John W. Carlton was a Professor of Preaching at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. The service begins with a brief announcement and prayer (0:00-2:06). Afterward, Ephesians 4:11-16 is read (2:07-3:24), which is followed by a time of singing (3:25-9:47). Carlton begins his sermon on truth and love. He states that often people are too concerned with falsely keeping up appearances (9:48-12:07). He then explains that there are two aspects needed for authentic relationships, truth and love (12:08-16:16). Carlton continues by demonstrating that Christ came incarnate in truth and love (16:17-17:15). He explains the finite knowledge of humanity, illustrating the need for God (17:16-20:29). He concludes by explaining that believers must seek the truth and love of God and become spiritual realists (20:30-22:38). He closes prayer (22:39-23:21).
R. Keith Parks was the President of the Foreign Mission Board. The service begins with organ music (0:00:00-0:04:28). There is a moment of prayer (0:04:29-0:05:11). There is a Scripture reading from Philippians and a moment of prayer (0:05:12-0:13:53). A welcome is extended to the graduates and guests (0:13:54-0:15:27). A gift is presented on behalf of the senior class (0:15:28-0:17:34). Awards are presented to the recipients (0:18:35-0:33:29). R. Keith Parks is introduced as the commencement speaker (0:33:30-0:37:27). The choir sings an anthem (0:37:28-0:39:40). Parks speaks about integrity and truth, which he believes to be some of the most sacred concepts, reading from John 8 (0:39:41-1:07:57). There is a moment of prayer (1:07:58-1:09:04). There is organ music to close the service (1:09:05-1:15:26).
Richard Albert Spencer was Associate Professor of New Testament. Chapel begins with prayer for a hospitalized student (0:00-3:10). Dr. Spencer introduces his lecture on the task of proclaiming the New Testament and preaching (3:10-9:56). The first requirement he discusses for preaching is a personal encounter with Jesus Christ (9:56-12:52). The second requirement for preaching is that the preacher must provide a dialectic between the Scripture and the people. Dr. Spencer discusses various methods to do this well (12:52-48:58). Dr. Spencer closes his lecture with the third requirement for preaching which is to always bring a sermon that points back to Christ (48:58-51:43).
Donald Hustad was the V.V. Cook Professor of Organ at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. The service begins with organ music (00:00-07:24). Donald Hustad is introduced as the chapel speaker (07:25-08:31). Hostad centers his lecture on the revival of historic Christian worship that takes in the transcendent and the intimate, and he walks through a better way to partake of the Lord’s Supper and to walk through the liturgical calendar year (08:32-43:00). Hustad concludes his lecture by reading a hymn written by Thomas A Kempis (43:01-44:45). The service ends with an announcement about a dialogue session with Hustad, and the benediction is read (44:46-46:03).
Disclaimer: A large portion of this service is distorted and inaudible. Willard A. Brown, Jr. was the former pastor of Wake Forest Baptist Church. The first part of the service is distorted and inaudible (0:00-7:58). There is a moment of prayer (7:59-9:05). There are Scripture readings from Psalm 23 and other passages (9:06-11:30). There is a moment of prayer (11:31-11:55). Brown speaks about the nature and contents of the Lord’s Supper and the tragedy and celebration of life (11:56-21:58).
Walter B. Shurden was Professor of Church History at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. The service begins with a word of prayer (00:00-00:50). Walter B. Shurden is introduced as the Carver-Barnes Lecturer (00:51-06:25). Shurden’s lecture is entitled “The Southern Baptist Synthesis: Is it Cracking,” and he begins by stating that Southern Baptists have built a synthesis that began in the eighteenth century that is starting to erode (06:26-11:12). He states that the Southern Baptist tradition began in Charleston, SC, and that tradition had five characteristics: pietistic puritanism, Calvinistic confessionalism, quasi connectionism, church liturgicalism, and a commitment to theological education, all defined by order (11:13-18:10). Shurden then moves to the Sandy Creek tradition of Southern Baptists which was defined by its ardor, and it had four characteristics: revivalism, charismatic ministry, rugged independence, and strict biblicism (18:11-25:04). He then speaks about the Georgia tradition of Southern Baptists which was defined by local color, and this tradition was characterised by denominationalism and sectionalism (25:05-31:10). He then speaks about the Tennessee tradition of Southern Baptists which was defined by questionable honor, and this tradition gave Southern Baptist a sense of identity based on a fallacious history (31:11-33:18). Shurden believes that denominationalism won out and brought these four traditions together, but denominationalism is under attack (33:19-40:17). He believes there have been four stress points that is bringing cracks to the Southern Baptist synthesis, and these stress points are cultural stress, denominational stress, and financial stress (40:18-45:14). Shurden concludes his lecture by stating that the Southern Baptist synthesis is not breaking, but it is being reshaped (45:15-48:05). The service ends with a word of prayer (48:06-49:01).
Linda Morgan was a Master of Divinity student who went on to become a United Methodist minister. The service opens with a word of prayer (00:00-01:01). The first speaker reads a prayer of confession, and the second speaker reads from Isaiah 4:2-6 and John 14:15-31 (01:02-06:19). The choir leads in a song of worship (06:20-08:47). Linda Morgan opens her sermon by giving two examples of people she knows that confuse the character of God with the character of their parents to demonstrate that personal relationships are not perfect (08:48-10:36). She says that Jesus knows our personal flaws and confusion when it comes to knowing him, yet he shows his kindness to us by desiring to have an intimate relationship with us (10:37-12:40). She tells the story of her son going off alone in the store with the promise that they will me back up at the register counter to explain to the audience God’s and reliance and kindness towards us (12:41-15:55). Morgan states that God’s kindness and kinship toward us is given through Christ (15:56-19:25). She concludes her sermon by discussing how God’s kindness and kinship is currently present with us through the Holy Spirit (19:26-23:56). Morgan ends the service with a prayer (23:57-24:57).
Samuel Simpson was the pastor of Bronx Baptist Church and Wake-Eden Community Baptist Church, both in New York. The service begins with organ music (0:00-9:14). The choir sings a song of worship (9:15-12:02). There is a moment of prayer (12:03-13:43). Samuel Simpson is introduced as the chapel speaker (13:44-15:54). The choir sings an anthem (15:55-18:16). Simpson speaks about being called to be spokesman of God and begins his presentation in prayer (18:17-20:26). He congratulates those in attendance for sharing the gospel and shares about all the mission, teaching, and learning opportunities in the area (20:27-27:25). Simpson turns his attention to a conversation between God and Jeremiah at the beginning of the book of Jeremiah (27:26-34:05). He argues that no one can do God’s will unless one has a relationship with God (34:06-40:21). He also says that to do God’s will, one must have experienced His love (40:22-41:00). Simpson states that Jesus used the familiar to show the unfamiliar (41:01-44:37). He shares that in doing the will of God, one must trust and obey God and serve (44:38-57:25). The service closes with a word of prayer (57:25-58:26).
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).
