ELECTIVES

I want someone to like me and, and maybe even one day to be married. I want to have fun and be adventurous. I want to feel good. I want to live a life full of meaning. I want to have friends. I want to be okay with who I am. I want to stop messing up. I want to take care of the world. I mean, who wouldn’t - these are really good things! But these things are too small. You were made for more. In this class we will explore the Bigger, Better Story into which God calls us to live, which helps us to make sense of our longings and gives us a framework to help us think about and approach the good things that we want out of life.

If I were to ask you if you were a Christian, many of you might answer yes. If I were to ask you what you mean by that, what would you say? One student I met with not long ago answered with “I like… believe in God.” Good! That’s a start. But there is more to Christianity than believing in God. After all, Judaism, Hinduism, Islam and countless other religions around the world believe in a God. In “Christianity 101” we won't be having a discussion about religions from around the world, but rather on what it really means to be a Christian. Back to my earlier question, if you aren't sure how you would answer what it means to be called a Christian, this class is for you. If you aren't a christian, or are new to Christianity, or have grown up in the church but have never given your faith any serious thought, this class is for you.

Are you or someone you know struggling with faith or questioning what you believe? Have you wondered if Jesus really loves you? Or if you are really saved? This seminar will explore the heart of Christ towards those who are dealing with doubts and how we can move in love towards those around us who are questioning their faith or salvation.

In 1 Thessalonians 5:17, Paul tells us to "pray without ceasing." Psalm 116:2 tells us that God "inclines his ear" to hear when we call out. Throughout the Bible, God tells us that He wants to hear from us! But for many of us, prayer can be hard. We wonder: 'Is God listening?' 'Does He care?' 'What should I pray about?' 'When do I have time?' Prayer is a gift from God and a way to connect with him. In this elective, we'll dig into what it is and how to form habits of prayer.

Life is pain, highness. And anyone who says differently is selling something.” That line from The Princess Bride speaks great truth.  It is not a secret that suffering exists in this world. Most of us see it every day in some way or another. We see it but we do not know how to process and respond to it. How should Christian’s process and respond to suffering and grief? Does the Bible have anything thing to say about how we should handle suffering and grief? Yes! In this class we will explore together what the Bible says about how God’s people are to respond when they face suffering in this life. We will see that we have a Savior who knows our suffering, grief, and gives us hope.

The purpose of this class is to see and understand the world through the lens of the Bible. A Biblical Worldview helps us answer questions: What does it mean for the Bible to be the foundation for everything we believe? What is Truth and how can we know it? Where does our sense of right and wrong come from? And how do we keep faith in an unbelieving world?

It’s there when you look in the mirror. You’ll find it roaming the halls of your school. It tucks you in at night and greets you as you roll out of bed. You’ll read it and see it on social media. It’s in our conversations and is always rattling around in our minds. What is it? Insecurity. Insecurity is something all humans struggle with. Young and old, male and female, across the globe – insecurity has no boundaries. While it is a commonality among humanity, it doesn’t mean it’s something you have to live with. Insecurity is painful for many, but there is a greater fear to drown out this lesser one. Scripture tells us that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. It is in this greater fear, that we learn how to grow, live, and, possibly defeat, our insecurity.

All relationships are hard.  All of them... with God, family, friends, significant others, employers—anybody and everybody! Why is that? Are relationships even worth the effort and heartache? Join me as we learn about the biblical foundation for relationships, how sin and Christ affect our relationships, and how to practically honor God, foster sustainability, and create resilience in your core life relationships.

Come and spend your mornings this week Meeting Jesus. We will take a look at Jesus’ surprising interactions with many people who were going through the hardest situations they may have ever found themselves in. All of them were overwhelmed and anxious, hurting and sad: they all felt hopeless. Each of them had immense needs and it seemed impossible that they could ever be rescued or delivered from each of their dire situations. But in meeting Jesus, all of these people’s lives were transformed by God’s grace in some of the most unbelievable, powerful, and remarkable ways. The same is true for all of us who have faith in Jesus today. Jesus meets us on our hardest days, and brings about transformation. He gives us a hope that no matter what we are going through in this life that he is with us and for us, and that in the end, no matter what, one way or another, all will be well.

Now that I’m saved, there’s no way for me to lose my salvation, which means it doesn’t really matter whether I grow spiritually. So I don’t need to go to church, and I don’t really have to pray or read the Bible either. Maybe I will… If I feel like it.” Does this accurately reflect the Bible’s teaching on salvation? Or is there something missing? Is sanctification optional? How does it work? Do we participate, and if so, what do we do? Join us as we explore this crucial topic of sanctification: the restoring work of the Holy Spirit, the demolition of sinful patterns, our transformation to become more like Jesus, the process of being saved.