Discipleship

​​​​​2025 Level Up Discipleship Classes

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​​​​​Session 4

4/27/25 – 6/1/25 (5 weeks – no class on Mother’s Day 5/11)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

​​Athanasius of Alexandria on the Incarnation with Pastor Emeritus Gary LeTourneau

Level 4

Sundays from 11:30am - 12:30pm

Room 100

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In about 330 A.D. Athanasius, the Bishop of Alexandria, wrote a short book which became foundational for understanding our Christian Faith. On the Incarnation explores the questions: How human is Jesus? How divine is Jesus? Why did God enter humanity in the person of Jesus? What difference does it make? In this class we are going to discuss some of the central themes from the book, using scripture and discussion.

 

Topics to be covered include:

• The Problem with Being Human

• God’s Decisive Action

• The Two Hundred Percent Savior

• The Cross of Christ

• Incarnational Living

 

Athanasius wrote the book to be an encouragement in the faith, and for a classic book of Christian theology it is fairly accessible. You are not required to read the book; we will have a lively class drawing from specific quotes each week. But I encourage you to read the book, because it is so good. You can buy it from Amazon for Kindle for $.56 or for $.99 (yes that’s right – less than a dollar!). Go to Amazon and search for “Athanasius On the Incarnation” and you will see the options. You can also purchase it in paperback. If you would like help in securing a book or are in need of a scholarship for the book, don't hesitate to get in touch with Christy Smith in the Church Office

 

Of special value is the Introduction by C.S. Lewis, where he argues for the necessity of reading old books.

It is a good rule, after reading a new book, never to allow yourself another new one till
you have read an old one in between. If that is too much for you, you should at least read
one old one to every three new ones.

And about On the Incarnation, Lewis said this:

When I first opened his De Incarnatione I soon discovered by a very simple test that I
was reading a masterpiece. I knew very little Christian Greek except that of the New
Testament and I had expected difficulties. To my astonishment I found it almost as easy
as Xenophon; and only a master mind could, in the fourth century, have written so deeply
on such a subject with such classical simplicity. Every page I read confirmed this
impression.

 

We do not have the brain power of C.S. Lewis, (and we are not going to be reading in the Greek!), but I believe we have much to gain from studying and meditating on the Incarnation of Jesus Christ.

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"When Culture Hates You" with Pastor Larry Shores

Level 1/2

Sundays from 11:30am - 12:30pm

Meeting Room 1

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One of the goals of this class is to develop our understanding about the hate expressed by culture toward Christ and his disciples. Jesus was clear that his disciples would experience hatred in many forms. 

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John 15:18, “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you.” After considering our place in culture as disciples we’ll look at the author’s suggestions on how to effectively and appropriately engage with others using questions and listening to understand
(rather than preparing a rebuttal). 

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All participants are encouraged but not required to read the chapters before the date they are to be discussed. Let Pastor Larry or Christy Smith in the Church Office know if you’d like us to purchase and have the book available to you by April 20.

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More to be announced!  Check Back!

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​Summer Break from 6/8/25 – 8/24/24

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FALL 2025

Session 1

8/31 - 9/28

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​Growing Up in Christ: The Means of Grace with Pastor Emeritus Bob Dooling

Level 3

Sundays from 11:30am - 12:30pm

Room 100

On the day I was baptized, the pastor asked this question. Do you intend to make diligent use of the means of grace. I of course answered, “Yes” – even though I had no idea what he was asking.

 

Sometime later, I discovered that he was referencing a handful of practices that are found in Scripture and that promote spiritual growth in Christian believers. They are habits of devotion, habits of experiential Christianity that have been practiced by God’s people since biblical times.

 

Come join us as we explore and celebrate these classical disciplines.

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"The Problem of Pain" with Pastor Larry Shores

Level 2

Sundays from 11:30am - 12:30pm

Meeting Room 1

 

Pain is a perennial challenge in this broken world.  Why Must We Suffer?
 
“If God is good and all-powerful, why does he allow his creatures to suffer pain?” And what about the suffering of animals, who neither deserve pain nor can be improved by it? The greatest Christian thinker of our time sets out to disentangle these knotty issues. With his signature wealth of compassion and insight, C.S. Lewis offers answers to these crucial questions and shares his hope and wisdom to help heal a world hungering for a true understanding of human nature.

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This class will read and discuss C.S. Lewis's classic. You may purchase your own book or let us know and we can order it for you a cost of $10. Those needing a scholarship for book, please let us know.