Theology Breakfast August 22, 2011
One of the responsibilities of elders is to train men (2 Tim 2:2). Not for full-time ministry but for godliness. For spiritual leadership in their homes and in the church. For the glory of God and the joy of all peoples. Two years ago we began a Bible study program for men called the Theology Breakfast. I was hoping for five guys. Twenty turned out. So we did it again last year. And we’re about to begin again this year (more details about time and text coming in a few weeks).
Almost every time I talk about this, people wonder, “Theology breakfast? Why study theology?” Here are a few reasons:
1. The Great Commission requires us to teach others to obey everything Jesus commanded (Mt 28:20). Think about the breadth of that for a moment. Are you equipped well enough to teach others to obey EVERYTHING Jesus commanded? One of the most efficient ways to do this is by teaching theology, where the Bible’s central teachings are collected and summarized.
2. Theology unites us as a congregation. It informs our values, dictates our vision, measures our success, furnishes our language, informs our interpretation, intensifies our joy, and strengthens our friendships. In other words, our church health depends on our knowledge of theology.
3. The Bible often forges a strong connection between Christian maturity and sound doctrine (cf. 1 Tim. 1:10, 6:3; Titus 1:1). If we want to become like Jesus, which is the goal of every sincere believer, we must learn our doctrine well.
4. Our church has experienced quite a bit of suffering lately. Theology is the compass that points us north when the storms of life swirl around us and cause us to lose our bearings. People who suffer well are people who know their theology.
5. Studying theology enriches our friendships. I dream of a day when the halls and rooms of our building are filled with men conversing freely about the deep truths of God that they are learning and applying to their lives. Studying theology together will make that kind of genuine fellowship possible.
Will you pray with me that all of our men would seriously consider this opportunity? And if you are one of the PHBF men–young or old–will you consider joining us? The bagels and yogurt make for a pretty light breakfast, but the theology is heavy enough to make up for it!