Adult Education
Typically, Christ the King offers classes for adults and college students every Sunday morning. The topics of these classes reflect the desire of the church to equip its members with a better understanding of God’s Word. Classes generally run between six and twelve weeks and have no formal membership. You are welcome to drop in for one class or stay for an entire series.
Adult Education classes are being held in-person in the Social hall on Sunday mornings at 9:15am.
Classes
Adult Ed Class: Supporting our Youth as a Church Family
This is not a parenting class, but instead a discussion on what it means when we take the vow during infant baptism to “as a congregation undertake the responsibility of assisting the parents in the Christian nurture of this child.” The presenters will share their experiences as families with younger and older children of various abilities, people of color, one Christian parent, and growing up at Christ the King Church. We hope this will help spur discussion on how we can better serve the youth of our church in their Christian nurture.
Adult Ed Class: Surprised by Hope
The world needs Hope. The Church needs Hope. You need Hope. N.T. Wright’s exciting book on the resurrection and future hope — Surprised by Hope — is being offered in a 6-week video series about the sure hope of the resurrection. Come and be encouraged.
Adult Ed Class: A Praying Life
Jesus knew how to pray. The disciples asked, "Lord teach us to pray." We say prayers. But, do we know how to pray? Come join a discussion on how we might pray better using selected topics from Paul Miller’s A Praying Life.
Adult Ed Class: Life Together
How can a book written 75 years ago in Germany on the eve of the Second World War benefit the church today? All believers, like those in our study in Nehemiah and the persecuted German Christians in 1942 have a similar challenge: when in exile, you need to learn to live together. We in Cambridge are not persecuted like these groups, but we are in a type of exile, lonely, out of place, strangers in a far-off land. Life Together by Dietrich Bonhoeffer shows us the way forward on how best to enjoy life together, in rebuilding, in revival in 5 short chapters. Join us in surveying this beautifully written essay on the church in Life Together.
Calling all poets! For two weeks we will explore the craft and culture of Christian poetry and analyze a few classic poems to learn how poetry can capture the imagination and ennoble the heart. Poetry is the common denominator of the Bible and can enrich the life of contemplation and praise. After a primer, we will examine the poetry of Herbert, Vaughan, and Christina Rossetti. God is the Poet Laureate of the Universe speaking to us in echos that defy normal speech. Class will be in-person in the Social Hall with a Zoom option.
Join CTK elder and practicing architect Greg Russell (and members of the CTK building committee on June 5) for a discussion of ecclesial architecture and our building at 99 Prospect Street. How important is the space in which you worship to the worship of God? We'll use contemporary questions to probe ecclesial architecture of the recent and long ago past to discuss the role architectural expression has in faith and worship/ Starting with, “Should there be ecclesial architecture at all?” and "Why are New England churches white?" and then getting to particular questions about our building on 99 Prospect Street like, "What is brick repointing and why does it cost so much and take so long?" this class will be a primarily visual exploration of the deep and practical issues surrounding the design and execution of ecclesial architecture. Class will be led in person in the fellowship hall with a visual presentation that will be shared on the zoom link.
“The LORD watches over the sojourners; he upholds the widow and the fatherless.” (Ps 146) Such was Ruth, the foreigner. In a day of turmoil, what is the Christian attitude to the foreigner? Remember, when we were strangers to God (foreigners), Christ bought us back, redeemed us. In a 4–5-week survey of The Book of Ruth, we will learn how God redeems the hopeless and turns ordinary lives into the extraordinary. Class will be in-person in the Social Hall with a Zoom option. If you have any questions, please contact laura@ctkcambridge.org.
Interested in learning more about CTK? Want to consider becoming a member? Please attend our online Discovering CTK class starting on March 6th. The class will run for six weeks on Sunday mornings from 9-9:45a on Zoom. You can register for the class here. If you have any questions, please contact laura@ctkcambridge.org.
Adult Education Class: For January and February, we are going to go through Dane Ortlund's book, How Does God Change Us? This is one of the best explorations of how we grow as followers of Jesus.
In the Adult education class, we have been pursuing the themes of Micah 6:8 - act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly. During the summer, we went through Michael Card's wonderful study on Hesed. (mercy) Morgan Crago has been leading us through an insightful study of racism in the Presbyterian Church. Beginning October 3, we will use Tim Keller's book Generous Justice to pursue what it means to act justly.
In continuation of our study of hesed, or God’s lovingkindness, and in preparation for our subsequent study on the theme of God’s justice, the Adult Ed class will be going through a 2-week study of US Presbyterian history, focusing on the history of our tradition’s response to issues of justice, particularly in the area of race and ethnicity. The class will look at teachings about race in the 20th century southern Presbyterian church, the role of African Americans in these churches, the cultural forces at play in the formation of the PCA in the 1970s, and more recent 21st-century denominational statements about race and corporate repentance.
We are studying the word Hesed ( mercy ) using Michael Card's book, Inexpressible: Hesed and the Mystery of God's Lovingkindness. Twice, Jesus quotes Hosea 6:6 in Matthew 9:13 and 12:7. Please note Jesus desires hesed. He wants us to receive mercy, love mercy, and give mercy. This study will take us deep into the heart of the Trinity. Jesus, our good shepherd, is pursuing us today with His goodness and hesed.
Starting on February 14, the elders and others will be team-teaching a class on Christ in the Psalms via Zoom. They’ll be exploring some of the traditional messianic psalms, as well as questions raised by the psalmist that can only be answered in Christ. Come and see the promised Savior in the songbook and prayer book of scripture.
Our Only Comfort: A Study of The Heidelberg Catechism
Since its publication in 1563, the Heidelberg Catechism has become one of the most widely circulated books in the world, and it’s not hard to see why. Alongside its clear presentation of Christian doctrine, it’s truly beloved for its pastoral spirit and its emphasis on the tremendous consolation and encouragement to be found in the gospel. This will be an excellent opportunity to learn and be refreshed - come join the discussion! We recommend that you purchase Kevin DeYoung’s excellent guide to the Catechism, The Good News We Almost Forgot.
Worship—the heart of faith and the Christian life—changes and transforms us. Children need to worship just as much as adults do. With that in view, Nathan Carter and Dana Russell will be teaching a two-week Adult Education class online on March 29 & April 5 via Zoom at 8-9pm that will consider how parents may start or strengthen the practice of family worship in the home.
Church in the time of Coronavirus: The church is called to serve God in worship, one another in nurture, and the world in witness. What do these things look like in our current situation? How is God building his church and bringing his kingdom in this disorienting time of adversity? Join a series of interactive Zoom calls led by Nathan Barczi for a time of teaching and discussion, Sundays from 7:30-8:30pm, beginning Sunday, March 29.
Flood and Cup, Sword and Stone, Flame and Tree: Images of Salvation Through Judgment in Scripture.
Water can drown or cleanse; fire can consume or purify; we find our greatest blessing at the foot of a cursed tree. From November 10 through the Advent season, come join us as we explore symbols of salvation through the judgment of a God who brings his people through flood and flame (Isaiah 43).
When You Pray: "Words fail to explain how necessary prayer is,” wrote John Calvin, and the Heidelberg Catechism calls prayer “the chief part of thankfulness.” And yet, nearly all Christians struggle to pray. Join us for six weeks in April and May during Adult Education to explore the nature, the necessity, and the riches of prayer. Each week we will set aside some time to pray together, using the Lord’s prayer as our model.
Dealing with Sin in the Church: How do we deal with sin? What do repentance, forgiveness, and reconciliation look like practically? How do we confront sin? And what comfort do we have amid so much failure? Join us for a 6-week exploration of these challenging subjects.
Join us for the current Adult Ed class: What is Covenant Theology? Covenants hold the Bible together and help us interpret it more clearly, and the implications of a covenantal approach reach deep into our theology and life as a church. Taught by Jeremy Mullen, Nathan Barczi, and Kelly Sawyer.
In the Beginning: A study of Genesis 1-12. Here at CTK we make frequent reference to the early chapters of the Bible - the stories of creation, life in the Garden of Eden, the Fall, the Flood. Why are these early chapters so fundamental to our faith? What do they tell us about ourselves? What do they reveal about God? We’ll spend six weeks giving them a close read and exploring these questions.
This summer Christ the King will be taking a close look at complex social, political, and ethical issues, seeking to apply the wisdom of Scripture to the uncertainties of our lives. The class will be taught by our pastoral staff and members of the church. All are invited; if you have any questions, please email nathan@ctkcambridge.org.
On Thursday, April 26th Simon Oliver joined us at CTK Cambridge to give a talk entitled "Creation, Modernity, and Public Theology," discussing questions raised in his new book Creation: A Guide for the Perplexed. Dr. Oliver argued that shifts in the understanding of God, creation, and science that took place in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries have rendered the notion of “creation” unintelligible, and have given rise to scientism - the view that the natural sciences are the only means of accessing truth. He explored how a recovery of the doctrine of creation bears relevance for many of today’s cultural concerns. Dr. Oliver is Professor of Theology and Canon Theologian at Durham, UK.
Nathan Carter is teaching a class on Selflessness. A sad reality of human life after the fall is our deep self-orientation. As the Holy Spirit works in the life of a Christian, what does it look like to have that self-orientation changed? What makes a journey towards selflessness difficult? We will think through these questions and others with guidance from the stories and teachings of Scripture. We will touch on issues such as service, relationships, prayer, evangelism, and self-control.
Nathan Barczi is teaching a class developing a biblical and theological understanding of what it means to be human, exploring how complex issues of identity, desire, and vocation are drawn together and addressed in the Christian doctrines of the trinity, creation, incarnation, resurrection, the church, and the image of God.
What does an 18th-century debate in Scotland have to do with us? In the Whole Christ, Sinclair Ferguson revisits the Marrow Controversy to illuminate the relationship of law and gospel.
This class explores the historical background and theological touchstones of the Reformation - and why it still matters 500 years on.