Adult Sunday School

Our Adult Education Ministry provides a variety of topics and teaching/learning styles through classes designed to meet the needs of adults who continue to study and seek to grow a faith relevant to their daily living. We have two types of classes:

Short-term Courses: These are courses, which last four to eight weeks. They are designed to meet the needs of adults who are not part of a permanent class and to address particular needs and topics on a short-term basis.

Permanent/Ongoing Classes: These classes meet together regularly throughout the year and have a permanent class roll. (Please know additions can be made at any time.) Some of these classes use study materials produced by the Presbyterian Church, and some classes choose books or topics, which change periodically throughout the year. All of the classes strive for elements of study, community, and fellowship. All are invited to visit these classes at any time without obligation to join.

All adults are invited to move in and out of the short-term courses and ongoing classes in a flexible way to meet individual needs.

Short-term Classes

Honoring Our Neighbors’ Faith

August 25 – September 29
Second Hall

Different people—especially in pluralistic America (and Little Rock!)—have different beliefs and religious practices. How do we deal with variance in beliefs? We honor our neighbor’s faith and trust that it is as heart-felt as ours, but where do we go from there? Designed around a book and video series by Adam Hamilton, this course will explore Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam, and Judaism. We will seek to understand the essential beliefs and historical setting for each faith and compare the beliefs with those of Christianity—seeking to build bridges with others so that we might grow in our faith, seek peace in our world, and live faithfully with our neighbors.

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The Basics of Brueggemann

October 6 – November 3
Second Hall

Old Testament Professor Walter Brueggemann is by many accounts one of the most influential biblical scholars of the past fifty years. Serving on the faculty of Columbia Theological Seminary for many years, Brueggemann has had a prolific career, publishing over one hundred books about issues related to scripture and how Christians are called to respond. Hendrix professor Robert (Bobby) Williamson will lead this four week class on the work of his former professor, examining some of the key ideas presented in Brueggemann’s major works.

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Faith Alive: Practicing Our Faith

November 10-24
Second Hall

Faith begins in practice. We are what we do. Cultivating habits and lifestyles that bring us into the presence of God and connect us to the church are a powerful part of our faith formation. As Christians we are called to “walk in the ways of a powerful God who walks before us and challenges us to continue to be the people of the story of God’s faithfulness” in a changing world. We have a responsibility to live out our faith in tangible ways…to have our finger on the pulse of culture so that we can speak the language of our culture and live in ways that connect what we believe with how we live. Over these four weeks we will hear the stories of a variety of people who have taken seriously this challenge and who live out their faith in a variety of ways in our community. Watch for more information and a schedule of outstanding speakers.

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Advent Perspectives Through the Eyes of C.S. Lewis

December 8-22
Second Hall

Clive Staples Lewis (1898-1963) was one of the intellectual giants of the twentieth century and arguably one of the most influential writers of his day. He was a Fellow and Tutor in English Literature at Oxford University until 1954, when he was unanimously elected to the Chair of Medieval and Renaissance Literature at Cambridge University, a position he held until his retirement. He wrote more than thirty books, allowing him to reach a vast audience, and his works continue to attract thousands of new readers every year. The three-week study will explore Lewis’ life experiences and views on Christianity with a particular focus on what Lewis calls the “Grand Miracle,” or Incarnation in the person of Jesus Christ. Material will be drawn from such classics as Mere Christianity, Miracles and Chronicles of Narnia, among other works. Leader: Vernon Markham

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Understandings of Christ: Jesus in the Gospels

January 5-26
Second Hall

Jesus Christ stands at the center of the Christian faith. Without him, there would be no Christian faith. The four gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) portray Jesus in a way that is generally consistent. But there are some significant differences. In this class we will look closely not only at the similarities, but also the differences in the way Jesus is portrayed—thus gaining a more complete understanding of the life and ministry of the Christ. Leader: Steve Hancock

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Paul: His Journeys and Letters

February 2-23
Second Hall

This class will offer a look at the life and writings of Paul the Apostle. The study will provide a glimpse of his life, the early church, and his travels during the early days of Christianity. Some of his most significant letters will be covered, looking at his writings to the Thessalonians, the Corinthians, and the Romans. Leader: Randy Bear

Permanent/Ongoing Classes

Connections

Coordinator: Dania Edwards
Room 61

This class is designed for adults ages 20 to 40ish every Sunday morning to discuss life, family, current events, and everything in the middle. We discuss, learn, and grow together as we seek to live more faithfully…none of us are “experts” but we all have stories to share as we discuss our lives in the larger narrative of God’s story.

Permanent/Ongoing Classes

Connections

Coordinator: Dania Edwards
Room 61

This class is designed for adults ages 20 to 40ish every Sunday morning to discuss life, family, current events, and everything in the middle. We discuss, learn, and grow together as we seek to live more faithfully…none of us are “experts” but we all have stories to share as we discuss our lives in the larger narrative of God’s story.

Connections Class: Presbyterian 101
The class will begin this Fall with a discussion/video based classes to look at the basics of our tradition. Whether you are brand new to church or long-time members, these are class discussions that you don’t want to miss. We’ll adventure through an overview of Presbyterian History, Theology, and Polity. A similar discussion format will continue through the year with guest speakers, conversations about current events, and other topics the class chooses. Join us!

Friendship Bible Study Class

Teacher: Graham Catlett
Library

This group of “scholars” gathers each Sunday for Bible study using The Present Word, a Presbyterian curriculum based on the Uniform Lesson Series. The theme for the Fall is Responding to God’s Grace. The “grace of God” is a central conviction of Christian faith. As members of the body of Christ, we endeavor to share God’s grace with others by word and deed through the power of the Holy Spirit. Based on a variety of Old and New Testament passages, this study will explore what it means to live in the grace of God and perceive God’s grace all around us. All are invited to join this Bible study group each Sunday morning.

Seeking More Light Class

Coordinator: Greg Adams
Room 67

The Seeking More Light Class likes to mix old with new. Old truths with new insights, for example. The class also likes to rehab old ideas into even better ones—ones that can resonate and guide in today’s world. And the class is open and strives to learn from all kinds of people—young and old, prophetic and pastoral, and agreeable and disagreeable.

With the above in mind, the Seeking More Light Class will begin the new “academic” year with Barbara Brown Taylor’s Holy Envy: Finding God in the Faith of Others. After completing Holy Envy, we will begin a study of Shameless: A Sexual Reformation by Nadia Bolz-Weber. If time allows after completing study of these two books, we will together come up with a plan for the remainder of the year—always open to suggestions.

All are welcome to join at any time for a particular book study or to stick around longer.

Parenting of Teens

Coordinating Team:
Jennifer Chilcoat
Kathy & Kenneth Rich

Youth Building, Second Floor

Raising teens in today’s world can be perplexing. If you are wondering what on earth you are doing wrong, you’re not alone! All parents of pre-teens and teens are invited to join this discussion-oriented class (which also serves as a support group!) for a book discussion and time for sharing the joys and challenges of raising teens. Fall discussions will be based on the book The Blessing of a B-Minus by Wendy Mogel. In this book, Mogel shows parents how to navigate the teenage years, as a child’s sense of entitlement and independence grows, the pressure to compete skyrockets, and communication becomes fraught with obstacles. With wit and warmth, Mogel gives parents tools to navigate the normal worrisome behaviors that are completely normal for teens. Books will be available in the classroom for $10.00.

Spiritual Nourishment

Leader: Nancy Hicks
Heritage Room

Participants in this class gather each Sunday in the Heritage Room to read scripture, pray together, share experiences and encourage one another to discern the Holy Spirit at work in our lives. We believe the Christian spiritual life is grounded in relationship—God’s way of relating to us, and our way of responding to God. This fall the group will read and discuss Immortal Diamond by Richard Rohr. Father Rohr likens True Self to a diamond, buried deep within us, formed under the intense pressure of our lives, that can be searched for, uncovered, and resurrected in a process of transformation. His writing explores our deepest questions of identity, spirituality, and meaning. All are invited to join us!