BECOMING A THEOLOGIAN

When we think of a theologian, we automatically think of someone who has been to Bible college. Someone who has dedicated their life to studying the Word of God. Maybe someone who has their doctorate. But the truth is, a theologian is simply one who studies theology. And, theology is the study of the nature of God.

It doesn't require a dissertation to be a theologian. It doesn't require a degree. It requires a heart and mind that desire to learn more about God. It's that simple. And by that definition, we should all be a theologian.

No one, absolutely no one will ever "arrive." There is no possible way that we will ever learn all there is to know about God and the Word of God. Someone who has been saved for 62 years, read the Bible through dozens of times, and even taught the Bible can still learn something new about God just as much as someone who has been saved two years and hasn't finished reading through the Bible yet.

So, how do we become a theologian? We already said it requires a heart and mind that desire to learn more. So to be a theologian we simply need to dive in heart first.

Becoming a theologian

What do I need? The most important thing you need, the one thing you must have is a Bible. Having a Bible study, a journal or notebook, a good commentary, those are great and will be helpful. But without an actual Bible, those things mean nothing. And an actual study Bible is a great option. Study Bibles give commentary, give explanation of things happening with the culture and time, and can help you go deeper.

Who should I listen to? There are so many great Bible teachers to glean from. Some still living and sharing God's Word, some no longer with us. There are so many wonderful books, podcasts, YouTube videos, etc. These are helpful resources. But when you listen, read, and watch, you need to do two important things. First, always, always, measure what is being said or written to the Word of God, Just because someone claims to know something or claims to be a teacher, doesn't always mean they are teaching Truth. Always measure against the Word. Second, always ask a trusted source. If you read or hear something that you aren't sure about or can't find a clear answer in the Bible, ask a trusted source like your pastor. And of course, the most trusted source, ask God Himself. Pray about it and trust the Holy Spirit to teach you.

What do I need to actually do? Reading the Bible is the best place to start. Highlight things. Make notes. Look for keywords. My pastor has said, "If you see a therefore in the Bible, what is it there for?" Utilize the study portion of the Bible if you have a study Bible. Utilize the cross referencing in your Bible. Most Bibles have cross referencing. You know, those tiny numbers randomly next to words and other Scripture addresses randomly on pages. Those aren't there by accident. They are there to tell you to look up those verses in correlation to what you are reading. And of course, always pray before you read and study the Word, and after you finish..

How often should I be in the Word? Daily! The Bible is called our "Daily Bread." Those two words right there tell us how often we should be in the Word. Daily, obvious. Bread, sustenance, not cake for special occasions. Every single day may not be a deep dive with commentary and cross referencing. Every day may not be journaling and note taking. Yet, every day can and should be getting into the Word and seeing what God has for you. We can't learn more about God, we can't know His heart and nature if we aren't opening our Bibles.

Anyone who claims to be a Christian should desire to continually want to study the very nature of God. Anyone who claims to be a Christian should strive to be a theologian.

I am loving the new Theologian collection from The Daily Grace Co! The Theologian Boat and Tote is a large, roomy bag sturdy enough to carry those heavy Bibles and all the extras you might use. The Theologian notebook is a beautiful soft leatherette spiral bound journal perfect for notetaking. The Theologian pen set is one of my favorites. These pens are the best. They are fine tip and write so smooth. They also have a Theologian tumbler that is so cute! And of course, The Daily Grace Co also has a wide variety of Bibles and Bible studies. Everything you find at The Daily Grace Co is perfect for beginning your journey to becoming a theologian. To shop the Daily Grace Co, click HERE and use code JENIFERMETZGER10 for 10% off your order.

Bonus! If you are like me and love adding pops of color to your Bible study time, I love the Goodness and Mercy Bible study stickers and the Give Me Jesus Bible study stickers from Daily Grace Co. I tear the pages out of the books and slip them into these clear pages and add them to my sticker binder (comes it lots of colors). It makes them more organized and helps me see them clearly.