”  An illustration published on www.preachingstandard.com, 2006.

 

A Review of Joel B. Green’s and Michael Pasquarello’s, eds., Narrative Reading, Narrative Preaching:  Reuniting New Testament Interpretation and Proclamation.   In Stone-Campbell Journal.  Vol. 8, No. 1, Spring 2005. 

 

“Four Days with No Formaldehyde (John 11:1-45).”  A sermon published in Voices from the Hill, David Faust, ed.  Cincinnati, OH:  CBC&S, 2003.

 

“A Story Is Told.”  The Summit.  A publication of the Preaching Summits International, Mooresville, IN, Autumn 1998.

 

Rhetorical Analysis of Selected Key Sermons in Luke and Acts.  (Dissertation Catalog Number 

9530707), Ann Arbor, MI:  UMI Press, 1995.

 

“New Testament Genre and Its Implications for Contemporary Preaching.”  A published paper presented to 

the annual Fellowship of Professors, Johnson Bible College, Knoxville, TN, September 1993.

 

Annotated Bibliography of the New Testament.  Contributing editor.  Rev. ed.  Cincinnati, OH:  CBC&S, May 1991.

 

“Josephus and Luke:  Can the Speech Material Be Trusted?”  A published paper presented at the North 

American Christian Convention, Denver, CO, July 1990.

 

Annotated Bibliography of the New Testament.  Contributing editor.  Cincinnati, OH:  CBC&S, May 1990.

 

PAST BOARD AND PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

Former Member, Evangelical Homiletics Society

Former Member, Society of Biblical Literature

Former Member, Academy of Homiletics

Board Member, Bible Institute for Christian Missions, Shelbyville, IN, 1994-1998

Board Member, Christian Churches/Churches of Christ Chaplaincy Endorsement Commission, Johnson City, TN, 1994-1995

Member, Local Arrangements Committee for the National New Church Conference, Cincinnati, OH, 1992

Board Member, Power Ministries, Clarksburg, IN, 1988-1989

 

HONORS AND AWARDS

Outstanding Young Minister, North American Christian Convention, 1989

Salutatorian, Cincinnati Christian University, 1984

Inductee, Delta Aleph Tau Honor Society, Cincinnati Christian University, 1984

Greek Award, Cincinnati Christian University, 1983

History Award, Cincinnati Christian University, 1983

 

ORDINATION

Ordained through the Christian Church (non-denominational) on July 15, 1984, at Camden Avenue Christian Church, Louisville, KY

 

MILITARY EXPERIENCE

German Translator and Course Developer           1977-1981

US Army, Military Intelligence

 

PERSONAL

Married to my best friend, Carol (also a professor) for nearly 23 years

Three adult children:  (Trey, a middle school English teacher; Aubrey, a freelance web designer; and Prisca, a singer/songwriter)

Two grandsons:  Leo and Fox; and another grandchild on the way

Hobbies include, reading, hunting, fishing, boating, motorcycles, and vintage muscle

Two dogs:  a Jack Russell terrier named “Harley” and a whippet named “Davidson”

Billy Strother