The Student Lectures...

LECTURE 2: CHAPEL - David Sargent, Mobile, Alabama:

THE STUDENT LECTURESHIPS:

The FHU Lectureships started back in the 20’s to help young preachers who could not afford the time or money for college. Originally the program lasted for a month and was in January. In the 60’s it was moved to the first week of February. At one time it was known as “the student lectures”. To this day those who plan the program take great care to make sure the program emphasizes things for the students. Daily chapel is required for all students at the school but lectureship week seems to take it up a notch. For more excellent notes on the history of the lectures go to: http://web.fhu.edu/Lectureship/Lectureship+Archives/

David is minister of a congregation that has provided hundreds of thousands of man hours in relief for those who were affected by hurricane Katrina.

One of the reasons that folks come that I didn’t list earlier is to find jokes. Yes, jokes, good clean, jokes. Christians love to laugh in a pure way, not a vulgar, hurtful, at someone else’s expense way. David told the best joke I heard on the day: About the boss who didn’t think he was getting the respect he deserved. He had a sign professionally made that read in bold letters: THE BOSS. He went to lunch, when he got back there someone had attached a note under it that said “Your wife called and wants her sign back.”

David spent his time on the ministry of John the Baptist and stressed humility for modern day “voices crying” into our wilderness for the second coming of the Lord. What a grand lesson.

MORE MONDAY:

As I listened to my old friend Dorian Flynn speaking on “Bearing Fruit”, to David Pharr preaching on “I am the Good Shepherd” and Ralph Gilmore deal with issues at Open Forum I was struck by how thoroughly immersed these guys are in God’s Word and with the fervor with which they deliver their messages.

Dorian spoke with passion of the desire that so many of his fellow Christians have to share the message of Christ with others. He listed the Lord’s action plan: 1. Respond with the right perspective, 2. Connect with people, 3. Serve others.

Dorian quotes:

“Christians are to love people who seem to be our enemies.”

“A faith that proclaims that our life is much more than a Sunday stroll with God!”

“I am not interested in winning a battle, I am interested in winning a soul to Jesus Christ.”

Brother Pharr, a man who has served with the same congregation for 35 years and who has raised a family that certifies his faith, spoke on one of the seven “I am’s” of Christ in the book of John. He talked about the difference in “a good shepherd and THE good shepherd.” Any good shepherd will sacrifice and take risks for his sheep, THE GOOD Shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. No one would expect a shepherd to give his life for a sheep! The Shepherd of John becomes the Lamb in the book of Revelation. The wolf in John 10 is purposed to deceitfully destroy the sheep. The hirelings in the text are in complicity with the wolf. Brother Pharr dealt masterfully with verse 16 of this text. He emphasized how there are the same number of folds as there are shepherds. No one gets in the fold by accident.

We will have a more complete report on “Open Forum” later.

The night session featured Steve Baggett. Steve is the excellent preacher for the Walnut Street church in Dickson, TN. Here are some of my favorite quotes from his excellent lesson: “A compassionate heart doesn’t begin with actions, it begins with attitudes. It begins with the heart.” “Our Lord was a man of compassion then and he will be one today and His people must be.” We must do more than just talk about helping others we must have the attitude that says “I will do what I can to alleviate you pain. Compassion requires deeds, not just words.” “It’s easy to preach that the church must be a people of compassion and then go home and forget about it. Compassion must begin at home.”

It was a good day. And ended with milkshakes late at Steak and Shake!