I have often said throughout my ministry "I want to have an impact on the…
Teach Doctrine and Theology
What do your students think about when they think about God? That may be the most important question for your ministry to them. Are you intentional about what you are teaching or are you just making it up as you go? Since we only have our students for a few years, the importance of what we teach and model to them is magnified. If we genuinely intend to influence the students in our ministry we must equip them with a deeper understanding of God’s word and who He is. We must be careful to lift the gospel at all times. In order to fully equip our students and prepare them for life as a believer we must intentionally teach them doctrine and theology.
Webster’s Dictionary defines these as:
Doctrine: a set of ideas or beliefs that are taught or believed to be true
Theology: the study of God and of God’s relation to the world
These two aspects of a student’s understanding as it relates to their life are crucial for faithfulness to the Lord in all situations and circumstances they will face after our ministry. Here are 5 reasons you should be intentionally teaching doctrine and theology to your students:
1. They will have a theology when they leave your ministry (have one now) you need to help shape it
The truth is everyone has a theology. Everyone has thoughts and a belief about God. You need to help shape the one your students will have when they leave your ministry.
2. They will view their world through their understanding of doctrine and theology.
Regardless of what life throws at them, they will view those circumstances through their doctrine and theology. If you want your students to stay the course and finish well then you must teach them sound doctrine and theology now.
3. They can handle it…and they want it
They learn trigonometry in school…they can handle theology in church. Students want real answers and what to be able to ask difficult questions. Make room for both of those and teach them doctrine and theology. They can handle it.
4. They need to be prepared for life in the “real world” as a believer
Since student one day leave your ministry (hopefully), you must be preparing them now for life after “youth group.” You cannot adequately do this if you ignore teaching doctrine and theology.
5. You grow in your understanding as well
You can’t teach what you don’t know. As you prepare you will learn and grow in your own understanding which makes you a better minister in the end as well.
Bonus: Doctrine and Theology are REALLY important
What are your thoughts? What makes this difficult? How are you being intentional in teaching doctrine and theology in your ministry? Leave a comment below and let me know!
Photo credit: Anonymous / Foter.com / Public Domain Mark 1.0
Great post, bro. I like the site!
This particular post reminds me of the following quote as well:
“In other words, Theology is practical: especially now. In the old days, when there was less education and discussion, perhaps it was possible to get on with a very few simple ideas about God. But it is not so now. Everyone reads, everyone hears things discussed. Consequently, if you do not listen to Theology, that will not mean that you have no ideas about God. It will mean that you have a lot of wrong ones — bad, muddled, out-of-date ideas. For a great many of the ideas about God which are trotted out as novelties to-day are simply the ones which real Theologians tried centuries ago and rejected.”
― C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity
Thanks Chris! Awesome quote from Mere Christianity. Love C.S. Lewis’ statement there, it “will not mean that you have no ideas about God. It will mean that you have a lot of wrong ones.” May we be diligent to teach our students the correct ones so they may finish well.
Just remember, the guy in the picture above has “the correct ones.” 😉 j/k, sort of
I saw that Lewis quote from one of the Lewis twitter accounts a while back and it was good, but when I was re-reading Mere Christianity earlier this year I stumbled on it in context and it was so much better. The same for several other popular quotes from later in the book. Not that Lewis had all the right ideas, but he knew that being on the lookout against the wrong ones and studying to have a better grasp on the right ones was of utmost importance.
Amen on your last sentence, too!
Good post! It is so important, to “grow them”, because this is what influences others for Christ, whether they are friends, or in thinking of future generations. Such as their children, grandchildren etc.
Thanks Kathy! I couldn’t agree more. It is so important that we all do so intentionally.
Very descriptive post, I loved that a lot. Will there be a part 2?
Thanks! Anything specific you would be looking for in a part 2 post?
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Thanks!