Two Disicple Bible study classes will be held beginning Monday, Sept. 14. Becoming Disciples ("Disciple 1") at 9:30am-11:30am, or "Into the Word, Into the World," a study focused on Genesis, Exodus, Luke and Acts, at 7pm-9pm on Mondays. Contact Ingrid Quigley to register.

Why should you invest time in Disciple Bible Study?
Ask those who have made the commitment!

FROM: Kyle Mastrolia, class of 2009
Make the Commitment—Disciple Bible Study!   (By Kyle Mastrolia)
It’s a given that most of us are just too busy; we have lives that are crazy-busy!  You know the drill—houses, spouses, kids, parents, community, committees, commitments, commitments, and more commitments—it’s never ending. And that’s the point, as long as we continue to care, our commitments and responsibilities should never end.  But that does make it hard to add “one more thing” to the crazy-busy list.  But I’m going to suggest you do it anyway!
Why?
Because it’s easy to forget that you count too in your crazy-busy life. Because it’s easy to forget that doing something special just for you is very important. And because it’s easy to forget that God is patiently waiting for you to stop, take a deep breath, and come sit with Him and his Son for a while.
Like you, I’m crazy-busy most days; in fact I’m the queen of over-doing, over-committing, and over-working!  However, I did just finish the 34-week Disciple Bible Study class.  For several years I’d thought about taking an Adult Christian Education class; but just thought about it; I never did anything because “I’m just too crazy-busy!” Then last year, when Ingrid announced a new Disciple class started in September—on my birthday in fact—I thought, “Now’s the time.”  And I’m sure glad I signed up!
How?
But how could I add one more commitment to my already over-loaded schedule? Thirty-four weeks (a full school year) is a big commitment.  And I kept thinking, “My family’s gonna kill me for taking on something new!” But I had made up my mind that this was important for me to do—both for myself and my teenager.  If I wanted my teenager to study the Bible and grow in his relationship with God, I needed to model that behavior myself.
Fitting Disciple class into my schedule was easier than I thought.  I reviewed my too-many commitments and decided I would need to excuse myself from one or two commitments before I could add a new commitment.  Of course “family” and “work” commitments couldn’t be changed, so that left “high school parent meetings”, “Vision Team”, “Joint Youth Council”, and “Renovation Committee”.  Of the four, I found I could remove two from schedule.  I quietly left the high school parent meetings (it’s a big group, I think no one missed me) and I asked Rev. Nancy and the Vision Team if I could resign my commission to take the Disciple class (their response, “Of course – it’s a great class!”). 
And that’s how it worked – I took two commitments away from my crazy-busy list and added the Disciple class. And I’m SO glad I did. What a wonderful, enriching, and surprising experience.  My classmates are an amazing, beautiful group of people who energized me and taught me and cared for me even on my most tired, most over-committed days.  Yes, 34 weeks of classes and a lot of reading homework was a big commitment, but yes, it was very much worth the time.  Will I take another Disciple class? Definitely! Will I take another Disciple class right away? Not yet, but very soon.  I’ve grown to love, admire, and respect all my fellow classmates, and I look forward to another Disciple class experience—because I need to remember that God is patiently waiting for me to stop, take a deep breath, and spend some time with Him and his Son.

FROM: Craig Ramsay, class of 2009
One of the five practices of fruitful congregations is Intentional Faith Development which views the ministries of Christian education, small group work, and Bible study as absolutely critical to spiritual growth, for each individual and for the church as a whole.  The key word for me here in “Intentional”. I believe for most of us with busy lives, faith development should be a conscious and deliberate objective or it’s just not going to get enough focus.
If you are considering signing up for Disciple, but don’t know how the time commitment would “fit” into your busy life, I had the exact same concerns.  For years I told myself I would enroll “when my schedule lightened up.”  Yeah, right!  I finally realized that this decision was not about finding the time, but about facing the fact that, in terms of what’s most important in my life, I had let my own spiritual development be a lower priority.
For many years I have been attending Sunday worship, participating in various study groups, getting involved in church committees, and trying to observe the practices on the spiritual pyramid (regular prayer, Bible reading, etc).  All these activities helped me strive to live out the Christian life, but I began to wonder if I was really growing as a Christian.  Did I really understand God’s purpose and meaning for my life?  Was I forming that opinion based on my faith experiences, or on the real source of the truth – God’s word?
I realized that aside from deeply exploring the Bible myself, there would be no substitute for really understanding God’s word.  What I needed was a more challenging learning experience – an active Bible study with the opportunity to really examine the passages, discuss and question the various interpretations with peers, and develop an understanding of scripture that was deeply personal and meaningful to me.  Disciple was the answer for me!
I would highly recommend Disciple to anyone who wants to become a bit more
‘intentional’ about their spiritual growth.

FROM: Gerri Hodson, class of 2008
How great it is…The Disciple class has given me joy and a spiritual deepening. Strange as it seems, previously I’ve read only selected passages – never the books in their entirety – with little understanding of the context or cultural, social and economic mores of the times in which they were written. The Disciple curriculum provided this; as well as an opportunity to read and study the Bible, insight from learned Biblical scholars, and discussion questions for our group.

Our Monday night coming together and sharing in a fantastic Christian group has become so meaningful to me that my week feels incomplete when I have to miss. As we puzzle over passages, members often provide missing points and different points of view. It has truly been a life-changing event.

FROM: Debbie Clayton, class of 2008
Disciple has been a wonderful experience. As a group we are a very diverse set of folks, and I believe that we've come to Disciple with just as diverse a set of aspirations for how this class will enrich our lives.

Many are here for literary reasons, seeking some continuity to stitch together the time honored Bible stories within their historical and chronological contexts, while others are here to search for purpose and deeper meaning among the scriptures. As a group we are all very respectful of each other's opinions and interpretations, even when we disagree.

One of the best aspects of this class for me is the opportunity to talk things through, to try to make sense of what the authors of the various books were really trying to teach us. The class environment is very safe and caring, giving everyone the opportunity to voice their opinions and question long-held interpretations of certain passages that we may not have felt comfortable discussing in other venues.

This has been a wonderful chance to get to know some folks with whom I had never really crossed paths before, and to learn more about and grow closer to those I already knew. It has been a great growth journey in both faith and personal relationships for me. I consider myself to be very blessed to have been a part of it for the past year.

FROM: Kristin Kufeldt, class of 2008
Most of us know about the obvious benefits of attending a comprehensive bible study class such as Disciple.  As Christians, our relationship with God is improved by bible study and fellowship with other believers.  Our walk as Christians is improved by the camaraderie and the insights of others offered in a group setting.   In theory, most of us Christians want to delve deeper into the bible and give more time to our spiritual life.  So why isn’t everyone signing up for Disciple?  I believe we let our busy schedules get in the way and become daunted by the time commitment.  Are you wondering where you will find another hour in your busy week for yet another meeting, much less the extra time and energy required to do the Bible readings and devotions?

If these are your concerns, then I assure you Disciple is not what you might expect.  Disciple revives you; Disciple refreshes you; Disciple invigorates you!  I have approached a Monday afternoon discouraged, fatigued, ill, overwhelmed, or downtrodden.  But each time I have picked myself up and driven to Disciple class, I have been rewarded with blessings beyond measure.  I have never left Disciple without feeling spiritually, emotionally, and physically charged and renewed!

So many of us are overextended in our work and personal lives.  This is true for me too, but Disciple never fails to give abundantly back to me. So if you are considering signing up for Disciple, instead of worrying if you have the time and energy to give to the class, ask yourself if you have the desire to receive the abundant blessings of this class.  I always receive the gifts of a restored spirit and a cheerful heart; and for that I am always grateful.

FROM: Tom Grubb, class of 2008
Thinking about signing up for the next Disciple Bible Study but not sure if you can make the time, or if it’s worthwhile? That’s what went through my mind, but I pushed those thoughts aside and signed on -- and I’m glad I did. I’ve tried to read the bible on my own several times, but stalled every time. Here’s an engaging way to learn about life, God, your congregation---and you.

The approach here works for me because it “chunks” the material out into themes every week that bring understanding. Words and stories stir ideas that challenge my thinking. The diverse set of ideas and views that come to the table each week add an important dimension to the learning. We have a great group of people each with their unique perspectives that help us all gain insights and stimulate our collective thinking. The time we’re together zooms by because it’s interactive and always interesting, and we have fun as a group.

Getting to know the bible is important, here’s your opportunity to learn in a fun, structured way that will challenge you. So when Ingrid starts planting seeds to inspire you to sign up, instead of trying to rationalize why you can’t afford the time I urge you to stop thinking and act: mark your calendar and go to the first session – and the second and the third. Nothing ventured, nothing gained—you have nothing to lose and everything to gain.