Why Your Church Needs You to Study Theology

There are a lot of printed resources There are a lot of printed resources that can be utilized for either that can be utilized for either that can be utilized for either developing greater command of of the developing greater command of of the developing greater command of of the scriptures or for edifying you in scriptures or for edifying you in scriptures or for edifying you in certain doctrinal areas. certain doctrinal areas. certain doctrinal areas. >> Even over the last year, I have tried to >> Even over the last year, I have tried to >> Even over the last year, I have tried to do a deeper dive into the doctrine of do a deeper dive into the doctrine of do a deeper dive into the doctrine of union with Christ um into thinking about union with Christ um into thinking about union with Christ um into thinking about the Lord's supper um and the doctrine of the Lord's supper um and the doctrine of the Lord's supper um and the doctrine of the Trinity. Just making sure that I the Trinity. Just making sure that I the Trinity. Just making sure that I have my head around how Christians have have my head around how Christians have have my head around how Christians have thought about these things for 2,000 thought about these things for 2,000 thought about these things for 2,000 years. years. years. >> So good. >> So good. >> So good. >> And am not inadvertently >> And am not inadvertently >> And am not inadvertently uh either misleading my people in some uh either misleading my people in some uh either misleading my people in some of my language or robbing them of some of my language or robbing them of some of my language or robbing them of some of the the wonder and the joy that could of the the wonder and the joy that could of the the wonder and the joy that could be theirs if they have a better grasp on be theirs if they have a better grasp on be theirs if they have a better grasp on uh how doctrines are not so much a list uh how doctrines are not so much a list uh how doctrines are not so much a list as they are a web. And they are they are as they are a web. And they are they are as they are a web. And they are they are interconnected in this beautiful way interconnected in this beautiful way interconnected in this beautiful way such that if you you know poke one there such that if you you know poke one there such that if you you know poke one there going to be ripple effects elsewhere and going to be ripple effects elsewhere and going to be ripple effects elsewhere and I we want our people to view it that I we want our people to view it that I we want our people to view it that way.

way. way. >> Mhm. >> Mhm. >> Mhm. >> Now we want all pastors we we would >> Now we want all pastors we we would >> Now we want all pastors we we would encourage all pastors to be seeking to encourage all pastors to be seeking to encourage all pastors to be seeking to carve out this time to grow uh to to carve out this time to grow uh to to carve out this time to grow uh to to feed their minds to uh stay sharp. But feed their minds to uh stay sharp. But feed their minds to uh stay sharp. But also for some pastors it might be a wise also for some pastors it might be a wise also for some pastors it might be a wise thing to see if they can uh pursue thing to see if they can uh pursue thing to see if they can uh pursue another another degree. Um so as the uh another another degree. Um so as the uh another another degree. Um so as the uh chancellor of a seminary talk about the chancellor of a seminary talk about the chancellor of a seminary talk about the benefit for a pastor in the trenches of benefit for a pastor in the trenches of benefit for a pastor in the trenches of ministry considering some kind of ministry considering some kind of ministry considering some kind of further education. Well, I actually further education. Well, I actually further education. Well, I actually encourage encourage encourage elders at local churches to give their elders at local churches to give their elders at local churches to give their pastors study leave. Kind of like you pastors study leave. Kind of like you pastors study leave. Kind of like you did with Kyle. Okay. If if we get did with Kyle. Okay. If if we get did with Kyle. Okay. If if we get vacation, vacation, vacation, you want to spend that vacation on your you want to spend that vacation on your you want to spend that vacation on your wife and your family, you are loathed to wife and your family, you are loathed to wife and your family, you are loathed to carve out any of that vacation time and carve out any of that vacation time and carve out any of that vacation time and use it on study. If you give study leave use it on study. If you give study leave use it on study. If you give study leave and say we want you actually to go study and say we want you actually to go study and say we want you actually to go study in addition to your vacation that in addition to your vacation that in addition to your vacation that provides tremendous opportunity and provides tremendous opportunity and provides tremendous opportunity and impetus for edifying you know impetus for edifying you know impetus for edifying you know self-edification. So I I encourage self-edification. So I I encourage self-edification. So I I encourage elders give that time to your pastors elders give that time to your pastors elders give that time to your pastors just like you would weekly want your just like you would weekly want your just like you would weekly want your pastor to be pastor to be pastor to be >> it'll come back to benefit.

>> it'll come back to benefit. >> it'll come back to benefit. >> It will benefit you. You will never >> It will benefit you. You will never >> It will benefit you. You will never regret your pastor having done that regret your pastor having done that regret your pastor having done that extra study. And so it can be a pastor extra study. And so it can be a pastor extra study. And so it can be a pastor could go do a thm or a pastor could go could go do a thm or a pastor could go could go do a thm or a pastor could go take courses without ever intending to take courses without ever intending to take courses without ever intending to graduate with anything but have graduate with anything but have graduate with anything but have concentrated, you know, blocks of time, concentrated, you know, blocks of time, concentrated, you know, blocks of time, maybe a week intensive course where they maybe a week intensive course where they maybe a week intensive course where they went and studied something that was went and studied something that was went and studied something that was edifying. And again, it allowed them to edifying. And again, it allowed them to edifying. And again, it allowed them to decompress from the pressures of of the decompress from the pressures of of the decompress from the pressures of of the work in the local church. Pull away from work in the local church. Pull away from work in the local church. Pull away from the, you know, the demand the, you know, the, you know, the demand the, you know, the, you know, the demand the, you know, that you can be in the middle of that you can be in the middle of that you can be in the middle of preparing, the phone call comes, you got preparing, the phone call comes, you got preparing, the phone call comes, you got to drop everything and you've got to go to drop everything and you've got to go to drop everything and you've got to go to the hospital or you've got to go to to the hospital or you've got to go to to the hospital or you've got to go to the house or you've got to go to where the house or you've got to go to where the house or you've got to go to where the car wreck was. Put them in someplace the car wreck was. Put them in someplace the car wreck was. Put them in someplace where they can just concentrate on God, where they can just concentrate on God, where they can just concentrate on God, on the Bible, on studying. That's a on the Bible, on studying. That's a on the Bible, on studying. That's a that's a very refreshing thing to do. that's a very refreshing thing to do. that's a very refreshing thing to do. But there's something about having to But there's something about having to But there's something about having to engage engage engage your um your intellectual your um your intellectual your um your intellectual faculties in a project that you're just faculties in a project that you're just faculties in a project that you're just going to get it in ways that you going to get it in ways that you going to get it in ways that you wouldn't sitting at a conference. And I wouldn't sitting at a conference. And I wouldn't sitting at a conference. And I I think some pastors need to do that.

I think some pastors need to do that. I think some pastors need to do that. And I think but let me say I think we And I think but let me say I think we And I think but let me say I think we not only need to do that for our own not only need to do that for our own not only need to do that for our own edification but the fact of the matter edification but the fact of the matter edification but the fact of the matter is is theological education has already is is theological education has already is is theological education has already changed in our time and it's not going changed in our time and it's not going changed in our time and it's not going back and the the old system where a back and the the old system where a back and the the old system where a significant majority of the ministry significant majority of the ministry significant majority of the ministry going into say the Southern Baptist going into say the Southern Baptist going into say the Southern Baptist Convention and the Presbyterian Church Convention and the Presbyterian Church Convention and the Presbyterian Church in America went through a certain number in America went through a certain number in America went through a certain number of seminaries. That's that's going to be of seminaries. That's that's going to be of seminaries. That's that's going to be it's going to be more and more diffused. it's going to be more and more diffused. it's going to be more and more diffused. People are going to be there going to be People are going to be there going to be People are going to be there going to be different pathways of education going different pathways of education going different pathways of education going into ministry, which is going to mean into ministry, which is going to mean into ministry, which is going to mean we're going to need more pastors who are we're going to need more pastors who are we're going to need more pastors who are involved in theologically educating the involved in theologically educating the involved in theologically educating the next generation of ministers because next generation of ministers because next generation of ministers because it's the, you know, the the the few it's the, you know, the the the few it's the, you know, the the the few seminaries that used to have a monopoly seminaries that used to have a monopoly seminaries that used to have a monopoly on that don't have the monopoly that on that don't have the monopoly that on that don't have the monopoly that they used to have. And um and it mean they used to have. And um and it mean they used to have. And um and it mean I'm I'm always looking for pastors who I'm I'm always looking for pastors who I'm I'm always looking for pastors who have academic credentials who are have academic credentials who are have academic credentials who are willing to teach their electives that willing to teach their electives that willing to teach their electives that they're able to teach. Sometimes they they're able to teach. Sometimes they they're able to teach. Sometimes they come in and sub for professors that are come in and sub for professors that are come in and sub for professors that are on sbatical. That ends up being by the on sbatical. That ends up being by the on sbatical. That ends up being by the way a real refreshing thing for them.

way a real refreshing thing for them. way a real refreshing thing for them. you know, for a pastor to be able to you know, for a pastor to be able to you know, for a pastor to be able to come teach doctrine of God for a week come teach doctrine of God for a week come teach doctrine of God for a week and get away from the grind of ministry and get away from the grind of ministry and get away from the grind of ministry and think about God and help young and think about God and help young and think about God and help young people that are preparing for gospel people that are preparing for gospel people that are preparing for gospel work to think about God. Well, it's just work to think about God. Well, it's just work to think about God. Well, it's just a wonderful thing. I had that experience a wonderful thing. I had that experience a wonderful thing. I had that experience as a pastor when I was a a pastor at as a pastor when I was a a pastor at as a pastor when I was a a pastor at First Pres Jackson for 17 years. First Pres Jackson for 17 years. First Pres Jackson for 17 years. I was part-time at the seminary. I was I I was part-time at the seminary. I was I I was part-time at the seminary. I was I was adjunct and I would teach about a was adjunct and I would teach about a was adjunct and I would teach about a course a semester and it was just course a semester and it was just course a semester and it was just wonderful to be able to leave the church wonderful to be able to leave the church wonderful to be able to leave the church in the pressures of ministry and go in the pressures of ministry and go in the pressures of ministry and go teach about God, teach about the Bible, teach about God, teach about the Bible, teach about God, teach about the Bible, interact with young people that were interact with young people that were interact with young people that were asking questions. What's it going to be asking questions. What's it going to be asking questions. What's it going to be like? Be able to tell them, "Let me tell like? Be able to tell them, "Let me tell like? Be able to tell them, "Let me tell you what it's going to be like. I'll you what it's going to be like. I'll you what it's going to be like. I'll tell you from this week what it's going tell you from this week what it's going tell you from this week what it's going to be like." That that was just a to be like." That that was just a to be like." That that was just a wonderful thing for me. I I would say wonderful thing for me. I I would say wonderful thing for me. I I would say that the church by allowing me to do that the church by allowing me to do that the church by allowing me to do that was actually letting me do that was actually letting me do that was actually letting me do continuing education because I had to continuing education because I had to continuing education because I had to prepare lectures, prepare lectures, prepare lectures, >> right? >> right? >> right? >> You know, I had to get things ready and >> You know, I had to get things ready and >> You know, I had to get things ready and you learn a lot when you're teaching.

you learn a lot when you're teaching. you learn a lot when you're teaching. And so we see a lot of we we see pastors And so we see a lot of we we see pastors And so we see a lot of we we see pastors doing this in demen programs. We see doing this in demen programs. We see doing this in demen programs. We see pastors doing this. pastors doing this. pastors doing this. >> Even the demons believe in Even the >> Even the demons believe in Even the >> Even the demons believe in Even the demons. That's right. Yeah. Thank you, demons. That's right. Yeah. Thank you, demons. That's right. Yeah. Thank you, David Wells, in the demonization of of David Wells, in the demonization of of David Wells, in the demonization of of the ministry. remember that old article the ministry. remember that old article the ministry. remember that old article that caused so much uh controversy. You that caused so much uh controversy. You that caused so much uh controversy. You know, I I do see pastors I'm thinking know, I I do see pastors I'm thinking know, I I do see pastors I'm thinking right now, you may know the name right now, you may know the name right now, you may know the name Jonathan Landry Cruz. John is um he's a Jonathan Landry Cruz. John is um he's a Jonathan Landry Cruz. John is um he's a an OPC minister. He's written several an OPC minister. He's written several an OPC minister. He's written several books. Uh he's written beautiful hymns books. Uh he's written beautiful hymns books. Uh he's written beautiful hymns and he was in my doctor of ministry and he was in my doctor of ministry and he was in my doctor of ministry course in Charlotte uh a year ago. And course in Charlotte uh a year ago. And course in Charlotte uh a year ago. And you know, number one, I thought, well, you know, number one, I thought, well, you know, number one, I thought, well, what a blessing it is for me to have a what a blessing it is for me to have a what a blessing it is for me to have a guy like this in class. I mean, he he guy like this in class. I mean, he he guy like this in class. I mean, he he could be up here teaching this class could be up here teaching this class could be up here teaching this class himself. And there he was sitting in a himself. And there he was sitting in a himself. And there he was sitting in a covenant theology class for ministry, covenant theology class for ministry, covenant theology class for ministry, thinking through the implications of thinking through the implications of thinking through the implications of covenant theology for pastoral ministry. covenant theology for pastoral ministry. covenant theology for pastoral ministry. And he, you know, he's a guy who's And he, you know, he's a guy who's And he, you know, he's a guy who's already edifying the church. He's already edifying the church. He's already edifying the church. He's writing books. He'll speak at writing books. He'll speak at writing books. He'll speak at conferences.

conferences. conferences. um he he'll he'll be a guy who's able to um he he'll he'll be a guy who's able to um he he'll he'll be a guy who's able to teach classes someday. teach classes someday. teach classes someday. >> But as the point you're making >> But as the point you're making >> But as the point you're making argument from the greater to the lesser argument from the greater to the lesser argument from the greater to the lesser even he hasn't arrived but he still even he hasn't arrived but he still even he hasn't arrived but he still knows his need for continually. knows his need for continually. knows his need for continually. >> So how how should a pastor think through >> So how how should a pastor think through >> So how how should a pastor think through I mean of course this is going to I mean of course this is going to I mean of course this is going to require case by case situational wisdom require case by case situational wisdom require case by case situational wisdom because every every situation will be because every every situation will be because every every situation will be different and some pastors just won't different and some pastors just won't different and some pastors just won't have the ability to do it. But how have the ability to do it. But how have the ability to do it. But how should someone think through whether should someone think through whether should someone think through whether they should pursue an advanced degree they should pursue an advanced degree they should pursue an advanced degree because it's not right for everyone? because it's not right for everyone? because it's not right for everyone? >> No, it isn't. And and and we were >> No, it isn't. And and and we were >> No, it isn't. And and and we were talking uh off camera and I have one one talking uh off camera and I have one one talking uh off camera and I have one one of my early students at the seminary was of my early students at the seminary was of my early students at the seminary was not the best academic, you know, not the best academic, you know, not the best academic, you know, academics were not his thing. He was academics were not his thing. He was academics were not his thing. He was really interested in the material. He really interested in the material. He really interested in the material. He was really godly and so he wanted to was really godly and so he wanted to was really godly and so he wanted to take it in. He struggled with writing take it in. He struggled with writing take it in. He struggled with writing and with testing and things of that and with testing and things of that and with testing and things of that nature. Now, he has turned out to be a nature. Now, he has turned out to be a nature. Now, he has turned out to be a better pastor than I'll ever be.

better pastor than I'll ever be. better pastor than I'll ever be. He doesn't need to go do a PhD to edify He doesn't need to go do a PhD to edify He doesn't need to go do a PhD to edify himself. There's going to be a different himself. There's going to be a different himself. There's going to be a different way for that that guy to edify himself. way for that that guy to edify himself. way for that that guy to edify himself. But there are going to be some some guys But there are going to be some some guys But there are going to be some some guys that that have some chops to do some that that have some chops to do some that that have some chops to do some further study who ought to, and it's further study who ought to, and it's further study who ought to, and it's going to be edifying to them. It's going going to be edifying to them. It's going going to be edifying to them. It's going to be good for the church. Um, and then to be good for the church. Um, and then to be good for the church. Um, and then they're probably going to be able to they're probably going to be able to they're probably going to be able to have a wider application of that have a wider application of that have a wider application of that somewhere. I tell I tell most of us can somewhere. I tell I tell most of us can somewhere. I tell I tell most of us can have some area that we have focused on have some area that we have focused on have some area that we have focused on that ends up being a blessing to the that ends up being a blessing to the that ends up being a blessing to the circle of ministers that we're in. All circle of ministers that we're in. All circle of ministers that we're in. All of us have a little bit larger of circle of us have a little bit larger of circle of us have a little bit larger of circle of ministers that we associate with. And of ministers that we associate with. And of ministers that we associate with. And I love to hear from guys that are I love to hear from guys that are I love to hear from guys that are experts in certain areas that I'm not an experts in certain areas that I'm not an experts in certain areas that I'm not an expert in. They edify me. So you were expert in. They edify me. So you were expert in. They edify me. So you were talking about the doctrine of God and talking about the doctrine of God and talking about the doctrine of God and want to go back and and learn the want to go back and and learn the want to go back and and learn the doctrine of the trinity. Well, I reading doctrine of the trinity. Well, I reading doctrine of the trinity. Well, I reading Scott for me, my my president in Scott for me, my my president in Scott for me, my my president in Orlando, my junior colleague in the Orlando, my junior colleague in the Orlando, my junior colleague in the seminary, a man, you know, more than a seminary, a man, you know, more than a seminary, a man, you know, more than a decade younger than me, good bit more decade younger than me, good bit more decade younger than me, good bit more than a decade younger than me, has than a decade younger than me, has than a decade younger than me, has written on doctrine of God and the written on doctrine of God and the written on doctrine of God and the doctrine of the trinity in ways where doctrine of the trinity in ways where doctrine of the trinity in ways where >> Scott Swain.

>> Scott Swain. >> Scott Swain. >> Scott Swain, >> Scott Swain, >> Scott Swain, >> who remember was I I had him in >> who remember was I I had him in >> who remember was I I had him in seminary. seminary. seminary. >> Did you? >> Did you? >> Did you? >> Because I started out at RTS. Oh wow. >> Because I started out at RTS. Oh wow. >> Because I started out at RTS. Oh wow. >> Way back in the day. Um and he I I took >> Way back in the day. Um and he I I took >> Way back in the day. Um and he I I took Doctrine of God one from him and and it Doctrine of God one from him and and it Doctrine of God one from him and and it was remarkable. was remarkable. was remarkable. >> Yeah. Well, I you know I didn't have >> Yeah. Well, I you know I didn't have >> Yeah. Well, I you know I didn't have that experience in seminary. I was still that experience in seminary. I was still that experience in seminary. I was still working in the day where theistic working in the day where theistic working in the day where theistic mutualism was the thing. mutualism was the thing. mutualism was the thing. >> Okay. Help me stay sharp. What is that? >> Okay. Help me stay sharp. What is that? >> Okay. Help me stay sharp. What is that? I don't know what that is. That's a term I don't know what that is. That's a term I don't know what that is. That's a term that was invented just a few years ago that was invented just a few years ago that was invented just a few years ago to describe a tendency to describe a tendency to describe a tendency to change the classical doctrine of God to change the classical doctrine of God to change the classical doctrine of God in an anthropomorphic direction and to in an anthropomorphic direction and to in an anthropomorphic direction and to deny things like the impassibility of deny things like the impassibility of deny things like the impassibility of God or the immutability of God or um the God or the immutability of God or um the God or the immutability of God or um the timelessness of God, the eternality of timelessness of God, the eternality of timelessness of God, the eternality of God and to define them in more God and to define them in more God and to define them in more creaturely categories, more relational creaturely categories, more relational creaturely categories, more relational categories. That was still going on when categories. That was still going on when categories. That was still going on when I was in seminary in the 1980s, even in I was in seminary in the 1980s, even in I was in seminary in the 1980s, even in Orthodox circles. And what's happened in Orthodox circles. And what's happened in Orthodox circles. And what's happened in your generation, Matt, is there's your generation, Matt, is there's your generation, Matt, is there's there's a whole group of young scholars, there's a whole group of young scholars, there's a whole group of young scholars, Baptists, Presbyterians, Anglicans, Baptists, Presbyterians, Anglicans, Baptists, Presbyterians, Anglicans, that they are on fire for robust that they are on fire for robust that they are on fire for robust classical Christian doctrine of God. And classical Christian doctrine of God. And classical Christian doctrine of God. And so much so when I read Scott and heard so much so when I read Scott and heard so much so when I read Scott and heard Scott teach and and and read him write Scott teach and and and read him write Scott teach and and and read him write uh read his writings on um on doctrine

uh read his writings on um on doctrine uh read his writings on um on doctrine of God and Dr. Trinity, I realized I of God and Dr. Trinity, I realized I of God and Dr. Trinity, I realized I need to change the way I say some of need to change the way I say some of need to change the way I say some of these things. I need to talk about this these things. I need to talk about this these things. I need to talk about this different. Uh my confessional instincts different. Uh my confessional instincts different. Uh my confessional instincts had kept me out of trouble, but I had kept me out of trouble, but I had kept me out of trouble, but I realized that I had not gotten the realized that I had not gotten the realized that I had not gotten the fullness of my own tradition. And when I fullness of my own tradition. And when I fullness of my own tradition. And when I encountered Scott's writings, I just encountered Scott's writings, I just encountered Scott's writings, I just thought, man, I need to get better in thought, man, I need to get better in thought, man, I need to get better in that area. So, it doesn't matter your that area. So, it doesn't matter your that area. So, it doesn't matter your age, Matt. You mean an old guy like me age, Matt. You mean an old guy like me age, Matt. You mean an old guy like me and there there are young guys that are and there there are young guys that are and there there are young guys that are out there doing really good work that is out there doing really good work that is out there doing really good work that is going to it's going to edify you. If going to it's going to edify you. If going to it's going to edify you. If you're a pastor, you've been a pastor you're a pastor, you've been a pastor you're a pastor, you've been a pastor for 40 years, doesn't matter. It's still for 40 years, doesn't matter. It's still for 40 years, doesn't matter. It's still going to edify you. You're going to be going to edify you. You're going to be going to edify you. You're going to be excited about God in new ways again. excited about God in new ways again. excited about God in new ways again. You're going to talk about God with a You're going to talk about God with a You're going to talk about God with a new excitement and a new knowledge. new excitement and a new knowledge. new excitement and a new knowledge. you're going to be able to apply certain you're going to be able to apply certain you're going to be able to apply certain things to your people that they would things to your people that they would things to your people that they would have missed if you didn't know those have missed if you didn't know those have missed if you didn't know those things. It's all of us ought to be things. It's all of us ought to be things. It's all of us ought to be trying to get better. Yeah. And um and trying to get better. Yeah. And um and trying to get better. Yeah. And um and and and all of us need to figure out how and and all of us need to figure out how and and all of us need to figure out how to learn somehow. Doctors are expected to learn somehow. Doctors are expected to learn somehow. Doctors are expected to do it. Accountants are expected to do to do it. Accountants are expected to do to do it. Accountants are expected to do it. Counselors are expected to do it.

it. Counselors are expected to do it. it. Counselors are expected to do it. Attorneys are expected to do it. Attorneys are expected to do it. Attorneys are expected to do it. Teachers are expected to do it. Pastors Teachers are expected to do it. Pastors Teachers are expected to do it. Pastors ought to do it.