Richard Loren Hester was Professor of Pastoral Care and Psychology of Religion at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. The service begins with the sharing of prayer concerns (0:00-1:43). The choir sings a song of worship (1:44-8:14). There is a moment of prayer (8:15-9:59). Hester speaks about a storm that came through the area that affected a graduation ceremony (10:00-16:40). The choir begins to sing “Come Ye Sinners” as Hester continues to tell the story of the graduation procession (16:41-20:21). Hester speaks about pushing back the darkness of ignorance (20:22-29:09). Hester continues telling the story of the procession as the choir sings another song (29:10-40:10).
Louis McBurney was the founder and director of Marble Retreat in Marble, CO. The service opens with a prayer (00:00-01:11). Louis McBurney is introduced as the chapel speaker (01:12-04:26). The choir leads in a song of worship (04:27-07:36). McBurney opens his sermon by explaining his work as a psychiatrist, and he tells of his vision for the ministry at Marble Retreat (07:37-09:17). He desires to give three points of parting wisdom to the audience, and the first point is to know yourself (09:17-10:47). His second point is to accept yourself (10:48-15:17). His third point is to be yourself (15:18-21:57). The service ends with a benediction (21:58-22:25).
Samuel Eugene Ballentine was Associate Professor of Hebrew and Old Testament. The service begins with organ music (00:00-04:00). The speaker delivers the Scripture reading, and he gives a word of prayer (04:01-05:45). The speaker reads from Mark 9:10-29 (05:46-08:10). Ballentine uses the story of the healing of the boy with an unclean spirit to preach on the subject of doubt, and he sounds a plea to the audience to have the courage to doubt in a culture where certainty is prized and encouraged (08:11-21:55).
Gwynne Heaton Davies was Principal Emeritus of Regents Park College. The service begins with Davies being introduced as the chapel speaker (00:00-00:47). Davies gives a word of prayer (00:47-02:34). He speaks about being wise for salvation, and he gives a word of prayer (02:35-08:29). The choir sings a song of worship (08:30-11:50). Davies reads from 1 Corinthians 2, Ephesians 4, and Deuteronomy 6, and he speaks about the unity in the Christian faith and how Scripture interprets Scripture (11:51-27:59). The service ends with the hymn “Crown Him with Many Crowns,” and Davies gives a word of prayer (28:00-29:16).
Thomas H. Graves was Assistant Professor of Philosophy of Religion. The service opens with a word of prayer, an announcement, and a public reading of Scripture from Luke 19:28-41 (00:00-02:50). Graves opens his sermon by giving the plot summary of the film “The Parable,” and he talks about how the film convicted him of his pride (02:51-05:24). He sermon centers on the story of Jesus entering Jerusalem on a donkey, and he urges the audience to be like Jesus by taking a posture of humility and peace (05:25-19:56). Graves ends the service with a prayer (19:57-20:44).
John M. Costello was Visiting Professor of Pastoral Care. The service begins with a responsive reading and a word of prayer (00:00-05:20). John M. Costello is introduced as the chapel speaker, and the speaker reads Mark 2:1-12 (05:21-09:03). Costello opens his sermon with a brief word of prayer and speaks about the visibility of Christ being King but also being represented in the least of those we serve (09:04-23:59). The service ends with a benediction (24:00-24:45).
William Randall Lolley was the 3rd president of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. The service begins with a word of prayer and organ music (00:00-02:40). President Randall Lolley declares the opening of 32nd academic years, and he gives two announcements about evening classes (02:41-04:41). The speaker delivers the Scripture readings from Deuteronomy 6:4-5, Leviticus 19:18, and Luke 10:25-37 (04:42-07:53). C. Michael Hawn is inducted into the faculty of Southeastern, and Lolley introduces the adjunctive and visiting faculty (07:54-11:29). Bob Spiggs, member of the financial development office, presents an award to a Southeastern alumnus for his financial giving to the seminary (11:30-14:44). Lolley announces the completion of renovations to the first floor of Binkley chapel, and Dean Morris Ashcraft gives a word of prayer (14:45-19:40). Lolley recognizes the architect who worked on the renovations, and a song of worship is performed (19:41-24:12). Lolley delivers a sermon with the focus text being Luke 10:25-37, and he urges the students of Southeastern to live up to the soul of the seminary by loving their neighbors in the same way the Samaritan loved the man who was robbed and beaten to near death (24:13-44:30). Ashcraft ends the service with a word of prayer and a benediction (44:31-45:27).
Thomas Albert Bland was the Professor of Christian Ethics and Sociology at Southeastern Seminary. The service begins with organ music (0:00-5:01). There is a moment of prayer (5:02-6:50). A welcome is given to the new students and professor (6:51-8:28). Thomas Bland is introduced as the chapel speaker (8:29-9:08). Dr. Morris Ashcraft presents the Midler Award in Systematic Theology to John M. Adams (9:09-10:15). Michael Hawn performs a song of worship (10:16-13:54). Bland reads Scripture from Galatians 5 (13:55-17:45). Bland speaks about being the freedom of being a bondslave of Jesus Christ (17:46-20:18). He explains the freedom to which Christians are called is both a gift and a task which we must obey (20:19-32:29). Bland speaks about the “frightened and fragmented world” in which Christians live with the hope of the freedom of Christ (32:30-34:24). The service closes in a moment of prayer (34:41).
John Rowan Claypool, IV was the pastor of Northminster Baptist Church in Jackson, MS. The service begins with a word of prayer (0:00:00-0:00:52). President Randall Lolley gives the community announcements, and he leads the audience in a word of prayer (0:00:53-0:04:16). John Rowan Claypool, IV is introduced as the Adams Lecturer (0:04:17-0:10:33). The choir sings a song of worship (0:10:34-0:13:36). John Claypool begins his lecture by speaking on the influence Theodore Adams has had on his life, and he asks the question of what he personally is about (0:13:37-0:19:11). His lecture centers on the objective question of what the aim of a Christian ministry is, and he first tells a story of a friend in ministry who suffered from what he called “cotton candy syndrome” (0:19:12-0:27:59). Claypool’s main idea is that humans by nature are restlessly looking for fulfilment, and he points to the message of Christ saying that fulfilment is not found somewhere else but God’s grace found in our hearts (0:28:00-1:02:57). The service ends with a word of prayer (1:02:58-1:03:37).
Reuel L. Howe was a professor of pastoral theology and founder of the Institute for Advanced Pastoral Studies in Bloomfield Hills, MI. The service begins with organ music (00:00-02:10). The speaker gives a word of prayer (02:11-03:50). Reuel L. Howe is introduced as the Spring Conference speaker (03:51-07:36). Howe’s lecture is entitled “Human Foundations for Ministry,” and he begins his lecture by describing his lecture as a dialogue of meaning (07:37-11:39). Howe describes the human ego as the foundation for ministry, and he list the negative and deficient thoughts that lead to hinder ministry growth (11:40-33:09). Howe then moves to describing the growth needs to set a good foundation for ministry, and this is ultimately found in having a healthy perspective on the call and purpose of ministry (33:10-41:33). The speaker welcomes visitors to campus, and he gives a word of prayer (41:34-42:58).
