Plans are underway to offer a Lenten Studies Series.  Please vote to select your preference of study series by contacting the church office at 315-331-3895 or e mail NewarkFUMC@gmail.com.

†       Simon Peter: Flawed but Faithful by: Adam Hamilton (4)

o   He left everything to follow his teacher and possessed a passion that would change the world. That’s one way to describe Peter. Here’s another: poor, uneducated, quick-tempered, and full of doubts and fears. Doesn’t even sound like the same man.

And that’s the point of Simon Peter, a new book and six-week adult Bible study by Adam Hamilton. Peter was just an ordinary guy who heard and followed God’s extraordinary call. Discover how you, too, have special gifts, talents, and abilities that God can use to make a difference today.

†       The Difficult Words of Jesus: A Beginner’s Guide to His Most Perplexing Teachings by: Amy-Jill Levine (1)

o   Jesus provided his disciples teachings for how to follow Torah, God’s word; he told them parables to help them discern questions of ethics and of human nature; he offered them beatitudes for comfort and encouragement. But sometimes Jesus spoke words that followers then and now have found difficult. He instructs disciples to hate members of their own families (Luke 14:26), to act as if they were slaves (Matthew 20:27), and to sell their belongings and give to the poor (Luke 18:22). He restricts his mission (Matthew 10:6); he speaks of damnation (Matthew 8:12); he calls Jews the devil’s children (John 8:44).

In The Difficult Words of Jesus, Amy-Jill Levine shows how these difficult teachings would have sounded to the people who first heard them, how have they been understood over time, and how we might interpret them in the context of the Gospel of love and reconciliation.

†       Reading the O.T. Through Jewish Eyes: A Study of the Scriptures Jesus Read by Rabbi Evan Moffice (1)

o   In Reading the Old Testament Through Jewish Eyes, Rabbi Moffic explores the Torah, the first five books of the Hebrew Bible, and highlights points of interest to Christians. He describes the role of the Torah in Jewish worship and practice and explores the key themes of each book guided by the wisdom of Jewish interpreters through the centuries. Join Rabbi Moffic in this study of the Torah and find rich new insights into the biblical story. Discover how the Torah can be a source of wisdom, truth, and transformation in your life.

†       The One: Reaching the Lost with the Love of Christ by Jim and Jennifer Cowart (2)

o   As believers, we are called to share the love and message of Christ with those who don’t know him. We mean to share Christ, we really do. But then we get busy with other things―even as the church! But what if a subtle shift in focus could reignite a passion within you and your church for reaching the lost? What if instead of trying to reach “them” you began to focus on simply reaching “the One”―that person in your life who is far from God and needs to know his love?

This study explores Luke 15, where Jesus tells three stories about rejoicing when lost things are found―specifically, a lost sheep, a lost coin, and two lost sons. First, we will discover that we are “the One” who is dearly loved and sought after by God, and then we will join together in Jesus’s mission to seek after “the One” in our own lives with intentionality, perseverance, and joy. This study is not about taking people on as a project―no one wants that. It’s about rediscovering the heart of God and his passion for going after those who are far from him.

†       1 Corinthians: Searching the Depths of God by Jamie Clark-Soles (2)

o   1 Corinthians is one of the most gripping books in the Bible. In this letter, Paul, the complicated, layered apostle, writes to the people trying a wild new social experiment known as a Christian community. Not unlike the church today, this community dealt with factions, sexual immorality, gender issues, money issues, theological questions, lawsuits, problems in worship, and problems in leadership.

In 1 Corinthians: Searching the Depths of God, Jaime Clark-Soles explores these topics and the awe inspiring, breathtaking world of the first-century church. Examining the teachings of Paul, she addresses church history, the logic of the cross, spiritual gifts, death, afterlife and the resurrection, human sexuality, and the joys and challenges of living in community. Participants will learn to look at 1 Corinthians from a variety of viewpoints and apply its lessons to their own faith.

†       Acts: Awakening to God in Everyday Life by: Melissa Spoelstra (2)

o   Whether it’s because of distractions, busyness, or a case of the blahs, we can experience a drift toward indifference in our spiritual lives. We have a need for an ongoing spiritual awakening if we want to become more aware of God’s presence and activity in our everyday lives.

In Acts: Awakening to God in Everyday Life, a six-week study of the Book of Acts by Melissa Spoelstra, you will journey with the first followers of Jesus and witness the birth and growth of the early church through spiritual awakening to the power of God’s Spirit, message, freedom, grace, mission, and direction.

From their experiences you will learn postures that will help you attune your own spiritual heart to experience God’s presence, hear God’s voice, and see God at work all around.

This study offers a fresh encounter with God to prepare you to:
– Face daily battles
– Be able to discern the messages of our culture
– Be ready to share God’s love with others always

†       Common Ground: Loving Others Despite Our Differences by Amberly Neese (2)

o   Whether it is in politics, the professional world, a party, or a pew, we face conflict every day. As discussions get more heated and social media is deluged with opinion-spewing, hurt feelings, and broken relationships, we need hope and practical tools to navigate the tumultuous waters and live at peace with everyone.

Fortunately, the Scriptures hold the key to living at peace despite our differences. In Common Ground, a four-week Bible study, Amberly Neese combines stories of sibling rivalries from the Bible with personal experience, humor, hope, and her love of God’s Word.

Stories examined from the Old and New Testaments include:

– Joseph and His Brothers: How to Combat Jealousy
– Moses, Miriam, and Aaron: How to Work Together Despite Differences
– Mary, Martha, and Lazarus: How to Appreciate the Contributions of Others
– Rachel and Leah: Having Compassion for the Plight of Others

These stories point us to peace and reconciliation in all our relationships, reassuring us that it is possible to find common ground with everyone―despite our differences.

Women will find biblical and practical help for:

– Facing conflict
– Navigating broken relationships
– Handling heated discussions (in person and on social media)
– Living at peace despite differences

†       Romans: Love in Action by Jada Edwards (2)

o   Romans show us the power of the gospel to bring clarity to everyday life through faith in Christ. By writing Romans, Paul provides a comprehensive overview of God’s plan for salvation and how to live within that amazing plan.

In this eight-session video Bible study (video streaming included), Bible teacher Jada Edwards explores the Apostle Paul’s expression of our faith in his letter to the Christians in Rome and what that gospel-driven faith looks like in practice: how we love people, how we make decisions, how we live in community, and how we foster unity with others.