DOCTRINE: LIVING TRUTH

DOCTRINE: LIVING TRUTH

A introductory course in Christian Theology
Based upon Alister McGrath's Theology; The Basics
This short, basic introduction to
Christian theology is aimed specifically at
those who are approaching it for the first
time, and who feel intimidated by the
thought of studying theology. It sets out
to introduce you to some of its basic
themes, problems, and personalities, and
to whet your appetite to know more.
Alister McGrath
 WHAT IS THEOLOGY?

Write your own definition below:

________________________________________
________________________________________
________________________________________
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The word theology has been used for
centuries to mean talking about God. For
Christians we use this to mean talking
about God in a Christian way. We do this
in two ways,
- it is the process (series of actions or steps)
of thinking, and,
- it is also _____________________________
_______________________________________
The word theology has been used for
centuries to mean talking about God. For
Christians we use this to mean talking
about God in a Christian way. We do this
in two ways,
- it is the process (series of actions or steps)
of thinking, and,
- it is also _____________________________
the outcome, the result of our thinking.
_______________________________________
We do this thinking about God in a
organised and planned way, so that
Christian theology can then be defined as,
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
We do this thinking about God in a
organised and planned way, so that
Christian theology can then be defined as,
_______________________________________
[The] intellectual reflection on the
_______________________________________
act, content and implications of the
_______________________________________
Christian faith.
This includes coming to an understanding
of what a doctrine means, e.g. what is the
church?
This includes coming to an understanding
of what a doctrine means, e.g. what is the
church?
- all people, believers and unbelievers
(saved and unsaved), who attend a local
place of worship
This includes coming to an understanding
of what a doctrine means, e.g. what is the
church?
- all people, believers and unbelievers
(saved and unsaved), who attend a local
place of worship
- those who have put their faith in Jesus
Christ as Lord
Do the two ideas have results that change
what we think church is?
What is good about each of them, do
they affect the way we live as Christians?
We might also ask,
- Why believe in the Trinity and not just in
God?
- Why is it important to believe Jesus was
fully God and fully human?
- Are we in danger of making Christian
belief too hard to understand?
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
We might also ask,
- Why believe in the Trinity and not just in
God?
- Why is it important to believe Jesus was
fully God and fully human?
- Are we in danger of making Christian
belief too hard to understand?
For us theology should explain the
_______________________________________
Christian faith and help us to
_______________________________________
understand it better.
 [THEOLOGY IS BASICALLY]
FAITH SEEKING
UNDERSTANDING
ANSELM OF CANTERBURY (1033-1109)
For Christians this should help to
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
Theology is also important in church life
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
are all changed by our theological view.
For Christians this should help to
deepen our relationship with the Lord,
_______________________________________
and create a greater desire for him
_______________________________________
within us
_______________________________________
Theology is also important in church life
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
are all changed by our theological view.
For Christians this should help to
deepen our relationship with the Lord,
_______________________________________
and create a greater desire for him
_______________________________________
within us
_______________________________________
Theology is also important in church life
how we minister is affected by what we
_______________________________________
believe, so pastoral care, preaching,
_______________________________________
how we walk with God etc.
_______________________________________
are all changed by our theological view.
Much of the Western world was shaped by
Christian thinking and so understanding
theology will help people to understand its
culture, art and literature.
THEOLOGY CAN BE THOUGHT
OF AS THE CHRISTIAN'S
DISCIPLESHIP OF THE MIND.
ALISTER MCGRATH
McGrath describes his intention in writing
the bookthese are some of the reasons
we are studying it.
- To explore some of the basic ideas of
Christianity.
- To meet some of the leading Christian
theologians / thinkers.
- To introduce you to the basics of
Christian theology.
- By the way...The book assumes that you
know nothing about theology.
- It introduces and explains Christian
theological ideas as they are found in the
Apostles' Creed.
- It show how those ideas were developed
and justified.
- It gives the basic vocabulary, especially
technical terms, used in discussion of those
ideas
- It outlines some of the key debates that
have influenced Christian thinking
- It also encourages you to interact with
these ideas, by helping you to look at other
texts setting out some approaches to these
questions.
- To introduce you to a range of different
theological approaches, Protestant,
Pentecostal and Catholic theological
standpoints will be seen in the text.
- To avoid denominational bias and treat all
positions with respect and fairness.
 THE APOSTLES CREED
This book is based loosely on the Apostles
Creed, which is widely used as a basic
summary of the Christian faith and included
as part of public worship in many places. It
is a simple statement that gives a good
framework for exploring central ideas of
Christian theology. The version below was
written in about the eight century,
I believe in God, the Father Almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, God's only Son,
our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy
Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered
under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died,
and was buried; he descended to the
dead. On the third day he rose again; he
ascended into heaven, he is seated at the
right hand of the Father, and he will
come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy
catholic Church, the communion of
saints, the forgiveness of sins, the
resurrection of the body, and the life
everlasting. Amen.
 Assignment:
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy
Memorise the
catholic Church, the communion of
saints, the forgiveness of sins, the

Apostles Creed
resurrection of the body, and the life
everlasting. Amen.

as stated here.