Why Theology Matters

Bring up the word “theology” and watch the fireworks begin!  Some Christians get excited, some get angry, and others simply start heading for the door.  In this class, Dr. Lister will show us that we do not have to fear theology.  Rather, when we understand what it really is and what it does we actually see that it helps us love God, read our Bibles better, gain a clearer perspective of our world, and be more effective Christians. Theology is not just an academic discipline or another problem people see with Christianity.  As we will discover, theology is a critical part of what it means to be a disciple of the risen Savior.

Ryan Lister is a Professor of Theology at Western Seminary in Portland, Oregon. Before moving to the west coast, Dr. Lister taught at colleges and universities in Louisiana, South Carolina, and California. He received his PhD in Systematic Theology at Southern Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky, and this past fall he published his first book entitled, The Presence of God: Its Place in the Story line of Scripture and the Story of Our Lives. He is married to Chase Elizabeth and is the proud father of four fun and rambunctious children.