{"id":32198,"date":"2022-09-10T16:00:17","date_gmt":"2022-09-10T21:00:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/why-an-m-div-helped-me-become-a-better-pastor\/"},"modified":"2022-09-10T16:00:17","modified_gmt":"2022-09-10T21:00:17","slug":"why-an-m-div-helped-me-become-a-better-pastor","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/why-an-m-div-helped-me-become-a-better-pastor\/","title":{"rendered":"Why an M.Div. Helped Me Become a Better Pastor"},"content":{"rendered":"
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By Matt Henslee<\/em><\/p>\n

My journey into the ministry came at age 16 when I helped start a contemporary worship service at another church near my home church in Grand Prairie, Texas. For a variety of reasons, it was an eye-opening experience.<\/p>\n

At 18, I moved out and began pursuing my Bachelor of Arts at Dallas Baptist University while serving as the pastor of students and worship at a church plant that met in a funeral home.<\/p>\n

I lost count of how many times I heard, \u201cPeople are just dying to come to church!\u201d<\/p>\n

At 20, I was midway through getting my bachelor\u2019s degree and serving at an established church in my hometown when I met a young lady who\u2019d soon become my wife. While I\u2019d gone to a Christian college, I was still largely unprepared for the challenges that would follow.<\/p>\n

By 22, I\u2019d graduated, gotten married, and was in between churches in towns where there were far more cows than people. One church had a mostly absent pastor, and the other had a pastor whose illness required I take on a largely interim pastor role.<\/p>\n

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I Was Treading Water.<\/strong><\/h3>\n

I faced counseling sessions well above my pay grade, church conflicts threatening to split the congregation, and struggled to know how to preach longer than five minutes or so. (Though, to be sure, I don\u2019t think any members complained about the last one.)<\/p>\n

In a sense, I had no idea what I was doing. Each day, I just kinda \u201cwinged it\u201d and went with the flow. I had to trust God to work perhaps more in spite of me than through me.<\/p>\n

So I enrolled in Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary\u2019s extension campus program in the hopes it\u2019d give me some practical help in navigating day-to-day ministry.<\/p>\n

It did.<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Each day, it seemed I could put something I learned in class immediately into practice. I ended up managing to get through two semesters before the Lord called me away from the great republic of Texas to God\u2019s country in Arkansas to be a student pastor.<\/p>\n

I thought I\u2019d taken my last seminary courses and was able to convince myself that was okay.<\/p>\n

\u201cI had a ministry degree,\u201d after all, and simply believed I was done and could on without further education. However, the degree I had hardly prepared me for the day-to-day grind of ministry.<\/p>\n

That church put me through the wringer, to be sure. The pastor was rarely around, I got chewed out for not being willing to take a young lady around town without my wife or another staff member, and we faced threats for aiming to racially integrate our youth group. For real, you read that right.<\/p>\n

It was tough, but it was about to get tougher.<\/strong><\/h3>\n

I accepted an opportunity, somewhat against my will, to return to bi-vocational ministry. I taught adults with special needs at a non-profit and became the worship pastor at a church about an hour away.<\/p>\n

It was one of the most wonderful seasons of ministry, until the following spring. A tornado swept through the town and wiped out most of our church\u2019s education buildings and sanctuary. We were a fairly large established church that suddenly had no place to meet on Sundays.<\/p>\n

It was the best of times; it was the worst of times.<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Fast-forwarding a bit, I found myself in my office as a full-time student and education pastor. A member stopped by the office with an offer I was reluctant to accept.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou have Southwestern in your backyard,\u201d she said. \u201cCriswell is in your front yard. If you pick one, I\u2019ll pay for the first two classes.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut, but, but,\u201d I thought, \u201cI have a degree and don\u2019t have time for that. I\u2019ve learned more in these churches than some professor could ever teach me. Plus, we\u2019re about to be parents, and…\u201d<\/p>\n

All of these excuses spun through my prideful head like the tornado that swept through our previous church.<\/p>\n

I registered.<\/strong><\/h3>\n

\u201cWhat harm could two free classes do,\u201d I thought? A course in student ministry? A class in evangelism? That\u2019s all I\u2019d need for a while. I\u2019d be golden. But then I made it onto campus.<\/p>\n

There were conversations in the cafeteria with professors. I was connecting with fellow ministers from all types of contexts. I enjoyed deep-dive discussions on some of the most practical facets (in this case) of student ministry and sharing the gospel.<\/p>\n

I was hooked.<\/em><\/p>\n

And I did two things as that semester continued: I kicked myself several times for not doing this sooner and registered for my next semester.<\/p>\n

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See also  The Power of the Ordinary Moments<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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And Finally<\/strong><\/h3>\n

After completing the last few classes of a 90-something hour degree of a wide range of topics that were all immediately practical, adopting four daughters, and accepting the call to pastor a fantastic church in New Mexico, I walked across the stage as an M.Div. graduate of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.<\/p>\n

I might\u2019ve been older than most of my fellow Master\u2019s graduates, but I sure was grateful. My only regret was quitting in the first place.<\/p>\n

Would finishing my degree earlier have kept me from dealing with some of the ups and downs I shared previously? Of course not. But it would\u2019ve helped me navigate them more faithfully.<\/p>\n

Not only that, it would\u2019ve given me far more people \u201cin my corner\u201d than I ever had.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s the gold standard\u201d<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Sure, when someone says that about an M.Div., the defense mechanisms immediately turn on for some, but please know what I\u2019m<\/em> not saying.<\/p>\n

I\u2019m not saying you have to have an M.Div. to be a faithful or qualified pastor. Maybe you\u2019ve been mentored by a seasoned pastor and been given the chances to hone your skills in the pulpit and the hospital room. Maybe you have a solid Bible degree and masters that have been immensely helpful in your ministry.<\/p>\n

But, I\u2019m willing to assert there are good reasons to pursue an advanced degree like the M.Div. for practical pastoral training and future ministry opportunities.<\/p>\n

Is money tight? Many seminaries offer payment plans and financial aid. Are you too far from a seminary? No worries, many offer excellent online programs.<\/p>\n

Full-time at your church and a ton of young kids in the home? Been there, done that\u2014just take your time. Commit to a class or two a semester and chip away at the degree, bit by bit.<\/p>\n

Tools for your toolbox<\/strong><\/h3>\n