Experience With Theology Essay
Experience With Theology Essay
Experience With Theology Essay
Noelle Chapman
When I hear the word theology, the first word that comes to mind is God. In fact, the
word theology is derived from theos, which means “God,” and logos, which means “words.”
(Etzel & Small, 2016) Thus, as the authors of Everyday Theology state, “the study of theology is
the study of God, or words about God.” (Etzel & Small, 2016, p. 6) I consider theology to be the
act of strengthening ones faith through learning more about God—including His attributes,
workings, and purposes—through careful study of His Word, using supplemental material as
desired. I believe purposeful study of God’s Word affects one’s relationship with God, creation,
and other people. Obviously, since a biblical worldview should permeate every facet of life,
theology is a vast and diverse field which has many forms and divisions, each focusing on a
specific aspect of the Christian faith and doing so using different approaches. As such, theology
can seem daunting or inaccessible. Personally, I love grappling with abstract, philosophical
subjects, so I usually associate theology with deeper and more intensive study. However,
theology does not have to be overly complicated. Whether its fully solidifying ones
understanding of the basic tenets of Christianity or spending one’s life poring over colossal
While I have studied theology a little more than my peers might have, I nonetheless
consider my experience with theology to be far from comprehensive or significant. I have been
blessed to have taken several incredible faith-centered classes, including RLGN104 and
BIBL104 with Liberty University. While these classes were not specifically theology classes,
studying the Bible and learning valuable techniques for interpreting and analyzing God’s Word
effectively and faithfully naturally strengthened my faith and helped me learn more about God. I
also took a Christian worldview class through my homeschool group, in which we studied James
THEOLOGY 3
Sire’s The Universe Next Door and Francis Schaeffer’s How Should We Then Live? Once again,
this class was not a theology class proper, but it was instrumental in helping me form a more
solid Christian worldview and gain a greater understanding of not only what I believe and why,
but also what I do not believe and why. In addition to these classes mentioned above, I have also
attended several apologetics conferences, which had many interesting theological panels and
lectures. I learned a lot from these conferences and grew closer to God through them. Finally, a
discussion of my theological experience would be amiss if I did not mention the theological
growth I experience through church. I am blessed to attend a theologically sound and spiritually
rich church with a skillful and competent preacher. My faith has definitely matured as a result of
To me, this class is so much more significant than a grade or a school requirement. As a
Christian, I staunchly believe theology is an invaluable subject, and I consider taking this class a
vital part of my spiritual growth. I am certain I will learn so much not only from the course
materials, but from the other students as well. I am hoping what I learn over the next eight weeks
Christianity, and provide me with tools that I can use to continue my theological studies once
this class has ended. In addition, I hope to grow closer to God through reading assignments,
essays, presentations, and meaningful discussions with my fellow classmates. I also want to
come away with an even clearer understanding of why I am a Christian, what it means to be a
Christian, and how I should live as a Christian. Furthermore, I want to learn how to integrate my
faith into every part of my life, and how to revere God in all that I do. Finally, and most
importantly, I want to not only “grow in the knowledge of God, but…grow in our[my] love for
References
Etzel, G., & Small, R. N. (2016) Everyday Series: Theology. Chattanooga, TN: B&H Academic.