Hugh Anderson was the Professor of New Testament at the University of Edinburgh. The service begins with organ music (0:00-4:02). There is a moment of prayer (4:03-4:35). There is a welcome extended to the guests of the Adams Lectures (4:36-8:15). Hugh Anderson is introduced as the Adams Lecturer (8:16-12:35). Anderson expresses his gratitude for being able to speak and shares his experience in preaching (12:36-16:20). He speaks about the place, significance, and function of preaching (16:21-20:24). Anderson shares about how a pastor shares Scripture and teaching with his or her community and how he or she spends time in prayer and devotion (20:25-25:52). He speaks about how pastors should imitate Paul as he spoke in a way that the people he was speaking to might better understand the gospel (25:53-31:08). He speaks on the joy of exploring the Bible and that one must always return to Scripture as the source of truth and the importance of expositional preaching (31:09-36:31). Anderson speaks about the expectation of preachers to have “achieved an almost angelic status by being able to proclaim ‘I am saved. I know it beyond any trace of a shadow of a doubt.’” and the danger of the idolization of the preacher (36:32-39:04). He uses Paul’s example that the first and last concern of a preacher should be to glorify God, that all Biblical teaching must be theocentric rather than anthropocentrism (39:05-44:34). Anderson argues that putting God on trial and prosecuting Him is rooted in Scripture, giving examples from Jacob wrestling God in Genesis, the repeated protestations of the Psalmist, Job lifting his fist to God, and Jesus asking why God has forsaken Him on the cross, but that God judges those who disobey (44:35-53:13). Anderson explores the manner in which Ezekiel received his message from God, that he should eat it (53:14-56:02). He explains that preaching is a “risky business” because of the constraint to place oneself in front of the text in ignorance (56:03-59:21). The service closes in a word of prayer (59:22-59:59).
John I. Durham was Professor of Hebrew and Old Testament. The service begins with organ music (0:00:00-0:05:05). The speaker gives a word of prayer (0:05:06-0:06:17). The Old Testament lesson is read from Ezekiel 34, and the New Testament lesson is read from John 10 (0:06:18-0:11:00). President Randall Lolley welcomes everyone to the December commencement service, and he invites a graduating student on stage for a special address (0:11:01-0:11:46). The graduating student, Debra Collins, presents a check for an endowment fund to help international students (0:11:47-0:13:31). C. Michael Hawn sings a song of worship (0:13:32-0:16:25). Durham delivers the commencement address from the Old and New Testament lessons of Ezekiel 34 and John 10, and he urges the graduates to be good shepherd amid the temptation to follow and adapt to the patterns of bad shepherds who hold influence and powerful positions in the world (0:16:26-0:35:55). Lolley recognizes the friends and family of the graduates (0:35:56-0:36:33). The Associate of Divinity degrees are conferred (0:36:34-0:38:21). One Master of Religious Education degree is conferred (0:38:22-0:39:40). The Master of Divinity degrees are conferred (0:39:41-0:52:30). The Master of Theology degrees are conferred (0:52:31-0:54:33). The Doctor of Ministry degrees are conferred (0:54:34-0:57:00). Lolley leads the audience in the Litany of Mission (0:57:01-1:00:45). The service ends with a word of prayer (1:00:46-1:01:23).
Richard Albert Spencer was Associate Professor of New Testament at Southeastern Theological Seminary. The service begins with a prayer (0:00-1:40). Spencer reads various scriptures (1:41-6:50). Spencer’s main theme is “blessed are the poor.” Spencer begins his message with an introduction concerning the use of money (6:51-9:14). He continues by explaining that the church's tendency concerning monetary use, contrast with Jesus’ teachings (9:15-17:13). Spencer conveys the importance of obedience to Christ amid difficult circumstances, and how to use monetary resources wisely (17:14-24:05). He concludes with a challenge to his audience to be selfless in their giving, and to love others boundlessly (24:06-25:51). He closes in prayer (25:52-26:56).
Fred Allen Grissom was the Professor of Church History at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. The service begins with the introduction of Fred Grissom as the chapel speaker (0:00-1:14). Grissom shares a portion of his testimony of becoming a preacher and asks the congregation to sing another hymn (1:15-5:17). Grissom reads from I Corinthians 1 (5:18-6:50). Grissom speaks about the phrase in the Scripture regarding foolishness, which he believes to mean the human tendency to want things to mean what one wants it to mean (6:51-13:55). Grissom speaks about the foolishness the church tolerates, both in false teaching and in the culture (13:56-22:05). Grissom closes the service with a moment of prayer (22:06-23:10).
Margaret Via was pastor of the Preddys Creek Baptist Church in Charlottesville, VA. The service begins with organ music (00:00-04:10). The speaker delivers the call to worship, and she gives a word of prayer (04:11-07:00). Margaret Via is introduced as the chapel speaker (07:01-08:03). The choir sings the anthem (08:04-10:02). Via begins her sermon with a word of appreciation for Southeastern, a word of prayer, and Scripture readings from John 1 and 18 (10:03-13:17). Via preaches on the kingship of Christ, and she argues from John’s gospel that Jesus is the eternal king who came in the flesh and will never abandon his people (13:18-24:15). Via ends the service with a benediction (24:16-24:50).
Thomas R. McKibbens, Jr. was Associate Professor of Preaching. Luke B. Smith was Professor of Supervised Ministry. John W. Carlton was Professor of Preaching. The service begins with a responsive reading (00:00-01:01). McKibbens leads in a prayer of forgiveness and confession (01:02-04:11). Smith delivers the Scripture reading from 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 (04:12-05:02). Carlton leads in a prayer of intercession (05:03-07:20). McKibbens, Smith, and Carlton lead in the partaking of the Lord’s Supper (07:21-11:54). Carlton concludes the service with a prayer of thanksgiving and the Lord’s Prayer (11:55-13:11).
John Dever was the Visiting Professor of Christian Ethics. Chapel is opened with a quote from Matthew, reading of Psalm 22:1-11, and a prayer (0:00-4:48). An introduction for the speaker, Dr. John Dever, is given (4:48-5:52). The choir leads in song (5:52-10:20). Dr. Dever discusses seasons of uncertainty and doubt and the importance of trusting God in those times (10:20-31:35). Dr. Dever closes the service in prayer (31:35-32:30).
Luke B. Smith was Professor of Supervised Ministry. The service begins with a word of prayer (0:00:00-0:02:08). President Randall Lolley thanks the Wake County School Board for letting Southeastern use Wake Forest-Rolesville High School stadium (0:02:09-0:05:10). The speaker reads from Genesis 1 and Isaiah 45 (0:05:11-0:08:25). Another speaker reads from John 13 and 1 Corinthians 13 (0:08:26-0:11:48). A graduating student sings a song of worship (0:11:49-0:14:46). Lolley recognizes the family and friends of the graduates (0:14:47-0:15:53). The Associate of Divinity degrees are conferred (0:15:54-0:21:41). The Master of Religious Education degrees are conferred (0:21:42-0:24:32). The Master of Divinity degrees are conferred (0:24:33-0:52:36). The Master of Theology degrees are conferred (0:52:37-0:55:56). The Doctor of Ministry degrees are conferred (0:55:57-0:58:46). Lolley introduces Luke B. Smith as the commencement speaker (05:58:47-0:59:11). Smith’s sermon is about boundaries and parameters in ministry, and he encourages the graduates to plant one foot in the reality of the world to minister effectively for Christ (0:59:12-1:24:42). The service ends with a word of prayer (1:24:43-1:25:50).
