Theology as a Way of Life: On Teaching and Learning the Christian Faith

by Adam Neder

What difference does Jesus Christ make for the way we teach the Christian faith? If he is truly God and truly human, if he reveals God to us and us to ourselves, how might that shape our approach to teaching Christianity? Drawing on the work of S�ren Kierkegaard, Karl Barth, and Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Adam Neder offers a clear and creative theological and spiritual reflection on the art of teaching the Christian faith. This engaging book provides a wealth of fresh theological insights and practical suggestions for anyone involved in teaching and learning Christianity.

Genres: Theology, Teaching, Nonfiction, Christian, Education

176 pages, Paperback

Published November 5, 2019

Reviews

[Corey · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book about teaching from the most gifted teacher I've ever had. Adam Neder is a Barth scholar, but also teaches on Bonhoeffer and Kierkegaard and you can see their influence (and quotes) throughout this book. It's probably the most humble, hopeful, and dependent-on-God approach to teaching that I can think of. I will read this again and again.

Second time through - I find myself often shifting between doubt and belief and have for most of my life. Reading this was faith-giving in a way that I don’t really remember any other books being. Can’t think of higher praise, really.

[Noah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book captured a lot of my frustrations with modern theological education. I find it way easier to keep my academic theologizing separate from my actual living before God. Was that because of how I was taught or was that because my heart is bent on achievement (and achievement is much simpler when it's just an intellectual pursuit)? This book has given me an alternative perspective and another way to teach theology.

“And one of the most subtle and tenacious obstacles to clarifying the meaning of the Christian faith is the tendency—in teachers and students alike—to lose sight of the difference between knowing theology and knowing God.” (39)

“Consider, for example, how easily we forget that every Christian leader profits off of Jesus Christ’s suffering death. He gets crucified and we get paid. That’s the arrangement. Jesus suffers and we cash in. If you teach the Christian faith and that does not unsettle you, you are not thinking straight.” (76–77)

[Daniel Rempel · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely little text on the purpose and risk of theological education that I would happily recommend to any teacher or student of theology. I think, in some ways, Neder’s given me permission to follow a path that I (as a fellow-student of Barth) knew implicitly but didn’t state explicitly, and I’m grateful to him to give me language to make sense of my experience.

[Glenn Wishnew III · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must-read for all those tasked with teaching theology.

[John Funnell · Rating 5 out of 5]

“students need to step outside their familiar surroundings, read beyond the bounds of their particular ecclesial communities, and enter into dialogue with people who think very differently than they think. Doing so deepens knowledge and appreciation of one’s own tradition and at the same time cultivate a healthy scepticism toward that tradition - scepticism that guards against parochial prejudice and self righteous triumphalism. Alternatively, when a spirit of insularity and zealous partisanship takes root in students, when they begin to envision themselves as warriors defending their ecclesial traditions and preferred theologians, they cut themselves off from the full wealth of the churches inheritance, which always makes them worse theologians. When gratitude for their community is devolved into hostility toward outsiders, when Christian students forget they are members of the one body of Christ, participants in the one communion of saints, they become grumpy theological gladiators rather than credible witnesses to Christ.”

Yes, yes and Amen!

[Wagner Floriani · Rating 5 out of 5]

I took this book for vacation, and couldn’t put it down.

As a theologian exhorting other theologians, Neder beautifully draws out implications of personal discipleship to Christ to encompass the vocational responsibilities of a theologian. This book invites those who desire to be theologians to embrace a wider outlook of their vocation. One that is not merely centered around professional expertise and academic prestige. Instead, he offers a more wholistic vision for teaching theology, as he reminds the teacher that he too is a disciple.
Definitely a book worth revisiting, especially for those who spend most years in a classroom.

[Anna Erickson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely.

Wise, humble, and totally reflective of my experiences as a theology student and (hopefully) teacher.

Neder brings Bonhoeffer, Barth, and Kierkegaard into conversation about why teaching theology matters— and how it’s content lays claim to our lives.

[Fabian Umbi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hilfreich und Horizonterweiternd.
Nach dieser Lektüre hat man richtig Lust Kierkegaard und Barth zu lesen 👍

[Hiram · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5*

A must read and one I’ll be returning to again and again.

[Chadd · Rating 4 out of 5]

When a book about theology reference Arcade Fire, Karl Barth, Radiohead, and Dietrich Bonhoeffer, I feel like it is written for me. Thankfully I had great theology professors who agree with this author.

[Tyler McQuilkin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great resource for anyone teaching theology, whether in a university setting or children’s ministry. Will definitely return to this book as I teach in my own ministry.

[Jeff Garrison · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a small and somewhat simple book with profound insights into the teaching profession. While Neder is a professor, much of what he says in this book can be applicable to all levels of teaching (especially teaching the Christian faith). This book grew out a lecture the author gave at a Karl Barth symposium on Barth’s Evangelical Theology. Neder shifted focus from Barth’s thoughts on writing to teaching. In addition to Barth, he draws heavily on Dietrich Bonhoeffer and Soren Kierkegaard and the Scriptures. He also draws on his own experience in the classroom and acknowledges the lessons (sometimes hard lessons) he has learned.

Each chapter focuses on a different theme that together helps create a portrait of one who might teach Christian thought. The first theme is “identity.” Our identity must be bound in Christ, who reconciles us to God. Everyone, the teacher and student, must make a decision as to whether or not the accept Jesus Christ. Furthermore, the teacher needs to understand his or her inability to teach faith. That can only come from the Holy Spirit.

The second chapter examines “knowledge.” The author begins by noting that some of his best students of theology were not Christian. In an academic setting the teacher can only evaluate academic work. However, as the case was made in the first chapter, knowledge doesn’t save us. It’s our willingness to trust and follow Jesus. As Kierkegaard insisted, “the Christian life cannot be “reduced to thinking the right thoughts about God.” The teacher has to help the student develop his or her own thoughts about God, which is risky as the teacher cannot control the outcome. Neder also examines objections to such knowledge such as the idea that God is unknowable. While that it true we can’t know God with our own efforts, we must remember that Jesus reveals God to us.

The third area of exploration is ethos. Christian teachers need to be humble for we are witnessing to a larger truth. While Barth lays out such ideas in Evangelical Theology, Neder acknowledges that he, too, fell short. It’s easy for us to think higher of ourselves that we should. We need to be humble and to realize that we’re always teaching, not just when we are behind the podium. Can God’s truth be seen in our lives? How can we, as a teacher, remain connected to the truth? Can we become less so that someone else become greater?

Danger is the subject of the fourth chapter. Our theology takes place in an encounter with a living God, which means we’re moving out from our comfort zones and walking a precarious path. Using the story of Nicodemus (John 3), Neder demonstrates how we can’t follow Jesus from a safe distance. Christianity is more than knowledge and doctrine. While that might think we can maintain a safe course, faith demands otherwise.

Neder’s final chapter is titled “Conversation.” Here the conversation is between us and God (and God’s word). Barth describes this as “primary conversation.” But we also need what Barth called secondary conversation, that between the student and other students (past and present). We learn from others, not just from the living, but also from those who preceded us. That’s why we study their written records, but it’s all in service to the primary conversation. their attempts at understanding God. Neder encourages his students to read widely and outside their tradition, to gain appreciation of and to maintain a healthy skepticism of their own traditions. Learning from a broad perspectives reminds us that in this imperfect world, we can always improve ourselves.

Neder then goes into detail about having such conversations in the classrooms. He encourages the teacher not to answer their own questions and to engage the students to help them arrive at the answers. It is also important for the teacher to understand the student’s questions. Failure to do so will cause a student to shut down.

There is much to commend in this book for teaching, but especially for the Christian teacher.

[Steve · Rating 5 out of 5]

For teachers of theology of all kinds

Neder offers us an invigorating, challenging call to reckon with the difference God makes for teaching about him. We cannot teach about God as if he is safe and does not claim our whole lives. The one who teaches theology must - but can only ever imperfectly - direct students to the truth and reality of the One who makes us new. The book throughout is scattered with eye-opening checks on our usual modes of proceeding in theological education, and offers a better, if more challenging, way forward. For the object of our study is, as Barth reminds us, truly the Subject of our discipline. Highly recommended for all who teach theology, whether in the academy or the church.

[Pat Semanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent. I rarely write reviews but I would recommend this to anyone who wants to be a teacher or a student of theology. Neder does a great job of distilling some really important lessons from Barth and Kierkegaard into helpful, colloquial language. He inspires a teaching and study of theology that takes seriously the impact that theological education will/should have on our walk with the Lord and on our daily activity. And he invites his reader into theological reflection and study that is not arrogant or tribal. AND it is very easy to read.

In short. Get this book.

[Terri L. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Writing from a humble perspective, Adam Neder leads readers to think through some thought-provoking questions about the nature of Christian education and what kind of classroom fosters an increasingly intimate relationship between our students and Christ. I was challenged by Neder to consider how my own practices impact my students; I plan this coming year to make some changes to how I teach in order to foster an environment more conducive to my students connecting with God. A very impactful book.

[Max Holmes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quality book. Easy to read and practical. Neder brings helpful insight to anyone who teaches theology, or simply enjoys theological conversation. This book helps the reader understand that making disciples is not just getting others to download theological concepts to their brains, but to wrestle with it personally (and corporately) so that it would ultimately be fruitful in the life of the reader and in the lives of others.

[Julia · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a great read. If you teach theology in any capacity - whether professionally or pastorally - you should read this book. The challenge presented to teach theology as more than an academic discipline but as a way of life was powerful and clear. This wasn't a long read but it was deep and is a book I'll come back to again!

[Pauline · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short, valuable book on teaching and learning theology. It's been a long time since I've taken theology classes (and never taught any), but these principles apply to leading Bible studies also to some degree, and simply to thinking seriously about God and the implications of our beliefs for how we live.

[Mike McNichols · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the best book about theological education that I've read. I taught part-time in a theological seminary for about fifteen years, and Neder's work would have been invaluable (it was written in 2019, and I left my post in 2021).

And, along with his citing Karl Barth and Soren Kierkegaard, I loved his references to Radiohead.

[Kenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

A thoughtful and rich reflection on theological education rooted in theological anthropological insights from Barth, Bonhoeffer and Kierkegaard. Very helpful, applicable more generally to any educational setting.

[Will Whitmore · Rating 5 out of 5]

A truly exceptional book for teachers and preachers of the Christian faith. Accessible, inspiring and thought provoking.

[Will · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting to me mostly for the parallels with language learning- the distinction between knowing God and knowing about God applies to learning a language itself, and learning about the language.

[Cienna Rianne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I mean…it hits every time. (I am incredibly biased.)

[Jenny-Flore Boston · Rating 2 out of 5]

A great introduction for those interested in Theology, but it was hard to appreciate as a textbook in a college course.

[Jennifer Franzke · Rating 5 out of 5]

So many good challenges and reminders about what it means to teach (and live) theology. Concise, well-written, and convicting!

[Steve Linskens · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book is targeted toward seminary professors and those in formal teaching positions. However, I found this book helpful and applicable to anyone who communicates biblical teaching and the gospel itself. The author focuses on certain aspects of the teachings of Bonhoeffer, Kierkegaard, and Barth. While there are a couple places where I may have disagreed with the author, this is an excellent small book, and there were several gold nuggets I highlighted, which I will be returning to in the future. 4.5/5.

[Sam Beethoven · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic. An unqualified rereader.

[Piper Hilgaertner · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short book about teaching theology that gets to the heart of the importance of making theology a way of life and not idolizing knowledge. Enjoyed the humility from the author.