So what lessons have I learned? There is some overlap in these lessons. For example, my gnostic tendencies towards the place also appeared when I was thinking about competition and comparison. Finding your voice as a preacher and being authentic in ministry are subtle distinctions from a principle that must be exercised throughout the process. Ministry.
In an effort to further discuss, there are books I have found useful in combating these ideas. So, these are the lessons? They are not in a specific order:
- The purpose of theological education is to prepare you to serve the Church.
- Not to give you a theological arsenal to unload on credulous members.
- You must love being a disciple of Jesus more than you would like to be right or the smartest person in life.
- If my love for Jesus is not cultivated on a daily basis.
- Will my shepherd love take its place in my affections? And trust me.
- He’s a miserable substitute.
Useful readings: Paul David Tripp, “Dangerous Call? [Dangerous vocation?Christian culture]; Kent and Barbara Hughes, “Successful Syndrome Releasing Ministry?[Release The Department’s Success Syndrome? New life]
Unexpectedly, Wendell Berry’s novels intellectually stimulated my return to Fremont. Reading the exploits of Ptolemy and Minnie Proudfoot, Burley Coulter and the Catlett clan revealed to me the beauty of local organizations. Wherever God has placed you, you are part of the “local community”. . ” Loving the gospel is one thing, loving the people you serve is another, but you really also need to learn to love the place where you exercise your ministry. Not for what he can become, not for what he was. love it for what it is. The gospel is not lived in any way separate from the body; our presence as disciples of Jesus is a face-to-face intrusion into a specific place. We’re not gnostics. For a long time, I was afraid to be quite gnostic in my reflection on the place. Ironically, God used a Kentucky writer to help me return to Nebraska.
As pastors completely involved in the trenches of difficult places of ministry, it is tempting to develop a C. H. To use a popular expression, “we’ve lost our minds. “Now, we really believe that such an epidemic is justified, if not necessary. After all, our integrity as ordained ministers of the gospel has been questioned!Direct attacks aren’t really an option, and we can’t summon a boxer to stand between the offensive parties, so “we lose. “
Useful readings: Mark Dever and Paul Alexander, “The Deliberate Church?[The Church intentionally? Faithful Editor]; Sean Michael Lucas, “Be a Presbyterian?[The Presbyterian Christian? Christian culture]
“Do you ever love your friend and your brother is distressed?(Proverbs 17. 17)
Perhaps the greatest lasting benefit of attending a face-to-face seminary is the friendships you make while studying your master’s degree in theology (as my friend Paul House says: “Does this imply a high vision of friendship, not a low vision of theology?Education?) Throughout the ministry, these friends told me that I was acting like a fool (when I really was), and even defended me when the fruits of my stupidity became apparent. These friends, despite all the evidence against, never left me. Moreover, as men committed to the faithful preaching and teaching of the Bible, we have been able to have long and serious conversations for more than a decade. Unfortunately, there has been little theological reflection on the nature of friendship in evangelical contexts.
Useful readings: Wendell Berry, “A friend of mine?” [A friend of mine] and?Watch with me? [Look at me] in this faraway country?[In this faraway land]; Wallace Stegner, go through security? [Travel to a safe place].
Life-changing conversations must have some kind of background music to accompany them [2]. Unfortunately, it’s never like that. That was the case when my friend Will Witherington told me about his golf game. Will is in the Department of Universities and, realizing that golf takes time and money, I finally had the courage to ask him how he played golf so much. it was a revelation to me. ” I’m a competitive man. I’m a better husband and father?and, wow, I’m a better minister, why do I have this escape?”
I was shocked. It immediately affected me to realize that I was involved in the ministry, if you don’t already know, participating in the ministry is one of the stupidest things you can do, it’s bad for your soul and your classmates’ souls. No one wins.
So, as I always thought weightlifting was cathartic, I compete as a weightlifter without using drugs. To quote a Twitter post by bodybuilder Mark Dugdale (who is a believer): “Two things tend to put things into perspective: examine the Bible and do many squat repetitions. Don’t you overlook it either? He may not be an athlete, but he needs to find a way out for the competition outside the ministry. You’ll feel better physically and spiritually.
Useful readings: Mark Rippentoe, initial force; www. coolrunning. com,?The Couch to 5K plan?[From sofa to run 5 km]
In fact, imitation is the most sincere form of flattery. At the beginning of the department, if you listened carefully, you could identify who I was listening to that week. Alistair Begg, Mark Dever, John Piper and Kent Hughes formed my preaching. This didn’t reflect my own style, but theirs. Find your own voice. It’s hard work and it takes time, but your wife will tell you when she finds it.
Useful readings: Martyn Lloyd-Jones, Preachers and Preachers Faithful Editor]; The Charles Simeon Trust: www. simeontrust. org
If he could not find his own voice in the pulpit, he probably could not find it in the rest of his pastoral ministry. I discovered very soon what people expected from their pastor, and then I tried to be. But it wasn’t. To me, I was horrible at it and I felt unhappy.
However, there is an important caveat: while I might think that people wanted to be close to my “excellence,” not all parts of my personality are useful or uplifting. I’m a work in progress. The Holy Ghost is involved in the same work of sanctification in my life as in that of all others. Here’s a constant tension: I have to be myself, and yet it’s not always a good thing.
Useful readings: John Owen, “Sin and temptation?[To overcome sin and temptation? Christian culture]; Adolf Schlatter, “Do we know Jesus?[Do we know Jesus?]
One of my teachers in Taylor, Mark Cosgrove, dedicated a book to his three children that he wrote: “In whose life should I produce my best writing?”I don’t even remember the title of the book, but the dedication stuck with me. My wife Amy and our children Gabrielle and Nathaniel deserve my “best writing,” but they rarely do.
That’s the worst part of going wrong in the apartment, isn’t it?It is our families who must tolerate us. We often treat the people we love the most, although I have not been able to achieve this goal, I know that I have to work harder in the family than in the ministry, and I would be lost if my wife and children did not appreciate it. If it’s been difficult for your family, start by apologizing to the family. By the grace of God, you can rebuild from there.
Useful reading: Justin Buzzard, “Going out with your wife?” [Going out with your wife]; Brian and Cara Croft, the pastor’s family?[The pastor and his family].