GROUP STUDIES 2019

THE PERSON OF JESUS

In our study of the person of Jesus this month, we’ll look in depth at a few important concepts about Jesus life and work here on Earth. Many studies focus on His teaching, but in this study we’ll consider Jesus’ nature alone. He was human and divine. ! We’ll also consider Jesus as a member of the Trinity. How does His work compare to what the Father and Holy Spirit do? This month we’ll take a look at what scripture says about Jesus to learn more about the nature of our great savior.

CHRIST IN THE O.T.

Testament. If you’ve read the Gospels before, you may have noticed that Jesus often quoted the Old Testament. We can get a better grasp on the weight and sacrifice that would later be made by Christ to save us from our sins and provide hope to the world. All of this can change the way we interact with the Word and the Lord- hopefully bring a new depth to our faith.

TABERNACLE

This study looks at a very different scheme of worship than what we are probablyused to today. But the central concept of worship for the one true God is timeless. We’ll see through the differences what worship and
dedication to God is all about in this study of the Tabernacle.

NUMBERS

In this study, we will explore the major symbolic numbers in scripture. These numbers reinforce God’s sovereignty, control over human history, and our belief in his continued purpose for our lives.

 

EGALITARIANISM

This month’s study may not feel particularly spiritual, but it is nonetheless important to understand what God is saying to His people. In that most churches consist of a majority of women, it is of the utmost importance that God’s people understand how men and women relate to each other in the church.

 

POSTURES OF WORSHIP

Worship is a many-splendored thing, but we often find ourselves exclusively favoring one expression of worship over a cornucopia of
others. What might happen if we stepped out of our regular worship routine and flexed our postures of worship muscles? In this month’s study we will explore a handful of expressions, explore their history, try some out, and maybe even find ourselves getting a bit more comfortable with a few of those lesser practiced postures of worship.

 

PRAYER

This month, we will be focusing on prayer and the importance of making this practice part of our everyday lives, and not just a task that we feel we are obligated to do. To pray wholeheartedly and effectively, we
must understand what the Bible says about prayer and what it means as a believer. Prayer allows us to experience God’s authority, comfort, devotion and love as we dive deeper into exercising our faith through this powerful form of communication with the ultimate Creator.

 

FIRE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

Our Redwood Group topic for this month is Fire of the Holy Spirit. The Bible uses symbolism and the use of elements like wind and fire to describe the different ways that God moves in our lives. This month we’ll be looking at a phrase commonly heard in the church: Fire of the Holy Spirit. The Salvation Army flag even uses the color “yellow” to represent it. It’s common enough that it’s worth it study it and find out what it really means.

SANTIFICATION

Sanctification is the process of being made holy. Scripture talks about how God makes us holy and it encourages us to live a holy life for God. But this is not a term we hear in everyday life. It’s a Christian, spiritual term. So what exactly does it mean to be holy?  Many words lose aspects of their meaning over time and take on new meaning as language and use changes. It’s far better to look to the uses of the term in scripture to see just what it means to be “holy unto the Lord.”

Lent

Traditionally the season of begins on Ash Wednesday which is 40 days before Easter in the spring of each year. This day is symbolized, particularly in Catholic Churches, by smearing ashes on one’s forehead. This marks the beginning of a period of fasting and repenting for one’s sins. It is traditional during the 40 days to give up foods made from fat or give up eating all together. In the month we’ll look at the concept of lent and how it can fit in your walk with Jesus. 

Sin

The Bible is a very old book. The process of writing and compiling it involved many authors, ranging from kings to peasants, and a timespan of over a millennium. The amount of effort and sacrifice by the numerous individuals involved in preserving and translating these texts is astounding. And now all of that laborious effort rests in the palm of your hands. So, what do you do with it? How do you understand it? This month we’re going to start you on a path towards a deeper understanding of The Bible. We’re going to learn how to discern it’s meaning and why, after thousands of years, it can change your life.

A Study of the Bible

The Bible is a very old book. The process of writing and compiling it involved many authors, ranging from kings to peasants, and a timespan of over a millennium. The amount of effort and sacrifice by the numerous individuals involved in preserving and translating these texts is astounding. And now all of that laborious effort rests in the palm of your hands. So, what do you do with it? How do you understand it? This month we’re going to start you on a path towards a deeper understanding of The Bible. We’re going to learn how to discern it’s meaning and why, after thousands of years, it can change your life.