Bridging the Gap Between Seminary and the Local Church, pt. 2

Please read Bridging the Gap Between Seminary and the Local Church, pt. 1

While seminary is a great place to study and receive ministerial training, it is work in the local church that is the goal of ministry. In considering the question: How do we bridge the gap between the halls of the seminary and the pews of the local church, I continue to write several points of advice that I pray will be helpful as you make the switch.

4. Be a Mentor

Every ministerial student can look back on their life and recognize those who have been mentors, whether directly or indirectly. Many who I consider mentors are now in glory and offer advice through their books and numerous writings left behind. However, there is no replacement for those seasoned men who under-gird young ministers to teach, train, and instruct for their spiritual benefit. One does not need to mention the mentor relationship between Paul and Timothy or the example Paul sets for all future mentors.

When you leave seminary and begin the task of ministry, remember to mentor. The greatest thing you can do while in ministry is to invest your life in someone else. What benefit are you if you do not teach and train others? Speaking from personal experience, it would have been a great encouragement and joy for a pastor to come along side me for instructing purposes. However, I did not experience that great privilege but was left much on my own in regard to ministry and preaching. This is a mistake I have vowed not to repeat in my own life. I implore you to pour your life into the life of a young minister for the advancement of the Kingdom of Christ.

(To read more on mentoring please click here)

5. Don’t Be Jealous

Believe it or not the sin of jealousy is prevalent in ministry circles. Who can preach better? Who had the most baptisms last year? Who is apart of the inner circles of the SBC? On and on the list could go of vices that pastors are hung up on. It is easy to get jealous of the church down the road or the church up town when your small pastorate consists of only 60 or 70 people. Their budget is one million dollars while yours is only fifty thousand. Perhaps you have had a difficult time finding a place of service after seminary graduation or perhaps a place of service while in seminary. Don’t be jealous of those who have proceeded in their ministerial career. Don’t be jealous of the preacher down the road.

You will be transparent before your people in what you say and what you do. Your transparency in the pulpit may display a level of jealousy that will be unhealthy and damaging to your church.

6. Don’t Look for the Next Best Thing

As already stated it is easy to get the “big head” in seminary and think we have arrived at some special place spiritually to which others are not privy. It is easy to settle into a small congregation when you leave seminary only allowing it to be a spring board for the next best thing. You may think because you have an M.Div., Ph.D. or an D.Min. you are entitled to a large congregation, radio program, and fifty staff members. If God providentially allows you to serve in a small or large congregation – BE SATISFIED! Don’t constantly be looking for the better opportunity to come around the corner with more people and more money and more prestige. If you are constantly looking of something better the people in your present congregation will not feel good enough for you.

Bridge the Gap Between Seminary and the Local Church by:
1. The “High-Horse” Syndrome
2. Be Teachable
3. Be Willing to do what you ask of Others
4. Be a Mentor
5. Don’t Be Jealous
6. Don’t Look for the Next Best Thing

Filed under: Ministry, Pastors, The Church