ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL

One of the most important things we do as a church is gather around the Word of God.  In the Bible we meet and know who God is, and it's through the Bible we better understand who we are and how to live our lives.  step up your commitment and be a regular part of a Sunday School class. 

The Abundant Life Class              Adult Ed Building, Room 1

Teacher:  Sloan Howard    

This class is studying the Gospel of John.  Many have said that John is the best place to start if you are new in the faith or if you have made a new commitment to studying the Bible.  In this class, we'll start with "in the beginning was the Word." and move through the Gospel, learning who Jesus is and what difference he can make in our lives.        

Lifetime Commitment Class         Adult Ed Building, Room 2

Teachers:  Craig Wolff

This class is in a verse-by-verse study of the book of Ephesians.  Paul's great letter to the church in Ephesus is a mini-course in theology, where Paul lays out his mature vision of the Christian faith's central elements with depth and clarity.  Each week we will take several verses of the text, try to understand what it is saying, and then make appropriate application to our own daily lives. 

Open Door Class                          Adult Ed Building, Room 3

Teachers:  Mike Bixler (and other class members)

Since the beginning of the year, this class's weekly lessons have focused on individual characters in the Bible ... first from the Old Testament and then from the New Testament.  By exploring the faith, the holiness and often the human flaws of these characters, the class is gaining instruction and guidance for living passionate lives of faithfulness to the Lord.  The class is finishing the year with a 12-week study that focuses entirely on the Peter, arguably the disciple with whom Christians most readily relate, owing to his humanness.   

Christian Nurture Class                     Room 1, Fellowship Hall

Teachers:  Fred Bostick, Allen Cone, Janet Sheldon

This class uses the Present Word Bible Study which emphasizes mastery of the Bible's content - understanding Scripture in relation to our life experiences and a greater awareness of how God reveals himself to us.  There is a strong emphasis on God's redeeming love revealed in Jesus Christ.  The fall quarter is a study of the book of Genesis.

 Independent Bible Class       Rockwell Room, Fellowship Hall  

Teacher:  Carol Hinson     Assistant:  Barbara Riddle

This class is studying books of the Old Testament.  This class uses an inductive & discussion approach to Bible study that does not just "teach" the answers.  It's designed to draw members into the meaning of the Bible by helping them discover biblical truths for themselves, rather than relying only on the expertise of the teacher.   

The Open Window Class                        Adult Ed. Building, Room 4

Teachers:  Rudy Hehn and Class Members

This class is in a 20-week study of the Gospel of Mark.  In Mark, we meet Jesus, the man who is king.  He shatters our expectations:  he comes to serve and not be served; he eats with sinners rather than royalty; his crown is made of thorns.  He is the one who calls us to follow him, and he is the one who can change our lives.   

The Beacon                                              The Church Library

Teachers:  Tim Grayson & Russell Miller

This class is in a 11-week study of Ephesians.  An excerpt from the study guide: "Broken marriages, shattered friendships, racial divisions, war between nations - we live in a fractured world.  How can we put the pieces back together?  In Ephesians, Paul lifts the veil from the future to allow us to see God's plan to bring unity through Christ.  Studying this book will give you hope."  If you want relevant and Bible-based discussion, this is a class for you. 

 Small Groups

DISCIPLE is an in-depth Bible study and fellowship group that provides instruction and training aimed at transforming lives into faithful followers of Jesus Christ.  During the course of the study, participants will read through almost the entire Bible and spend significant amounts of small group time in prayer, discussion, and fellowship.  Group members may come from all walks of life, may or may not be members of the church, or may be first time or experienced students of the Bible. A commitment to this small group involves daily studying for about thirty minutes and regular participation in each of the 34 weekly 2 ½ hour small group sessions.  

Women's Bible Study meets Wednesday mornings in the Adult Ed Building at 9:15.  This fall, we're studying "Life Lessons from Women of the Bible."  The leadership of the group is shared.  This supportive and encouraging group welcomes new members. 

Spiritual Growth Reading Group meets on Tuesdays from 1:30 - 2:30 in the Adult Education Building. Led by class members, Barbara Riddle, Pat Clay, and Randy Mitchell, we're reading John Ortberg's book, When the Game is Over, It All Goes Back in the Box.   A new book will be chosen in January, 2009 with a starting date the first of the year.  You are invited to join us each Tuesday afternoon.