The service begins with the reading of Psalm 24:1-2 (00:20), and an introduction is given for the Reverend Robert C. McClernon, pastor of Watts Street Baptist Church in Durham, NC. From Springfield, Missouri, he received a BA degree from Drury College in Missouri and a Bachelor of Divinity degree from the Federated Faculty of the University of Chicago. He also served as Associate Minister at Myers Park Baptist Church in Charlotte, NC for nine years before coming to pastor at Watts Street (00:43-01:32). The service continues with a responsive reading of Psalm 23 (1:33-2:34) and prayer afterward (2:35-4:51). Robert McClernon begins his message with the prayerful reading of Romans 5:1-5 (04:52-05:52). McClernon intends to humbly share with his listeners some of his own understandings of what makes us who are we to be as ministers of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Unless the clergy indicates to those whom we serve that God has called us to offer all of ourselves to Him in service, we cannot hope anyone else will do this after us. Firstly, God has called us to be theologians who love Him with our minds (05:53-09:58). Secondly, God has called us to be theologians who have ears and can minister by listening well (09:59-11:57). Thirdly, God has called us to have realistic self-conceptions, understanding that we must remember our humanity and weaknesses in our ministry as “professional” clergy and so protect ourselves from becoming “holy phonies.” According to McClernon, the gospel must become incarnate in us so that others see it as genuine, powerful, and effective for them as well (11:58-26:35). He then ends the service in prayer to God (26:36-27:54).
The service begins with a general command to praise God (00:00-00:07), a prayer (00:08-02:08), and an introduction for the speaker, John Allen Easley, from Wake Forest College (02:09-03:20). He begins by reading selected verses from the end of John 6 (03:21-05:20) and opening appreciations for being in chapel at SEBTS (05:21-06:59). He then mentions different ways this tenth anniversary of SEBTS might be celebrated, according to reflecting on the past, looking forward to the future, or reaffirming convictions for the present. The latter is the view which Easley attributes most importance (07:00-07:58). According to the text of John 6 in light of John’s Gospel, His disciples needed to look beyond the events of Jesus’ ministry to Jesus Himself as the substance to which those events point (07:59-12:23). This “looking deeper” may cause us to reflect on both our churches and ourselves, and living for Christ will require us to show courage and dedication, promising eternal life and peace (12:24-21:21). He closes his time in prayer (21:22-22:36).
Archie Lee Nations was Associate Professor of New Testament Interpretation. The service opens with a responsive reading from 0:00-2:33. Nations preaches from 2:34-18:47. His source texts are Psalm 103:8-12 and John 1:9.
Warren T. Carr was the pastor of Watts St. Baptist Church in Durham, NC and pastor of Wake Forest Baptist Church from 1964-1985. Rev. Carr speaks from 4:22-21:34. Carr preaches on the importance of recognizing miracles in our lives. He reminds students that the power to pray is a miracle and that they serve a God who gave us Jesus, which is a miracle.
Pope Alexander Duncan was Professor of Church History. Dr. Duncan opens the service in prayer from 0:00-3:50. Duncan preaches the rest of his message from 3:59-15:30. Professor Duncan's sermon is titled, "Amen and Amen." Duncan states that to say "amen" is to place your faith and trust in God. He notes that Jesus is the source of our faith. A closing prayer is given from 15:32-16:26.
After a prayer and introduction (start-2:43), Mr. Earl R. Martin, a graduate student of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and missionary to East Africa, speaks about authenticity in missions. He shares further his convictions about the validity of a missionary call.
John C. Whatley, Jr. was pastor of Forestville Baptist Church. The service starts with a word of prayer from 0:00-1:45. An introduction to the speaker is given from 2:07-3:21. Whatley preaches from 3:35-33:10. His message is centered on the concept of anger.
After a prayer (start-2:45), Mr. Edwin Calhoun Osburn, Associate Professor of Bibliography, speaks about the struggle for the hearts and minds of men and reads an article from the Charlotte News by Cecil Prince entitled, "This Could Be a Southern Century."
An opening prayer was given after the reading of Micah 6:8 (0:07-02:20). An introduction of Dr. Wendell Randolph Grigg was given, identifying him as Secretary of the Department of Interracial Cooperation of the Baptist Convention of North Carolina; he was a pastor, denominational worker, and co-laborer for the justice of the oppressed, especially other races (03:20-04:31). The title of the address is "Race and Relative Religion" (04:43-06:29). In his message, Grigg begs three considerations of his listeners: those who bear Christ's name would resemble His character to the world practically through humility and love; Christians would cease from treating the Faith as relative and begin treating it as absolute; and those who call on God as Father resemble Him as good sons and daughters should, acting in accord with His character to others in the world (06:30-08:09). Grigg points out that the myth of the superiority of racism has permeated in society, directly opposing science, the Bible, human unity, the Spirit of the Christian Faith, and the very will of God (08:45-09:48). He exposes racism's ultimate problem as one of wrong relationship with God, since no one can be in right relationship with God yet be in wrong relationship with any person (09:49-10:12). Grigg urges his listeners to take Christ and the implications of the Gospel seriously, acting on the Gospel instead of merely agreeing with it (10:13-27:12). A benediction was given by Grigg to close the service (27:13-27:26).
