Arrange the Following Words Into GroupsSilly Leg Hat Fax NotePhone Art Book Mom VideoSad Fart Eye Clock Tired

A New Rule – they can’t be in alphabetical order

Some New Words To Add

Golf Elbow Belch Math Pen

Give Each Category A Name

Basic TheologyBasic Theology

What Does Theology Mean?

Theos – Greek for God

Logos – Greek for word; can mean a word about

Theo + Logos = A Word About God - the Study of God

Thinking God’s thoughts after him Thinking God’s thoughts after him (by Paul Feinberg)

Define God?Define God?

God is a Spirit, who is infinite, eternal, and unchanging, in his being, wisdom, power, holiness, justice, and goodness.

- Taken from the Westminster Shorter Catechism

God is a Spirit, who is infinite, eternal, and

unchanging, in his being, wisdom, power,

holiness, justice, and goodness.

How can we begin the study of God? How can we begin the study of God? How can we get a grasp of who He is? How can we get a grasp of who He is? How can we break Him down to make How can we break Him down to make

him manageable?him manageable?

We have to have some sort of system – so our We have to have some sort of system – so our minds can make some sort of sense out of minds can make some sort of sense out of

who He is.who He is.

One classic system used we call One classic system used we call

Systematic TheologySystematic Theology (arranging our ideas about God into an (arranging our ideas about God into an

orderly system)orderly system)

There are some dangers in There are some dangers in categorizing (or systematizing) God.categorizing (or systematizing) God.We easily forget that God cannot be fully grasped – We easily forget that God cannot be fully grasped –

He is He is incomprehensibleincomprehensible

We forget about the We forget about the UNITYUNITY of God – the fact that God is not a of God – the fact that God is not a bunch of parts put into a whole, but is one God bunch of parts put into a whole, but is one God

(his love and his justice are absolutely perfect and one never overpowers the other)

We lose sight of the Holiness of God – he is We lose sight of the Holiness of God – he is completely set apart – or completely other; some completely set apart – or completely other; some speak of the otherness of God. We have to use speak of the otherness of God. We have to use

created things to talk about the creator – and we get created things to talk about the creator – and we get into trouble quickly.into trouble quickly.

Common ways to systematize the Common ways to systematize the Study of God.Study of God.

Biblical TheologyStarts with Genesis and goes through

Revelation – and through each book, we learn more about who God is.

Historical TheologyHistorical TheologyWe start with the early Church – and see what their thoughts were about the character and nature of God – and how certain theological

beliefs came to be over time.

Systematic TheologyStudying God by looking at the different

aspects of His character separately.(What are some different areas of Theology?

– Understand that under each heading are many subheadings)

Different Areas of Systematic Theology

Bibliology Angelology Anthropology Hamartiology (sin)

Christology Soteriology (salvation)

Pneumatology (Holy Spirit) Ecclesiology (church)

Eschatology (end times) Theology Proper

Theology ProperWho is God – what are all his attributes? How can we divide God’s character into different parts to get a handle on Him?

Benevolence (kindness) EternalForbearance (patience) FreedomGoodness GraceHoliness ImmutabilityInifinity LoveMercy OmnipresenceOmnipotence OmniscienceRighteousness Self-ExistentSelf-Sufficient SimplicitySpirit SovereigntyTruth Unity

COMMUNICABLE INCOMMUNICABLE

BenevolenceForbearance

GoodnessGraceLove

MercyRighteousness

Truth

EternalImmutability

InifinityOmnipresenceOmnipotenceOmniscienceSelf-Existent

Self-SufficientSovereigntyBOTH?

SpiritSimplicityFreedomHoliness

Theology – So What?Theology – So What?Hopefully this overview will give you pegs to Hopefully this overview will give you pegs to hang some ideas on as you come across them in hang some ideas on as you come across them in life life (devotions, Church, Youth Group, conversation, etc)(devotions, Church, Youth Group, conversation, etc)

Realize how much we don’t know about God – be Realize how much we don’t know about God – be amazedamazed

Desire to know God better (rightly) – especially Desire to know God better (rightly) – especially as you spend time in God’s Word as you spend time in God’s Word

Realize that the more we know Him – the better Realize that the more we know Him – the better we will be able to worship Him and the better we will be able to worship Him and the better we’ll live. we’ll live. (example – Jews & Talmud) (example – Jews & Talmud)

It doesn’t matter so much where you are, but in what direction

you are heading.

I hope these slides help you in some way I hope these slides help you in some way (feel free to delete this slide).(feel free to delete this slide).

Feel free to contact me for any reason. I have some Feel free to contact me for any reason. I have some handouts and extra info for some of the slides that I handouts and extra info for some of the slides that I did not include. There are also a few notes at the did not include. There are also a few notes at the

bottom of some slides, but not as much as I should bottom of some slides, but not as much as I should have. If you have some great ideas or help or have. If you have some great ideas or help or

criticisms, or just want to talk, give me a call or shoot criticisms, or just want to talk, give me a call or shoot me an email. me an email.

youthpastortimo@hotmail.com(515) 448-5414(515) 448-5414