Bible Studies
Throughout the week, we meet to study the Bible in a variety of settings
and formats:
LIFE (Living In Faith Every day) Groups
LIFE groups meet in members' homes for the purpose of Bible study,
prayer and fellowship.
Sunday Evenings
This group meets twice a month (usually on the first and third Sundays)
at 6:00 p.m. It is taught by Ruling Elder
Art Mosher and meets in either
his home or the home of someone else in the group. The Sunday evening
Bible study group is currently studying the Westminster Larger Catechism
and its application to daily living. We study one question/answer and
its accompanying Scripture during each meeting, then pray, and finally
enjoy a meal and conversation together. The group members enjoy creating
a variety of meal themes and providing a part of the meal. We stay in
contact by email between meetings. Our regular
attendees are all ages and newcomers are welcome anytime. Childcare is
not provided.
Wednesday Evenings
This group meets every Wednesday evening beginning at 7:30 PM. We strive
to follow the model set down in Acts 2:42,"They devoted themselves to
the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread
and to prayer." Therefore, we sing a hymn, listen to a scriptural lesson
taught by one of our group, participate in a season of prayer, and enjoy
a time of fellowship over dessert. On special occasions, we gather
earlier, usually at 6:30 PM to share a potluck meal, fellowship, and a
shorter lesson.
Our principal teacher is Ruling Elder
Wayne Zwart with
Bob Dean and
Ruling Elder Dave Weldon substituting as needed. Currently, Wayne is
teaching through the book of Ephesians.
Our regular attendees range in age from mid-twenties to late sixties.
The average attendance is 18, with room for 22-24. Anyone interested is
welcome to visit. We are a frisky group who enjoy life and growing in
Christ together.
Thursday Evenings
This group meets every Thursday from 7:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at the home
of Ruling Elder John Moad. The group is open to all and childcare
is provided. Our current study is 11 lessons on "Covenant." We will divide up
these lessons into 22 weeks and we will use a video and workbook from
Precept Ministries.
Now is a good time to join us if you are new. If you would like to
order a copy of the work book, contact
John.
Saturday Evenings
The "Southtowners" LIFE group currently meets the 2nd Saturday of every
month for a study of the book of Ephesians. Various members of the
group take turns hosting - usually south of town (check
events each week for
location). We gather at 6:00 for a time of food and fellowship and
each person is asked to bring a drink and a snack. Then the study and
prayer is usually from 7:30-9:00. The group may also meet at other times
of the month for social gatherings or prayer time.
Children are welcome, but no childcare is provided. Parents keep
infants with them while older children watch a movie or play in another
room. Teenagers are encouraged to participate in the study with
the adults (when not helping supervise the little ones).
For more information, contact
Brad Pitzer
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Heartland of Centerville
Every Thursday at 4:00 p.m., SDPC hosts a Bible study at the Nursing
Home/Assisted Living Facility directly across the street from our
building. We meet with residents to share in a time of singing, prayer,
a Bible devotional and fellowship. The leadership of this group is
shared by Bob Dean and Ruling Elder Dave Weldon as well as Jim Tipps,
and Daryl and Geneva Whiting. People of all ages are invited to come and
fellowship with the residents. They especially love children!
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Women's Bible Study
The Women's Bible Study meets every Thursday morning at 9:30 AM at the
home of Dot Weldon (about 5 minutes from our church). Childcare is
provided at the church if you need it (we use a professional childcare
provider called Sitter Connection). Currently, the women in our group
are engaged in an enriching and in-depth study of Paul's letter to the
Galatians. We are about 15 in number and vary in age from 25 to 75—a
truly intergenerational Bible study group.
Our group follows the model of the first-century church as described in
Acts 2:42 ("They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the
fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.") in that we sing a
hymn, listen to a scriptural lesson taught by one of our group,
participate in a season of prayer, and enjoy a time of fellowship. We
start off the study with a hymn that ties in with the lesson. Dot gives
background on the author of the hymn as well as the scriptural basis of
the hymn. We then move into the lesson which is taken from Dr. Tim
Keller's material on Galatians (Dr. Keller is the Pastor of Redeemer
Presbyterian Church in New York City). Our group feels this study has
truly been life-transforming. We close the formal part of the Bible
study at 10:45 AM with prayers for the individual needs in the group,
for the church, and for our country and the world.
Our time is so short and precious that we don't do refreshments.
Instead, we have seasonal brunches and lunches.
We meet every week throughout the year including summers. Although it is
a continuing study, we know that there are illnesses, doctor's
appointments, etc., that prevent perfect attendance. We encourage
all to come when they can.
For more information, contact
Dot Weldon.
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Pursuit Ministry
We live in a sex-saturated culture. Through TV, radio, and internet, men
are exposed to and bombarded with highly graphic and enticing images
that will draw their eyes and hearts away from purity and cause
temptations leading to sexual sins. Pornography has become a
multi-billion dollar business causing havoc in our homes and work
places, and damaging our relationships.
The Bible has a lot to say about this issue. Jesus gives a strong
warning to all His disciples concerning their sexual purity. In His
powerful word, Jesus declares, "...but I say to you that everyone who
looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with
her in his heart." (Matthew 5:28) This profound warning focuses on
the true source of sexual immorality, our sinful heart.
God has created men with a keen sense for sexual gratification through
their eyes. This truth of creation combined with our open and
sex-obsessed culture has created a major source of temptation for all
men - even those within the church. Regardless of the time and the age
we live in, the sexual purity standards set by Jesus are absolute and
non-negotiable. As disciples of Christ, we are commended to seek and
pursue godliness and purity with no room for compromise. In the Old
Testament, Job clearly comprehended this standard as captured in Job
31:1 "I have made a covenant with my eyes. How then could I gaze at a
virgin."
To help men to know God's truth regarding this issue and to be obedient
to God's sexual purity commands, the Pursuit Ministry provides a
gathering opportunity for men who are desiring absolute commitment and
obedience to God in their sexuality. This ministry will meet once a week
to study the Bible, follow a book/video curriculum, pray and hold each
other accountable in our walk with Christ. If you are one who struggles
in this area and desires to experience freedom found only in the Gospel
of Christ, consider joining Pursuit Ministry. There's hope and freedom
for those caught within the grips of this destructive habit and it is
only found in Jesus Christ and His atoning death. There is no other name
under heaven by which men are saved but the name above all names, Christ
Jesus.
Although the pursuit of sexual purity is the main focus of this
ministry, the ultimate goal is sanctification and growth in knowledge of
our Great God. As such, various curriculum related to challenges men
face are used to achieve our goal. This group meets at SDPC every
Thursday evening from 7:00-8:30 for a time of study, discussion and
prayer.
for more information, contact
Shahram Parvani
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