I still remember my first encounter with theology.
I was twelve. At that time, my family attended a church with few kids my age. Most Sunday mornings, I found myself the only student in my Sunday school class. My teacher was the pastor’s wife and she poured into me. She discipled me through God’s word, teaching me basics of the Christian faith. It was there that I first learned the Doctrines of Grace. I quickly developed a hunger to learn more. My Sunday school class then turned into a question and answer time as I came each Sunday with questions about the Bible and my teacher helped me search God’s word for the answers.
Since then, I’ve loved to study theology—be it systematic, biblical, or expository. Over the years I’ve accumulated a number of books that help me understand different theological terms and concepts. While the Bible itself is the only infallible rule of faith and practice, and while Scripture is sufficient to teach me all I need to know about salvation and what God requires of me, there are many helpful and useful secondary sources written by godly faithful people. These resources have enriched my faith and broadened my understanding of the gospel.
Some books I open to find a quick definition to a theological term. Others I might consult to get an overall summary of a particular teaching. There are others I go to on a regular basis to help me grow in my understanding of a particular doctrine of the faith. And while there are some books I might go to that focus on one subject, such as ecclesiology or Christology, there are a number of books I use that contain good summaries of Christian doctrines.
For those who are looking for resources for their own studies, here are some of my favorites:
As Christians, we need to know what we believe and why. There are many helpful resources that unpack the Bible’s teachings. What are some of your favorites?
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