Discipleship is a life-long, grace-filled journey, which God promises to guide and empower at every stage and season of our growth. The ultimate goal of discipleship is a fruitful life marked by obedience and love. Centenary strives to offer a variety of discipleship opportunities: Sunday school classes, Wednesday Nite electives, women's Bible studies, men's Bible studies, and small group studies.
The following convictions for adult discipleship represent the core values upon which all of our Sunday school classes and Bible studies are predicated.
Discipleship is a dynamic, life long growth process for believers, commanded by the Scripture. More than any other image, the Bible compares faithful believers to trees or plants that flourish regardless of season, age or circumstance. The obedient disciple is a growing disciple (Psalm 92: 12 15; Jeremiah 17: 5 8; Mark 4:26 28; Colossians 1:21 23; II Peter 1:3 8).
God is the source of our faith and the power behind its development. We understand that faith is a gift from God and that His Holy Spirit guides our spiritual growth. When we surrender to His leadership in our lives, we can count on God to deepen our faith (Proverbs 3:5 6; Romans 12:3; Ephesians 2:8 9; Philippians 1:6, 2:13; I Thessalonians 5:23 24; James 1: 16 18).
God reveals his Truth ultimately through Scripture, which is our authority for believing and living. In a time when society sees truth as relative and authority as a threat to personal rights, Christians acknowledge Scripture as the inspired Word of God and as the lens through which we consider all other sources (Psalm 19: 7 11; Isaiah 45:18 19; II Timothy 3:16 17).
The aim of discipleship is not simply learning biblical information, but experiencing divine transformation; the context for these life changes is a relationship with Jesus. We cannot become more like Jesus on our own, so we submit daily to Jesus' claim as Lord of our lives and discover in that relationship our ultimate role model and our dearest friend. Intimacy with Him through the Holy Spirit is our highest call and deepest desire. (Isaiah 50:10 11; John 15: 1 17; Ephesians 4: 17 24; I Corinthians 2: 6 14; II Corinthians 3: 17 18).
Discipleship is personal, but not private; fellowship with other growing Christians is essential for an authentic faith journey. The biblical pattern of faith maturing and living itself out in community surfaces early in the Old Testament (Deuteronomy 6:4 9), with Jesus and the disciples (John 17:15 19), and again in the early church (Acts 2: 42 47). God intends for us to live out His purposes in relationship with others (Hebrews 10:24 25).
Mature faith reflects the character and conduct of Jesus. Our relationship with Jesus changes everything; over time, the Holy Spirit alters our world view and our lifestyle. As a result, who we are and what we do reflect His nature more thoroughly and more consistently in every area of our lives (Jeremiah 31:33 34; I Corinthians 13; Galatians 5:23 24; I John 2:3 6).
Sunday School: Centenary offers over 50 Sunday School classes each Sunday morning for all age groups at three different times. [More ...]
Wednesday Nights: Centenary's Wednesday Night elective programs offer a number of opportunities for Christian growth and discipleship.
Bible Studies are offered for all ages and groups meeting several days (and nights, and even early mornings) on a weekly basis ... the objective of all of these is to grow the participant in the understanding and application of the Word of God.
Read Through the Bible: The Discipleship Journal Bible Reading Plan first appeared in the Discipleship Journal, ... as Your Appointment with God: Read Through the Bible This Year... It has been copied with their gracious permission. [More ...]
Financial Peace University:This class is designed to help people reach financial peace. [More ...]
