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Fall New DISCIPLE Bible Study Small Groups

 

Planning is underway for continued expansion of this congregational ministry of small-group, intensive Bible study that is intended to be transformational, not just informational. The objective of this world-wide interdenominational program is for regular, in-depth study of Scripture, designed to develop biblically nourished persons committed to discipleship, to become the foundation for all congregational ministry. The promise is that all who come to Scripture allowing it to have its say will, with the aid of the Holy Spirit, experience a power that changes priorities and redirects lives. DISCIPLE guides people in individual and small-group Bible study that requires covenanted commitment to the group and openness to being changed by God’s Word. DISCIPLE spreads through the congregation, as some graduates become facilitators of other groups. That’s what is happening here!

At least one new DISCIPLE group will delve into the foundational study, “Becoming Disciples Through Bible Study,” which covers the broad sweep of Old and New Testament in 34 weekly sessions, September to mid-June. The weekly group session includes a DVD, class discussion, small group work, sharing of joys and concerns, sharing of insights and questions from daily individual study and supplemental information. The content relates Scripture to our individual and corporate Christian lives and is appropriate both for persons with little or great familiarity with the Bible. This study will be facilitated by LaVerne Campbell and Gail Axtell, and there are slots for up to 12 others. They are willing to lead either a daytime or evening group, whichever suits most participants. Facilitators will be sought to lead another beginning group, if there is participant interest.

Another group, composed of graduates from the past three years of basic study, will be engaged in a second-generation study of “Jesus in the Gospels.” This group will be facilitated by ‘Len Brown and David Wilkinson. The DISCIPLE steering group is also looking for new members from among DISCIPLE graduates. This group meets occasionally to provide support and publicity, arrange fellowship events to bring different DISCIPLE groups together, assist with logistical matters, and envision ways to integrate the program into the life of the church.

The nature and power of this experience cannot be fully conveyed here. If you have any interest at all, please fill out the interest form (click here to download, or pick one up in the church office) and watch for announcements of short "Q and A" opportunities during the summer. The principal organizational meeting for DISCIPLE 1, “Becoming Disciples Through Bible Study,” will be Sunday, August 16, at 11:15 a.m. in Room 22. At that time the program will be further explained and a weekly meeting time selected. Both that group, plus the “Jesus and the Gospels,” whose organizational meeting will be announced soon, will begin the week of September 13-19. Whether or not you can attend the organizational meetings, please talk to any of us about DISCIPLE and prayerfully consider these opportunities.

Contacts: Director of Christian Education Carroll Bastian (clbastian@gmail.com); Group Facilitators LaVerne Campbell (lcampbell@voa.org), Gail Axtell (gailaxtell@hotmail.com), ‘Len Brown (lenobrown@hotmail.com), and David Wilkinson (HizKid@aol.com); steering group member Les Dorland (ldorland@fairfaxwater.org), or other DISCIPLE veterans.

2008-2009 DISCIPLE 1 group: Gail Axtell (facilitator), LaVerne Campbell (facilitator), Deborah Alberth, Kathy Breen, Mary Glenn and John Mancini, Barbara Mason, Jim Raba, Karen and Michael Werner, and Ginger Wilkinson.

2008-2009 Jesus in the Gospels group: ’Len Brown (facilitator), Carroll Bastian (facilitator), Debbie Burgener, LaVerne Campbell, Susan Davies, Les Dorland, Diane DuCharm, Sue Jelinski, Duane and George Moore, Doug Reas, and David Wilkinson.

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