Like the old hymn says, "it is no secret what God can do." It's also no secret that apparently, he rarely delivers pastors from the burden of modern student debt. Whatever the theological implications of that little bit of financial theodicy (you'll get the joke if you went to seminary), one point is clear for many modern ministers—the cost of theological education—however valuable its' content—is awfully steep.

And, if current trends are to be believed, that cost is getting more difficult to pay off. A recent article inThe Atlantic examines the drop in full-time pastoral jobs (and wages) and the corresponding rise in bivocational ministry. It's prompted by some sobering numbers:

Of the seminary students who graduated in 2011 with a Master of Divinity degree (the typical degree for a full-time pastor), more than 25 percent accrued more than $40,000 in educational debt, and five percent accumulated more than $80,000 in debt. Those lucky enough to get a full-time job as a pastor will join a profession whose median wage is $43,800, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.

Combined with the recession's drop in church giving, there are no easy answers for many pastors, who struggle balancing their call to ministry and their need for financial provision, especially after an expensive degree.

But there's an ecclesiological angle to this too. The Atlantic prints a great question from Cameron Lee, a Fuller Theological Seminary professor:

"What is a church willing to do to support its pastor?" he asks. "And is that willingness conditioned by a consumerist mindset or a robust theology of what it means to be the church in the real world?"

Leadership Journal is a big fan both of rigorous seminary education and of the creative possibilities of bivocational ministry.

Every now and again, I'll receive one of those emails that makes me say: "Huh?" My face contorts into an expression of massive confusion, and I'm left not quite sure what to respond. I can tell from the length or the content of the email that a response is needed, but something about the message has made even getting started on a response a huge headache.

For those days where you're faced with a similar conundrum, here's my advice: Do not engage the nonsensical email, and throw it back in the other person's court instead.

To help you out, I've compiled my suggested responses to the four most common types of confusing emails I receive.

This type of email is the worst offender. Usually quite long, with a lot of detail, the rambling non-ask email is often unstructured — and unclear as to what the sender is really after. You re-read it (then re-read it again after you've had some coffee), and realize that it's not yourfuzzy brain — it's some seriously fuzzy communication.

Your response
Thanks so much for your email, [name]. There's a lot to think about here. In the interest of getting back to you promptly, could you help me understand exactly what you'd like me to assist with?

This type of email wants you to help make a decision or answer a question, but does not give you sufficient data or context to do so. (Think: "Can I get some thoughts on the Miller proposal?")

Your response
Thanks so much for your email, [name]. Can you please give me a little more context on the situation here, and send over [the information about or data necessary to answer]? Once you send that over, I'll be able to respond.

In my book for teachers and small group leaders, Gospel-Centered Teaching,I recommend asking a "big story" question during preparation: "How does this topic or passage fit into the big picture story of the Bible?" It's a question we always ask as we work on The Gospel Project curriculum.

A gospel-centered teacher wants to help people learn to read the Bible for themselves, to understand the flow of the narrative, how the different genres fit into that narrative, and how to apply the truths of the Bible with wisdom.

One of the best ways to get a feel for the Bible's narrative is to read through the Bible chronologically. Another way is to read at least one or two Bible overview books a year.

Here are twelve books I recommend. Each provides an overview of the Bible, moving from easier to more difficult.

The Big Picture Story Bible by David Helm

This book is for young kids. Beautifully illustrated, it walks through the Bible, following the plot line of "God's people in God's place under God's rule." Full confession: I've been known to give this out to parents with preschoolers hoping that the parents would find it as beneficial as the kids.

The Big Picture Interactive Bible Storybookfrom The Gospel Project

This illustrated Bible stays close to the biblical text. It focuses on the major stories of the Bible (and gives a lot of attention to the major and minor prophets).

There is a "Big Picture Question and Answer" for every Bible story (which serves as a catechetical exercise for parents who want to instill biblical truths in their children). Each story also includes a Christ connection that points forward to Jesus' work for us.