Southwestern Seminary announces fall 2025 chapel schedule
The fall 2025 chapel schedule at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary will feature an emphasis on major themes of the Minor Prophets, a celebration of the 1700th anniversary of the Nicene Creed, a focus on missions and worship, and a host of special guests.
Chapel services begin Aug. 26 with convocation led by President David S. Dockery. The Chancellor’s Chapel will follow on Aug. 28 with Chancellor O.S. Hawkins.
Services continue with Steve Gilbert, visiting assistant professor of intercultural studies and associate director of the Tandy Institute of Archaeology, speaking on Sept. 2. Kevin Rodgers, professor of missions and coordinator of the Intercultural Studies Program, is the speaker for the Sept. 4 chapel service, which is part of the seminary’s Global Missions Week.
The Sept. 9 chapel service will be dedicated to the 1,700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea’s adoption of the Nicene Creed. Malcolm Yarnell, research professor of theology at Southwestern, who has written and spoken extensively on the subject, will deliver a lecture during the service.
A Sept. 11 panel discussion on worship and music will feature faculty from Southwestern’s School of Church Music and Worship, with W. Madison Grace II, provost and vice president for academic administration, serving as moderator. Music also will be part of the Sept. 25 chapel service that will feature a presentation by the Prestonwood Pregnancy Center, which opened a site on the seminary’s campus earlier this year, and the Platinum Singers, the senior adult choir from Prestonwood Church.
Beginning Sept. 16, chapel services will feature sermons about the Minor Prophets preached by Southwestern Seminary and Texas Baptist College faculty and special guests. A special day of prayer will be held Oct. 21.
“It will be a joy for the Southwestern Seminary community throughout the fall semester to reflect on the message of the Minor Prophets to us as students, staff, faculty, and administrators,” Dockery said. “These smaller books, tucked away at the end of the Old Testament, have an enduring and relevant word for us in the 21st century, particularly in terms of understanding God’s character and His expectations of us to love faithfulness, to live obediently, and walk humbly before our God and with one another. We look forward with prayerful expectation to hearing from Southwestern faculty members as well as those pastors and church leaders who will join us throughout the term.”
Chapel services begin at 11 a.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays at the MacGorman Chapel and Performing Arts Center. Services also will be broadcast live at swbts.edu/live.
Fall 2025 Chapel Schedule
Aug. 26 – Convocation, David S. Dockery, president
Aug. 28 – Chancellor’s Chapel, O.S. Hawkins, chancellor
Sept. 2 – Steve Gilbert, visiting assistant professor of intercultural studies and associate director of the Tandy Institute of Archaeology
Sept. 4 – Kevin Rodgers, professor of missions, Intercultural Studies Program coordinator
Sept. 9 – Malcolm Yarnell, research professor of theology, A Celebration of Nicaea on the 1,700th Anniversary
Sept. 11 – Panel discussion on worship and music with faculty from the School of Church Music and Worship: Joseph Crider, dean and professor of church music and worship; Bennie Caston Jr., professor of voice; Nathan Burggraff, associate professor of music theory; and Charles Lewis Jr., associate dean and professor of church music and worship. W. Madison Grace II, provost and vice president for academic administration, dean of the School of Theology, and professor of theology, will serve as moderator.
Sept. 16 – “Introduction to the Minor Prophets,” Todd Pylant, pastor, First Baptist Church, Benbrook
Sept. 18 – “Hosea – God’s Covenant Love,” Adam Dodd, assistant professor of Old Testament and biblical backgrounds, vice president for campus technology, and director of the Tandy Institute of Archaeology
Sept. 23 – “Joel – Return to the Lord with All Your Heart,” Joshua Williams, professor of Old Testament, director of Research Doctoral Studies
Sept. 25 – Presentation from the Prestonwood Pregnancy Center and the Prestonwood senior choir
Sept. 30 – “Amos – Famine of God’s Word,” Mark Taylor, professor of New Testament, associate dean, School of Theology
Oct. 2 – “Obadiah – The Day of the Lord,” Brian Berry, instructor of biblical studies, Texas Baptist College
Oct. 14 – “Jonah – The Heart of God,” Spencer Plumlee, senior pastor, Christ Fellowship Church, Mansfield
Oct. 16 – “Micah – What God Requires,” Ben Bolin, Southwestern Seminary PhD student, lead teaching pastor, Travis Avenue Baptist Church, Fort Worth
Oct. 21 – Day of Prayer
Oct. 23 – “Nahum – God, in His Goodness and in His Time, Makes All Things Right,” Scott Maze, senior pastor, Cross Church NRH and Cross Church NFW
Oct. 28 – “Habakkuk – The Righteous Live by Faith in God,” Michael Wilkinson, professor of theology, director of Professional Doctoral Studies
Oct. 30 – “Zephaniah – Humility and Repentance,” Philip Levant, lead pastor, Iglesia Agape, Fort Worth
Nov. 4 – “Haggai – Consider Your Ways,” Cristian Rata, professor of Old Testament
Nov. 6 – “Zechariah 1-8 – Restoration and Promise,” Chris Osborne, professor of preaching and pastoral ministry and James T. Draper Chair of Pastoral Ministry
Nov. 11 – “Zechariah 9-12 – Messianic Expectations,” Trey Moss, instructor of New Testament and associate vice president for academic administration
Nov. 13 – “Malachi – A Call for Covenant Faithfulness,” Matthew McKellar, professor of preaching and George W. Truett Chair of Ministry
Nov. 18 – Cody Kitchen, student preaching award recipient
Nov. 20 – Student preacher
