Have you experienced theological acne? Dogmatic growing pains? When I started seminary, a wise professor assigned all the first-year students Helmut Thielicke’s little book, A Little Exercise for Young Theologians. Thielicke outlines how young theological students are prone to go through a stage of “theological puberty,” a time when they seem to know more theology and Bible than any of their friends and family. If he’s not careful, a young minister-in-training high on freshly learned truth can struggle to appreciate the salt-of-the-earth saints in his home church who haven’t undertaken the same level of biblical study.

Whatever our age, arrogance and fault-finding too often accompany higher-level learning. It’s a real temptation for both theology students and pastor-theologians to lord our knowledge over others in the church instead of seeing their life experience, wisdom, and connection to the real world outside the study as a gift.

How do we avoid being sophomoric in our leadership? In his recent article, theologian Michael Reeves points both young theology students and church leaders further along in ministry to Philippians 2:1–13. Reeves observes how “Paul gives us the secret of humility and the heart of true Christian ministry.” We must behold Christ’s humility so we might adore him, be changed by him, and only then make him known. A theologian’s knowledge may puff up, but we can turn from foolish arrogance and embrace mature humility because Christ’s love builds up (1 Cor. 8:1).

Looking to Jesus,