After the first lecture Wednesday morning, when Brother Moody had adjourned the audience for a short break, Morgan looked up at me and asked, “is it over?” It is now. The 25th Southside Lectures is over. All that remains are the memories of our wonderful week together.

The 25th lectureship was special to me in another way. They were the 1st lectures for my little David, the first of many more, Lord willing. I realize that a six-week-old won’t remember anything about them, but one day he will ask. Here’s what I will tell him about this year’s lectures.

I will tell him about the preaching. Wilson Adams, Dee Bowman, Marty Pickup, and Gerry Sandusky did what Phillip did for the eunuch. They “preached Jesus” to us. They preached Him with power and persuasion. They stormed our wills. Every single sermon brought us closer to Christ. We saw Him as the Lamb of God, the Master Teacher, the Servant, the Savior, the King, the Judge, and the Resurrection and the Life. We are indebted to these men for allowing us to see Jesus the way we’ve never seen Him before.

I will tell him about the singing. Tears well up in my eyes just thinking about it. Brother R.J. Stevens is irreplaceable. He has a way of making you feel like you’re singing those old songs for the very first time. And a man who is so musically talented shows more concern for the congregation getting the message of the hymn than in hitting the right notes. What an honor to have such a sincere, humble man directing our praises to God.

I will tell him about our people. How you took vacation time to be here at the morning sessions. How you came straight from work, sometimes without eating dinner. How the deacons arrived early and left late. How you made sure the visitors felt welcome. How you encouraged the speakers and had them in your homes. How you showed why Southside is the best place to be on this side of heaven.

I will tell him about Brandon Lingle, a boyfriend who was visiting with the Peeden family from Gladewater, TX. A lectureship on “Jesus, Name Above All Names” stirred a young man to call on the name of the Lord and be baptized. And who knows how many more seeds were planted that have not yet been brought to fruition? By the time it’s all over, there may be much more to tell.

I’m sure you have your own stories to tell about last week. Above all, let’s use these memories as a launching pad to tell the greatest story of all, the story of Jesus. He truly has been given the name which is above every name. Let us bow before Him and give thanks.