DTS Commencement Chapel 2023 Full Service

good morning on behalf of our staff and membership of Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship it is indeed my honor privilege and joy to welcome you to this special service your being here is a testament and a testimony to the impact and influence that Dallas Seminary has had on my life my family and my Ministry this church began with 10 people in a Bible study in our home with my late wife and I as we began working with our doctoral degree at Dallas Seminary and from that time till now in 1976. God has allowed this ministry to Blossom be birthed to grow until now 350 acres here located in the southern sector of Dallas to serve this community and out of this to bring God's word to the world so as you can imagine being able to host this event today brings Joy personally and to us collectively because it stands as a one of many indicators of the impact influence of this awesome Institution that has tenaciously held true to God's inerrant word while loving people with the truth so thank you for allowing us to serve you today to be your host here it is our joy to do so with spiritual Integrity technical excellence and warm hearts God bless you and may God bless the service today thank you Lord that you are Holy Holy Holy Father Son and Holy Spirit we invite you the Triune God to be with us today not because you are not omnipresent but because we have a personal relationship with you because you are more than just merely present you send your Holy Spirit into our hearts to indwell us let us do all that we can to worship you whether it is in work well done as these graduates here standing before me have done or in rest and in celebration it is all for your glory amen you may be seated I would like to officially welcome you to the 2023 Commencement Chapel and this our 99th year of Dallas Theological Seminary and congratulations to the graduates who are here today our own president Dr Mark Yarbrough is not able to participate this morning because he is at a graduation for his son at Dallas Baptist University but graduates trust me he will be here tomorrow to personally congratulate each one of you I want to thank our current board member Dr Tony Evans for his warm greetings and welcome to Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship we are grateful for him and the entire Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship team for allowing us to hold Commencement Chapel at this beautiful facility and we're especially thankful for the opportunity to gather to commemorate this a special occasion with all of our graduates I would like to extend my greetings and congratulations to the spouses family members and Friends of our graduates I know your presence here is a special honor for those who will receive their degrees at our commencement service tomorrow thank you for partnering with them in their dedicated efforts personal endurance and discipline study with the support of your prayers words notes of encouragement and financial assistance I also want to thank those of you who through sacrificial giving have provided just over 6 million dollars in scholarships for annual Aid to our students without such support many of our students would not be able to study with us at Dallas Theological Seminary today is also special for four distinguished groups invited back to Dallas and the DTs campus for this commencement season these are the class reunions for 20 30. 40 and 50 year reunions there are 13 alumni and their spouses from the class of 2003 that are here for their 20th year reunion so if you are part of the class of 2003 would you please stand thank you there are six alumni and their spouses from the class of 1993 who are here to celebrate their 30th year reunion so if you were part of the class of 1993 would you please stand there are 15 alumni and their spouses from the class of 1983 to celebrate their 40th year reunion so with the pla class of 1983 please stand [Applause] and there are eight alumni and their spouses from the class of 1973 who are here to celebrate their 50th Anniversary would you please stand [Applause] someday that will be the rest of you in this room at commencement time is also a privilege to welcome our Board of incorporate members and their spouses if they will all please stand so that we can thank them for their sacrificial service to Dallas Theological Seminary this morning is a special Chapel to honor our graduates and to recognize some for their special achievements accomplished through their time of study now may We Worship the Lord in spirit and in truth through our singing Keen in celebration of his grace for another year of ministry and for these graduating classes of Godly servant leaders during Commencement Chapel each year a number of awards are presented to well-qualified graduating students these Awards of five hundred dollars are provided through endowment funds or annual cash gifts some are given by faculty members and others by friends of the Seminary some awards recognize academic achievement some recognize Christian service and others recognize Christian character and Leadership 13 awards are being given this year in addition to the awards presented today four awards were given to Houston graduates at the Houston graduation Chapel two awards were given to Washington D.C graduates at the Washington D.C graduation chapel and one award was given to a graduate of our Atlanta campus at the Atlanta graduation celebration 18 awards were also presented at the student awards Chapel in Dallas last month many of those awards were received by graduates in attendance today when I call the name of the award recipient I'll ask The Graduate to come forward and receive the award from our academic Dean Dr Jim Thames as you receive your award you will have your photo taken then move to my right to Dr Greg hatterberg and stand facing the audience keep in mind that some Award winners may not be present today audience I would ask that you please hold your applause until all the awards have been presented The Faculty joins me in offering congratulations to the following award recipients receiving the H.A Ironside award an expository preaching is Mason Perez this award is established by Elaine Steadman in honor of Dr Henry Allen Ironside respected visiting Bible lecturer at Dallas Theological Seminary to the mail Master's level graduating student who demonstrates the greatest Proficiency in expository preaching receiving the Vicki craft award in Biblical teaching is Rebecca Carroll this award is given by Joy Baker and Sue Edwards in honor of Vicki craft distinguished alumna Bible teacher and former president of Titus 2-4 Ministries to the graduating female Masters level student who demonstrates the greatest Proficiency in Biblical teaching receiving the Eddie B Lane award in Ministry to the African-American Community is chasten Hendricks this award is given by Paul and Everett canning's in honor of Dr Eddie B Lane former associate professor emeritus of pastoral Ministries and advisor to African-American students at Dallas Theological Seminary to the graduating Master's level student who has demonstrated outstanding study of and or Ministry to the African-American community receiving the Billy Graham award for evangelism is Natalie McLaughlin this award is given by the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association in honor of founder Reverend Billy Graham A longtime friend of Dallas Theological Seminary the graduating student who best demonstrates a passion for and involvement in reaching the lost and is recognized as a growing believer with strong Christian character receiving the Robert W crummy academic achievement award are two recipients the first recipient is Catherine Averill and Catherine is not able to be with us today also receiving the Robert W crummy academic achievement award is Fred Johnson this award is given in honor of Reverend Robert W crummy former Dallas Theological Seminary board member pastor and president of Carver College to the graduating master of arts student who has best demonstrated outstanding academic achievement during his or her studies receiving the wh Griffith Thomas academic achievement award are also two recipients the first recipient is Victoria Andrew this award is given in honor of Dr W H Griffith Thomas one of the founders of Dallas Theological Seminary to the graduating master of theology student who has best demonstrated outstanding academic achievement during his or her studies also receiving the wh Griffith Thomas academic achievement award is Autumn Wilson receiving the Kenneth G Hannah award for distance education are two recipients the first is Tanya hen this award is given by Barney and Karen Geeson in honor of Dr Kenneth G Hannah senior professor emeritus of Bible Exposition and director emeritus of DTS Houston to the graduating Master's level student who is based at one of the seminary's regional locations or who is classified as an online student recipients best exemplify Christian character diligence scholarship spiritual leadership and promise of effective Christian service also receiving the Kenneth G Hannah award for distance education is Colin Jackson and Colin is not able to be with us today receiving the Lorraine Schaefer award is June Chan this award is given by Roland and Diana van brokovan in honor of Mrs Lorraine Schaefer wife of Lewisberry chafer founder and first president of Dallas Theological Seminary to the Master's level international student in the graduating class who in the Judgment of the faculty best evidences well-balanced Christian character scholarship spiritual leadership and best embodies and portrays the ideals of Dallas Theological Seminary receiving the Mary T Sumi award is Rebecca Carroll this award is given by Frank and Joan dingworth in honor of Mrs Mary T Sumi former assistant dean of students for women at Dallas Theological Seminary to the female Master's level student in the graduating class who in the Judgment of the faculty best evidences well-balanced Christian character scholarship promise of effective Christian service and best embodies and portrays the ideals of Dallas Theological Seminary receiving the Lewisberry chafer award is Jalen Lee this award is given by Irwin and Rebecca Lutzer on behalf of Fred Hickman in honor of Dr Louis Barry Schaefer founder president professor of systematic theology and editor of bibliothecus Sacra at Dallas Theological Seminary to the Mayo Masters level student in the graduating class who in the Judgment of the faculty best evidences well-balanced Christian character scholarship promise of effective Christian service and best embodies and portrays the ideals of Dallas Theological Seminary two graduates are receiving the John G Mitchell award one from the doctor of educational Ministry degree program and one from the doctor of ministry degree program receiving the John G Mitchell award for the D admin program is Deborah Smith this award is established by Howard and Gene Hendricks in honor of Dr John G Mitchell pastor and former vice president of Multnomah University to the students in the doctor of educational Ministry and doctor of ministry programs who demonstrate outstanding scholarship and Effectiveness in Ministry receiving the John G Mitchell award for the d-min program is joy we Sun Chang receiving the Emilio Antonio Nunez award is aris Martinez Rodriguez the ward is given by Adelante International Inc in honor of Dr Emilio Antonio Nunez distinguished professor at sateca in Guatemala City Guatemala and noted Theologian throughout Latin America to the graduating student in the Spanish doctor of ministry program who demonstrates outstanding scholarship and Effectiveness in Ministry receiving the William M Anderson scholarship award is Robert gresser this award is given in honor of Dr William M Anderson Jr one of the founders of Dallas Theological Seminary member of the Seminary board and vice president of the Seminary to the student in the doctor of philosophy program who maintains the highest standards of excellence throughout the program if you are a graduate here today and you received an award either at student awards Chapel at the Houston Washington DC or Atlanta graduation events would you also please stand so that we might acknowledge you ladies and gentlemen these are your 2023 award recipients please join me in congratulating them [Music] two annual Awards endowed by the class of 1984 are given each year by the graduating class to two faculty members one non-tenured and one tenured who in the estimation of the graduating class contributed most to their Ministry preparation through teaching excellence each award is a cash gift of five hundred dollars after Uncle Sam takes his due share when I call the recipient's name I'll ask for that faculty member to stand and to come to the front and to receive the award from Dr Jim Thames receiving the 2023 graduating class award for faculty Excellence given to a non-tenured faculty member is assistant professor of educational Ministries and Leadership Dr Jason Wheezy Poppy the 2023 graduating class award for faculty Excellence given to a tenured faculty member goes to Professor of theological studies Dr Glenn Kreider [Applause] hmm awesome this concludes our awards ceremony portion of the chapel now for the presentation of the class of 2023 scholarship please welcome the 2022-2023 student council president Ryan McGehee good morning so many remarkable men and women are called and led by God to attend Dallas Seminary however the number one reason students can't come or can't continue is a lack of funding each year DTS students are awarded over 5 million dollars in scholarships and Aid to reduce their financial burdens scholarships provide students with support and encouragement both to start and finish their DTS degree and pursue the ministry to which God has called them the 2023 graduating class chooses as their legacy gift to gift the Seminary to contribute to scholarships for the students coming behind them as an act of generosity and encouragement all gifts given are going into the DTs alumni scholarship fund and will go directly to benefits students in need in addition to your generous gifts the alumni scholarship fund has graciously pledged to match whatever amount is generously given by you DTS is grateful for each gift given from the members of the graduating class and extends sincere thanks to each graduate for helping prepare the next generation of ministry leaders thank you a reading from Acts 20 17-24 36-38 from militis he sent a message to Ephesus telling the Elders of the church to come to him when they arrived he said to them you yourselves know how I live the whole time I was with you from the first day I set foot in the province of Asia serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials that happen to me because of the plots of the Jews you know that I did not hold back from proclaiming to you anything that would be helpful and from teaching you publicly and from house to house testifying to both Jews and Greeks about repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ and now compelled by the spirit I am going to Jerusalem without knowing what will happen to me there except that the Holy Spirit warns me in town after town that imprisonment and persecutions are waiting for me but I do not consider my life worth anything to myself so that I may finish my task and the ministry that I receive from the Lord Jesus to testify to the good news of God's grace when he said these things he knelt down and with them all and prayed they all began to weep loudly and hugged Paul and kissed him especially saddened by what he had said that they were not going to see him again then they accompanied him to the ship please bow your heads with me as we pray a gracious Heavenly Father you know obviously that we're coming to that part in our service today when we will hear your word through your servant Dr linear Burns father you also know that all of us especially these grads have heard hundreds if not thousands of messages in their classes and in Chapel Services and yet father we're asking you to speak to us a new and afresh right now spirit of God would you speak to our hearts and Minds would you from your word challenge and encourage and teach us we welcome you spirit of God speak to us right now in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ amen it is my pleasure to introduce our Commencement Chapel speaker today Dr Lanier Burns is distinguished professor of systematic theology and research professor of theological studies at Dallas Theological Seminary Dr Burns is retiring after 55 wonderful years of ministry he has spent the last 43 years at Dallas Theological Seminary where he has served in the theological studies department and he was the department chair for over 19 years for 50 years he has served as president of the American Council of the Asian Christian Academy in India Dr Burns has published books and articles on biblical theology History Literature Justice and brain science he has been a frequent presenter at scholarly conferences and devotes much time to writing and pastoral leadership in his retirement Lanier looks forward to devoting more time to several Hobbies including reading sports music gardening traveling and caring for some very special pets lanieri Kathy have been married 56 years and they have four adult children and 11 young adult grandchildren Lanier is grateful for Dallas Theological Seminary which he said has given him everything that he is needed for serving the lord and then some linear as I said your graduation at your graduation as your a retirement party you're one of the kindest men I know and he has been such a blessing to our campus for so many years please join me in welcoming our speaker colleague and friend Dr Lanier Burns [Applause] I really haven't known how to give a retirement speech I checked my file on retirement to see the many messages that I had delivered before when I had retired the foul was empty my first question was how do I know when it's time to retire so I consulted retired people to find out how they did it and so one friend told me he said well what you want to do is to go to an antique auction and if they bid on you it's time so I went to an antique auction and the auctioneer was standing up front and he said our first item to be sold is an 80 year old specimen and the beginning bed will be one dollar I said it's time then I talked to a fellow who was retired that I liked and respected a great deal I said How's retirement going because I had read some negative press about retirement he said retirement is absolutely great except for the occasional heart attack and stroke that I have to go through well another fellow gave me he said I'm going to tell you a secret but don't tell anybody so I'm not telling anybody he said the first thing you do when you retire is you go and buy a dog I said I can do that I can do that he said the second thing is you name that dog five miles I said why he says because then you can tell everybody you walk five miles every day I looked all over the word for the right message I landed on Acts 20. which was Paul's farewell speech to the Ephesian elders Ephesus was a great City in the ancient world four major highways went from the city into the key trade routes from Egypt North it was a famous religious City the home of the Temple of Diana Artemis a big souvenir city with a large concession business and it was a large Jewish population much of most of which was resistant to the gospel to the Jew first and then to the Gentile in fact Paul was forced out of the synagogue into the Hall of terranus from presenting the brilliant defenses of the messiahship of Jesus to discussion in the Hall of terranus about truth and about things that had moved his life he had had a stormy time in Ephesus many people were coming to Christ everywhere he went people were coming to Christ and consequently when he left emphasis and had a sojourn in Macedonia he determined that he should go to Jerusalem because there were charges there that he was bringing people to Christ and taking them out from under the law Paul was very sensitive about being an offense to anyone in the church so he gives this speech in Acts chapter 20 and it's the only Christian speech in the book it matches his 13 Pastoral Epistles wonderfully well and he gives Four Points in this speech that I'm going to use to remember my own Ministries that God has given me so I'm calling it acts 20. memories of ministry Paul determined that after Macedonia he should sail from mitalini and bypass Ephesus to avoid further unrest and not to be well laid by dear friends that he had there and to make his way to malitus and he summoned the Elders of Ephesus to meet him there because of the importance of that mission and he gave them these four points the first to my mind over a long period of ministry is the most important his reputation his integrity is authenticity these words are thrown around globally but you live a long time and you discover with Solomon that a good name is more to be desired and valued than vast riches or the frenzy of renown he says in verse 18 and 19 you know how I lived the whole time I was with you Paul lived his life in light of the word of God but it's remarkable to me that he often took first Timothy 3 17 before he took first Timothy 3 16. that the person of God may be thoroughly furnished for every good work by the word of God you know how I live from the very first day that I stepped into Asia and then he describes that for them in verse 19 and verse 33. I serve the Lord with great humility that means he had a god-centered Ministry he was not narcissistic he was not an egotist and that's why Ministry was so hard then and now I serve the Lord with great humility and tears in the midst of severe testing in the city of Ephesus Paul called his opponents Savage wolves looking back over Ministry I have seen a few of these wolf packs and they are heartbreaking because when you when you know wolves hunting habits they hunt in packs and they pick out the weakest of the flock for their evening meal and that's what broke Paul's heart is the Savage wolves ganged up against him and be very careful because the enemies of God are numerous today and they attack the weakest that you have tried to disciple for a Time but Paul said in verse 24 a very unusual thing and as you get up to the fourth quarter of life I consider my life worth nothing to me you're going to be a grown-up to say that my life doesn't mean anything all that matters to me is that my finish the task that the lord gave me on the road to Damascus and in Antioch then in verse 33 in addition to this humility and in addition to his tears in the midst of Trials he said you yourself know you know the key to this passage is you know because you know me you know because you know the Lord he says you know how with my own hands I have provided for my own needs and the needs of my companions Paul did not want to be a single burden on the churches he served and that made him a great man of God a great woman of God however we serve it has to be for the Lord when we evaluate his reputation Point number one we have to think of our family first those are the people who know each other and can vouch for one another and those are the people who know us well enough because usually in Ministry today you come from where you want to preach rather than from what the people need for you to preach when I think about this also I think about rare Ministries I taught a Sunday school class in the 1980s about 70 people and we became very very close when you have good biblical Ministry you've got great Fellowship and that's in the 80s every year once or twice a year since then people come from far and near to be encouraged by those people that minister to them in the 80s now that's biblical Ministry that's biblical Ministry and you want your reputation to have that kind of awareness of the people that you serve number two resource his integrity was based on the word of God in verse 20 and 21 you know that I have not hesitated to preach anything that would be helpful to you now there's a strong temptation to go out and to take passages that have been pre-60 or 70 times and that will not be difficult for the people to hear we don't have a great tolerance for conflict but what Paul is saying is I taught the word with you in mind in other words when you carry the scriptures to the people do you know what they need do you know what bothers them do you know why they're interested in Walking with the Lord you've got to be governed by your audience I've taught you publicly and house to house I've always wondered about that verse because the greatest missionary Minister that has ever lived went house to house with a passion for Jesus Christ we know what passion is look at professional entertainers and athletes they put everything on the line to perform well and they want that Championship cup more than anything else well translate that directly to Paul and he felt that way about Jesus Christ I have declared to both Jews and Greeks now that's a hard thing to do we read that and the words are so simple on the page but I declared the Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in Repentance and that they must have faith in Jesus Christ he was a gutsy man I warn you that in today's world that is not what a lot of people are looking for they love their sin too much they need to repent because sin is self-destructive so we have reputation and integrity based on the word of God and the third point is reliance on the Holy Spirit your techniques and your skills that you acquire in seminary are invaluable you will use them all of your life I came here to know the word of God and I consider Dallas to have done that to my complete satisfaction but you know you ought to know that you can't do anything without God in verses 22 and 23 and now impelled by the Holy Spirit the Christ the Risen Christ who called Paul on the road to Damascus guided him every step of the way for his 30-year Ministry and I'm going to Jerusalem folks because the spirit has directed me there and that was a hard thing to do I don't know what's going to happen to me there I only know that in every city I've ever visited the Holy Spirit warned me that I would be imprisoned and hardships would be waiting for me I've discovered that's true over my years in Ministry it's true everything I'm doing I was asked to do I never will forget I was adjunct instructor in the late 70s trying to get my first doctorate Dr Walbert called me in right at the beginning of the 80s and said I want you to teach Theology and I want you to chair the department it took my breath away I felt totally unprepared but he said don't worry about it I got you covered and if anybody gives you any problem call me and I'll straighten it out okay gotcha anyway that lasted me for a while it lasted me for a while in the meantime the Indians that I'd even even know came to me and asked me if I would help start a seminary with social work in India and I don't know where it came from I do know marvelous wonderful dedicated Indian Believers but that is a community of approximately 5 000 people now from nothing we had an annual budget of twenty five hundred dollars most of which Kathy and I paid I for some reason was given an academic Ministry and it's terrifying to go on Elite academic campuses and to be faced with people who are heavy influences in the world I remember so many things about these experiences but I want to point out something to you about today's world something to you about today's world it used to be that we were called upon to defend what we believe well for an educated audience something like intervarsities Ministry but I have discovered as I have worked my way around that we have defended ourselves well but the world has polarized and it's on steroids with change so what I've discovered is it's not enough just to defend ourselves we've got to know who we're talking about and win respect so we can be heard when we share the gospel my love affair has been with brain science when I got my second doctorate I discovered that I had missed the great idea of the 20th century which is science and to be quite blunt about it it's King of the Hill uh we find ourselves a Remnant that needs to be heard but always remember at the McNamara Institute of MIT and Eli Edith broads Institute for biogenetics at MIT the staff there said well you know you know what you're talking about would you like to hold a brain in your hands ah yes I would be delighted too and there it was the greatest created object in the universe with 100 billion nerve cells neurons each a micron one millionth of a meter in size and it feels a lot like jelly that thing has been to the Moon that thing made cars that thing made airplanes and they said would you like to look through through our electron microscope I said I accept all your invitations anything you want to show me and I watched every one of the hundred trillion cells in our body working and it's an organelle and my whole perspective and I thought my we are fearfully and wonderfully made praise almighty God for each one of you I think of the Evangelistic Crusades in the 80s and at Sunset singing marvelous choruses as hungry Farmers hungry Traders hungry people just like they are today and for to get saved a great wonderful feeling the thing I resented there is I had to get on the airplane and come back and not be with him for a Time because in Ephesus when Paul had to go to the hall of terrainus to discuss and debate Christian truth he took his disciples with him always did that always did that I figured it up one time I did the math I said okay if I go back to Dallas Seminary and I really befriend and spend time with 10 students per semester I think I can do that but well it'll it'll really stretch you then over 40 years you will have 800 great relationships with students who are multiplying throughout the world I like that I like that we have a condition of Integrity or reputation based on the word of God with Reliance on the Holy Spirit leading to what to my mind is the greatest gift that God can give you I did not come from our circles I came from outside I did have Navigator Ministry in the military police Corps which was a good introduction to this one but when I came to Dallas Seminary for the first time I was given wonderful fellowship and friends in the Lord gives us Godly relationships after Paul finished speaking all of the Elders of Ephesus knelt with him and prayed what I've discovered is the greatest Ministry in the world hear me out I'm an old man but the greatest Ministry in the world is conversation with god who is the one who brings change to hearts a lot of people say well God is silent I pray but I don't see anything hey look if you don't pray earnestly and Faithfully you won't see answers to prayer because you won't be able to see how God is working with you to meet the needs in your life they knelt with him and prayed and this is where I get really hungry after they prayed they embraced him and wept wow that my friends is Christian Fellowship they embraced him and they welt how many times have I preached my heart out with no apparent connection and then now this is a cultural application so I don't expect this after this service they kissed him I I I'll just go with the Embrace are y'all with me on that all right okay and then they accompanied him to the ship did you know that there's an Old Mission habit where when you visit a missionary's home they will habitually stand at the front door and wave until you're gone it kind of means you're special kind of means you're special and they couldn't bear to see him go without seeing him on the ship so now I come to what Dallas Seminary has done for me over a long period of ministry it's given me a chance to serve God with integrity it's given me a Priceless understanding of the word of God you understand I'm taking Paul's points and just following them right down the line it's given me Fidelity to the spirit's guidance and I won't do anything for the Lord unless I ask the Lord's help first and it's given me great Christian friends that's amazing reputation resource in the word Reliance on the Holy Spirit deep satisfying relationships now to him who's able to keep you from falling graduates you're special and to present you before his glorious presence with great joy to the only God our savior be glory Majesty power and authority by the way what second where do you rank on that I'll tell you where you rank number one with Jesus Christ because you are in Christ see through Jesus Christ Our Lord amen God bless you [Applause] one of the great privileges is for our faculty to pray for our students weekly in uh our weekly faculty meetings but especially for our graduates at a time like this so our faculty are going to encircle the auditorium they will encircle the graduates and then we will pray [Music] please [Music] foreign [Music] foreign would you buy your heads with me in prayer Our Father as we conclude this Commencement Chapel we want to praise you first of all and thank you our loving God and secondly to commit these graduates to you for your direction and for your safekeeping we praise you for your call upon their lives to invest in graduate level Ministry preparation we're grateful for your enablement and the encouragement of others Family spouses and Friends who stood by and supported them throughout their years of studying we thank you for sustaining them in the long and at times lonely late night and early morning hours in the books on the job or feeding and rocking the baby we rejoice in the gifts and the abilities you've entrusted to them to enable them to study to learn to write and to speak your word on your behalf Lord is these graduates Journey onward I pray I pray that you will give them a confidence in your gifts and calling that are irrevocable but I pray that you will keep them humble enough to stay dependent I pray our father that you would give them enough spiritual success to encourage them and yet enough struggles to keep them humble I ask that you place them on teams that will be mutually beneficial where they'll also be personally responsible may they never get over the Wonder of your grace and mercy that they will need from you every day and may they in turn be kind and tenderhearted and willing to forgive those with whom they serve each and every day may they and we as a faculty and friends in this place always remember the pointed reminder that your son gave us about the privilege of serving you when at the conclusion of that little parable he said so you also when you've done everything you were commanded to do say we're unworthy servants we've only done what was our duty remind us father every day that serving you as a gift to cherish and not a right to claim that we don't have the right to serve but we have the privilege of service what an awesome and undeserved privilege that is and we conclude this Chapel service again with that great benediction we just heard now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy to the only God our savior through Jesus Christ Our Lord be glory and Majesty dominion and Authority before all time and now and forever in all God's people said amen

Channel: Dallas Theological Seminary

Views: 967

Keywords: Dallas Theological Seminary, DTS, Jesus, Bible, Grace, Community

Id: WI-eoYOz-vM

Length: 56min 28sec (3388 seconds)

Published: Tue May 16 2023