Vann DuWayne Battle was a SEBTS student. The service begins with piano music (00:00-02:40). The speaker gives a word of prayer, and she reads from Matthew 11:2-6 (02:41-05:20). A student sings a song of worship (05:21-09:57). Battle begins his sermon with a joke about a woman who was insulted during a train ride (09:58-12:45). Battle’s sermon is about faith and doubt with his passage being Matthew 11:2-6, and he says that followers of Christ should not try to form Jesus to their preconceived expectation. Rather, they should accept and embrace the Christ who has come to redeem the world (12:46-31:56). Battle ends the service with a word of prayer (31:57-32:58).
David G. Davies was Principal of the South Wales Baptist College. The service begins with President Randall Lolley reading Psalm 24 for the call to worship (00:00-01:33). Lolley shares a prayer request, and he leads in a word of prayer (01:34-04:46). Lolley introduces the Southeastern trustees, and David G. Davies is introduced as the chapel speaker (04:47-08:43). Davies begins his sermon by reading from John 6:66-68 (08:44-10:58). Davies speaks about modern day pluralism, and he says that the main task of Christians is pointing lost souls to Jesus who is the one and only Lord (10:59-25:07). Davies ends the service with a word of prayer (25:08-26:54).
Darold Morgan was the president of the Annuity Board of the Southern Baptist Convention. The service opens with a word of prayer (00:00-01:23). Darold Morgan is introduced as the chapel speaker (01:24-02:24). The choir leads in a song of worship (02:25-06:01). Darold Morgan opens his sermon by talking about the joys of serving annuitants (06:02-08:22). He then shares with the audience what his work with annuitants has taught him. First, the annuitants have taught him that God leads every step of the way (08:23-15:19). Second, they have taught him the importance of denominational loyalty (15:20-18:39). Finally, the annuitants have taught him that God supplies strength day by day (18:40-23:00). Morgan ends the service with a prayer (23:01-23:34).
Donald E. Cook was the Professor of New Testament at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. The service begins with organ music (0:00-3:09). There is a moment of prayer (3:10-3:30). The choir sings a song of worship (3:31-5:48). There is a responsive reading (5:49-7:22). There is a moment of prayer (7:23-8:11). Donald Cook speaks about how Scripture describes itself and the world (8:12-11:17). He speaks about the role, power, and authority of Scripture for the church (11:18-27:14). The service concludes in a moment of prayer (27:15-28:07).
Disclaimer: Audio quality is poor. Sandie Gravett was a professor in the Religion Department at Appalachian State University. The service begins with organ music (0:00-4:40). This portion of audio is inaudible, presumably a prayer (4:41-7:23). The choir sings a song of worship (7:24-12:09). The quality of this portion of audio is poor, presumably there are Scripture readings (12:10-18:00). This portion of the audio is mostly inaudible, presumably the message by Sandie Gravett on the topic of the calling of the church to share the gospel (18:01-23:05). There is a Scripture reading (23:06-25:42). There is a benediction (25:43-26:09).
John I. Durham was the Professor of Hebrew and Old Testament at Southeastern Seminary. Prayer concerns are shared with the congregation and there is a moment of prayer (0:00-3:07). The chapel speakers for the series are announced (3:08-5:45). There is a Scripture reading from Job 28:20-28 and John 3:1-17 (5:46-10:09). Durham speaks of giving one’s all and what God can accomplish through someone (10:10-14:25). Durham speaks of the relationship between knowledge and piety (14:26-23:08).
John William Eddins, Jr. was Professor of Theology. The service begins with prayer (0:00-2:38). Students are welcomed back to campus followed by the presentation of the 1980 Culler Middler Theology Award (3:12-5:40). A welcome is given to visiting professors (5:41-8:10). Thomas H. Graves is inducted as professor and signs the Abstract of Principles (8:11-10:30). Dr. John William Eddins, Jr., who joined the faculty in 1957-1958, is introduced (10:31-13:17). Dr. Eddins begins by expressing gratitude for ability to take a recent sabbatical and that his topic will be Theological Presuppositions: A Proposal, based on his sabbatical studies (13:18-14:32). Dr. Eddins reflects on recent discussions in theology, the need to better develop what it means to be Christian in that day, and different norms seen in theology across history. He suggests that a new norm is developing which will influence the systematic theology of the day and discusses the critical role that presuppositions among the norm, criteria, and principles of selection in theology play in the groundwork of such a systematic theology (14:33-21:26) He discusses significant norms that are important for Christian systematic theology and their insight into the picture of a servant Lord, which he presents as the relevant foundation for a current theology (21:27-26:10). He then suggests two criteria and a critical principle that are important for Christian theology and how these also support the picture of servant lordship (26:11-28:50). Dr. Eddins addresses the reality of authority and the necessity of servanthood in the world, explores changes in authority and relationships in recent times, and demonstrates how Christian theology answers these realities (28:51-38:17). He then provides illustrations of servanthood and lordship throughout the Bible (38:18-43:31). Dr. Eddins concludes by stating that a theologian’s norm, criteria, and principle of selection carry important presuppositions so understanding these are critical to creating a systematic theology that addresses the needs of their day (43:32-44:04). The convocation is concluded with two readings from Scripture coming from Isaiah 53 and Philippians 3 (44:24-46:37).
Clyde E. Fant, Jr. was pastor of the First Baptist Church of Richardson, TX. The service begins with organ music (0:00:00-0:03:43). President Randall Lolley gives a word of prayer (0:03:44-0:06:23). Lolley gives a word of remembrance for Theodore F. Adams, and Clyde E. Fant, Jr, is introduced as the Adams Lecturer (0:06:24-0:13:48). The choir sings a song of worship (0:13:49-0:19:11). Fant begins his lecture by giving two stories about preaching, and he gives two lessons: we are products of forces we often do not recognize, and to learn what something ought to be, we first need to learn what it ought not to be (0:19:12-0:27:03). Fant traces the history of preaching starting with John the Baptist and ending with Origen, John Chrysostom, and Augustine, and he believes these preaching never lost sight of the importance of God’s voice even though the culture had a heavy influence on their preaching (0:27:04-0:49:05). Fant criticizes the scholastic preachers such as Bernard of Clairvaux and Francis of Assisi who were bogged down by allegorical interpretation and philosophical preaching, and he believes Southern Baptists are falling into the problems of worldly and legalistic preaching that is similar to dry scholasticism (0:49:06-1:01:41). Lolley ends the service with a Scripture reading from Job and a word of prayer (1:01:42-1:02:37).
Disclaimer: Portions of the audio are inaudible. G. Thomas Halbrooks was Professor of Church History. C. Michael Hawn was the Professor of Church Music. The service begins with orchestral music (0:00-2:34). There is a call to worship (2:35-3:09). There is a moment of prayer (3:10-4:44). There is a welcome and the congregation’s attention was turned to finding truth (4:45-7:30). There is a Scripture reading (7:31-9:03). A woman shares a testimony about religious freedom (9:04-13:19). (This portion of the audio is inaudible.) The choir sings a song of worship (13:20-15:39). There is a personal testimony shared about those who fought for religious freedom and to remain true to their faith (15:40-23:20). The choir sings a song of worship (23:21-25:52). The pursuit of liberty is discussed (25:53-31:21). The pianist plays a song of worship (31:22-36:20). There is a moment of prayer (36:21-36:56).
Donald G. Bloesch was a minister in the United Church of Christ and the Professor of Theology at the University of the Duke Theological Seminary. The service begins with a Scripture reading and a moment of prayer (0:00-2:51). Donald Bloesch is introduced as the chapel speaker (2:52-4:16). Bloesch speaks about spirituality, old and new (4:17-5:13). He explains that he sees three types of spirituality, the first being classical or Christian mysticism (5:14-14:47). Bloesch speaks about the second stream of spirituality, which he calls Biblical personalism (14:48-23:45). Bloesch names the third as new spirituality (23:46-33:25). He speaks about how people fit into the different types of spirituality (33:26-41:38). Bloesch takes time to answer questions (41:39-44:02). Ashcraft closes the service in a word of prayer (44:03-44:18).
