2020 Adult Sunday School Classes this Winter 


Course Descriptions for New Sunday School Classes start January 5, 2020
Signup sheets are posted on the bulletin board in the back of the sanctuary for each class.
 
Class Name: 
Romans (Part I)
Description:
Romans has been characterized as one of the most influential books in the Bible. In it is found a detailed and systematic presentation of the primary features of Christian doctrine.  The Epistle to the Romans is above all an explanation of how God justifies the sinner; and how a Christian should live in the context of that justification.   
Why You Should Attend:
You should attend if you are excited about getting back to the roots of the Gospel and letting that knowledge strengthen your love of God and spur you on to good deeds!  Martin Luther has stated the book of Romans is the chief part of the New Testament and the very purest Gospel…it can never be read or pondered too much, and the more it is dealt with the more precious it becomes.  I would add, the more it is pondered and dealt with the more we see and understand God for who He is, and man for who we are. 
Requirements:
There are no prerequisites for this course.
Resources:
1) Romans (Grace, Truth, and Redemption), MacArthur Bible Studies, 2007
2) Discovering Romans, Spiritual Revival for the Soul, S. Lewis Johnson Jr adapted by Mike Abendroth, 2014
Facilitator: Christopher Greene
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Class Name:
Truth of the Cross
Description:
Using the textbook, The Truth of the Cross, by Dr. R. C. Sproul as our main resource for this class, we are going to examine the subject matter of this book (the cross) in light of Scripture and discover the significance and purpose of the cross.  God cannot simply overlook sin.  In order to be delivered from the wrath to come, the sinner needs a Savior.  For this reason, the substitutionary death of Jesus Christ on a Roman cross two millennia ago remains relevant today.  This faith-building study points us to the core of the biblical message of redemption, revealing that it is the holy God who seeks and saves the lost.
Why You Should Attend:
This class will challenge the student in his understanding concerning the necessity, sufficiency and eternal value of the cross.  You should attend this class if:
1.  You desire to know how the holy God of Scripture reconciles sinful men and women to Himself. 
2.  You desire to know how to escape the wrath of God which is coming upon all of humanity
3.  You desire to deepen your personal relationship and walk with God
4.  You desire to enhance your ability to communicate the gospel message to others
This class will improve your overall understanding of the cross of Christ and expand your ability to be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.
Requirements:
There are no prerequisites for this course.
Resources:
PowerPoint and Class Notes
The Truth of the Cross by Dr. R. C. Sproul
Bible  
Class Name: Church History III
Description:
Church History III will outline the historical development of the Church from the years A.D. 500 – A.D. 1500. Participants will explore the growing religious and political influence of the Roman Catholic Church as well as the impact of Islam on both Judaism and Christianity. Further, participants will discover the circumstances surrounding the Crusades, the Great Schism, and the pre-Reformation Movement. Special attention will be given to key players such as Mohammed, Charlemagne, Peter Lombard, Peter Waldo, Thomas Aquinas, John Wycliffe, and John Hus.
Why You Should Attend:
Each participant will develop an understanding of the turbulent political and religious environment which existed during these one thousand years. A solid case will be made for the necessity of the Protestant Reformation which would eventually restore both the centrality of God’s Word and as well as His purpose for the Church.  
Requirements:
The prerequisite for this course is Church History II.
Resources:
PowerPoint
Class Notes
The Story of Christianity (Gonzalez)
Documents of the Christian Church (Bettenson & Maunder)
A Survey of Church History (Godfrey)
Bible
Facilitators: Pastor Mike and Caleb Tuttle
 
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Class Name: Catechism: The Westminster Shorter Catechism pt. 1/3
Description:
This course is based on the work G.I. Williamson while he was pastor of a Reformed Church in New Zealand.
What does catechism mean?
Catechesis is from the Greek word Katekhesis meaning instruction by word of mouth.  It is the church’s ministry of grounding new believers in the rudiments of Christianity.
A Brief History of Catechisms:
In the early Church, those who became Christians moved into the faith from radically different worldviews. Church leaders following the clear example and instruction of the Apostles, principally Paul, sought to ensure these life-revolutions were processed carefully, prayerfully, and intentionally with a thorough understanding at each stage (a cultural situation not terribly unlike what we face as Christians today). Catechesis flourished in the 2nd thru 5th centuries and floundered when the church & state began aligning at the onset of the Dark Ages. The Reformers sought to reverse this situation.  Aided by the invention of the printing press, they made every effort to print and distribute catechisms (small handbooks to instruct children and new believers) in the essentials of Christian belief, prayer, worship, and behavior.  In addition, entire congregations were instructed through unapologetic catechetical preaching.
John Calvin in 1548 declared "… the church of God will never be preserved without catechesis."
Why You Should Attend:
Why the Westminster Shorter Catechism?
This catechism was written between 1643 and 1649 by English and Scottish clergymen who assembled for this purpose in London at Westminster Abbey.  They formed a summary of the principles of Christianity in the form of questions & answers based upon the 1647 Westminster Confession of Faith.  Since its completion in 1647 the Westminster Shorter Catechism has been unsurpassed as a concise tool for teaching the Reformed understanding of Scripture.
All believers (children to seniors) will benefit from this course as it encourages a person to know Christ, to make him known, and to commit to a lifelong pursuit of wisdom through ordered learning.
Requirements:
This is an “establishing” course, preferably taken after First Principles Series 1 & 2.
This course is subset of courses covering Creeds, Confessions, and Catechisms that will be offered regularly.
Resources:
The Westminster Shorter Catechism (G.I. Williamson)
Westminster Shorter Catechism in Modern English with Scripture Proofs and Comments
Attributes of God (Dr. R. Bruce Bickel)
Truth We Confess (R.C. Sproul)
Bible
Facilitator: Dean Shaw