Dr. Taylor Clarence Smith was the Visiting Professor of New Testament at Southeastern Seminary. The service begins with organ music (0:00-5:55). Prayer concerns are shared with the congregation and there is a moment of prayer (5:56-9:58). Smith reads Scripture from Matthew 1 (9:59-12:00). Smith speaks of the “portable” sayings of Jesus, meaning one can carry them in their minds and can pull them out to say them from memory, but he argues that they are often stripped to have a shallow meaning (12:01-13:57). Smith argues that Christians are to judge and are not to judge, clarifying that without judging one cannot know right and wrong but that one cannot judge if he is obstructed by sin (13:58-31:32). Smith closes the service with a word of prayer (31:33-32:01).
Andy Loving was Director of Organization for Seeds Magazine. The service begins with a word of prayer (00:00-00:50). The speaker gives some campus event announcements, and Andy Loving is introduced as the chapel speaker (00:51-04:37). The choir sings a song of worship (04:38-08:37). Loving begins his sermon by telling a story about his mom calling him when he was a child and how it relates to us hearing the call of God to obey his commands to care for the poor (08:38-12:45). Loving believes that care for the poor is a non-negotiable issue, and he appeals to the biblical prophets and Jesus’ words from the gospels to make this case (12:46-20:26). Loving gives the statistics of world hunger and Southern Baptists’ part in the case to end it, and he ask the audience to biblically respond by building structures in the church to help the hungry and act in small ways persistently (20:27-27:28). Loving concludes his sermon with a word of prayer (27:29-28:17).
William Bishop was the Director of the Teaching Training Ministries of the South Carolina Baptist General Board. The service begins with a word of prayer (00:00-01:38). William Bishop is introduced as the chapel speaker (01:39-02:56). The choir sings a song of worship (02:57-06:10). Bishop begins with a story about one of his professors at Furman University (06:11-10:08). Bishop reads from Matthew 28:19-20, and he gives the main points of the Great Commission and their application for Sunday school ministry in the local church (10:09-28:52). Bishop ends the service with a word of prayer (28:53-29:21).
Morris Ashcraft was Professor of Theology and Dean of the Faculty. The service begins with a reading from the New Testament and a word of prayer (00:00-01:51). The choir sings a song of worship (01:52-05:30). Ashcraft begins his sermon with a story about his education journey through college and seminary as a journey of finding truth (05:31-09:18). Ashcraft’s sermon is about truth found only in Christ, and his main point is that truth, faith, and freedom all intersect in the ministry of Christ (09:19-28:11). Ashcraft ends the service with a word of prayer (28:12-28:44).
Morris Ashcraft was Professor of Theology and Dean of the Faculty. The service begins with organ music (00:00-06:24). President Randall Lolley gives a word of prayer (06:25-07:22). Morris Ashcraft is introduced as the Faculty Lecturer (07:23-09:07). The theme of Ashcraft’s lecture is responsibility in the Christian life. He argues that human responsibility is found in the image of God, and, for man to live up to his responsibility, he must look to the responsibility of God found in the life of Jesus (09:08-44:56). The service ends with Lolley giving a word of prayer (44:57-45:41).
Chevis F. Horne was Visiting Professor of Preaching. The service begins with organ music (00:00-04:31). The speaker delivers the Scripture reading from Matthew 4:1-11 (04:32-06:14). Another speaker delivers a word of prayer (06:15-07:52). The choir sings the anthem (07:53-11:36). Horne speaks about Jesus’ temptation in the wilderness, and he says that Christians should mirror Christ in the midst of temptation by serving and loving others (11:37-27:33). Horne ends the service with a word of prayer and a benediction (27:34-28:39).
Pam and Mark Grumbles were missionaries in Costa Rica. The service begins with a word of prayer (00:00-01:07). The speaker delivers the Scripture reading from Isaiah 6:1-8 and Matthew 9:35-38 (01:08-04:30). Pam and Mark Grumbles are introduced as the Missionary Day speakers (04:31-05:46). The Grumbles share the testimony of their call to foreign missions and their journey to becoming missionaries in Paraguay and now, after seminary, Costa Rica (05:47-33:19).
Ben F. Philbeck was Professor of Hebrew and Old Testament. The service begins with a reading of Scripture and a word of prayer (00:00-01:56). The choir leads in a song of worship (01:57-04:00). Philbeck speaks on the relevance of the commandment against graven images, and he argues that God cannot be reduced to mere human categories (04:01-20:08). Philbeck ends the service with a prayer (20:09-20:41).
James W. Fowler was a theologian and Professor of Theology and Human Development in the Candler School of Theology at Emory University. This chapel was the second part of the Spring Lectures in March 1983 and titled “Covenant, Vocation, and Adult Development.” Chapel is opened in prayer and the Spring Lecture speaker, Dr. Fowler, is introduced (0:00-0:53). Dr. Fowler states that the focus of his lecture will be to respond to adult developmental theories and what it means to be human with the concepts of covenant and vocation (0:53-2:58). He discusses how faith in Christ frees humans to take on vocation and be in covenant with God. (2:58-11:00). He states that human vocation is to become partners in God’s creative, governing, and redemptive work (11:00-14:53). He notes that vocation and identity are closely linked and clarifies that vocation is the response of a person to the calling to partnership with God (14:53-23:25). Dr. Folwer contrasts vocation with destiny (23:25-29:38). He suggests that vocation in community is a better approach in life than pursual of destiny or self-actualization (29:38-35:23). Finally, he notes that vocation is dynamic (35:23-37:02). He concludes his lecture with thoughts on the relationship between pastoral care, specifically preaching and prayer, with vocation and covenant (37:02-52:57). Dr. Fowler is thanked for his lecture and time on campus (52:57-53:20).
Clyde E. Fant was the professor of Preaching. The service begins with a word of prayer (0:00:00-0:1:00). There is a Scripture reading from I Corinthians 1 and a word of prayer (0:01:01-0:06:58). The audience is welcomed to the commencement ceremony (0:06:59-0:08:12) Mark Hollar makes a gift on behalf of the graduates to the school (0:08:13-0:09:28). President Lolley publicly thanks Fred Sandusky (0:09:29-0:13:19). Ashcraft announces the winners of the awards and prizes from the seminary (0:13:20-0:26:16). The choir sings a song of worship (0:26:17-0:29:49). Clyde E. Fant is introduced as the baccalaureate sermon speaker (0:29:50-0:31:50). Fant reminds the graduates that the Lord will remain with them (0:31:51-0:35:32). Fant speaks about the early years of Jesus’ full-time ministry and the temptation he faced (0:35:33-0:48:54). Fant speaks about how just as Jesus faced temptation and persecution, so will all Christians who live in a fallen world (0:48:55-0:58:53). Fant speaks about remaining faithful on what he calls the Galilean Journey because Jesus remained faithful (0:58:54-1:13:20). Fant closes the service in a moment of prayer, a song of worship is sung, and a Scriptural blessing is spoken over the graduates (1:13:21-1:19:44).
