Christian Believer Class

[contriteheart]

For those of you who didn't see my plug for the UMC's Christian Believer class because my post was buried somewhere way down in the thread about WP, I thought I'd repost it here. This is a GREAT class!

If you haven't taken the Christian Believer class at your church (if they offer it), RUN, DON'T WALK to sign up for it! It is BY FAR the best class I have ever taken - and I don't say that lightly. Lots of thought-provoking readings from the Bible and a broad spectrum of Christian theologians and early church Fathers; a wonderful format with great readings, good videos and awesome class discussion; and it doesn't insult your intelligence - it's challenging and thought-provoking. I can't recommend it highly enough, especially for folks who enjoy digging a little deeper. The readings are well-chosen, and run the gamut - just a few examples include Justin Martyr, Ignatius, Martin Luther, Juliann of Norwich, John Calvin, John Wesley, Vatican II and the World Council of Churches documents, Martin Luther King, Jr., and many more - both ancient and modern.

The video moderator for the course is well-known church historian and author Justo Gonzalez, but each week there is a short presentation about the topic by a theologian, pastor, or college professor of varying Christian denominations. We've had the whole spectrum of denominations represented in these talks - from Baptist to Orthodox. The focus is on the classical doctrines common to the Christian faith, however, the material definitely has a unique Wesleyan flavor.

[contriteheart]

Has anyone else taken this class? What did you think?

[GraceSeeker]

Has anyone else taken this class? What did you think?

I haven't, but after reading your post I would be very interested in obtaining materials to offer it. Can you tell me if it is a set curriculum or was it something that your pastor pulled together on his/her own?

[contriteheart]

It's part of the Disciple Bible Study series. You can get more info (though it's brief) here:

http://www.cokesbury.com/forms/dynamiccontent.aspx?pageid=212&id=17

There are small, hard to see links at the top right that talk about the materials, training seminars, FAQ's, etc.

This class is infinitely better than the description on the Cokesbury site looks. I don't think I mentioned it above, but it's a 30 week class, and each participant is expected to do quite a bit of assigned outside preparation for each class.

[contriteheart]

GraceSeeker, if you have any questions about it, please feel free to ask. I'll do my best to tell you what I know.

[contriteheart]

Ooh, I found a great link if you want to see a sample of one of the lessons! They have lesson 13 posted online here:

http://www.cokesbury.com/images/disciple/downloads/ChristianBelieverSampleLesson13.pdf

It's about 26 pages, so if you don't absorb things well (like me) online, I would suggest printing it.

So that you can kind of make sense of what you're looking at there, there are three basic things there. Each participant has two books - the Study Guide, which each week has a short intro, the assignments you are to complete (with space to write your notes), and then a long summary of the chapter (which is usually assignment 6).

The second book contains the assigned extra-biblical readings.

Finally, they display the leader's guide for that lesson.

I just glanced at it, but I saw that they also included in this sample the general introduction to the course, and the instructions for doing the lessons.

Hope this helps.

[GraceSeeker]

Thanks. That was helpful to see.

[contriteheart]

You're very welcome. Does it still look like something you'd be interested in?

[GraceSeeker]

You're very welcome. Does it still look like something you'd be interested in?

At the moment it looks overwhelming.

[contriteheart]

It's truly not as overwhelming as it seems. The class is two hours long, but what they said about having 45 minutes a day of preparation is much more than what it takes me. I usually spend about 20-25 minutes per day on the lessons, 6 days per week. Sometimes, I do several lessons in one day. Sometimes, my husband and I even do them all on the Sunday before our Monday lesson! :) It usually takes about 1 1/2 to 2 hours to do all six weekly lessons in a single sitting.

If I didn't know about the class and I had first seen the materials in that pdf format, I would have thought it looked really overwhelming, too! :)

Really, though, all you are talking about is one or two short scripture passages, and one or two readings (of one to two paragraphs each) of supplmental material per day. On day 6. you read that long summary of the lesson - and there is no other assignment for that day.

Maybe, try printing and doing that one lesson. The first lesson always takes much longer because you have to read the introduction and instructions and figure out what you're supposed to be doing - and you're just not familiar with the format. But I think if you were to actually try doing one, you might not find it nearly as overwhelming as it looks.

Plus, when you have couple of well-organized, bound books (as this has) instead of a bunch of sheets of paper, to me it seems less overwhelming. I remember our first lesson. The books hadn't come in yet, and we had to use photocopies. It felt very different to me - somewhat difficult to make heads or tails of. Then, when the books came in, it all seemed much easier.

My husband is not a big reader, nor does he particulary enjoy theological discussion they way I do, but he has really, really enjoyed this class, too. Ditto the two elderly ladies in our class. It's not an easy study, but it's not so difficult that most people can't successfuuly do it and get quite a bit out of it.

[GraceSeeker]

I'm not talking about as a student. I'm talking about it being overwhelming as a teacher, and perhaps overwhelming of our program as a church.

I'm looking for something that is non-threatening enough that more than just a handful from the congregation will commit to it. If I offered this next fall, and had 5 people show and interest, it looks involved enough that it would prevent me from offering another option for the rest of the congregation. And that's a pretty high cost. Especially since the study I choose this year was one that produce that type of response. I don't think I want to do that two years in a row.

[contriteheart]

I'm not talking about as a student. I'm talking about it being overwhelming as a teacher, and perhaps overwhelming of our program as a church.

I'm looking for something that is non-threatening enough that more than just a handful from the congregation will commit to it. If I offered this next fall, and had 5 people show and interest, it looks involved enough that it would prevent me from offering another option for the rest of the congregation. And that's a pretty high cost. Especially since the study I choose this year was one that produce that type of response. I don't think I want to do that two years in a row.
Got it. Just out of curiousity...what type of things are you wanting to teach your congregation at this time? Is this for Sunday school or a night-time congregational study?

[Redheadedstepchild]

Our church offers it. It's actually a pretty popular study, though it is intense. I couldn't take it this year because of DH's work schedule, but maybe it's an option for next year. The people who take it come out of it with a very solid understanding of the Bible...I think it covers around 80% in detail.

[Redheadedstepchild]

Is it possible you are thinking of Disciple I? It's part of the same series, but it's a study of solely the scripture. That's the one in the series that they say covers about 80% of the Bible. I hear the work for that one is pretty intense, too. I guess it would have to be, given that you actually read about 3/4 of the Bible in a 30 week class! :)


You are probably right. But, we actually offer both. In our church you have to go through disciple I before doing Christian Believer. (I think)

[contriteheart]

Our church offers it. It's actually a pretty popular study, though it is intense. I couldn't take it this year because of DH's work schedule, but maybe it's an option for next year. The people who take it come out of it with a very solid understanding of the Bible...I think it covers around 80% in detail.

Is it possible you are thinking of Disciple I? It's part of the same series, but it's a study of solely the scripture. That's the one in the series that they say covers about 80% of the Bible. I hear the work for that one is pretty intense, too. I guess it would have to be, given that you actually read about 3/4 of the Bible in a 30 week class! :)

[contriteheart]

That's weird - our post orders got messed up! Your reply to me now comes before what I originally posted.

You're right - it is usually suggested (or sometimes required) that you take Disciple I before Christian Believer.

[cristianna]

I've never heard of it, but I think it sounds great.

[Redheadedstepchild]

Here is some info about the Disciple series:

Disciple Bible Studies include:

Disciple I : Becoming Disciples through Bible Study
A 34-week study that moves through the biblical study from Creation to the New Jerusalem.
Disciple I covers reading approximately 80% of the Bible with a goal of developing biblically
nourished persons committed to live as disciples. It is recommended that this study be
completed first.

Disciple II : Into the Word Into the World
A 32-week study focusing on Genesis, Exodus, Luke and Acts for graduates of Disciple I:
Becoming Disciples through Bible Study. This study emphasizes the rhythm of coming to God
and going to God, of being in the Word and in the world individually and corporately.

Disciple III : Remember Who You Are
A 32-week study of The Prophets and The Letters of Paul for graduates of Disciple I: Becoming
Disciples through Bible Study. It calls clergy and laity to disciplined Bible study that will
result in a ministering community nourished by Scripture.

Disciple IV : Under the Tree of Life
A 32-week study of Old Testament Writings and the Gospel of John - 1,2,3 John; James; Jude; and
Revelation for graduates of Disciple I: Becoming Disciples through Bible Study. It continues
to call clergy and laity to serious, disciplined Bible study that will result in development of
biblically nourished servant-leaders.


*** Christian Believer Bible Study ***

This is a study of the beliefs of the Christian faith; it integrates Bible Study and Christian
doctrine. As a participant in the study, you will explore both the Scriptures and the teachings
of the church shaped from those Scriptures. Read the testimony of God’s Word and the creeds and
confessions of the church. Learn the contents of Christian doctrine with fellow believers as
well as with scores of believers from across the ages - Augustine, Hildegard, Calvin, Luther,
Wesley, & Georgia Harkness


Christian Believer begins with disciplined daily reading of Scripture and of the writing of early
and modern church leaders. Learning this content of faith results in faithful understanding of
the teachings of Christianity and leads to weekly group discussion on the relation of Scripture,
beliefs, and daily living.


*** Jesus in the Gospels ***

This study differs somewhat from the Disciple bible study, for it looks more closely at the
Gospel text. It focuses on the portraits of Jesus found in the four Gospels through the writers
distinctive angle of vision. Each Gospel's way of presenting Jesus and his significance reflects
the writers view of Jesus and events. Daily individual study and weekly group study involves
the use of three components - the Bible, the study manual, and the Gospel Comparisons manual.
Jesus in the Gospels is a 30 week study that will stimulate thoughtful reflection each week on
the question "Do You Want to Become His Disciple, Too?"

[Moriah_Conquering_Wind]

Thinks the church we visited have these same classes, Disciple I-IV and Christian Believer (saw on their web site). It would be nice to do these with its fiance, hoping he gets an interest in that ... :prayer: