But as for you,
teach what is consistent with sound doctrine.
Titus 2:1
teach what is consistent with sound doctrine.
Titus 2:1
I strive to teach well. In a number of different settings, I am given the privilege to teach. I take that privilege very seriously. I have been assured that teachers are held to a high standard, and I think about that high standard every time I teach.
I am remembering today the person most responsible for teaching me sound doctrine. His name was William Hendricks, and he passed away in early December ten years ago.
Outside of my family, Dr. Hendricks was the most influential person in my life.
I am remembering today the person most responsible for teaching me sound doctrine. His name was William Hendricks, and he passed away in early December ten years ago.
Outside of my family, Dr. Hendricks was the most influential person in my life.
When I was a student at Harvard I attended a student conference one year. The speaker was a theology professor who had recently taken a faculty position at Golden Gate Theological Seminary in northern California. I had never heard of him before that weekend. But after meeting Dr. Hendricks and hearing him speak, I knew that I simply had to study with him at Golden Gate. I had never before seen such passion and creativity and brilliance. Like many other theology students of my generation, I was captivated by him.
I am confident that God led me to California to attend seminary in 1979 - but I am just as certain that God used Dr. Hendricks to fill me with that sense of call.
As a seminary student, I took every course that Dr. Hendricks taught. He had a brilliant mind and a sharp wit. He was creative, demanding, intimidating, and encouraging all at the same time. I was captivated by his teaching. And today, when I think about all that I believe, I realize that much of it came from him.
Dr. Hendricks was bigger than life. I saw him debate other theologians, members of other faiths, and world-famous scholars. Rarely did I see him bested. Even when someone else got the upper hand, I never saw Dr. Hendricks admit it! He talked about things that everybody understood - and he talked about things that no one understood. And he made it all fun.
After I finished my coursework for both my masters and doctorate at Golden Gate, Dr. Hendricks left California to serve in Kentucky. He supervised the writing of my doctoral dissertation from a distance. And the very next year I found myself teaching at Golden Gate the courses that he had taught. More often than not, I found myself teaching exactly what he had taught me. I guess that's how good doctrine gets passed down from one generation to the next.
Even though we didn't see each other much after that, I was always so deeply grateful for my faithful and godly mentor. And I still am today.
Dr. Hendricks left his mark in many places. Most certainly, he left his mark on me. And I thank God for my good, good teacher.
I am confident that God led me to California to attend seminary in 1979 - but I am just as certain that God used Dr. Hendricks to fill me with that sense of call.
As a seminary student, I took every course that Dr. Hendricks taught. He had a brilliant mind and a sharp wit. He was creative, demanding, intimidating, and encouraging all at the same time. I was captivated by his teaching. And today, when I think about all that I believe, I realize that much of it came from him.
Dr. Hendricks was bigger than life. I saw him debate other theologians, members of other faiths, and world-famous scholars. Rarely did I see him bested. Even when someone else got the upper hand, I never saw Dr. Hendricks admit it! He talked about things that everybody understood - and he talked about things that no one understood. And he made it all fun.
After I finished my coursework for both my masters and doctorate at Golden Gate, Dr. Hendricks left California to serve in Kentucky. He supervised the writing of my doctoral dissertation from a distance. And the very next year I found myself teaching at Golden Gate the courses that he had taught. More often than not, I found myself teaching exactly what he had taught me. I guess that's how good doctrine gets passed down from one generation to the next.
Even though we didn't see each other much after that, I was always so deeply grateful for my faithful and godly mentor. And I still am today.
Dr. Hendricks left his mark in many places. Most certainly, he left his mark on me. And I thank God for my good, good teacher.