Do I have the seminar? And now?

Is my name? It’s an apartment for Dave Harvey and his friends. Lance Olimb is one of our good friends. Lance is a pastor of the Midtown campus at Four Oaks Church.

The most difficult aspect of the seminary has nothing to do with the analysis of the verbs in subjunctive of Greek, it soon stopped in the triangles with which John Frame worked masterfully on the board, honestly, it was not even the constant tension of feeding a family of 5 while earning 18 credits, working part-time and living in a republic (we ate many peanut butter and honey sandwiches , which were greatly underestimated, in my opinion). It wasn’t anything like that. That was the big question mark at the end of this training tunnel. The bold and awkward question: “What’s next?”

One way or another.
I omitted that particular sequence from the equation.
For a few years I was working on a master’s program in the arts remotely.
But the need to speed up my studies was obvious.
After I turned 9.
I gave up a master’s program in the arts.
Pastoral position to earn a Master’s degree in Divinity (M.
Div.
) on the Orlando campus of the Reformed Theological Seminary (RTS).
It was a great test for our family.
We spent so much time praying and preparing.
And then working feverishly while at the seminary.
That I forgot there would be a life after training.
Six months before crossing the Stage of St.
Chapel.
Andrews to get my degree.
I remembered.
In this case.
Remembering is a euphemism to alternate the stages of terror.
Stress and frantic browsing on the Internet.

I started bombing churches with my resume as if it were an America Online (AOL) offering in the 1990s. Shortly after the interviews began, I realized I would need a referral to make decisions. How could I decide what God’s call would look like?A chill in the liver, Urim and Thummim?Over the months, I have focused on some areas that have served as a guide of choice. Here are the questions I asked and answered to help me determine where I should land next:

This number was essentially an attempt to restrict the scope of ministry through Christianity to a number of tribes that it could serve along the way, including, among other things, the nature of God, the Church, the gospel, the Bible, and missions.

At this point, I was helped by the distinction between the essence of the church and what is important, but only for the well-being of the church (this and bene esse in Latin and legal jargon). The idea is that I should be very attentive to this issue, but with grace and kindness to God in the areas where I think it is. It took humility to understand that I would never find a church where everything I thought it was?it would be implemented But I pledged to seize any opportunity where something essential was compromised.

I know that’s the point in the story where it would be very useful for someone to tell you what it is?Essential? And what isn’t. I don’t want to pretend that the answer to that question is simple, it’s far from simple. But I want to invite him to the process. The clarity and understanding gained by carefully defining what is non-negotiable makes all the existential and theological disputes it faces worthwhile.

In other words, how would my gifts serve a local church more naturally?I want to say here that in many conversations I have had with men, both inside and outside the seminary, they have sought a process of self-decipherment and self-esteem on this issue. What area of the ministry makes my soul sing like Josh Groban?That kind of thing. That’s not what I mean.

I want to say something that starts with the question: what does the local church need, what is a pastor or who is it?And let me tell you where I think you should start if you really ask: the church needs men to lead, dream, be in the pulpits week after week, hold weddings and then cry with these couples because of infertility. your ministry with the idea that you’re going to serve a niche, you have a specific role that uses a specific gift, I think you’re starting from the wrong point The Church needs men who happily carry the weight of the whole operation, and who will then lead it with humility and fidelity for years to come. Start with this hypothesis and let the Holy Ghost refine the call and opportunity from there.

It may be a personal preference, but my wife and I really pray that God would allow us to settle down somewhere long term. I think a long-term approach is warranted considering that the biggest analogy in the kingdom is planting seeds. Therefore, the greatest comparison of Christian growth is botany. It’s a gloriously clumsy approach to work. I believe that the best ministry is the one where you see the slow, inevitable, and powerful transformation of people, through the gospel and over time. I asked myself, “If God has led me to this job, can I stay and work with these people until I retire?” It is not always possible to find such an arrangement, but I think it speaks to a broader principle. You will be tempted to find a job no matter what you have to do. While every situation is different, you may want to consider supporting your family in another way while you wait for a door to open. Six months of transporting boxes to the post office is better than neglecting systemic problems for a ministerial salary. Don’t say, “Well, I could be a youth pastor for about a year, but there’s no way I can see myself get over that.

You need to give people you trust with some of this information. They just don’t know each other well enough to make the decision. Ask these people to access their donations, their approaches to ministry, and the likelihood that you will serve a particular church well. There came a specific time for me when a highly respected mentor told me that I really had to find a place where I could preach and care for people’s souls. He was very convinced that he would better serve the church in that capacity. His advice helped clarify some of the different opportunities I was considering and needed that clarity because I liked some different but less ideal options that opened up a little more.

Finally, don’t forget to apply the gospel. You will never have perfect motivations. You wonder what your “value” is. You will be afraid of failing, you will be afraid of what people think. And you may begin to believe that your worth, hope, and identity are linked if a legal church in a legal place hires you. This is where you must rebuke your soul. “You are not your department. You are approved, loved, seen,” perfected, free, rich and secure in Christ? This type of preaching is extremely necessary and must be intense and firm. Practice this kind of preaching. You will need it in your new job.

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