Dr. Max Lee is The Paul W. Brandel Chair of Biblical Studies. He came to North Park Theological Seminary with a passion to prepare students for a lifetime of pastoral ministry through theological education. As a New Testament professor, Lee enjoys helping students develop the skill sets they need to be better preachers and teachers of God’s word. He will be speaking on Thursday morning at Midwinter 2026.
Where do you call home these days—and what does community look like for you there?
As a theological educator for the church, I have called North Park Theological Seminary my home for scholarship and teaching for the past 20 years, and I’m grateful to have served the Covenant for this long. Community for me is where church and family meet in the messy middle of meddling with one another’s lives.
What’s a moment when you’ve seen love between people change a situation, a team, or a relationship?
I am grateful for many moments where I have been the recipient and giver of Christ’s love throughout my life’s journey: from my parents who raised me in a Christian home, to my salvation experience through the outreach of a campus Bible study group when I was a college student at Berkeley, to my call to ministry and the mentors who supported my call, to godly scholars who helped foster the kind of pastoral scholarship I practice today, and especially the sacrifice of my wife, Su, and my sons, who have shared the many challenges we faced moving from California to the Chicagoland area. I could go on, but if there was a thread to all these moments, it was the mercy and grace of God tying every experience together.
What helps you stay open to loving others when life or ministry feels demanding?
As I get older, I feel the relentless gravity of wanting things to remain the same. But love always demands becoming new wineskin for the new wine. At every moment when life and ministry feels demanding, I have to make a conscious decision to surrender to Christ, obey his calling, and refuse to harden my heart. And where I struggle with surrender, I often pray, “Lord, help me! Lord, fight for me! Lord, change me!”
When the church truly lives out “one another,” what kind of impact do you think becomes possible?
If we can love one another and if there are daring, courageous brothers and sisters of the Lord willing to be pioneers and start the reciprocity of love moving forward in the church, then there should never be the “lonely Christian” and the church becomes the sacred space within which lives are transformed and God’s glory in Christ is made visible.
What do you like to bring to the potluck?
Any Asian food: Korean BBQ, potstickers, garlic fried rice, Japchae (a stir-fried glass noodle dish), seafood pancakes, and the list goes on.
