Weekly Email: April 6, 2026
Today is the start of the Spring 2 term. I hope you all had a great Resurrection Sunday celebrating the resurrection of Jesus. As Paul says, without the resurrection, our hope is in vain. This is the foundational hope that we have and the reason that theological study is important, equipping you to teach, share, and form others to rest in this hope.
In this email:
- Student Tip: Set Up Tomorrow's Session Today
- Program News: Fall Experiential Modular Registration
Student Tip: Set Up Tomorrow's Session Today
One of the most useful things I picked up over the years, both at work and when I was doing my masters... at the end of a study session, write down exactly what you're going to do next time.
Not a vague plan. Not "work on the paper." Something specific. "Finish reading chapters 4 and 5 of OTII with Dr. Hamilton." "Watch lectures 6 and 7 and take notes on the atonement section." "Write the first two paragraphs of the exegetical paper introduction."
The reason this works is that our brains resist ambiguity. When you sit down to study and the first thing you have to do is figure out what to study, that's where procrastination gets its foothold. You're not avoiding the work itself. You're avoiding the decision about where to start.
One of my favorite writers on the internet for many year was Shawn Blanc and he put it this way: your productive day actually starts the evening before. When you plan ahead of time, you're making decisions with a clear head, apart from urgency and emotion. You're not yet feeling the weight of the day. You can think clearly about what matters most. He says the same thing about writing: don't sit down to write and ask yourself what to write about. Know ahead of time. That way, when you sit down, you have one job: do the work.
A while back I tried some of these Analog cards from Ugmonk. They create a small dedicated reminder and space on my desk to think about the next day, write what to do, and have it clearly visible. Obviously you don't need to buy fancy cards, but having something like that gives yourself a physical reminder that is always in front of you in ways that digital cannot.
I've heard stats on podcasts that we make upwards of 35,000 decisions a day. Whether that number is precisely right or not, when you think about it, we make a ton of tiny decisions throughout the day. The concept of decision fatigue is real. Steve Jobs was famous for wearing the same outfit every day, jeans and a black turtleneck, so that one fewer decision competed for space in a day already full of them. You and I probably won't go that far. But the principle applies.
Some of you are thinking, "I already have a syllabus." And that's true. But a syllabus tells you what's due and when. It doesn't tell you what you're doing at 7 a.m. on a Tuesday before the kids wake up, or at 9 p.m. after a full day of work. That level of specificity is yours to create. A note card, a sticky note, a reminder on your phone. Whatever works.
There's a related idea I got from Dr. Jonathan Pennington here at Southern years ago when I was a student. He called it parking on a downhill slope. I wrote about this in more detail a while back, but the short version is this: if you're writing a paper and you finish a section, don't stop there. Write the first sentence or two of the next section before you close the laptop. That way, when you come back, you're not staring at a blank page. You put the car in neutral and you're already rolling.
Whether you study first thing in the morning or late at night, the goal is the same. Remove the question of "what am I doing?" before you get there.
The best session is the one you already planned.
Program News: Fall Experiential Modular
Over the years we have tried to provide more ways for you as online students to connect with each other. I know that oftentimes being an online student can be an isolating experience. For many of you, you're the only one doing theological education in your life. That means that conversations, encouragement, and support that can naturally happen in a residential format are not there. That is one of the reasons we encourage students to do at least one Experiential Modular as an online student.
You spend Monday through Wednesday on campus with in-person class sessions, catered meals with other online students, chapel, guest speakers, and dedicated time for community. Your lodging at the Legacy Hotel and all meals are covered. The only cost beyond tuition is getting here.
The Fall Experiential Modular is already about a third full, and spots are limited by Legacy Hotel capacity. Here is what students have said after attending:
"If you are in Seminary online, this is something you need to do at least once before you graduate."
"After attending classes online for a year I think I truly feel like a legit Southern student now in a way that I did not before."
"Being an online student can be difficult to feel like you're part of the seminary. These three days really made me feel like I'm part of SBTS more than I felt before."
"It completely changes the class experience. It gives you the chance to form meaningful relationships with both your classmates and professors. The opportunity to come be renewed in an encouraging learning environment is incredibly valuable."
"This was the best part of my MDiv to this point."
Register at our Experiential Modular page instead of MySBTS so we can track lodging, dietary needs, and other details.
Quick Reference of Upcoming Term Dates:
- Current Week: Spring 2, Week 1 (April 6-13)
- Summer Term Begins: June 1-July 26
- Fall 1 Term Begins: August 3, 2026
Register for Courses →
Registration for Fall Experiential Modulars opens March 31
Brian Renshaw
Vice President, Enrollment Strategy and Global Campus
The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
Resources for Online Students | Preview an Online Course | View Online Course Catalog
Newsletter: Dynamic Range Leadership
