Systematic theology. Even the phrase sounds like something reserved for seminary students pouring over thick texts with complex ideas, and for most of my life I treated it that way, assuming the deep academic study of God was someone else's job and my faith could get along just fine without it.
In the last couple of years though, I've asked more questions and done more reading. During one particular period when a theological question was causing intense conversations among my buddies, I looked to my father, Paul Bufford, a retired pastor and all-around brilliant man, for answers. He helped me a little, gave me some books, and then told me something very valuable (paraphrasing): "Everyone should try to become a theologian for themselves, to be able to read, understand and interpret the Bible accurately." We don't have to understand everything, but Dad is right that we must all aspire to be students of God's word and trust that in His sovereignty, He gave me and you and your crazy brother-in-law the ability to comprehend His messages to us in the way He intended, if we seek it humbly and earnestly.
If you're wondering where to start, I started reading Kevin DeYoung's Daily Doctrine with my eight and ten-year-olds this week. DeYoung defines theology simply as the study of God, with the goal of knowing Him more deeply, enjoying Him more fully, and walking with Him more obediently. Systematic theology is just the discipline of asking "What does the whole Bible say about this?" About sin, grace, salvation, the Holy Spirit, the person of Christ, and then organizing those answers in a way you can comprehend and use; and the Holy Spirit was given to us precisely so we could understand God in all the ways He intends, which is a promise for every tribesman around every fire and every dad at every breakfast table, not just the formally educated.
We and our families are going to face questions about faith, and the world will offer them confident, well-articulated answers that lead nowhere good, so the least we can do is give them a father and husband who has done the work of knowing what he believes and why.
Pick up Daily Doctrine by Kevin DeYoung for yourself, or read some with your family and see what conversations can happen.
Sheepdog