3 Ways to Teach Young People Theology
If you’re serving in youth or college ministry, you know that advertising an evening of “Dinner and Doctrine” or “Theology Tonight” may not be the most surefire way to draw a crowd. It can be difficult to engage teenagers and young adults in the discipline of theological study—especially as they have often been deeply influenced by an entertainment and social media culture of two-minute video clips and sound bites, which can significantly hinder an appetite for sustained, concentrated theological thought. Even so, it is the role of faithful believers in the local church to challenge our young people to think theologically and grow in their theological understanding as they are guided by God’s Word.
I’m grateful that, in our church context, our pastor for youth and college engages our students in sound biblical teaching and presses toward deeper theological understanding. Our college students have met for book discussions on great Puritan works and gathered on Sunday evenings to wrestle through dense theological topics. Our high school and middle school students have worked through the Westminster Shorter Catechism, both memorizing the catechism questions and being taught the meaning and application of its theology.
Below, let me humbly offer three encouragements toward engaging youth and young adults in theological thought that our church is seeking to apply in our church context.
1. Convince them that theology is practical.
The first “apologetic” in convincing young people to give themselves to theological study and understanding is to counter the common sentiment that theology is impractical—that it belongs in stuffy seminary libraries rather than the hallways of the local high school. It’s good to remind young people that their theology will shape every aspect of their lives: their patterns of thought, decision-making, convictions, cultural engagement, motivation, and relationships. What we believe about God is the most intensely practical thing about us.
Perhaps the most striking (negative) example of the practical nature of theological belief in Scripture is spelled out in Romans 1:18–32. What begins with a sinful decision about belief and worship (the “exchange” of the Creator for idolatrous images of created things) bears fruit in all kinds of sinful behavior and actions. Truly, what we believe will bear fruit in how we live. It is helpful, on this point, also to remind young people that they are engaged in theological thought already, all the time. They are being “discipled” in theological thought through song lyrics, tweets, TikTok videos, and social media influencers. Their failure to engage in Christian theological study will not leave them on neutral ground but will make them vulnerable to other forms of inaccurate theological discipleship.
2. Show them that theology is exciting.
During my seminary years, Dr. D.A. Carson often remarked that he had learned over the years that while his students would not remember everything he taught them, they always seemed to remember the things about which he was most excited. I want to suggest that, for pastors and lay leaders in the church who work with young people, perhaps one of the first steps toward your students gaining a love of theology is their catching your infectious excitement about God, His Word, and the beauty of Christian doctrine.
College and high school students should be able to sense our passion for the depth of theology, the beauty of the gospel, and the riches of the Christian Scriptures, perhaps even before they begin growing in their own understanding of all those treasures. Do we talk about Christian doctrine in such a way that communicates to our young people that we are sharing with them the most weighty and glorious matters in the universe?
3. Remind them that theology must be worshipful.
Paul’s beautiful prayer for the Ephesian believers, which he summarizes in Ephesians 1:15–21, is a prayer for their growth in what we might call “theological knowledge,” to be sure. But his prayer for their growth in knowledge tilts undeniably Godward in worship. Paul wants these Christians to grow in deeper theological understanding so that they exult more worshipfully in their glorious Savior. He wants them to “know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe” (Eph. 1:18–19). Paul is not after theological knowledge for its sake alone. For Paul, growth in theological understanding is meant to grow our hearts in more and more worship to God and to praise Him for His glorious saving work in our lives.
Theological teaching and study must never be divorced from a relationship with the glorious God who has revealed Himself to us in His Word. As we understand more of Him, we are meant to worship Him and enjoy Him more and more as well.
This article is part of the The Basics of Christian Discipleship collection.