Advent Lutheran Church

Adult Education/Small Groups/Bible Studies

Adult Faith Classes are small groups focused on learning the basics of the Christian faith as expressed in the Lutheran tradition. Small Groups Studies focus on a particular area of interest, including relationship building and interaction. Small Group experiences in Spiritual Formation focus on attending to the experience of God in our daily lives. Bible Study Classes focus on a book of the Bible or a specific theme revealed through Scripture. Advent Lutheran Church offers many opportunities for Christian Education throughout the week.

For more information about the any of the Adult Education classes being offered at this time, contact the Faith Development chairperson at faith@advent-lutheran.org or call the church office at 408-799-3551. If you have an idea for a future faith class or study, please print and fill out the Application for Adult Education Learning Opportunity Form form. This form can be submitted to the church office.

Study of the Gospel of John
Sunday morning 9:40 –10:25 AM          Berkland Fellowship Hall       led by Allen Siverson.

Faith Journeys for Adults
Wednesdays, 7:00 – 8:30 PM
How does someone with spiritual questions explore the life of faith? How does someone new to faith grow in life in Christ? Faith Journeys for adults are weekly small group gatherings to reflect together on the Sunday scriptures, sermon, and worship as well as our lives. Faith Journeys is a simple, authentic and non-pressured way of growing in life in Christ in the company of others and it is for people at every stage of their walk in faith. No experience is necessary!
Drop-ins are welcome. Please call Tom Dunham at 846-4542 or Virginia McQueen at 683-2633 for more information; if child care would be helpful to you; or if you cannot come on Wednesday evenings but would like to be a part of a Faith Journeys group at another time.

Tuesday Morning Bible Study
Please join us on Tuesday Mornings at 10:00 AM for Bible study. Starting March 15, for he next three weeks we will be viewing and discussing three sessions on "How Lutherans Interpret the Bible." Session 1 is 'Determining right from Wrong.' Session 2 is "Many Meanings of the Bible.' The last session is entitled, ' Devotional Bible Reading.' We welcome you for any and all of these sessions which also includes lively discussions.

Mary and Martha Circle
Women's Bible Study
2nd Wednesday of month
10:00 AM - 12 noon in Berkland Fellowship Hall

Women’s Spirituality Circle
Thursday mornings, 10 AM - noon.
The Women’s Spirituality Circle is starting a new study the first week of March. Ursula King’s book “Christian Mystics, Their Lives and Legacies throughout the Ages” will be the topic of study. Please call Sherry in the office if you have any questions or are interested in joining the group.

Men's Fellowship
Saturday mornings 7:30 AM in Berkland Fellowship Hall
A friendly group of men meet for breakfast each Saturday to discuss spirtiual concerns. All are welcome.

Discovery Class
Discovery Class is for all who want to discover what Lutheran Christians believe, and why. Participants will be provided with resources for discovering the Christian faith and transparency and openness about our tradition. Along the way, participants will be invited to explore their own beliefs. Most Discovery Classes are made up of a mix of new Christians, seekers who wish to know more about the Christian faith and Lutheran Church, longtime Christians of other denominations, and longtime Lutherans who are new to our congregation or wanting to renew their understanding of our church's teachings. Those who attend are free to participate at the level, which is comfortable for them. Those who participate in this class may then decide whether or not they wish to become members of this congregation. This class also serves as preparation for Baptism or Affirmation of Faith for adults. For more on our faith in the Living God, see What We Believe and Statements of Faith

The Pastor leads a Discovery Class twice each year (a September-November class and a winter/spring class). Each class consists of nine sessions that meet on Sunday from 9:30 AM until 10:30 PM in Room 2 (the South Youth Room). If you have any questions about membership or would like to be a part of a Discovery Class, please contact Pastor Anita Warner at pastorw@advent-lutheran.org.

The following topics are explored in the Discovery Class:

  1. Introducing the process of inquiry. What is the mission of this congregation? What is the church? How did the church begin? What is a disciple? What are the Creeds? How did the church develop over the centuries?
  2. Who was Martin Luther and what reforms did he bring to the church? How did the churches split into so many different denominations? What is a Lutheran Christian? How do the Ten Commandments function in our lives? What do we mean by confession and forgiveness, justification by grace through faith, sanctification?
  3. What is the Bible? How did it come to be in the form we now use? How do we interpret the Bible in light of Christ? What do we mean by the authority of scripture? What are some concrete ways in which can we grow as Christians through our hearing and reading the scriptures?
  4. What is Christian worship? What is liturgy? Why do we practice worship in the form of the liturgy? What do we mean by sacraments, and what is our understanding of Baptism and Holy Communion?
  5. What is prayer? What are some different practices of prayer we can use individually and with others?
  6. How do we stay on the path of discipleship? How can small groups assist us in our life of faith? What different kinds of small groups are possible? How can we respectfully and authentically share our faith with others?