John Rowan Claypool, IV was the pastor of Northminster Baptist Church in Jackson, MS. The service begins with a word of prayer (0:00:00-0:00:58). John Rowan Claypool, IV is introduced as the Adams Lecturer (0:00:59-0:03:59). The choir sings a song of worship (0:04:00-0:06:59). John Claypool begins his last Adams Lecture by thanking Southeastern for its hospitality throughout the week (0:07:00-0:11:02). He gives a summary of his previous three lectures, and he recounts Charles Spurgeon’s conversion story as a segue into his final topic, the way humans relate to other humans (0:11:03-0:18:34). Claypool retells a Medieval legend of two knights who tried to kill each other because they thought they were enemies, and he says the work of Christian ministry is to work to the goals of helping enemies see each other as kinsman (0:18:35-0:23:16). He them move to speak about the three layers of eyes each human has for sight: the eyes of the body, the eyes of the mind, and the eyes of the heart (0:23:17-0:36:24). Claypool tells the story of Francis of Assisi, and he desires for his audience to see the world in a Franciscan way that helps them realize that all things are miracles (0:36:25-0:49:54). Claypool concludes his lecture by speaking on human’s lack of courage to relate to the other, and he encourages the audience look to the gospel which states that humans have a common kinship (0:49:55-1:02:28). The service ends with a benediction (1:02:29-1:03:09).
John B. Cobb was the Ingraham Professor of Theology at the Claremont School of Theology. The service begins with a word of prayer (00:00-01:15). John B. Cobb is introduced as the Carver-Barnes Lecturer (01:16-04:07). Cobb’s lecture is entitled “Towards the Christocentric Inclusivism.” He begins his lecture by stating that the posture of Christians should be the seeking of engagement with all truths (04:08-08:10). Cobb’s first point is about inclusive Christology, and he argues that the message of Christ being the center of mankind has been lost in recent centuries (08:11-18:51). Cobb’s second point is that, in both academia and the church, Christ has been separated from other disciplines, and the separation has extended itself into all disciplines (18:52-28:14). Cobb’s third point is a critique of both divided secular and theological education and modern economic theories, and he lays out the biblical principle of unity of humans and creation that runs counter to these theories (28:15-50:03). The service ends with a benediction (50:01-51:14).
Richard Albert Spencer was Associate Professor of New Testament. Chapel begins with prayer for a hospitalized student (0:00-3:10). Dr. Spencer introduces his lecture on the task of proclaiming the New Testament and preaching (3:10-9:56). The first requirement he discusses for preaching is a personal encounter with Jesus Christ (9:56-12:52). The second requirement for preaching is that the preacher must provide a dialectic between the Scripture and the people. Dr. Spencer discusses various methods to do this well (12:52-48:58). Dr. Spencer closes his lecture with the third requirement for preaching which is to always bring a sermon that points back to Christ (48:58-51:43).
Albert L. Meiburg was Professor of Pastoral Theology and Dean of the Faculty. Meiburg opens his sermon by stating that he wants to share three lessons he wished he learned sooner (00:00-01:03). The first lesson he shares is to celebrate the temporary (01:04-05:35). The second lesson he shares is to embrace the alien or the unfamiliar (05:36-10:34). The third lesson he shares is to risk the imperfect (10:35-20:05). Meiburg ends the service with a benediction (20:06-20:31).