Adult Classes
Week One:
Leading Ladies
John Pople
June 29 - July 3
9am PT / 11am CT / 12pm ET
“We need to elevate female voices and stories… For too long we’ve been seeing the world primarily through men’s eyes.”
(Jen Guyton, Ecologist & National Geographic reporter, Mozambique)
I’m not suggesting taking spiritual guidance from National Geographic staff, but this quote stuck with me, and provoked me to speculate whether this has been a shortcoming with our appreciation of Biblical characters also. Of course, I too have the prosaically “men’s eyes” myself, so I can’t see these female characters with the fullest empathy that a woman might. But in committing myself to an intensified study of Biblical women and their discipleships, I’ve made surprising new discoveries in every case: and not just mere details, but in every case a revelation which starkly re-evaluates my appreciation of each character, and clearly elevates the achievements, the role, and/or the essence of the character herself. These may prove to be new discoveries for you too – so I’m excited to share these studies with you!
Mother in Israel - Deborah’s Story
Wings of Shelter - Ruth’s Story
Dangerous Liaisons - Stories of the Other Woman (Rachel, Delilah, Witch at Endor)
Born to Rule - Esther’s Story
Vessel of Life - The Story of Woman (Eve, Hagar, Mary, Woman Clothed with the Sun)
Messianic Themes in Children’s Literature:
A Lion, a Boy Wizard, and a Giver
Corina Midgett - not recorded
June 29 - July 3
10:30am PT / 12:30 CT / 1:30 ET
Calling all literature readers! I will need some dedicated participants who know the above books and be willing to share ideas as they are led through a series of questions. Even if you haven’t read these books you can join us and perhaps be motivated to read one or more of them!
These interactive discussion sessions will define themes and symbols, explore story arcs, discuss and compare characters, and focus on certain plot-defining moments. The goal is to explore the stories themselves and how the fictional Story functions as a means of internalizing the gospel. The underlying premise is that I can get to know Jesus better by becoming more intimately acquainted with the idea of him when the idea is presented well in literature. An idea, a logos, has a great deal of power, in whatever form it is made manifest.
Contact Corina: cmidgett@gmail.com
Encounters with Jesus
Bruce Parker
June 29 - July 3
5pm PT / 7pm CT / 8pm ET
Looking at the New Testament, people found Jesus as their Savior in a variety of ways such as: through personal witness of their friends, by seeing Jesus as he spoke to multitudes or performed miracles, by being challenged and then enlightened through parables, etc.
Ultimately our relationship with Jesus becomes uniquely our own, experienced in prayer, breaking of bread, meditation, etc. To prepare us for these experiences, we will look at a few of the one-on-one encounters people had with Jesus during his ministry and beyond. John the Baptist, Mary (Jesus’ Mother) and others had their individual expectations, perhaps mistaken ideas, certainly with needs and longings not so different from our own. In each case, Jesus gave them what they needed, not always what they wanted.
Week Two:
Who is my Neighbor
David Styles
July 6-10
11am PT / 1pm CT / 2pm ET
"Who is my Neighbor" is a series of interactive talks exploring our relationship to the world we live in. As Christians we want to strike the right balance between our connectedness to fellow believers, non believers and most importantly God and Jesus Christ. Also we will explore and discuss our contribution to the well being of our social contacts. By examining relevant scriptures we will hopefully come away with a better idea of how we can best function in challenging times.
Jesus Through Middle Eastern Eyes:
Jacob and the Prodigal Son
Sarah Joiner
July 6-10
1pm PT / 3pm CT / 4pm ET
In our five sessions together, we'll discover that the "Lost and Found" parables of Luke 15, are actually components of just one parable - where our Lord uses the saga of Jacob and Esau to create a new story, with himself at its center. Our Lord Jesus is inviting us to be part of this story of being lost and found. It is our family story. Our hope. Drawing on cultural details provided by scholars such as Kenneth Bailey and David A. deSilva, we'll plummet the depths of Luke 15, in order to cultivate a deeper relationship with Our Lord Jesus Christ - and each other.
Meeting Moses
Adam Byrnes
July 6 - 10
4:30pm PT / 6:30pm CT / 7:30pm ET
“Show me who your friends are, and I’ll tell you who you are”
It’s true - Relationships reveal character.
Who you count as a friend. How you treat others under pressure. Where your loyalty lays when tested. Staying faithful over time.
In this study we come to meet Moses through the lens of his interactions and relationships with others.
Meeting You.
Meeting God.
Meeting the Congregation.
Meeting an Angel.
Meeting Jesus.
He’s undoubtedly the friend of many. Yours too.
Week Three:
One New Thing
Craig Blewett
July 13-17
9am PT / 11am CT / 12pm ET
There is something exciting about new things. “New” invokes images of life, opportunity, renewal, energy and more. However, despite this, we all too often find ourselves trapped in our routines, in our hamster wheel lives. A trap that ensnares our minds and hides mind-blowing wonders God wants us to see and experience. In this series we explore how God celebrates new things and the gifts he offers to let us live in a totally different way, if we are prepared to do one new thing.
New Start
New Relationship (love) - heart
New Experience (zoe) - soul
New Mind (pig, goat, sheep) - mind
New Place (time) - strength
Food in the Bible
Lorna Dean
2 sessions - July 16-17
11am PT / 1pm CT / 2pm ET
From Genesis to the kingdom age the unfolding story of God depicts, many times over, one part of the world we know: saint or sinner, we all have to sit down and eat. Assisted in our appreciation by some of the customs and practices of meals and their preparation, we are invited to some of those meals. But this is not for foodies: the tableau of people seated and eating is the foundational scriptural device to denote service, harmony established or fellowship restored.
Our calling is to serve God and in response to Him to serve each other and our wider world.
We have received the welcome of the Gospel. How are we to be more like Jesus with his overflowing hospitality and message of welcome to the least and the lost?
How do we ensure our Sunday table is a safe place of refuge for all of us?
How do we extend that welcome of Jesus to everyone we meet?
These two meditative sessions will see us walk through the pages of the bible to dine, ‘eat and think’, with kings and paupers, jailbirds and jailers to find refreshment and strength and to see the transforming power of a simple meal served with love.
Writing the New Testament
John Launchbury
4 Sessions July 13-16
3pm PT / 5pm CT / 6pm ET
In defense of Paul. Acts finishes at an intriguing point in time. Paul is under arrest awaiting a trial for his life. Luke (the author of Acts) leaves us wondering what happened next. What did happen next? And why ever did Luke stop his account here?
Constitutional crisis. The fledgling early church nearly tore itself apart because of deeply held but different understandings by liberal and conservative sub-communities. Handling this provoked Paul not only to write Galatians, but provides us with useful insights into how to handle corresponding issues today.
Primary witness. Personal witness to the life, work, and resurrection of Jesus was considered vital in the early church. Much of the New Testament was provoked by the value given to personal testimony.
The view from heaven. The revelation visions provide an interesting perspective on issues facing the first century church. Their language and assurances are picked up and reflected by a number of the authors.
Practical Faith
Lucy Dangerfield
3 Sessions July 13-15
5pm PT / 7pm CT / 8pm ET
1. 'The next right thing.' An exploration of guilt, forgiveness and the restoration of joy. What can we do when we feel bogged down by feelings of guilt over a sin? A look at the theology and practicalities of this painful topic and how to live out the freedom of being forgiven.
2. 'Going equipped.' Do our lives seem to be a perpetual failing struggle with sin? Trying to please God by our own efforts usually results in disappointment, so how do we be 'more than conquerors'? I believe that God has equipped us to lead lives of holiness and spiritual victory by the power of the Holy Spirit.
3. 'A happiness that makes you serious.' As followers of Jesus, can we expect our lives to be filled with happiness? An exploration of happiness, humour and Biblical 'joy', which transcends our circumstances.
Week Four:
Our Journey With Jacob
Matthew Blewett
July 20-24
9am PT / 11am CT / 12pm ET
As Jacob left his family home in a panic, his true spiritual journey began, in fear. The events that unfold make for exciting, if not entertaining, reading. We witness the transformation of Jacob to Israel. A transformation from fear to faith. From transaction to trust. As we each reflect on our own spiritual journey, there is much to be gained from joining Jacob in his journey.
Reading Jonah Backwards
Simon Dean
July 20-24
11am PT / 1pm CT / 2pm ET
The Book of Jonah begins strongly and then ends...kind of awkwardly. First words that come to mind: ‘Whale’, ‘storm’, ‘man overboard’, ‘prayer from the belly’, maybe ‘Nineveh’. We are draw in: hooked. But that fourth chapter is not on our radar: it's weird, uncomfortable. Have you seen anyone so angry with God? Jonah rages; and his anger is directed at God. God reaches out to Jonah. But his response - I want to die. And then the prophecy ends unresolved. And God's final appeal to Jonah goes unanswered. Silence.
And yet the end of the book is the heart of the book. Which is where we must start. And read 'backwards':
'Backwards' as a corrective to our front-end focus
It is only at the end that we discover Jonah's reason for running. It is deliberately withheld from the reader. When Jonah runs away, we do not know why. Which draws us in and gets us thinking. Why did he run? Why does anyone run from God? Why might I run from God? Why am I running away? And to what?
'Backwards' from that cliff-hanger ending
We like everything to be resolved. Problems and issues fixed. But life is not like that. God tries to reason with Jonah. But in the end, we are left with a white space of silence, challenge and crisis: nothing is fixed. And God knows that such a situation rings true for us too given that He finished the book that way. In the silence, He can create an arena where the hard, spiritual work can begin. What does God want from me now? How do I respond? What do I do? God shows He is sovereign in Jonah's life with a special word - He 'appoints' a fish, a plant, a worm and an east wind to bring him to that place. And He can and does appoint moments of crisis, a silent space, for us to reflect and respond and move forward.
'Backwards' from the New into the Old
We look backwards from the vantage point of the end, from Calvary and the empty tomb. Seeing these would have soothed Jonah's anger and quietened his distress. But let's not miss the lesson found in Jonah's intemperate reaction to God's mercy shown to Israel's enemy. God's grace is scandalous, undeserved and provocatively open to all. Don't imagine it is God's 'job' to forgive sin, costless and mechanical. How dare God say He is prepared forgive those people over there who are not like me? If that is what God is prepared to do - what am I doing for them? What is the last picture we get of Jonah? He is sitting and watching and waiting (Jon 4:5). Is that you and me, are we just sitting and watching and waiting? We have a call to 'rise up' (Jon 1:2 and 3:2) and do God's bidding beyond the familiar and easy.
The Ancient Near Eastern Context of the Old Testament
Wendy Johnsen
July 20-24
4pm PT / 6pm CT / 7pm ET
Just as the contexts of the global village and modern science inform the 21st century worldview, so the context of the story of the people of God in the OT was the culture and worldview of the Ancient Near East, that part of the world that stretched from Mesopotamia to Egypt.
We will look at what the ANE thought about deity, the origin and operation of the cosmos, and the roles of human beings, and see how the God of Israel communicated with his people in language and concepts that were culturally familiar to them while teaching them that he, and his relationship with them, was very different.
Week Five:
Fixing Our Eyes on Jesus
Bill Yake
July 27-31
9am PT / 11am CT / 12pm ET
This class will focus on five of the most important and relevant roles that our Lord Jesus Christ fills in the lives of all believers through the ages. This class focuses and fixes our attention on the Lord Jesus Christ and the preeminence he rightfully deserves as the primary focus of the entire Bible. Lord willing, this class aims to strengthen your appreciation of our Lord Jesus Christ, and for how God exceeds all our needs in him.
The Renewing of Our Minds
Jim Sullivan
July 27-31
11am PT / 1pm CT / 2pm ET
Every individual is naturally self-centered. As a result we naturally gravitate toward what is naturally comfortable. This is what the apostle Paul calls ‘the carnal mind’. It is the mind that naturally leads us toward thinking from an earthly perspective instead of a spiritual one. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Paul says that we can be transformed by the renewing of our minds so that we can understand and show what is the good, acceptable and perfect will of God. Jesus spoke of this transformation when he said to Nicodemus that in order to see the kingdom of heaven one needs to be born again. As disciples of Christ we are all going through this transformation and it’s always difficult to look past what comes naturally to all of us, but we are not alone. Not only do we have each other to lean upon but we have countless examples of transformation in the lives of the faithful. In these classes we are going to look at both the transformation process as well as some marvelous examples of transformation in the accounts of several faithful followers of the Lord Jesus Christ. These will include, LORD willing, some hard learners like Nicodemus and Peter; some you might not think about in the context of transformation like the prophet Isaiah and John the Baptist, and one we’ll simply refer to here as ‘The Kid’. All these faithful men struggled to overcome what came naturally to them, one still does, but they can all serve as examples of perseverance in the midst of personal struggle, so that we can find peace and perseverance in our own struggles as well. “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace” says the prophet Isaiah “whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.”
Jesus' Common Words With Uncommon Significance!
Chris Sales
July 27-31
1pm PT / 3pm CT / 4pm ET
Synopsis: We know that all the recorded words of Jesus must have significance, since John tells us that if all the words he spoke had been recorded then the world itself could not have contained them! Then why bother recording such seemingly trivial things like "Give her some food?", or "What is your name?". We hope to explore some of these "common words", with the intention of discovering their "uncommon significance".
Class Titles:
Coming & Going.
It's all about food!
Don't be afraid.
What can I do for you?
What is your name?
Our Faith, His Grace: God’s Genius for Salvation
Mark Drabenstott
July 27-31
3pm PT / 5pm CT / 6pm ET
That is why it [our eternal inheritance] depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed … to those who share the faith of Abraham. Rom. 4:16-17
In the end, salvation is from God and through His Son. Yet from the beginning, God’s genius has been a carefully designed combination of two critical ingredients: Our faith and His grace. Each is necessary, yet neither is sufficient by itself. What is God’s intelligent design for salvation? What can we learn about our God from understanding better His design? What kind of faith does God want us to supply to the saving mix? How do we comprehend the grace that God showers on us? Above all, given God’s exquisite design, what motivates our life and what kind of disciples should we be? The purpose of this class is to help us seize salvation and live a life cradled in the balance.