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Understanding Theology in 15 Minutes a Day
An Easy-to-Use Guide to Christian Theology
Theology can be intimidating, even overwhelming. Where do you start? How is it important to the Christian life? What are the key topics that you need to understand? How do you make time to study something so complex without going to Bible college or seminary?
In Understanding Theology in 15 Minutes a Day, professor and former pastor Daryl Aaron answers forty critical questions about the Christian faith. Arranged by topic, you can choose the areas that interest you or systematically read through the book. Each section is short and easy to understand. You'll come away with a deeper faith as you learn about the nature of God, heaven, the Bible, church, and even yourself.
Theology can be intimidating, even overwhelming. Where do you start? How is it important to the Christian life? What are the key topics that you need to understand? How do you make time to study something so complex without going to Bible college or seminary?
In Understanding Theology in 15 Minutes a Day, professor and former pastor Daryl Aaron answers forty critical questions about the Christian faith. Arranged by topic, you can choose the areas that interest you or systematically read through the book. Each section is short and easy to understand. You'll come away with a deeper faith as you learn about the nature of God, heaven, the Bible, church, and even yourself.
- GenresTheologyNonfiction
224 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 2012
42 people are currently reading
56 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
October 29, 2012
Here’s real help! You are surely aware of the theological illiteracy of our day. Christians are often easy prey for cults because they so little know what they believe. Hand them the usual systematic theology book and they panic, or at least lay it aside quickly. Would you agree that we need more easily-digestible materials to rescue confused Christians? This book written by Daryl Aaron and published by Bethany House meets a real need.
I’ll just admit it–I’m totally impressed with how well Mr. Aaron brought theology so clearly to us in this volume. I went in thinking that superficiality would drown this volume because of its daunting task to make us understand theology in a little over 200 pages, but that is not the case. This book is good, really good.
The strengths of this book include understandable definitions, information on important divisions in Christian thought, and a clear love of Christ, His Word, and the theology that springs from it. It also succeeds in communication as many things are well put. I found myself underlining something in every chapter.
The book was at it weakest when in controversy. Particularly anything that touched the Calvinism-Arminianism debate took a much more cautious approach. I suspect that was more the publishers guideline than the authors choice. Still, there is value in presenting both sides as objectively as possible and letting we readers decide for ourselves. The only big criticism I could make of this book is the lack of an index.
This book will be a real boon to younger Christians. For those of us who have most of the many works on systematic theology, this book is still a real asset. In my own studies I enjoy reading the larger works for understanding, but reading volumes like this to suggest how to teach it is helpful. I’d love for Christians everywhere to read this book.
I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 .
I’ll just admit it–I’m totally impressed with how well Mr. Aaron brought theology so clearly to us in this volume. I went in thinking that superficiality would drown this volume because of its daunting task to make us understand theology in a little over 200 pages, but that is not the case. This book is good, really good.
The strengths of this book include understandable definitions, information on important divisions in Christian thought, and a clear love of Christ, His Word, and the theology that springs from it. It also succeeds in communication as many things are well put. I found myself underlining something in every chapter.
The book was at it weakest when in controversy. Particularly anything that touched the Calvinism-Arminianism debate took a much more cautious approach. I suspect that was more the publishers guideline than the authors choice. Still, there is value in presenting both sides as objectively as possible and letting we readers decide for ourselves. The only big criticism I could make of this book is the lack of an index.
This book will be a real boon to younger Christians. For those of us who have most of the many works on systematic theology, this book is still a real asset. In my own studies I enjoy reading the larger works for understanding, but reading volumes like this to suggest how to teach it is helpful. I’d love for Christians everywhere to read this book.
I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 .
December 24, 2022
I really like how this book gives you both arguments to a theological perspective fairly, then gives you the biblical arguments. It really explains things succinctly and clearly. I thoroughly enjoyed it and I like that it can lead to deeper study and discussion. I highly recommend this because book.
January 20, 2018
A quick read, but perhaps that is not what is needed when discussing such weighty topics.
November 11, 2012
Christianity is such a big part of my life. Things get crazy time and again and it's easy to lag on our studies and understanding of the faith. But no matter what we can always learn more about Christianity, and we can always bring ourselves closer to God.
This book is an excellent read when you're trying to understand Theology.
Whether you are a beginner on studying Theology or an expert this book is well written. It is easy to understand, and laid out in sections that take 15 minutes or less to read. It answers some of the questions we all wonder, such as::
What is theology?
How can I know God?
When is Jesus really coming back?
What will heaven be like?
How can Jesus be both God and man?
What is the basis of Salvation?
and many more...
There are also Interesting Fact sections at the end of each chapter which I found very interesting. It adds a really nice touch if you ask me, and keeps you on your toes.
The author states that he hoped to keep his own personal viewpoint from coming through. However, inevitably, it did come through here and there. It wasn't too much of a big deal for me though since we all have different viewpoints. It's still interesting to learn others viewpoints, and while there was a few things I didn't agree with in this book there were a lot of points I did agree with. Despite the points that I didn't agree with being said I still learned quite a bit from this book and recommend it if you want a deeper understanding of Theology.
This book is an excellent starting point for Christians who want to know more. I have learned a lot myself from this book, and now know where I want to search more in-depth for deeper answers. It's especially handy for those who want to learn Theology but don't have much time to dedicate to reading during the day. The book is set up well to where you can skip around if you'd like, or just read it from front to back. You can still get through the book easily. It's easy to understand and as I said before each section can be read in about 15 minutes or less.
To read more of this review as well as others you can Visit my blog: Mommy's Musings
Disclaimer: I was provided this book for free through Bethany House Publishers in exchange for my unbiased review. All opinions expressed are solely my own.
This book is an excellent read when you're trying to understand Theology.
Whether you are a beginner on studying Theology or an expert this book is well written. It is easy to understand, and laid out in sections that take 15 minutes or less to read. It answers some of the questions we all wonder, such as::
What is theology?
How can I know God?
When is Jesus really coming back?
What will heaven be like?
How can Jesus be both God and man?
What is the basis of Salvation?
and many more...
There are also Interesting Fact sections at the end of each chapter which I found very interesting. It adds a really nice touch if you ask me, and keeps you on your toes.
The author states that he hoped to keep his own personal viewpoint from coming through. However, inevitably, it did come through here and there. It wasn't too much of a big deal for me though since we all have different viewpoints. It's still interesting to learn others viewpoints, and while there was a few things I didn't agree with in this book there were a lot of points I did agree with. Despite the points that I didn't agree with being said I still learned quite a bit from this book and recommend it if you want a deeper understanding of Theology.
This book is an excellent starting point for Christians who want to know more. I have learned a lot myself from this book, and now know where I want to search more in-depth for deeper answers. It's especially handy for those who want to learn Theology but don't have much time to dedicate to reading during the day. The book is set up well to where you can skip around if you'd like, or just read it from front to back. You can still get through the book easily. It's easy to understand and as I said before each section can be read in about 15 minutes or less.
To read more of this review as well as others you can Visit my blog: Mommy's Musings
Disclaimer: I was provided this book for free through Bethany House Publishers in exchange for my unbiased review. All opinions expressed are solely my own.
December 8, 2012
I love to learn more about theology that surrounds my faith and the Bible and I was really thinking that this would be what I needed, I’m a busy mom who doesn’t have time to wade through theological tomes, but I still even had a hard time getting through this book. I liked how the different areas were divided so if I wanted to read just about “What are Angels and Demons?” or “Is Jesus Really Coming Back?” – I could just flip to that chapter that I wanted to know more about and read it.
The sections were easily read in under 15 minutes and I think maybe if I hadn’t had tried to read the book all the way through, instead, focusing on the things that interested me the most I may have grasped it better and I may still go back and do that. I liked how the author did use Scripture to back up and he also used differing beliefs such as those of Calvinists and Armenians and compared them to Scripture. There are also interesting facts that relate to that theology reading and makes one think a bit more about the past or what it means to us today.
I would have liked to see some other points of view, such as in discussing when Jesus will return (because I know He will), there is a serious implication for Christians that claim that Christ already returned in 70 A.D. (they call themselves Preterists (sp?) ) and I would have liked to hear a little more of that. However, I know the author’s intent was to make this a book that the busy mom or the busy worker could pick it up and have a bit more understanding in regards to the Christian faith – and he succeeded.
**Disclaimer: I was provided a copy of this book from Bethany House in exchange for my honest opinion, no other compensation was given.
The sections were easily read in under 15 minutes and I think maybe if I hadn’t had tried to read the book all the way through, instead, focusing on the things that interested me the most I may have grasped it better and I may still go back and do that. I liked how the author did use Scripture to back up and he also used differing beliefs such as those of Calvinists and Armenians and compared them to Scripture. There are also interesting facts that relate to that theology reading and makes one think a bit more about the past or what it means to us today.
I would have liked to see some other points of view, such as in discussing when Jesus will return (because I know He will), there is a serious implication for Christians that claim that Christ already returned in 70 A.D. (they call themselves Preterists (sp?) ) and I would have liked to hear a little more of that. However, I know the author’s intent was to make this a book that the busy mom or the busy worker could pick it up and have a bit more understanding in regards to the Christian faith – and he succeeded.
**Disclaimer: I was provided a copy of this book from Bethany House in exchange for my honest opinion, no other compensation was given.
December 30, 2012
Review on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/review/R243ZDI2...
Review on my blog: http://christianbookshelfreviews.blog...
Understanding Theology in 15 Minutes a Day is a wonderful book for people who want to learn about theology in an easy-to-understand way. Even though the book is short (around 200 pages), I think things were explained very well.
A few of my favorite quotes are:
"As noted in chapter 15, we are not sinners because we sin; rather, we sin because we are (born) sinners." ~Page 90
"At some level, all people are theologians, whether they know it or not." ~Page 16
"As with God's love, we must never take for granted God's mercy and grace demonstrated through Jesus Christ. When we remember we are sinners who deserve punishment and can do nothing to impress God, that he is just, owes us nothing, and ought to give us what we deserve - eternal death - grace becomes truly amazing." ~Page 53
Overall, I loved Understanding Theology in 15 Minutes a Day - it was great to learn more about theology. I loved what was said in the epilogue:
"You have merely dangled your toes in the deep ocean of the amazing things of God." ~Page 211
So true! I look forward to learning more and more about theology. I recommend Understanding Theology in 15 Minutes a Day to anyone who wants to learn a little about theology.
*I received this book for free from the publisher for my review. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion - which I've done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.*
Review on my blog: http://christianbookshelfreviews.blog...
Understanding Theology in 15 Minutes a Day is a wonderful book for people who want to learn about theology in an easy-to-understand way. Even though the book is short (around 200 pages), I think things were explained very well.
A few of my favorite quotes are:
"As noted in chapter 15, we are not sinners because we sin; rather, we sin because we are (born) sinners." ~Page 90
"At some level, all people are theologians, whether they know it or not." ~Page 16
"As with God's love, we must never take for granted God's mercy and grace demonstrated through Jesus Christ. When we remember we are sinners who deserve punishment and can do nothing to impress God, that he is just, owes us nothing, and ought to give us what we deserve - eternal death - grace becomes truly amazing." ~Page 53
Overall, I loved Understanding Theology in 15 Minutes a Day - it was great to learn more about theology. I loved what was said in the epilogue:
"You have merely dangled your toes in the deep ocean of the amazing things of God." ~Page 211
So true! I look forward to learning more and more about theology. I recommend Understanding Theology in 15 Minutes a Day to anyone who wants to learn a little about theology.
*I received this book for free from the publisher for my review. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion - which I've done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.*
January 3, 2013
Many people believe Theology is a four letter word.
They believe it is dry, boring and sometimes even useless. Many will say that you are wasting your time. "That is only head knowledge and knowledge puffs up!!” They quote scriptures like 1 Corinthians 1:27 - "God chose the foolish things to confound the wise".
Theology is nothing more than a list of beliefs based on the Bible. Everyone has a theology, whether they know it or not. God calls us to worship Him in spirit and TRUTH. How can we worship a God we know nothing about? To worship Him in spirit we must know the truth about Him or we may be worshiping another God.
That is where a book like this comes in. Daryl Aaron has written a simple guide to the basics of theology. He uses very little technical jargon, but does cover most subjects. It is a good book for the beginner. He does not take an official position on each subject, but it is fairly easy to see where he stands on many subjects.
I enjoyed this book. What I can make of his personal theology, I don't agree with everything he writes. But it is always good to read from a different camp.
There are very little major differences, but being Reformed in belief, I can see some nuances that lead me to believe he is not.
All in all it is a pretty good book and is a great starting point for those who would like to dig deeper than the Sunday morning sermon or a daily devotional.
I give this book 4 out of 5 stars.
*I received this book, free of charge, from Bethany House Publishers in exchange for an honest review.
They believe it is dry, boring and sometimes even useless. Many will say that you are wasting your time. "That is only head knowledge and knowledge puffs up!!” They quote scriptures like 1 Corinthians 1:27 - "God chose the foolish things to confound the wise".
Theology is nothing more than a list of beliefs based on the Bible. Everyone has a theology, whether they know it or not. God calls us to worship Him in spirit and TRUTH. How can we worship a God we know nothing about? To worship Him in spirit we must know the truth about Him or we may be worshiping another God.
That is where a book like this comes in. Daryl Aaron has written a simple guide to the basics of theology. He uses very little technical jargon, but does cover most subjects. It is a good book for the beginner. He does not take an official position on each subject, but it is fairly easy to see where he stands on many subjects.
I enjoyed this book. What I can make of his personal theology, I don't agree with everything he writes. But it is always good to read from a different camp.
There are very little major differences, but being Reformed in belief, I can see some nuances that lead me to believe he is not.
All in all it is a pretty good book and is a great starting point for those who would like to dig deeper than the Sunday morning sermon or a daily devotional.
I give this book 4 out of 5 stars.
*I received this book, free of charge, from Bethany House Publishers in exchange for an honest review.
November 3, 2012
I really love these 15 Minutes a Day books! I'm still trying to learn everything there is to know about Christianity because it has become such a big part of my life and I'm genuinely fascinated by the subject. The fact that these books are divided into segments that you should be able to read in just 15 minutes is fantastic! When learning about something new, it can be extremely overwhelming because of the unfamiliar terms and subject matter. However, this book made Theology more easily understood. Just some of the chapters covered are How Do We Know the Bible is the Word of God?, What Does It Mean That God is a Trinity?, Did God Really Make Everything?, How Can Jesus Be Both God and Man? and What Will Happen When Jesus Comes Back? Wow! How many of us have asked these same questions? I know I have! I learned so much as Daryl Aaron explained the answers to these questions using passages from the Bible and used terms that are easy for us beginners to understand. Now, I'm ready to do some in-depth research on the topics that I want to know more about. If you are new to Christianity or if you would just like a quick summary of different topics of Theology, this book is a really good starting place.
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from the publisher, Bethany House, in exchange for an honest review. My opinions are my own and may differ from yours.
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from the publisher, Bethany House, in exchange for an honest review. My opinions are my own and may differ from yours.
October 25, 2012
This book is broken down into forty small chapters that cover some of the major themes of theology for the layman to easily understand. I have read several other books on the subject of theology, but this one is the most concise and most easily understood books on the subject that I have read. When I first began reading the book I decided to read just one chapter a day. But half way through the book I found that I enjoyed reading the book so much that I finished the entire book in a single sitting. I learned quite a few things on the subject of theology that I did not know before reading the book and I have been a Christian for more than thirty years! I would recommend this book to anyone who seeks to understand more about God and the Christian faith. I gave this book four stars out of a possible five star rating system. In conclusion I want to mention that I received this book free from Bethany House without cost to me as part of an agreement that I would write an unbiased review of the book on my personal website as well as on a public book reviewer's website.
November 4, 2012
This was very informative and easy to understand. Some of the topics include: how do we know the Bible is the Word of God and what are the implications, what characteristics of God make Him unique, the Trinity, creation, angels and demons, original sin, Jesus being God and man, salvation, the Holy Spirit, baptism, and the Rapture. The chapters are only about five pages long, so you get an overview of a topic, but don't dive too deeply into it. The author is Professor of Theology and Bible at Northwestern College in Minnesota and has a ThM from Dallas Theological Seminary and a PhD from Graduate Theological Foundation, so needless to say he knows his theology. Even though these are topics that I'm familiar with, I still learned a lot about different views and what the implications are for believing some of them.
Aaron uses a lot of Scripture references when making his points, which compels you... read the rest at my blog:
http://shopgirl152ny.blogspot.com/201...
Aaron uses a lot of Scripture references when making his points, which compels you... read the rest at my blog:
http://shopgirl152ny.blogspot.com/201...
February 27, 2013
Very helpful during my college Theology class. Clear, quick, and to the point!
April 30, 2015
Greatly to be Praised
A wonderful guide to clear up any misunderstandings of theology. We are so blessed. There is no other God like Him.
A wonderful guide to clear up any misunderstandings of theology. We are so blessed. There is no other God like Him.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews