Date and Text Fall 2018 Session 1 September 2, 2018 Proper 17 James 1:17 27 Session 2 September 9, 2018 Proper 18 James 2:1 17 Session 3 September 16, 2018 Proper 19 Mark 8:27 38 Session 4 September 23, 2018 Proper20 Mark 9:30 37 Session 5 September 30, 2018 Proper 21 Mark 9:38 50 Session 6 October 7, 2018 Proper 22 Mark 10:2 16 Session 7 October 14, 2018 Proper 23 Mark 10:17 31 Session 8 October 21, 2018 Proper 24 Mark 10:35 45 Session 9 October 28, 2018 Proper 25 Mark 10:46 52 Session 10 November 4, 2018 Proper 26 Ruth 1:1 18 Session 11 November 11, 2018 Proper 27 Mark 12:38 44 Session Goal Adults will affirm with James that Christian faith includes social ministry and personal morality. Adults will hear James s demand to show no partiality and will seek to welcome all. Adults will consider the type of Messiah Jesus was and reaffirm their commitment to take up their cross and follow him. Adults will encounter the Messiah and seek ways to emulate his servant leadership in their daily lives. Adults will identify stumbling blocks in their lives of faith and ways to remove them. Adults will discover how Jesus reframed a legal question about divorce to promote relationships based on mutual respect and concern. Hearing Jesus tell the man to give everything to the poor, adults will discover ways to avoid the stumbling block of wealth. Adults will identify their need for recognition like the sons of Zebedee and commit to restraining these desires in their lives of discipleship. Adults will consider how Jesus responded to persistent beggars such as Bartimaeus and explore how Christians can respond today. Through reading the story of Ruth, adults will consider the plight of today s immigrants and the practical implications for Christians to care about them. Through hearing Jesus unmask the dysfunction of the temple leaders, participants will evaluate their own positions on hypocrisy and faithful giving.
Date and Text Session 12 November 18, 2018 Proper 28 Mark 13:1 8 Session 13 November 25, 2018 Reign of Christ Revelation 1:4b 8 Session Goal Adults will articulate the mission of the church in light of the signs of the apocalypse. Adults will explore what it means to declare Christ as ruler of all rulers and pledge their loyalty to him.
Winter Session 1 December 2, 2018 Advent 1 1 Thessalonians 3:9 13 Session 2 December 9, 2018 Advent 2 Luke 3:1 6 Session 3 December 16, 2018 Advent 3 Luke 3:7 18 Session 4 December 23, 2018 Advent 4 Luke 1:39 45(46 55) Session 5 December 30, 2018 Christmas 1 Luke 2:41 52 Session 6 January 6, 2019 Epiphany Matthew 2:1 12 Session 7 January 13, 2019 Baptism of the Lord Luke 3:5 17, 21 22 Session 8 January 20, 2019 2 after Epiphany 1 Corinthians 12:1 11 Session 9 January 27, 2019 3 after Epiphany Nehemiah 8:1 3, 5 6, 8 10 Session 10 February 3, 2019 4 after Epiphany Jeremiah 1:4 10 Session 11 February 10, 2019 5 after Epiphany Luke 5:1 11 As Paul encouraged the Thessalonian community, adults will explore ways to open themselves and others to Advent s encouragement and hope. Adults will consider contemporary actions that keep faith with John s call for preparation and repentance. Adults will explore connections between the good news John the Baptist proclaims with the good fruits John teaches. Adults will consider ways in which Elizabeth s and Mary s rejoicing elicits our joyful witness and servanthood today. Adults will identify ways to foster growth within families that emerge from today s story of the boy Jesus and his parents. On this day of Epiphany, adults will identify lights they follow that lead toward the God revealed through Jesus. Adults will prayerfully discern the implications of God s baptismal pronouncement of child and beloved upon Jesus, and through Christ upon us. Adults will examine and commit to Paul s vision of the church s Spiritgrounded unity and Spirit-sparked diversity. Adults will discover how the Word read and interpreted can open each new generation to understanding, renewal, and joy. Hearing Jeremiah s call to pull down and then plant, adults will explore God s call to similar acts of ministries today. Adults will envision acts of contemporary discipleship that echo Luke s account of Jesus bidding disciples to venture into deeper waters.
Session 12 February 17, 2019 6 after Epiphany Luke 6:17 26 Session 13 February 24, 2019 7 after Epiphany Luke 6:27 38 Adults will articulate implications for witness and discipleship evoked by the blessings and woes pronounced by Jesus in Luke 6. Adults will imagine ways in which Jesus s radical words about loving enemies can empower them to live with such grace.
Spring 2019 Session 1 March 3, 2019 Transfiguration Luke 9:28 36 (37 43) Session 2 March 10, 2019 Lent 1 Luke 4:1 13 Session 3 March 17, 2019 Lent 2 Luke 13:31 35 Session 4 March 24, 2019 Lent 3 Isaiah 55:1 9 Session 5 March 31, 2019 Lent 4 Luke 15:1 3, 11b 32 Session 6 April 7, 2019 Lent 5 John 12:1 8 Session 7 April 14, 2019 Palm/Passion Luke 19:28 40/23:1 49 Session 8 April 21, 2019 Easter Luke 24:1 12 Session 9 April 28, 2019 Easter 2 John 20:19 31 Session 10 May 5, 2019 Easter 3 Acts 9:1 20 Session 11 May 12, 2019 Easter 4 Psalm 23 On Transfiguration Sunday, adults will discuss and practice ways of hearing Jesus in their walk of discipleship. In light of Jesus choices in the wilderness temptations, adults will reflect on choices that test our trust in God. Heeding Jesus lament over Jerusalem, adults will consider contemporary ways to speak truth to power grounded in God s promised future. In the light of God s dependable promises proclaimed by Isaiah, adults will respond in repentance, praise, and witness. Responding to God s grace in Luke 15, adults will rejoice in divine forgiveness and heed Jesus call to forgive. In exploring Mary s act of devotion, adults will ponder Christ s extravagant generosity and consider ways to serve those in need. Adults will identify with the crowds who shouted hosanna and will seek to honor Jesus by promoting peace. Adults will rejoice in the resurrection and plan ways to share the Easter message with others in the community. Believing with Thomas that Jesus is my Lord and my God, adults will explore Christ s call to mission today. In studying God s work in the life of Paul, adults will reflect on God s work in their own lives. After reflecting on God as shepherd and host, adults will explore implications of following, trusting, and dwelling in God.
Session 12 May 19, 2019 Easter 5 Revelation 21:1 6 Session 13 May 26, 2019 Easter 6 Acts 16:9 15 Through Revelation s promise of a new heaven and a new earth, adults will renew hope despite evil, death, and suffering. In studying the story of Paul and Lydia, adults will seek the Spirit s leading and plan to practice hospitality.
Summer 2019 Session 1 June 2, 2019 Easter 7 Acts 16:16 34 Session 2 June 9, 2019 Pentecost Acts 2:1 21 Session 3 June 16, 2019 Trinity Psalm 8 Session 4 June 23, 2019 Proper 7 1 Kings 19:1 15a Session 5 June 30, 2019 Proper 8 2 Kings 2:1 2, 6 14 Session 6 July 7, 2019 Proper 9 Psalm 30 Session 7 July 14, 2019 Proper 10 Luke 10:25 37 Session 8 July 21, 2019 Proper 11 Luke 10:38 42 Session 9 July 28, 2019 Proper 12 Luke 11:1 13 Session 10 August 4, 2019 Proper 13 Luke 12:13 21 Session 11 August 11, 2019 Proper 14 Hebrews 11:1 3, 8 16 Session 12 August 18, 2019 Proper 15 Hebrews 11:29 12:2 Through the story of Paul and Silas, adults will give praise for God s liberating work and will find ways to practice faith in difficult circumstances. On Pentecost, adults will rejoice in the Holy Spirit s work and tell about God s deeds of power. In responding to God as majestic Creator, adults will consider their ecological role as rulers of creation. As Elijah did, adults will listen for the voice of God in unexpected places. In reflecting on the story of Elijah and Elisha, adults will explore the role of mentorship in their faith journeys. Adults will join with the psalmist in giving thanks for God s transforming deliverance. Hearing Jesus story of the Good Samaritan, adults will be challenged to expand their definition of neighbor. Adults will reflect on ways to keep focused on Jesus and his message in the midst of life s distractions. Adults will explore Jesus teachings on prayer and the implications for their own lives. Like the rich man, adults will be challenged to respond to what it means to be rich toward God. Adults will explore the meaning and role of faith in their Christian journey. Adults will affirm the importance of perseverance in running the race set before us and where they can find support and strength.
Session 13 August 25, 2019 Proper 16 Luke 13:10 17 In reflecting on the story of the bent-over woman, adults will explore the tension between keeping and breaking rules.