Episode Summary:

Christians often think theology is only for scholars or the spiritually elite. But this simply isn’t true. While theology is, in one sense, an academic discipline, it can also be understood as the art of knowing our creator. God invites us to know him, as we are fully known by him.

Theology goes beyond the study of the character of God, and into the art of knowing the One who already knows and intimately loves His believers. Flash Theology leads readers through thirty-one bite-size truths, highlighting key aspects of who God is and what that means for the reader.

Theology is important for everyone, but if it’s too dense, it can be hard to digest. Today we’re going to talk about biblical literacy and why it’s important to learn who God is.

Quotables from the episode:

• We all carry a theological bias. So, we all enter into a variety of conversations and our own circumstances within our life, carrying a bias towards who we think God is. And that is based on a whole bunch of different things, how we are raised, different things you hear over time, the media you consume, the church you attend, all these different facets of how we view God and the way we absorb information can help us view God biblically or not biblically at all.
• I believe the Westernized church and social media has created a self-help gospel that is void of God’s truth.
• That word is associated, as you already mentioned, is associated with academics and scholars. So, there is kind of hefty price tag to it, but theology is simply the study of God. So, then if you open up the Bible, you are studying the Christian God. So, everybody that opens up the Bible is a “theologian.” Now of course there are the academic theologians but I like to say we're all theologians and we should take ownership of that because that helps us realize it is a worthy pursuit to understand God and his text.
• We miss out on so much because we're leaving it to those that are called to lead us, right? We're saying, okay, which is good. We should trust our leaders, but we should also question if something actually biblically accurate? I love if I go to teach the Bible somewhere. I love when people do their digging afterwards and make sure that I actually taught the text properly.
• We should have a hunger and an understanding to pursue a depth of who God is, and that's not always going to be accurate in the different areas of consumption, like those 20 -second reels on social media that we come across.
• Through Genesis to Revelation, there's a line of scripture that's happening, and it is revealing Christ all throughout scripture, who Christ is, is being revealed.
• God knows us already, right? So it's really this question of do we embrace the fact that he fully knows us? Do we understand the depth of his love? And I can only imagine that it's a consistently, we're walking out understanding the depths of his love until we're face to face with Jesus.
• **So when we can embrace the truth that we are fully known by a God who loves us, by a God that is for us, by a God that knows the beginning from the end, it creates this stabilizing truth in our life that will carry us when our circumstances are out of control, when the world feels like it's mass chaos, when something comes at us, when we're not prepared, like there is a stabilizing truth that God is good, He is sovereign, He is my Savior (for those that declare Christ as their Lord and Savior.) And that stabilizing truth in itself is something that will help you continue to move forward until we are again face to face with Jesus.
• God has always fully known us. And when we can really start to accept that and receive that, I think that's when we really start to live in the abundant life that Jesus came to give. Who else loves us despite knowing our every fault? Nobody but God. I think that's really the stepping stone to walk into that abundant life that Jesus came to give.
• One of the biggest wrestling matches I’ve seen in ministry is people understanding God as Father. Sometimes we have to have this wrestling match with the Holy Spirit to be able to fully embrace the fullness of what that means to understand God as Father.
• So often our view of God as Father is directly impacted by our relationship with the parental figures that we're in our life. And the problem with that is that we're relating to a perfect God using a flawed metric. But the thing that has been most helpful in working with patients is helping them explore the fact that even if they were abandoned by their earthly father or their earthly father was not a kind person, God as father specifically chose us, made the loving choice that he wanted us to be a child.
• I remember I was driving around one day in Hollywood and it's just, it's such a fun city because almost everyone there is like dreamers. They moved to Hollywood because they have a big dream to pursue. So I'm driving around listening to worship music. Just I'm in love with the city and I felt this deep conviction from God where he was like, “you've been making this calling, you've been making this all about yourself.” And it was that like gut punch of like, oh gosh, I better pay attention. And what I felt him saying in my spirit was, "You've been making this all about you. This really has nothing to do with you. Do you trust that I can fill the spaces between you and this dream that I've called you to pursue?" So of course, I ugly cried, I repented. I said, "I'm so sorry, God." And I've tried to be faithful with what he's asked me to do.
• The enemy makes it all about us, because he doesn't want it to be all about God.
• I wonder how many people are listening today, who have felt the unction of God calling them into something and self-doubt has interfered. Friends, if that is you, if God is calling you into something, he's going to equip you. He's going to walk with you. He's going to train you. He's going to bring along mentors. He's going to provide the finances. Listen to Jenny's story. It's not all about you. It's about him.
• Dig in and also invite the Holy Spirit into your reading process because like I said, we can we can read and or listen to the text, but it's one thing to say, “Holy Spirit make this come alive and show me how to apply this to my life as well.” I love that last recommendation because when Jesus left, he said, “I'm going to send one to remind you of all truth.” He was talking about the Holy Spirit, but the Holy Spirit can't remind us of truth that we haven't already taken in. So, when you're reading the word, do just as Jenny says and invite the Holy Spirit to teach you truth. And those words are going to come alive off the page.
• When we understand the Gospel and who triune God really is, the end result is knowing and enjoying God more!
• Theology and getting to know God doesn’t have to be intimating or boring! Start where you are and learn to wrestle with God’s word. Don’t just read it, but make time to study it. It’s life-changing!

Scripture References:

• Numbers 23:19 ESV God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?
• Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

Recommended Resources:

• Flash Theology: A Visual Guide to Knowing and Enjoying God More by Jenny Randle and Brayden Brookshier
• Courageous Creative by Jenny Randle
• Getting to Know God’s Voice: Discover the Holy Spirit in Your Everyday Life by Jenny Randle
• Dream Come True: A Practical Guide to Pursue the Adventures God Has for You by Jenny Randle
• Promises of God Chart, 8-week Study Guide, Flash Cards, and church presentation slides to supplement the book “Flash Theology”
• BibleProject.com
• Women of the Word by Jen Wilkin
• Seamless by Angie Smith
• Sacred Scars: Resting in God’s Promise That Your Past Is Not Wasted by Dr. Michelle Bengtson
• The Hem of His Garment: Reaching Out To God When Pain Overwhelms by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner AWSA 2024 Golden Scroll Christian Living Book of the Year and the 2024 Christian Literary Awards Reader’s Choice Award in the Christian Living and Non-Fiction categories
• YouVersion 5-Day Devotional Reaching Out To God When Pain Overwhelms
• Today is Going to be a Good Day: 90 Promises from God to Start Your Day Off Right by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, AWSA Member of the Year, winner of the AWSA 2023 Inspirational Gift Book of the Year Award, the 2024 Christian Literary Awards Reader’s Choice Award in the Devotional category, the 2023 Christian Literary Awards Reader’s Choice Award in four categories, and the Christian Literary Awards Henri Award for Devotionals
• YouVersion Devotional, Today is Going to be a Good Day version 1
• YouVersion Devotional, Today is Going to be a Good Day version 2
• Revive & Thrive Women’s Online Conference
• Revive & Thrive Summit 2
• Trusting God through Cancer Summit 1
• Trusting God through Cancer Summit 2
• Breaking Anxiety’s Grip: How to Reclaim the Peace God Promises by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner of the AWSA 2020 Best Christian Living Book First Place, the first place winner for the Best Christian Living Book, the 2020 Carolina Christian Writer’s Conference Contest winner for nonfiction, and winner of the 2021 Christian Literary Award’s Reader’s Choice Award in all four categories for which it was nominated (Non-Fiction Victorious Living, Christian Living Day By Day, Inspirational Breaking Free and Testimonial Justified by Grace categories.)
• YouVersion Bible Reading Plan for Breaking Anxiety’s Grip
• Breaking Anxiety’s Grip Free Study Guide
• Free PDF Resource: How to Fight Fearful/Anxious Thoughts and Win
• Hope Prevails: Insights from a Doctor’s Personal Journey Through Depression by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner of the Christian Literary Award Henri and Reader’s Choice Award
• Hope Prevails Bible Study by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner of the Christian Literary Award Reader’s Choice Award
• Free Webinar: Help for When You’re Feeling Blue

Social Media Links for Host and Guest:

Connect with Jenny Randle:

Website / Holy Spirit Ministry Center Website / Facebook / Instagram

For more hope, stay connected with Dr. Bengtson at:

Order Book Sacred Scars / Order Book The Hem of His Garment / Order Book Today is Going to be a Good Day / Order Book Breaking Anxiety’s Grip / Order Book Hope Prevails / Website / Blog / Facebook / Twitter (@DrMBengtson) / LinkedIn / Instagram / Pinterest / YouTube / Podcast on Apple

About Guest Jenny Randle:

Jenny Randle is an Emmy®-award-winning editor who went on a journey to discover what it really means to live on purpose. From a career in the heart of Hollywood to an academic theologian, communicator, and author, her creative ventures over the last twenty years have reached millions. Her search for meaning in life's everyday moments led her to create resources that merge profound gospel-centered truths with practical application. Since 2008, she has been in vocational ministry, creating discipleship tools and content for local churches and international ministries. She is the President of the Holy Spirit Ministry Center, an organization that helps people learn theology and live it out.

Jenny is the author of Courageous Creative, Getting to Know God’s Voice, Dream Come True (Harvest House), Promised Presence (Esther Press), and the co-author of Flash Theology (David C Cook).

With a Master's from Asbury Theological Seminary and ministry ordination, Jenny combines academic depth and authority to advocate for a deeper understanding of the Holy Spirit in the Church. Jenny teaches the Bible across denominational lines and has witnessed countless testimonies of God ministering personal transformation, healing, and revelation through these engagements. She’s contending for Holy Spirit renewal for the everyday Christ-follower.

Hosted By: Dr. Michelle Bengtson

Audio Technical Support: Bryce Bengtson

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