Southwestern Seminary announces spring 2026 chapel schedule

A new year and a new semester bring a new focus to chapel services at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Chapel sermons for spring 2026 will center on the Gospel of Mark.

“In recent semesters, the chapel series at Southwestern have focused on Paul, the Psalms, and the Minor Prophets,” said David S. Dockery, seminary president. “This spring we will turn our attention to the Gospel of Mark with an emphasis on the life, ministry, teachings, and redemptive work of Jesus Christ. We are prayerful and hopeful that the series will be used by the Lord to help all of us across the Southwestern community live and serve in a way that reflects faithfulness to our Lord Jesus Christ as well as to Southwestern’s Christ-centered core value.”

Chapel services begin Jan. 20 with Convocation at which Dockery will present an address. O.S. Hawkins, chancellor of Southwestern Seminary, will preach the Jan. 22 chapel sermon.

Guest speakers include Josh Moody, senior pastor of College Church in Wheaton, Ill., and a senior fellow of the International Alliance for Christian Education (IACE), of which Dockery serves as president; Bob Stewart, Southwestern alumnus and professor of philosophy and theology at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary; and Ryan Lee, a Southwestern 2025 Distinguished Alumni recipient and senior pastor of Semihan Church in Carrollton, Texas, one of the largest Korean American congregations in the United States.

A special chapel service will be held March 12 for the seminary’s Founder’s Day with a focus on J.B. Gambrell, a Baptist leader who served as the first president of Southwestern Seminary’s Board of Trustees and was a professor at the seminary during its early years. Jim Spivey, pastor of Gambrell Street Baptist Church, will lead the service. Spivey is a Southwestern Seminary alumnus and former faculty member. Founder’s Day is held during the chapel closest to March 14, the date in 1908 in which the seminary was founded.

Additional special services include the Day of Prayer, scheduled April 14 during the board of trustees meeting, and a Jan. 27 panel discussion about Texas Baptist College with TBC and Southwestern Seminary faculty.

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.

Spring 2026 Chapel Schedule

Jan. 20 – Convocation, David S. Dockery, president

Jan. 22 – Chancellor’s Chapel, O.S. Hawkins, chancellor

Jan. 27 – Panel discussion about the directives and disciplines of Texas Baptist College with Carl Bradford, TBC dean, associate professor of evangelism, and Malcolm R. and Melba L. McDow Chair of Evangelism; Blake McKinney, assistant professor of history and humanities; Brian Berry, instructor of biblical studies; Coleman Ford, assistant professor of humanities; Amy Crider, associate professor of foundations of education (Southwestern Seminary) and director of the Southwestern Center for Writing and Rhetoric; and Daniel Darling, assistant professor for faith and culture and director of the Land Center for Cultural Engagement.

Jan. 29 – Josh Moody, senior pastor of College Church in Wheaton, Ill., and IACE (International Alliance for Christian Education) senior fellow

Feb. 3 – Mark 1:1-13, “Introduction to Mark’s Gospel” – Mark Taylor, professor of New Testament, associate dean of the School of Theology, and Wesley Harrison Chair of New Testament

Feb. 5 – Mark 1:14-41, “The Kingdom of God” – Madison Grace, provost and vice president for academic administration, dean of the School of Theology, and professor of theology

Feb. 10 – Mark 2:1-3:6, “Conflict and Controversy” – Joshua Williams, professor of Old Testament, director of Research Doctoral Studies

Feb. 12 – Mark 3:7-4:34, “Parables of the Kingdom” – Adam Dodd, assistant professor of Old Testament and biblical backgrounds, vice president for campus technology, director of the Tandy Institute of Archaeology

Feb. 17 – Mark 4:35-5:43, “Miracles in Galilee” – Chandler Snyder, vice president for institutional relations, instructor of missions

Feb. 19 – Mark 6:1-66, “Sending out of the Twelve” – Steve Gilbert, assistant professor of intercultural studies, associate director of the Tandy Institute of Archaeology

Feb. 24 – Mark 7:1-23,“Further Conflict” – Dean Sieberhagen, dean of the Roy J. Fish School of Evangelism and Missions, Charles F. Stanley Chair for the Advancement of Global Christianity

Feb. 26 – Mark 7:24-8:26, “Miracles and Ministry in Northern Palestine” – Jim Wicker, professor of New Testament

March 3 – Mark 8:27-9:10, “Confession and Transfiguration” – Bob Stewart, professor of philosophy and theology at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, two-time Southwestern Seminary alumnus

March 5 – Mark 9:11-50, “Passion Foretold” – Jonathan Williams, senior pastor of Wedgwood Baptist Church of Fort Worth, executive director of Gospel Family Ministries, adjunct professor at Southwestern, managing editor of the Southwestern D6 Family Ministry Journal, and two-time Southwestern alumnus

March 10 – Mark 10:1-52, “Teachings of Jesus” – Matthew McKellar, professor of preaching, George W. Truett Chair of Ministry

March 12 – Founder’s Day, with a focus on J.B. Gambrell. Speaker: Jim Spivey, pastor of Gambrell Street Baptist Church, former associate professor of church history at Southwestern, and alumnus (MDiv)

March 24 – Mark 11:1-19, “Entrance into Jerusalem” – Kevin Rodgers, professor of missions, Intercultural Studies Program coordinator

March 26 – Mark 11:20-12:44, “The Great Commandment” – Armando Hernandez, director of admissions and adjunct instructor

March 31 – Mark 13:1-37, “The Little Apocalypse” – Andrew Streett, associate professor of biblical studies

April 2 – Mark 14:1-72, “The Last Supper” – Chris Osborne, professor of preaching and pastoral ministry, James T. Draper Chair of Pastoral Ministry

April 7 – Mark 15:1-15, “Trial before Pilate” – Andrew Jennings, assistant professor of philosophy of religion and apologetics

April 9 – Mark 15:16-47, “The Crucifixion” – Ryan Lee, senior pastor of Semihan Church in Carrollton, Texas, two-time Southwestern Seminary alumnus, and a 2025 recipient of the Distinguished Alumni Award

April 14 – Day of Prayer

April 16 – Mark 16:1-8, “The Resurrection” – Joe Crider, dean, School of Church Music and Worship, professor of church music and worship, and McKinney Chair of Church Music