Adult Sunday School - New

This year, things will be changing on Sunday mornings at Stonelaw. We're launching a Sunday School... for adults.

If we are honest, most of us would admit that we're just scratching the surface in our understanding of what our faith is about. We come to church, sing hymns, and listen to a sermon; but how equipped do we feel to explain what we believe and why? If we start to think about the Bible, prayer, what happens after death, or what a Christian response is to the big issue of our day, most of us would have quickly to admit our embarrassing ignorance and confusion. So, how do we address this? It's fine having a few folk meeting in a house or a vestry, but we really need to meet the needs of the whole congregation here, and not just the select few.

Since most of us learned what we do know at Sunday School, we are inviting the entire congregation to return to Sunday School and learn again.

In September 2009, we had a 10 week adult Sunday School. During these weeks, Sunday mornings started at 9.30am with "Adult Sunday School" for one hour, followed by our usual Sunday Service at 11.00.

Well, after that success, we are back from January 24th 2010 with another 10 week block: same times, with a new improved format.

There will be a creche and full children's programme running alongside.

2010 programme

In this new session, running from January to March, we won't be using a DVD, but will have a time of "live" teaching, followed by questions and discussion.

To begin with, we will spend a number of weeks on the topic of "How do we read and understand the Bible?" This will be taught by the minister. We'll be practical, but we'll honestly face some of the difficult questions of how we interpret it in 2010, and whether we can trust it.

In the last part of the session (into March), we'll spend a few weeks looking at issues concerning science and faith. This will be led by Dr. John Liggat who, as well as being one of our elders, is a reader at Strathclyde University.

Beginning at 9.30 am in the main hall and finishing at 10.30 am with a cuppa, this is an opportunity to learn and grow in the Christian faith. And because we want everyone to be free to attend, there is a full children's programme provided, with a creche as well. The adult programme is also suitable for teenagers with a bit of parental support.

Content

January

• 24th Introduction - What is the Bible?
• 31st Because the Bible tells me so? - The Authority of Scripture.

February

• 7th How to understand the Bible (and the difficult bits).
• 14th Did Jonah really swallow that whale?"- the Bible and history.
• 21st Feeding on God's Word - reading the Bible for myself.
• 28th Sunday shops and woman ministers - what's Biblical?

March

• 7th Science and our Faith (Part I)
• 14th Science and our Faith (Part II)
• 21st Science and our Faith (Part II)
• 28th Reading Genesis with Darwin - bringing it all together.