Reading Theology with Students
“Why don’t you read a systematic theology book with a few students?” This was a question my senior pastor asked me one afternoon. This singular question led me into a new season of student ministry where I have been able to think with students as they read theology books.
Theology is usually a topic that many would assume is best studied by adults. However, if students can learn geometry and chemistry and world history, then they can likely handle at least an introductory time studying theology.
R.C. Sproul titled his systematic theology book Everyone’s A Theologian. That title is true because everyone, despite their age, studies God. Why not help these young theologians think logically and clearly about who God is, how he has revealed himself in his Word, and how he is at work in the world today?
Reading and discussing theology with students is not merely an intellectual exercise, it is discipleship. As they grow in knowledge about God, we help students set the rhythm in their life of reading solid Christian resources for the rest of their lives. This also allows students to learn from trustworthy authors and scholars, while discussing it with their youth leader.
Here are three pieces of advice to consider when reading theology with students.
1. Select a few students to read with you that will actually read the material.
Although this sounds self explanatory, one risk of offering to read with your whole group is some students won’t take it very seriously. I have found it helpful to offer to read with a small group of students and raise the bar of expectation for this small group.
2. Read at a pace that is attainable for students who are doing school work, extra curricular activities, etc.
We might want to read books quickly with students, but this isn’t always attainable. For instance, students might have more time to read over the summer than they do during the school year. It is also helpful to consider that students have different reading levels. For this reason, it is wise to have a few resources at different levels.
3. Pick a book to read with students that is helpful for their age and intellectual level.
There are several books that I have found particularly helpful to read with students. First, Wayne Grudem’s shortened systematic theology book titled Christian Beliefs: Twenty Basics Every Christian Should Know covers a wide variety of topics and has discussion questions at the end of each chapter. Second, short biblical theology books such as the 9 Marks Biblical Theology: How the Church Faithfully Teaches the Gospel book by Nick Roark and Robert Cline help students trace the story line of the Bible without getting bogged down in a 1,500 page textbook. Last, the Reformed Youth Ministry’s Track Series has proven to be a helpful variety of accessible theological and cultural resources.
It’s important to remember that each time you read a book with a student or group of students, it will look and feel differently. However, we must remember that even when it seems like students are less-responsive, we don’t see all that God is doing in these students’ lives. Although most people would not expect teenagers to express interest in reading theological books, discussing good books with students has significant discipleship potential. For more recommendations, consider these books to read with students from our Resources page.