--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I am convinced that there is an urgent…" description: "\"“I am convinced that there is an urgent need in the church today for much greater understanding of Christian doctrine, or systematic theology. Not only..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/79e/wayne-grudem-20093_bible_i-am-convinced-that-there-is-an-urgent-n_903869.jpg" --- # I am convinced that there is an urgent need in the church… ![“I am convinced that there is an urgent need in the church today for much greater understanding of Christian doctrine, or systematic theology. Not only pastors and teachers need to understand theology in greater depth -- the WHOLE CHURCH does as well. One day by God's grace we may have churches…” quote by Wayne Grudem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/79e/wayne-grudem-20093_bible_i-am-convinced-that-there-is-an-urgent-n_903869.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/79e/wayne-grudem-20093_bible_i-am-convinced-that-there-is-an-urgent-n_903869.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/79e/wayne-grudem-20093_bible_i-am-convinced-that-there-is-an-urgent-n_903869.jpg) > ““I am convinced that there is an urgent need in the church today for much greater understanding of Christian doctrine, or systematic theology. Not only pastors and teachers need to understand theology in greater depth -- the WHOLE CHURCH does as well. One day by God's grace we may have churches full of Christians who can discuss, apply and LIVE the doctrinal teachings of the Bible as readily as they can discuss the details of their own jobs or hobbies - or the fortunes of their favorite sports team or television program.”” [Wayne Grudem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-grudem/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote urges deeper theological literacy across all church members, not just leaders, so faith becomes lived practice rather than abstract knowledge. **In simple terms:** Church members should understand doctrine like they understand hobbies. Key Takeaway Promote deep theological education for everyone. Themes faith education community practice doctrine Mood hopeful inspirational thoughtful Type instructional motivational theological When to use this quote - Bible study groups - small group discussions - seminars - personal devotional habits - church leadership training Key Concepts Systematic theology lay education cultural relevance Questions to Reflect On - How can churches make doctrinal learning engaging for all ages? - What barriers prevent laypeople from studying theology? A Different Perspective Many lack time or resources to study theology deeply, leading to superficial understanding. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bible/) [Christianity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christianity/) [Church today](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/church-today/) [Favorite sports](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/favorite-sports/) [God'S Grace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god-s-grace/) [Learning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learning/) [Sports team](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sports-team/) ## Related quotes > [“Defining systematic theology to include "what the whole Bible TEACHES US today" implies that application to life is a necessary part of the proper…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-grudem/defining-systematic-theology-to-include-what-the-whole-bible-teaches/) [Wayne Grudem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-grudem/) > [A biblical understanding of the Christian life is not 'let go and let God,' it's 'trust God and get going.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tullian-tchividjian/a-biblical-understanding-of-the-christian-life-is-not-let-go-and-let/) [Tullian Tchividjian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tullian-tchividjian/) > [“The following is one of the oldest sermon illustrations used in the Christian church. It also tests one’s understanding of the Christian life. There…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-wurmbrand/the-following-is-one-of-the-oldest-sermon-illustrations-used-in-the/) [Richard Wurmbrand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-wurmbrand/) > [“If we allow our American mindset of consumption to spill into our understanding of what a Christian is, we are in danger of living…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-sprink/if-we-allow-our-american-mindset-of-consumption-to-spill-into-our/) [Holly Sprink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-sprink/) > [“The world does not understand theology and dogma, but it understands love and sympathy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-l-moody-2/the-world-does-not-understand-theology-and-dogma-but-it-understands/) Dwight L Moody > [The world does not understand theology or dogma, but it understands love and sympathy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-l-moody/the-world-does-not-understand-theology-or-dogma-but-it-understands/) [Dwight L. Moody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-l-moody/) > [There is a theology to gardening that few of us consider, but to understand this theology means relinquishing much control - our arsenal of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-mcdowell/there-is-a-theology-to-gardening-that-few-of-us-consider-but-to/) [Christopher McDowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-mcdowell/) > [“Finally, we must understand that theology is never an end in itself, but a means to an end, the end that we would progressively…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-david-tripp/finally-we-must-understand-that-theology-is-never-an-end-in-itself/) [Paul David Tripp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-david-tripp/) > [Some fundamentalists go so far as to reject psychology as a disciplined study, which is unfortunate and polarizing. By definition, psychology is the study…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-t-anderson/some-fundamentalists-go-so-far-as-to-reject-psychology-as-a/) [Neil T Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-t-anderson/) > [It's better to emphasize biblical theology, partly because there are fine Study Bibles already available that lean into systematic theology, and partly because biblical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-a-carson/it-s-better-to-emphasize-biblical-theology-partly-because-there-are/) [D. A. Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-a-carson/) > [Systematic theology - be careful how you tie down the Word to fit your set and final creeds, systems, dogmas, and organized theistic philosophies!…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-elliot/systematic-theology-be-careful-how-you-tie-down-the-word-to-fit-your/) [Jim Elliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-elliot/) > [Systematic theology will ask questions like "What are the attributes of God? What is sin? What does the cross achieve?" Biblical theology tends to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-a-carson/systematic-theology-will-ask-questions-like-what-are-the-attributes/) [D. A. Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-a-carson/) > [Just when I get my church all sorted out, sheep from the goats, saved from the damned, hopeless from the hopeful, somebody makes a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-henry-willimon/just-when-i-get-my-church-all-sorted-out-sheep-from-the-goats-saved/) [William Henry Willimon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-henry-willimon/) > ["Biblical theology" refers to something more precise than theology that is faithful to the Bible. It might be helpful to draw a contrast: at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-a-carson/biblical-theology-refers-to-something-more-precise-than-theology-that/) [D. A. Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-a-carson/) > [Skiing is my favorite sport, because, that's the only sport that is actually better to watch the worst the person is at it. "That…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demetri-martin/skiing-is-my-favorite-sport-because-that-s-the-only-sport-that-is/) [Demetri Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demetri-martin/) ## More by Wayne Grudem > [God's glory is the created brightness that surrounds God’s revelation of himself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-grudem/god-s-glory-is-the-created-brightness-that-surrounds-god-s-revelation/) [Wayne Grudem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-grudem/) > [God's faithfulness means that God will always do what He said and fulfill what He has promised.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-grudem/god-s-faithfulness-means-that-god-will-always-do-what-he-said-and/) [Wayne Grudem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-grudem/) > [If we pray little, it is probably because we do not really believe that prayer accomplishes much at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-grudem/if-we-pray-little-it-is-probably-because-we-do-not-really-believe/) [Wayne Grudem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-grudem/) > [Election is an act of God before creation in which He chooses some people to be saved, not on account of any foreseen merit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-grudem/election-is-an-act-of-god-before-creation-in-which-he-chooses-some/) [Wayne Grudem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-grudem/) > [Sin is any failure to conform to the moral law of God in act, attitude, or nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-grudem/sin-is-any-failure-to-conform-to-the-moral-law-of-god-in-act-attitude/) [Wayne Grudem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-grudem/) > [It is important to insist on the historical truthfulness of the narrative of the fall of Adam and Eve. Just as the account of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-grudem/it-is-important-to-insist-on-the-historical-truthfulness-of-the/) [Wayne Grudem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-grudem/) > [The clarity of Scripture means that the Bible is written in such a way that its teachings are able to be understood by all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-grudem/the-clarity-of-scripture-means-that-the-bible-is-written-in-such-a/) [Wayne Grudem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-grudem/) > [The sufficiency of Scripture means that Scripture contained all the words of God he intended his people to have at each stage of redemptive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-grudem/the-sufficiency-of-scripture-means-that-scripture-contained-all-the/) [Wayne Grudem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-grudem/) > [I think that ultimately we will attain much more depth of understanding of Scripture when we are able to study it in the company…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-grudem/i-think-that-ultimately-we-will-attain-much-more-depth-of/) [Wayne Grudem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-grudem/) > [The pressure to conform to 'politically correct' speech is primarily a pressure not to use certain expressions. But when our freedom to use certain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-grudem/the-pressure-to-conform-to-politically-correct-speech-is-primarily-a/) [Wayne Grudem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-grudem/) > [Nowhere in Scripture do we find doctrine studied for its own sake or in isolation from life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-grudem/nowhere-in-scripture-do-we-find-doctrine-studied-for-its-own-sake-or/) [Wayne Grudem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-grudem/) > [God eternally exists as three persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and each person is fully God, and there is one God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-grudem/god-eternally-exists-as-three-persons-father-son-and-holy-spirit-and/) [Wayne Grudem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-grudem/) > [I do not believe that God intended the study of theology to be dry and boring. Theology is the study of God and all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-grudem/i-do-not-believe-that-god-intended-the-study-of-theology-to-be-dry/) [Wayne Grudem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-grudem/) > [God fully knows himself and all things actual and possible in one simple and eternal act.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-grudem/god-fully-knows-himself-and-all-things-actual-and-possible-in-one/) [Wayne Grudem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-grudem/) > [“The study of theology is not merely a theoretical exercise of the intellect. It is a study of the living God, and of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-grudem/the-study-of-theology-is-not-merely-a-theoretical-exercise-of-the/) [Wayne Grudem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-grudem/) [Explore all 31 Wayne Grudem quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-grudem/) ## More Bible quotes > [I think a new world will arise out of the religious mists when we approach our Bible with the idea that it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/i-think-a-new-world-will-arise-out-of-the-religious-mists-when-we/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [From Augustine down, theologians have tried to compel people to accept their special interpretation of the Scripture, and the tortures of the inquisition, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matilda-joslyn-gage/from-augustine-down-theologians-have-tried-to-compel-people-to-accept/) [Matilda Joslyn Gage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matilda-joslyn-gage/) > [“God hates Hell. He hates the idea of people going there. He hates it so much that He was willing to take on human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-minton/god-hates-hell-he-hates-the-idea-of-people-going-there-he-hates-it-so/) [Evan Minton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-minton/) > [“The Devil can cite Scripture for his purpose, Sergeant,’ Anthony Payne replied. ‘That is from The Merchant of Venice, but it holds great truth.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-arnold/the-devil-can-cite-scripture-for-his-purpose-sergeant-anthony-payne/) Michael Arnold > [When you put your hand on the Bible, you are saying something much stronger than just telling your peers that you're going to tell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-greenwood/when-you-put-your-hand-on-the-bible-you-are-saying-something-much/) [Lee Greenwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-greenwood/) > [“Scripture also teaches that human beings are morally responsible creatures”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-peterson/scripture-also-teaches-that-human-beings-are-morally-responsible/) Robert A. Peterson > [“The wife of a junior officer cooped up in a horrible canvas partition in steerage for five months wrote: "I had enjoyed much peace…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-taylor/the-wife-of-a-junior-officer-cooped-up-in-a-horrible-canvas-partition/) Stephen Taylor > [O Word of God incarnate . . . It is the golden casket Where gems of truth are stored; It is the heaven-drawn picture…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walsham-how/o-word-of-god-incarnate-it-is-the-golden-casket-where-gems-of-truth/) Walsham How > [How can I trust that the Bible is reliable?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-horton/how-can-i-trust-that-the-bible-is-reliable/) [Michael Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-horton/) > [Every plant which my heavenly father has not planted with be uprooted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesus-christ/every-plant-which-my-heavenly-father-has-not-planted-with-be-uprooted/) [Jesus Christ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesus-christ/) > [Where I come from you're not raised to think on your own. It's not that you're pushed to read the Bible. The Bible is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abel-ferrara/where-i-come-from-you-re-not-raised-to-think-on-your-own-it-s-not/) [Abel Ferrara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abel-ferrara/) > [“I felt like praying or something, when I was in bed, but I couldn't do it. I can't always pray when I feel like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-salinger/i-felt-like-praying-or-something-when-i-was-in-bed-but-i-couldn-t-do/) [J.D. Salinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-salinger/) > [What comes to mind when you think of heaven? Heaven is referred to in fifty-four of the Bible's sixty-six books, and the final two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-jeremiah/what-comes-to-mind-when-you-think-of-heaven-heaven-is-referred-to-in/) [David Jeremiah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-jeremiah/) > [“While it is in one sense a result of God’s presence within us, the New Testament also describes a process involved in our “putting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallas-willard/while-it-is-in-one-sense-a-result-of-god-s-presence-within-us-the-new/) [Dallas Willard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallas-willard/) > [The definition of a Church is crystal clear in the New Testament. We see the picture of it. They came together the first day…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-macarthur/the-definition-of-a-church-is-crystal-clear-in-the-new-testament-we/) [John MacArthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-macarthur/) [Browse all 8,465 Bible quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bible/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“I am convinced that there is an urgent need in the church today for much greater understanding of Christian doctrine, or systematic theology. Not only pastors and teachers need to understand theology in greater depth -- the WHOLE CHURCH does as well. 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