3-Week Electives
March 10, 17, & 24
About Electives
The purpose of our electives is to engage and equip the people of our church with the Word for the roles God has given them. The classes survey a variety of doctrines or topics, helping us to grow in our walk with Jesus and in our relationships with each other. We’re eager to dive into these studies with you.
During the adult Electives, children, middle school, and high school students meet according to their grades.
Learn more on the Electives
3-WEEK ELECTIVES
Sundays, March 10, 17, & 24, 11:00 AM
Bridging the Gap:
The Jewish Backgrounds of the New Testament
Overview: As we read our Bibles, we often take for granted the huge historical gap between the Old Testament and the New Testament. We finish our Old Testament reading and turn the page to the New Testament and forget that approximately 400 years of history has taken place. That would be like trying to tell someone about our country without describing any historical event except for the Mayflower voyage! When we start reading the New Testament there is the sudden appearance of new groups and traditions that were completely absent in the Old Testament. This elective will survey the history between the testaments, the Jewish history and culture of Jesus and the apostles, and the eventual destruction of the temple in 70 A.D. Join us as we navigate these events to better understand the historical context of the first century readers and hearers so we can read our New Testament with fresh eyes into the world of our Lord’s first coming!
Teacher: Mark Centers
Week 1: Intertestamental History
Week 2: Jewish Background of the New Testament
Week 3: Birth of the Church and the Birth of Rabbinic Judaism in 70 A.D.
Disciple Making:
Investing in Followers of Christ
Overview: There are many things that the 21st century church has put on the “back-burner” when it comes to church practice, but one that stands out amongst others is discipleship. It seems lately the emphasis has turned solely to evangelism. Some will go out and knock on doors, lead altar calls, pray prayers, report baptism numbers, and then…nothing. New believers are left to fend for themselves with an enemy that is seeking to devour them. When we read Jesus’ command in Matthew 28, he doesn’t tell us to “make converts”, he tells us to “make disciples.” Join us for this class as we examine the Scriptural witness on leading new believers in discipleship and our church’s role in the process so that we may produce workers for God’s kingdom for his glory!
Teacher: Jim Knauss
Week 1: What is a “disciple” and why make them?
Week 2: The process for making disciples
Week 3: Scriptural witness to making disciples and the church’s role
Reading for Joy:
Joel
Overview: We serve a covenant making and covenant keeping God who will have his “day”, the Day of the Lord. But what do a plague of locust and an attacking army have to do with this? We will see the themes of judgment, repentance, and restoration in clear view of God’s plan for His people. Joel will open to us a fresh look on God’s redemptive plan as we ourselves anticipate the Day of the Lord. Join us as we read and discuss the book of Joel in its three chapters over the course of these three weeks.
Teacher: Kevin Johnson
Week 1: Introduction to Joel & the COMA Method; Joel 1
Week 2: The Doctrine of Scripture; Joel 2
Week 3: Reading the Bible One to One: Joel 3
The Sign of Baptism
Ephesians
Overview: Our Lord Jesus commanded disciples to be baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Baptism is a beautiful, public profession of one’s faith in the Gospel and their inclusion in the Church. It’s also the way the church publicly identifies the disciples she makes in obedience to Jesus. If you have believed in Jesus and need to be baptized—or if you just want to learn more about what we believe about baptism—this baptism class is for you. In this class we will answer three questions: What is baptism? Who should be baptized? How do we practice baptism at Heritage? You’ll be given helpful resources and spend time with a Heritage pastor to learn about baptism and next steps for getting baptized at Heritage. Contact Pastor Trent at trent@heritagegvl.com with any questions.
Teacher: Trent Hunter
Week 1: What is baptism?
Week 2: Who should be baptized?
Week 3: How do we practice baptism at Heritage?
