Dr. James T Sewell went to heaven this week. “Doc” as most of us called him loved Jesus, Linda Kay, his family, his students, and churches. He would say that when he died on his tombstone it would read, “He finally put the book down.”
As an 18-year-old freshman to Baptist Bible College, he was a shock. I’m not sure who came up with the idea of 7:30 a.m. classes, but he was the professor who taught them every day of the week. He would arrive with so much energy. I’m not sure how he contained it – much less how we were supposed to contain it. With his Texas draw and booming voice, he taught us. Thousands of us. Thirty-nine years of ministry at BBC – he taught us. 7:30 a.m. – he taught us. Outside under a tree – he taught us. Picking at Dr. Sherman – he taught us. Practicing for the rapture – he taught us. Even after getting sick – he taught us.
As I think about his life and ministry, several key items come to mind. Thankfully, I knew him as a student, colleague, fellow-pastor, and friend.
He loved the Lord and the Bible.
His five word question? If you had him in class, you know this line before you even read it. “What does the Bible say?” His other three word response? “Book, Chapter, Verse” This was his own definition of being a biblicist.
He was committed to helping his students live in the Scriptures. He wanted us to learn the Word. He continually asked that question over and over and over. He was committed to learning and living the Bible. He challenged us to do the same.
I think over the past 19 years as he has struggled with cancer, he demonstrated how his love for Christ and His Word transferred into the practical expression of suffering well for the glory of God. It was a lesson he started in the classroom but completed in personal suffering through his personal lifestyle. Love the Lord and love the Bible.
He loved learning.
Anyone who was around Doc knew that he loved to learn. He often challenged us to read. His office was full of books and he would often talk about the current books he was reading.
He was one of the first people ever to challenge me to get a doctorate. On more than one occasion, I remember him explaining the various education paths that we could take. He would write the various degree paths on the board and explain how we could accomplish each one – back then in chalk. His degree (PhD from Bob Jones) was not a matter of pride for him; it was a matter of ministry. He would challenge us to consider further degrees from the same sense of ministry. He wanted us to go on for further education so that we would not just understand the Bible better, but also in order for us to witness better. Many times I heard him say how when he was out he could talk to the guy at the garage or the doctor he met going door to door sharing the gospel, but either way, his education made him prepared for that conversation. He referred to himself by his first name, by pastor, and by doctor as he would help us think through the doors that further education could open – again, in the context of witnessing.
Why did he love education? Not to feel good about himself or in a spirit of pride. He was a humble man in that respect. He wanted us to get education because it would enable us to serve Christ, share the gospel, and love people better.
He loved the local church and people.
When I first met him, he was serving as an associate pastor at Park Crest Baptist. He taught a vibrant class, and his people loved him. I know so many of those people that he served. Still today – now many, many years later – they will occasionally bring up his name. From there, after a quick tour in Texas, he pastored the Noble Hill Baptist Church for ten years. In both instances he would bring those ministry experiences into the classroom. Often he would tell stories of those to whom he had ministered in a variety of ways. I loved to hear him talk about sharing the gospel with people.
Doc always brought the local church into the classroom. He never confused the love and desire for education with the ultimate purpose for education – Christ, the local church and people.
He loved writing and reading.
Who knows how many times he would say, “One of you need to write a great book on…” He had all kinds of book ideas. In his own way, he was challenging us to write. Many times in personal conversation, he would ask me what I am writing about or how soon I was going to write about … – just pick the topic.
On many levels, he was the first person to challenge me to get more education and then to consider writing. After the education part and as a co-worker, he constantly was asking me about writing. Often it would begin with the statement, “Doctor Carson, I’ve been wondering about…, I wish you would hurry up and write about that so I would understand it better.” Our offices were on opposite sides of the building and as we were going one way or the other, we would often meet in the middle – usually the chapel. We had many of those talks there.
In his retirement he wrote many, many blogs sharing biblical insight and PowerPoints for his students in ministry. He would often ask me whenever he saw me if I had seen one. Sometimes he would email me to let me know of something special on which he was working.
He loved technology for ministry.
I almost hesitate to say technology. He loved the Mac for ministry – that’s more like it. He was into gadgets. Who knows how many times he invited me into his office to see the latest program or computer? He geeked out over the stuff. I would oblige and enjoy the conversation more than the gadget usually.
He loved technology for a simple reason – it benefited ministry. When he would talk about the newest whatever, it always came back to how it would benefit the work of Christ. His family has a trove of treasures in all his documents that he leaves behind for them to peruse.
He loved people and having fun with people.
There are so many things that could be said about his love of people and having fun. As a brand new student – before I knew him well and understood the family connections – I thought he had a real problem with Dr. Sherman. It blew me away. But hilarious. Dr. Sherman of course was not the only one. He would pick on so many people.
Often he would say things just to make us smile. He smiled often himself, laughed very loud, and generally encouraged the people with whom he interacted. For sure, many of the sayings that he is known for was just to make the lecture, message, or conversation a bit more light-hearted as we took the medicine he was dispensing.
A personal note
Doc was a gracious man who served Christ well. In this brief blog I have not scratched the surface of what could be said in his honor. You could fill a blog with just his life sayings, like: “Aim at nothing, hit it every time,” “May I make an observation?” “Pious gasbag,” “Open mouth insert foot up to knee cap,” “Shhh, I don’t want anyone to hear me,” and on and on I could go. He discussed Rodney the roach in doctrine class. He helped a bunch of men and ladies grasp the Bible, learn to love it better, and then go out to preach and teach it.
His preaching classes were helpful. His doctrine classes were insightful. His pastoral theology classes were practical. He left a great legacy.
Toward the end of his life we had an opportunity to talk. He called me a Sewell-ite. He spent several minutes with me reminiscing about being in class together and working together. He then challenged me to teach and pastor for the good of people and the glory of God. That is something for which to be known. My personal challenge from him is to be humble, teach practically, point people to the Scriptures first, make learning fun, write often, remain passionate about the local church, love students well, and enjoy laughs along the way.
He may have put down the book, but his ministry continues through many of us.
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If you want to be encouraged, I recommend reading through his Facebook feed of the past few days.
This is the link to a video on Facebook that can’t be embedded. You can check it out though at this link: https://www.facebook.com/larry.paasch/videos/10217636120725003/. This is a three-minute video of him talking to an alumni group from the 1980s.
“One of these days I’m going to be sitting in heaven just collecting rewards.”
“I have no greater joy than to know that my children walk in truth.”
KevinCarson.com | Walking together through life as friends in Christ sharing wisdom along the journey
Kevin this is a beautiful, personal and eloquent tribute. I read it to Mom just a few minutes ago. We are deeply moved. You nailed him perfectly and demonstratively. I cannot thank you enough. This means the world to us.
Wow. I’m so grateful that it blessed you all. I loved your dad. Happy to call him my friend.