“You will never arrive as a preacher” are words that will stay with me forever. To stand before God’s people week after week and proclaim his Word is a profoundly rewarding and humbling privilege, yet after every sermon, I am always struck by how I could have spoken with more clarity, greater passion, or sharper focus.
Preachers are always growing, refining, and adapting their craft, learning through experience and the relationships formed along the way, all in the pursuit of becoming better preachers for the glory of God and the good of his people. One of the most impactful ways an inexperienced preacher grows is through seminary. But, while professors provide invaluable instruction, the peers walking the same path have an equally profound impact on the growth of a preacher.
This was certainly my experience as an MDiv student at Southwestern Seminary.
Relationships are Invaluable
Relationships are extremely valuable in all spheres of life, but in ministry they are absolutely essential. As a recent seminary graduate, I’ve seen how much stronger my preaching became when I invited others into the sermon preparation process. At Southwestern, I regularly workshopped main ideas, outlines, and illustrations with classmates. Those conversations challenged me and gave me insights I would have missed on my own. Their encouragement, pushback, and fresh perspective shaped not only the sermons that I preached in class, but also the ones I preached in local churches.
More than that, those friendships reminded me that God placed me at Southwestern for a reason—not only to grow as a preacher and potential pastor, but to build lifelong friendships that continue to sharpen me for a lifetime. They’ve made me a better pastor, but they’ve also made me a better man, and I’m grateful.
Feedback is Critical
When students’ relationships are grounded in the gospel, this provides the foundation for constructive feedback. When egos are laid aside in class, critique from fellow students becomes less about elevating yourself and more about sharpening each other for the sake of the gospel. The feedback from my professor was always helpful, but I can think of countless times when critique from a peer exposed a weak spot or helped me understand how to make a point clearer to a listener. The classroom became a place to learn that feedback isn’t a threat—it’s a tool. God uses gracious critique to remind us that there is always room to grow in our preaching so that we are workers who have no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the Word of truth (2 Timothy 2:15).
Encouragement is Necessary
Preaching can be discouraging. No matter how long you’ve been at it, there’s always room for improvement. Relationships help you grow, both during and after seminary.. Feedback helps you improve, both within and beyond the classroom. But encouragement is always a blessing from a brother in Christ, especially when it reminds you that God is using your preaching even when you don’t feel like it.
The Lord gifted me with several seminary friends who regularly listen to my sermons and provide feedback and encouragement. Their ongoing support has strengthened my preaching, encouraged my heart, and reminded me that ministry is never meant to be done alone. I have countless stories of encouragement—a thoughtful text, a timely phone call, or a handwritten note—that have been such a blessing. I need their insight and their critique as I continue to hone my skills, and I also need their affirmation on days when preaching feels exhausting and ministry feels burdensome.
Friendships Are Priceless
Never underestimate the impact that relationships with your peers can have, not only on your personal spiritual growth, but also on the specific ministry to which the Lord has called you. I enrolled in seminary expecting to get a world-class education, which I did, but what you can’t put a price tag on is the relationships that I will carry with me for a lifetime. These fellow aspiring pastors have a fervor to exalt Christ through preaching text-driven sermons and shepherding the flock of God that has been entrusted to them (1 Pet. 5:2), and I’m honored to walk alongside them. Relationships with your peers are priceless, providing encouragement, wisdom, and support that strengthen our ministries and conform us more into the image of Christ.
