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faithwalk Learning and Spiritual GrowthOpportunities January-May, 2008
First Church is offering the studies and learning experiences listed below during the winter and spring months of 2008. To enroll in any of these, call the church office at 972-423-4506 or fill out and return the registration sheet. You can find registration sheets in the church office, at the FaithWalk bulletin board on the second floor, or at the Adult Ministries table in the Gathering Area.
Faith and Family These learning experiences will help you integrate your faith with things you face in the real world: Raising healthy families and managing your financial resources.
Financial Peace University Wednesday evenings, 6:30-8:30 pm, beginning 1/23/08 Ken & Liz Applegate, facilitators Room A218 OR Sunday afternoons, 4:30-6:30 pm, beginning 1/27/08 Andrew Hamilton & Terri Worley, facilitators Room B230 Registration fee: $93
Financial Peace University is a 13-week course that uses Scriptural principles to help Christians manage their resources. The course is taught via DVD by personal money management expert Dave Ramsey. Your registration fee supplies you with a Membership Kit containing the book Financial Peace, audio CDs of all 13 of Dave’s lessons, a Financial Peace University workbook, budgeting forms, and a bonus CD containing a financial calculator and other worthwhile pieces of software. 13 sessions; no class session on February 6 or March 19.
Your Family and Finances Wednesday evenings, 6:30-7:30 pm, beginning 1/9/08 Margie Brueggeman, facilitator Materials fee: $7 Room A213
This video-based study is part of a series called ProActive Parenting. This study will help you lead your children in developing money management skills and values at an early age. Sessions examine talking about money, allowances, promoting independence, saving, and credit habits. 4 sessions.
Talking With Your Child About Sex Wednesday evenings, 6:30-7:30 pm, beginning 3/26/08 Margie Brueggeman, facilitator No registration fee Room A205
For many people, discussing matters of sexuality with children is one of those painful, periodic duties parents must assume. This two-session study attempts to help parents and mentors of children address their fears and offers some guidance for how to incorporate healthy sex talk into relationships between adults and children. 2 sessions.
Children and Video Games: A F aith-Based Look Wednesday, April 9, 6:30-7:30 pm Margie Brueggeman, facilitator No registration fee Room A205
Have you watched your child playing video games lately? Over the years, videogames have become increasingly more sophisticated, and not necessarily appropriate for children. This study provides an introduction to the world of video games and provides some resources for those just wanting to learn more or others wanting to join efforts to control access and irresponsible content. 1 session.
What’s My Child Doing On the Internet? Wednesday, April 16, 6:30-7:30 pm Grant Wilson, facilitator No registration fee Room A213
According to a study conducted on behalf of AOL, 51 percent of teenagers today prefer to use the Internet to the telephone. Instant messaging, chatting, and blogging are becoming the preferred communication for today’s young people. What are these various communication methods? What risks do they pose for children and teens? What are some methods parents can use to protect their children? A wealth of resource information is provided for parents looking for information on how best to support and protect their children. This study defines many of the technical terms and computer language used and spoken by kids today. It explains some of the dangers of the Internet but also highlights the positive aspects of this ever-changing means of communication. 1 session.
Bullying In the Classroom Wednesday, April 23, 6:30-7:30 pm Margie Brueggeman, facilitator No registration fee Room A213
How serious is the issue of bullying at school? What makes a bully? What should Christians do about it? This study provides a look at the issue. 1 session.
Single Parenting Wednesday evenings, 6:30-7:30 pm, beginning 4/30/08 Pam Turner, facilitator Materials fee: $7 Room A213
As a part of the Proactive Parenting video series, this 4-part study explores the basics of parenting from the unique perspective of a single parent. Sessions cover building support systems, time management, multiple households, and forgiveness. 4 sessions.
Teens and Dating: What Parents Need to Know Sunday, May 18, 2008, 4:00-6:00 pm Vicki DeVantier, facilitator No registration fee Room B230
Would you want to go through those turbulent, wonderful, awful, teenage dating years again? As many survive those years and then have children of their own, they again face many of the same issues with their own children. In addition, many others besides biological parents mentor adolescents. Just what is going on during this developmental phase? While falling in love is something that has occurred throughout human history, what has changed for the kids of today’s culture? What are “friends with benefits” and “hookups”? How can individuals and communities best support adolescents as they live through the early dating years? This study first describes some of the physical changes occurring in adolescents and quizzes participants on just how much they are aware of the interests of the teens in their lives. It will then examine some of the enormous changes in our society and how these are impacting adolescents as they enter this stage. Finally, participants will consider concrete ways to support the adolescents in their world both individually and collectively. 1 session.
Faith and Understanding
These studies will help you come to know the Bible better, will give you a basic grounding in the teachings of the church, and will explore through “Christian eyes” some of the issues and ideas facing our world today.
First Faith Tuesday evenings, beginning 1/15/08, 7-8 pm Rev. Alice Coder, facilitator No registration fee Room B227
Want to know more about Christian faith, Methodist-style? This 6-session study will cover the basics of First United Methodist Church-Plano, and will discuss the Christian faith from the Methodist point of view. Perfect for all visitors, new members, and those who just want to know more about our congregation and our denomination. 6 sessions.
The Book of Revelation Monday evenings, beginning 1/21/08, 7-8 pm Room B213 OR Wednesdays, beginning 1/23/08, noon-1 pm Room A217 Mark Lucke, facilitator Materials fee: $12
Feeling left behind in your understanding of the biblical book of Revelation? This compelling video-based study, moderated by Duke University biblical studies professor Mickey Efird, dispels the myths about the end-times and reclaims the hope for all Christians found in this most misunderstood book of the Bible. Learn about the conflict between good and evil and the meaningful symbolism used to help early Christians keep the faith during hard times. 16 sessions.
One-Night Bible Study: Jonah Monday, May 14, 2008, 7-8 pm Mark Lucke, facilitator No registration fee Room A207
Far too often the significance of this book is overlooked as people concentrate on the issue of the “great fish.” This one-session study uncovers the real story of Jonah, focusing on the issue of why Jonah was reluctant to bring God’s word to a people God chose to save. 1 session.
One-Day Bible Study: The Book of Job Wednesday, May 21, 2008, noon-1 pm Mark Lucke, facilitator No registration fee Room A217 As much as we’d like to believe otherwise, the connections between good and evil and between reward and punishment are not always automatic, mechanical, and obvious. The biblical book of Job is an exploration of the confounding fact that life and fortunes are often arbitrary. What can a believer expect from God and from life? Join us to find out. 1 session.
The Mormon Faith Thursday evenings, beginning 3/6/08, 7-8 pm Mark Lucke, facilitator No registration fee Room A209
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints arose in the modern era of history and quickly spread worldwide. While it has a good deal in common with traditional Christianity, there are distinctive differences. This two-session study will explore the history of the Mormon church and will review its beliefs and points of divergence from Christianity. 2 sessions.
The Muslim Faith Thursday evenings, beginning 3/27/08, 7-8 pm Mark Lucke, facilitator No registration fee Room A209
Islam occupies the attention of the world as never before. What lies beyond the sensational headlines and the stereotypes? This 4-week study explores what Muslims say about themselves. Session One looks at the origins of the faith; the second session attempts to summarize the content of Muslim teaching and doctrine. The third session is devoted to an exploration of the spread of Islam throughout the world, and the final session looks at similarities and differences between Christianity and Islam. 4 sessions.
Introduction to the Koran Thursday evenings, beginning 4/24/08, 7-8 pm Mark Lucke, facilitator No registration fee Room B134
A basic understanding of the Koran, the holy scriptures of Islam, can be beneficial in helping us understand men and women of the Muslim faith. Where did the Koran come from? Who wrote it? How is it organized, and what is its message? This two-session study explores these questions. 2 sessions.
Introduction to the Middle East Thursday evenings, beginning 5/8/08, 7-8 pm Mark Lucke, facilitator No registration fee Room B134
As turmoil continues to rise in the Middle East, it has become a permanent fixture on the evening news and in our daily conversations. Yet, the history of this region of the world is long and complex, and is relatively unknown by politicians and by Christians. This three-session study provides a helpful glimpse of the landscape of the Middle East and of the various political and religious forces influencing the region over the last two thousand years. 2 sessions.
How the Rapture Involves Israel Thursday evenings, beginning 5/29/08, 7-8 pm Mark Lucke, facilitator No registration fee Room B230
This is an engaging, fairly sophisticated study for adults who are ready to study a very relevant and emotional topic of our time. The first session of this 3-session study discusses the end of time, what the Bible says about it, and what different Christians believe. Session 2 takes on the rapture and dispensationalism and how the birth of the modern country of Israel ignited many Christian evangelicals to focus their attention on the rapture and Israel. Finally, session 3 focuses on the current international political implications of this belief on the modern state of Israel and all who live in Palestine. 3 sessions.
Faith and Our Heritage
Studies in this category explore the origins and development of the Christian faith and reflect on how those origins might guide today’s church as it seeks to be a faithful witness into the future.
Field Trip: The Kimbell Art Museum Picturing the Bible: The Earliest Christian Art Saturday, March 8, 2008 Leave from the church at noon Tickets: $ 14/adults; $12/seniors 60+; $12/students with ID; $10/children 6-11
Picturing the Bible: The Earliest Christian Art is an exhibition at the Kimbell Art Museum in Fort Worth displaying many of the greatest art treasures of early Christianity from the earliest periods from which Christian art was discovered. We will leave the church at noon on Saturday, March 8. For ticket information, visit the Kimbell Art Museum web page: http://www.kimbellart.org/Exhibitions/Exhibitions-Tickets.aspx.
Faith and Faithful Living
Experiences in this section will help Christians pay more attention to their relationship with God and their commitment to keep God in their hearts and minds.
Lenten Study: Prayer for the Person God Made You Wednesday evenings, beginning 2/13/08, 7-8 pm Mark Lucke, facilitator No registration fee Room A205 Christians talk a lot about prayer, and we’re all in agreement that we should all do it; but far too often books and studies on prayer tend to assume that we’re all alike, and that we all need to pray alike. This Lenten study is designed to move you deeper into a life of prayer as an aid to your Lenten journey toward Easter; but unlike some approaches, this study will introduce you to a variety of ways to pray, and will help you come to an understanding of the type of prayer that best fits the “you” that God made you to be. 6 sessions.
Childcare is available for all studies. If you need childcare, provide the relevant information on the registration form. For more information on the FaithWalk program or these studies, contact Minister with Adults, Mark Lucke at mlucke@firstmethodistplano.org or 972-423-4506. |
