Adult Bible Studies Summer 2020 Student

Adult Bible Studies Summer 2020 Student

Author: Robert P Gardner

Publisher: Cokesbury

Published: 2020-04-21

Total Pages: 151

ISBN-13: 1501869388

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

Beginning with the summer quarter, the focal Bible passages will again appear in print in both the student and teacher books. We will mostly use the Common English Bible (CEB) version of the text, while sometimes including the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) when it will better help students engage and appreciate the biblical texts. Summer Theme: Community This summer, our lessons support the theme of "Community." The writer of the student book lessons is Robert Gardner; the teacher book writer is Martha Myre. A New Thing Spiritual Practice - Study Scripture - Deuteronomy 8:1-10 | 1 Kings 18:20-39 | 2 Kings 22:8-20 | Hosea 1:2-11 If you look at the texts of this unit in the sequence they are laid out over the four lessons, it may not be immediately apparent why the unit theme is "A New Thing.” While Lesson 1 presents God';s charge to ancient Israel to keep the commandments, Lessons 2 and 3 focus on incidents brought about by the people failing to keep the commandments, and Lesson 3 adds the note of divine judgment. It's only when we get to Lesson 4 that the new creation theme emerges. But after the journey the first three lessons takes us through, the need for a fresh start is obvious, and the message of restoration that God announces through Hosea is most welcome. A New People Scripture - Jeremiah 23:1-8 | Daniel 1:8-17 | Daniel 3:19-30 |Nehemiah 9:9-17, 32-33 Spiritual Practice - Prayer While the Lord invites all to be people of God, the Old Testament is essentially the story of God's dealings with a specific group of people, the Israelites. The four lessons of this unit give us an opportunity to look at some key stories related to those dealings: God and the remnant, the community's connection to God, God's care for the people in a time of great stress, and how God's love for the people continued despite their unfaithfulness. All these stories have applications to us today, but we begin to learn about God's ways through biblical stories about God and the Israelites. A New Way of Life Scripture - Luke 19:1-10 | John 4:7-30, 39-42 | Luke 10:25-37 | Matthew 15:21-28 | Mark 5:1-20 Spiritual Practice - Hospitality The Bible passages in the five lessons of this unit are all intended to enlarge our understanding of the word neighbor. Four of the five are incidents that directly involve Jesus, and the fifth is a parable Jesus told expressly to show what it means to be a neighbor, the parable we call the parable of the good Samaritan. All these passages are important, for they elucidate Jesus' summary statement of one of the two most important commandments: "You must love your neighbor as you love yourself" (Matthew 22:39). Published quarterly, each week's student book lesson features focal Bible passages, reliable and relevant biblical explanation and application, and more. Now, in response to feedback, we are introducing new features and benefits for students including: Larger size font making text easy to read. A comprehensive Bible study plan with more flexibility in terms of Scripture selection and topics. Observation of the church seasons, including Advent and Lent. Suggestions for developing spiritual practices (prayer, confession, worship, mindfulness, solitude, community, hospitality, neighboring, service, and celebration). Visit AdultBibleStudies.com and sign up for the FREE weekly newsletter to automatically receive the FREE Current Events Supplement and other information about these resources and more!


Adult Bible Studies Summer 2020 Teacher

Adult Bible Studies Summer 2020 Teacher

Author: Gary Thompson

Publisher: Cokesbury

Published: 2020-04-21

Total Pages: 290

ISBN-13: 1501869418

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

Beginning with the summer quarter, the focal Bible passages will again appear in print in both the student and teacher books. We will mostly use the Common English Bible (CEB) version of the text, while sometimes including the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) when it will better help students engage and appreciate the biblical texts. Summer Theme: Community This summer, our lessons support the theme of "Community." The writer of the student book lessons is Robert Gardner; the teacher book writer is Martha Myre. A New Thing Spiritual Practice - Study Scripture - Deuteronomy 8:1-10 | 1 Kings 18:20-39 | 2 Kings 22:8-20 | Hosea 1:2-11 If you look at the texts of this unit in the sequence they are laid out over the four lessons, it may not be immediately apparent why the unit theme is "A New Thing.” While Lesson 1 presents God's charge to ancient Israel to keep the commandments, Lessons 2 and 3 focus on incidents brought about by the people failing to keep the commandments, and Lesson 3 adds the note of divine judgment. It's only when we get to Lesson 4 that the new creation theme emerges. But after the journey the first three lessons takes us through, the need for a fresh start is obvious, and the message of restoration that God announces through Hosea is most welcome. A New People Scripture - Jeremiah 23:1-8 | Daniel 1:8-17 | Daniel 3:19-30 |Nehemiah 9:9-17, 32-33 Spiritual Practice - Prayer While the Lord invites all to be people of God, the Old Testament is essentially the story of God's dealings with a specific group of people, the Israelites. The four lessons of this unit give us an opportunity to look at some key stories related to those dealings: God and the remnant, the community's connection to God, God's care for the people in a time of great stress, and how God's love for the people continued despite their unfaithfulness. All these stories have applications to us today, but we begin to learn about God's ways through biblical stories about God and the Israelites. A New Way of Life Scripture - Luke 19:1-10 | John 4:7-30, 39-42 | Luke 10:25-37 | Matthew 15:21-28 | Mark 5:1-20 Spiritual Practice - Hospitality The Bible passages in the five lessons of this unit are all intended to enlarge our understanding of the word neighbor. Four of the five are incidents that directly involve Jesus, and the fifth is a parable Jesus told expressly to show what it means to be a neighbor, the parable we call the parable of the good Samaritan. All these passages are important, for they elucidate Jesus' summary statement of one of the two most important commandments: "You must love your neighbor as you love yourself" (Matthew 22:39). Both supplementary and complementary to the Adult Bible Studies student book, the teacher book provides small-group leaders, teachers, and facilitators with additional biblical background and exposition and suggestions for guiding group discussion. Now, in response to feedback, we are introducing new features and benefits for teachers, and their students including: A comprehensive Bible study plan with more flexibility in terms of Scripture selection and topics. Additional information, as well as suggestions, designed to help leaders and facilitators lead with confidence. Observation of the church seasons, including Advent and Lent. Suggestions for developing spiritual practices (prayer, confession, worship, mindfulness, solitude, community, hospitality, neighboring, service, and celebration). Visit AdultBibleStudies.com and sign up for the FREE weekly newsletter to automatically receive the FREE Current Events Supplement and other information about these resources and more!


Adult Bible Studies Spring 2020 Student

Adult Bible Studies Spring 2020 Student

Author: Randy Cross

Publisher: Cokesbury

Published: 2020-01-21

Total Pages: 132

ISBN-13: 1501869337

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

Spring Theme: Life This spring, our lessons support the theme of "Life." The writer of the student book lessons is Randy Cross; the teacher book writer is Taylor Mills. Wilderness Spiritual Practice - Fasting Scripture - Genesis 3:8-24 | Matthew 26:36-46 | Numbers 21:4-9 | Matthew 4:1-11 | 2 Kings 25:8-21 Suffering is a reality of life, and this unit takes us to five places in Scripture where suffering is a dominant theme: an Old Testament garden story and a New Testament garden story, an Old Testament wilderness story and a New Testament wilderness story, and the exile of the people of Judah. We examine these stories, not to wallow in misery, but to understand them as context for hope and salvation. Salvation Scripture - Mark 15:22-39 | Matthew 28:1-10 | Haggai 2:1-9 | Mark 1:1-8 Spiritual Practice - Generosity Suffering, the theme connecting the lessons in our first unit this quarter, is not the end of our story when God is involved with us. Thus, this second unit is about salvation. Over its four lessons, we will look at the new start for the people of Judah represented by the rebuilding of the Temple in Haggai's time and the new start for humankind announced by John the Baptist and accomplished through the death and resurrection of Jesus, —new starts made possible by God's initiative. Grace Scripture - Revelation 22:1-5 | Genesis 3:21; 4:10-16 | Exodus 16:2-15 | Luke 23:32-33, 39-43 | Acts 2:1-21 Spiritual Practice - Service The first unit in this quarter began with the expulsion from the garden of Eden, the loss of paradise. With this unit, in Lesson 10, we see the Bible's prophecy of the return to paradise, the kingdom of God, made possible by God's grace. The other four lessons of this unit identify points in Scripture at which God's grace was also operative, reminding us that grace is an ongoing force in life for the faithful today as well. Published quarterly, each week's student book lesson features key verses, reliable and relevant biblical explanation and application, and more. Now, in response to feedback, we are introducing new features and benefits for students including: Larger size font making text easy to read. A comprehensive Bible study plan with more flexibility in terms of Scripture selection and topics. Observation of the church seasons, including Advent and Lent. Suggestions for developing spiritual practices (prayer, confession, worship, mindfulness, solitude, community, hospitality, neighboring, service, and celebration). Visit AdultBibleStudies.com and sign up for the FREE weekly newsletter to automatically receive the FREE Current Events Supplement and other information about these resources and more!


Adult Bible Studies Summer 2021 Student

Adult Bible Studies Summer 2021 Student

Author: Michelle J. Morris

Publisher: Cokesbury

Published: 2021-04-20

Total Pages: 136

ISBN-13: 1501895346

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

The three units of Bible lessons in this quarter unify around the theme, Respond. The lessons move through various responses people of faith are called to make as they live out their faith in both good times and difficult ones. Unit 1: Intended for Good The Genesis story of Joseph and his brothers is one of the great stories from the Bible, with forgiveness and grace among its underlying themes. As the story stretches over several chapters of Genesis, the four weeks of this unit give us ample time to explore it and see how the meaning of its events changed as Joseph recognized God at work behind the scenes. Scriptures: Genesis 37:5-28; Genesis 39:1-21; Genesis 41:1-16, 25-32; Genesis 45:1-15 Spiritual Practice: Forgiveness Unit 2: The People Next Door “Neighbor” is an important theme in both the Old and New Testaments, and so this four-lesson unit delves into it from several perspectives. The first lesson (Lesson 5 in this quarter) gathers various verses from Proverbs on that topic. The second lesson, using a passage from the book of Ruth, invites us to think about what it means to be a neighbor to immigrants. The third lesson looks in the book of Acts for how the early church leaders incorporated neighborliness into the church’s structure. And the fourth lesson takes us to Mark’s Gospel for an example of four individuals who were true neighbors to a man in need. Scriptures: Proverbs 3:27-30; 6:1-5; 25:20-23; Ruth 2:4-16; Acts 6:1-7; Mark 2:1-12 Spiritual Practice: Scripture Unit 3: The Five Stages of Job As suffering in some form comes to most of us at some point (or points) in life, it is useful to consider how Job, who suffered greatly, responded to it, and to learn from his experience. The five lessons of this unit show us five diverse ways Job responded to his calamities: worship, resignation, protest, angry despair, and acceptance. While not suggesting that all of these are useful in every case, the lessons help us recognize what may be going on in our spirits when suffering overtakes us. Scriptures: Job 1:8-20; Job 1:21-22, 2:7-10; Job 19:1-6, 13-19; Job 30:16-23; Job 40:1-5; 41:1-10; 42:1-6 Spiritual Practice: Lament


Adult Bible Studies Summer 2024 Student

Adult Bible Studies Summer 2024 Student

Author: Sue Mink

Publisher: Kingswood Books

Published: 2024-04-09

Total Pages: 99

ISBN-13: 1791027687

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

Grow your faith. Transform your life. Cultivate a deeper relationship with God through Adult Bible Studies. This resource, endorsed by the Curriculum Resources Committee of The United Methodist Church, offers a year-round, weekly Bible study plan for Sunday school classes and other small groups. Each weekly lesson offers background and focal Scriptures, key verses, and doctrinallysound and relevant biblical interpretation and application in a readable font size.Annual plans provide comprehensive coverage of the Bible, special lessons during the church seasons of Advent/Christmas and Lent/Easter, and suggestions for developingspiritual practices such as prayer, worship, community, and service, among manyothers. Adult Bible Studies is a reliable companion and guide for learning and growing in Christian faith. With the help of the Adult Bibles Studies Student Book, and DVD, your group will embrace that it’s not just about learning - it’s about living out biblical teachings. Summer 2024 Theme: Finding Balance This summer, our Bible lessons follow the theme “Finding Balance.” They look at the concepts of work, rest, and celebration from a theological and biblical perspective and challenge us to find a balance among the three. The teacher book writer is Greg Weeks. Visit AdultBibleStudies.com and sign up for the weekly newsletter to automatically receive the FREE Current Events Supplement and other information about these resources and more!


Adult Bible Studies Summer 2023 Student

Adult Bible Studies Summer 2023 Student

Author: Betsy Haas

Publisher: Kingswood Books

Published: 2023-04-11

Total Pages: 107

ISBN-13: 1791020593

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

A comprehensive Bible study plan and spiritual practices to deepen your relationship with God Hundreds of thousands of people each week have transformative encounters with God through Adult Bible Studies—Bible-based, Christ-focused Sunday school lessons and midweek Bible studies endorsed by the Curriculum Resources Committee of The United Methodist Church. Each week’s Student Book lesson lists background Scripture, features key verses, provides reliable and relevant biblical explanation and application, and more in a readable font size that is accessible to everyone. Included to help students go deeper into the lessons are : -A comprehensive Bible study plan with more flexibility in terms of Scripture selection and topics -Observation of the church seasons, including Advent and Lent -Suggestions for developing spiritual practices (prayer, confession, worship, mindfulness, solitude, -community, hospitality, neighboring, service, and celebration) -No printed Scripture text allows you to choose your own Bible translation Additional information about Adult Bible Studies, Summer 2023 Inspired by God This summer, our Bible lessons follow the theme “Inspired by God” and help us look at the careful design of Scripture and the art and poetry through which it touches our hearts and minds. They then move into a consideration of one of Scripture’s most practical categories, wisdom literature, followed by a look at some of Scripture’s heroes, who might surprise us. The writer of the student book is Betsy Haas; the teacher book writer is Stan Purdum. The Rich Literature of the Bible The lessons in this unit look at some of the different kinds of writings we find in Scripture and how God speaks to us through writings such as the Law, the prophets, visions, and the psalms. They invite us to dwell within Scripture’s reality rather than a reality of our own construction. Scriptures: Deuteronomy 28:1-2, 14 | Matthew 5:17-20 | Malachi 2:1-4 | Ezekiel 37:1-10 | Ephesians 2:4-7 | Psalms 51 | Colossians 3:16-17 Spiritual Practice: Study Wisdom Living with wisdom affects how we think, speak, act/behave, relate to God, and relate to others. What constitutes wisdom according to the Bible is not conventional wisdom about how to stay safe and healthy or how to prosper in life. Conventional wisdom tells us not to give aid or comfort to an enemy, whereas biblical wisdom teaches us the opposite. Conventional wisdom tells us to store up our grain in barns for tomorrow, whereas biblical wisdom encourages us to share what we have with those whose need is for today. Scriptures: James 1:2-8 | James 3:1-12 | James 3:13-18| 1 Corinthians 1:10-25 | Ecclesiasters 3:1-8 Spiritual Practice: Guidance | Spiritual Direction Heroes and Anti-Heroes The men and women of the Bible who “save the day” are not the typical heroes of Western mythology. They do not have superhuman powers; they are not mighty warriors; they are not descended from the gods. They are ordinary men and women who use their status and situation to serve God’s purpose or people in need. The people who tradition prefers to make into heroes of kings and warriors frequently disappoint us by using their power to serve themselves. Scriptures: Joshua 2:1-14 | Kings 11:1-13 | Mark 7:24-30 | John 13:21-30 Spiritual Practice: Forgiveness Other Adult Bible Study components, sold separately, include: Teacher/Commentary Kit The Kit includes a Teacher Book and a Concise Commentary that are both supplementary and complementary to the Adult Bible Studies student book The Teacher Book provides small-group leaders, teachers, and facilitators with additional biblical background and exposition, and suggestions for guiding group discussion. Printed with a larger font for ease of reading. Included to help leaders prepare and lead each week: As a comprehensive Bible study plan with more flexibility in terms of Scripture selection and topics. Additional information, as well as suggestions, is designed to help leaders and facilitators lead with confidence. Observation of the church seasons, including Advent and Lent. Suggestions for developing spiritual practices (prayer, confession, worship, mindfulness, solitude, community, hospitality, neighboring, service, and celebration). One font size in the student edition to accommodate all readers. No printed Scripture text allows you to choose your own Bible translation. The Concise Commentary provides biblical commentary for the focal Bible passages used in Adult Bible Studies. Based on the Abingdon Basic Bible Commentary. Printed with a larger font for ease of reading. Included each week are: The focal Bible passages for each Sunday. The unit introductions. Commentary on the focal Bible passages. A pronunciation guide for Bible names and places. DVD/Video Does your group enjoy watching videos as a way to generate conversation around Bible studies? Would your teacher or group facilitator appreciate having the support of video hosts in setting the stage for Bible lessons? Then the Adult Bible Studies is just what you need. Each video, directly corresponding to the content in Adult Bible Studies, features 13 5-minute video segments. On each, one of our three hosts will provide some context for the lesson and then tie that content to personal stories and daily living. Your group can then connect more deeply with the material, draw closer to God, and discover ways to live out biblical teachings. Visit AdultBibleStudies.com and sign up for the weekly newsletter to automatically receive the FREE Current Events Supplement and other information about these resources and more!


Adult Bible Studies Winter 2020-2021 Student

Adult Bible Studies Winter 2020-2021 Student

Author: Taylor W. Mills

Publisher: Cokesbury

Published: 2020-10-20

Total Pages: 139

ISBN-13: 1501895222

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

Winter Theme: Hope This winter, our lessons develop the theme of “Hope.” The writers of the student book lessons are Taylor Mills and Bruce Batchelor-Glader; the teacher book writer is Stan Purdum. The Good News These lessons continue a unit that began with the last Sunday in the fall quarter, encompassing the Sundays of Advent and the first Sunday after Christmas. They call us to consider the Incarnation and what it means that God sent Jesus into the world in human form, as one of us. Thus, the lessons invite us to think about the relationship God wants to have with us and how God’s sending Jesus makes that relationship possible. The Hypocrites and the Holy The lessons in this unit challenge us to examine ourselves in light of the examples we see in the individuals in Scripture. Where do we find instances of hypocrisy or holiness? And how do these tendencies contribute to or diminish our hope? Lesson 5 focuses on John the Baptist, preparing the way for Jesus, the hope of the world. Lesson 6 tells of Jesus commenting on John’s ministry and announcing the good news. Lessons 7 and 8 help us think about how the hope Jesus brought functions in our lives. And Lesson 9 looks toward the ultimate fulfillment of that hope, with the full coming of the kingdom of God. Holy Living This unit embraces all the Sundays of February and March; and, as such, it continues into the next quarter. The eight lessons of the unit invite us to think about what it means to be the people of God and to pursue holy living. The four lessons in this quarter help us look at how we deal with one another; how faith is expressed action; the sort of “fasting” God wants from us (whether or not we abstain from certain foods); and how, in fact, Christians are the temple of God. During this unit, Lent begins, which is an especially appropriate time to think about holiness. Hundreds of thousands of people each week have transformative encounters with God through Adult Bible Studies—Bible-based, Christ-focused Sunday school lessons and midweek Bible studies endorsed by the Curriculum Resources Committee of the The United Methodist Church. In fall 2019, based on feedback from hundreds of readers, we made exciting changes designed to benefit Bible study groups. For 2020, in response to additional feedback, we are reintroducing printed focal Bible passages in both the Student and Teacher books. Lessons follow the church seasons, including Advent and Lent, and include suggestions for developing spiritual practices to help nurture your faith. Published quarterly, each week's Student Book lesson lists background Scripture, features key verses, provides reliable and relevant biblical explanation and application, and more, in a readable font size that is accessible to everyone. Visit AdultBibleStudies.com and sign up for the FREE weekly newsletter to automatically receive the FREE Current Events Supplement and other information about these resources and more!


Adult Bible Studies Winter 2024-2025 Student

Adult Bible Studies Winter 2024-2025 Student

Author: Laura Wittman

Publisher: Kingswood Books

Published: 2024-10-08

Total Pages: 95

ISBN-13: 1791028624

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

Grow your faith. Transform your life. Cultivate a deeper relationship with God through Adult Bible Studies. This resource, endorsed by the Curriculum Resources Committee of The United Methodist Church, offers a year-round, weekly Bible study plan for Sunday school classes and other small groups. Each weekly lesson offers background and focal Scriptures, key verses, and doctrinallysound and relevant biblical interpretation and application in a readable font size. Annual plans provide comprehensive coverage of the Bible, special lessons during the church seasons of Advent/Christmas and Lent/Easter, and suggestions for developingspiritual practices such as prayer, worship, community, and service, among manyothers. Adult Bible Studies is a reliable companion and guide for learning and growing in Christian faith. Winter 2024-2024 Theme: Following Jesus This winter, our Bible lessons follow the theme “Following Jesus.” They encourage us to consider what compels us to follow Jesus, what it means to be part of Jesus’ beloved community, and how we are partners in Jesus’ mission. The writer of the student book is Laura Wittman; the writer of the teacher book is Taylor Mills. Video Hosts are Paula Brousard, Andrew Weitze, and Robin Wilson. With the help of the Adult Bibles Studies Student Book, Teacher/Commentary Kit, andDVD, your group will embrace that it’s not just about learning - it’s about living outbiblical teachings. Visit AdultBibleStudies.com and sign up for the weekly newsletter to automatically receive the FREE Current Events Supplement and other information about these resources and more!


Adult Bible Studies Spring 2020 Teacher

Adult Bible Studies Spring 2020 Teacher

Author: Taylor Mills

Publisher: Cokesbury

Published: 2020-01-21

Total Pages: 276

ISBN-13: 1501869361

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

Spring Theme: Life This spring, our lessons support the theme of "Life." The writer of the student book lessons is Randy Cross; the teacher book writer is Taylor Mills. Wilderness Spiritual Practice - Fasting Scripture - Genesis 3:8-24 | Matthew 26:36-46 | Numbers 21:4-9 | Matthew 4:1-11 | 2 Kings 25:8-21 Suffering is a reality of life, and this unit takes us to five places in Scripture where suffering is a dominant theme: an Old Testament garden story and a New Testament garden story, an Old Testament wilderness story and a New Testament wilderness story, and the exile of the people of Judah. We examine these stories, not to wallow in misery, but to understand them as context for hope and salvation. Salvation Scripture - Mark 15:22-39 | Matthew 28:1-10 | Haggai 2:1-9 | Mark 1:1-8 Spiritual Practice - Generosity Suffering, the theme connecting the lessons in our first unit this quarter, is not the end of our story when God is involved with us. Thus, this second unit is about salvation. Over its four lessons, we will look at the new start for the people of Judah represented by the rebuilding of the Temple in Haggai's time and the new start for humankind announced by John the Baptist and accomplished through the death and resurrection of Jesus, —new starts made possible by God's initiative. Grace Scripture - Revelation 22:1-5 | Genesis 3:21; 4:10-16 | Exodus 16:2-15 | Luke 23:32-33, 39-43 | Acts 2:1-21 Spiritual Practice - Service The first unit in this quarter began with the expulsion from the garden of Eden, the loss of paradise. With this unit, in Lesson 10, we see the Bible's prophecy of the return to paradise, the kingdom of God, made possible by God's grace. The other four lessons of this unit identify points in Scripture at which God's grace was also operative, reminding us that grace is an ongoing force in life for the faithful today as well. Both supplementary and complementary to the Adult Bible Studies student book, the teacher book provides small-group leaders, teachers, and facilitators with additional biblical background and exposition and suggestions for guiding group discussion. Now, in response to feedback, we are introducing new features and benefits for teachers, and their students including: A comprehensive Bible study plan with more flexibility in terms of Scripture selection and topics. Additional information, as well as suggestions, designed to help leaders and facilitators lead with confidence. Observation of the church seasons, including Advent and Lent. Suggestions for developing spiritual practices (prayer, confession, worship, mindfulness, solitude, community, hospitality, neighboring, service, and celebration). Visit AdultBibleStudies.com and sign up for the FREE weekly newsletter to automatically receive the FREE Current Events Supplement and other information about these resources and more!


Adult Bible Studies Teacher Fall 2019

Adult Bible Studies Teacher Fall 2019

Author: Stan Purdum

Publisher: Cokesbury

Published: 2019-07-16

Total Pages: 252

ISBN-13: 1501867598

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

Summer Theme: God Genesis | Exodus | Proverbs | Hebrews | Joshua | Psalms |John Romans | Deuteronomy | Habakkuk | Acts This fall, our lessons focus on God, what it means that we are created in God's image, and what it means to worship God alone. The writer of the student book lessons is Clara Welch; the teacher book writer is Stan Purdum. God, the Creator This unit takes us through texts that help us discern what "Godness" is. The readings from Genesis present the Lord as the divine initiator of the cosmos and as the creator of humankind. The Exodus text reminds us that God is not limited to what we can know of or imagine about God, and that mystery remains part of God's nature. In Lesson 4, we learn about Wisdom as an essential part of who God is. And Lesson 5, invites us to consider Christ's role with God in the world's creation. These lessons encourage us to develop the spiritual practice of mindfulness. In God's Image This unit focuses on the human condition. Lesson 6 recalls the story of the sin of Achan, reminding us of the chasm sin imposes between ourselves and our Creator. Lesson 7 takes us to Psalm 51, which is a prayer that models the nature of penitence that asks God to bridge the breach caused by sin. Lesson 8 lets us hear Jesus talking about being born anew and how that provides entry into the kingdom of God. Lesson 9 takes us to a text in Romans, which enables us to consider what the redeemed life looks like. These lessons help us focus on the spiritual practice of confession. Worship This unit unites around the theme "objects of worship," with "objects" meaning not worship aids, such as candles and paraments, but those things we place ahead of God. In Lesson 10, we look at the first two of the Ten Commandments. Lesson 11 takes us to the story of the gold calf and gives us a chance to think about why we may deliberately choose to worship that which is not God. Lesson 12 reminds us that nothing we worship other than God can impart life. And Lesson 13 invites us to understand that the worship impulse is only satisfied when it is directed toward God. These lessons lead us deeper into the spiritual practice of worship. Both supplementary and complementary to the Adult Bible Studies student book, the teacher book provides small-group leaders, teachers, and facilitators with additional biblical background and exposition and suggestions for guiding group discussion. Now, in response to feedback, we are introducing new features and benefits for teachers, and their students including: A comprehensive Bible study plan with more flexibility in terms of Scripture selection and topics. Additional information, as well as suggestions, designed to help leaders and facilitators lead with confidence. Observation of the church seasons, including Advent and Lent. Suggestions for developing spiritual practices (prayer, confession, worship, mindfulness, solitude, community, hospitality, neighboring, service, and celebration). One font size in the student edition to accommodate all readers. No printed Scripture text allowing you to choose your own Bible translation. Visit AdultBibleStudies.com and sign up for the FREE weekly newsletter to automatically receive the FREE Current Events Supplement and other information about these resources and more!