Developing a personal theology

Developing a personal theology

Acts 1:8Shelbyville

Acts 1:8Shelbyville

What is Theology?

• Study of or science of God

• Systematic theology is any study that answers the question, “What does the whole Bible teach us today?” about any given topic. (Grudem)

• That discipline which strives to give a coherent statement of the doctrines of the Christ faith, based primarily on the Scriptures, placed in the context of culture in general, worded in a contemporary idiom, and related to life issues. (Erickson)

Grudem, Wayne (2009-05-18). Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine. Zondervan. Kindle Edition.

Erickson, Millard J. Christian Theology. 2nd. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2000. Print.

Power of the blank page

Power of the blank page

If you don’t know where you’re going, you might end up

somewhere else.

If you don’t know where you’re going, you might end up

somewhere else.

TextText

TobyKeith.comTobyKeith.com

What do you believe?

What do you believe?

what do you believe?

• Take out a blank piece of paper

• Write down at least one core theological belief

• Answer, “Why is this a core belief?”

• Provide Biblical support for your belief

• Answer, “How does this belief affect your everyday faith journey?”

Why develop a personal theology?

1. The basic reason for studying systematic theology is that it enables us to teach ourselves and others what the whole Bible says, thus fulfilling the second part of the Great Commission.

2. Studying theology helps us overcome our wrong ideas.

3. Studying systematic theology helps us to be able to make better decisions later on new questions of doctrine that may arise.

4. Studying systematic theology will help us grow as Christians.

Grudem, Wayne (2009-05-18). Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine. Zondervan. Kindle Edition.

Why develop a personal theology?

1. Theology is important because correct doctrinal beliefs are essential to the relationship between the believer and God.

2. Theology is necessary because truth and experiences are related.

3. Theology is needful because of the large number of alternatives and challenges abroad at the present time.

Erickson, Millard J. Christian Theology. 2nd. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2000. Print.

Why develop a personal theology?

1.Our values and beliefs consciously or subconsciously affect our behavior. (Matthew 6.21)

2.Therefore, we must strive to be sure of what we believe. (2 Timothy 2.15)

3.Because, what we believe, as Christians, has to properly represent the King of our Kingdom. (2 Corinthians 5.19-20)

If you don’t know where you’re going, you might end up

somewhere else.

If you don’t know where you’re going, you might end up

somewhere else.

TextText

TobyKeith.comTobyKeith.com

Developing a personal theology

1. The Word of God has to be the foundation of our theology

2. Strive to make our theology applicable to everyday living

1. Cross as Intersection

3. Understand that our theology will most likely evolve as our understanding of the Lord increases

Doctrine of revelation

• General Revelation

1. “general revelation”—that is, revelation that is given not just to certain people but to all people generally.

2. General revelation includes both the revelation of God that comes through nature (see Ps. 19:1–6; Acts 14:17) and the revelation of God that comes through the inner sense of right and wrong in every person’s heart (Rom. 2:15).

Grudem, Wayne (2009-05-18). Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine. Zondervan. Kindle Edition.

Doctrine of revelation

• Specific Revelation

1. Special revelation includes all the words of Scripture but is not limited to the words of Scripture, for it also includes, for example, many words of Jesus that were not recorded in Scripture, and probably there were many words spoken by Old Testament prophets and New Testament apostles that were not recorded in Scripture either.

Grudem, Wayne (2009-05-18). Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine. Zondervan. Kindle Edition.