7 Keys for the Life-Long Learner

Written by Ray Gilder

1. Plan to Prepare as you Respond to the Call.
It has often been stated that a call to preach is a call to prepare. Paul made this very clear when he wrote to the young preacher, Timothy. “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who doesn’t need to be ashamed, correctly teaching the word of truth” 2 Tim 2:15 (HCSB). Those who fail to adequately prepare limit greatly their ability to be used in the future!

2. Do Not Justify Poor Study Habits
Some have adamantly stated that they do not need to study. God just gives them what to say when they stand up. They may be referring to something Jesus said but quoting it out of context. In Luke 12: 11,12, Jesus said, “Whenever they bring you before synagogues and rulers and authorities, don’t worry about how you should defend yourselves or what you should say. For the Holy Spirit will teach you at that very hour what must be said.” Luke 12:11-12 (HCSB)

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Jesus was not talking about preaching but about making a defense for yourself when being persecuted for your witness for Christ. Those who do not study and prepare usually end up saying the same thing over no matter what their starting text.

3. Get as Much Formal Education as You Can
After looking back over my many years of ministry, I would advise you to get as much training as you can as early as you can. The longer you put if off the harder it is to do. Formal education is much easier to accomplish before you have the responsibility and expense of a family.

There are many avenues of training. The traditional standard is college and then seminary. Others choose correspondent studies or Seminary Extension. Do not quit until you secure all the formal education you desire.

4. Never Quit Learning
One of the basic purposes of formal education is to teach you how to study. Always keep your mind sharp. Take advantage of seminars and short-term training events. Your church deserves to hear fresh material.

5. Build a Good Library
Study books are the tools of a minister. You need to get good ones and you need to know how to use them. Balance your study between modern and time-tested scholars. Word study helps are of great benefit.

Guard against the temptation to just preach sermons written by other men. That is acceptable occasionally if the sermon really speaks to you and you are honest in dealing with the materials of other men. However, your most effective messages will be those God gives you during your own study time.

6. Seek Out a Mentor
Find someone you respect and who has proven himself to be faithful and spend as much time with him as you can. Seek his advice and find out how he deals with various aspects of the ministry. This could save you a lot of heartache and regret as a young minister.

7. Learn Parliamentary Procedure
This last suggestion may seem trivial and out of place but one bad business meeting in your church will change your mind. To lead a local congregation effectively, one must know how to conduct the church business meeting in a fair and accurate manner. This training can be found in college, seminary, correspondence courses, Seminary Extension studies or through personal research. (see 9 Simple Steps to a better Business Meeting)

Ray Gilder is the Bivocational Pastor Specialist for the Tennessee Baptist Convention. He is a regular contributor to the free bi-monthly Today's Bivocational Pastor eNewsletter.

Ray Gilder is the Bivocational Ministries Specialist at the Tennesee Baptist Convention and is also a bivocational pastor. He has graciously shared the training he does for bivocational pastors in the following free articles:

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