Published on August 23, 2021 by Caroline Carmichael  
chapel bible

Beeson Divinity School will begin its Fall 2021 chapel series, “Tokens of the Providence of God in Times of Trouble,” with Opening Convocation on Aug. 31 at 11 a.m. in Andrew Gerow Hodges Chapel.

“In chapel this fall, we will help one another to count our present trials joy by reminding one another of the providence of God in our everyday lives,” said Douglas A. Sweeney, dean of Beeson Divinity School. “By delving into Scripture texts that teach us of the sovereignty of God over history and instruct us to encourage one another with tokens of his providential care, we will strengthen one another to live more faithfully, hopefully and lovingly today.” 

“Tokens of the Providence of God in Times of Trouble” will offer glimpses of God’s sovereignty as demonstrated throughout Scripture. The chapel series’ first token of God’s providence will be offered by Sweeney on Aug. 31 with a sermon on Genesis 50:15-21, “God Meant It for Good.”

“In the midst of all this trouble, the Lord remains faithful. More than that, he continues to redeem a bride for Christ and build his church around the world,” Sweeney said. “As he exhorts us in the book of James, ‘count it all joy . . . when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing’ (James 1:2-4).”

The Fall 2021 chapel schedule is as follows:

August 31
Douglas A. Sweeney, dean, Beeson Divinity School, Genesis 50:15-21

September 7
Mark DeVine, associate professor of divinity, Beeson Divinity School, Exodus 13:1-16

September 14
Ken Mathews, professor of divinity, Beeson Divinity School, Deuteronomy 6

September 21
Robert Smith Jr., Charles T. Carter Baptist Chair of Divinity, Beeson Divinity School, Joshua 4

September 28
Roy Ciampa, chair and S. Louis and Ann W. Armstrong professor of the Department of Biblical and Religious Studies at Samford University's Howard College of Arts and Sciences, Ruth 4

October 5
Karen Ellis, director of the Center for the Study of the Bible & Ethnicity at Reformed Theological Seminary in Atlanta, Go Global Missions Emphasis Week

October 12
Eric M. Riesen, president of the North American Lutheran Seminary in St. Ambridge, Pennsylvania, 1 Samuel 7

October 19
Suzanne Simmons, hospital chaplain, UAB Hospital, Birmingham, Psalm 78

October 26
Michael McClymond, professor of Modern Christianity at Saint Louis University, Reformation Heritage Lectures

November 2
Paul Lawler, pastor of Christ Church in Birmingham, 1 Corinthians 11:17-34

November 9
Tim Cox, senior pastor of Liberty Baptist Church in Chelsea, 2 Corinthians 11:16-12:10

November 16
John Cantelow III, Sixth Avenue Baptist Church in Birmingham, Hebrews 12

November 30
The Fall 2021 James Earl Massey Student Preaching Award recipient, Revelation 21

Community Worship is held at 11 a.m. each Tuesday in the school’s Andrew Gerow Hodges Chapel.

Guests are welcome to participate in person or virtually at beesondivinity.com/live or YouTube.com/BeesonDivinity. Please note: per Samford’s COVID-19 protocols, all persons on campus, regardless of vaccination status, are required to wear face masks in all public indoor settings.

 
Samford is a leading Christian university offering undergraduate programs grounded in the liberal arts with an array of nationally recognized graduate and professional schools. Founded in 1841, Samford is the 87th-oldest institution of higher learning in the United States. Samford enrolls 5,791 students from 49 states, Puerto Rico and 16 countries in its 10 academic schools: arts, arts and sciences, business, divinity, education, health professions, law, nursing, pharmacy and public health. Samford fields 17 athletic teams that compete in the tradition-rich Southern Conference and ranks 6th nationally for its Graduation Success Rate among all NCAA Division I schools.