The Joy of Glory

Discovering endless joy in the boundless glory of God…

Category: Seminary

August 20, 2013

Letter #15: Don’t Debate…Dialogue

Dear Jonathan,

I understand your frustrations with Bradley. From the way you described the conversation I believe I would have been frustrated too. Sometimes there is a point that just seems so obvious to you and you want for others to see it as well, but they seem blind or close-minded.

For what it’s worth…I agree with what you were saying. However, I do think you are missing the central issue of your conversation, namely, that it wasn’t a conversation. We both know that you were in debate mode, trying to prove your point and win the argument…you were not listening at all to what Bradley had to say.

Now, debate is not always a bad thing, but I wasted so much of my time in seminary arguing with others in such a way that only led to frustration and griping…not to fruitful growth. Jonathan, I would encourage you…

debateDon’t debate…dialogue.

You are surrounded by so many people who think differently than you…take advantage of that! When talking through issues such as baptism, the Lord’s supper, ecclesiology, justification, homosexuality, creation care…or even the “big” one…Calvinism and Arminianism, honestly listen to people with the intention of learning from them!

I’m not telling you to change or let go of your convictions, but to change your conversational restrictions. Be open to discussing things. This will stretch you and bring true growth.

I was so blessed, in the latter portion of my seminary career, to deepen my convictions while also widening my appreciation for people who don’t share them. I wish that had been my approach to conversations from the beginning.

When you enter into dialogue, state your thoughts clearly and concisely…then listen, take in what is being said, and don’t formulate your rebuttal while they’re talking. Wait until they finish, process what they said, and then respond in love. In this way, you not only set the tone for the conversation, but will actually get to a deeper place as your inviting disposition will likely lead the other person to open up and say things they might have otherwise held back.

Extend grace to your interlocutors and you might be surprised what gracious things the Lord will teach you through them. These are just some of the great gifts you receive when you…

Don’t debate…dialogue.

Grace and Peace,

J

*To know/understand the premise behind these letters please click here.

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August 6, 2013

Letter #13: Exegesis ≠ An Exit for Jesus

Dear Jonathan,

So you’ve finally made it far enough along in your language studies that you are getting to do some exegesis! I’ll be honest…the third and fourth semesters of Greek were among my favorite seminary courses. I loved digging into all the nuances of the original text and seeing the grammatical connections that really made the meaning leap right off the page!

Yet, I did notice that my dedication to exegesis began to cause a problem that you might encounter as well. I began to allow my obsession with Greek grammar to invade my teaching within the church more and more…to the point that the sharing of information became my end goal.

TBS-Koine-Greek-New-Testament-004My exegesis actually became an exit for Jesus.

Now before you get all up in arms and start defending your beloved language studies…hear me out. What I mean is this…I became so overly focused on exegesis that my teaching turned into technical lectures aimed primarily at educating my people.

I was filling heads with all sorts of knowledge, but I was not calling hearts toward a “knowing.”

The primary purpose of preaching is not education (though important), but encounter! We long for the Spirit to work through the Word and for people to encounter, see Jesus in all his glory and be drawn to him! We don’t want people to just walk out of a service knowing more about Jesus…we want them to know Jesus more!

The difference between knowing about Jesus and knowing Jesus is rather simple. The former involves the head only, while the latter involves the head and heart. Knowing about Jesus is the gaining of mere facts. Knowing Jesus means my heart is stirred with a  desire for him, a love for him, trust in him.

The aim of preaching is for people to come know Jesus more and more so that they may be equipped to make him known!

Now, does this lessen the importance of exegesis? May it never be! On the contrary it increases the importance of it! I need to be pointing people as accurately as I can to the one true God through Jesus. To do this, I must carefully study the meaning of his Word. But, the end goal of my study is not to simply transfer that meaning to my hearers, but for that meaning to transform my hearers.

My exegesis should not serve as an exit for Jesus, but as an escort to him!

I’m not telling you to never talk about Greek grammar from the pulpit or never to share technical information. What I am saying is always make sure that information is not your end goal!  Your end goal is that everything you share stir up people’s hearts to want to know Jesus!

Jonathan, be a good exegete! We desperately need good exegetes teaching in our churches! But, do not ultimately be an exegete, but a worshipper! Worship the God you see and come to know as you study the text and when you teach the text…help others toward worship as well.

Don’t let your exegesis serve as an exit for Jesus, but as an escort to him!

Grace and Peace,

J

*To know/understand the premise behind these letters please click here.

 

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July 24, 2013

Letter #12: Pick Up the Books

Dear Jonathan,

I think I need to clarify my last letter a little. Don’t get me wrong…I meant every word that I wrote, but I do think it would be easy for someone to twist my words in order to justify being a slacker when it comes to their seminary studies. So…let me emphatically say…

AngelicaLibraryThere comes a time when you need to pick up the books.

Yes…your family is a higher priority than school. Yes…you should be willing to take a lower grade instead of sacrificing the health of your marriage or relationship with your children. However…you should not use any of those truths as excuses to be a slacker. No! They should serve as motivation to work on hard during the time you have allotted for study.

Seminarians are among the world’s worst procrastinators. Let’s be honest, I think there are very few people in the world that do not struggle with procrastination on some level. And, when you are in grad school/working a job/and have a family, it can be very easy to put off school work under the guise of integrity.

However, putting your family first does not mean you have to flunk.

In fact, flunking is failing you’re family because you are only extending the total amount of time it is going to take you to finish school! You need to study hard for the sake of your family!

Of course I believe you should set boundaries on the amount of time you give to your studies, but within those boundaries work with all your heart as unto the Lord! Being a slacker does not help your family in the end…it hurts them.

Study in such a way that you need to be ashamed.

Jonathan, finding the proper amount of time to give to school and to give to your family is one of the most difficult aspects of seminary. There is only so much time in a day. But, I guess what I’m trying to say is that it is not only important to divide the time up properly, but to work diligently within those divisions.

During family time…be fully present to your wife and kids. And, during study time, give yourself to the task of learning how to rightly divide the Word of truth. Such hard work is not ultimately for the health of your GPA, but for the health of your family and your future church.

Jonathan…there comes a time to pick up the books.

Grace and Peace,

J

*To know/understand the premise behind these letters please click here.

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