Christian Education
We want to be known as a learning church because we serve a God who invites us to know Him.
SUNDAY SCHOOL
Sunday School is now SATURDAY SCHOOL! | Saturday School conference calls are Saturdays at 9:00 a.m.
DIAL IN: 312-626-6799 | Access Code: 322476888
Winter 2025 – 2026: Enduring Beliefs of the Church
Unit 2: Grace and Reconciliation
Grace and Reconciliation
The apostle Paul teaches that humans are in a state of sin (Romans 3:23). The letter of 1 John expands on this fact, reminding us that no one can claim to be “without sin” (1 John 1:8; see lesson 5). However, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, has become our advocate and the “atoning sacrifice” for sins (2:1–6). Christ’s defeat of sin on the cross introduces us to the gracious gift of new life. We are invited to respond to this gift through repentance, seeking forgiveness for our sins (Acts 2:38–39; see lesson 6).
Our reception of God’s gracious gift of salvation leads us to “walk in the light” of new life (1 John 1:7). We walk in this way as we become disciples of Jesus Christ, following him with obedience, worship, and humility (see lesson 7). The journey of discipleship will not always be easy—the life of the apostle Peter demonstrates the ups and downs of discipleship (see lesson 8)! However, we don’t have to go on this journey alone. In Christ, we are reconciled to God and one another, called into the covenant community: the church.
Lesson 5 Sin and Forgiveness. 1 John 1:5–10; 2:1–6
In his Gospel, the apostle John avoided using his own name, instead identifying himself as the disciple whom Jesus loved (John 19:26; 20:2;21:7). This profound love significantly influenced John’s life and writing. The dozens of uses of the word love found in the Gospel that bears his name exceeds that of the other three Gospels combined!
No one knows exactly when John wrote his Gospel and his three epistles. Our best guess is the latter part of the first century. This places John’s writings several decades after he experienced the love of Jesus personally—an experience he wanted others to accept as true (1 John 1:1–5).
Lesson 6 Repentance and Faith. Luke 15:11–24; Acts 2:38–39
In Luke 15 (see also Lesson Context for Lesson 3), tax collectors and sinners gather to hear Jesus. Nearby, Pharisees—adherents of the Law of Moses and their traditions—murmur their disapproval (compare Mark 7:1–8). This setting underscores the meal-sharing tradition in first-century Judaism as a sign of acceptance (see Mark 2:16; 1 Corinthians 5:9–11; Galatians 2:11–14). Jesus’ use of parables was a teaching method and a profound way to convey spiritual truths. These parables, often simple earthly narratives, were vehicles for deep spiritual meanings. While the exact number of parables Jesus taught is a topic of discussion, it’s widely agreed that he presented at least 30 unique ones. Figurative language, in which “this” stands for “that,” predominates in parables. A failure to recognize figurative language is to repeat the errors of Jesus’ disciples and the Pharisees (Matthew 16:5–12; Mark 7:18; John 10:6; etc.). Acts 2 depicts Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit came and filled believers, causing many to speak in foreign tongues (Acts 2:1–12). In Acts 2:14–39, Peter addresses the Jews gathered to behold this miraculous sight, sharing the good news of Jesus.
Lesson 7 Prayer and Humility. Genesis 18:25–27; Luke 18:9–14; 1 John 5:14–15
The word pray occurs in 348 verses in the Bible in 74 different forms. Today’s lesson takes us into three of those instances. We take care, however, to remember that these three textual segments occur within the broader context of the Bible as a whole. While there are times when prayer is, at best, a waste of time (Jeremiah 7:16; 11:14; 14:11; 1 John 5:16b; etc.) and at worst an improper substitute for action that God is expecting us to take (see Exodus 14:15), in the many circumstances where prayer is an appropriate action, there are various postures we might take, which the passages below depict.
Lesson 8 Call and Growth. Matthew 4:18–20; 16:16–18; John 21:15–18; 2 Peter 3:14–15, 18
Simon Peter was from Bethsaida (John 1:44), a village on the northern shore of the Sea of Galilee. Here, he worked as a fisherman with his brother Andrew (Mark 1:16). Their fishing operation was a partnership with James and John, the sons of Zebedee (Luke 5:10). Peter was married (Mark 1:30; 1 Corinthians 9:5). At some point, Peter, his wife, and at least one other family member moved to Capernaum (Matthew 8:5–14), a town approximately five miles southwest of Bethsaida. The New Testament notes three names for Peter. His Hebrew name is Simon or the variant Simeon (Mark 1:16; Acts 15:14). Later, Jesus calls him Peter, a designation based on an ancient Greek word meaning “rock” or “stone” (Matthew 16:18; Mark 3:16); this is his most frequently occurring name in the New Testament, found over 160 times. The third name is Cephas, an Aramaic word for “stone” (John 1:42; 1 Corinthians 1:12; 3:22; etc.).
BIBLE STUDY
Adult Bible Study | Wednesdays at 7:00 p.m. on Zoom. To join virtual Bible Study please visit Zoom.us and enter Meeting ID: 802 973 031 To join by phone, dial 312-626-6799 and enter Meeting ID: 802-973-031
We all long for a full, rich, satisfying life. But how do we fill up the empty places in our souls? How can we quench our thirst for something deeper, more lasting, more meaningful?
This 13-week study on the second half of John urges you to take a fresh look at Jesus. Here is the opportunity to establish (or renew) your faith in the One who offers true meaning, true belonging, and true life.
This bible study is January 7th – April 1, 2026.
Click title to access lesson.
1. The Son as a Slave (John 13:1-17)
2. A Traitor? Not Me! (John 13:18-38)
3. Comfort for a Troubled Heart (John 14)
4. The Secret of the Vine (John 15:1-11)
5. The Cost of Friendship (John 15:12 – 16:4)
6. Secrets of the Spirit (John 16:5-15)
7. Peace in a Time of Trouble (John 16:16-33)
8. Jesus Prays for Us (John 17)
9. Trial Trust (John 18:1-27)
10. Character Test (John 18:28 – 19:16)
11. Obedient to Death (John 19:17-42)
12. The Son is Up! (John 20)
13. A Walk With a Resurrected Man (John 21)
