Theology for Daily Living: A Class for Women
Session One-“What is Theology and Why is it Necessary for My Life?” Class Notes
About the Class:
Classes meet the third Saturday of each month at
What Is Theology?
1. A Greek Word
The word “theology” is derived from Greek and is actually made up of two Greek words; theos- meaning God and logos- meaning discourse, or study of. Using this we see the most basic definition of theology is really just the study of God; looking at who He is and what He’s done.
2. Another Definition
Webster’s dictionary defines theology as:
“1: the study of religious faith, practice, and experience; especially: the study of God and of God's relation to the world
2 a: theological theory or system
b: a distinctive body of theological opinion
3: a usually 4-year course of specialized religious training in major seminary”
3. A Cultural View
We tend to see theology as #3, something highly specialized that should be left to others or needs to be learned in a university class. What we need to do realize is that first definition is key, and that theology, at its heart, is simply knowing who God is, and this is something we can learn anywhere and is key to our daily living.
4. Theology for Daily Living
Knowing God is essential for wise, practical, daily living. Proverbs
“the fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.”
Paul, in praying for the Ephesians, prays that they would know God, “that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him” (eph 1:17). The word “know” that Paul uses is epignosis, which implies a more direct, special recognition. Vine’s defines it as an “exact or full knowledge, discernment or recognition.”
We need a knowledge of God to live the life in Christ which we have been saved into.
Do We Know God?
1. What Do You Know?
In Jeremiah 9:23-24 God tells us where our knowledge should lay. “Thus says the LORD, "Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches; but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD who exercises loving-kindness, justice and righteousness on earth; for I delight in these things," declares the LORD.”
The apostle Paul, in speaking of his ministry in 2 Corinthians 10:12-18, uses the same phrase, “let him who boasts boast in the Lord.” Paul explains that it is the approval of the Lord that we live and work for.
2. We Must Know God Relationally
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge,” says Proverbs 1:7. Proverbs
3. What does it mean to “Fear the Lord?”
We are exhorted by God to fear Him throughout the bible (Ones that pertain specifically to our topic include the verses listed above as well as Nehemiah 5:9, 15; Job 6:14, 28:28; Isaiah 33:6; psalm 34:11-14 and the book of proverbs). What does that mean? The Hebrew word “fear” that is used in the context we are talking about is a noun. It is derived from the verb yare, which means “fear, be afraid.” While the noun itself means “fear” or “terror” it includes something more, “reverence” and “piety.” It also implies that the fear in question is directed towards God.
So when we speak about Fear of God, we are speaking of reverential, awesome fear. It is a position of humility, recognizing who we are in light of who God is. That is where true biblical wisdom begins (see 1 Corinthians
Good Theology In Action (Psalm 73)
Psalm 73 offers us an excellent example of how good theology practically works out in our lives.
1. “What I Feel vs. What Is Real”
In verses 1-14, the psalmist describes his feeling of anger and indignation and feeling beat down. But note that he starts with truth, he knows God is a good God, but he is having trouble reconciling what he knows to be true to the circumstances and the feelings those circumstances evoke.
2. Fear of God That Leads To Understanding
The psalmist wants to “vent” and yet he knows that give full expression to his feeling would be a sin against God (verse 15). In verse 16 we can see the struggle he has submitting his will to God, it is “troublesome.”
3. The Curtain Is Torn
Verse 17 is the pivotal verse of this psalm, “Until I came into the sanctuary of God…” The rest of the psalm is filled with praise and worship for the Lord, while the verses before this were filled with turmoil. The turning point for the psalmist comes when he comes to God.
In the Old Testament, we see that access to God was rare. In Leviticus 16 we can see what it took for someone to access the presence of God. And even after the washing, changing of robes, incense burning and animal sacrifice, it was only one man (the high priest) who had access and it was only once a year (the day of atonement).
When Jesus died on the cross He died for all the sins of all mankind. At His death the curtain separating the holy of holies from the rest of the temple was torn. This is a symbol for us of what Jesus accomplished on the cross; we were given access to God
(Matt 27:51).
The author of the book of Hebrews sums what we have in Christ (as contrasted in the Old Testament). In 10:19-22, “Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us for us through the veil, that is, His flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.”
4. Good Theology Leads Us To Worship
When we let go of that which we are holding on to and come before the Lord, we have a right view of ourselves (verses 21-22) and a right view of God (verses 23-24) which naturally leads us to worship Him (25-28).
Discussion Questions
- What is your idea of theology?
- Do you have a “knowing” relationship with God?
- What is your idea of “fearing the Lord?”
- Have you ever been in a situation like our psalmist where your knowledge of God saved you from despair, hopelessness or sinning against God?
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