Adult Classes | Memorial Park Church

Adult Classes

Adult Class Opportunities

Memorial Park Church places a high value on spiritual growth. Our desire is to meet people where they are in their faith development and to engage them in an intentional discipleship ministry that is both inwardly strong and outwardly focused, moving them to greater maturity in their relationship with Christ. Our purpose is to seek together how we can live out our Christian faith more practically. The goal is not just to inform our minds but to transform our hearts, so that we can look more like Jesus in our thinking, acting and feeling. We offer a new selection of Adult Classes throughout the year in six sessions. Additional classes through our various ministries are also offered throughout the year.
 
Class Sessions
Session 1 September-October (registration begins in late August, classes begin early September)
Session 2 November-December (registration begins in late October, classes begin in early November)
Session 3 January-February (registration begins in late December, classes begin in early January)
Session 4 March-April (registration begins in late February, classes begin in early March)
Session 5 May-June (registration begins in late April, classes begin in early May)
Session 6 July-August (registration begins in late June, classes begin in early July)

Current Class Offerings

Below you will find our current adult class offerings. These classes are held on Sunday mornings during our dedicated Discipleship Hour at 10:10 a.m. Stay after service or come early to engage in one of these classes that will help you grow in your faith.
Going Deeper Through Sermon Study: Philippians/Advent
Begins November 3, Runs for 8 Weeks
Instructor: Jason Scott, Connections Coordinator
This class is designed for those who long to go deeper in their understanding of the Bible. Utilizing the sermon of the week, this class will undertake a more detailed exposition of the scripture text.

Keeping the Faith: Equipping Families for Effective Discipleship
Continues November 3, Runs for 8 Weeks
Instructor: Martha Daniel
Only God, through His Son, Jesus Christ, by the power of the Holy Spirit, can give your child salvation. Each person must make the decision to receive Christ. To put it plainly, you cannot drive your child to heaven, but your actions and daily lifestyle can set up the road signs that point the way. By watching you daily follow Jesus, your child should become very familiar with the Source of your personal transformation, joy, and strength. This class will help you learn how to help your children see God through your words and actions, and to experience how God also blesses children through the family of God, the body of Christ, which includes believing friends, extending the concept of family beyond the walls of our houses, and into our communities and the world. Biological parents, adoptive parents, step-parents, foster parents, godparents, and all caring relatives and friends will benefit from this 16-week study. Optional book for purchase offered in class.
 
Beloved Hymns Revisited: The Story Behind the Song
Begins November 3, Meets weekly for 8 weeks
Instructor: Elder Janey Mather
“Sing them over again to me, Wonderful Words of Life,” wrote Philip Paul Bliss, and we have been singing and praising God with these lyrics for more than 140 years. Gospel music may delight our souls, but often the story behind the actual composition reveals a deeper truth about human pain, unspeakable heartache, and unshakable faith. This class will unravel such experiences of Fanny Crosby (“Blessed Assurance”), John Newton (“Amazing Grace”), Ira D. Sankey (“Under His Wings”), and Charles Wesley (“Jesus, Lover of My Soul”), to name a few. Each week will feature a different lyricist/composer’s background, exploring the historical and spiritual underpinnings of the volumes of work produced by these great Christian warriors. Class time will be devoted to sharing their stories and adding our own connections to their messages. Worshipful singing of these treasured hymns will conclude each discipleship hour: “Beautiful words, wonderful words, Wonderful Words of Life”! All necessary materials will be provided each week.
 
Why I Believe by Dr. Chip Ingram
Begins November 3, Meets weekly for 8 weeks
Instructor: Elder Roger Rumer
Whether you’re exploring faith or a long time believer, if you’re interested in biblical, logical answers to life’s big questions, this may be just the course for you. In Why I Believe, bestselling author and pastor Chip Ingram gives compelling answers to questions about the resurrection of Christ, the evidence of an afterlife, the accuracy and intellectual feasibility of the Bible, the “debate between” creation and evolution, the historicity of Jesus, and more.

Men's Class: Forgotten God by Francis Chan
Begins November 3, Meets weekly for 8 weeks
Instructor: Elder Rick Corliss
Francis Chan reminds us of the true source of the church's power—the Holy Spirit. Chan contends that we've ignored the Spirit for far too long, and that without Him, we operate in our own strength, only accomplishing human-sized results. This class will offer a compelling invitation to understand, embrace, and follow the Holy Spirit's direction in our lives; it is designed to initiate and facilitate discussion, interaction, and practical application of the message of Forgotten God.
 
Effective Discipleship While Persevering in Faith 
Continues November 3, Ongoing
Instructor: Elder Pete Pugliese
This class focuses on the powerful verses found in Thessalonians and related scriptures that will assist us in our growth as disciples of Jesus Christ while we look to live in a way that glorifies God
 
The 1, 2, & 3 Letters of John
Continued November 3, Ongoing
Instructor: Rhea Christopher
This class is an inductive Bible Study of the Letters of John.
Going Deeper Through Sermon Study: James
Begins January 5, Runs for 8 Weeks
Instructor: Rev. Dr. Karen Anderson
This class is designed for those who long to go deeper in their understanding of the Bible. Utilizing the sermon of the week, this class will undertake a more detailed exposition of the scripture text.

Taste & See
Begins January 5, Runs for 8 Weeks
Instructor: Elder Terry McKaveney
Has it ever seemed like God was speaking directly to you when you read the Bible? Lecto Divina, prayerful reading of Scripture, is a contemplative practice that calls us to slow down and listen to what God is saying to each of us personally through his Word. Scripture Passages from the life of Jesus will be the main focus for group practice. Come taste and see!

Register Now
 
EPIC Boot Camp
Begins January 5, Meets weekly for 8 weeks
Instructor: Cathy Pavlock & Chris Fenton
It’s a new year, but are those Christmas bills from last year still looming over your head?  Why not start the year off right by learning how to handle money the way God intends, so that you can live an EPIC life filled with peace and generosity instead of debt and stress.  No materials required, but regular attendance is strongly encouraged.

Register Now
 
 
Men's Class: Romans
Begins January 5, Meets weekly for 8 weeks
Instructor: Elder Corky Semler
The focus of this Men's class is on the latter half of the Letter to the Romans, where Paul gives practical advice about what it means to follow Christ. This class will be a valuable study for all men, but we are giving a special invite to the fathers of our high school students who will be studying the same material in their class. The hope is to promote an opportunity for deeper conversations at home.
 
Effective Discipleship While Persevering in Faith 
Continues November 3, Ongoing
Instructor: Elder Pete Pugliese
This class focuses on the powerful verses found in Thessalonians and related scriptures that will assist us in our growth as disciples of Jesus Christ while we look to live in a way that glorifies God

The 1, 2, & 3 Letters of John
Continued November 3, Ongoing
Instructor: Rhea Christopher
This class is an inductive Bible Study of the Letters of John.

Register Now
 
 
 
Women's Classes
Looking for a weekday class? Take a look at the Women's Ministries offerings for classes like Sunday School on Monday, Women to Women, and Mug & Muffin.
Find a Women's Class

Seniors' Classes
We have class opportunities for our Senior members, too! Take a look at the latest Seniors' Class offerings.
Find a Seniors' Class
 

EPIC Workshop
Join us our monthly workshop that will give you the tools to manage your finances better so that you can live an EPIC life filled with peace, security, and generosity. Each month we bring in outside experts to discuss a wide range of financial concepts that we encounter throughout our lives. Our classes meet the second Saturday of every month at 10:00 a.m. We will be breaking up our classes into two components this year: EPIC Core and EPIC Focus. The EPIC Core will cover basic topics like budgeting while EPIC Focus will cover specialty topics such as retirement, college planning, and more. Core and Focus classes will be offered in alternating months. There is no charge for these classes, but please register so that we can have materials ready for you. Childcare is available, but you MUST register no later than the Monday before the class so that we can schedule adequate staff. For questions, contact Cathy Pavlock at cpavlock@mpcepc.org.

Upcoming dates and topics include:

December 14, EPIC Focus: College Planning
January 11, EPIC Core: Squeezing the Budget
February 8, EPIC Focus: Retirement Planning
March 14, EPIC Core: Introduction to Investing
April 11, EPIC Focus: Legal Documents Everyone Needs
May 9, EPIC Core: Vacation Budgeting
June 13, EPIC Focus: Social Security & Medicare

Register for the next EPIC Workshop

Wednesday Study: The Gospel of Mark
Begins October 16
Meets weekly through November 20
7:00 p.m.
Westminster Hall
Instructor: Rev. Dr. D. Dean Weaver
*Dinner & Childcare options available

Jesus' first words in the Gospel of Mark point us toward what it means to follow the Savior. "The Time has come…the Kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news…Come follow me and I will make you fishers of men." Life, for the follower of Jesus, is a life of the Kingdom! To know Christ is to know His Kingdom. To follow Christ is to be His disciple.

Dinner Schedule:
Each week's dinner is hosted by a ministry and a goodwill offering will be taken at the door to benefit the evening's host. As hosts are scheduled, we will post them here.

October 16: Student IMPACT
October 23: TBD
October 30: TBD
November 6: Missions (to benefit the Kuehl family)
November 13: Senior Ministries
November 20: Women's Ministries (in support of Giving Tree Families)

Register Now