Sound Doctrine
Foundations of a Healthy Church • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Defining Theology
Defining Theology
Theology is the study of God and his work, using the Bible as our source, with the goal of worship.
Put simply, it is the work of getting to know God.
Why Should we Study Theology?
Why Should we Study Theology?
Studying theology glorifies God
Phil. 1:9–11 “9 And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, 10 so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.”
Studying theology is establishes the foundation of faith
Rom. 10:9–10 “9 If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.”
Studying theology protects us from abandoning the faith
2 Tim. 4:2–4 “2 Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. 3 For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 4 They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.”
Studying theology protects us from false teachers who pervert the grace of God
Jude 3-4 “3 Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt compelled to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to God’s holy people. 4 For certain individuals whose condemnation was written about long ago have secretly slipped in among you. They are ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord.”
Methods for Studying Theology
Methods for Studying Theology
Systematic Theology
Systematic Theology
Systematic theology asks what the Bible teaches us and answers by comparing, synthesizing, and organizing it into a coherent expression of truth.
Method: Topical study focused on answering questions
Examples: Bible doctrine/systematic theology books, catechisms, doctrinal statements
Benefit:
Establishes a coherent faith
Protects us from false doctrine
Biblical Theology
Biblical Theology
Approaching the whole Bible to see a coherent, unified storyline.
Method: Reading large sections of Scripture and drawing the themes from them
Examples: Children’s church, preaching, personal Bible reading
All of these things aren’t inherently “biblical theology” but they should be
Benefit:
Biblical theology anchors us to God’s plan for his creation
Protects against moralism and intellectualism
Historical Theology
Historical Theology
Examining the historic teaching of the church
Method: Read what those who have gone before us have said
Examples: Church history, reading good Christian books
Benefit:
Emphasizes the union of the church and uses the work of those who have gone before us
Protects us from the tyranny of the novel
Practical Implications of Focusing on Sound Theology
Practical Implications of Focusing on Sound Theology
Expect theological rigor from our teachers
Be prepared to learn when you come to church
Do not stop at learning new information but move from information to faith, worship, and obedience.