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The Doctor of Ministry program gives you the opportunity to:

Deepen

your knowledge of Scripture, homiletics, and expository preaching.

Study

in Los Angeles under renowned pastor-theologians.

Fellowship

with other pastors who share the calling to feed Christ’s flock.

Preach

in your current ministry context using concepts from each modular session.

Classes and Curriculum

View Academic Catalog

The Doctor of Ministry program is a focused opportunity to improve your study of Scripture, your preparation, and your delivery of expository sermons. In this program, you will sit under the teaching and preaching of world-class theologians and faculty. They will mentor you, listen to your sermons, and offer feedback on how you can be more effective in your exposition of the Word of God. The modular format allows you to further your training without leaving your present ministry, giving you the opportunity to put your training into immediate practice.

Seminar Sequences

Year OneUnitsYear TwoUnitsYear Three Units
FallFallFall
Doctrinal Foundations for Expository Preaching (DM 916)4Homiletics and Sermon Delivery (DM 924)4Preaching Research Project I (DM 937)4
Expository Preaching and the Old Testament (DM 914)4Expository Preaching and the New Testament (DM 923)4
Research Seminar I (DM 913)1Preaching Evaluation III (DM 918)0.5
Preaching Evaluation I (DM 900)0.5
SpringSpringSpring
Theology and Expository Preaching (DM 925)4Historical and Contemporary Preaching Models (DM 915) 4Preaching Research Project II (DM 938)4
Preaching Evaluation II (DM 917)0.5Preaching Evaluation IV (DM 920)0.5
Research Seminar II (DM 921)1

What it Takes to Complete

36
credits
4
seminar sessions & dissertation
3
years

Compare the Doctor of Ministry to our other programs


Doctor of Ministry

Prerequisites

  1. Master of Divinity (or M.Div-equivalent M.A. of at least 72 credits)
  2. 3+ years of commendable pastoral ministry experience

Career Outcomes

  1. Enhanced skills in sermon preparation and public exposition of Scripture

Learning Outcomes

  1. As an experienced biblical expositor, to add further understanding, quality, and depth to the exegetical skill needed in sermon preparation.
  2. As an experienced biblical expositor, to add further understanding, quality, and depth to the sermon content synthesis.
  3. As an experienced biblical expositor, to add further understanding, quality, and depth to the rhetorical eloquence.
  4. As an experienced biblical expositor, to demonstrate enhanced expository preaching skills in a culminating program project.

Master of Divinity

Prerequisites

  1. Bachelor’s Degree
  2. A consistent record of commendable Christian ministry experience.

Career Outcomes

Qualification for pastoral, missionary, and Christian education ministries, as well as further graduate study.

Learning Outcomes

  1. As a future elder, pastor, missionary, or educator, comprehend the significant areas of biblical interpretation, biblical languages, Christian theology and pastoral ministry.
  2. As a future elder/pastor, construct a personal, biblical philosophy of ministry with application to the desired vocational goals.
  3. As a future preacher/teacher of the Scripture, synthesize the input of biblical languages, Bible backgrounds and theological constructs to preach and teach the Bible to varied age levels and abilities within any ministry context.
  4. As a future spiritual leader, exhibit the disciplines of holiness, prayer, leadership, and compassion required for ministry.

Doctor of Ministry

Prerequisites

  1. Master of Divinity (or M.Div-equivalent M.A. of at least 72 credits)
  2. 3+ years of commendable pastoral ministry experience

Career Outcomes

  1. Enhanced skills in sermon preparation and public exposition of Scripture

Learning Outcomes

  1. As an experienced biblical expositor, to add further understanding, quality, and depth to the exegetical skill needed in sermon preparation.
  2. As an experienced biblical expositor, to add further understanding, quality, and depth to the sermon content synthesis.
  3. As an experienced biblical expositor, to add further understanding, quality, and depth to the rhetorical eloquence.
  4. As an experienced biblical expositor, to demonstrate enhanced expository preaching skills in a culminating program project.

Master of Theology

Prerequisites

  1. Master of Divinity (or M.Div-equivalent M.A. of at least 72 credits)
  2. A consistent record of commendable Christian ministry experience

Career Outcomes

Qualification to fulfill a teaching position and pursue doctoral study, such as the PhD

Learning Outcomes

  1. As an advancing scholar, specialize in an area of biblical or theological studies, gaining facility in its literature and scholarship.
  2. As an advancing exegete, employ more refined skills in Hebrew and Greek translation, exegesis, and interpretation.
  3. As an advancing teacher, implement the skills of communication and effective teaching of course content.
  4. As an advancing researcher, demonstrate thoughtfulness, in-depth interaction, thorough research, and excellence in scholarly writing

Doctor of Ministry

Prerequisites

  1. Master of Divinity (or M.Div-equivalent M.A. of at least 72 credits)
  2. 3+ years of commendable pastoral ministry experience

Career Outcomes

  1. Enhanced skills in sermon preparation and public exposition of Scripture

Learning Outcomes

  1. As an experienced biblical expositor, to add further understanding, quality, and depth to the exegetical skill needed in sermon preparation.
  2. As an experienced biblical expositor, to add further understanding, quality, and depth to the sermon content synthesis.
  3. As an experienced biblical expositor, to add further understanding, quality, and depth to the rhetorical eloquence.
  4. As an experienced biblical expositor, to demonstrate enhanced expository preaching skills in a culminating program project.

Doctor of Philosophy

Prerequisites

  1. Master of Theology
  2. A consistent record of commendable Christian ministry experience

Career Outcomes

Qualification for professorship, writing, and research

Learning Outcomes

  1. As a critical thinker, collect and analyze primary and secondary sources of information, critique interpretations of the evidence, synthesize the evidence for future scholarly contributions to the field of study, and draw and integrate implications for professional practice.
  2. As a theological exegete, apply exegetical skills to the biblical text, develop a theological critique of views related to the text, and connect the issue with its historical precedents.
  3. As a scholarly communicator, engage in quality written papers and oral presentations in colloquia for the purpose of disseminating personal scholarship to peer audiences as well as future readers and hearers of their work

Doctor of Ministry

Prerequisites

  1. Master of Divinity (or M.Div-equivalent M.A. of at least 72 credits)
  2. 3+ years of commendable pastoral ministry experience

Career Outcomes

  1. Enhanced skills in sermon preparation and public exposition of Scripture

Learning Outcomes

  1. As an experienced biblical expositor, to add further understanding, quality, and depth to the exegetical skill needed in sermon preparation.
  2. As an experienced biblical expositor, to add further understanding, quality, and depth to the sermon content synthesis.
  3. As an experienced biblical expositor, to add further understanding, quality, and depth to the rhetorical eloquence.
  4. As an experienced biblical expositor, to demonstrate enhanced expository preaching skills in a culminating program project.

Bachelor of Theology

Prerequisites

  1. A minimum of 30 semester units of undergraduate general education credits, with at least 3 of those credits in math
  2. A consistent record of commendable Christian ministry experience.
  3. Over 25 years old

Career Outcomes

Qualification for pastoral, missionary, and Christian education ministries, as well as further graduate study

Learning Outcomes

  1. As a future elder, pastor, missionary, or educator, comprehend the significant areas of biblical interpretation, biblical languages, Christian theology and pastoral ministry.
  2. As a future elder/pastor, construct a personal, biblical philosophy of ministry with application to the desired vocational goals.
  3. As a future preacher/teacher of the Scripture, synthesize the input of biblical languages, Bible backgrounds and theological constructs to preach and teach the Bible to varied age levels and abilities within any ministry context.
  4. As a future spiritual leader, exhibit the disciplines of holiness, prayer, leadership, and compassion required for ministry.

Doctor of Ministry

Prerequisites

  1. Master of Divinity (or M.Div-equivalent M.A. of at least 72 credits)
  2. 3+ years of commendable pastoral ministry experience

Career Outcomes

  1. Enhanced skills in sermon preparation and public exposition of Scripture

Learning Outcomes

  1. As an experienced biblical expositor, to add further understanding, quality, and depth to the exegetical skill needed in sermon preparation.
  2. As an experienced biblical expositor, to add further understanding, quality, and depth to the sermon content synthesis.
  3. As an experienced biblical expositor, to add further understanding, quality, and depth to the rhetorical eloquence.
  4. As an experienced biblical expositor, to demonstrate enhanced expository preaching skills in a culminating program project.

Diploma of Theology

Prerequisites

  1. o previous degrees required
  2. A consistent record of commendable Christian ministry experience
  3. Over 25 years old

Career Outcomes

Qualification for pastoral, missionary, and Christian education ministries, as well as further graduate study.

Learning Outcomes

  1. As a future elder, pastor, missionary, or educator, comprehend the significant areas of biblical interpretation, biblical languages, Christian theology and pastoral ministry.
  2. As a future elder/pastor, construct a personal, biblical philosophy of ministry with application to the desired vocational goals.
  3. As a future preacher/teacher of the Scripture, synthesize the input of biblical languages, Bible backgrounds and theological constructs to preach and teach the Bible to varied age levels and abilities within any ministry context.
  4. As a future spiritual leader, exhibit the disciplines of holiness, prayer, leadership, and compassion required for ministry.

Frequent Questions

What is the difference between the Doctor of Ministry and Doctor of Philosophy programs?

The Ph.D. is a research-based degree that involves research languages, work in the biblical languages, and a dissertation and defense. The goal is that students would contribute in a meaningful way to the ongoing academic conversation. The Ph.D. program is designed to train students who desire to teach and research. This is the highest degree one can attain in biblical scholarship. 

The D.Min. focuses not on current trends in biblical scholarship or the preaching of a fourth century church father (for example), but your preaching. You will still need to research, but it will be research that is aimed to make you a better preacher for your local church. Every assignment will be directed at your personal homiletics in the context of your local church.

The Ph.D. is for the man who wants to research, write, and teach at the highest levels of academics. The D.Min. is for the man who wants to refine his preaching. It’s for the busy pastor who desires to serve his church better, and to become a more useful instrument in the hand of God.

What is the format of the Doctor of Ministry curriculum?

The Doctor of Ministry program at The Master’s Seminary is a 3-year, modular program. For the first two years, students travel to Los Angeles for on-campus, intensive courses in the summer and winter. These on-campus sessions are taught by some of this generation’s most gifted preachers—men such as Sinclair Ferguson, Steve Lawson, Joel Beeke, Dale Ralph Davis, Daniel Block, Derek Thomas, H.B. Charles, Michael Reeves, Thomas Schreiner, John MacArthur, and more. 

The final year is spent writing the dissertation—the Preaching Project. Students do not come to Los Angeles in this final year for instruction. In this year, students work closely with their advisor, the staff, and a second reader as they research and write. The Preaching Project is a 125–175 page dissertation that students work on throughout the entire program. The final two semesters are devoted entirely to this project. The focus of the paper is the pastor’s personal exposition and local church. 

The program is designed around a mentor model. Students are assigned several preaching mentors who will listen to their preaching and give them personal feedback. As a result, students’ preaching will receive attention and feedback from the faculty and staff throughout the program. 

Who makes up the Doctor of Ministry faculty?

A seminary is nothing more nor less than its faculty. Your professors will be the men who influence your life. In the D.Min. program, we bring in some of the finest expositors in the world as our visiting professors. These men bring a perspective and nuance to our program that students do not receive in the M.Div. 

Who better than Joel Beeke to lecture on the Puritans? Who better to speak on the ministry of the Holy Spirit than Sinclair Ferguson? Who better to lead a study through the book of Deuteronomy than Daniel Block? The answer is no one. We bring the leading professors on a variety of subjects to come teach our D.Min. students. 

Some have expressed concern that not all of our lecturers align at every point with the doctrinal statement of The Master’s Seminary. This is true. But we do not have these men lecture on issues where they differ. And by bringing these men to TMS as lecturers, students are given perspectives that they would not otherwise have access to. Thus, our lecturers for this program are a combination of TMS faculty and visiting scholars, giving students the best of all possible doctoral programs. 

Do I need to know the biblical languages to enroll in the Doctor of Ministry program?

The first thing that needs to be said is that this is not the M.Div. There will be no conjugation exams or vocabulary quizzes. There will be no quizzes on Greek paradigms. But we do want pastors to feel comfortable working in the biblical languages as they craft their sermons, using every tool available to them. 

There is the expectation that men will be working in the original languages on their projects. But they will be given months to work on these projects, and they will be free to use every resource available to them. 

In sum, yes—this program will use the original languages, because the preacher needs to feel comfortable handling the text in its original form. But no—this should not deter students who have not handled the languages recently. This will be a time of refreshing and strengthening. And students will graduate with a chest of language resources to aid them in their current ministry.

I have an MDiv. Do I need a DMin?

At The Master’s Seminary, the focus of the M.Div. is getting the text right. Students learn the basics of the biblical languages, a proper hermeneutic, theology, and are introduced to preaching. The degree is broad and foundational, and necessary for both of those reasons. Yet because of its breadth, students aren’t given the opportunity to become specialists in any one area. 

The Doctor of Ministry program gives students the opportunity to specialize in expository preaching. The faculty address the nuances of preaching, not only in general, but the nuances of your preaching. Three years are spent shaping and maturing your own preaching within the context of your local church. The M.Div. lays the necessary foundation for this program, but the curriculum of the M.Div. cannot rival the focus and depth of the D.Min.

If you want to hone the gift that God has given you, enroll in the TMS D.Min. program. 

Who is the ideal student for the Doctor of Ministry program?

The D.Min is designed for:

  1. Consistent Preachers. First and foremost, this program is designed for men who preach week-after-week in their local church. Whether it’s preaching for the youth group, Wednesday-night service, or Sunday morning, the D.Min. was designed to help men who have a weekly preaching ministry. 
  2. Seasoned Preachers. For applicants with an M.Div., ideal candidates will have at least 3 consecutive years of preaching before applying. For applicants with an M.A. (72+ credits) in a biblical field, ideal candidates will have at least 5 consecutive years of preaching before applying. 
  3. Humble Preachers. This program is designed for men who realize their preaching needs to mature and develop. Men who desire to learn and grow will thrive in this program. 
  4. Busy Preachers. We understand that you are a pastor, a husband, a father, and a friend. This program is designed for the busy pastor who wants to sharpen his preaching. The assignments are directly applicable to your own preaching and local church, so they will not be a waste of your time. Instead, the workload will make you a more effective pastor.
  5. Motivated Preachers. A guy who has a drive. Working hard week after week, and they’re so motivated that they want to do the DMin.   
  6. All Preachers. Whether you preach at a church with 30 or 3,000 members, this program will elevate and mature your preaching. Whether you are the youth pastor, counseling pastor, or senior pastor, if you are preaching regularly, this program will refine how you handle the Word of God. Whether you are 27 or 77, God wants you to serve the church in the way that He has gifted you. If you are called to preach the Word, then you need to fan that calling into flame. 

Why TMS?

You wouldn’t trust a doctor who didn’t train at a hospital, who had never cared for an actual patient. In the same way, you shouldn’t entrust the care of your soul, or your family’s, to a pastor with no local church experience. You want someone who was trained in the church and trained by pastors.

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