Mid-Week Discipleship

NOTE: In the Fall of 2021, we permanently moved our Sunday Morning Sunday School classes to Wednesday night. We made this decision for many reasons, but the two primary reasons are: (1) It gives us more time to teach and (2) It provided a meaningful opportunity to reconnect with our church family in the middle of the week. We are thankful to the Lord that this has only served to intensify our discipleship efforts as a church.

MID-WEEK DISCIPLESHIP

We believe that every Christian is called and gifted to minister in some capacity (1 Cor 12). Our Mid-Week Discipleship classes meet on Wednesday nights, from 6:00-7:15 PM, and are our attempt to equip our children, teens and adults with the theological grounding, Biblical world-view, and practical skills they need to pursue God, love people, and multiply fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ.

ADULT CLASS: Tactics: a game plan for discussing your Christian convictions

By: Gregory Koukl

Do you find that it’s easy to talk to your non-Christian friends about anything, except your Christian convictions? If so, you are not alone. But why, why is it so hard? Well, on the one hand we live in a world that is increasingly indifferent and antagonistic to Christian truth. And on the other hand, it’s hard because most of us have not been equipped to communicate with those who do not “speak our language” or accept our source of authority.

So, what are we supposed to do? Are we supposed to throw up our hands and give up? Are we supposed to simply trust that God will break into their life? Are we supposed to prepare apologetic responses to every possible challenge? Well, as much as we must trust in God’s providence (Eph 3:2) and always be prepared to give an answer (1 Pet 3:15), we have to learn how to have meaningful conversations with those who don’t believe.

Instead of arming us with answers, Tactics will be arming us with questions. Questions that will help us challenge our unbelieving friends and give us a foundation from which we can have better conversations about our Christian convictions.

CHILDREN’S CLASSES:
Ages 4-7 yrs old (4yrs by Sept.1) Younger class
Ages 8-11 yrs old (8yrs by Sept.1) Middle class

OEFC is excited to announce a new curriculum for ages 4-11 years old!The new curriculum is The Great Commission Publication and its mission is to “help the church’s work of nurturing and equipping the people of God … and doing so with a focus on building Christ’s kingdom and preparing believers to “glorify God and enjoy him forever.” (GCP website)

In addition to this new curriculum, we are excited to add Catechism (Theological Questions and Answers) to all youth classes! Using the New City Catechism, it will be a great opportunity to dive into God’s word, allowing truth to dwell in us richly so that we think and ponder on the Bible as an anchor for our lives. Using the Heidelberg and Westminster Catechisms – the New City Catechism will encourage and give concise biblical questions and answers for our youth and adults to focus on.

MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL CLASS:
Ages 12 -18
This year our youth group will embark on a journey through the book of Philippians to discover the joy that God offers in the midst of life’s difficulties. Philippians’ overarching theme is joy and the Christian life. Throughout the book, Paul drills down into three sources of joy that God gives us today: Joy in our partnerships with other Christians. Joy in our purpose of advancing the kingdom of God. And Joy and our promises of future rewards. All the big questions: Who am I? Why am I here? And where is this all going? get solid answers in the study of this incredible book.
This class will also include the New City Catechism questions and answers.