Embarking on a discovery journey requires courage and a hunger for more. Deepening my theology encompasses a hunger, desire, and quest for more. It requires introspection, a thirst for understanding, and a willingness to explore the mysteries of my belief and faith in God the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit. To unlock truths is exhilarating as it is both challenging and transformative.
To go deeper, one has to understand the foundations. These foundation beliefs serve as the compass guiding my theological inquiry and provide a framework through which I can interpret and understand more profound truths. It is knowing what my core values are and what my first beliefs are. Sometimes, this requires us to unlearn, relearn, and have truth established.
Often, we can wrestle with uncertainty and doubt, and this can be because of our references or lenses through which we interpret truth and scripture. It is natural to wrestle and question. However, when we work through these areas, we begin to refine the truth of who our God is and the truth of His word, which can be trusted.
Deepening my theology means studying, reading, and exploring the Bible – the inspired Word of God that is still relevant today. It is living and active and is sharper than any double-edged sword. It is spirit-inspired, and the power of this is transformative. Studying scripture with an open heart and mind gives a deeper insight into wisdom and relevance to contemporary life. The Bible is central to deepening my theology – if I call Jesus my Saviour and my Lord, then I need to know Him to love Him, and to love Him is to know Him.
One of the ways to help me understand scripture is to have a community to engage with. To have others to draw wisdom from and to have generational input and dialogue provides me with a deeper understanding. To apply myself to further studies is also essential.
At the heart of theological deepening is the encounter with Jesus himself. To pray and meditate (yes, this was first referenced in scripture by Isaac in Genesis 24:63), listen, and talk with God enables me to have a profound sense of awe and reverence, which prompts me to want more.
The transformative power of the Gospel is incredible. This gives me new insights, strategies, and perspectives, enriches my understanding, and deepens my connection with my Father God.
The journey of theological deepening is a life-long pursuit and requires humility and a willingness to keep an open heart. It will challenge you, change you, expand you, and impact you like nothing else.
For more information on theology studies, take a look here!
Grab yourself a cup of tea, a comfy reading nook and explore our library of articles and blog posts!