Adult Ministry -
Study Opportunities for Adults
Church
Street UMC offers a wide variety of study opportunities for adults.
Follow the links below for information about these programs. For additional
information, contact Rick Isbell, minister of program, at 865-521-0266
or risbell@churchstreetumc.org.
DISCIPLE
Bible Study
DISCIPLE Bible Studies
are in-depth 32-34 week courses that require weekly attendance at class
sessions taught by trained DISCIPLE teachers. Weekly classes last 2.5
hours and require student preparation and outside reading. Each class
session is a combination of video presentation, teacher input, group
discussion and application to daily living. DISCIPLE classes are offered
twice during the year, beginning in September and January. Church Street
UMC has had 500+ persons complete one or more of the DISCIPLE Bible
Study courses. A description of the five courses is listed below.
[Visit the United
Methodist DISCIPLE Bible Study Resource site.]
DISCIPLE I:
This 34-week course is an overview of the Bible from Genesis to Revelation.
It is recommended that persons who have never had DISCIPLE begin with
this course. Cost of the student book is $28.
DISCIPLE II:
This 32-week course concentrates on the Old Testament books of Genesis
and Exodus and the New Testament books of Luke and Acts. It is recommended,
but not required that persons first take DISCIPLE I before taking
this course. Cost of the study book is $28.
DISCIPLE III:
This 32-week course concentrates on the literary prophets found in
the Old Testament and on the letters of the apostle Paul in the New
Testament. It is recommended that persons enrolling in DISCIPLE
III have previously taken DISCIPLE I. Cost of the study book is
$28.
DISCIPLE IV:
This 32-week course offers in-depth study into scriptures of the Old
and New Testaments. The Old Testament portion includes books such
as Ruth, Esther, Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon,
Lamentations, and Daniel. The New Testament portion includes the Gospel
of John, John 1, 2, 3, James, Jude and Revelation. Emphasis on the
Psalms as Israel’s hymnbook and prayer book leads naturally to
an emphasis on worship in the study. A person MUST have taken DISCIPLE
I before taking this study.
Jesus in the Gospels:
NEW - Second Generation DISCIPLE: This 30-week course offers in-depth study focusing on the portraits of
Jesus found in the four Gospels. This study looks at the way each Gospel writer
presents events and teachings and at the picture of Jesus that emerges in each
of the Gospels. This study takes critical biblical scholarship seriously and
requires participants skill in comparing and analyzing various Gospel passages. A person MUST have taken DISCIPLE
I before taking this study.
Please look for
announcements in the church newsletter, The Messenger, concerning sign-up
times for classes offered. You may also contact Rick Isbell, minister
of program, for more information: 865-521-0266; risbell@churchstreetumc.org.
Christian
Believer Study
Christian Believer:
Knowing God with Heart and Mind is a study from the United Methodist
Publishing House. Christian Believer is a 30-week study with daily preparation
and weekly 2.5 hour group sessions, integrating Bible and study of the
basic beliefs of the Christian faith.
The Christian Believer
study is topical in nature. It focuses on learning and understanding
the essential teachings and doctrines of the Christian faith. While
the study integrates Bible and doctrine, it is not a sequential study
of the biblical text as is Disciple. Christian Believer makes the connection
between Scripture and the doctrines of the church. While the study contains
some aspects of previous Disciple Bible studies, it is not Disciple.
The reading, preparation, and note-taking are very different.
Please look for
announcements in the church newsletter, The Messenger, concerning sign-up
times for classes offered. You may also contact Rick Isbell, minister
of program, for more information: 865-521-0266, risbell@churchstreetumc.org.
Senior
Pastor Bible Study
Wednesdays,
7 p.m., room 204
This weekly study
group, led by Bill Fowler (our senior pastor), is open to anyone and
does not require registration. Participants are involved in in-depth
study and discussion of the scriptures and applications for daily living.
There is no cost. Contact Bill at wfowler@churchstreetumc.org
or 865-521-0260 for current study topic or scripture passage.
Bible
Study with Charles Wender
Sundays, 4:30
p.m., room 204 (begins in fall)
Each fall Dr. Charles
Wender, local cardiologist and favorite Sunday school teacher, offers
a Bible study. It is open to (and popular with) all persons. Dr. Wender
addresses a particular biblical theme or theological topic from a scriptural
basis. Usually the study continues for the entire fall and sometimes
into the winter. Dr. Wender provides study notebooks for each student
for the course. Persons are asked to bring their Bibles to class. There
is no cost.
Short-term
Classes for Personal & Spiritual Growth
From time to time,
the Adult Council will offer short-term classes on a particular topic
lasting four to six weeks. In past years these courses have addressed
such topics as job transition and dealing with life issues of older
adults. Look for information about new opportunities in The Messenger.
