Weekly Email: March 24, 2025
This week we’re running another giveaway. You’ll find the details at the end of this email. We’re collecting short stories about how you’re using your studies at Southern Seminary in your current ministry. These stories will be shared with other students via social media and this weekly email to offer encouragement and connection as they pursue their own calling.
It ties in closely with this week’s student tip, which is all about why you’re doing this in the first place.
Student Tip: What’s Your Why?
Two colleagues and I recently read through Start With Why by Simon Sinek and had a great discussion about how our various roles at Southern Seminary can communicate the mission and vision of the institution to our teams and in everything we do.
Sinek’s book is really about getting to the root question of knowing the why behind what you do. He defines it like this:
“Your WHY is the purpose, cause or belief that inspires you to do what you do.”
Even though it’s a business book, our conversation quickly turned toward our own experiences as students. Each of us, either current or former students, realized that the why behind our studies was one of the things that propelled us forward with a clear vision of what we were doing and why we were doing it.
So much of the productivity advice I give here is about the what and the how. But this week, I want you to reflect on your why.
Maybe:
You’re currently in ministry, and you’re striving to further your education and theological foundation to better teach and disciple your members.
You’re a biblical counselor, and you need a framework to help you care for others walking through trauma and other difficulties.
You’re in the business world, and you’ve realized it would be valuable to have a theological foundation for conversations in your secular workplace and to serve more faithfully in your church.
You’re a missionary, taking the gospel to unreached people groups, and your seminary education is giving you the tools to know Jesus more deeply and teach His Word to the next generation in their own country.
Knowing the why behind what you’re doing is important. It’s what drives us. It’s what gives us a clear vision.
At the end of the day, I think we can all say that we’re doing this education thing to become better disciples of Jesus Christ and to take the gospel to the world. That may be in our backyard or literally around the world. But I want you to go one step further.
What specifically is driving you to pursue theological education here at Southern?
I’d love to hear from you. Feel free to respond to this email as I love chatting with students and hearing what’s motivating you. Just know that my team and I, and everyone here at Southern, are here to support you along the way.
Program News: Greek & Hebrew for Life Conference
On behalf of the Daily Dose of Greek & Hebrew ministry and Southern Seminary Academy, I invite you to this year’s Greek & Hebrew for Life Conference and Greek & Hebrew Review Courses! These two events aim to guide you in utilizing biblical languages for your life and ministry. If you have not kept up in your Greek and/or Hebrew, would like to get a head-start on learning, or would like to connect with others and dive deeper, this is an event for you. The breakout sessions will cover foundational and advanced topics in Hebrew and Greek, Septuagint Studies, General Bible Backgrounds, Preaching & Pastoring, Aramaic, and more.
Main Topic: The Use of Biblical Languages in Ministry & Devotion
Date: July 25, 12:30 pm – July 26, 3 pm.
Cost: $10 for Boyce College and Southern Seminary Alumni and $85 for Students & Guests *All tickets include a free Lunch on Saturday and lots of giveaways.
Giveaways: Conference bags will include several practical Greek and Hebrew books. Before each session, further giveaways will also take place.
Location: Southern Seminary
You can find more information here.
GIVEAWAY: Your Story at Southern
We’re giving away a full stack of books from our faculty here at Southern. To enter, just click the link below and share a short story about how your studies at Southern Seminary are impacting your current ministry. We’re hoping to collect these stories and share with other students in future newsletters to offer encouragement and remind each other why this work matters. The giveaway closes on Tuesday, April 1 at 11:59 p.m. EST, and I'll announce the winner the next day.
That's all for this week! You can browse past emails in the archive or explore Course Snapshots to find textbooks, course descriptions, and details about what we offer online.
