One of the ways seminarian can love the local church and serve her is by writing, a lot. The...
Dear Seminarian
Dear Seminarian: A Little Advice
Dear Seminarian, It seems like just yesterday that I was sitting in my first seminary class. I was...
Cultivating Relational Maturity
It happened again; I interrupted one of my pastor’s conversations on a Sunday morning....
Wanting to Leave and Saying Goodbye
More and more I hear voices in the evangelical world suggesting that wanting to leave your church is wrong. These voices suggest that the “right” thing for every pastor is picking a church and staying put until you retire. I know friends who are doing this. I’ve read...
Discipline Yourself for Godliness
Few issues are as important or as controversial as the role of discipline in the Christian life. When we hear the words discipline, we might first think of the soldier out preparing for battle. We might also think of the athlete training hard in the weight room or...
Getting the Most out of Seminary Classes When You’re Already Crazy Busy
It’s a great understatement to say that seminary is a very crazy time of life. The old cliché of seminary being like “drinking from a firehose” has stuck around for a reason. Trying to juggle work, family, church, and school responsibilities can leave you feeling like...
Joining Your Community
Joining Your Community A few months ago I went to eat lunch with a new pastor in town. We started with get-to-know-you small talk. Then we discussed the challenges associated with moving and settling into a new place. At some point in our conversation, my new pastor...
When Satan Tempts Me to Despair: Struggles and Seminary
It was the second week of my Old Testament Theology class. I missed my Dad's phone call a few times, and I knew something was up, so I called him back during a break. His words were, "Evan, your mom is divorcing me." After the call, I went back to class trying to...
Warnings and Encouragement for Women Attending Seminary
Dear Woman in Seminary, You are not alone. There are days in which the journey is long and wearisome, but you are seen. Your church needs you, and I am so glad that you responded to the call of seminary with a heart that says, “Here am I, send me.” In the midst of the...
Working Hard
Working Hard Pastors must prioritize family over the ministry. Period. End of story. If you’ve been around church for any length of time, you’ve probably heard the same stories repeated countless times. Some pastors fail to take care of their family because they’re...
Copying Other Churches
Copying Other Churches One of the greatest temptations a pastor faces is the temptation to copy another church. From the mouth of the pastor, this temptation comes out with these words, “At my last church, we used to do …” Don’t be the guy who always talks about how...
Dear Seminary Dad- Shepherd, Your Family
Dear Seminary Dad, If you’re reading this letter, it’s because you’ve taken steps in obedience to God’s call on your life to shepherd His people. You are aware of the many things you don’t know and are humbly seeking knowledge to step into your calling. If you are a...
Portrait of a Minister Approved by Christ
1 Timothy 4:6-16, “If you put these things before the brothers, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, being trained in the words of the faith and of the good doctrine that you have followed. 7 Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train...
Dear Seminarian Join a Local Church
Dear Seminarian, I am writing to you to congratulate you and encourage you on your next great adventure in life. Seminary is a blessing from God to take part in. It is something only a select few ever get to endure and appreciate. In seminary, you will hone your...
The Distraction of Seminary
Seminary in many ways can distract the Christian from his daily need to meet with God. It is easy to get sucked into studying about God, getting our theology right, and neglecting our time with God. Many authors and bloggers have written about such a subject. But what...