Over the past five years, I received an unexpected gift that came at an unlikely time. I had stepped away from my role as a worship director to be home with my growing family. When the opportunity to study theology arose, I said yes—one of the costliest “yeses” of my life. Completing the master of divinity at Calvin University demanded much from me and my family, but God’s provision met us at every step.
I don’t know who I would be today without deeper theological formation. The experience shaped me in ways I’m still discovering. One unexpected outcome is how often I now meet people who do not know Jesus. I no longer hold back. My weeks are filled with conversations and invitations to read the Bible with strangers God places in my path.
Since childhood, I’ve carried God’s Word in my heart. Yet something is different now. I don’t love God more because I earned a degree, but I do know God better through disciplined, sustained study of Scripture. I’ve learned to stay with a passage longer, listen more carefully, and trust that God meets us in patient attention.
For many of us, Bible study feels insufficient. The words seem distant, our understanding thin, and our hunger grows. Maybe God is nudging you toward theological or biblical education. People can pursue formal training without any desire for ordination. Preparing for ministry without an official role can equip believers to speak with those outside the church who might feel intimidated by pastors or leadership.
I entered seminary reading Scripture in black and white; I left reading what feels like a Bible with pictures in full color. I learned it’s okay not to digest everything in one sitting. We often set large goals—such as reading the Bible in a year—but I’ve grown most by learning to look very small.
Sometimes I focus on a single word in a passage—a name for God, a repeated verb. I trace it to its Greek or Hebrew roots and imagine how the original audience heard it. Color emerges, bringing depth and life. At times it’s as simple as noticing which verbs are ongoing, meant for us now, and which point toward completion at Christ’s return.
Seminary replaced my black-and-white Bible with one bursting in color. I learned from my professors just how much I don’t know. That sparked a childlike wonder and curiosity to explore Scripture’s context more deeply. I encourage you to seek how you might encounter the living Christ in his Word—whether through formal study, a course, or gathering with friends to dive deeper into Scripture.
About the Author
Jennifer Fortosis, M.Div., is a pianist, composer, liturgist, and speaker. She has released a recent single, “The Presence,” available on Apple Music. She is a member of the Christian Reformed Church and lives with her family in Zeeland, Mich.