Theology Guild
The Defense of Sound Doctrine
Scripture Anchor
"He must hold firm to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it."
Is this Guild for me?
If you want to move beyond vague spiritual feelings and grasp the beautifully organized, historic truths of the Christian faith, the Theology Guild is built for you. Fulfilling the Great Commission requires us to build deep relational discipleship, which is why this Guild is designed to equip different believers according to their specific callings:
Theology
Guild
For the Layperson
If you want to develop a clear, coherent framework of what you believe without getting lost in dusty academic library jargon, these workshops translate deep theological truths into everyday, practical language.
For Parents
If you want to prepare your children to stand firm in a culture full of deceptive ideas, you must be able to teach them how to distinguish the true Gospel from modern counterfeits that merely sound Christian.
For Church Leaders & Pastors
If you are responsible for leading a small group, teaching Sunday school, or serving as a lay leader, this Guild provides a standardized, reliable tool to ensure your entire ministry team is aligned in the pattern of sound teaching.
For Missionaries
If you are presenting the Gospel in places with competing religious ideas, this Guild sharpens your doctrinal precision so that you can faithfully communicate and defend orthodox theology on the front lines.
For the Curious Learner
If you have ever wondered how the early church defined essential doctrines like the Trinity or the two natures of Christ, you will find a welcoming, intellectually stimulating home in our workshops.
What kind of work is involved?
We believe that discipleship must shape both your thinking and your living, which is why our workshops combine serious intellectual rigor with hands-on, practical life application.
Rigorous but
Accessible Study:
You will never have to plow through hundreds of pages of academic textbooks every week. Instead, your reading is focused high-quality, engaging, and faithful materials that are specifically written to challenge your mind while remaining accessible to busy laypeople.
Connecting Truth
to Life:
The Theology Guild rejects the idea of intellectualism because sound doctrine is meant to transform your character. Your assignments are split evenly between mental study and active, everyday practice, which might include comparing modern cultural statements to historic creeds, writing a simple doctrinal guide for your family, or practicing a Socratic dialogue on a core doctrine with a friend.
Relational Socratic
Mentorship:
Rather than sitting in isolation and watching lectures, you will participate in live, weekly Zoom cohorts capped at approximately twenty peers. Under the Socratic guidance of a vetted ICA mentor, you will actively discuss how historic doctrines apply to the trials and triumphs of modern life.
How does this Guild connect to the rest of the ICA?
The Theology Guild does not stand alone, because systematic theology is intimately linked to several of our other specialized learning pathways:
1. The Link to the
Bible Guild
Systematic theology is the logical arrangement of what God has revealed in Scripture, which means the careful exegesis and historical context you learn in the Bible Guild provide the essential raw materials for the doctrinal systems we study here.
2. The Link to the
Philosophy Guild
When we discuss the attributes of God or the relationship between faith and reason, we must use precise philosophical tools, which means the study of classical logic and Thomistic realism in the Philosophy Guild helps clarify and protect our theology from logical contradictions.
3. The Link to the
Virtue Guild
In the historic Christian tradition, right belief must lead directly to right living, because the ultimate goal of knowing God is to love Him, which connects the study of sound doctrine directly to the character formation and sanctification taught in the Virtue Guild.
Our Hubs & Curriculum Pathways
To provide you with a clear, guided pathway from introduction to mastery, the Theology Guild is organized into two highly focused Hubs. These departments help you master the core systematic beliefs of the historic church and understand how those beliefs were preserved through the centuries.
Click on either Hub below to expand the description and view our active workshops. Because our curriculum is constantly expanding to meet the needs of our global student campus, we regularly add new options to our live block schedules:
1. Doctrine Hub
Purpose: The Doctrine Hub exists to help you master the systematic patterns of Christian teaching, providing a clear and cohesive framework for understanding the essential truths of our faith. Many modern believers hold to isolated pieces of theological truth without understanding how they fit together, which makes them highly vulnerable to cultural confusion and deceptive ideas. This Hub integrates into the Theology Guild by synthesizing biblical revelation into a unified, beautiful whole, covering vital topics like the nature of the Triune God, the person and work of Jesus Christ, salvation, and the church. By studying these systematic patterns of sound teaching, you will develop the intellectual precision needed to encourage other believers with clear truth and confidently identify theological errors when they arise.
Scripture Anchor: "What you heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus." (2 Timothy 1:13)
Active Workshops
- THE.DOC.121.Attributes of God: Explore the attributes of God through Scripture and creation, developing a deeper understanding of His divine nature that strengthens apologetic confidence, Christian character, and worship.
- THE.DOC.411.Divine Axiology - From Reason to the Trinity: Discover how logical reasoning and cosmic evidence point to a multi-personal God as the ultimate explanation for reality.
2. History Hub
Purpose: The History Hub exists to connect you with the historic church fathers, reformers, creeds, and councils that have defended and preserved orthodox Christianity for two thousand years. In our modern age, we are often tempted to treat theology as if it were invented yesterday, which cuts us off from the rich wisdom of historical believers and leaves us repeating ancient errors that were refuted centuries ago. This Hub integrates into the Theology Guild by teaching you how the saints of old contended for the faith once for all entrusted to God's holy people. By studying how orthodox theology was forged and defended in the fires of past cultural conflicts, you will gain a deep appreciation for the legacy of truth that we are called to pass on to the next generation.
Scripture Anchor: "...contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to God’s holy people." (Jude 1:3)
Active Workshops
- THE.HIS.221 Early Apologists - Aristides of Athens: A close reading of the earliest surviving Christian apology, training students to defend the faith through design, honest critique, and the witness of a changed life.
