Running head: THEOLOGY 1

Experience with Theology

Noelle Chapman

Liberty University Online Academy

THEOLOGY 2

Experience with Theology

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

textbooks, theology is pertinent for everyone in all different walks of life.

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

the teaching I hear every Sunday.

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

will strengthen my faith, guide me through an introductory yet comprehensive study of

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

God.” (Etzel & Small, 2016, p. 11)

THEOLOGY 4

References

Etzel, G., & Small, R. N. (2016) Everyday Series: Theology. Chattanooga, TN: B&H Academic.