Yet one more (at least)

I've been interested lately in seeing what different seminaries (or in this case those associated with seminaries) are recommending in terms of reading. Below is a link to Russell D. Moore's recommended reads in the area of theology. Moore is Dean of the School of Theology at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.


http://www.sbts.edu/theology/dean/recommendations/reading-on-theology/

Another reading list for those thinking about seminary

This recommended reading list is from the Trinity Evangelical Divinity School 2011-2012 Catalog:



Bible Study:
The New International Version Study Bible.
Newbigin, Lesslie. A Walk Through the Bible.

Christian Living and Worldview:
Bonhoeffer, Dietrich. The Cost of Discipleship.
Brother Lawrence. The Practice of the Presence of God.
Carson, Don, and John Woodbridge. Letters Along the Way.
Forsyth, P. T. The Soul of Prayer.
Jenkins, Philip. The Next Christendom: The Coming of Global Christianity.
Kempis, Thomas. The Imitation of Christ.
Law, William. A Serious Call to a Devout and Holy Life.
Lewis, C. S. Mere Christianity.
Nouwen, Henri. The Wounded Healer and Reaching Out.
Sire, James. The Universe Next Door.
Tozer, A. W. Knowledge of the Holy.
Wilberforce, William. Real Christianity.
Wolters, Albert. Creation Regained: Biblical Basics for a Reformational Worldview.

Theological Education:
Cetuk, Virginia Samuel. What to Expect in Seminary: Theological Education as Spiritual Formation.
 Dykstra, Craig R. Growing in the Life of Faith: Education and Christian Practices.

Theology:
Augustine. Confessions.
Chesterton, G. K. Orthodoxy.
Grenz, Stanley J., et al. Pocket Dictionary of Theological Terms.
Demaray, Donald E. Basic Beliefs: An Introductory Guide to Christian Theology.
Oswalt, John. Called to Be Holy.
Packer, James I. Knowing God.
Packer, J. I. and Thomas C. Oden. One Faith.
Phillips, Timothy, and Dennis Okholm. A Family of Faith: An Introduction to Evangelical Christianity. Stott, John. Basic Christianity.
Thielicke, Helmut. A Little Exercise for Young Theologians.
VanGemeren, Willem. The Progress of Redemption.

Writing and Research:
Booth, William. The Craft of Research.
Hacker, Diane. The Pocket Style Manual.
Turabian, Kate. A Style Manual for Writers.
Zinsser, William. On Writing Well.

Reading list

http://www.wts.edu/about/select_seminary/recommend_reading.html

So perhaps your doctrinal positions are not exactly in line with Westminster, but you have to admit: this would be a great list to read through!

Some encouraging verses...

Romans 15:19 (ESV)

¹⁹by the power of signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God—so that from Jerusalem and all the way around to Illyricum I have fulfilled the ministry of the gospel of Christ;

Colossians 4:17 (ESV)

¹⁷And say to Archippus, “See that you fulfill the ministry that you have received in the Lord.”

2 Timothy 4:5 (ESV)

⁵As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

2 Timothy 4:17 (ESV)

¹⁷But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion’s mouth.

"Teaching" and "Doctrine" in the Pastoral Epistles

References in the Pastoral Epistles to “διδασκαλία”

The Greek word “διδασκαλία” (didaskalia) can refer both to the act of teaching and to the content of teaching. The word appears 21 times in the Greek New Testament, with 15 of those instances occurring in the Pastoral Epistles. Below are those 15 instances (given in the ESV). Now, I must caution against developing too many conclusions on the basis of a single word (for instance, there are other words besides "διδασκαλία," in the NT in general and in the Pastoral Epistles in particular, that have something to say about the concept of teaching), but nevertheless, I find this a fruitful bunch of verses. I'm sure you will agree! Enjoy!

1 Timothy 1:10 (ESV)

¹⁰the sexually immoral, men who practice homosexuality, enslavers, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine,

1 Timothy 4:1 (ESV)

¹Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons,

1 Timothy 4:6 (ESV)

⁶If you put these things before the brothers, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, being trained in the words of the faith and of the good doctrine that you have followed.

1 Timothy 4:13 (ESV)

¹³Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching.

1 Timothy 4:16 (ESV)

¹⁶Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers.

1 Timothy 5:17 (ESV)

¹⁷Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching.

1 Timothy 6:1 (ESV)

¹Let all who are under a yoke as bondservants regard their own masters as worthy of all honor, so that the name of God and the teaching may not be reviled.

1 Timothy 6:3 (ESV)

³If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness,

2 Timothy 3:10 (ESV)

¹⁰You, however, have followed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness,

2 Timothy 3:16 (ESV)

¹⁶All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,

2 Timothy 4:3 (ESV)

³For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions,

Titus 1:9 (ESV)

⁹He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.

Titus 2:1 (ESV)

¹But as for you, teach what accords with sound doctrine.

Titus 2:7 (ESV)

⁷Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity,

Titus 2:10 (ESV)

¹⁰not pilfering, but showing all good faith, so that in everything they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior.

November can't come quick enough!

 Ok, so maybe this has nothing to do with pastoring (on the surface at least!), but I still thought some of you would enjoy this. The lyrics- well, let's just say they're by no means inspired, but the heart is right!

http://vimeo.com/37570323

The trend continues

From the website of Calvin Theological Seminary (http://calvinseminary.edu/academics/distance-learning/)- it seems the trend toward distance education continues:

"Beginning Fall 2012, Calvin Theological Seminary (CTS) will offer its M.Div. in distance format. A five-year program with approximately 3 courses per semester, the distance M.Div. will maintain the same high quality of education as our three-year residential program. Students in the program will complete much of their work online, traveling to the CTS campus in Grand Rapids approximately two weeks each year for on-campus intensives. Formation for ministry will continue to be a strong emphasis as students experience the program in learning cohorts, engage in a wide range of internship opportunities, and receive support through mentoring groups.
Using innovative tools like Canvas, a cutting-edge Learning Management System (LMS), we are able to offer the excellence of Calvin Seminary courses in an online environment. These courses will maintain the same high academic standards as our residential courses while leveraging the rich array of pedagogical tools available through technology.
With our new distance M.Div., those called to ministry can receive sound Reformed theological training while staying rooted in their current home and ministry contexts.
The Distance M.Div. is accredited by the Association of Theological Schools (ATS)."