Reading the Bible as one book – important subjects that the Bible tells us about

Here's my introduction to my third MEPC seminar on how to read the Bible. It deals with systematic theology, or doctrine. Again, feedback is appreciated.
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The Art of Systematic Theology
As we listen carefully to the Bible, in its own voice, and understand all of it in light of God’s redemptive plan, we see that the Bible has certain themes, or topics, or subjects, that it treats with particular importance. Systematic theology is the task of:
1. Discerning these topics, and
2. Assembling them in a orderly way that shows:
a. Why they’re important, and
b. How they’re related to each other.
We can only properly do this through exhaustive Bible study. Any systematic theology must be dependent upon the Bible, and therefore open to being criticised and corrected by the Bible.
That said, over the last 2000 years, there have been many thoroughly Biblical systematic theologies. They sum up the Bible better than an individual person, starting from first principles, could. Some of them are:

• The Apostle’s Creed, Nicene Creed and Athanasian Creed – these are believed by all three great streams of Christianity: Protestant, Catholic and Orthodox;
• The Westminster Confession – our Presbyterian denominational statement – and its companion documents, the Westminster Longer and Shorter Catechisms, corporately referred to as the Westminster Standards;
• The AFES doctrinal statement – which is remarkably short (only 9 points!) yet comprehensive;
• The Heidelberg Catechism, Canons of Dort, and Belgic Confession – the three statements of the Reformed churches of Northern Europe, corporately referred to as the “Three Forms of Unity;
• The 39 Articles – the Anglican statement of faith;
• The London Baptist Confession – which is remarkably similar to the Westminster Confession.

Three assertions about Systematic Theology
1. The Bible sets the agenda, not us
The Bible tends to have different priorities to us. What we think is important, and what the Bible thinks is important, are often totally different. Don’t be surprised if the Bible treats something that you think is vitally important to your life as a minor detail, and instead spends ages talking about something you think is boring & irrelevant. The problem is not with the Bible, it’s with us – our priorities are all wrong.
2. The Bible tells us everything we need to have a full life, in relationship with God and each other; and it tells this to us with God’s authority
While the Bible has different priorities to us, it does speak to every issue in our lives. This is an aspect of the Bible’s sufficiency and authority. The Bible tells us enough for us to know God, ourselves and the world. And it tells us this with God’s own authority, which stands over every other authority.
3. We need to listen to the Bible on its own terms
To do this correctly, we must go through steps 1 & 2 first: we must listen carefully to the Bible, in its own voice, and understand all of it in light of God’s redemptive plan.