This message was part of the Ministry with the Small Rural Church Workshop. Robert E. Wiley was Associates Director of the Rural Missions Department in the Associational Missions Division of the Home Mission Board. Wiley begins his lecture by sharing some book resources for the audience, and he lays out the topics that he will be lecturing on over the next few days (00:00-08:12). Wiley’s lecture is about the changes in society bringing the rural and urban worlds closer together, and he walks through how one brings change to small rural churches where change is a difficult process (08:13-50:35). Wiley concludes his lecture by once again bringing attention to the book resources on cultural church change (50:36-51:12).
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).
Karen Smith was a Southeastern student. The service begins with a Scripture reading from Luke 11:9-10 (00:00-00:44). Smith examines the statements of Jesus in Luke 11:9-10, and she speaks on calling for the Christian as a tension between serving and receiving (00:45-17:23). The audience is led in a song of worship (17:24-22:14). The service ends with a word of prayer (22:15-22:52).
Roy E. De Brand was Professor of Preaching at SEBTS. Roy E. De Brand is announced as Chapel speaker (0:00-0:07). A hymn is played (0:08-3:59). Scripture reading is followed by another hymn (cut) (4:00-4:36). Prayer requests are made, and a word of prayer is given (4:37-8:44). The choir sings a song of worship (8:45-12:15). De Brand speaks about the necessity of an enduring faith for difficult times such as when Americans were fighting for independence from England (12:16-13:59). He focuses on the expression of faith found in the book of Lamentations 3:19-26 (14:00-17:36). Faith comes easy during the good times, but it is during the bad times when faith seems hard to find (17:37-19:09). De Brand discusses that it is easy to find faith as long as we acknowledge God’s eternal, steadfast love (1910-21:26). However, during difficult times, we lose sight of God’s love (21:27-22:04). As De Brand quotes Whittier’s poem Eternal Goodness, he speaks of God’s love always being there for us (22:05-23:28). He then adds that hope is necessary for finding faith during our trials as it provides us the “assurance that our inner strength is greater than our outward problems” (23:29-27:31). We will always face tough times, but hope and the knowledge that God is in control will sustain us (27:32-29:02). God does not disregard those who seek Him so we must be continuously looking to God for enduring faith (29:03-32:00). De Brand concludes with citing from Paul’s epistle to the Corinthians: love is the greatest of the three lasting things of this world (faith, hope, and love) (32:01-33:27). He gives a word of prayer (33:28-34:12).
Rev. Dr. David Haxton Carswell Read was the senior pastor of Madison Avenue Presbyterian Church, served as a chaplain during World War II, and was a National Radio Pulpit preacher. The service begins with organ music and a moment of prayer (0:00-6:10). David H. C. Read is introduced as the Adams Lecturer (6:11-8:10). The choir sings an anthem (8:11-10:48). Read speaks of the hard work and diligence required in preparing a sermon (10:49-18:47). Read speaks about how to prepare a sermon (18:48-32:11). Read states that one must decide a theme for a sermon to know the point of the sermon (32:12-35:40). Read states that one must let the text work in one’s mind, pondering an image that comes to mind because people are more apt to remember images rather than words (35:41-43:28). Read states that discipline in sermon preparation is valuable (43:29-56:12). The service ends with a blessing (56:12-56:35).
Christine Gregory was the First Vice President of the Southern Baptist Convention. The service begins with President Randall Lolley giving a word of prayer (00:00-01:01). Christine Gregory is introduced as the chapel speaker (01:02-05:41). The choir sings a song of worship (05:42-08:43). Gregory speaks positively about Southern Baptist’s motivations for the Great Commission and history of involvement in the missions movement, and she says that despite their differences, Southern Baptists need to quit talking to each other, take initiative, and win the world for Christ (08:44-32:49). Lolley thanks Gregory for speaking, and he gives an announcement about chapel being moved to Wake Forest Baptist Church in the coming weeks due to construction (32:50-34:40). Lolley ends the service with a word of prayer (34:41-35:15).
Disclaimer: Portions of this service are inaudible. William Benjamin Rogers was Dean of the School of Christian Education at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. The beginning of the service is inaudible (0:00-5:47). Poerschke speaks about the establishment of the Kendrick-Poerschke Lectures (5:48-7:15). William Rogers is introduced as the Kendrick-Poerschke Lecturer (7:16-9:44). Rogers speaks about where cartography fits into the trivium of learning (9:45-11:50). He speaks of the “rag bag” of Christian education (11:51-16:25). Rogers shares his opinion of the identity of Christian education, using cartography to prove his point (16:26-26:48). Rogers speaks of the Sunday school movement (26:49-30:49). Rogers speaks about the work of a Christian educator in the church (30:50-41:30). The service concludes with a benediction (41:31-42:02).
