Welcome to Systematic Theology, a comprehensive study of the major doctrines of the Christian Faith. This course is designed for folks of all different backgrounds. So whether you’ve taken a class or two on theology before, or this is your first time venturing into this kind of space, this class will benefit you.
The best way to use these materials is to commit to go through them together with somebody else. Learning on our own is great, but when we learn together we are stretched in unique ways. So, my encouragement to you is to find at least one other person who can commit to ten weeks of discussion together.
Each week has a chapter to read from the book, a lecture to watch from a variety of teachers from across Park Community Church, as well as discussion questions (from the book) to be used as you study with another person. We recommend reading the chapter and watching the lecture before getting together. Then when you get together with your study partner, spend time praying for one another, and going through the discussion questions provided in the book.
This class is broken into two parts. The first 10 weeks covers the topics of The Bible, the Nature of God, the Nature of Man. The final 11 weeks covers the topics of Christ, Salvation, The Church, and End Times
Book: The class will largely follow the book Bible Doctrine: Essential Teachings of the Christian Faith by Wayne Grudem.
Online Lectures: Each week’s lecture can be found on the this Youtube Playlist.
Schedule: This schedule will help you coordinate the readings from the Grudem book, the lectures from the teachers at Park, and the weekly discussion questions.
Week 1 Introductory Video & Sample Discussion Questions
We have provided the Introductory Video to the course below which corresponds to Chapter 1 of Wayne Grudem’s book. The full list of videos can be found here. The title of each video is easily coordinated with the chapter headings of the book.
Sample Discussion Questions as found at the end of chapter 1 of Grudem’s book.
- In what ways (if any) has this chapter changed your understanding of what systematic theology is? What was your attitude towards the study of systematic theology before reading this chapter? What is your attitude now?
- What is likely to happen to a church or denomination that gives up learning systematic theology for a generation or longer? Has that been true of your church?
- Are there any doctrines listed in the contents for which a fuller understanding would help to solve a personal difficulty in your life at the present time? What are the spiritual and emotional dangers that you personally need to be aware of in studying systematic theology?
- Pray for God to make this study of basic Christian doctrines a time of spiritual growth and deeper fellowship with him, and a time in which you understand and appply the teachings of Scripture rightly.
