Following Jesus – Discipleship 101
Meets on Wednesdays from 7:00 – 8:30 pm,
For 8 weeks starting Sept. 25. Teacher: Pastor Jeff. Registration Fee: $10 (full scholarships available).
This is our church’s flagship Discipleship course which, this semester, will be taught by Pastor Jeff. In this course, we will go directly to the words of Jesus and grapple with one of life’s most critical questions: When Jesus said “follow me,” what did he really mean? What does it mean to follow Jesus in a deep, meaningful way? This isn’t going to be easy, stock answers. We’re going to dive beneath all the superficial catch-phrases and bumper sticker theology to explore Jesus’ words with open hearts and open minds. In this course, we’ll also spend several weeks learning powerful, practical ways to build a close personal relationship with Jesus through various innovative forms of prayer and personal Bible study. Whether you’ve been following Jesus for decades or are just now exploring whether to begin that journey, this course will challenge you to the core of your being – in a really good way! So let’s do this -- together!
Book Study: Faithful politics – Ten Approaches to Christian Citizenship & Why it Matters
Meets on Sundays 1:00 – 2:30 pm, for 6 weeks starting Sept. 29.
led by Dr. Mirada Zapor Cruz and Jonathan Cruz. Registration fee: $20, the book is included. Bring your own lunch!
This course will be a book study of Faithful Politics, led by the author herself – Dr. Miranda Zapor Cruz (a professor of historical theology at Indiana Wesleyan University) along with her husband Jonathan Cruz. In this course, we’ll ask: How do we live faithfully as citizens in the kingdom of God while being active in the political systems we also inhabit? To help us think this through, we’ll explore several very different historical approaches taken by Christians throughout the ages. The goal will be for each of us to thoughtfully reflect on how we can engage in our modern political systems while being faithful to Christ's calling. A very timely course in this political season!
Growing in Grace and Knowledge – A Study of Second Peter
Meets on Sundays on Zoom from 6:00 – 7:00 pm, for 6 weeks starting Sept. 29.
Teacher: John Dinwiddie and Pastor Tandy. Registration Fee: $10.
This course will be an intensive verse-by-verse study of the New Testament book of Second Peter, which was written to encourage us to live out the purpose of our lives in Christ. As with the original recipients of Peter’s letter, we all go through difficult times. Those trials seem to hit us even harder when the source of the struggles comes from somewhere or someone close to us. We know intuitively this is true in our personal lives: a rift in a marriage, an unwed daughter’s unexpected pregnancy, or an abusive relationship with a relative. But it holds true within the church as well. Believers can create dissension in multiple ways, particularly in the areas of relationships and theology. To guard against that kind of discord – both in our families and our churches – our knowledge of God through the Scriptures is the first line of defense against the conflicts that threaten to tear us apart. As Peter wrote: “Be on your guard so that you are not carried away by the error of unprincipled people . . . but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:17–18). Join us for this powerful, practical study. Let’s equip ourselves to better respond to the inevitable trials of life!
Book Study: Stamped (for Kids) – Racism, Antiracism, and You
Meets on Sundays 1:00 – 2:30 pm, for 4 weeks starting Nov. 3.
Leaders: Our Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice Board. Registration Fee: $6, includes the book. Bring your own lunch!
Have you ever struggled to know how to talk to your kids about RACE. Uh-oh. The R-word. You know your kids see what’s happening in the world, but you are not sure how to talk to them about it. But, at the same time, you know that learning to talk about race is important. So . . . let’s do it together!
This is a class for parents and kids together. We will read and discuss Stamped (for kis): Racism, Antiracism, and You, by: Ibram X. Kendi and Jason Reynolds. Parents and kids are welcome to bring lunch to eat during the session. Books will be included in the registration fee.
Adapted for kids from the groundbreaking bestseller by the same title, this book takes readers on a journey from present to past and back again. Kids will discover where racist ideas came from, identify how they impact America today, and meet those who have fought racism with antiracism. Along the way, they’ll learn how to identify and stamp out racist thoughts in their own lives.