I taught my first Theology 101 session yesterday. I think it went pretty well. I’m fairly certain I talked way too fast, as I always do when I’m teaching.
I have no idea why, but I was _really_ nervous beforehand. That’s nuts – I’ve taught similar classes before. But I was nervous this time.
This first time, we talked about what systematic theology is, what “doctrine” means, and why we should study it. I touched on epistemology and hermenuetics – we know religious things because God reveals them, and the Bible pretty much means what it says and says what it means.
Next week we will do “theology proper” which is to say, what does the Bible say about God? Since I only have 30 minutes to teach in, I’ve been joking that I’ll stand up, say “There is a God. Class dismissed.” Honestly, 30 minutes is not very long. I’m used to teaching for 45 minutes, so I unconsciously prepare that much material and then have to pare it down.
Since this _is_ the 21st century, I’m setting up a website (robert.williamsonline.us/theology101) for the class where I’ll put outlines, my teaching notes, extra material, and so on. That helps offset the limited material I can cover in half an hour.
Theology 101 is intended to just cover some very basic truths. I won’t be getting into eschatology, or dispensationalism, or anything like that. I will, however, get into Calvinism a little bit, although not “Calvinism vs Arminianism”. I’ll just teach the relevant passages from a Calvinist POV.
The class seems to be a bunch of pretty mature Christians, so while I think it’s important to cover the basics, I don’t want to bore them. I think they will enjoy the planned followup to this class, creatively named Theology 201. I’ll get into a lot more contentious subjects there like the millennium, Calvinism vs. Arminianism, and things like that.
You’re right. 30 minutes isn’t jack.
I’ve got a full hour and I still find myself rushing through to get everything in and ending the class having skipped stuff.
Not to mention trying to allow for discussions.
Good luck.
I’m going to tell the preacher to cut his sermons short so I can have more time to teach. :-)
Even though I only have 30 minutes, I do have 12 full weeks. I only have 7 planned now, with “special topics” to fill the other 5. The regular classes build on each other, the special topics are more standalone. That way I can have those around Thanksgiving and Christmas, when I figure a lot of people will be out. But even with 12 weeks, you can’t cover a lot of theology that way.
I’ll try to remember to pray for you, Robert. Bravo on teaching from a Biblical point of view, by which I mean what is often labeled “Calvinist.”
Obnoxious comment deleted.
Did you delete your own obnoxious comment? Or somebody else’s? I tend to put the “deleted” disclaimer in place of the other person’s text so people can see who was being obnoxious. But I can understand not wanting to send traffic their way or something.