School of Christian Learning

To nurture and enrich the Christ-centered life journey of adults. 

(See the upcoming schedule here and June's speaker here)

The School of Christian Learning (SCL) is a branch of Adult Ministry that is dedicated to enriching the Christ centered life journey of BPC adults by providing distinctively Christian opportunities for faith development through education and Christian spiritual formation to the end that, “we may present everyone mature in Christ.” Col. 1:28.

SCL provides a wide array of classes to deepen your faith and enrich your spiritual and everyday life. Courses are offered year-round [with the exception of August and December] on Sunday mornings at 10:00 AM in the Garden room. Class topics reflect an openness to and acceptance of all theological perspectives. SCL classes are accepting, welcoming and inclusive environments, providing thought provoking teachers to challenge, inspire and promote personal Christian growth and a deeper relationship with God.

Classes are free, and open to all from BPC and the general community. No expertise or knowledge of the Bible is necessary for enjoying the classes. Each class is designed to be “user friendly” and stand on its own so that students may enter at any time. CDs of each class are also available through the church office for those who cannot attend every class in a series.

A sampling of past and current class offerings and instructors include:

• “Lost Books of the Bible for Dummies” by Dr. Daniel Smith-Christopher, LMU
• “How God Transforms Stress into Happiness” by Rev., Dr. Mark Baker
• “Listening for the Heartbeat of God” by Rev., Dr. Phillip Newell
• “Another Perspective on Islam and the Koran” by Imam Jihad Turk, UCLA
• “Revisiting Paul the Apostle” by Dr. David Cortes-Fuentes, CST
• “Judaism in the Middle Ages” by Rabbi, Dr. Elliott Dorff

Upcoming Schedule of Speakers at SCL:

(Click here for more info and the flyer!)

May 20th, following on SLC's April focus on "Christians in the Middle East," Dr. Arik Greenberg, whose life-long focus has been on religious tolerance, will lecture on:

Johnny We Hardly Knew Ye: Diversity of Belief in Early Christianity – focus on the Gospel of John

In this lecture, building upon his earlier comments on the Gospel of Mark and the diversity of early Christianity, Dr. Arik Greenberg focuses on the Gospel of John as a prime example of the diversity enshrined within the New Testament itself.  The Gospel of John, often spoken of as the most “spiritual” of all the gospels, is no less than a theological treatise whose deepest meaning can only be understood through a full review of Roman emperor worship, contemporary Greco-Roman philosophy, and Hellenistic-Jewish philosophical thought. But in the limited time available to us, the listener will be treated to a quick overview of why the Gospel of John is so often misunderstood and why it is perhaps the most fascinating and mystical of all the gospels. We will also focus also on how John’s presence in the canon is so drastically at odds with its neighbors.

10:00 AM class starts – Garden Room every Sunday 

Come for fellowship and refreshments at 9:30 AM followed by class at 10:00 AM. All are invited and welcome.

For more information about the School of Christian Learning, please call the Church Office at 310-826-5656.