The Seminarian A TBS Student Magazine No. 3 September 2014
It is more than a voice; It is a lifestyle.
Editor–in-Chief: Rev. Kirk M. Wellum, Principal Executive Editor: Rev. Keith M. Edwards, Registrar Managing Editor: B. Andrew Song Associate Editor: Hallam Willis Contributors Pierre Constant, Jeremy Lee, Ruth Lee, Bob Penhearow, Sean Perron, B. Andrew Song, Kirk M. Wellum, Hallam Willis
Contact information Email: seminarian.editor@gmail.com
Toronto Baptist Seminary and Bible College 130 Gerrard St. E., Toronto, ON M5A 3T4
September 2014, No. 3 Copyright Š The Seminarian
 Letter from Principal Wellum 4 Constant,
“Lord, have mercy on Me, for I am Becoming Famous”
6 Edwards,
After Graduation … What?
9 Perron,
Christian Giants & the Church of Galatia
12 Lee,
Seminarian & Hospitality
From the Editors … A sociologist Karen Sternheimer defines a celebrity as “anyone who is watched, noticed, and known by a critical mass of strangers.” A celebrity culture, then, is “the atmosphere swirling around celebrities, the public and private conversations we have about them, the lifestyles celebrities unwittingly promote through coverage of their private lives, and the products that become part of this lifestyle.” Doesn’t this sound familiar to you? I’m afraid this “celebrity culture” is seen in today’s evangelical circles. For Christians, this celebrity culture is nothing new, rather, its the same old sin with a new name –– pride & idolatry! With the beginning of a new academic year, we hope this September issue of The Seminarian will be a helpful reminder about the dangers of worshipping fame in your theological studies (addressed by Dr. Pierre Constant to seminarians, and by Rev. Keith Edwards to graduates), as well as to provide you with some practical advice in this culture of idolatry (Sean Perron on how to admire biblically, and Rev. Jeremy and Ruth Lee on the practice of hospitality). TS
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A Letter from our Principal Rev. Kirk M. Wellum TBS Principal, Professor of Systmatic Theology and Biblical Studies
I want to welcome all new students who are beginning their studies with us at Toronto Baptist Seminary this academic year. We are delighted that you are here, and we have already been praying that God will use this time in your lives to strengthen your walk with him and help you grow in your understanding of his Word. Life today is so busy, and it is often difficult to find time to focus on what is most important. This is especially true when it comes to growing in our knowledge of God and preparing for future service in the church and the world. This year at TBS you will have an opportunity to do both things in a concentrated, focused, and systematic way that we believe will give you a solid grounding in the scriptures if you work hard and make the most of the opportunity. As a new student, you are now part of a student body that has come from different parts of Canada and around the world to study here in Toronto. Our courses and programs have been carefully thought out and prepared, and our professors count it a 4
privilege to serve the Lord Jesus by faithfully passing on to you what has already been passed on to them. The challenges we face as Christian individuals and communities have never been greater, but we believe that there are, at the same time, great opportunities to make a difference in our world for the cause of the gospel. It is my prayer that God will use this year in all of our lives for his glory and our good. So once again welcome to Toronto Baptist Seminary and may the 2014-2015 academic year be the best yet! “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth� (2 Tim 2:15). TS
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“Lord, have mercy on me, for I am becoming famous” Dr. Pierre Constant Chair of New Testament Studies Becoming famous exposes one to the temptations of money, sex, and power. Even Solomon, the wisest of all men under the sun, did not escape falling into each of these. A quick glance at 1 Kings 10–11 will clearly make that point. Celebrity: so meone who is famous, well-known, and thus honoured Just like money is not the issue but rather the love of money, likewise becoming known and famous is less an issue than starting to think we deserve the fame and attention of people, and behaving as if others––not to say God himself––owes us respect and gratitude. Likewise, listening to and giving authority to anyone above the Lord himself is simply to 6
be named for what it is: idolatry. The culture in which we live is one that applauds pastors and gives them a standing ovation when they publicly confess their sins and shortcomings, instead of weeping, fasting and praying. What happened in one of the mega-churches in the United States by the end of this past August was, in my opinion, sobering, and expressed more the values of our culture than the mind of Christ. Our culture is one which thrives on feeding the ego (i.e. “How many ‘Likes’ did I get on my last posting?” “How many times have I been tagged, tweeted or reposted today?”), one which revels in banalities (“Wonder what pictures my ‘friends’ are posting right now?”), one which constantly
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distracts us from doing our work (“I don't feel like doing what I should be doing, so …how’s my score holding against that of my friends?”). Our surrounding North American culture has made its way into the church––in ways not dissimilar to the Corinthian situation Paul exposed in 1 Corinthians 1–6––as twenty-first century churches use social media for getting the world’s attention while harvesting bad press, and as conflict among believers appears in the open world of blogosphere. “High definition” is becoming synonymous with “high demolition.” Though there are great opportunities provided by online discussion and public exposure, lack of wisdom and beginners’ errors are broadcast-
“The re is a time for everything” As one enters seminary, there is a time for the joy of discovery the doctrines of grace, and there is a time for another form of perseverance of the saints, namely having saints persevere in our studies without being rewarded by any form of immediate gratification. Learning Greek and Hebrew vocabulary––let alone grammar!––comes before deep exegesis. Let us remember that graduation comes at the end of the school year, not at the beginning, and that that ceremony rewards hard work, perseverance, and discipline. Here as elsewhere, no pain, no gain.
ed all over. If today’s church is famous, I fear that it is becoming known for seeking out fame instead of God's glory. Fame and honour, if not kept in check, have two little brothers who show their ugly head whenever given a chance: pride, and idolatry. With the invasion of social media in our daily lives, temptation for pride, boasting, and idolatry has grown exponentially. Getting a lot of coverage and being under the spotlight come with a price: greater temptation than ever for pride. The flip side of that coin is that always drinking at the same fountain on the web without digging ourselves in Scriptures exposes us to the poison of idolatry. Here are a few statements/questions, "hijacked" from Scripture, to illustrate some of those thoughts:
“W ho do people say that I am?” While most of the people worry about what others think about them more than what they actually are, the apostle Paul was concerned that people would think too much about him, and constantly reminded his readers not to put him on a pedestal. When people start appreciating your work, your talent, your gifts, your ministry, thank them, praise God, and then move forward instead or desiring for more congratulations. “My time has not ye t come” Use the months and years you are in seminary to learn and listen. Though discussion is encouraged in the school and in classes, let us come with a mind ready to learn
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instead of trying to justify our presuppositions. Let us remember that knowing a few words of Greek or Hebrew will not metamorphose us suddenly into experts who can correct Bible translations from the pulpit. While in seminary, learn to stay under the radar, and be careful about what you post online. Everything, and I mean everything, you post online will be remembered and noted by someone out there. I have read my share of student postings, which demonstrate a desire to show a lot of wit, to win arguments, unfortunately without much love, which should accompany everything we say (cf. Col 4:6; 1 Pet 3:15b-16). If we are to do the Lord's work, let us do it the Lord's way. “Worship the Lord, your God, and serve him only” North America is a world full of idols–– American idols, Canadian idols, even Christian idols! Always citing this or that famous preacher or author, as if that brings an end to the discussion, subtly (and sometimes not so subtly) dropping names in conversations, make us resemble the Corinthians (cf. 1 Cor 1:12) than the Lord whom Paul, Apollos or Peter preached. Ezekiel 16 is a sober reminder that what the Lord gives to His people can be misused and abused. If the Lord has blessed us with a nice personality, a good memory, musical talents or a quick mind, all these qualities belong to Him first and foremost. “Always give thanks” If the Lord blesses us with the grace of bearing fruit, then let all the glory be given to Him, and to Him alone. For what do we have that we did not receive in the first place (cf. 1 Cor 4:7)? What the Lord gave, he can take away in a moment. “But whoever has, says Jesus, will be given more; whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him” (Mark 4:25). Do you 8
find this saying hard to understand? Then I will see you in the Hermeneutics class… TS
Barnabas Piper, The Pastor’s Kid: Finding Your Own Faith and Identity. Colorado Springs, CO: David Cook, 2014. When I picked up Barnabas Piper’s book, The Pastor’s Kid to read for this review, I really had no expectations for better, or for worse. The topic at first blush seemed more like it could turn into a series of rather self-absorbed reflections upon the life of a mega-church pastor’s kid (PK), which would not necessarily translate well into meaningful discourse on the topic as a whole. Instead, Piper’s goals, to speak as a PK, to speak to pastors, and to speak to congregations, were admirably met throughout. Not only did he write with humility and grace towards his own experience, he wrote in such a way as to raise the level of awareness that pastors need to be very aware of their own incredibly difficult task of balancing their calling as a parent to their children and shepherd to their congregation. Piper helps navigate this difficult tension in his book, and he does so admirably. This is a book that could be highly recommended. –– Reviewed by Hallam Willis TS
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After Graduation …What? Rev. Keith M. Edwards Registrar
PerfUn 101 Per fect Unity Graduation…finally…after all those exams, all those assignments, all those allnighters, now what? Many graduates breathe a deep sigh of relief and close the books. Some never return to formal academic study. Others head on to the next degree, and some become addicted to education never venturing into actual ministry but dwelling longterm in the ivory towers of academia. Since I have been involved as Registrar since 2004, the editors of the Seminarian have requested me to offer counsel to those who have completed at least one chapter of their formal postsecondary training. I propose to do this with a series of required courses, not “electives” but “imperative required training” mandated by our primary textbook––the Word of God. Since 1 & 2 Corinthians contain such autobiographical material, I have selected various texts with appropriate “course descriptions.”
“I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there maybe no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought.” (1 Cor 1:10) In this course students must work diligently (“Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit…” [Eph 4:3]). Remembering that unity is not uniformity, students in this course will learn to work together with others. Recalling a motto from church history, “In essentials unity, on non-essentials diversity, but in all things charity,” students will learn what really matters. Rather than assuming the correctness of their own position, students will seek to eradicate divisions by providing evidence of the fruit of the Spirit and not just the gifts.
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PWMT 202 Proclamation With Much Trembling
“For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling.” (1 Cor 2:2, 3) Though having completed formal homiletical courses and improved in public speaking skills, students will not rely on these methods when they are given opportunities to proclaim God’s Word. After diligent study and much prayer, students will demonstrate the uniqueness of their God-given personalities and will refuse to provide cheap imitations of “bigname” preachers. They will often feel overwhelmed with the task set before them and may well approach their pulpits with a strong trembling. PersMM 303 Mere Me n
“For when one says, ‘I follow Paul,’ and another, ‘I follow Apollos,’ are you not mere men? What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe…” (1 Cor 3:4, 5) This course will require memory loss. Students must refuse to read the same daily blogs and twitter feeds offered to them. While experiencing freedom to attend conferences they will not view attendance at said events to be an evidence of spirituality, nor will they despise those who choose not to attend. They will reduce their dependence on personality-driven study bibles. A towel and a basin will sit as object lessons in their offices reminding them of the servant leadership modeled by the One they truly claim to follow. Consistency 404 Life Matc hing Doctrine 10
“For this reason I am sending to you, Timothy, my son whom I love, who is faithful in the Lord. He will remind you of my way of life in Christ Jesus, which agrees with what I teach everywhere in every church.” (1 Cor 4:17) This is primarily a review course. Having been challenged in seminary studies to “watch your life and doctrine closely,” students will apply themselves to consistently living for Christ. They will develop close friendships with others in accountability because they have learned “faithful are the wounds of a friend.” Alert to hypocrisy, they will devote significant time to prayer, asking God to––“search me and know my heart, test me and know my anxious thoughts.” When hypocrisy and inconsistency is revealed, students will deal drastically with said evidence, so that after they “have preached to others [they] will not be disqualified for the prize.” Assoc Instr 505 Association Instructions
“I have written you in my letter not to associate…not at all meaning the people of this world who are immoral, or greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world.” (1 Cor 5:9, 10) All relationships will be evaluated as part of this practicum. Students will list all of the unbelievers with whom they have close relationships. If this list is non-existent, students will resolve to rectify this neglect by cultivating hobbies or interests in which they can build new relationships. Students shall study the concepts of “salt” and “light” as taught by the Light of the world and shall seek to model applications of these teachings.
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DoctRev 606 Doc trinal Review
“But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.” (1 Cor 6:11) Since so much truth was quickly studied during the years of study at TBS, students shall resolve to review the key doctrines of their faith. They shall make a careful study following guidelines learned in hermeneutics, biblical theology and systematic theology. They shall continue to study these topics purposefully each year and seek further clarity in understanding and communicating with others what God is teaching them. They shall not be satisfied with a cursory review but shall explore these topics with diligence progressing through the range of biblical doctrines. While not just reading theologians who agree with them, these students shall avoid foolish and stupid arguments and shall be required to assess biblically, thoroughly and graciously in the Spirit of 2 Timothy 2:24–26: “And the Lord’s servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance…” Though not an exhaustive curriculum, graduates who commit themselves to such a biblical plan shall discover themselves to be “growing in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.” While achieving no formal recognition, the engagement in such curriculum will provide evidence to themselves, and to a sceptical audience that they have not “arrived,” but are rather maturing to a place of inadequacy, insufficiency and total dependence upon their Lord for the resources He has promised to His servants. TS
Grant, Keith S. Andrew Fuller and the Evangelical Renewal of Pastoral Theology. Studies in Baptist History and Thought 36. Eugene, OR: Wipf & Stock, 2013. “Calvinism, I heard, but Fullerism? Who is Andrew Fuller?” In the words of C. H. Spurgeon, Andrew Fuller (1754–1815) was “the greatest theologian of his century.” Besides his role in the Baptist Missionary Society, Fuller was primarily a Baptist pastor, who is explored by Keith Grant in this book. By understanding pastoral theology as a description of the implications of doctrine, an expression of ecclesiology, and a theological reflection of pastoral roles, Grant examines the formation, context and application of Fuller’s pastoral theology. Grant concludes that Fuller’s “pastoral theology was a congregational instance of evangelical renewal, an expression and agent of the transformation of Dissent as vital as those alongside and beyond the local church.” This is a book for seminarians who want to be “evangelical and affectionate” pastortheologians. In Christian ministries, there are two types of mentors: Living mentors, like John Newton to John Ryland, Jr. The second type are deceased Christians who have faithfully served the Lord, of which Fuller is a great example. Hold on to Fuller! –– Reviewed by B. Andrew Song TS 11
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Christian Giants & the Church of Galatia Sean Perron Sean is on staff with the Association of Certified Biblical Counselors and is continuing his studies at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He is married to Jennifer and blogs at unspokenblog.wordpress.com The Christian culture we live in has superstars. You know who I am talking about. There are almost too many to count. These are the famous pastors, circuit conference speakers, the prolific authors, the big names with the big followings. If you and I are really honest, we have our personal crushes. We have a couple of these supernovas picked out and we like to gaze at them from time to time. There is nothing new under the sun and that includes Christian superstars. The Apostle Paul mentions the original religious rockstars in the book of Galatians. In Galatians 2:2, he says the Apostles “seemed to be influential.” In 2:6, he repeats this phrase a second and third time. In fact, Paul calls them “Pillars” of the faith in 2:9. Back in the day, the Apostles were the real Christian celebrities. They were not only famous, they had authority endowed from God to speak to the church. Paul in Ephesians 2:2 says 12
that the church was built of the foundation of the Apostles and prophets. These guys were famous, influential, titanic pillars for the kingdom of Christ. They walked with Jesus and learned directly from the Son of God. John Piper, Billy Graham and Matt Chandler have nothing on these guys. How should we think about contemporary public power-house Christians? Is there an appropriate way to admire these Christian superstars without making them idols? We should think about Christians Celebrities in the same way Paul thought about Christian giants in the book of Galatians. We should not esteem them too highly or too lowly. Don’t E steem Them too H ighly Paul recognized that the original twelve Apostles were significant and important. Yet
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Paul did not let this cloud his clarity or his convictions. Paul held all the Apostles under the microscope of the gospel. In Galatians 1:8, Paul says “But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed.” Paul was so committed to the words of Christ, that nothing could deter him - not even angelic beings. If Peter, James or John had changed their minds ever so slightly about a biblical truth, their teaching would have been out of line. The words and work of Christ kept the Apostles in check. The Bible should dictate our convictions, not Christian celebrities. Paul grounds all his authority in the words of God. The words and work of Christ are immovable. If a Christian celebrity deters from the
not to esteem the “pillars” so highly that we are blind to their cracks. If the foundational men of the New Testament had chips and cracks, we should never expect today’s celebrities to be infallible. Megachurch pastors sometimes need to be rebuked in love. Presidents of major evangelical institutions are capable of horrific sin. We do a disservice to the spiritual superstars of our day we when place them on a high pedestal. If we place unrealistic expectations upon Christian leaders, then we will get burned when our supernovas become falling stars. We cannot follow any Christian leader blindly. We must examine all teachings in light of the Scripture and we must remember that all have fallen short of the glory of God. We should not believe something just because “so-
Scripture, then he should not be followed. We are only to follow Christian celebrities as they follow Christ. We should imitate Christian supernovas only as they reflect the glory of God. We should gaze in wonder only as they submit their lives humbly the authoritative word of God. The sufficiency of Scripture should be our lens through which we view Christian figures. The Scriptures are the only certain rule of faith and obedience. Paul was not afraid to confront the “pillars” of the faith. In fact, he says in Galatians 2:11 that he opposed Peter to his face because he stood condemned. Out of a love for Peter and the truth, Paul held Peter accountable to the Scripture. This is immensely important to us today because it shows that even the most iconic Christians are still sinners. We must be careful
and-so” believes it. Instead, we must tether everything to the Scripture and follow leaders as they follow Christ. Don’t E steem Them too Lowly Galatians 2:1-12 is a fascinating passage to examine because Paul is very particular in how he views the Apostles. He is writing to defend his Apostolic authority against a group of Jews who taught that circumcision was essential for the Christian life. In one breath, Paul comments on the Apostles and says “what they were makes no difference to me; God shows no partiality.” In another breath, Paul says the Apostles “who seemed to be pillars… gave the right hand of fellowship to Barnabas and me.” Paul used the confirmation from the Peter, James 13
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and others to defend both his ministry and his gospel. Paul did not dismiss the teachings of the Apostles because they “seemed to be influential.” He was more than happy to receive their commendation in the gospel and use their affirmation it to endorse his ministry. What the Apostles said was not final, but it did matter. He did not esteem their significance too lowly.
When an influential Christian speaks, we should listen. If someone had a fruitful ministry for 30 years, we would be wise to give them our ears. If someone has been married for 40+ years, we ought to pay attention to what they say. We prove ourselves to be fools if we reject the counsel and teaching of someone just because they are famous. Fame does not equal sin. We should not be ashamed to sit at the feet of key leaders who have spent years in the Scriptures and follow them as they follow Christ. If someone is reflecting Christ in a stellar way, it is a good thing to imitate them. Supernovas are usually bright for a reason. Fruit of the Spirit Never Fails One final word of caution from the book of Galatians on the topic of Christian Celebrities. We should desire to produce fruit of the Spirit more than we desire to become influential. It can be very tempting to want to be like our Christian heroes in every way. We may deceive ourselves into thinking that a successful ministry means being simulcast into five buildings and flying across the country five times a month. Instead, we ought to make it our goal in life to be faithful fruit bearers. I know of Christian supernovas who have soared high in the sky but exploded upon everyone along the way. There are leaders in evangelicalism who are one thing on camera and another thing at home. There are megachurch 14
pastors who are unqualified for ministry according to 1 Timothy 3. There are countless Christian leaders who have failed millions, but bearing fruit of the Spirit has never failed anyone. Paul says the fruit of the Spirit is “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” (Galatians 5:23) Every star eventually burns out – even the Christian ones. Fame is fleeting, but the word of God endures forever. We need to be men and women who are bearing fruit of the Spirit that lasts into eternity. Spend your days drawing near to the God of the Bible and becoming a bountiful tree that bears fruit in secret and in every season. TS
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Seminarians & Hospitality Rev. Jeremy and Ruth Lee Jeremy and Ruth are MDiv students at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. They are from Singapore and have been married for three years. They are members of Christ Community Church of Louisville, KY, where Jeremy is aslo serving as an elder.
A week after our wedding in Singapore, we hopped on a plane to move to our new home at Louisville, KY for theological training. We were excited to begin a new phase of our life in Louisville as a married couple and as seminarians. We settled into our apartment on campus easily, and were ready to make some new friends. As we wanted to develop personal and intentional friendships, we decided to invite people to our place for a meal. We would invite our neighbours, people we meet on campus and at church, and also unbelievers from our church neighbourhood. Coming from Singapore, food is a big component of social gatherings. Food draws people together for fellowship and a homecooked meal conveys nothing less than a heartfelt gesture of friendship. We enjoy making our guests feel welcomed at our apartment and getting to know them better over dinner conversations. Besides having seminarians and church friends over, we also enjoy having
unbelievers over and getting to know them better. The non-Christians that we have been ministering to are nationals from East Asia who live in our church neighbourhood. They are far from home and some of them have difficulty adjusting to life here because of the language. We see this as an opportunity to show them God’s love by helping them with their transitional issues. Our approach has been to offer our help with their English, as well as, to invite them to study the Bible together in our home. We often serve a meal or light snack before Bible study. Extending hospitality strengthens our witness to the gospel as unbelievers see our good works. Being hospitable could be understood simply as being friendly and welcoming to strangers or guests. In Scripture, numerous verses exhort us to be hospitable such as Titus 1:8, Heb 13:2 and 1 Pet 4:9. In our experience, being hospitable involves serving, loving and encouraging those we invite into our home. We try to create an environment where people feel wel15 14
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comed through the food we serve and a sincere desire to know them. Life as seminarians can be very busy with schedules full of reading and writing. Inviting people to your homes and entertaining them might seem like a huge time commitment. But great hospitality does not have to be time-consuming. We have learnt to focus more on simple meals and meaningful conversations, and less on planning complicated menus! If you are wondering how you can start, consider extending hospitality to international students around you. They are often adjusting to the local culture and your hospitality will mean a lot to them. When you have new neighbours, make the effort to meet them and invite them over for a meal. Help them feel welcomed in the neighborhood. As a way to deepen relationships with your church members, consider inviting them to your home for a time of Christian fellowship. Being hospitable is a great way to love your fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. 16
Showing hospitality to others not only blesses them but also you. For the last three years, we have been blessed with the opportunity to serve God’s people in our homes and exchange encouraging testimonies of God’s work in our lives. With unbelievers, we have been able to show them God’s love and even lead a couple of them to Christ. May God fill each one of us with love and compassion so that we may show hospitality to both Christians and unbelievers, and that in seeing our good works, others may give glory to God! TS
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What Happened? On May 3, after a brief banquet celebration, TBS held its 2014 graduation ceremony in Jarvis Street Baptist Church, with the presence of faculty, students and friends. This joyful evening was started with praises in singing, prayers, and Scripture reading. After the fourteen graduates received their diplomas and degrees, Rev. Pierre Marques charged the graduates with a sermon entitled, “Don’t Serve Without Your GPS” (2 Tim 1:13–2:10). MTS graduate Carlos Manson Paul gave a valedictorian speech. Various rewards were granted to students as well. Graduating with One–Year Bible Diploma: Jennifer Douglas, Grace Margaret Johnson, Cheryl Chrstine Anne Kovack, and Lemuel James Tupas. Graduating with Bachelor of Theological Studies: Adam Jeffrey Paul, and Joshua Ryan Stauffer. Graduating with Master of Theological Studies: Carlos Manson Paul, Michael John Plato, and Baiyu Andrew Song. CCIC campus graduates with Master of Religious Education: Kio Chang and Willie Wu. CCIC campus graduates with Master of Divinity: Xuecheng Huang, Wanying Gao, and Changbing Li.
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3 Qs with Dr. Penhearow Dr. Bob Penhearow is the president of Carey Outreach Ministries, director of the Spurgeon Study Centre, and the executive director of Glory Grace International Ministries. Dr. Penhearow is also the author of Exploring C. H. Spurgeon’s Key to Ministerial Success (Carey Printing Press, 2011).
TS: Why did you choose to write on Spurgeon’s spirituality in your book, Exploring C. H. Spurgeon’s Key to Ministerial Success (2011)? While writing this book, what astonished me about Spurgeon is that he absorbed the passion, focus, and spiritual disciplines of those who had gone before him (i.e. Bunyan, Gill, and Fuller). This caused me to think and ask: Are we really getting called men of God with the conviction of Christ pounding in their heart? Or are we getting more educated and refined without the passion and the pleading? We need both! Spurgeon exemplified that, and so did Fuller and others. This theme of spirituality––closeness to Christ–– is what I want to bring out of my book. The other aspect to this book is that Calvinism is theology on fire. In order words, Calvinism is the springboard for the gospel. As it can be learned from Spurgeon’s ministry, Calvinistic theology provides the confidence in God for preachers in his gospel ministry. TS: What does a healthy spiritual life look like? We are in great danger that we can be caught up, and become too busy, so that we become like the church in Ephesus in Revelation: there were big highs in activity, yet they lost the sight of Christ, their first love to Him, and that same love that overflows to God’s people. To guard against that, we need to
spend quality time with God, which is back to the basics, of prayer, reading the Scriptures, reflection, meditation and inculcation. I have learnt to look through the lenses of Christ, and spend time with Him. It is very easy to miss the basics, and get on with the busyness of ministry. The risk is that we can lose sight of Christ, and serve ministry rather than God. As for seminarians, we are at risks of the pursuit of knowledge rather than Christ; of academic degrees rather than character quality. Let us not lose the focus of Christ in our theological training. Pursue Christ! TS: What are some advice you would offer to seminary students? With my experience, I would offer the following steps: I. Become a member of a local church. Be like Paul and Barnabas, spend time with the local church as a learner and worshipper, and prove your trustworthiness, stability and gifts. Let the church recognize your ministerial calling throughout your seminary life. II. Walking with the Bride – the church. Keep contact with the local church, in order to find opportunities to serve. As theology leads to doxology, so shall we always bear in mind how the theology we learned at seminary should be practiced in ministry. This is the reason why we ask ourselves at every sermon we preach, “So what?” TS 19