Oakdale Emory - United Methodist Church
Our Mission: "To make and empower disciples for Jesus Christ"
Disciple Bible Study
Disciple is a series of Bible studies focused on developing and nourishing persons as believers, followers, proclaimers and servants of Jesus Christ, while providing the fellowship of a small group for study, prayer and support.
Disciple aims at transformation, not just information, and calls on persons to submit themselves to examination by Scripture, to put themselves under the power of God's Word, and to be changed by God's Word. The study gives the Old and New Testaments equal time, emphasizing the wholeness of the Bible as the revelation of God and draws on the work of scholars to aid understanding.
These studies require the following commitment in terms of preparation, presence and participation: In addition to individual daily Bible and study-guide reading, participants meet together in weekly sessions, which include insights from biblical scholars through video, and small-group discussion.
Below is a list of courses to be offered during the upcoming year (September 2008 thru June 2009. For more information, contact Rev. DaeHwa Park, dpark@oeumc.org, 301-774-2030, ext. 12. To register, send an e-mail to disciple@oeumc.org.
Disciple 1: "Becoming Disciples Through Bible Study" classes on Wednesday mornings with Mary-West Ensor & Susie Rentz; and on Monday (7-9pm) and Wednesday evenings (6:30-8:30pm) with Terri Rostkowski-Carter
Disciple 1 for Spanish Friends on (day to be determined) with Clara Trimmer & Luis Franco
Disciple 3: "Remember Who You Are" on Tuesday mornings with Tricia Congdon or Thursday evenings with Nancy Holland
Disciple Graduate: Review Human Conditions and Marks of Discipleship on Thursday evenings with Ken Hart
Youth Disciple - day and leader to be determined
Short-Term Disciple: Introduction to the Old Testament on Monday evenings with Jim Holland
Christian Believer: "Core Values of Christian Faith throughout Church History" on (day to be determined) with Jim Holland & Vern Schinski
Jesus in the Gospels classes on Monday evenings and Thursday mornings with Rev. DaeHwa Park
Disciple 1: Becoming Disciples Through Bible Study
"Becoming Disciples Through Bible Study" is an overview of the entire Bible that gives equal time to the Old and New Testaments. This study requires reading large portions of Scripture each week. During the course of 34 weeks, groups will move chronologically through the biblical story from Creation to the New Jerusalem.
Disciple 2: Into the Word, Into the World
"Into the Word, Into the World" encourages persons to open themselves to hearing what God has to say to them through the Bible and to be guided into their particular ministry in the world by Scripture and their study of it. This 32-week study selects specific portions of Scripture and goes deeper into them. Equal attention is given to Old and New Testaments with concentration on four books: Genesis, Exodus, Luke and Acts.
Disciple 3: Remember Who You Are
The driving idea in this study is the connection between memory and identity as the people of God--both individually and as community. Participants in this 32-week study will read the major and minor Old Testament prophets (with the exception of Daniel), and will read the 13 letters traditionally attributed to Paul.
Disciple 4: Under the Tree of Life
The Hebrew version of the Old Testament has three divisions: Torah (the first five books of the Bible), the Prophets, and the Writings. This 32-week study concentrates on the Writings--Ruth; 1 and 2 Chronicles; Ezra; Nehemiah; Esther; Job; Psalms; Proverbs; Ecclesiastes; Song of Solomon; Lamentations; and Daniel. New Testment Scriptures include the Gospel of John; 1, 2 and 3 John; James; Jude; and Revelation.
Disciple Short-Term Bible Studies
These eight- to 11-week in-depth studies are modeled after the basic design of Disciple Bible study. While they are intended to make these life-changing courses easier to be a part of for busy people, participants often find that these studies whet their appetite and serve as a springboard to committing to a longer study. The curriculum includes the following introductory studies: the Old Testament, the New Testament, Genesis, Psalms, John and Romans.
Christian Believer
This 30-week study of the classical doctrines of the Christian faith aims to present, explain and interpret the central teachings of the church and their ties to Scripture. Christian Believer brings in history as it illuminates themes and topics, but it is not a course in church history. Rather, the goal is to gain a sense of the relationship between worship, belief and daily life--which Christians throughout the ages have wrestled with.
Jesus in the Gospels
"Jesus in the Gospels" focuses on the portraits of Jesus found in the four Gospels. This 30-week study differs from the other Disciple studies in its approach to Scripture, looking more closely at the texts. By examining the ways Matthew, Mark, Luke and John present events and teachings related to Jesus, participants gain a deeper understanding of who He is.