Along with many other ELCA Congregations, Joy Lutheran is participating in the Book of Faith Initiative. We believe the Bible is the "first language of faith." To know the Scriptures is to know about God, about the world, and about ourselves. Come and join us! For more resources, videos and updates on the Book of Faith Initiative, click here.

Sunday Mornings: Joy offers adult Christian education opportunities Sunday mornings in between services. We use a small group model usually offering two or more classes to choose from. In recent years, these classes have discussed "Spiritual Gifts," "No Experience Necessary," "Religion and Science," "Heaven and Hell," and "Underestanding our Neighbor's Faith."

For the Fall of 2011, There are Three Adult Classes:

Inductive Bible Study - This class will be studying the book of Isaiah.  Each session examines a passage of Scripture from the book being studied and discusses it.

     Some notes on Isaiah: Isaiah is the longest and perhaps most important of the prophetic books, offering the full range of God's prophetic message: terrifying words of judment and comforting words of promise.  Isaiah protrays God as the powerful Creator, like no other, and also the gentlest comforter.  The New Testament quotes Isaiah more than any other prophet, especially its hope for a coming messiah and its introduction of the servant of God.  Throughout Isaiah, one key theme shines through: God has a plan that makes history more than a series of random events.

The Greatest Story: Jesus - In this 16-session study written by professors Mark Allan Powell and Allen R. Hilton, participants will journey through the Gospel narratives - Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John - in this exciting exploration of the life and ministry of Jesus. Each session video (using sand art by Joe Castillo) brings the story to life as the image continuously transforms from one element of the story to another. 
     Chapters include: Who Is This Jesus? - Four Gospels; This Is My Son - Baptism, Calling, Temptation; Follow Me - Calling Disciples; Who Then Is This? - Making Miracles; Who Touched Me? - Healing; Let The Forgiven Forgive - Forgiving; Blessed Are You - Teaching; The Kingdom Is Like - Storytelling; Broken For You - Final Night; A Sunday Response - Resurrection; and more.

American Destiny and the Calling of the Church - In a post-Cold War, post-9/11 world the United States has been thrust into a position of global leadership with awesome responsibility. People of the church are called upon, not simply to accept but to help define the U.S. role. Based on biblical/theological/ confessional norms, the ideology our country adopts needs to be understood and critiqued by people of the church. It is urgent that congregations, in a bipartisan spirit of openness, subject this issue to debate in the public forum. The author's approach to the issue is based on a three-fold commitment — to the centrality of the gospel, to the ministry of the church, and to the responsible role of the nation in the world.

     Chapters of the book focus on: Reading History as a Community of Faith; America's Original Calling: The Puritan Legacy; America's Calling Today; A Lutheran Response to Imperial Claims; and Learning the Lessons of Historic Church Struggle and Resistance. Each chapter includes questions for reflection and discussion.

Wednesday Noon Bible Study: On Wednesdays at noon, Pr. Nathan leads a Bible Study on the upcoming Sunday's lessons. Bring your lunch and join us!

Morning Women's Study: On the second Wednesday of the month, at 10:00am, Women are invited to gather for Bible Study and fellowship. Join them as they discuss the Bible Study from the current issue of Lutheran Women Today.

Joy Book Club: Every month, (usually on the third Monday), members of Joy gather to discuss a book they have been reading over the past month. Feel free to participate on those months when the book sounds interesting. For a current list of planned books, contact the church office.

Mosaic and other videos published through the ELCA are shown once a month with time for discussion following. If you can't make it to the class, you can watch Mosaic videos anytime on YouTube.