[A2J]

According to their model, I should be establishing myself in a career, and studying the Bible on my own and being mentored by older men in the church. That should be sufficient to prepare me for the ministry, because God didn't establish seminaries in the New Testament church, he established the local church.

Needless to say, I did not and do not agree.

Well, the lack of a seminary degree seemed to work quite well for the disciples on their way to turning the world upside down.

I have no problem with seeking and/or receiving more education but, from what I've seen and heard, seminaries put out more disciples of the denominations that created them than genuine, Christ-like diciples.

In addition, don't be deceived in thinking that a "formal education" is of more benefit than a "normal education" (i.e., as in life) because it's interesting that the Jewish council took note of the lack of formal education that Peter, et al, had and were stumped as to the impact they were making. However, the same council also realized that the disciples had "been with Jesus" (Acts 4:13), that is "normal education."

Mentoring worked for the disciples then and it works even today.

[PAR35]

Well, the lack of a seminary degree seemed to work quite well for the disciples on their way to turning the world upside down.

The apostles got several years of training before they were sent out. Timothy trained under Paul before he was sent out. The idea of training was not foreign to the early church.

seminaries put out more disciples of the denominations that created them than genuine, Christ-like diciples.

In that case, your flock needs to avoid study Bibles, since they have as much theological bias as any seminary.