Bible Study

Here at First Church, we are fortunate to have the Disciple program, which consists of four phases, commonly referred to as Disciple 1, 2, 3 and 4. Each is a small group of no more than 14 which meets weekly for 32 - 34 weeks, traditionally on Wednesday nights, beginning in late August and winding up in early May. The program unfolds through an organized approach to Bible study giving equal time to both the Old and the New Testaments, which "aims at transformation, not just information.” Participants must take Disciple 1 first. After that, you may take the other three in any order you like. Here's a nutshell statement of the focus of each phase:

Disciple 1, "Becoming Disciples Through Bible Study," provides an insightful overview of the biblical story from Genesis to Revelation. Over the course of 34 weeks you will read most of the Bible and discuss biblical themes with your group. Toward the end, your group will reflect about members' various roles as disciples, including various abilities, gifts, and skills persons have and the ways they might serve, lead and
(There is a youth version for 10th graders on up, as well.)

Disciple 2, "Into the Word, Into the World," takes you deeper into Scripture, concentrating on four books: Genesis, Exodus, Luke and Acts (with connections to other pertinent Scripture), with 8 lessons for each book. From this deeper study and weekly small group discussions, you will be encouraged in practicing spiritual disciplines, in being "in the Word," and in experiencing life as ongoing opportunities for faithful witness and service.

Disciple 3, "Remember Who You Are," emphasizes your connection, as a child of God, with the people of God as memorialized in Scripture. In this study your group will confront the persistent questions of the prophets of the Old Testament, and the letters of Paul in the New, about priorities in your life and in society, about God's judgment, and about God's call to turn your life to His will.

In Disciple 4, "Under the Tree of Life," you will read the "writings" of the Old Testament (books that are not a part of the Hebrew Torah or the Prophets); and the New Testament the writings of James, Jude and John, including Revelation. The emphasis here is on worship, and "present through the whole study is the sense of living toward completion - toward the climax of the message and the promise, extravagantly pictured in the Revelation."

We also offer two other studies you should consider. (Although not a requirement, it is recommended that a person take Disciple 1 first.)
These are:

Christian Believer is a 30-week study which assumes that you are already a follower of Jesus Christ, that you want to be faithful in your discipleship, and that you want to understand the central Christian teachings of our church's tradition that lie behind the creeds we say. Each day you will read Scripture and writings of early and modem church leaders in preparation for your weekly group discussion on the relation of Scripture, beliefs, and daily living.

Jesus in the Gospels is the newest addition. In this 30-week study you will focus on the portraits of Jesus found in the four gospels, but not from the familiar "life and teaching of Jesus" perspective. Instead, you will look closely at "the way each Gospel writer presents events and teachings, and at the picture of Jesus that emerges in each of the Gospels.” You will "encounter the Jesus who is both hard to ignore and hard to control - an attractive, commanding, morally compelling figure."

Please contact the Church office (622-3244) or Scott Reichert (237-8982) if you have questions about any of these Bible classes.