Clyde E. Fant, Jr. was pastor of the First Baptist Church of Richardson, TX. The service begins with organ music (00:00-04:41). The speaker reads from Romans 1:16-17, and he gives a word of prayer (04:42-05:55). Clyde E. Fant, Jr. is introduced as the Adams Lecturer (05:56-07:59). The choir sings a song of worship (08:00-11:41). Fant’s lecture is entitled “Reformers, The Sermon and Sacrament,” and he begins by telling a funny story that illustrates the struggle of preachers to find wings for their words (11:42-18:03). Fant examines the sermons of proto-reformers John Wycliff and Girolamo Savonarola, and he says that both figures went against the preaching of their time because their preaching was tethered to biblical doctrine and in contrast to culture (18:04-32:19). Fant briefly criticizes the church for embracing preaching that is not in contrast with culture (32:20-37:28). Fant examines the theology of preaching of the Protestant Reformer’s Martin Luther, John Calvin, John Knox, and Ulrich Zwingli, and he says that these reformers revived the sacrament of the word by bring back its simple and Christ-centric nature (37:29-46:33). Fant concludes his sermon by examining the French Court preacher Jean-Baptiste Massillon of the Post-Reformation Era as a prime example of preaching for God’s glory rather than earthly flatter (46:34-55:56). The service ends with a benediction (55:57-56:23).
Glenn T. Miller was Professor of Church History. The service begins with a song by the bell choir, and the speaker gives a word of prayer (00:00-04:23). The speaker delivers a Scripture reading from 2 Timothy 3 (04:24-06:56). The choir sings “A Mighty Fortress is Our God” (06:57-11:30). Miller delivers the Reformation Day sermon on the theme of knowing and reading Scripture, and he calls on the audience to experience the power of the word of God by taking up the reading of Scripture afresh again (11:31-28:48). Miller ends the service with a benediction (28:49-29:27).
Sara Ann Hobbs was the Director of the Division of Missions for the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina. The service begins with a responsive reading (00:00-01:10). The speaker gives a word of prayer (01:11-05:10). Sara Ann Hobbs is introduced as the chapel speaker (05:11-07:00). The choir sings a song of worship (07:01-11:21). Hobbs’ sermon is about being called to ministry, and she says that the call of God is relational, a daily response, and does not require location or preconditions (11:22-24:27). Hobbs ends the service with a word of prayer (24:28-25:00).
Willard A. Brown, Jr. was pastor of Wake Forest Baptist Church. The service begins with the Lord’s Prayer and a responsive reading (00:00-01:09). Brown says the two greatest commandments while choir sings to the Lord, and it ends with a word of prayer (01:10-06:00). The choir sings multiple songs of worship while Brown does a responsive reading from selected passages in the Scriptures (06:01-11:50). Multiple songs are performed by the choir (11:51-17:44). Organ music is played (17:45-21:18).
Dr. Donna M. Forrester was the Chaplain of SEBTS. The scripture reading was from John 1:1-18 and Matthew 1:18-25. In this message, Dr. Forrester explores the signs of God being with us, truth, love, and peace. This is connected to the scripture reading through Jesus being called Immanuel, "God with us." She also briefly explores learning perseverance through the example of African American slaves.
Audio quality becomes poor near the end of the recording. Dr. Brevard S. Childs was a leading Old Testament scholar during the 20th century and Professor of Old Testament at Yale Divinity School. The service begins with organ music (00:00-05:05). The speaker gives a word of prayer (05:06-05:45). Brevard S. Childs is introduced as the Spring Lecturer (05:46-09:00). The title of Child’s lecture is the question "Is Biblical Theology Still Possible?" First, Childs addresses the side-lining of biblical theology for historical, philosophical, and dogmatic concerns and evaluation of the Scriptures (09:01-33:54). Second, Childs addresses two new approaches in using the Bible theologically, a sociological model and a philosophical model, and he argues that all these models fail because the Bible shapes the church, not the other way around (33:55-44:44). Finally, Childs admits that Biblical theology is not possible at the present time, but he has hope for the future that Biblical theology can once again be profitable through grassroots faithfulness of the church (44:45-54:55). The speaker gives a benediction at the end of the lecture (54:56-55:35). The service ends with organ music (55:36-59:54).