Clyde E. Fant, Jr. was pastor of the First Baptist Church of Richardson, TX. The service begins with organ music (00:00-04:41). The speaker reads from Romans 1:16-17, and he gives a word of prayer (04:42-05:55). Clyde E. Fant, Jr. is introduced as the Adams Lecturer (05:56-07:59). The choir sings a song of worship (08:00-11:41). Fant’s lecture is entitled “Reformers, The Sermon and Sacrament,” and he begins by telling a funny story that illustrates the struggle of preachers to find wings for their words (11:42-18:03). Fant examines the sermons of proto-reformers John Wycliff and Girolamo Savonarola, and he says that both figures went against the preaching of their time because their preaching was tethered to biblical doctrine and in contrast to culture (18:04-32:19). Fant briefly criticizes the church for embracing preaching that is not in contrast with culture (32:20-37:28). Fant examines the theology of preaching of the Protestant Reformer’s Martin Luther, John Calvin, John Knox, and Ulrich Zwingli, and he says that these reformers revived the sacrament of the word by bring back its simple and Christ-centric nature (37:29-46:33). Fant concludes his sermon by examining the French Court preacher Jean-Baptiste Massillon of the Post-Reformation Era as a prime example of preaching for God’s glory rather than earthly flatter (46:34-55:56). The service ends with a benediction (55:57-56:23).
Glenn T. Miller was Professor of Church History. The service begins with a song by the bell choir, and the speaker gives a word of prayer (00:00-04:23). The speaker delivers a Scripture reading from 2 Timothy 3 (04:24-06:56). The choir sings “A Mighty Fortress is Our God” (06:57-11:30). Miller delivers the Reformation Day sermon on the theme of knowing and reading Scripture, and he calls on the audience to experience the power of the word of God by taking up the reading of Scripture afresh again (11:31-28:48). Miller ends the service with a benediction (28:49-29:27).
Sara Ann Hobbs was the Director of the Division of Missions for the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina. The service begins with a responsive reading (00:00-01:10). The speaker gives a word of prayer (01:11-05:10). Sara Ann Hobbs is introduced as the chapel speaker (05:11-07:00). The choir sings a song of worship (07:01-11:21). Hobbs’ sermon is about being called to ministry, and she says that the call of God is relational, a daily response, and does not require location or preconditions (11:22-24:27). Hobbs ends the service with a word of prayer (24:28-25:00).
Willard A. Brown, Jr. was pastor of Wake Forest Baptist Church. The service begins with the Lord’s Prayer and a responsive reading (00:00-01:09). Brown says the two greatest commandments while choir sings to the Lord, and it ends with a word of prayer (01:10-06:00). The choir sings multiple songs of worship while Brown does a responsive reading from selected passages in the Scriptures (06:01-11:50). Multiple songs are performed by the choir (11:51-17:44). Organ music is played (17:45-21:18).