Bible Studies
Contact Aimee Mant with any questions about classes or to register.For more information about the Stephen Ministry Training in September, click here.
Some registration is available now! We're in the process of transitioning from using our present registration system and PayPal to using WebVIEW for registration and payment. You can always pay with a check sent to Aimee Mant at the church office or sign up in person on Sundays, Aug. 8, 15 and 22, outside the Fellowship Hall.
Scholarships are available for Disciple classes, Christian Believer, Becoming a Love and Logic Parent, Crown Financial Study and Financial Peace University. Contact Aimee Mant.
Disciple Classes:
Disciple I"Becoming Disciples Through Bible Study" is an approach to Bible study that emphasizes disciplined reading of and listening to scripture. It results in biblically nourished persons committed to living as disciples. Disciple groups move through the scriptures from Genesis to Revelation. The scripture for each session follows chronological movement of the biblical story.
Duration: 34 weeks
Cost: Free
Time: Tuesdays, 7-9 p.m., beginning Sept. 7
Facilitator: B. Williams
Time: Wednesdays, 9:30-11:30 a.m., beginning Sept. 8
Facilitator: J. Richardson
Time: Thursdays, 9:30-11:30 a.m., beginning Sept. 9
Facilitator: K. Paxton/P. Preston
Disciple II"Into the Word, Into the World" encourages people to open themselves to hearing what God has to say to them through the Bible and to be guided into service in the world by scripture and their study of it. Equal attention is given to Old and New Testaments with concentration on four books: Genesis, Exodus, Luke and Acts (8 lessons on each book).
Duration: 32 weeks
Cost: $35
Time: Wednesdays, 7-9 p.m., beginning Sept. 8
Facilitator: L. Compton
Time: Sundays, 5-7 p.m., beginning Sept. 12
Facilitator: M. LaVorgna-Smith
Register here.
Disciple III"Remember Who You Are" helps you remember your roots, consider your past, and renew your vision for the future. This study confronts persistent questions like "What are my priorities?" and "How can I be a part of the obedient community?" Come and study with Paul and the prophets.
Duration: 32 weeks
Cost: $35
Time: Wednesdays, 7-9 p.m., beginning Sept. 8
Facilitator: J. Butler
Register here.
Disciple IV"Under the Tree of Life" - the word "under" in the title conveys invitation, welcome, shelter, security, and rest -- home at last. Emphasis on the Psalms as Israel's hymn book and prayer book leads naturally to an emphasis on worship in the study. Present through the entire study is the sense of living toward completion -- toward the climax of the message and the promise, extravagantly pictured in the Revelation.
Duration: 32 weeks
Cost: $35
Time: Sundays, 5-7 p.m., beginning Sept. 12
Facilitator: D. Paul
Register here.
Christian BelieverThis study of the classical doctrines of the Christian faith aims at presenting, explaining and interpreting Christian doctrine as the basic teaching of the church, to the end that informed believing leads to committed discipleship. Christian Believer emphasizes the head as well as the heart. Christians recognize that "faith seeking understand" is a part of Christian experience. Christian Believer allows for questions, doubts and dissent.
Duration: 30 weeks
Cost: $45
Time: Wednesdays, noon-1:30 p.m., beginning Sept. 8
Facilitator: J. Gibson/P. Rau
Time: Sundays, 5-7 p.m., beginning Sept. 12
Facilitator: J. Cravens/K. Kingsbury
Register here.
BIG FaithWednesdays, 11:30-1:30 p.m., beginning Sept. 1
Join us for this study exploring two of Andy Stanley's books on growing big faith. The first is Five Things God Uses to Grow Your Faith. Your faith in God matters to God. God is most honored through your living, active, death-defying, out-of-the-box faith. The second book is Faith, Hope, and Luck. Our faith in God often hinges on his activity, or inactivity, in our daily experiences, but it doesn't have to be that way. It's not supposed to be that way.
Duration: 12 weeks
Cost: $25
Facilitator: Debra Effinger
Register here.
Keepsake Writing (SAM-sponsored)
Mondays, 10 a.m.-noon, beginning Sept. 13
This class has proven to be a wonderful opportunity to make new friends and to work on a written legacy of love to be presented to descendants and to our church family. No formal writing experience is required to join the group. The class will be limited to 20 people.
Duration: 12 weeks
Cost: $12
Facilitator: Linda Tucker
Jonah, by Priscilla ShirerWednesdays, 9:30-11:30 a.m., beginning Sept. 29
They shock us; they shake us; they compel us to change. You can't escape life's interruptions, but you can change your perspective on them. Dive into the study of Jonah and discover that what you see as an interruption may truly be God's divine invitation to a life so much bigger than you can imagine.
Duration: 8 weeks
Cost: $12
Facilitator: Taci Kistler
Register here.
Letters of Paul - II Corinthians (SAM-sponsored)
Wednesdays, 10:30 a.m.-noon, beginning Sept. 15
Sometimes we forget that we belong to Jesus. It's not intentional, but it happens. The church in Corinth had forgotten. They were divisive. Insensitive. Argumentative. Rebellious. Paul knew the Corinthian church needed a reminder, so he wrote a heartfelt letter defending his character, ministry and message. Paul's letter encourages us to look at our own lives so we won't forget what really matters.
Duration: 12 weeks
Cost: $9
Facilitator: Jim Monroe
Spiritual GiftsSundays, 11 a.m., beginning Oct. 10
Spiritual gifts are special, extraordinary abilities God gives to build up the church for ministry to its members and, through its members, the world. All baptized persons have been given spiritual gifts. The study renews the lives of individuals, aligns us to serve out of the spiritual gifts given to us, and revitalizes the ministries of the church. During the closing celebration of the study, we show a video to help participants to identify and discern their God-given passions for which to use their spiritual gifts in addition to their talents and interests.
Duration: 4 weeks
Cost: $10
Facilitator: Ruthanne Kern
Register here.
Remembering Your StoryTuesdays, 6-8 p.m., beginning Sept. 7
Now that the kids have moved out, it's a good time to remember and reclaim stories that help us understand our unique journeys through life. This class, open to all but directed especially at those who are 50 and older, recognizes that everyone has a story. We'll bring supper, discuss how to remember our stories, and focus on the personal and spiritual aspects of things that have happened to us. As we do fun, easy writing exercises each week and at home, the emphasis is on capturing our stories both for our personal growth and for sharing with others, rather than writing "correctly" or "perfectly." We'll explore creating a personal blog, writing for publication or public speaking, and other ways to preserve and/or share our stories. Class fee includes the book, Remembering Your Story, by Richard L. Morgan.
Duration: 10 weeks
Cost: $12
Facilitator: Vicki Sledge
Register here.
Crown Financial
Sundays, 5-7 p.m., beginning Sept. 12
The Bible has a lot to say about money; there are, in fact, over 2,350 verses that address everything you need to know about handling money. This teaching strategy treats more than the practical symptoms of financial bondage -- it creates a long-term transformation of the heart. Take this opportunity to turn your financial life around.
Duration: 11 weeks
Cost: $45/single, $55/couple
Facilitators: Jennifer and David Wagner
Register here.
Beth Moore's Revelation StudySundays, 5-7 p.m., beginning Sept. 12
Here and Now... There and Then, by Beth Moore, is a lecture series on the Book of Revelation. Beth presents many points of view, allowing women to decide for themselves when the interpretation varies among scholars. She teaches that God is as specific about what he does reveal as he is about what he does not reveal.
Duration: 11 weeks
Cost: $10
Facilitator: Pat Louden
Register here.
Defending the Faith: Christian Apologetics
Sundays, 5-7 p.m., beginning Sept. 12
The New Atheists, such as Christopher Hitchens and Richard Dawkins, have best-selling books promoting the idea that religion in general, and Christianity in particular, is a superstition created by unsophisticated people whose time is past. This study will cover the evidence for our beliefs and address some of the objections non-Christians raise, such as "Is the Bible fact or fiction?", "Hasn't science proven that creation happened without God?" and "Too much evil has been done in the name of Christianity for me to believe."
Duration: 8 weeks
Cost: Free
Facilitator: David Holmes
Register here.
Get Acquainted with Your Bible
Sundays, 5-7 p.m., beginning Sept. 12
A basic introduction to the Bible that's easy to use and understand. Many adults know less about the Bible than they care to admit. Here's a way for people with little or no Bible background to get acquainted with the Bible in a short period of time.
Duration: 8 weeks
Cost: Free
Facilitator: Sheryl Pickens
Register here.
Life after LossSundays, 5-6:30 p.m., beginning Sept. 19
Losing a loved one is very painful, often producing profound life changes. Each of us grieves differently, but grief is common to all people -- a normal part of restoring life's balance after a loss. Refusal or failure to do the grief work can produce lifelong problems. Unresolved grief can be a barrier to healing, healthy living, and happiness. Life after Loss is a six-week CRUMC course offering "compassionate companioning" and hope for those experiencing grief. Class participants receive helpful information and coping assistance in a caring, confidential environment of reconciliation and restoration. Classes are typically offered two times a year. To register, contact Taci Kistler, ext. 242.
Duration: TBD
Cost: Free
Facilitator: Marsha Sparks
Growing Love in a Christian MarriageTuesdays, 7-9 p.m., beginning Oct. 12
This is a class designed for engaged couples or newlyweds who wish to properly prepare for marriage. Couples will examine their relationship and expectations of one another and develop a strong basis for a successful union. Certificate of completion from this course gets you a discount on your marriage license. To register, contact Taci Kistler, ext. 242.
Duration: 6 weeks
Cost: $20
Facilitator: The Rev. John and Pam Richardson
AlphaMondays, 6:30-9 p.m., beginning Sept. 13
Alpha is an opportunity for anyone to explore the Christian faith in a relaxed setting. The Alpha course is open to everyone who would like to attend. People attend for a wide variety of reasons -- some want to investigate whether God exists, others may have attended church occasionally but feel they have never really understood the basics of the Christian faith. People come from many different backgrounds and hold many different viewpoints.
Duration: 8 weeks
Cost: Free
Facilitators: The Rev. John Richardson and Chris Bond
Considering Adoption: A Biblical PerspectiveThursdays, 6:30-8:30 p.m., beginning Sept. 9
If you've pondered adoption at all, it has likely raised many questions: How do I begin? How will our family react? Can I love an adopted child enough? And most importantly, is adoption what God wants for my life? Maybe you're ready to explore adoption, but your spouse isn't. If any of this describes your feelings about adoption, you are not alone. Together with the Heart of Harts foster/adoption ministry, we'd like to invite you to join us for this study to explore the questions you have and examine God's perspective on making an adoption decision. Child care is available with advance registration.
Duration: 5 weeks
Cost: Free
Facilitators: Tony and Toni McIntyre
Financial Peace UniversitySundays, 5-7 p.m., beginning Sept. 13
This is a life-changing program that empowers and teaches you how to make the right money decisions. It will teach how to take control of your money, get out of debt, achieve your financial goals and experience a total money makeover. You will learn to "live like no one else, so you can live like no one else." More than one million families have seen amazing results.
Duration: 13 weeks
Cost: $100
Facilitator: Penn Hoyt
Register here.
Becoming a Love and Logic Parent
Sundays, 5-7 p.m., beginning Oct. 17
A study for parents of elementary children to learn principles and practices for raising confident, respectful children, Love and Logic provides simple and practical techniques to help parents have less stress and more fun while raising responsible kids. Both facilitators are trained by the Love and Logic Institute. Contact Cheryl Bishop, ext. 253, for the fall schedule.
Duration: 6 weeks
Cost: $75/single, $120/couple
Facilitator: Cheryl Bishop and Allyson George
Stephen Ministry TrainingWednesdays, 6-8:30 p.m., beginning in September
Do you have gifts for caring, encouragement and listening? Stephen Ministers are trained to provide emotional and spiritual support and care to people who are going through a difficult time, such as divorce, grief, hopitalization, unemployment, terminal illness, relocation, chronic illness, loneliness, etc.
Duration: 20 weeks
Cost: TBD
Facilitator: The Rev. Leslie Herrscher
Friday Morning Men’s Study
Fridays, 6:30–8 a.m.
This ongoing men’s group strives through scripture and discussion to help men understand and hopefully overcome some of life’s bigger challenges. They do this through the study of God’s Word as well as personal witness, testimony and structured supportive discussion.
This ongoing men’s group strives through scripture and discussion to help men understand and hopefully overcome some of life’s bigger challenges. They do this through the study of God’s Word as well as personal witness, testimony and structured supportive discussion.
Ongoing
Room 109/11
Cost: Free
Led by: Mike McLeland
Room 109/11
Cost: Free
Led by: Mike McLeland
Register here.
Praise Aerobics
Mondays, Thursdays 9:15–10:45 a.m.
Get energized doing exercise while listening to positive, upbeat Christian music. There is a variety of different types of exercise such as step, water aerobics and various stretching.
Ongoing
Room: B18
Cost: Free
Led by: Claudia Hill
Get energized doing exercise while listening to positive, upbeat Christian music. There is a variety of different types of exercise such as step, water aerobics and various stretching.
Ongoing
Room: B18
Cost: Free
Led by: Claudia Hill
Register here.
About Discipleship Academy
A Bible study program of Custer Road United Methodist Church, Discipleship Academy provides opportunities for adults of all ages, stages and interests, members and visitors alike, to learn and share in a small group setting. If you are a new believer, have a desire to grow deeper in your walk with God, or consider yourself a scholar of his Word, Custer Road Discipleship Academy is for you. A “disciple” of Christ believes in and follows him. We are called to be his disciples; to hold on to his teachings and put him first in all we do. In John 5:15 Jesus said, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” Faith is defined by believing and trusting in Christ and his teachings, and our faith grows by studying God’s word. Discipleship Academy stands on the knowledge that such study is vital for us to be effective Christians in our daily lives. This is made evident by Romans 10:17, “Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.”
Discipleship Academy courses are offered during the daytime and evening throughout the week to accommodate even the busiest of schedules. Short- (six week) and long-term (30-34 week) classes are offered during both fall and spring seasons. A mix of classes is offered during the summer months as well. Some curricula require daily reading and preparation for weekly discussion, while others call for light reading and preparation.
This fall, long-term courses consist of the Disciple series (I-IV) and Christian Believer, which meet for over 30 weeks to dig deep into scripture throughout the Bible.
Short-term courses focus on specific books of the Bible, such as Psalms and Isaiah, as well as on particular issues and relationships. Classes focus on subjects such as our Christian beliefs, faith, prayer, marriage, parenting, men’s ministry, books and movies and financial issues. Courses are written by well-known authors like Marjorie Thompson, Priscilla Shirer, Beth Moore, Bill Hybels, and Jennifer Kennedy-Dean, just to name a few.
Some Discipleship Academy courses are free and others require a small cost to cover course workbooks and materials. Scholarships are available. Monetary considerations should never hinder anyone from studying God’s Word in a small group.
Child care is provided for some studies with a minimum of four days advance reservation.
“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” Hebrews 11:6
