This is my latest reading material: Systematic Theology by Wayne Grudem. I've been thinking a lot for the past couple of months about how important it is for us to have a solid foundation in our beliefs as Christians. I've also been thinking a lot about how much baggage the term "theology" can have with people who don't normally delve into it. This summer, I want to challenge the notion that studying theology should be left up to the pastors to teach us. I want to challenge the notion that the congregation comes only to be fed what they should believe.
In the context of a university atmosphere, especially, this seems very fitting. Students come here to learn about a given field and then go and make an impact in that field as a career. How much more important is it, then, to study our very outlook on life? How much more important is it to see what Scripture clearly says about the nature of Christ, the purpose of atonement and the Trinity?
So, this summer, along with two grad students from The Rock, I will be leading a weekly discussion group covering basic biblical doctrine. Our topics will include:
Authority of Scripture, God the Father, Man, Sin, Jesus as Fully Man and Fully God, Salvation, Holy Spirit, Justification, Sanctification and the role of the Church.
Our purpose is to spend some time teaching on these topics and then to address relevant questions that can allow us to let the Holy Spirit change us.
Why is this important for us to understand?
How does this affect our world view?
What challenges does our culture present us in this area?
How does this affect our relationship with God?
How does this affect our witness?
We don't want to build up knowledge. Knowledge, after all, puffs up. Love builds up. We don't want to create scholars necessarily but we want to empower these students to own their faith. We want them to dig through the Scriptures for answers to questions they have. We want them to question and to wrestle with their faith. We want them to be beacons of light where God has placed them.
And this, I pray, is simply an opportunity for us to let a right understand of God and his works absolutely change our lives, our campus, our community and our world. Please join me in praying that this discussion group can be a humble tool for God to continue transforming the lives of these students for his glory.
