Batsell Barrett Baxter
Encyclopedia
Batsell Barrett Baxter was an influential preacher and writer within the Churches of Christ
.
, another influential leader within the Churches of Christ. The younger Baxter preached his first sermon in Nashville, Tennessee, in 1933. He received his post-secondary education at Abilene Christian College
(B.A.), University of Southern California
(M.A., Ph.D.), and Vanderbilt University
(B.D.). Baxter "was the first person in the Churches of Christ to receive a Ph.D. in speech communication," receiving that degree from the University of Southern California in 1944. He was appointed head of the Speech
Department at David Lipscomb College
in 1945. Later he headed the Bible
department at David Lipscomb College after his father died.
Baxter preached in Nashville at the Trinity Lane Church of Christ from 1946 to 1951, and preached at the Hillsboro Church of Christ in Nashville for 29 years from 1951 to 1980 when he retired. He was considered by many to be "the best preacher of the Churches of Christ during his lifetime." He advocated a method of preaching that focused on meeting the particular needs of his listeners and tailored the content and techniques used to the "life-situation" of the particular audience. Baxter's style was very different from the harder style that originated in the debating
tradition of the Churches of Christ, emphasizing a "softer" gospel of love. He trained hundreds of younger preachers and his influence was such "that at one time many could readily tell if a preacher had trained at Lipscomb college."
Baxter was also a writer for the Gospel Advocate
and 20th-Century Christian. He wrote eleven books including Speaking for the Master, I Believe Because, and When Life Tumbles In. He coauthored two books, and coedited seven more. He became the regular speaker for the Herald of Truth television program in August 1959. When the program went to a radio series, he was featured periodically.
In his youth, Baxter was an avid tennis player, winning the city championship in the boys' (14 and under) classification in Nashville, Tennessee.
Church of Christ
Churches of Christ are autonomous Christian congregations associated with one another through common beliefs and practices. They seek to base doctrine and practice on the Bible alone, and seek to be New Testament congregations as originally established by the authority of Christ. Historically,...
.
Biography
Baxter was the son of Batsell BaxterBatsell Baxter
Batsell Baxter was one of the most important leaders and educators in the Churches of Christ in the first half of the 20th century.-Biography:...
, another influential leader within the Churches of Christ. The younger Baxter preached his first sermon in Nashville, Tennessee, in 1933. He received his post-secondary education at Abilene Christian College
Abilene Christian University
Abilene Christian University is a private university located in Abilene, Texas, affiliated with Churches of Christ. ACU was founded in 1906, as Childers Classical Institute...
(B.A.), University of Southern California
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
(M.A., Ph.D.), and Vanderbilt University
Vanderbilt University
Vanderbilt University is a private research university located in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. Founded in 1873, the university is named for shipping and rail magnate "Commodore" Cornelius Vanderbilt, who provided Vanderbilt its initial $1 million endowment despite having never been to the...
(B.D.). Baxter "was the first person in the Churches of Christ to receive a Ph.D. in speech communication," receiving that degree from the University of Southern California in 1944. He was appointed head of the Speech
Public speaking
Public speaking is the process of speaking to a group of people in a structured, deliberate manner intended to inform, influence, or entertain the listeners...
Department at David Lipscomb College
Lipscomb University
Lipscomb University is a private, coeducational, liberal arts university in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. It is affiliated with the Churches of Christ. The campus is located in the Green Hills neighborhood of Nashville between Belmont Boulevard to the west and Granny White Pike on the east...
in 1945. Later he headed the Bible
Biblical studies
Biblical studies is the academic study of the Judeo-Christian Bible and related texts. For Christianity, the Bible traditionally comprises the New Testament and Old Testament, which together are sometimes called the "Scriptures." Judaism recognizes as scripture only the Hebrew Bible, also known as...
department at David Lipscomb College after his father died.
Baxter preached in Nashville at the Trinity Lane Church of Christ from 1946 to 1951, and preached at the Hillsboro Church of Christ in Nashville for 29 years from 1951 to 1980 when he retired. He was considered by many to be "the best preacher of the Churches of Christ during his lifetime." He advocated a method of preaching that focused on meeting the particular needs of his listeners and tailored the content and techniques used to the "life-situation" of the particular audience. Baxter's style was very different from the harder style that originated in the debating
Debate
Debate or debating is a method of interactive and representational argument. Debate is a broader form of argument than logical argument, which only examines consistency from axiom, and factual argument, which only examines what is or isn't the case or rhetoric which is a technique of persuasion...
tradition of the Churches of Christ, emphasizing a "softer" gospel of love. He trained hundreds of younger preachers and his influence was such "that at one time many could readily tell if a preacher had trained at Lipscomb college."
Baxter was also a writer for the Gospel Advocate
Gospel Advocate
The Gospel Advocate is a religious magazine published monthly in Nashville, Tennessee for members of the Churches of Christ. The Advocate has enjoyed uninterrupted publication since 1866....
and 20th-Century Christian. He wrote eleven books including Speaking for the Master, I Believe Because, and When Life Tumbles In. He coauthored two books, and coedited seven more. He became the regular speaker for the Herald of Truth television program in August 1959. When the program went to a radio series, he was featured periodically.
In his youth, Baxter was an avid tennis player, winning the city championship in the boys' (14 and under) classification in Nashville, Tennessee.
External links
- Batsell Barrett Baxter at therestorationmovement.com
- Tract Written by Batsell Barrett Baxter