M. Mahan Siler was from the School of Pastoral Care at North Carolina Baptist Hospital. Siler begins his sermon with a reading from Matthew 26:36-45, and he gives a word of prayer (00:00-05:37). He urges the audience to follow the example of Jesus of seeking support from the Father and from the church, and he reminds them that God is always with them (05:38-22:51). Siler ends the service with a word of prayer and a benediction (22:52-24:17).
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 gives a word of prayer (04:42-05:25). Clyde E. Fant, Jr. is introduced as the Adams Lecturer (05:26-08:18). The choir sings a song of worship (08:19-10:11). Fant’s lecture is entitled “The American Pulpit, Another Victim of Recent Bad History,” and he begins with Richard Baxter and John Bunyan of the Puritan tradition whose preaching were characterized as lively and personable yet legalistic and rigid (10:12-18:40). Fant moves to the Great Awakeners, George Whitfield, Jonathan Edwards, and Timothy Dwight, and he says that their preaching was defined by great flair, utilitarianism, and sometimes exploitation (18:41-33:08). Fant then examines many 19th century preachers who transformed the sermon into printed form for popular consumption, but they fell to the elegance of print (33:09-40:42). Fant concludes with the recent bad history of American preaching, and he says that preaching in modern America suffers from legalistic moralizing, which he calls the Massachusetts Bay Error (40:43-51:17). The service ends with a word of prayer (51:18-51:53).
William Randall Lolley was the third president of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. Chapel opens in prayer (0:00-0:38). The Spring Conference is introduced and speakers and visitors on campus for the conference are introduced (0:38-5:55). Scripture is read from Galatians 3:28 and 1 Corinthians 12:12-13 (5:55-7:02). Undecipherable music (7:02-9:32). Dr. Lolley reads Matthew 16:18 and discusses the meaning of the words “my church,” saying that you have to grow the people in the church in order to grow the church (9:32-13:49). He says there are three general types of Baptist churches: those who belong to the people, to the pastor, or to God (13:49-17:09). He asks the audience which type of church they want to be, and he concludes by encouraging them to be a church that belongs to God and stating that the Spring Conference is focus on growing the people so the church will grow (17:09-19:21). Chapel is closed in prayer (19:21-20:17).
William Wallace Finlator was the pastor of Pullen Memorial Baptist Church. The service opens with a benediction and a prayer (00:00-02:45). William Wallace Finlator is introduced as the chapel speaker, and the speaker reads from Amos 5:21-24, Micah 6:6-8, and Matthew 23:23-24 (02:46-06:14). The choir leads in a song of worship (06:15-11:10). Finlator opens his sermon by commentating on Matthew 23:23, and he speaks on the weighty matters of the law, which includes justice, mercy, and good faith (11:11-19:44). He proceeds to speak on many issues including abortion, racism, sexism, and classism, and he warns the audience to not be like the “moral majority” who neglect justice (19:45-29:04). Finlator ends the service with a prayer (29:05-29:26).
William Randall Lolley was the 3rd president of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. The service begins with Morris Ashcraft giving a word of prayer (00:00-01:13). Lolley speaks about the Yom Kippur War currently underway and the day’s importance in Judaism, and he gives a sermonette about the fulfilment of Yom Kippur through the work of Christ (01:14-15:12).
Delos Miles was Associate Professor of Evangelism. The service begins with a call to worship and a word of prayer (00:00-02:18). Delos Miles is introduced as the chapel speaker (02:19-03:36). Miles begins his sermon by reading from Psalm 118:24 and John 10:10 (3:37-04:55). Miles speaks about life and time, and he states that only true living comes through the freedom found in Christ (04:56-15:40). The service ends with a word of prayer (15:41-16:12).