Advice from Current Students
"The rigors of the MDiv program make it tempting to view our experience as merely a quest to become more knowledgeable, efficient, and productive in ministry, but wise stewards of their time of preparation see it as a season of formation. For Trinity students who are focused on formation, the standard of a good theological education is not merely how well we master the material but whether the depth of our knowledge is reflected in everything we say and do as Christians."
- Luke McFadden, MDiv Student
Things you need to know! Get to the point:
- Be involved with people (non-Christians) outside of Trinity and be intentional about it.
- People go crazy trying to save money to by getting through in 3 years or less. I'll let you in on a little secret, "It is God's money!" Do what is best to honor God while you're in school and if it takes 4 or 5 years then trust that He will pay for it.
- You might not be able to read everything that is assigned for all the classes. Consider them a tool for the future to look back on. You're not going to remember anyway but the tool will always be available. Figure out a way to organize it for your future.
- Figure out how you learn best.
- Look at the syllabi to see what is being asked of you. Try to stack your schedule in a manageable way.
- Purchase a Pocket Dictionary of Theological Terms and keep it in your bag for quick reference in class.
- Figure out how to use the library and do research here in your first semester. Seminary papers are different. Ask which books are key to starting your research.
- Don't forget your resources of community and friendships!!!
- Find a place of retreat. Find an activity to distract you. Have fun!!! Take a Sabbath rest!!!!
- Jenny Jo Nielson, MDiv Student
What do I wish I knew before coming to seminary?
1: Expect critical reflection of Scripture. Seminary will not be Vacation Bible School, Sunday School, or even a Bible Study. Seminary will be a place where highly devoted Christians think deeply, critically, and seriously about the Bible. Certain tasks are mandatary for all pastors and therefore are mandatary for seminarians. A popular bumper sticker reads, "The Bible says it. I believe it. That settles it." While this bumper sticker indicates a wonderful truism, it does not hold water in a critical, serious, and deep reflection of scripture. Other questions must be asked such as, Exactly what does the Bible say? And more importantly what does it mean? Furthermore, why do you believe it? And, how does what it says impact what you believe? And still, why does this marriage of exegesis and belief settle it?
2: Seminary does not turn you into a minister. Seminary will only prepare you to be prepared to learn to be a minister. Don't expect to practice ministry while in the classroom. Your internship will likely give you your first taste of ministry. However, your REAL application of your seminary skills will likely begin during your first pastoral experience where you will stumble, bumble, and at times get through the day by the grace of God. Seminary exists to allow you to reflect theologically on important issues in the history of ministry. The application of this theological reflection takes place between you, God, and your congregation. My advise is this: Find a church, get plugged in, start volunteering, get some practical experience on your own, and filter your seminary experience through your ministry involvement.
- J. Douglas Hankins, PhD THS Student
[Excerpts from a list of twenty:]
2) Hands On Activities:
Seminary is the place to try out things whether you will fail or not. This is the place to have initiative and take chances. Here you can give a hand at leading worship in Chapel if you have never done something like that in your life. Here you can get involved in some group and try to develop some organizational skills. Here you can go to the streets and evangelize with more experienced students.
Here you can try your hand at all sorts of things, because if you fumble ... its ok. This is only Seminary. In a sense it is not the "real world". Out there, if you fumble, you may get fired. So try your hand at things... So what if stutter while doing Scripture reading in chapel? At the end of the day, you are at TEDS, not corporate America. This is just TEDS, not some televised inaugural address. In saying this, I am not trying to diminish the value of Seminary. Seminary is important. However one unique feature of seminary is that it is meant to be a community of grace. So you ought to try things out here, because even if you fall, at the end of the day you fall into a net of grace.
5) IMPORTANT: Quiet Times (QTs)
Never let go of your QTs . So much of our life turns on this one simple little thing.
A study of Dallas Seminary and TEDS graduates was conducted, where this guy took a look at the graduates who flourished in ministry as opposed to those who did not. What was the one factor that all those who flourished had in common? They never neglected their QT's. It makes sense. If a plane is traveling from New York to London, and it is only a few degrees off in its direction... soon enough, it will be way of course.
5.1) Keep what you do during your QT's separate from what you do in your class. So if you covering Galatians in your Greek class, then do not go through Galatians during your QT's. I tried mixing the two and became really really dry spiritually. Why??? Because when I tried to mix what I was doing in class with my quiet times, the end result was that my quiet times became an analysis rather than time spent communing with God. You may find what I say surprising but it is true. Quiet times ought not to be thinking about participles, tense and inflection.
8) Greek and Hebrew
Greek and Hebrew may be painful, but don't let the Devil give you the lie, that these subjects are unimportant and will be of no use to you after graduation. Look. I am no A+ student in the languages, and getting through them seem like pole vaulting barely over a line... however they are important. My first year here, I struggled as to the utility of learning these languages. Now however as 3rd year student, I have seen much that has convinced me of their importance. Take for examples the participles found in the Great Commission passage in Matthew 24. How we understand these effects how we do both evangelism and discipleship.
I mean look, when you are out working in the world, you do not need to be doing this day and night, however, you should be able to pick up an article or a book that involves a discussion of some Greek or Hebrew word or phrase and be able to follow it. If what I say does not convince, then read Psalm 119. The languages are important
18) Finding a church.
There are a ton of good churches in the area. I recommend praying and asking God to lead you to one. IMO, it is important to find one early on and get buckled in, because moving to a new place and starting a new life can be quite disorienting. One primary means of offsetting this disorientation is by having relational continuity in your life, and churches are a great place for this. Having steady ongoing relationships will help you settle in and contribute to your overall stability in life. So... don't play musical churches.
- Rajesh Rao, MDiv Student