Lessons They COULDN’T Teach You in Seminary
(EDITOR’S NOTE: During Journey Pastoral Coaching’s 2022 summer break, we’re reposting this article from 2017, a look at five lessons your professors in Bible College or seminary couldn’t teach you – and through no fault of theirs: these are lessons learned only in the trenches of pastoring God’s people. We’ll soon follow up this article with a continuation of the list).
I was privileged to formally study for the ministry in two schools: a Bible College and a seminary. Both of these schools gave me a quality education for life in ministry, specifically, pastoral ministry. Given the opportunity to go back and attend or not attend each one, I most certainly would choose to do so (Especially the Bible College because that’s where I pursued a double major: pastoral studies and pursuing the young lady who would become my wife!)
But even though schools like these offer a quality education, there are some things they can’t teach pastors. These things must be learned after the formal education is over, learned in the classrooms of church and world, learned from unexpected teachers – the people God has called you to pastor.
I’ve been privileged to pastor some wonderful “schools” and I’ve pastored a “less than wonderful” school. I’ve had a few not-so-good “teachers,” but for the most part, I’ve had a lot of great teachers. A lot.
This is not to say I always learned the most from the best teachers. Sometimes, God used the worst teachers to teach me the best lessons. Case in point: Teacher “Adam.”
Adam did not like me, nor respect me. No, this was not my perception, this is what Adam told me. Verbally. In writing. In those words. And often. Every Monday I received five and six page emails from Adam in which he criticized my Sunday – my sermon, my service direction, my attitude, my ______.
Adam left a lot to be desired as a teacher.
But God taught me a lot through Adam, lessons I could not have learned anywhere else or in any other way.
Thank God my good teachers have outnumbered the Adams in my life 1000 to 1. Thank God for every single one of those good teachers. But thank God as well for the lessons learned from the Teacher Adams of my life.
So it is, with all of my “schools” and “teachers” in mind, that I offer these pastoral lessons learned not in Bible College or seminary, but in church with the help of those whom I have pastored. I offer these lessons with sincerest gratitude to God and to those who have taught me.
1. Pastoring is Not Technique: It is Trust
Social media can be a great personal and ministry blessing : I’ve learned much about pastoring and leadership through blogs and podcasts I’ve found on the internet.
However, I have noted that some ministry “experts” on social media reduce ministry in general, and pastoring in particular, to techniques: the “Five Ways to Ministry Success” approach. I once began a list of of all the “Five Ways,” “Seven Keys,” “12 Techniques,” etc. I found but had to quit when the list of techniques stretched past 200 – who can remember them all much less know when to use them?
Also troubling were the lists that contradicted each other and the techniques that contradicted the teaching of the Bible.
The essence of pastoring is not in techniques; it is in trust.
It is first in the trust that the Good Shepherd has given us to pastor His people in His stead, knowing that as His undershepherds we will one day stand before Him and given an account of our pastoring – not the techniques, but the trust.
And that means relationship.
Pastoring is first a living relationship with the Great Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ, and then with the people He has entrusted to us – to call them by name, provide for them spiritually by leading them to still waters and green pastures, protect them from wolves and hirelings, to lay down ourlife for the sheep.
Laying our lives before the Great Good Shepherd who calls us, and laying down our lives for those whom He has entrusted to us for is not a technique: It is a trust. It is a trust built on a real and living relationship with Jesus and with those whom He has entrusted to our spiritual care.
2. The “Pastor for Life” Principle.
When my wife and I assumed the pastorate of a church that would eventually become our “home church,” our dream-come-true church, we were received and blessed by a wonderful family of believers. The early days were challenging due to the financial mountains we had to deal with for the first few months, but God used those stresses to bring our church closer together, to serve and sacrifice together for Him. The financial times were tough, but the community time was wonderful.
There was one lady in the church who did present me with a test, as all good teachers do. Don’t get me wrong: then and now we loved her dearly and thanked God for her, and we knew she felt exactly the same about us, but often in conversations she would reference one of my predecessors, saying “Pastor X, this and Pastor X, that.” In my insecurity, her obvious love for this pastor, and his invisible presence in our church, were a bit challenging for me at first.
Until God graciously helped me understand, and in doing so, gave me a wonderful gift.
God showed me that He had used my predecessor to minister to this dear lady in a way no other pastor had or would ever do again – he was there for her and her family at an important and formative time in their life. Because of his godly pastoring in this woman’s life, he was rightly given by the Good Shepherd, the blessing of her love and honor as her “Pastor for Life.” Yes, I was her pastor now and she loved me dearly, but this man would always be her cherished “Pastor for Life.”
And it’s not just “ok.” It’s wonderful.
Why? At least two reasons. First, this was best for her. If I cared for her and her well being, this then was best for me as her pastor. Second, God showed me if I would let her have her “Pastor for Life,” God would graciously give me similar precious people who would give me the same place in their hearts and lives as “Pastor for Life.”
The years have certainly proven this to be true.
I am so thankful for this teacher in my life and the precious lesson she taught me. What a wonderful friend she was to us, always joyful, loving, and ready to serve. God used her in such special ways to minister to our family and the entire church – “God, give every church 100 of her!” God used her to give me the gift I call the second greatest reward in pastoring: the love of His people.
How precious to me to be held in the hearts of wonderful people like these. How wonderful to hold in our hearts the gift of their love and the honor as their “Pastor for Life.”
3. There Are People in The Pew Who Can Do Ministry Better Than You Can
I remember sitting in the front pew one Sunday as one of my parishioners brought the sermon of the day. As I usually do, my Bible was out on one knee while I energetically cross-referenced and took notes as he preached. And then it hit me: this guy preaches better than I do!
Granted, he was a community leader, a professional communicator, and yes, he probably couldn’t preach at this level week in and week out as pastors have to, but there was no denying that his sermon was rich in content and it was delivered with a passion that made me not only want to hear more, but to respond to to Jesus with all of my heart.
I remember sitting back, closing my eyes and smiling with satisfaction and joy: this non-pastor was a better communicator than I was. And wasn’t it wonderful!
How liberating it was to be set free from the notion that I had to be “the best” preacher in the house. How liberating it was to be set free from what the Apostle Paul called the foolishness of comparing myself not only to colleagues, but to the people God had called me to pastor.
Pastor, the same can be true of other ministries we clutch to our insecure hearts as we whisper through clenched teeth, “Mine, mine, mine” – areas like church finances, counseling, planning, team-building, administration, and, dare I say it, even leading itself.
But let me invite you to not see others’ giftings as threats to you or to your leadership. Instead, see them as God’s gifts to the church. That’s what God says! (Rom. 12; I Cor. 12)
Even more, receive these gifted individuals as gifts to you as the pastor of your church. That’s what God invites you to do! (Rom. 12; I Cor. 12).
As you receive and release these individuals in their giftings, not only will your church be stronger for it (Eph. 4.13-16), but you will best fulfill your calling as pastor (Ephesians 4.11-16) and you will find a joy you never knew as pastor, as their pastor.
I am so thankful for this teacher in my life. He was a wonderful teacher to me. And to answer your question, yes, I did thank him for teaching me this lesson and for the gift that he was to the church and to me. In genuine surprise, even shock, he would not agree with my assessment. But with tears in his eyes and his arms around my neck, he accepted my thanks and received my blessing, telling me how precious it was to him that I, his pastor, would feel this way about him and that I would tell him so.
I think they call it a “win-win.”
Pastor, there are people in the pew who can do one ministry or another better than you can do it. And it’s a good thing. A very good thing.
4. There are People In The Pew Who Are More Like Jesus Than You Are.
She missed church that Sunday. This was strange because she never missed church. Never. Even in her 80s, she was the most faithful of church members. But she had missed church Sunday. A phone call on Monday let me know that she had not felt well enough to be in church, but not to worry, all was well.
But one week became one month and then two, and then it became apparent that this precious saint would not be in church again: she had turned her heart toward heaven and nothing would stop her.
For over five years I had been privileged to serve as her pastor. I had arrived at the church as a young, energetic 30-year old and, though she was more than double my age, she had immediately and graciously given me full honor and trust as her pastor. I’ve been blessed to be called “Pastor” by many truly wonderful people over the years, but this lady was unique among them.
She had never married, but instead, like Anna in the story of Jesus, she had devoted her life to worship and intercession, praying for friends, family, her church. And for her pastor. She was a true “handmaiden of the Lord.” I will always remember her fervent faith, steadfast faithfulness, beautiful holiness, love for others, humility, and great compassion. For over five years I admired her walk with Christ and her example of Christ. For over five years I thanked God for bringing her into my life.
I remember our final time together. It was in her home. I sat at her bedside, the two of us doing what we had done many times before, simply sharing and rejoicing in the goodness of God. In a moment of stillness, she took my hands in hers, looked deeply into my eyes, and said, “Now, Alan, I need to share some things with you.”
She had never called me “Alan” before. Not once. I had always been “Pastor,” but this day in our final meeting this side of heaven, she literally took me in hand, called me by the name my parents had given me at birth, and gently, but firmly spoke into my life. When she had finished giving me her counsel, she laid her hands on my head and she prayed over me, invoking the blessing of God. When she finished, I embraced her through my tears and thanked her for her love and ministry to me and my family. I told her I would see her again soon, and she smiled, though we both knew better. I left the presence of this spiritual giant and returned to “the real world” while she, her earthly duties complete, she made her final turn toward home.
How precious was this time to me. It was as if I were receiving the blessing of Jacob on my life and ministry, along with a strong challenge to walk worthy of the God who had called me. It was a moment like few others I have known.
In our final meeting, she had finally assumed her rightful place in our relationship – my elder, teacher, and counselor. For five years I had been the pastor-teacher. For five years, she had faithfully prayed for me and received my ministry. But this day, the veil of earthly things was pulled away and we each sat in our true places before the Lord – in spiritual maturity and holiness, she the teacher, and I the student.
I thank God for this teacher. She will always be one of my favorites. I know I was not the pastor she deserved. I know she watched my sincere but imperfect efforts, and, with confidence in God and me, she daily prayed for me. And in my growing pains, I know she rejoiced over me. She prayed God would be patient with me as He taught me, trained me, raised me and equipped me to be His faithful servant. And all along the way, she stood behind me, encouraging me to believe God and trust His faithful guidance in my life and ministry.
Pastor, there are people in your pew who are more like Jesus than you are. And it’s a precious thing. A precious thing indeed.
5. The Call of God Is First to the Secret Place
Let’s call her Abbey. Every Sunday and Wednesday she and her children were in church. Every Sunday and Wednesday. Abbey’s husband would not come to worship, but still, she was there. I know that getting all of her children fed and ready for church was more than tiring for her, but still, she was there.
And not just in the service, but present: worshipping, serving, encouraging, digging into God’s Word, praying, seeking God. Abbey was there.
Money was tight in her household. Her husband didn’t make a lot and what he did make, she wasn’t sure where it all went. She wasn’t even sure where he was half the time. But no matter, Abbey knew what she had to do: she worked her 40 hours every week, she cooked, she cleaned, she sacrificed, she took care of her children, she taught them the ways of Jesus, and what’s more, she modeled those ways.
I’ve always said that if I were ever seriously ill and needed prayer, Abbey would be the one person I’d want to pray for me. Her faith and faithfulness were just that moving.
Every Monday as I began preparations for the sermon on Sunday, I would think of this faithful follower of Jesus. Abbey and her family, her needs, her burdens, and yes, her joys, drove me into my prayer closet where I would give myself to seeking God. Seeking God to meet her needs. Seeking God to give me a living Word for her that Sunday. Seeking God to help us be the church she needed us to be. Seeking God to make me the pastor Abbey needed in her life.
This, of course, produced in me a serious pursuit of God through His Word: “God, give me understanding; God, give me wisdom; God, give me compassion; God, give me all of You that can I can hold – for Your glory, for my sake, for the sake of your church, for the sake of all of my people, and for the sake of Abbey,” I prayed.
Passionately, fervently, carefully, daily, humbly, I met with God, seeking God in His Word and in prayer.
Every pastor has a responsibility to God and to God’s people to devote himself to prayer and the study of God’s Word.
I had heard about this truth when I was in Bible College and in Seminary. But it took a teacher like Abbey to bring this truth home to my heart. I thank God for this lesson and for this teacher. Because of her and her faithful example of Jesus, my life and ministry have never been the same.
CONCLUSION
I was blessed to formally study for the ministry in two quality schools.
In similar manner, I was even more blessed to serve as Campus Pastor and member of the faculty at the finest school I have ever known. Its mission to train ministers and missionaries for service around the world was not only engraved in stone at the entrance to the campus, it was engraved in the hearts of the administration, faculty, staff, and students. The combination of academic excellence and the passionate pursuit of God were blended together in the DNA of the school – every chapel service, every class, every faculty meeting, every staff meeting, etc, etc. etc. I have never before been a part of a ministry like it, and, to be frank, I will probably never again be a part of a ministry like it.
But even with all that this school did for so many over its ninety-year life span, there are just some lessons this wonderful school and all of its incredible professors could not teach.
These lessons waited to be learned in the classrooms of doing ministry in the church and world. These lessons walked in the lives of the teachers in those classrooms – every day people.
Possibly the greatest basketball coach of all time, John Wooden, said, “It’s what you learn after you know it all that counts.”
And that is certainly true in the school of life and ministry.
With this in mind, I want to say two very important “thank yous.”
First, my deepest thanks to all of my professors in Bible College and in seminary – you taught me so much in God’s Word, practical theology, church administration, philosophy, critical thinking, team building, spiritual life, etc, etc. I thank you for preparing me well for a life in vocational ministry, a life of learning from my next teachers: those whom I have pastored in the church and met in the world.
It is to this second group of teachers that I pay special tribute and say, “thank you.” Thank you for teaching me what my schools could not teach me: how truth not only talks, but walks in the real world.
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