Old Reliable Triangle: How to Apply God's Word by John Frame
The Applied Theology Series: A Systematic Theologian and a Practical Theologian Apply Theology to Life
John Frame and Steve Childers draw from their more than 70 combined years as seminary professors to help you learn how to apply God’s Word to all areas of life. The excerpt below is from Pathway Learning’s upcoming books and courses. Sign up below to receive the latest updates.
How do I apply God's Word to my life?
One of professor John Frame's most famous quotes is, "Theology is application." The big idea is that if you don't know how to apply a passage of God's word to your life, you don't really know what that passage means. The practical question then becomes, "How do I apply God's Word to my life?"Dr. Frame's answer to that question today is the same it was decades ago. He likes to respond to that question with, what he calls, his "old, reliable triangle," by encouraging you always to ask and answer three questions when you're studying a passage from God's word.
1. What does this passage require of me? How does it want me to change my beliefs and behaviors? (Normative Perspective)
2. What does this passage tell me about myself and my environment? What does it teach me about God's grace for me in Jesus Christ? (Situational Perspective)
3. How do I feel, and how should I feel, about this passage? Does it comfort, challenge, convict, or encourage me? (Existential Perspective)
Theology is not merely the accumulation and memorization of doctrinal ideas. It's also the practical application of those ideas to our hearts and lives. In spite of what many think, Jesus doesn’t command us in the Great Commission to teach people all that he commanded us. Instead, he commands us to teach people to obey all that he commanded us (Matt 28:20). And there’s a big difference!
In spite of what many think, Jesus doesn’t command us in the Great Commission to teach people all that he commanded us. Instead, he commands us to teach people to obey all that he commanded us (Matt 28:20). And there’s a big difference! –Steve Childers, Applied Theology I
With this difference in mind, the Applied Theology Series presents you with an approach to understanding and teaching the bible that has the goal of not merely the transmission of truth from the teacher’s mind to the student’s mind, but also the application of that truth to the student’s heart motivation and real-life situation. These accessible, affordable, seminary-level courses are designed to help underserved church leaders develop churches that transform lives and communities–wherever they live.
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