Akin reminds students to be doers of the Word as semester begins

Faculty and staff of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary (SEBTS) and The College at Southeastern welcomed students to a new spring semester at the January 19 convocation service. Southeastern President Danny Akin gave the convocation address, speaking from Matthew 7 about obedience to God’s word.

“Every one of us in this room today has a source of authority that shapes our worldview,” said Akin, adding that these sources of authority come from four main categories, including reason, experience, tradition and revelation.

“Revelation is that which affirms that I think the way I think because God’s word says so,” he said. “This is the only reliable source of authority and the only place we gain knowledge and wisdom.” 

Akin offered his definition of wisdom as the ability to look at life as God sees life and then to respond accordingly. 

Turning to the familiar parable of the house on the sand in Matthew 7, Akin warned against amassing knowledge of God’s word without applying it to one’s life. “It is not enough just to hear the word, just to study the word. If all you are is a collector of knowledge, you are a fool,” he said.

Fitting for the beginning of a semester, Akin told students to keep in mind that they could earn all the degrees in seminary and still be far away from God. “On the surface initially, there doesn’t seem to be any difference between the two men who built the houses,” he said. “What then is the difference? Their foundation and obedience to the word.”

In his final encouragements, Akin added, “I plead with you my brothers and sisters, as you enter into your studies, don’t just be a hearer of the word. Be a hearer and a doer, and let the Lord bless you in your work.”