As we begin this new journey together, I want to honor the simple but powerful act of gathering as a church family. This rhythm of coming together is a keystone habit that shapes every other part of our lives, from our relationships to our spiritual growth. The evidence is clear: when we make space for God and his people, our lives flourish. As we celebrate the legacy of what God has done in our community over the past 20 years, we also look forward with anticipation to what he will do as we deepen our understanding of him.
Today, we set the stage for a season of learning and transformation. The heart of our pursuit is not just to fill our minds with theological facts, but to know Jesus more deeply and to let that knowledge shape every aspect of our lives. Paul’s words in Colossians remind us that our faith must be rooted and built up in Christ, not swayed by hollow philosophies or cultural trends. We live in a world full of noise, where ideas about God, truth, and meaning are picked up almost by accident—through family, culture, social media, and even well-meaning friends. Without realizing it, we can end up with a patchwork, “syncretic” worldview that is more shaped by the world than by the Word.
That’s why we’re embarking on a study of systematic theology—not as an academic exercise, but as a way to organize our thoughts about God, to ask the hard questions, and to unlearn what needs to be unlearned. We’ll explore the core doctrines of the faith: the Bible, God, Christ, the Holy Spirit, angels, sin, salvation, the church, and the end of all things. Each of these “ologies” is not just a topic to master, but a doorway into knowing God more fully. When our understanding is off in one area, it can throw everything else out of alignment—just like a car parked out of line can set the whole lot askew.
We must be vigilant about what we allow to shape our beliefs. The world offers many substitutes—superstition, moral relativism, and the blending of spiritual ideas from every direction. But the call is to return to the Scriptures, to let God’s truth anchor us, and to recognize that Christianity is not just another religion among many. It is fundamentally different: not about us reaching up to God, but about God coming down to us in Jesus. The invitation is open to all—to become not just theologians, but good ones, who love God with heart, soul, mind, and strength.
Colossians 2:4-8 (ESV) — I say this in order that no one may delude you with plausible arguments. For though I am absent in body, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the firmness of your faith in Christ. Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.
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