Adult Spiritual Formation We’re all formed by something — what we read, who we spend time with, who or what we listen to, and the like. As Christians we want to be spiritually formed by God into authentic followers of Jesus Christ, to share God’s amazing love for the transformation of the world! Spiritual formation is this ongoing, life-long process of growing into Christlikeness by deepening our relationship with God through Jesus Christ. With God’s help, we are more likely to grow into authentic followers of Jesus, and to experience the abundant life promised to us by him (Romans 10:10), when we engage in spiritual practices that help align us with God’s heart:

• Attend worship on a regular basis…
• Pray on a regular basis; practice daily devotions...
• Study the Bible and other Christian writings, so that we can come to know more about God…
• Engage in deep, personal conversation with other Christian friends about what’s going on in our lives and how we’re seeing God at work in our lives, applying Biblical truth to life and relationships…
• Serve God and others within and beyond the walls of the church, using our God-given spiritual gifts…

Some details...

• Childcare is usually available for all classes, if needed, as a gift to you from the church; just let us know so we get it scheduled.
• We never want the cost of books or materials to get in the way of you taking a class, so sign up whether you have book money or not. It’s on us, happily! We also know that many folks want to pay for their books but need and want to be reminded, so we’ll do so! In most cases, your class facilitator will collect your book money.
• To sign up for a class, fill out the half sheet in the middle of Fall classes booklet in Sunday’s worship folder and drop it in the offering on Sunday mornings, or contact Beth Palmer for more information.
• To join a Sunday school class or small group, just show up or contact the facilitator directly.

• Bible Foundations
• Disciple I - Wednesdays
• Disciple I - Fridays
• Disciple II
• Jesus in the Gospels
• The Book of Revelation (Beth Moore Bible Study for Women)
• Life’s Healing Choices: Freedom from your Hurts, Hang-ups and Habits
• Conversation Peace: The Power of Transformed Speech

Bible Foundations: Great foundational class for beginners — a basic, broad-overview introduction to both the Old and New Testaments. If you’ve never studied the Bible before, this is the class for you! We’ll talk about what the Bible is, why it’s important, how the Bible came to be, how the Bible tells us about God, how to use your Bible, and an overview of what’s in the Bible. We’ll explore some of the big stories: the creation of the world and of human beings; Adam, Eve, and the Garden of Eden; Abraham, Sarah, and the chosen people; and the enslavement and exodus of the Israelites. And we’ll look at the life of Jesus, the beginning of the church, and more!

• Facilitator: Beth Palmer and Ann Ziegel
• Day/Time: 8 Tuesdays starting September 7, 6:30-8:30 PM, Sanctuary building room 306-308
• Book cost: $7.50 (for those who are able).
• Childcare available for children birth through 6th grade in the church nursery, main floor, Sanctuary building.

Disciple I - Wednesdays: Becoming Disciples through Bible Study: Disciple is a long-term, in-depth Bible study (awesome! life-changing!) that aims for life transformation not just learning information. You’ll read & discuss 80% of the Bible, spending equal time on the Old and New Testaments. Start here if you’ve never taken a Disciple class before — we’d love for everyone to take this! Meets September through May. (Did we mention that this class is awesome and life-changing?!) (details inside)

• Disciple I Facilitators: John & Sherry Weaver. John is a retired school teacher and administrator, Sherry is a school guidance counselor, and both are Warehouse 839 lay pastors. They love facilitating Disciple I (third year in a row!) and their class members rave about their leadership!
• Day/Time: 34 Wednesdays starting Sept 1, 6:00-8:30 PM, Sanctuary building room 305
• Book cost: $34 (for those who are able)
• Childcare available for children birth through 6th grade.

Friday morning Bible study—Disciple Bible Study I  This ongoing small group welcomes new members and will work through Disciple I this year (see description above).

• Facilitator: Patty Shrider
• Day/Time: 34 Fridays starting August 27, 9:30-11:30 AM, Sanctuary building room 305 (meets only when Hilliard schools are in session) (okay to join the 2nd week, Sept 3)
• Book cost: $34 (for those who are able)
• Childcare available if needed for children birth through 6th grade in the church nursery, main floor, Sanctuary building; let us know so we can schedule staff.

NEW! Disciple II: Genesis, Exodus, Luke, Acts: (Take Disciple I first.) This 32-week week study selects specific portions of Scripture and delves deeply into them. Equal attention is given to both the Old and New Testaments with concentration on four books: Genesis, Exodus, Luke, and Acts. Join us as we grow spiritually together!!

• Facilitators: Craig Hay (Lead), Becky Hay, & Shelley Shomper
• Day/Time: 32 Thursdays starting September 23, 6:00-8:30 PM, Sanctuary building room 206 (parlor) (through May 2011)
• Book cost: $35 (for those who are able)

Jesus in the Gospels (Take Disciple Bible Study I first.) As believers, we all have our own ideas about who Jesus is, his life and ministry and his place in our lives today. This is a 30-week in-depth, high-commitment Bible study of the life of Jesus as portrayed in the four Gospels — Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. It concentrates on the way each Gospel writer tells the story: how each presents events and teachings, and how the picture of Jesus emerges in each Gospel. Look inside the politics and culture during Christ’s life, and cross-reference the Gospels with other New Testament scriptures.
Come to this study with the Jesus you know today, and be prepared to leave with the Jesus you take from this study: same person and life but loved and honored with a renewed understanding of the Jesus each Gospel unveils. The goal of this study is life transformation not just learning information.

• Jesus in the Gospels Facilitators: Mary Torok and Marilyn Hoeflinger
• Day/Time: 30 Sundays starting September 12, 3:30-5:30 PM, Sanctuary building room 305 (through April 2011)
• Book cost: $35 (for those who are able)
• Childcare available for children birth through 6th grade in the church nursery, main floor, Sanctuary building.

The Book of Revelation (Beth Moore Bible Study for Women): Study “Here and Now, There and Then,” a study of the book of Revelation by popular Christian teacher Beth Moore.

• Facilitator: Terri Hobbs
• Day/Time: 11 Wednesdays starting October 6, 6:30-8:30 PM, Sanctuary building room 106
• Book cost: $9 (for those who are able)
• Childcare available for children birth through 6th grade in the church nursery, main floor, Sanctuary building.

Life’s Healing Choices: Eight simple yet powerful choices are the basis of this promise-filled study, in which author John Baker (creator of Celebrate Recovery) reveals God’s enlightening passageway to wholeness, growth, spiritual maturity, and yes, real happiness. Rather than focusing on the past, these eight choices provide an optimistic view to the future and authentic hope for lasting change, and they’re based on the Beatitudes of Jesus—offering hope, new life, and spiritual healing. Choice by choice, readers will learn how to deal with past choices, take control where they can, and make choices that will change their lives forever.
Encouraging and Biblically based, these tried-and-proven eight principles — such as admitting need, finding help, and letting go — provide real hope, real answers, and a real future for those who desire a lasting change in their lives. It all comes one choice at a time, choices that lead to a life worth living.

• Facilitator: Pastor Karen Muntzing
• Day/Time: 8 Wednesdays starting September 15, 7:30-9:00 PM, Sanctuary building room 303
• Book cost: $8 (for those who are able); optional original book by John Baker, $8
• Childcare available for children birth through 6th grade in the church nursery, main floor, Sanctuary building.

Conversation Peace: The Power of Transformed Speech: Author Mary Kassian (a professor at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, KY) presents the biblical principles to help women revolutionize their speech habits and improve their relationships by focusing on ways to positively avoid sharing gossip, throwing negative barbs, or snapping sarcastic replies throughout everyday life.
• Facilitators: Kathy Kindell and Stephanie Harrell
• Day/Time: 7 Tuesdays starting October 12, 6:30-8:30 PM, Sanctuary building room 206 (parlor)
• Book cost: $12 (for those who are able)
• Childcare available for children birth through 6th grade in the church nursery, main floor, Sanctuary building.

Foundational Classes