(Adult Study)

Three religious traditions look to Abraham as the "father of faith" in one sense or another: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. In the New Testament, both James and Paul consider Abraham an important model to Christianity. Since Abraham is such an imp...

(Adult Study)

The Christmas story is a very familiar one, and most people are in the habit of combining the beginnings of Matthew and Luke in order to make one seamless story. The result is a wonderful and comfortable picture of the Holy Family, magi, shepherds, a...

God's Messengers
(Adult Study)

In this two-session study we'll explore the role of angels in spirituality. Angels are often mentioned in the Bible and they have played important roles in Christian spirituality through the centuries. They are even prominently featured in contempora...

(Adult Study)

What do we mean when we say "Jesus is Savior of the World" or "I take Jesus Christ as my personal Lord and Savior"? Actually, everyone agrees that Jesus has saved us, but the Bible suggests various models for just how Jesus saved us. Just what kind o...

(Adult Study)

In this study, participants will learn about the liturgical, theological, and historical traditions of the sacrament of baptism. What does baptism mean? How does it change us? What is the significance of the use of water in various traditions? Can yo...

(Adult Study)

The Bible is the source book of our Christian faith. It rightly occupies a central place in our study and devotional practice. Yet, it has always posed a challenge for those of us who try to read its words and grasp its message. It can be both famili...

(Adult Study)

Jesus' crucifixion invites many kinds of questions. How did it happen? Who, exactly, was responsible? What did his death and resurrection accomplish? Did the cross expose and repair something about human existence? Did it alter our status before God?...

(Adult Study)

In selecting real estate the rule is "Location, location, location!" In interpreting the Bible the rule is "Context, context, context!" Interpretation is not merely a fancy or a luxury; it is a necessity. Interpretation may not always be a conscious ...

What Christians Should Know about the Apocrypha
(Adult Study)

Have you ever noticed that some Bibles have the words "with Apocrypha" written on their spines? In the Revised Standard Version of the Holy Bible, these words refer to nineteen books or parts of books placed after Malachi and before the Gospel of Mat...

(Adult Study)

How did Christians decide which books got into the New Testament? And what about all the ones that didn't? Should we care about them? Session 1 explains the process of deciding which books were considered essential and which were not. It also lists a...

(Adult Study)

In 2005 a United Methodist pastor refused membership in the church to a person on the basis that the man was a homosexual. His decision was ultimately upheld by the church's highest court.The United Methodist Church's stands on ordination of homosexu...

(Adult Study)

The worship of God is primary to our existence; all else grows from it. So when we plan our weekly worship of God, we would do well to remember Jesus' words in Mark's Gospel: "Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me." In other words, w...

(Adult Study)

Paul's letter to the Colossians was prompted by the controversy over false teachings by a group within Colossae who believed that Christ was but one source of divine wisdom and that his death on the cross was not sufficient to reconcile humanity to G...

(Adult Study)

"Communion," "Eucharist," or "Lord's Supper?" Once a month or weekly? Wine or juice? Who is invited? In many congregations one of the easiest ways to start a church fight is to say "let's change the way we do Communion." Many of us have beloved memor...

What's a Christian to Believe?
(Adult Study)

It is easy to be confused if one watches mainstream television shows or listens to radio talk shows regarding the current debate about creationism, evolution, and intelligent design.Both scientific creationism and intelligent design make distinctivel...