Category: Academics
The M.Div/MBA – an idea whose time has come
In a seminar today I was told about a recent missiology dissertation, focusing on business as mission. That is, not business as a platform for mission, but business itself as mission. The idea is that in the context of a country closed to the gospel, the business missionary goes in not under the pretense of [...]
Category: Academics
Why People Aren’t Going to Seminary
James White offers good reflections on why seminary training is increasingly shunned by those going into ministry. On first read, it seems to me that his perspective, and that of those avoiding seminary is (1) essentially pragmatic, and maybe too pragmatic; and (2) true of some seminaries, surely, but definitely not all. Read and see [...]
Tips for Better Writing
Seminary students have a LOT of writing to do. This article has some great counsel on honing your ability to write. One excerpt: 4. Give yourself time. Many smart people tell themselves pathetic lies like, “I do my best work at the last minute.” Look: It’s not true. No one works better under pressure. Sure, [...]
Category: Academics
Don’t Be Lazy
In the face of all the multiple demands at seminary, the temptation to laziness can be acute. I’ve spoken with a number of students who succumb to laziness, to their own hurt. They have much to get done, but cannot get themselves to do it. Often laziness will show up as procrastination; or choosing to [...]
Category: Academics, Spiritual life
Stumbling at Seminary: Cheating
(From the archives. ) In an interview with the dean of students at a leading evangelical seminary, I asked about the most common reasons people did not complete seminary. One of his answers was a shock to me: students get caught cheating. Seminary students have ample opportunity to cheat. You can plagiarize—representing the academic work [...]
Seminary Syllabus Strategy #4: A Study Plan for Each Major Exam
Similar to creating a writing plan for papers, you should block out dedicated study time for major exams. If you do this now, at the beginning of the semester (and stick to your schedule), then you won’t be pinched to find time to study. It’s pretty simple: Reserve study blocks beginning about a week before [...]
Category: Academics, Featured, Time Management
Seminary Syllabus Strategy #3: A Writing Plan for Every Major Paper
Seminary will give you plenty of practice writing papers. By the time I graduated with my M.Div, I could easily write ten pages about nothing. (Some would allege that my sermons are exactly that…but I digress.) Writing papers on the scale that seminary requires can be daunting if you haven’t done it before. Ten page [...]
Category: Academics, Time Management
Seminary Syllabus Strategy #2: Start Reading Now
Seminary involves a LOT of reading. At the beginning of the semester, you typically have more open time. Seize it! Use it to read ahead now, and then when the first wave of papers is due, you won’t be so rushed. There may be some classes you can read ahead in more easily. Look over [...]
Category: Academics, Time Management
Seminary Syllabus Strategy #1: Get It In Your Calendar
The first week of seminary is over, and looming ahead are due dates for reading, papers and tests. You know this because you should have a syllabus for each class, which contains all the assignments you’ll need to complete this semester and their due dates. This is awesome. It’s a time management bonanza. If you [...]
Category: Academics, Featured, Time Management
Stumbling at Seminary: Cheating
In an interview with the dean of students at a leading evangelical seminary, I asked about the most common reasons people did not complete seminary. One of his answers was a shock to me: students get caught cheating. Seminary students have ample opportunity to cheat. You can plagiarize-representing the academic work of others as your [...]
