Have you ever wondered what it really means to have hope? Our world and our lives can be endlessly confusing and discouraging, to the degree that many of us experience times where even the word itself can ring empty. In our fall Essentials study, we’ll take ten weeks to look deeply into the nature of Christian hope—what it is, what it means for us, and how we might pursue it. 

Luke’s portrayal of Jesus is remarkable in that it reveals the parabolic teachings of Jesus and his unyielding attention to the sick, the poor, and the brokenhearted. As we read, we'll discover the rich compassion Jesus has on our human condition of fragility and brokenness.

In this iteration of our Essentials program, we will focus on biblical passages that reveal the true nature of the church, our life with one another, and, of course, our life with God in Christ. Come learn more about what it means to be part of something that both incorporates and transcends historic periods, countries, and ethnicities. Learn how you are part of something greater than we could ever imagine.

In Exodus, we have the story of God’s redemptive work through Moses, the shepherding of God’s people into a new life with him, and the giving of God’s own words in the Law.  Please join us as we walk alongside Moses and learn more of God’s strength, power, and profound compassion for his people.

Peter’s letters, perhaps written from Rome, give us a glimpse into the concerns and hopes of one of Jesus’ closest friends. Our hope in studying the letters of Peter is that we might round out yet another vantage point in the New Testament’s broader witness of God’s redemptive work. 

What does it look like to be the people of God? What does it feel like? How do we know God is faithful to us? The historical books of 1st and 2nd Samuel speak to all of these questions and more. Join this Essentials study of the two books of Samuel to gather, discuss, and discover how we find Jesus Christ in every corner of the Bible.

The Gospel of John has some unique and remarkable characteristics. We hope that you enjoy reading this gospel and that it opens new vantage points into who Jesus us and what he has done for us. Our prayer is that you encounter God in a new way as you read and gather for discussion.

Unlike any other book of the Bible, the Psalms demonstrate what it looks and feels like to love, speak to, and even wrestle with God. 

Ephesians is a letter about the hope we have in the reality of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and also about what that means for our lives. Paul describes what is simply true about believers in Christ and then fleshes out what it looks like for them to live in light of these truths.

We invite you to journey into this foundational book from the Old Testament. Our hope is that your knowledge of scripture grows as you engage with the story of God’s people. While session covers several chapters of Genesis, we focus more intently on a particular story, as noted below.

Who is Jesus and how have you thought about him? Scripture speaks about Jesus in multiple ways in order to reveal different aspects of his character, and one of the primary ways that we grow and continue in our faith is by refreshing our minds and hearts with the various ways the Bible presents him to us.