Chauncey Rakestraw Daley was editor of The Western Recorder in Kentucky. The service begins with a word of prayer (0:00:00-0:01:24). The speaker reads from Psalm 139 and 2 Timothy 2, and he gives a word of prayer (0:01:25-0:06:53). Another speaker announces the giving of a gift from the 1981 class to former professor Roy B. Wyatt (0:06:54-0:07:55). President Randall Lolley welcomes everyone to the second December commencement in the school’s history, and he introduces Chauncey Rakestraw Daley as the commencement speaker (0:07:56-0:13:56). Daley opens his sermon with a word of gratitude to the seminary (0:13:57-0:18:30). Daley shares the story of a man who tried to be a witness at every opportunity, and he reads Jeremiah 12:5 (0:18:31-0:24:47). Daley’s sermon speaks about the new challenges of ministry in Baptist life, and he tells the graduates that their first responsibility will be to be in the word and preach the gospel faithfully (0:25:48-0:41:46). Lolley recognizes all the family and friends of the graduates (0:41:47-0:42:43). The Master of Religious Education degrees are conferred (04:42:44-0:44:56). The Master of Divinity degrees are conferred (0:44:57-0:54:38). The Master of Theology degrees are conferred (0:54:39-0:56:55). The Doctor of Ministry degrees are conferred (0:56:56-0:59:19). The service ends with a word of prayer (0:59:20-1:01:05).
Robert Lee Richardson was Professor of Supervised Ministry. The service begins with organ music (00:00-04:30). Richardson gives a word of prayer (04:31-06:02). Richardson gives an announcement about an Ethiopian relief offering, and he delivers the Scripture Reading from Isaiah 8:16-9:7 (06:03-10:28). Richardson preaches about the reality of darkness that affects humanity, and he concludes with Isaiah’s words that those who walk in darkness have seen a great light (10:29-24:39). The service ends with a benediction (24:40-24:55).
Glenn T. Miller was Associate Professor of Church History. The service opens with a reading from Romans 1:16-17 and a reflection on the impact these verses had on Martin Luther (00:00-01:53). The speaker gives a word of prayer (01:53-03:53). The choir leads in a song of worship (03:54-08:30). Miller begins his sermon by reading from 1 John 2:7-11 (08:31-09:22). He speaks on the legacy of Martin Luther, both the good and the bad of his character, and he encourages the audience to seek new reformation in the church based in gospel responsibility (09:23-29:57). Miller ends the service with a benediction (29:58-30:38).
Warren T. Carr was pastor of Wake Forest Baptist Church in Winston-Salem, NC. The service begins with organ music (00:00-05:23). The speaker gives a word of prayer (05:24-07:16). Warren T. Carr is introduced as the chapel speaker (07:17-09:58). The choir sings the anthem (09:59-12:58). Carr delivers a sermon on the topic of preaching the word of God, and he argues that the word over the attitude of the preaching is what matters most (12:59-30:11). Carr ends the service with a word of prayer (30:12-30:33).
Clark McCrary was a student at SEBTS. McCrary speaks on the journey of living for Christ, and he warns of the danger of taking side roads (0:00-3:26). He closes his sermonette with the words of a song (3:27-5:45).
Thomas H. Conley was the senior minister of North Side Drive Baptist Church in Atlanta, GA. The service begins with President Randall Lolley welcoming everyone to the pastor’s seminar, and he gives an endorsement of a book written by Dr. James Tull (00:00-04:45). Lolley gives a word of prayer (04:46-05:19). A moment of silence is given for Theodore F. Adams, and Thomas H. Conley is introduced as the Adams Lecturer (05:20-11:03). The choir sings the anthem (11:04-12:10). Conley begins his lecture giving a word of honor to Theodore F. Adams and a word of thanks to Morris Ashcraft, John Carlton, and Furman Hewitt (12:11-16:28). The tittle and theme of Conley’s lecture is “Assumptions of the Preaching Ministry.” He says his first assumption is that there is one body of Christ, and he focuses on the one baptism and how this principle effects a church’s membership policy (16:29-25:28). Conley’s second assumption looks at Christian education, and he says that effective preaching should have an element of teaching to equip the saints (25:29-33:33). Conley’s third assumption looks at worship, and he urges Baptists to return to the great liturgical tradition of the church (33:34-42:21). Conley’s fourth assumption is none of the above assumptions, and he focuses on the laity that need the hope that comes through the preaching (42:22-52:55). President Lolley ends the service with a word of prayer (52:56-53:44).