Advice to a young seminarian - 3 June 2010 |
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A friend who’s soon to start at seminary asked me for some advice. Here, without the slightest pretence of either originality or profundity, are a few of the thoughts I scribbled down:
Read the Bible. Lots. Bread down the silly, artificial divide between “academic reading” of the Bible and “devotional reading” of the Bible. Remember how little you know. Remember that Christian ministry is about people, not just preaching. Talk to little Christian children, and listen to old Christian ladies. Read Helmut Thielicke’s A Little Exercise for Young Theologians, James Jordan Through New Eyes, Peter Leithart’s A House for My Name and Calvin’s Institutes. While you’re at it, read all of these books too. And read lots of really old books (from the Reformation and Patristic eras). Don’t get caught up in faddish nonsense in worship. Pray through a Psalm every day, and teach them to your children (that way you’ll learn them yourself). Remember that even unbelievers have something to teach us sometimes. Find someone to teach you how to pray. Don’t church-hop. Remember that your wife needs to thrive, not just survive. Remember that the Lord lifts up the humble, and that you (like all of us) have a lot to be humble about.
Posted by Steve Jeffery · Topics: Godliness, Minister's Blog