What My Seminary Professors Got Right (And What I Wish They Did Differently) - Part 1

I graduated from Talbot School of Theology with a Master of Divinity (M.Div).

It’s been almost 12 years since and I could not be more grateful for my time there.

My seminary season was an invaluable four years marked by new experiences, mind-bending learning, and new relationships that still last to this day. I’m indebted to the many professors who provided formidable training for me with such graciousness and humility.

I told myself many years ago that I’d one day write a reflection piece once I hit the 10- year-after-graduation mark. Though I would’ve loved to have titled this blog, “10 Reflections After Graduating Seminary 10 Years Ago” I’m going to have to settle for writing it 2 years after my original intention (and with a spicier title).

In this post, I’ll share 5 things my seminary professors were spot on about ten-plus years ago. Here they are in no particular order:

1. Godliness is More Important than Giftedness.

   I nodded along as multiple different professors gave some version of this sentiment. Honestly, I quietly disagreed at the time because I saw examples of pastoral incompetency hurting churches. But over the last few years, I’ve witnessed how gaps in pastoral integrity far more greatly devastate a church.

   Don’t get me wrong, I still believe competency is really important. But I will gladly take the 6/10 pastoral skills with a 10/10 character than the reverse.

2. Spiritual Direction Can’t Be Assumed in Leaders.

   The most parrotted thing I heard amongst my peers was how much they disliked the spiritual direction courses. (Or maybe this is more of a reflection of who I was hanging with?) Interestingly enough, it’s been fascinating to see how many of those very voices have taken a complete u-turn to now embrace spiritual direction for themselves and their churches.

   My seminary knew what they were doing. They had the wisdom and foresight to know that theological brilliance and Biblical interpretive mastery weren’t sufficient in of itself, no matter how important. Running a church organization without hearing the voice of the Spirit can very well be accomplished.

3. Churches Divide Over Ministry Philosophy More Than Biblical Theology.

   I thought a church could meltdown over its member’s divergence on Calvinism or Arminianism. If not soteriology, I was certain member differences on women in leadership would level a church to the ground. But my professors were right, most people don’t care about those things as much as we think.

   But expository vs. topical divergence in preaching style? Attractional vs. non-attractional leanings towards seekers? Relational vs. street evangelism? Stack a few different ministry philosophies within one church and it can create real division.

4. One’s Family is More Important Than One’s Job Title. One professor shared a story about receiving a new ministry call after pouring his life into his church for over a decade. He shared that when it was time to pack his bags and leave town, the only people in the car were his family members. He couldn’t take anyone from the church with him no matter how ferociously he had served them. The only people he left with were his precious family members. In the end, we must serve our families well because they’re a more central and non-negotiable aspect of our ministry as followers of Jesus.

   I confess that I have struggled to practically work this out in my own life for a variety of reasons at many different seasons. But I believe this today more than I ever have before.

5. Jesus Has to Matter More than Anything Else.

   During one of my preaching classes, my professor Don Sunukjian exhorted us about the challenging times of ministry in which there would not be much fruit in our preaching. He was passionately encouraging us to remember that Jesus is worthy of our worship and is the ultimate reason why we preach in season and out of season. I was so convicted and inspired that I opened my Bible and wrote his quote in a blank space in my Bible.

   I’ve witnessed God perform some incredible victories in church ministry and there have also been seasons where I’ve asked where He is. In the low moments, I have found that the only thing truly trustworthy and sturdy is His absolute worthiness and glory. It is a beautiful thing to say on our discouraging days: “Jesus, I report for duty today because I belong to you and you’re 100% worthy of it all.”

Conclusion

I am profoundly grateful for my time in seminary and would do it all over again if I could.

If you’re currently in seminary, cherish every course and class session because there’s no season like it. If you’re aspiring or have questions, I recommend you talk to your pastor or spiritual advisor and get their take. It may even be worth taking one course just to dip your toes in to see what it’s like.

In the next post, I’ll share a few things I wish I received in seminary that I didn’t.