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Disciple Bible Studies
Disciple Bible Studies are 34-week
programs developed by the United Methodist Church "to equip
the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body
of Christ." (Ephesians 4:12) These Bible studies help participants
strengthen their faith and guide them into service and
ministry. The Disciple Bible Studies:
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 Deepen faith
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Vitalize worship
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Activate leadership
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Encourage stewardship
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Create fellowship
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Transform lives
Bethany offers several
Disciples Bible Study groups. Each group of 12 meets once a
week, from September through May, for two hours at a time.
Groups study both the Old and New Testament, connecting the
scriptures to tell the story of God's people. Daily Bible
reading, daily prayer and attendance at the weekly meetings
are important commitments for Bible study participants.
Adults may participate in
Disciple II, III, IV, and Jesus in the Gospels upon completion of Disciple I.
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Disciple 1, “Becoming Disciples Through
Bible Study,” is an overview of the
Bible from beginning to end. Requires about
30-40 minutes of reading per day and a
two-and-a-half hour class once a week.
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Disciple 2, “Into the Word, Into the
World,” is a study of Genesis, Exodus, Luke
and Acts that challenges and prepares
participants to bring faith into everyday
life in new ways. Emphasizing the practice
of spiritual disciplines, it encourages
participants to demonstrate to others,
through daily relationships, how being a
Christian has made a difference in their
life.
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Disciple 3, “Remember Who You Are,”
focuses on the prophets and the letters of
Paul, bringing a clearer understanding of
the messages in both. Weaving together
several biblical themes – the command to
remember, the call to repentance and the
need for renewed vision – this study calls
participants to confront the questions of
the prophets and Paul: What are life’s
priorities? What are society’s priorities?
What does God require of His people?
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Disciple 4, “Under the Tree of Life,”
concludes the first four phases of Disciple
Bible Study with the Writings (Old Testament
books not in the Torah or the Prophets); the
Gospel of John; John 1, 2 and 3; James; Jude
and Revelation. It emphasizes the Psalms as
a way of praying, the wisdom teachings as a
way of living and the book of Revelation as
a way to worship God in hope and victory.
Click here to register or contact the
Rev. Marty Canaday with your questions about
these Disciple Bible Study groups.
Disciple Bible Study Registration Form
Christian Believer Bible Study
Jesus challenges
each of us to love the Lord our God with heart,
soul, mind, and strength. Christian Believer is
a 30-week study of theology through which
participants learn the central teachings of the
Christian faith as they have
 been
professed and taught by the church throughout
the ages. Each week, participants spend
significant time at home studying scripture and
classic statements of Christian doctrine related
to a particular theological topic – topics like
revelation, providence, grace, atonement and
resurrection. In addition, they gather as a
group for a two-hour weekly meeting for
discussion.
This is a demanding
study requiring a lot from participants. But it
also gives a lot. It is among the most
intellectually and spiritually enriching
experiences of theological education currently
available in the local church setting.
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