• Welcome to Baptist Board, a friendly forum to discuss the Baptist Faith in a friendly surrounding.

    Your voice is missing! You will need to register to get access to all the features that our community has to offer.

    We hope to see you as a part of our community soon and God Bless!

The calling

SolaSaint

SolaSaint

Well-Known Member
I'm about to finish my Masters in Biblical Studies, and I have a question for those who have been called into a teaching or preaching ministry. I'm certain God has called me to study in apologetics and biblical studies, and I keep getting that nudging from the Holy Spirit to keep studying. It's almost like God is saying, "not yet". Has anyone else experienced this from God? I'm assuming He is preparing me for a ministry.
 
Rhetorician

Rhetorician

Administrator
Administrator
Why here in the portion of the BB?

SolaSaint said:
I'm about to finish my Masters in Biblical Studies, and I have a question for those who have been called into a teaching or preaching ministry. I'm certain God has called me to study in apologetics and biblical studies, and I keep getting that nudging from the Holy Spirit to keep studying. It's almost like God is saying, "not yet". Has anyone else experienced this from God? I'm assuming He is preparing me for a ministry.
Click to expand...

Sola Saint,

I am happy for your Reformation understanding as stated in your signature. I was wondering and must ask, why did you bring this question to this part of the BB? Why not a "ministry section?"

Can you help me out here? I am a bit confused? Are you looking at doing more apologetic training to teach or some such? Do you need help and direction about getting the education?

More data is needed to help some of us answer the question posed by you? :wavey:

"That is all!"
 
SolaSaint

SolaSaint

Well-Known Member
Rhetorician said:
Sola Saint,

I am happy for your Reformation understanding as stated in your signature. I was wondering and must ask, why did you bring this question to this part of the BB? Why not a "ministry section?"

Can you help me out here? I am a bit confused? Are you looking at doing more apologetic training to teach or some such? Do you need help and direction about getting the education?

More data is needed to help some of us answer the question posed by you? :wavey:

"That is all!"
Click to expand...

Thanks for the reply. I posted this here due to being in the education area. We can move it to a ministry section if you want.

I feel I'm called to teach, and have been teaching in some capacity for several years. But I was inspired to gain this degree about 4-5 years ago and I'm about to finish. I keep asking God to reveal where He wants me to go with what I've learned and I keep getting the same conviction from he Holy Spirit to keep studying scripture. I guess I'm not where I need to be as far as knowledge of scripture or the required maturity level for God to use me as He has called me. I don't feel He called me into this school to just continue teaching SS classes, I feel there is something else He wants me to do, but I don't get a clear answer as what that may be. I was just wondering if anyone else was called to study without knowing where it will lead? Thanks and Merry Christmas.
 
Rhetorician

Rhetorician

Administrator
Administrator
SolaSaint Response #2

SolaSaint said:
Thanks for the reply. I posted this here due to being in the education area. We can move it to a ministry section if you want.

I feel I'm called to teach, and have been teaching in some capacity for several years. But I was inspired to gain this degree about 4-5 years ago and I'm about to finish. I keep asking God to reveal where He wants me to go with what I've learned and I keep getting the same conviction from he Holy Spirit to keep studying scripture. I guess I'm not where I need to be as far as knowledge of scripture or the required maturity level for God to use me as He has called me. I don't feel He called me into this school to just continue teaching SS classes, I feel there is something else He wants me to do, but I don't get a clear answer as what that may be. I was just wondering if anyone else was called to study without knowing where it will lead? Thanks and Merry Christmas.
Click to expand...

Dear Brother,

Thank you for your openness. I was wondering if there was any inkling within you to want to teach Bible/Theology/or some such on the college or seminary level? If so, then you have truly have chosen a field that has a "glut" of people who are well qualified to fill all of the positions that are out there.

You are unique in your personal situation, but if you want (or desire) to teach, then you are 1 of 1000. I do not say this in any way to discourage you just to let you know the reality of what you may be up against. This is especially true if you are going on to do grad level work say a PhD or a ThD.

May I tell you what you may want to do to set yourself apart from the crowd:

1. Study with someone renown in his field.
2. Study at a "big name" university.
3. Study a topic that has never been done before; or,
4. Do all of the above in any combination.
5. Do not rule out "big name" secular institutions or scholars in the mix either.
6. Do something to set yourself apart. I did grad work in rhetoric and communication as well as religion which let me teach in two areas of expertise.

And this can all be done and then you may still not be able to find a job teaching in the academe.

This is all said with the idea that you "want to teach" outside of the church. I am sharing with you 35 years of knocks and bruises learning what I have written above.

Let's keep the conversation going!

"That is all!" :smilewinkgrin:
 
Tom Bryant

Tom Bryant

Well-Known Member
I had a friend who chen I was at the same crossroads told me the only thing I needed to do was increase the depth of my understanding of Scripture and let God "worry" about where I ministered.

Just keep following Him step by step!
 
Rhetorician

Rhetorician

Administrator
Administrator
Tom Bryant Response

Tom Bryant said:
I had a friend who chen I was at the same crossroads told me the only thing I needed to do was increase the depth of my understanding of Scripture and let God "worry" about where I ministered.

Just keep following Him step by step!
Click to expand...

Tom,

Thanks for the positive word. I am certainly not trying to discourage the younger brother, only trying to tell him of the pitfalls and realities of the job market--if he is going to go in that direction.

Thanks for the insight.

"That is all!" :smilewinkgrin:
 
SolaSaint

SolaSaint

Well-Known Member
Guy's,

Thanks for the encouraging word. I really don't feel called to teach outside of the church, but I won't count it out, for God is in charge. I'm actually near retiring from my job (4 years) so I hoping God has something in a teaching role for me then or sooner if called. I like the ministries like Worldview weekend by Brannon House and Frank Turek's CrossExamined. Maybe God is giving me the desire to join a ministry as one of these or to start one in a local way.

Merry Christmas and please pray for my will to match His.
 
E

exscentric

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
Sounding more like some Bible training might be up your line if you feel you want to minister within the church. Some possibilities - you have probably covered them but just in case.

Missionary (lots of the missions need Bible college/institute teachers) as well as secondary ed for that matter.

Several Bible institutes around that poorly pay but need workers.

Many large churches have undersheperds that kind of have a congregation of their own within the larger church.

Christian schools use Bible teachers.

Not to side track from what others have said. Just keep walkin and see where He leads.

I've been doing it for over forty years and the twists and turns have been many, ending where I would never have figured - and I don't know that it is really ended yet.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top