Adults

Communicating the gospel to friends and neighbors has always been challenging, but we face particular challenges in today's secular West. We all want to be faithful Christian ambassadors, always prepared to give a defense to anyone who asks for a reason for the hope that is in us and to do so with gentleness and respect (see 1 Peter 3:15). One of the goals of this class is to help you speak timeless truths in timely ways for dramatically different moments. Some of the topics we will explore together include the roles of reason and imagination, beauty and the arts, and goodness and truth, so you can better convey the beauty of the lordship of Christ in a world that leaves us searching for more. 

What kind of people are Christians to be? How does a Christian (individually) and a Church (corporately) interact with or influence a culture like ours? If we want to answer these questions, we must rediscover the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:1-16). In the Beatitudes, Jesus describes the eight characteristics of those who are flourishing as citizens of his kingdom. But these characteristics are quite shocking because Christ’s kingdom is counterintuitive! Though we might be tempted to run from the world, blend into the world, or take up arms against this world, Jesus shows us a better way: the Beatitudes teach us to embody the character of Christ for the sake of the world. As we learn to live the Beatitudes, we display the power of God’s kingdom in our everyday lives.

Class details:

This class is taught by our Pastor of Mission and Formation, Rick Whitlock, and takes place in 6-week blocks: you can attend this class from either (1) Jan 11—February 15, or, (2) from February 22—March 29. Both sections of the class occur at 8:45am on Sunday mornings in the Ministry House.

The beatitudes reveal to us eight qualities that bring God's blessing: meekness and mercy, poorness in spirit and purity of heart, mourning and hunger, peacemaking and persecution. Jesus highlighted these to offer both encouragement and instruction on living distinctly as his followers in a world with values much different from God's. As we study these qualities and integrate them into our lives, we will receive the blessing Jesus promised to his followers then and now.

We encourage you to read Matthew 5:1-12, the Beatitudes and complete section 1 study questions from the study book below before our first meeting on February 15th.

Our time together will begin with fellowship, small group time to discuss the questions in the study book and prayer. We will finish our time together with a large group teaching.  Study starts Feb 15 and goes 7 weeks through March 29. 

You can purchase your book HERE.

Men, are you living distinctively Christian lives at home, at work, out in the world? In the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:3-12) — which serve as the introduction to Jesus’s famous Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) — Jesus challenges us to live out his counterintuitive character in our everyday lives. He also encourages us by showing us that, when we do, we can have outsized influence as we make our way through this world. Join us as we consider how we can lead lives that display the character of Christ and the reality of God’s kingdom within our ordinary responsibilities and everyday relationships. 

Schedule: Mondays @ 7:30pm in the Ministry House, Feb 2—Mar 23 (an 8-week study)

Format: Large group teaching followed by small group table discussions.  

Teachers: Rick Whitlock (pastor), Wes Trapp (elder), Zach Hamil (deacon) 

Table Leaders: Wes Trapp (elder), Zach Hamil & Evan Wible (deacons)

Contact our Pastor of Mission and Formation, Rick Whitlock, for questions or more information.