Adult Sunday classes meet at 9:00 am. A new module of Sunday classes begins August 1.

The Epistles

Teacher: Keith Lewis
Track: Christian Scripture
Location: TCS Chapel Room

At the end of the gospels, the risen King Jesus ascends to take His rightful place next to the Father. “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me,” Jesus declares just before His ascension (Matthew 28:18), and the history of Acts and prophecy of Revelation focus on that realm. Revelation will preview His universal dominion, while Acts traces the spread of the outposts of that kingdom here on earth, first in Jerusalem, then in Judea and Samaria, and ultimately far beyond (Acts 1:8).
The rest of the New Testament is extremely personal, as the King sends His Spirit to inspire chosen emissaries to write dispatches to His subjects all around the world. These dispatches—the New Testament Letters or Epistles—comprise roughly 33% of our New Testament and are a key instrument in Jesus’ building of His church both then and now. Through these letters, Jesus expands, explains, and applies the gospel for His subjects. “Dear Church…”, He writes into every situation of our lives, transforming our beliefs, affections, and actions as we follow Him.
Join us for the next module in our Biblical Theology track, as we dive into these New Testament Letters with the aim to:
  • Understand their place within the panoramic view of the Bible’s major themes
  • Explore how they expand, explain, and apply the person and work of Christ
  • Acquaint ourselves with the central theme(s) of each Letter
  • Learn skills to help us study these Letters for ourselves.

The Doctrine of the Church

Teacher: Jonathan Threlfall
Track: Christian Beliefs
Location: Fellowship Hall

For many people, the word “church” evokes memories of stiff and stuffy services or—far worse—painful experiences and abusive leadership. Yet for all their flaws, the persistence of groups of faithful people gathering to worship Christ and observe the ordinances reflects the words of Christ: “I will build My church, and the gates of hell will not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18).

This course, “The Church,” takes us back to Jesus’ founding vision for his church, beginning with the Old Testament roots in God’s plan to redeem a people for himself. Among other things, class participants will learn . . .

  • why—amid predictions that the church is on the decline—true churches will continue to thrive;
  • what—in the face of confusion about what the church’s mission is—the church is really called to do;
  • how—despite the tendency to withdraw from the church’s fellowship—these connections are vital for spiritual health.
Ultimately, this class aims to lead us to worship God, marveling that “through the church the manifold wisdom of God [is being] made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 3:10).

The Life of Joseph

Teacher: Mike Kingsley
Track: Christian Wisdom
Location: Room 113

After God’s good work of Creation in Genesis 1-2 and the fall and repeated failures of man in Genesis 3-11, God makes a covenant with Abram that He will make a great nation and bless all nations of the earth through Abram’s family.  Genesis 12-50 describes how God begins to redeem sinful humankind after the great fall.  

More than simply a rags to riches saga involving family dysfunction, dramatic plot twists, and faithful perseverance, the story of Joseph illustrates God’s sovereignty personally over Joseph and nationally over His people Israel.  Join us as we see how God is constantly at work fulfilling His good plans for us, in spite of all the evil that exists so that we can joyfully echo Joseph’s words: “God meant it for good!”

 

2021
SCHEDULE		 Jan 3 – Feb 14 Feb 21 – Apr 11 April 18 – June 6 June 20 – Jul 25 Aug 1 – Sep 12 Sep 19 – Oct 31 Nov 7 – Dec 19
CHRISTIAN SCRIPTURE
(Biblical Theology)		 Covid-Canceled Minor Prophets Gospels Acts Letters 1 Letters 2 Revelation & Eschatology
CHRISTIAN BELIEFS
(Systematic Theology)		 Covid-Canceled Humans
(Anthropology)		 Salvation Sanctification The Doctrine of the Church
(Ecclesiology)		 The Doctrine of the Church 2
(Ecclesiology)		 Revelation and Eschatology
CHRISTIAN WISDOM
(Practical Theology)		 Covid-Canceled Marriage Parenting Parenting (Cont.) The Life of Joseph Counseling Finances

 

PURPOSE AND OVERVIEW

The purpose of the Adult Sunday Classes is to educate and equip adults in three categories:

• Christian Scripture (major genres of the Bible)

• Christian Beliefs (essential Christian doctrines)

• Christian Wisdom (practical skills for Christian living)

These categories are taught in three concurrent tracks, so participants may choose which track to take. Each track is divided into typically seven-week modules. So, for example, the Christian Beliefs track begins with a module dealing with the Doctrine of the Bible and moves on to two modules on the Doctrine of God. The Christian Beliefs and Christian Scripture tracks each have fourteen modules, so they will repeat every two years. The Christian Wisdom track has seven modules, so it will repeat every year. This means that it will take five years for someone to complete all three tracks.

DESCRIPTION OF TRACKS

Christian Scripture:

In his wisdom, God has revealed himself in the Scripture—a library of sixty-six books, diverse in its array of literary genres and human personalities, yet unified in its divine authorship. The more we understand what the Bible is about and how to read it for ourselves, the deeper our joy will be in its Author. The Christian Scripture track aims to give participants a panoramic view of the Bible’s major themes as they unfold from Genesis to Revelation; to demonstrate how all of Scripture reveals Christ; and to provide participants with the skills to study Scripture for themselves. In fourteen modules, the Christian Scripture track covers the Pentateuch, the Historical Books, the Wisdom Books, the Major Prophets, the Minor Prophets, the Gospels, Acts, the New Testament Letters, and the Book of Revelation.

Christian Beliefs:

With the Bible as the foundation of our faith, we seek to know what the Bible teaches about various topics. We seek to know, for example, what the Bible teaches us about God, ourselves, and God’s plan to save us. This inquiry is the realm of Christian doctrine (beliefs). The Christian Beliefs track aims to provide participants with a basic grasp of the major categories of systematic theology; to give them a framework for thinking “Christianly”; and to increase their love for God and others so that their lives will be holier and more joyful. In fourteen modules, the Christian Beliefs track covers what Christians believe about the Bible, God, Christ, the Holy Spirit, Humans, Salvation, the Church, and Last Things.

Christian Wisdom:

Christian wisdom is not the mere accumulation of knowledge: it is the skill that puts that knowledge into action. This knowledge, moreover, is not just of facts, but of a Person: “Christ Jesus . . . became to us wisdom from God” (1 Corinthians 1:30). In Christ, therefore, we are enabled to navigate the complexities of life in this passing world. The Christian Wisdom track aims to demonstrate how Christian beliefs inform a variety of issues in everyday life; to teach participants the convictions necessary for navigating these issues; and to provide the practical skills necessary to do so. In seven modules, the Christian Wisdom Track covers marriage, stewardship, counseling, work, parenting, and evangelism.