Faith & Practice: FAQ

 

 

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1. Why are we starting this new adult Christian education program?

The elders have a responsibility to teach Christian doctrine & duties to each believer under their care.  Each believer has a responsibility to learn & live as a Christian disciple.  This program serves as an intentional way for us all to begin to fulfill our responsibility to grow in Christian Faith & Practice, and to do so as a community of disciples helping each other follow Christ for life.

 

2. What will be taught in these classes?

The focus of these courses is seen in the name of the program: Faith & Practice.  The "Faith" part refers to the fact that we need to know what the Bible teaches, how it defines our beliefs, and how it shapes our view of the world and ourselves.  The "Practice" part refers to the fact that our lives must be conformed to biblical truth, so as to live out our relationship with God in order to glorify him and serve as a witness to the world around us.

 

3. Are these classes intended for new Christians?

We believe these classes will be valuable for all Christians, whether you are new to the faith or a long-time church attendee.  Some of the topics may be more relevant to your needs than others, but all will be essential to a fully formed understanding of the Christian faith and its expression in our lives.  That's why we want everyone to participate in this program.

 

4. Who will be teaching these classes?

Four of our elders will be teaching these courses.  Bruce McKanna will teach F1- Overview, a "big picture" perspective on the storyline of the whole Bible.  Steve Hodson will teach F2- Outline, a topical study of essential Bible doctrines.  Our P1- Connection, including practical training in personal spiritual disciplines as well as evangelism and apologetics, will not be offered in 2008-09.  Scott Rozanas and Lee Rogers will teach P2- Community, a broad study of service, stewardship, vocation, marriage, and family.

 

5. When are these classes going to be offered?

On September 21, 2008, three of the four classes of the Faith & Practice program will begin (see above).  They will be in session simultaneously during the Sunday School hour each Sunday morning from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m.  The courses will run throughout the school year, from September through May.  In the summer, we will hold a combined class called F&P Worldview that will bring a Christian perspective to various life issues.

 

6. Why are these the only adult Sunday School classes that are offered?

We have been blessed with good classes and great teachers over the years at EFCMM.  This program is not meant to be an end to those classes, but a break that will allow us to focus as a church on seeing that everyone receives a basic Christian education at the adult level.

 

7. Will we ever see the old Sunday School classes again?

For the past two years, we have offered F&P classes exclusively because we really do want everyone to take these courses.  After another year, we will continue to conduct one or two F&P courses while adding some of the other classes we have had in the past.  These will then serve as electives or advanced studies beyond the four core courses.

 

8. Where will these classes meet?

We will meet in the the Sanctuary, Fellowship Hall, and Balcony Classroom. 

 

9. Why do we have to sign up for the classes?

The goal of this program is to see every adult at EFCMM complete the series of four courses.  In order for us to track the progress of each individual and keep accurate records, we need to have class rosters.  This will also help the teacher in preparing for the class with the right number of handouts and other materials.  You can sign up on the first day of the class.  

 

10. Why is there a limit to the class size?

We have limited each class to 30 students to try to keep the four classes balanced.  There will naturally be a difference in class size according to the sign-up, but we don't want one class to have 42 students while another has only 6.  And besides, we want every person to take each class eventually, so there should be no need for everyone to take one particular class in this first year.

 

11. Will grades be given for these classes?

No.  The only long-term records that will be kept will include your name and the courses you have taken.  At the end of each year, you will either receive a "complete" or an "incomplete."  It is our hope that you will commit to completing all four courses as soon as possible, and there will be some recognition given to those who complete each course and the entire program of courses. 

 

12. Why are you keeping attendance records?

Because we are not giving out grades, the one significant way for us to determine that a person has completed the course is to show that they have been in attendance faithfully throughout the year. 

 

13. How many absences are allowed?

Of course, people will always have Sundays that they miss due to illness or travel, but we would like our students to take these courses seriously and keep 75% attendance or better (at least 3 out of every 4 weeks) as a goal.  Attendance below 66% (less than 2 out of every 3 weeks) will result in an "incomplete" for the student.  This is not a penalty, but the means for maintaining a standard of excellence in this program.

 

14. What if I miss more than the allowed number of absences?

We would encourage you to attend as many classes as you can.  We don't want anyone to feel that they have to leave a class because of their circumstances, though infrequent attendance may mean that you have to take the class again in order to complete it.

 

15. May I still participate even if I cannot meet the attendance requirement?

Even if you know already that your work schedule or other conflicts will prevent you from meeting the minimum standard for attendance, you are welcome to sign up and be as regular as you can be in your participation.  Let your teacher know of your particular circumstances, and he may be able to set aside handouts for you.

 

16. Can a person join a class in the middle of the year?

New people are always coming into the life of our church, and we don't want to make them wait until next September to join a class, so we expect that there will be students entering classes throughout the year.  It will be up to the teacher to determine the extent to which those who start after the beginning of the year have completed the class.

 

17. May I bring a visitor along with me to class?

Yes, you can always bring your guests with you to your class, even though it may be a one-time visit only. 

 

18. Will there be homework assignments?

Your teacher may recommend that you read a portion of Scripture or a brief article that provides some background to the material being presented, but usually there will be no assignments.  For those who would like to do further study, the teacher may be able to direct you to some recommended resources, such as books, articles, or websites.

 

19. Will there be any tests or examinations?

Teachers may choose to give one or two very basic tests each year that will serve as a tool to review important course content as well as to gauge the success of teaching and learning.  You will not receive a letter grade, but the test may lead the teacher to recommend that you take the course again in the future, or spend some time with another student to clarify your understanding.  This is not about "flunking" people or comparing your performance with others; rather, we want to make sure that a basic level of learning is taking place.  This is the greater purpose of the program, and it is the responsibility of both teachers and learners.  Students will also have opportunities to give feedback on the quality of the teaching and materials. 

 

20. Do we have to take notes in class?

The teachers will provide handouts for most class sessions that will give include a basic outline of notes, plus extra quotations and helpful material.  Of course you may take as many notes as you want, but much of the essentials will be provided in the handouts.

 

21. Do we need to keep the handouts?

We are trying to make these courses as valuable as possible for your spiritual growth now and as a resource for you in the future.  That is why we will be supplying a notebook (one per household) for you to keep your handouts together in one place and accessible as an easy reference.  You will not be required to bring the notebook to class, but we encourage you to file your handouts to this folder so that it may benefit you and your family for years to come.

 

22. Why does this all have to be so formalized?

We realize that many of us enjoy being able to sample from different classes during the year without thinking about attendance or handouts or completing anything.  There are times for that level of informality and freedom, but there must also be a time for discipline and focused attention and effort, because that is the only way to accomplish a particular goal.  We believe that completing a basic level of Christian education for adults is not only a worthy goal, but also our responsibility to one another and to God.  At the same time, we believe we have structured the Faith & Practice program in a way that allows for a great deal of flexibility.  You can take the four courses in any order, you will receive much of the class material in handouts, you will not be graded, and you can take notes and do extra reading to the level of your interest.  There is work to be done, but it is a privilege and honor to teach and learn the things of God together.

 

 

Do you have further questions about Faith & Practice?

E-mail Pastor Bruce.