When God calls us to Himself, He also calls us into a people. Scripture describes the church as “fellow citizens,”“members of the household of God,” and a “dwelling place for God by the Spirit”. Community is not optional—it is central to the Christian life and God’s plan for the world. Yet for many, it is also one of the most difficult parts of following Jesus. This class will explore the spiritual nature and purpose of Christian community as found in Scripture and offer practical guidance for living it out faithfully in everyday life.

So much comes at us each day that leads to distraction and anxiety. Short bits of information, disjointed and unrelated, fill our minds and tell us what we should run after and what will satisfy. As a result, it’s easy to feel spiritually disoriented, deflated or numb. In Matthew 13:44-46, Jesus’ parables break through all that noise with beautiful simplicity. They reveal the Kingdom of Heaven not as some distant, abstract reality we’re to keep at arm’s length, but as a treasure beyond compare – one that produces delirious joy, wholehearted devotion and glad surrender.

Fasting is a spiritual discipline by which we deny ourselves food for a certain period of time so that we can grow in our dependence on God. Fasting is not about trying to impress God, manipulate him, or make ourselves more acceptable to God. Fasting has been described as, “an intensifier of spiritual desire.” Ultimately the purpose of fasting is to draw near to God. In this class we explore the Biblical purpose of fasting and ways to incorporate this practice into your life.