John William Eddins, Jr. was Professor of Theology. The chapel begins with a Bible verse, sharing of prayer requests, and a prayer (0:00-3:20). A responsive reading from Psalm 95:1-7 is then read together (3:27-4:30). Dr. Eddins introduces his message “On the Freedom Not to Be God” from Genesis 2:15-25 (4:37-7:12). He emphasizes that people often feel they need to be God, while the truth is they are freed not to be God, but to be free with God (7:15-10:15). Dr. Eddins notes that when people sin, they free themselves from God and then take on the responsibility to be their own inadequate gods (10:15-14:50). He presents Jesus as the answer to have freedom not to be God and instead gain freedom for and with God (14:51-20:15). Chapel is closed in prayer (20:15-20:36).
The audio was transferred from audio cassette. Dr. William P. Clemmons speaks for the entirety of the recording. Dr. Clemmons' source text was Ezekiel 37:15-28. Clemmons shares that the hard work of the church and seminaries is to imagine and forge a new future against insurmountable odds and world problems like racial diversity and other issues. He notes that God renews His people by giving them a vision of Himself. God alone is enough. He encourages the students to distinguish dreams from illusions and seek to be a faithful people of God.
Bill O’Brien has served as the Director of the WMU of the SBC. The service opens with prayer from 0:00-0:53. An introduction to the speaker is given from 1:01-2:50. O’Brien speaks from 2:55-29:25. He asks the question “What is the Church?” and “What does it mean to be the Church in our age?” O’Brien delivers an address on how we can reach out to modern culture.