Dr. Jeffrey Bingham had been the Department Chair and Professor of Theological Studies at Dallas Theological Seminary and now Associate Dean of Biblical and Theological Studies at Wheaton College as of 2013. He has unmatched classroom presence, posture, presentation, passion, precision, and practical application. I never wanted his church history classes to end. He takes you back in time as if no time passed while relating to the present. He draws out cultural and church norms to de-mythify, debunk, and provide incredible clarity of what to believe and how to think. He's a wide reader with a narrow focus. One would find it difficult to walk away from any class bored or ill motivated. His height, dry humor, story telling abilities, gentle spirit, and strong conviction create a hook for the heart to hear.
Inspirational Teachers - Dr. Chisholm Jr.
Dr. Chisholm Jr., Department Chair and Professor of Old Testament at Dallas Theological Seminary, pulsates passion for God. He loves for students to grasp God by seeing him through the Old Testament, as it lays the sure foundation for the coming Messiah Jesus read in the New Testament. Dr. Chisholm teaches steadily, poignantly, and clearly in the classroom while continuing in his love for people outside the classroom and into the city.
Inspirational Teachers - Dr. Horrell
Dr. Horrell, a long term missionary and professor of Theological Studies at Dallas Theological Seminary, anchored a passion in me for theology. He obliterates the sense that theology lingers as a stale, lifeless, and desolate seminarian discipline of the brain. Large or small class sizes, Dr. Horrell engages learning students with clear lectures, reflective questions, thoughtful discussion, experiential wisdom, engaging life stories, crazy missionary testimonies, insightful counseling tips, and worthy assignments. He confronts world-views with truth and in a loving manner that blesses the heart.
Inspirational Teachers - Dr. Morley
Dr. Brian Morley, Professor of Philosophy and Apologetics at The Master's College, provides students an example of deep humility, wisdom, truth, and love when approaching differing views to Christ and Christianity. His mastery of philosophy, love for the Lord, and overlay of history intertwine through every lesson in order to develop each student for real life. Students willing to listen and learn will recognize him as more than a man filling a classroom role and truly see a teacher preparing them for the fight of truth and life in a world fraught with deception and lifelessness.
Inspirational Teachers - Dr. Varner
Dr. Varner (warmly known as Dr. IBEX), one of the Biblical Studies' professors at The Master's College (my undergraduate alma mater), taught me unwavering passion for the life of Christ. He gave timely humor, personal involvement, authentic concern for the life of a student, clear biblical direction, consistent study, real prayer, a gentleness in spirit, and a real life for us to see beyond the classroom. Sitting in the front row, I saw authentic tears from a man personally affected by the truth of Christ, especially the passion week of Christ. The reality of Jesus, the Son of God, dying and resurrecting for the forgiveness of mankind's sins emanates from his heart. Thank you Dr. Varner for caring for God's word and people - even the humor!
Inspirational Teachers - Dr. Gregg Behle
Dr. Gregg Behle, a Biblical Studies' professor at The Master's College (my undergraduate alma mater), gave a fresh, clear, and poignant sense of being a teacher. He taught by example and content. He is a Christian that's true to the text, alive in the classroom, active beyond the classroom, astute in study, humble in demeanor, challenging to the mind, relationally hospitable, deep with counsel, family man, caring, and fun. He is a teacher teaching teachings for sure. I wish more time came to sit under his teaching
Inspirational Teachers - My Dad
My dad is my dad (Brad Gunter Sr.). Born in hard working, blue collar, Oregon lumber mill family. Athletic to the bone, socially fun, and experienced in wide array of work. Vintage baptist preacher, 1970's church planter, and founder of a Christian school. Not a quitter, gritty, and fighter for good. He for sure is a character. He came to know Christ, who led him to Sacramento to plant the gospel, along with a wife and three sons. Much reflection can be done to his accomplishments. He might tell you of teaching stories about bus ministries, broken cars, eating gold fishes in front of kids, and usefulness of the mobile home as economical beginnings to a minister's life. As a dad, he was there when many were not. I learned work, sports, responsibility, respect, fortitude, conviction, tradition, grace, and love from him (also how to kill animals).
Inspirational Teachers Series
This Inspirational Teachers Series has been transferred from my previous and personal blog called Missional Education, Absorbing the Mission of God. Missional Education became a key concept from learning how theology intersects life well beyond a classroom. Telos Center came from that to put Missional Education to the test of life. I long to see students learn from inspirational teachers that guide them to God, into God's word, and into God's world for his purposes and glory. Students who are humble and teachable deeply absorb and live by what they are taught and who they trust.
