Open Classes
All participating in Open Classes will meet in the ROC Downstairs prior to heading to class.
Winter Open Class Schedule
SUNDAY MORNINGS | 8:30 AM
December 1-February 23 (No Classes on December 22)
Systematic Theology 2 | G-315
Teachers: Dave Lindey & Charles Uptain
This class puts Christian doctrine in logical order, helping you build a framework for knowing God and His creation.
Two Ways to Live | G-314
Teachers: Duane Haley, Stacey Harrison & Dan Tankersley
This class provides theological foundations and practical applications for faithful Christian evangelism. Two Ways to Live is designed for two purposes: 1) to help solidify the content of the gospel in our own minds, and 2) so that we might go out and share it with others (1 Peter 3:15).
WEDNESDAY EVENINGS | 6:00 PM
December 4 – March 5 (No Classes on December 25 or January 1)
Old Testament 2 | R-308
Teacher: Tommy Perry & Josh Robertson
This class offers a 30,000 ft. view of the books of the Old Testament.
Apologetics | R-300/302
Teachers: Eric Donop & John Stickles
This class explores evidence, logic, and historical context to answer questions or objections about Christian beliefs, practices, and the reliability of biblical texts. This class will equip you to defend and explain the Christian faith.
Grief and Suffering | R-306
Teachers: David Glover & Lynn Forrester
The Christian life involves a tension between suffering and God’s character as revealed in the Bible. Suffering challenges faith but also offers a chance to strengthen it. This life is our last opportunity to please God through a faith that isn’t blind but grounded in His actions and promises. This class aims to build such faith.
Spring Open Class Schedule
SUNDAY MORNINGS | 8:30 AM
Meaningful Membership (March 2, 9,16)
Teachers: Pastor Paul, Dan Tankersley, and Charles Uptain
Location: G-313 (meet in the ROC Lobby)
Description: This required membership class introduces prospective members to 1) what we believe and teach, 2) how we function together as a church, and 3) our church covenant.
Parenting for Life
Teachers: Zach Daniels and Joseph Parden
Location: G-314
Description: Parenting is one of life’s greatest joys and challenges. How can we faithfully raise our children according to God’s Word? Parenting for Life is designed to instruct and encourage parents to bring up their children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. Rather than promoting a specific parenting method, this class focuses on what the Bible teaches about raising children and how to apply it in your home. Each session will include biblical teaching, along with opportunities for discussion and practical application. Join us as we seek to honor God in our parenting!
WEDNESDAY EVENINGS | 6:00 PM
New Testament 1
Teachers: Charles Uptain and Dan Tankersley
Location: R-304
Description: This class offers a 30,000 ft. view of the books of the New Testament.
Missions
Teachers: Tommy Perry
Location: R308
Description: The foundational point of missions is found in the end goal of missions: the worship of God among all peoples. As a local church our God-glorifying, Christ-centered, Spirit-empowered mission task necessitates making disciples and planting churches among all peoples so that our God is worshipped. Come to deepen your understanding of the role of missions and to ignite your passion to live on mission!
Women’s Study: Colossians & Philemon
Teachers: Jamie Perry, Krisan Smith, Becky Kite
Location: R300-302
Description: Colossians & Philemon – In this class, we will behold Christ as supreme and sufficient for all of life. Our goal is to grow in confidence of God’s love and in certainty of our eternal hope so that our lives are marked by fruitfulness and spiritual maturity. We will utilize the Meet Me in the Bible guide to study these books together. Please sign up so we can plan for books and small groups.
We are Baptists
Teacher: Paul Thompson
Location: R-306
Description: This is an 11-week study of 1) Origins: where we came from, 2) Doctrines: what we believe, and 3) Practices: how we organize, worship, and build the kingdom.
FAQs
Why are we adding these classes? The elders are responsible for the teaching of the body, so we all grow up into maturity. (Ephesians 4) We believe open classes enhance our teaching ministry by giving us a venue to teach basic Christian subject matters in a systematic way versus just waiting on those subjects to surface in our expositional preaching and sermon based small group curriculum.
Why are we offering these on Sunday mornings at 8:30? We want to offer these classes when the largest number of our membership could participate. We also hope you will see the value in learning and interacting with members whom you might not know well because they are not in your small group.
Do I need to sign up beforehand? No, anyone who wants to participate can meet in the Sanctuary at 8:30 each Sunday. We will introduce the classes and teachers for that week, and all walk together to the classrooms below the Sanctuary.
Do the classes build on one another? The subjects will flow together, but every class meeting will standalone, and anyone could come any week and jump right in.
What is the format for the open classes? A normal class would include prayer, a moment for the class participants to greet one another and meet new people, a teaching time, a time for questions and/or discussion. This request for questions could be interspersed in the teaching time or come at the end depending on the teacher’s preference.
How can I participate and stay connected to my small group (life group)? We would suggest creativity, flexibility, and open discussion with your group. Here are a few suggestions, but this is surely not a complete list:
Bring some, or all, of your group with you to the class
Continue to connect outside of the 8:30 Sunday morning hour through text groups/phone calls/social events/meals together after church/sitting together in worship or midweek/eating at church before midweek together
Participate in the shorter classes (6-7 weeks long) and then go back to your group for a while
See if your group’s members that choose to participate in open classes want to get together some other time of the week to discuss the sermon and pray
When will we know what will be taught next? The elders are working to produce a schedule of classes. We hope to publish this in March. The schedule would lay out our expectations for the remainder of the year.