Frank Stagg was Senior Professor of New Testament Studies at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. The service opens with a word of prayer (00:00-00:32). Frank Stagg is introduced as the Page Lecturer (00:33-04:08). Stagg’s lecture is entitled “Wine & Skins,” and he thanks Southeastern for giving him the opportunity to give the Page Lectures (04:09-06:54). Stagg draws a distinction between wine, which is pure religion, and skins, which are religious practices, in Mark 2:18-22, and he looks at Jesus life and teachings in the gospel accounts to argue that he was exhorting his audience to put on new wineskins because the old ones had fallen into legalism that was destroying the wine of pure religion (06:55-34:34). Stagg speaks about the wineskins of the present day, and one of the best examples he gives is theology and the thoughts of theologians (34:35-50:30). The service ends with a word of prayer (50:31-51:13).
Jule Young was a Master of Divinity student and minister of evangelism and outreach at Grace Baptist Church in Durham, NC. The service begins with organ music (00:00-05:21). The speaker delivers the call to worship (05:22-06:20). Announcements are given for evening services and prayer groups, Jule Young is introduced as the chapel speaker, and the speaker gives a word of prayer (06:21-10:28). A student gives his testimony (10:29-16:25). A soloist performs a song of worship (16:26-20:24). The title of Young’s message is “What is the Meaning of the Gospel,” and he walks through each word of John 3:16 to give its importance to the overall gospel message (20:25-39:55). Young ends the service with a word of prayer (39:56-41:02).
John I. Durham was Professor of Hebrew and Old Testament. The service opens with a word on the former librarian Edwin C. Osborne’s health, and the speaker reads from the Scriptures (00:00-01:27). John I. Durham reads from Genesis 22, and Matthew 9, and he gives a word of prayer (01:28-08:09). The choir sings a song of worship (08:10-12:14). Durham’s speaks about the call of God and the human response, and he argues that the call of God requires immediate obedience and the endpoint of the call is rarely seen (12:15-26:05). Durham ends the service with a benediction (26:06-26:19).
William G. Benton was a Master of Divinity student. The service begins with a word of prayer (00:00-01:40). A student sings a song of worship (01:41-05:10). Benton begins his sermon with Scripture readings from Exodus 34:29-32 and John 12:20-26 (05:11-08:04). Benton shares the stories of many saints through history who displayed the radiance of God’s glory, and he says that Christian can display this same glory only through God who gives them the strength (08:05-24:08). The service ends with a word of prayer (24:09-24:35).
Ben Sigel was Professor of Music. The service begins with organ music (00:00-08:09). Ben Sigel Johnson is introduced as the faculty lecturer (08:10-11:14). Johnson begins his lecture by speaking about music expressing theology, and the title of his lecture is “The Theological Viewpoints of Four Master Composers” (11:15-14:30). Johnson’s first composer he presents is Johann Sebastian Bach, and he says the Bach’s Lutheran upbringing inspired music that expressed a human’s mystical union with Christ (14:31-18:16). Johnson’s second composer he presents is Ludwig van Beethoven, and he says that Beethoven had a profound faith that was revealed in his music though he was nominally Catholic (18:17-23:32). Johnson’s third composer he presents is Felix Mendelssohn, and he says that Mendelssohn’s music was influenced by the theology of Friedrich Schleiermacher but with a greater appreciation for the Old Testament (23:33-30:08). Johnson briefly compares the liturgical compositions of Franz Liszt and Anton Bruckner (30:09-33:32). The final composer Johnson presents is Johannes Brahms, and he says that Brahms’s music expresses the mercy of God (33:33-39:08). The choir sings an ensemble from Johannes Brahms (39:09-45:19). Johnson concludes his lecture by walking through one of Brahms’ ensembles (45:20-49:34). The service ends with a word of prayer (49:35-50:27).
This forum was part of the Ministry with the Small Rural Church Workshop. Quentin Lockwood was Director of the Rural Missions Department of the Home Mission Board. Robert E. Wiley Robert E. Wiley was Associates Director of the Rural Missions Department in the Associational Missions Division of the Home Mission Board. Sara Ann Hobbs was the Director of the Division of Missions for the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina. The forum begins with introduction from all the speakers and the students participating (0:00:00-0:09:46). The moderator opens the forum for questions and topics for discussion, and he gives an opening talk about the importance of the church (0:09:47-0:16:55). Throughout most of the forum, the speakers and students discuss various topics of which include the definition of a small church, the needs of small churches, and the future of small churches (0:16:56-1:59:21). The conversation begins to wrap up, and the moderator thanks everyone for coming and contributing to the forum (1:59:22-2:02:23).