RLC values Christian education, for adults and children, and considers it to be an essential part of a healthy equipping ministry. We offer Sunday School opportunities for adults and children from 9:30-10:30 am, September through May. Occasionally, we offer summer Bible study opportunities.

Adult Christian Education

Christian Discipleship in an Instant Society

Dates: January 5-February 9
Time: 9:30-10:30 am
Place: Fellowship Hall
Leaders: Bob and Barb Shimmel
Materials: A weekly summary handout will be available. Book can be found on Amazon.

Eugene Peterson’s book, A Long Obedience in the Same Direction, uses the fifteen Songs of Ascent (Psalms 120-134) to provide the text for developing “discipleship in an instant society.” As with the Jewish people who sang, spoke, or prayed these psalms on their trips back to the hilltop city of Jerusalem for their holy days, we will, with the author’s insight, learn how we can still live according to what God wants us to be.

We will review each psalm, understand its scriptural background and purpose, and how it helps us to relate as a Christian in today’s world. For example, the major theme of each will include insights for Christian areas like Worship, Joy, Hope, and Blessings. This series can be an excellent way for each of us to prepare for our journey in the upcoming Lenten season.

Youth Sunday School

Join us for Sunday School from 9:30-10:30 am, September-May! All classes are held in the Family Life Center.

• Pre-Kindergarten in Room 132
• Kindergarten-1st Grade in Room 135
• 2nd-3rd Grade in Room 131
• 4th-5th Grade in Room 133
• 6th-12th Grade in Room 253 (The Warehouse)

Weekly Classes

Monday

Monday Night Women’s Bible Study

Dates: January 6-May 19
Time: 7:00-8:00 pm
Place: Room 151, Family Life Center, and Online via Zoom
Leaders: Jamee Thieme, Sharon Hahne, Dawn Leister
Materials: Meant for Good by Donna Snow

The life story of Joseph is one of the most beloved and chronicled in the Bible. It's a story of broken dreams and impossible circumstances, of family conflict and unfair treatment. It's a story of the power and necessity of letting God's love and forgiveness lead. Joseph's story is the subject of this Bible study from author and popular women's ministry leader Donna Snow.

Zoom group will be available at the same time. Books are available through christianbook.com, cph.org, or Amazon. Amazon also has it available in the Kindle store.

Men's Weekly Study and Fellowship

Dates: January 6 and 13
Time: 7:00-8:15 pm
Place: Room 240, Family Life Center
Leaders: Joe Bastante, Tom Gebbia
Materials: Bring your Bible.

Living a Life of Purpose: Adding Value to Others

In First Thessalonians 5:11, the Apostle Paul instructs, "Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing." As members of
the Body of Christ, we count on one another for mutual growth, support, and love.

In this two-part study, we'll view brief videos by former pastor and best-selling author, John Maxwell. Specifically, we'll watch teachings on adding value to others and serving one another, then discuss the principles together.

No advanced preparation is needed. Bring your Bible in print or electronic form. John Maxwell is known for teaching profound truths in simple terms, so expect relevant and lively discussions.

Dates: January 20-February 17
Time: 7:00-8:15 pm
Place: Room 240, Family Life Center
Leaders: Tom Gebbia
Materials: Will be provided.

Nurturing Your Faith: Patient Urgency by Rev. Dr. Michael Zeigler

When we share Jesus with others, we're eager-urgent even-to speak the Good News. However, we do understand the need for patience in how others receive the Gospel in their lives. In Nurturing Your Faith: Patient Urgency, we will learn via Mark's Gospel about a map, a means, and a model for having healthy spiritual conversations with others.

God's kingdom comes into the world in a variety of ways. In Mark's Gospel, Jesus relates by metaphor how it might be a net thrown, a seed sown, a light shown, or even with a burglar's sudden intrusion. The means by which it comes is God's Word. It alone works the transformation in the hearts of His disciples and those they speak the Gospel to.

Naturally, Christians experience a patient urgency to make Jesus known. But it takes time to build trust with others, and venturing into these kinds of deeper conversations isn't easy. This is where we lean on God to shape our lives and our words to make us authentic representatives of Christ. He will guide conversations and, by the power of the Holy Spirit, draw others unto Himself in faith.

Tuesday

Tuesday Morning Bible Study and Fellowship

Dates: September 3-May 20
Time: 10:30-11:30 am
Place: Fellowship Hall
Leaders: Pastor Jonathan Blanke, Pastor Zach Sarrault, Pastor Alan Shaw

God gives His Word to instruct, guide, and bless our lives. The Scripture lessons in worship offer a menu every week to build up the people of God in faith and hope.

We will study the lessons for the following Sunday, and as we do, we expect that this Word will enrich and edify our community prayer, faith, and servant life in Christ.

Wednesday

Supper and Scripture

Our Wednesday evening activities include dinner, youth events, adult Christian education classes, Confirmation, and music ministry rehearsals.

Check out the full schedule!

Adult Christian Education

Intentional Parenting

Dates: January 8-February 19
Time: 6:00-7:00 pm
Place: Room 240, Family Life Center
Leaders: Pastor Zach Sarrault, Erika Hulse
Materials: Intentional Parenting by Doug and Cathy Fields

Every parent has dreams for their children. As parents, we all start out with the best intentions. Although, at some point, we move from DREAMS to DUCT TAPE and hope that each day everything will just stick together.

Raising kids in today’s culture is a difficult challenge and it requires a plan. Our goal is to grow together in support and community, learning how to be intentional parents, centered on God’s Word. How does God guide us to be the parents He intends us to be? Join us as we wrestle with this question and our calling to be Christian parents!

Men with Kids - The Book of Jonah

Dates: January 8-February 19
Time: 6:30-7:30 pm
Place: Room 247, Family Life Center
Leaders: Group Led, Tom Gebbia

When God’s Purpose Isn’t In Your Plans — The book of Jonah is best known for Jonah’s run-in with a large fish. But there’s much more to the story than Jonah’s three-day stay in a fish’s belly. It’s about God’s grace, compassion, and love — even toward way-ward people — and his commitment to spreading his message around the world.

In this six-session series, Pastor David Platt shows us that God is determined to spread his Word to all the nations of the earth and use his people to do it. The book of Jonah shows us that God desires to transform the hearts of his followers, making them more like him as they carry out his purposes in the world. Join David and get a renewed sense of what it means to orient your life around the mission of God.

Grace-ful Women

Dates: January 8-February 19
Time: 6:30-7:30 pm
Place: Room 251, Family Life Center
Leader: Shane Jarvis
Materials: Will be provided.

The Key to Unlocking the Parables Do you ever feel frustrated reading Jesus’ parables? Do you think that parables are moral stories, or heavenly concepts we should be working to achieve? Would you like to know the key to unlocking the parables? It’s a key that unlocks a story about a God who won’t turn his back on his people, who would lose everything in order to not lose one of his children.

In this course, we’ll be reading select parables, using the book Scandalous Stories: A Sort of Commentary on Parables by Daniel Emery Price and Erick Sorensen.

This Is the Church

Dates: February 12-March 12
Time: 6:30-7:30 pm
Place: Room 140, Family Life Center
Leader: Pastor Jonathan Blanke
Materials: Bible and Luther's Small Catechism

Join us for conversations around the basics of the Christian faith. We will focus on what Christians believe and how the Christian faith can be understood in distinction from other world religions.

It is a great opportunity for those who are joining us from another denomination or are new to the church altogether.

First Communion