Adult Sunday School | Fall 2021
Our Renewed Vision for Sunday School
It has been nearly a year and a half since we last had a Sunday school class at Grace Fellowship. During that time, we've been re-evaluating what role Sunday School can play in the life of our church and in the spiritual formation of our people. Our elders concluded that Sunday School would function best for us as an intentional time of training for ministry. Ephesians 4:11-16 tells us that as God's people are equipped for ministry, the church grows and matures like a healthy body. To that end, we are developing a series of Core Classes that will equip people to share the gospel in word and deed.
For our first course, we want to begin at the foundation: the Bible. If you want to be able to read it for yourself, understand it, and share it with others, then this class if for you. We will begin Sunday, September 12 and we hope to see you there!
Goal of this Class
· To understand what the Bible is and its overarching storyline
· To learn to read the different parts of the Bible in their proper settings and in the context of the whole
· To train you to read the Bible with another person for the purpose of knowing and growing in Jesus
Books and Resources
· God’s Big Picture, Vaughn Roberts (available from ChristianBook.com and Amazon)
· One to One Bible Reading, David Helm (available from Matthias Media)
· “How to Read the Bible” video series from The Bible Project
Expectations
We don’t mature by simply learning more information, but by putting what we learn into practice. Therefore, you will get the most out of this class if you do three things:
- Pray that God will use this time to equip his people for ministry so that church will mature and be built up. (Ephesians 4:11-16)
- Attend class regularly. Class will be interactive. There will be teaching, but there will also be times where we practically apply what we’re learning in class.
- Read the books and watch the videos listed in the second column below
Class Schedule
Class #1: What is the Bible and what’s it about?
Read: Roberts, Introduction
Watch: “How to Read the Bible: Intro” – 4 videos
Class #2: God’s Kingdom unfolds through Covenants
Read: Roberts, Ch. 1
Watch: “The Covenants” from the Bible Project (bibleproject.com/explore/video/covenants/)
Class #3: The Pattern of the Kingdom (Creation)
Read: Roberts, ch. 2
Watch: “How to Read the Bible: Narrative: Plot and Character”
Class #4: The Perished Kingdom (Fall)
Read: Roberts, ch. 3
Watch: “How to Read the Bible: Narrative: Setting & Design Patterns”
Class #5: The Promised Kingdom (Redemption)
Read: Roberts, ch. 4
Watch: “How to Read the Bible: Poetry, Poetic Metaphor, Biblical Law”
Class #6: The Partial Kingdom
Read: Roberts, ch. 5
Watch: “How to Read the Bible: The Book of Psalms, the Prophets & Books of Solomon”
Class #7: The Prophesied Kingdom
Read: Roberts, ch. 6
Watch: “How to Read the Bible: The Gospel, The Parables of Jesus”
Class #8: The Present Kingdom
Read: Roberts, ch. 7
Watch: “How to Read the Bible: New Testament Letters: Historical Context & New Testament Letters: Literary Context”
Class #9: The Proclaimed Kingdom
Read: Roberts, ch. 8
Watch: “How to Read the Bible: Apocalyptic Literature”bibleproject.com/explore/video/apocalyptic-literature/
Class #10: The Perfected Kingdom (Restoration)
Read: Helm, chs. 1-7
Class #11: Reading the Bible with Others
Read: Helm, chs. 8-10
Class #12: Reading the Bible with Others