Morris Ashcraft was Professor of Theology and Dean of the Faculty. The commencement service is opened in prayer (0:00-4:40). Scripture is read aloud from Jeremiah 23:23-28, 2 Corinthians 4:1-2, and 1 Corinthians 15:3-7 (4:40-7:45). Dr. Lolley welcomes and extends thanks to Dr. Trotter and his wife in recognition of Dr. Trotter’s retirement (7:45-10:19). Dr. Lolley introduces the conferring of degrees (10:19-11:00). Dr. Lolley and Dr. Ashcraft perform the conferring of degrees for the Associate of Divinity degree (11:00-15:15). The service continues with the conferring of degrees for the Master of Religious Education (15:15-18:00). Next, degrees are conferred for the Master of Divinity (18:00-35:40). The Master of Theology degrees follow (35:40-38:35). Finally, the Doctor of Ministry degrees are conferred (38:35-41:55). Dr. Ashcraft is introduced as the speaker for graduation (41:55-42:05). Dr. Ashcraft encourages graduates to remember the gospel, remember the men and women who brought the gospel to them, and to pass the gospel on to others (42:05-45:23). He reminds graduates that they were called to be where they are now and to remember the way of Christ, telling the truth (45:23-49:57). He reminds them they are ambassadors for Christ and to be faithful in preaching the Word (49:57-52:47). Finally, Dr. Ashcraft encourages them to live righteously and to be faithful with their work (52:47-1:02:41). The commencement service is closed in prayer (1:02:41-1:04:38).
Catherine Allen was Executive Assistant to the Director of the WMU. The service begins with a Scripture reading from Romans 10 and a word of prayer (00:00-02:48). A community announcement is given, and Catherine Allen is introduced as the Missionary Day chapel speaker (02:49-05:17). The choir sings a song of worship (05:18-07:50). Allen begins her sermon with a short summary of the life and missionary work of Lottie Moon and the impact of the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering (07:51-16:55). Allen centers her sermon on Romans 10:12-17, and she shares stories of missionaries to encourage the audience to take the call to bring the gospel to the ends of the earth (16:56-37:21). Allen ends the service by giving the audience a resource to help them consider the call to missions, and she give a word of prayer (37:22-39:35).
Marc Hoyle Lovelace was from Stetson University and had formerly been a professor at SEBTS. The service begins with a word of prayer (00:00-01:28). President Randall Lolley speaks on the founding of the seminary, and he introduces Marc Hoyle Lovelace as the chapel speaker (01:29-09:26). The choir sings a song of worship (09:27-14:15). Lovelace opens his sermon by speaking on his joy to be back on the campus of Southeastern for Founder’s Day (14:16-17:49). He recollects about his journey to Southeastern and his time as a professor (17:50-28:40). Lovelace then focuses on the importance of Founder’s Day, and he urges the school to stay on its original mission for God (28:41-46:16). President Lolley gives a moment of silence, and he ends the service with a benediction (46:17-47:24).
Charles and Mary Love were Baptist missionaries in Guyana. The service begins with organ music (00:00-04:38). The speaker delivers the Scripture reading from Psalm 19, and he gives a word of prayer (04:39-07:16). Charles and Mary Love are introduced as the chapel speakers (07:17-10:50). The Love’s share the story of their calling to international missions, and they give words of encouragement to the audience for discerning God’s will (10:51-29:10). Charles Love ends the service with a word of prayer and a benediction (29:11-30:04).
William Randall Lolley was the 3rd president of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. The service opens with a word of prayer (00:00-03:04). The choir leads in a song of worship (03:05-07:09). Lolley speaks on the newness of life found in Christ and how he should be celebrated during this Thanksgiving season (07:09-18:43).
Robert H. Culpepper was Professor of Theology. The service opens with a reading from Isaiah 6:1-8 (00:00-01:38). Culpepper opens his sermon with a word of prayer (01:39-03:34). He shares his personal story of calling and life as a missionary in Japan for the purpose of showing the importance of obedience to God’s will (03:35-27:24). Culpepper ends the service with a prayer (27:25-28:03).
Dr. William H. Willimon was Minister to the University and Professor of the Practice of the Christian Ministry at Duke University in Durham, NC. In this message, Willimon speaks on the failure of purely moralistic preaching, advocating for preaching to be biblical rather than centered around application. He also explores the relationship between the Law and the gospel.
• John William Eddins, Jr. was Professor of Theology. The service opens with a word of prayer (00:00-01:07). Eddins leads the audience in a responsive reading and a time of prayer requests (01:08-05:30). He reads from Galatians 2:11-21 (05:31-08:00). Eddins begins his sermon by comparing Paul’s religious transformation to the restoration of the gospel message in the Protestant Reformation (08:01-10:10). He argues that Paul found problems with legalism and antinomianism, and he saw the gospel of righteousness through Christ as the great third option (10:11-13:04). Eddins first question is have we been crucified with Christ, and he says we exchange our obligations with freedom (13:05-16:12). The second question is does Christ live in us, and Eddins says if we love the way Christ loves us, he lives in us (16:13-19:45). The third question is do we live by faith in the Son of God, and Eddins says the answer is if we live by faith, we do not depend upon ourselves for salvation (19:46-21:15). Eddins concludes by stating only the only way to salvation is the way of dependence on Christ’s righteousness (21:16-24:36). Eddins ends the service with a benediction (24:37-25:04).