Discipleship

A disciple is a follower - a disciple of Christ is a follower of Christ.  Discipleship is the process of growing into deeper, more complete disciples of Christ through the equipping of the Holy Spirit to become more Christlike.  In order to become better disciples we must continue to deepen our faith and understanding of Scripture.  Discipleship is a deep process, not a wide process.  We must be disciples before we can make disciples and at Aley we believe that an important part of this is discipleship together in community.


Rest and self-care are so important. When you take time to replenish your spirit, it allows you to serve others from the overflow. You cannot serve from an empty vessel.” -Eleanor Brown

Sunday mornings

You're invited to join us for one of several opportunities to dive deeper into Scripture with community on Sunday mornings.  Each class starts at approximately 9:40a.m. - or following the conclusion of the 8:30a.m. service.  

Feel free to swing by the Hospitality Center to grab a drink before joining a group for fellowship and discipleship.


Consider the Following... 

   Location: Room 213 (lower-level ACA classroom)

How much of what you believe really comes from the Bible? Where do you draw the line between Doctrine and Scripture? With this study we will be challenging our traditions with what the Bible really says. We will be leaving preconceptions at the door and looking at what the original authors meant to convey using research and contexts. We'll be looking at the traditions we have and where they originated, whether in the Bible or elsewhere. This is a study to make you reconsider what you believe and why you believe it. "If Bible study doesn't feel like work to

you, you aren't doing it right" -Michael Heisser



The Great Courses of the Bible: The History of Christianity II from the Reformation to the Modern Megachurch

   Location: Room 204

The History of Christianity II From the Reformation to the Modern Megachurch. Presented on DVD by Dr. Molly Worthem from U of NC at Chapel Hill.


Today, churches are shrinking in much of Europe and North America.  The faith's center of gravity has shifted to the Global South. By 2050, about three-quarters of the world's Christians will live in Africa, Asia, and Latin America, where both democratic reformers and authoritarian strongmen have claimed the power of Christ on their side, and believers call on the Holy Spirit to battle demons and witches who haunt everyday life.


In this course, we'll explore the complex journey of the Christian faith from the turn of the 16th century to our present day, following the radical transformations as well as the continuities. 



Cultivating Relationships: "Short Stories by Jesus" from Amy-Jill Levine (6 week study beginning March 26)

   Location: Room 201/203 & Zoom

Jesus was a skilled storyteller and perceptive teacher who used parables from everyday life to effectively convey his message and meaning. Life in first-century Palestine was very different from our world today, and many traditional interpretations of Jesus' stories ignore this disparity and have often allowed anti-Semitism and misogyny to color their perspectives.

In this Bible study based on her Short Stories by Jesus, Amy-Jill Levine analyzes these "problems with parables" taking readers back in time to understand how their original Jewish audience understood them. With this revitalized understanding, she interprets these moving stories for the contemporary reader, showing how the parables are not just about Jesus, but are also about us—and when read rightly, still challenge and provoke us two thousand years later.



Fellowship Bible Study Class: God's Exceptional Choice       

   Location: Parlor/Fellowship/Room 208

This class utilizes the "International Sunday School Lessons" curriculum.   Student booklets are available for free at the class on Sunday mornings or anytime through the church office. 


Women's Sunday School Class: The Gospel on the Ground           

   Location: Room 202

Come along with biblical culturalist Kristi McLelland as she unpacks the life of the early church in the book of Acts and shows us that the kingdom of God is always on the move, always looking outward to bring meaning and joy to a world searching for true fulfillment and hope. Explore the call of Jesus to His disciples then and to us today. See how God's Word can sustain us even in the most difficult of times and embrace the transformative grace we experience as children of God in His kingdom of celebration.

Weekday opportunities


Journeyers Bible Study: Mondays 9:30a.m. - 11:30a.m.                                                                                                            

   Location: Room 201

This class, now in its 17th year, is doing a multi-year examination of the Old Testament. We welcome anyone who is interested in a fairly in-depth study of the scriptures.


Men's Bible Study: Tuesdays 7:00p.m.-8:00p.m.        

   Location: Panera Bread Company at Fairfield Commons Mall (optional meet-up for dinner at 6:30p.m.)

We meet weekly for fellowship and study of God's Word over a sandwich and coffee. Our goal is to study, share insights and discussions, and grow as Christian men. We follow a structured lesson using a reading plan, independent study, and sharing our interpretations and thoughts; we learn a lot from our study materials and each other. Our next course of study is C.S. Lewis's book "Mere Christianity". All men are welcome!


Men's Bible Study: Wednesdays 10:00a.m. - 11:00a.m.        

   Location: Room 202

Our goal is to grow in our spiritual lives through studying Scripture and through fellowship with other Christian men. We selected a book of the Bible and study one chapter at a time. We then review different theologians' interpretations of that chapter and conclude by sharing our thoughts with the group. All men are welcome to join regardless of age or where they worship.