The mission of the Taylor University Center for Scripture Engagement is to equip individuals and congregations to engage the Scripture in ways that will drive Christian worship, discipleship, community, proclamation, and service.

Our vision is to promote engagement with the Scriptures to empower the Christian church passionately knowing God, loving God, and serving the world.

Convictions about Scripture Underlying our Vision and Mission:

  • We believe that reading the Scriptures is a relational process. The Bible is the primary means by which we come to know God; it is a revelation of God. 
  • We believe that Christ is at the center of the Bible. Both Old and New Testaments point to Jesus. 
  • We believe that the principle way that the Holy Spirit works in our lives and in the Church is through the Scripture He inspired and that He illuminates. 
  • We believe in the efficacy of Scripture to speak for itself. We believe that by exploring biblical texts creatively and imaginatively, we hear Scripture challenging us to submit to the unique claim God is making on our allegiance.

Our Values

  • Knowing God: To know God, to love him, and to glorify Him is the greatest good. 
  • Scripture: We value Scripture as being the very Word of God and the primary means of knowing, loving and glorifying him. 
  • Cooperation: We value working cooperatively with the whole church of Jesus Christ. 
  • Research: We value solid research as a complement to the Scriptures for knowing what and how to teach about engaging Scripture. 
  • Community: We value the process of engaging Scripture with others as the most powerful means of spiritual growth. 
  • Teaching: We value creative, interactive, discovery oriented teaching. 
  • Variety: We value a variety of methods of engaging Scripture, there is not one practice to which all people will respond. 
  • Study and Meditation: We value the combination of studying Scripture to understand what it means and meditation on Scripture as the process of incorporating it into our lives. 
  • Close up of annotated Bible

    Goals & Objectives

    Participants in the programs of the Taylor University Center for Scripture Engagement will:

    • Comprehend what Scripture engagement is and why it is central to their spiritual life and to the life of the Church. 
    • Develop a deep desire, based on their own experience with the Bible, to meet God in His Word. 
    • Develop the skills to utilize a variety of Scripture engagement practices. 

Executive Director

Phil Collins headshot

Phil Collins

Professor of Christian Ministries; Director, Taylor University Center for Scripture Engagement
 

“Engaging with Scripture, ever since I was a boy, has been the most powerful and consistent catalyst for spiritual growth that I’ve experienced. It is as I meet and know God in his Word that I’m inspired to participate fully in his Kingdom.”

Dr. Phil Collins holds his BA in Bible Literature and Christian Education from Taylor University, an MA in Christian Education from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, and a PhD in Educational Psychology from Purdue University. He also did graduate studies in the Old Testament at the Institute of Holy Land Studies, now Jerusalem University College.

Dr. Collins served 6 years in youth ministry with Youth for Christ as well as 10 years of ministry as Youth Pastor in a church setting. He was ordained in 1994. Dr. Collins teaches in the Christian Ministries program where he has been a full-time professor since 1999. He was awarded the Taylor University Teaching Excellence and Campus Leadership Award in 2009, and was listed twice in Who’s Who among America’s Teachers and once in Who’s Who in America.

Phil is married to Terri; together they have two adult children, Luke and Katelyn.

Academic Presentations and Publications

  • Spiritual Metrics Conference, Pennsylvania
  • Forum of Bible Agencies International, Malacca, Malaysia
  • North American Professors of Christian Education, Seattle, Washington
  • Scripture Engagement and Young Adults: The Taylor University Findings, Forum of Bible Agencies International in Ft. Lauderdale, FL, April 2013, Phil Collins
  • “The Scripture Engagement Practice of ‘Speaking Scripture’: The Most Impactful Means of Spiritual Growth?” Dr. Phil Collins, Eurasia Media and Distribution Consultation, Netherlands, April 2015.
  • “Scripture Engagement Emerging Assumptions: Correlation of Research Studies.” Dr. Phil Collins, Forum of Bible Agencies International, Ft. Worth, Texas, April 2015.
  • Video Training Sessions: A series of video training sessions have started to be developed which are being posted on Bible Gateway. Videos at this point include Timelining and Storying.

  • Association of Christian Student Development, workshop and presentation to 23 University Vice Presidents
  • Forum of Bible Agencies International, Scotland
  • Forum of Bible Agencies North America, Orlando, Florida
  • “Scripture Engagement and Focus on God at 13 Christian Universities,” Association of Youth Ministry Educators, Chicago, Illinois
  • “Spiritual Life at Thirteen Christian Colleges: Results of the 2013 Christian Life Survey,” Association of Christian Student Development, Minneapolis, Minnesota, June 2014
  • Host of the Symposium on Scripture Engagement and Faith Formation: A Preliminary Consultation for Ministry Leaders, Phil Collins, Fergus Macdonald and Steve Bird, Taylor University, October 2015