Well for those of you keeping track at home, today and tomorrow will be my last days of sitting in a seminary classroom for a lecture, at the Master’s level. These next two days I hope to spend some time during class thinking back on all the classes I have had. There have been many that reoccur in the context of ministry weekly, others I’m sure will provide some guidance occasionally, but unfortunately there have been those which I will never consider again (unless I can buy the book back on amazon). If you could attend one semester of seminary at SEBTS here is the schedule I would recommend:
1.) Foundations of Marriage and Family – Dr. Mark Liederbach - He teaches other classes in the ethics department, but unfortunately this was the only one I was able to fit into my schedule. Each class challenged me. Each class I couldn’t believe that an 85 minutes could go by so fast.
2.) Introduction to Biblical Counseling – Dr. Jones - His test are rough and the bulk of his reading was a bit crazy, but every book he ever assigned I have used in ministry. This was the class that made me begin to think about a Biblical Counseling degree, Instrument in the Redeemer’s Hands was the book.
3.) Expository Preaching -Dr. Rummage - Unfortunately, if you want to take this class you will have to commute to Charlotte. Dr. Rummage is now the teaching pastor at Hickory Grove Baptist Church and teaches only at the Charlotte extension, but he is worth the trip. He made the move after Expository Preaching I and a number of students carpooled to Charlotte for Expository Preaching II. Of course that was before 3.75 gas prices, but the point remains the same, this guy is a gifted teacher.
4.) Theology – Dr. Nelson - I had two good theology teachers in Dr. Nelson and Dr. Hammett, because there are two course not because I flunked, mom. Dr. Nelson’s style just fit me better, although it could have been that I just responded better to 85 minutes once week, opposed to 180 minutes twice a week. These courses lay your foundation and is one of those courses that I look to weekly.
5.) Philosophy -Dr. Little - Ever since the first day when he called on me to answer a question I didn’t understand I fell in love with Philosophy. Dr. Little is a gifted communicator and defender of the Gospel. If you ever have a chance to hear him in a debate or lecture take it. He spends his breaks traveling the globe lecturing at various Colleges on numerous issues as a platform for the Gospel.
Well I never took more than twelve hours in a semester so I will stop there, but I wasn’t able to mention: Dr. David Jones-Ethics, Dr. Galeotti-Old Testament, and Dr. Williams-Counseling Practicum.
Some of you might recognize that I haven’t mentioned any NT, Church History, or Evangelism courses. I had each of those and enjoyed them but I only mentioned a few. There are a number of courses that I didn’t not mention, but are important for ministry, my omitting them was not neglecting their importance.
I realized that I haven’t posted a quote yet, so how about we just wait for tomorrow.
I hope you all had a good Mother’s day, especially you Mom, I love you.
Matt
