Deeper Discipleship

Learning to Follow Jesus More Closely 

Deeper Discipleship is First Church's phrase describing the life God wants us to lead as Christians. At First United Methodist Church, Deeper Discipleship learning and growth opportunities take a number of forms: retreats, book discussion groups, "movie nights" with subsequent discussion, and, of course, studies and other learning experiences.

The Deeper Discipleship opportunities at First Church are designed to help Christians become deeper followers of Jesus Christ. Following Jesus manifests itself in a number of dimensions, including loving Jesus; following him every day; growing deeper in faith; inviting others to know Jesus; forgiving quickly and reconciling eagerly; helping people in need; and working for the transformation of the world. Every experience we offer under the Deeper Discipleship banner is intended to help Christians grow in one or more of these dimensions.

The following studies are being offered in May-June of 2010:

Sunday afternoons, beginning 5.2.2010

4:30-6:30 pm

Room 112

Facilitator: Jim Carrillo

Registration fee: $100

Financial Peace University is a 13-week video-based learning experience from Christian author and financial expert Dave Ramsey. This study will help students learn how to recover from financial difficulties of the worst kind, how to take responsibility for gaining financial peace, and how to view family finances and live a financial life from a Christian standpoint.Your registration fee supplies you with a Membership Kit containing Dave’s book Financial Peace, audio CD’s of all 13 of Dave’s lessons, a workbook, budgeting forms, and a bonus CD containing a financial calculator and other worthwhile pieces of financial software. 13 sessions

Prayer for the Person God Made You 

Monday evenings, beginning 5.3.2010

7:00-8:30 pm

Room 211

Study leader: Mark Lucke

We hear in church all the time about the importance of prayer, but many of us look at the kind of praying done by other Christians around us, and it doesn't feel natural. Maybe that's because we haven't found the style of prayer that fits our personality. This study will help you find your own personal prayer style. 4 sessions

CATCH

Wednesday evenings, beginning 5.5.2010

7:00-8:30 pm

Room 211

Group leader: Rev. Holly Bandel

Led by professional counselor Dr. Martin Deschner, this group provides encouragement and support to maintain the challenging and often difficult diet and lifestyle changes needed by those who have had bariatric surgery. The friendly and open format of the group provides a supportive environment in which to share. 6 sessions

Thinking About Faith in Your Life

Wednesday evenings, beginning 5.5.2010

7:00-8:30 pm 

Room 112

Facilitator: Sharyn Larson

This series will consist of viewing and reflecting on a creative, engaging 12-minute video each week that uses music, visuals, and the spoken word to allow you to move deeper in your own spiritual life. The video series, named "NOOMA" (a phonetic spelling of the Greek word for "Spirit"), is created and narrated by Rob Bell, the dynamic young pastor of Mars Hill Bible Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan. An engaging, post-modern approach to music, scenery, and the spoken word in these videos will appeal to adults of all ages and lead to reflection on the implications Christian living has for our own lives.  5 sessions

Respectable Sins: Confronting the Sins We Tolerate 

Wednesday evenings, beginning 5.5.2101 

7:00-8:30 pm

Room 230

Facilitator: Kaitlyn Cline

Discontentment. Unthankfulness. Pride. Selfishness. Anger. Judgmentalism. We don't ordinarily think of these as dreadful sins, but they separate us from God and from each other anyway. This 8-week study will explore these sins and other "respectable" sins and offer suggestions for vanquishing them. 8 sessions

Boundaries

Wednesday evenings, beginning 5.5.2010

7:00-8:30 pm

Room 228

Facilitators: Wink Mueller, Fred Theobold

Materials fee: $25, or $10 if participant already has the book

Boundaries define who we are and who we're not. Learn how to set healthy limits and gain control over your life using this award-winning curriculum by Christian authors Drs. Henry Cloud and John Townsend. 6 sessions

Grief Recovery

Wednesday evenings, beginning 5.26.2010

6:30-8:30 pm

Room 211

Facilitators: Mary Somerville, Geneee Francis

Materials fee: $25

This 8-week program gives those suffering a significant loss the tools and encouragement needed to continue the healing and rebuilding process in a caring Christian fellowship. 8 sessions

Sin and Salvation Over Lunch: A Noontime Exploration of the Basics

Wednesdays at noon, beginning 6.2.2010

Noon-1:00 pm

Room 230

Facilitator: Mark Lucke

What is sin? What happens when we sin? Can the Devil make us do it? Who is the Antichrist? What's the meaning of "salvation"? How did Jesus' death save us? Are you saved? These will be the faith questions we'll explore over lunch in this 10-week series. 10 sessions

Discipleship: The Basics

Wednesday evenings, beginning 6.2.2010

7:00-8:30 pm

This 8-week study looks at what the Bible says about being a disciple and explores seven fundamentals of following Jesus. It's a great study for new Christians and new members, and a great-refresher for long-time Christians. 8 sessions

The Gospel of John

Monday evenings, beginning 6.7.2010

7:00-8:30 pm

Mark Lucke, facilitator

 John's Gospel is perhaps the most beautiful in its portrait of the godly wisdom and teaching of Jesus, his mission to bring us back to God, and his special relationship with God the Father. This 7-week video-based study is an excellent first exposure to John's portrait of Jesus, and it's great for refreshing or reviewing your understanding as well. 7 sessions

Writing as Prayer: Journaling, Blogging, and Other Tools for Spiritual Reflection

Tuesday evenings, beginning 6.8.2010

7:00-8:30 pm

This 4-week study will look at ways to enhance your devotional life through writing. 4 sessions

Register for these studies by filling out a registration form at the Adult Ministries table on Sunday morning, or by calling the church office, 972-423-4506.