Top Tips

• Read the Bible every day (ideally before you watch the news, pick up your phone, or read anything else). You can't know the scriptures too well.
• Read good books. See below for some recommended reading, and plan your reading.
• Do some formal study. Maybe a course or programme, or some online study, or similar.
• Make a plan for how you are going to study. Schedule time and stick to it.
• Learn from Sunday and Community study. Be enriched by learning from Sunday sermons, Community bible studies, and other opportunities for Christian teaching and dialogue. 
• Love the church! "Theology pursued as an end in itself leads to speculation and pride...In truth, nothing will make you ask better questions and give more life-giving answers than serving in the church" - David Schro

Recommended Reading

Give yourself unto reading...He who will not use the thoughts of other men’s brains, proves that he has no brains of his own. You need to read...We are quite persuaded that the very best way for you to be spending your leisure time, is to be either reading or praying. You may get much instruction from books which afterwards you may use as a true weapon in your Lord and Master’s service. Paul cries, “Bring the books” — join in the cry.
- Charles Spurgeon

Understanding the Bible

• You Are A Theologian by JT English & Jen Wilkin
• God’s Big Picture: Tracing the Storyline of the Bible by Vaughan Roberts
• Women of the Word: How to Study the Bible with Both Our Hearts and Minds by Jen Wilkin (or None Like Him)
• How to Read the Bible for All It’s Worth by Gordon Fee and Douglas Stuart
• Africa Bible Commentary Updated Ed: A One-Volume Commentary Written by 70 African Scholars (edited by Adeyemo Tokunboh)
• The Bible Speaks Today Series (edited by John Stott)
• God’s Word for You series from The Good Book Company

Knowing God

• Knowing God by JI Packer
• The Cross of Christ by John Stott
• The Good God by Mike Reeves
• Christ's Glorious Achievements: What Jesus Has Done for You by Charles Spurgeon

The Church

• The Spirit Filled Church by Terry Virgo
• Multicultural Kingdom: Ethnic Diversity, Mission and the Church by Harvey C. Kwiyani
• Let The Nations Be Glad by John Piper

The Christian Life

• Crossway’s Theologians on the Christian Life series
• Gentle and Lowly: The Heart of Christ for Sinners and Sufferers by Dane Ortlund
• Hearing Jesus Speak Into Your Sorrow by Nancy Guthrie
• Walking with God in Pain and Suffering by Timothy Keller
• Finding Your Best Identity: A Short Introduction to Identity, Sexuality and Gender by Andrew Bunt
• Secular Creed: Engaging Five Contemporary Claims by Rebbeca McLaughlin (or Confronting Christianity)

Training Opportunities and Ideas

One really excellent way to grow theologically is to undertake some more formalised training. Three potential opportunities to consider;

• New Ground Academy. Check out more about the Academy here.
• An online biblical training course. There are lots of online training courses, some better than others. We recommend signing up to this one here.
• A volunteer/internship role. We offer multiple full-time and part-time internship opportunities; from gap year programmes (for people of any age!) like this one or this one, to short-term, flexible internships. Get in touch to find out more!
• Wayne Grudem's Systematic Theology in podcast form.
• Practical training online.
  • Pray the Bible
  • Open the Bible Story
  • Watch Your Doctrine

Other good resources

Websites

There are thousands and thousands of, sometimes good, sometimes bad, websites out there. A few that we recommend;

• Gospel Coalition
• Think Theology
• Desiring God