A Statement About Theological Study
In any church, we must continually encourage and pray for growth in leaders, men, and families of the church. In doing that, we confess that only the Word of God is a source of sufficient knowledge for the believer. That is to say: no earthly teacher is perfect–none.
Yet, God has given the gift of teachers to His church that she might be washed in the water of the Word and grow to full maturity in Christ. And so, when God does supply these teachers, we want to encourage all Christians to carefully learn from and think through how the gospel might be recognized as more glorious because of their teaching.
At Basswood, we want to encourage men in particular to seek depth of maturity that they would, by God’s grace, lead their families to the same maturity in Christ. That does not remove the responsibility of individuals to understand regardless of gender or station, nor does it overlook the need for godly influences through the church. It is a simple recognition that God has ordained means and orders.
In our technological age, we live with a particular opportunity to share in some of the best teaching available without great cost or travel. This is a time when every church and home could be a seminary! We have gathered some of the most helpful teaching we have found below. Though much more could and should be studied, we are hoping to provide a place to start for every believer to love Christ even more with their mind by growing in their knowledge of Him.
The large categories of Basics, Intermediate, and Advanced are simple tools to help categorize and give manageable chunks as a pattern for learning. And again, all teachers should be evaluated carefully based upon their faithfulness to Scripture.
Basics
Desiring God, John Piper, Pastor, Teacher, and Author, Bethlehem Baptist Church
The Content and Theology of the New Testament, Bill Mounce, Teacher, Author, and Chair of NT for the ESV Bible
History of the English Bible, Daniel Wallace, Dallas Theological Seminary
Apologetics, Ronald Nash, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
Inductive Bible Study, George Guthrie, Union University
Intermediate
Theological Foundations, Derek Thomas, Reformed Theological Seminary
Old Testament Survey, Douglas Stuart, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary
Introduction to the New Testament: The Gospels and Acts, Craig Blomberg, Denver Seminary
Introduction to the New Testament: Romans to Revelation, Craig Blomberg
Church History, Gordon Isaac, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary
Systematic Theology, Wayne Grudem, Pheonix Seminary
Missions, John Piper
Advanced
Biblical Greek, Bill Mounce [also see our post on Original Language resources freely available online]
TULIP, John Piper
Advanced Worldview Analysis, Ronald Nash
History and Theology of the Puritans, J.I. Packer, Regent College
Church History I (Formation & Heresies), Gerald Bray, Beeson Divinity School
Calvin’s Institutes, David Calhoun, Reformed Theological Seminary
Christianity and Culture, Corneilus Van Til, Wesminster Theological Seminary
