Winter 2011 Electives

January 8 through March 11
The Winter Electives will meet weekly with the following exception:

• February 19, Christian Scholar Series with Scot McKnight speaking on The Jesus Gospel: The Original Good News Revisited at 10:05 in the sanctuary

STUDYING THE BIBLE

A GREAT AND TERRIBLE LOVE
by Mark Galli
Facilitator: Nevin Dourte
Room Room S8&10
What is God like? This is perhaps the longest and most important conversation held by the human race! What kind of God do we need? Perhaps we need one with a "love so great" that it listens with empathy and offers an embrace that says it's ok to be a "miserable sinner." And then we need one that exhibits a "terrible love; one that causes great fear and alarm, one extremely formidable."
Some of the attributes of God are:

• Immutable (unchanging)-so why bother to make requests of Him?
• Omnipotent (limitless power)-so why does He allow such evil in the world?
• Omniscient (all knowing)-so does this negate our free will?
• Everlasting (above and outside of time)-so how does He relate to my finite world?
• Radiant Light (Glory)-but he is also a "consuming fire"

These along with other attributes of God show us the mystery and complexity of God and draws us to a place of reverence and awe as we understand just a little more of what we struggle to comprehend.

PUTTING AWAY CHILDISH THINGS
by David Seamands
Facilitator: Steve Ginder
Room Sanctuary
When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. 1 Corinthians 13:11-12 (NIV)
Seamands writes, "We all have childish behavior patterns that hold us back from reaching spiritual and emotional maturity and hinders our growing up in Christ. God can reprogram those old ways and lead you into Christian adulthood. But first, you must decide to be done with the childish ways." The lessons of this elective will focus on our everyday struggle in the battle of living a Christ-like lifestyle in a post modern society. We will use Seamands as a springboard to identifying timeless biblical principles that are applicable for living in the 21st century.

CHRISTIAN THOUGHT

THE JESUS CREED: LOVING GOD, LOVING OTHERS
by Scot McKnight
Facilitator: Kevin Milligan
Room S7&9
You know the greatest commandment, 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength.' You know the one that Jesus made clear to us and added to the first, 'Love others as yourself.' This quarter we will spend time exploring what Scot McKnight has labeled the Jesus Creed, loving God, loving others. In preparation for Scot McKnight's February 19 visit as part of the Christian Scholar Series, our discussions will follow the framework of The Jesus Creed and also explore some of McKnight's other writings.

ENGAGING OUR CULTURE

CURRENT EVENTS DISCUSSION
Facilitator: Ron Grenko
Lounge
We live in a complex and sometimes frightening world. This class will be an open discussion of cultural, socioeconomic, and political events-the stuff we read about every day in the newspaper. We will attempt to understand the events through the lens of scripture and formulate a Christ-like response.

EVERYBODY'S NORMAL 'TIL YOU GET TO KNOW THEM
by John Ortberg
Facilitator: Ling Dinse
Room L33
Who's normal? None of us are! Henri Nouwen once said "Community is the place where the person you least want to live with always lives." How do we as a Christian community "Live in harmony with one another" (Romans 12:16a) with our sins and quirks? In Everybody's Normal 'Til You Get to Know Them, Ortberg shares profound insights in creating and sustaining relationships. He reveals the benefits of authenticity, encourages us to trade the stones it's so easy to cast at others for acceptance, and opens our eyes and heart to empathy. Ortberg also takes us through the ins and outs of conflict, forgiveness, confrontation, inclusion, and gratitude.

MINISTRY IN ACTION

COMING TOGETHER FOR PRAYER
Facilitator: Ronda Toews
Room S5
God invites us with outstretched arms to meet with him, to come home-to pray. Join in lifting up our church body, our community, and God's church around the world through prayer. We pray for each other, for the world at large, and everything in between. It is simplicity and mystery entwined, but there is no better place to be than communing with God through Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. So whether you consider your prayer life to be rich and mature or in its infancy, you will find a home here.
May you now, by the power of the Holy Spirit,
receive the spirit of prayer.
May it become, in the name of Jesus Christ,
the most precious occupation of your life.
And may the God of all peace strengthen you, bless you,
and give you joy. Amen.
A prayer from Richard Foster's book, Prayer: Finding the Heart's True Home.

COLLEGE & CAREER/YOUNG ADULTS
Facilitators: Nick Ressler & Neil Messick
Room L34
We will be discussing Scot McKnight's blog in preparation for his visit to EBIC in February.

EXPERIENCING EBIC
Facilitator: Steve Lane
Room S14
Why do we do what we do at this church? What beliefs, values, and practices form the core of EBIC? This elective will seek to answer these questions and also encourage us in our faith. While this elective is a requirement for membership, people new to the congregation are welcome to attend even if you are not sure you want to become a member. People who have been around EBIC are also welcome to attend.