Episode 42: Is Seminary Worth It? (Doug Ponder)

Is seminary worth it? It requires a lot of sacrifice, can be expensive, and some of the classes don’t seem too helpful for student ministry. And yet it provides a unique opportunity for training and ministry development. How can youth workers discern whether or not to pursue further education, and how do we choose amidst the many options?  Discussion Includes:  If I can just buy the books off Amazon and follow some nerdy youtube and podcasts then why would anyone enroll in seminary?  What are some benefits and shortcomings of the traditional seminary/M.Div. model?  If someone listening is feeling compelled towards seminary but they aren’t sure how to discern which school is right for them, what advice do you have for them to make a wise decision?  How can seminary students who are listening to this podcast get the most out of their seminary experience… academically, spiritually, and personally?  Some of our listeners would probably LOVE to enroll tomorrow, but they simply can’t. How can they continue their theological and ministry formation?  Doug Ponder is a teaching pastor at Remnant Church in Richmond, VA, and Professor of Biblical Studies at Grimke Seminary.  Follow Doug on Twitter: @dougponder Join YPT's Facebook group: @youththeologian (make sure you answer the membership questions) Follow YPT on Twitter: @youththeologian Follow YPT on Instagram: @youththeologian YPT has published an ebook that's a free download for subscribers! Youth Ministry is Theological Ministry captures the essence of Youth Pastor Theologian in one ten-chapter book, written by six different contributors from across America, Mexico, and the UK.