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).
Audio quality is very poor. Thomas H. Conley was the senior minister of North Side Drive Baptist Church in Atlanta, GA. The service begins with organ music (00:00-02:50). The speaker gives a word of prayer (02:51-04:18). Thomas H. Conley is introduced as the Adams Lecturer, and the speaker reads from 2 Timothy 4:1-8 (04:19-09:30). The choir sings the anthem (09:31-12:00). The title of Conley’s lecture is “The Preacher As.” He begins his lecture by thanking everyone for their gratitude during his visit, and he states his belief that the Baptist tradition can be wedded to the greater liturgical tradition to the universal and historic church (12:01-14:12). Conley’s major point is the preacher as a theologian, and he says that the preacher’s responsibility is to always be prepared to deliver good theological truth and train their people to be good theologians as well. Most of the lecture is inaudible (14:13-55:39). The service ends with a benediction (55:40-56:05).
Jack Franks was pastor of Sea Level Baptist Church in Sea Level, NC and a Master of Divinity student. The service begins with organ music (00:00-03:24). The speaker gives a call to worship from Matthew 6:33 & 7:7, and he sings a song of worship (03:25-06:48). Another speaker gives a word of prayer, he presents the theme of commitment for the student revival week, and he introduces Jack Franks as the chapel speaker (06:49-09:16). A student shares his testimony (09:17-21:34). A soloist performs the song “Great is Thy Faithfulness” (21:35-26:00). Franks preaches a gospel and Christ-centered revival message, and he urges his audience to prioritize Christ, which is the essence of revival (26:01-44:20). Franks ends the service with a word of prayer (44:21-47:05).
John Edward Steely was Professor of Historical Theology. The service begins with organ music (00:00-07:33). The speaker gives a word of prayer (07:34-08:38). John Edward Steely is introduced as the Faculty Lecturer (08:39-16:14). Steely delivers a lecture on the topic of American civil religion, the recent attempts to enshrine protections and endorsements of the Christian religion, and how the Baptist distinctives create tension for the establishment of civil religion (16:15-48:16). The service ends with a word of prayer (48:17-48:54).
Brenda Kneece was student of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. The service begins with a word of prayer and a responsive reading from 1 Corinthians 13 (00:00-03:14). The choir sings a song of worship (03:15-06:22). Kneece sermon is about calling, and she describes calling as God loving and using ordinary people to love and do extraordinary ministry (03:15-18:36).