Done! The final class session was yesterday. Last night, the students in one of my preaching classes (and their spouses) gathered here at home for pizza and dessert and some edifying entertainment—three sermons from the last set of student preachers.
And thus endeth my first full-time academic year at Dallas Theological Seminary. [Big sigh of relief!] It has been busy, I must say, tackling three classes each semester, committee meetings, office hours, weekly chapels (at least three a week that I’m required to attend), departmental meetings, faculty meetings (while juggling a part-time dermatology practice on the side).
But it has also been a delight to be part of the team that is the Pastoral Ministries Department (some of us are depicted above, at the Seminary’s annual Faculty Workshop). The delight of fellowship. The joy of allied goals. The pleasure of ministering to one another, spurring one another, being responsible for one another, being accountable to one another.
The discipline of teamwork!
And discipline it is. It takes effort. It doesn’t come easily. It isn’t always natural to us inherently self-focused beings. It often calls for a stepping out of one’s comfort zone to help another, to fill in for another, to watch out for another ….
But that is what God has ordained—believers are to function in concert, as the family of His children, the organism of the church, the fellowship of believers, the body of Christ, the temple of God, the dwelling of the Spirit.
A collective, united, joint, corporate enterprise. The entity through which God seeks to exhibit His glory most directly in this age.
And this calls for the discipline of teamwork.
The discipline of teamwork, recognizing that in all that we undertake, individuals subserve the grander goal of the body, the glory of God, the furtherance of His kingdom.
It is not about Tim or Timothy or Vic or Sandy or Reg or Aubrey or Oscar or Jonathan or Abe. The discipline of teamwork calls each of us to focus on the greater good of the Pastoral Ministries department. And neither is it all about this department alone, but we join hands with the rest of the academic departments to work in harmony for God’s glory within Dallas Seminary. A joint effort that God blesses with fruit. The discipline of teamwork.
The essence of teamwork!
I’m looking forward to the next academic year, to continue working on this great team.
And thus endeth my first full-time academic year at Dallas Theological Seminary. [Big sigh of relief!] It has been busy, I must say, tackling three classes each semester, committee meetings, office hours, weekly chapels (at least three a week that I’m required to attend), departmental meetings, faculty meetings (while juggling a part-time dermatology practice on the side).
But it has also been a delight to be part of the team that is the Pastoral Ministries Department (some of us are depicted above, at the Seminary’s annual Faculty Workshop). The delight of fellowship. The joy of allied goals. The pleasure of ministering to one another, spurring one another, being responsible for one another, being accountable to one another.
The discipline of teamwork!
And discipline it is. It takes effort. It doesn’t come easily. It isn’t always natural to us inherently self-focused beings. It often calls for a stepping out of one’s comfort zone to help another, to fill in for another, to watch out for another ….
But that is what God has ordained—believers are to function in concert, as the family of His children, the organism of the church, the fellowship of believers, the body of Christ, the temple of God, the dwelling of the Spirit.
Do you not know
that you are a temple of God
and that the Spirit of God
dwells in you?
1 Corinthians 3:16
that you are a temple of God
and that the Spirit of God
dwells in you?
1 Corinthians 3:16
A collective, united, joint, corporate enterprise. The entity through which God seeks to exhibit His glory most directly in this age.
… to Him be the glory
in the church and in Christ Jesus
to all generations
forever and ever.
Ephesians 3:21
in the church and in Christ Jesus
to all generations
forever and ever.
Ephesians 3:21
And this calls for the discipline of teamwork.
… and let us consider
how to stimulate one another
to love and good deeds,
not forsaking our own
assembling together,
as is the habit of some,
but encouraging one another;
and all the more
as you see the day drawing near.
Hebrews 10:24–25
how to stimulate one another
to love and good deeds,
not forsaking our own
assembling together,
as is the habit of some,
but encouraging one another;
and all the more
as you see the day drawing near.
Hebrews 10:24–25
The discipline of teamwork, recognizing that in all that we undertake, individuals subserve the grander goal of the body, the glory of God, the furtherance of His kingdom.
For when one says, “I am of Paul,”
and another, “I am of Apollos,”
are you not merely human?
What then is Apollos?
And what is Paul?
Servants through whom you believed,
even as the Lord
gave opportunity to each one.
1 Corinthians 3:4–5
and another, “I am of Apollos,”
are you not merely human?
What then is Apollos?
And what is Paul?
Servants through whom you believed,
even as the Lord
gave opportunity to each one.
1 Corinthians 3:4–5
It is not about Tim or Timothy or Vic or Sandy or Reg or Aubrey or Oscar or Jonathan or Abe. The discipline of teamwork calls each of us to focus on the greater good of the Pastoral Ministries department. And neither is it all about this department alone, but we join hands with the rest of the academic departments to work in harmony for God’s glory within Dallas Seminary. A joint effort that God blesses with fruit. The discipline of teamwork.
… [be] of the same mind,
maintaining the same love,
united in spirit,
intent on one purpose.
Do nothing from selfishness
or empty conceit,
but with humility of mind
regard one another as
more important than yourselves;
do not merely look out
for your own personal interests,
but also for the interests of others.
Philippians 2:2–4
maintaining the same love,
united in spirit,
intent on one purpose.
Do nothing from selfishness
or empty conceit,
but with humility of mind
regard one another as
more important than yourselves;
do not merely look out
for your own personal interests,
but also for the interests of others.
Philippians 2:2–4
The essence of teamwork!
I’m looking forward to the next academic year, to continue working on this great team.
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4 comments:
nice picture . . . and i heard the PM is the best department.
juan
Thanks, Juan.
(I'll recommend you for a raise!)
Abe
. . . and I might add what a good job you have done in connecting with other departments at DTS, contributing to a team beyond your own department. It's a joy to have you on board to help provide the students with the quality education they come for, to add to the fine reputation of Dallas Seminary and, mot importantly, to carry the reputation of our Heavenly Father by manifesting His character in your everyday life. -- Dr. J.
Congratulations, Abe. It sounds like you have really enjoyed your first year of full-time teaching at the seminary. No doubt great coworkers bring life and energy. They must have, otherwise how could one go through so much without burning out? :-)
Eric Fan
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