Spiritual Growth at Vista
Vista offers a variety of adult Christian Education experiences, designed to fit the needs and inquiries of everyone in our community. One does not need to be a member of Vista to enjoy our many opportunities for personal growth. We offer three different tracks … our Core Experiences, for exploring Christianity and the Bible, … our In Depth series, for those who want a rich and challenging environment, … and our Sunday Morning offerings for fellowship and discussion. There’s sure to be several that appeal to you! Check the calendar section for the dates and times of each class.
▲ Our Core Experiences
Meet the Methodists
Just what is a United Methodist, anyway? What do we believe? How do we behave? Is there anything unique about United Methodism, or are most of the Protestant denominations pretty much the same? How is the church organized? If these or other questions about our faith have been on your mind, you’ll want to attend our series of discussions called, “Meet the Methodists.” This six-week series covers everything from Methodist history to theology to church policies and how they’re developed. We’ll use The United Methodist Member’s Handbook ($7.00) as a guide and reference. Designed for newcomers and Methodist veterans alike, “Meet the Methodists” will give you a sound background in United Methodism and address your questions concerning what your church is all about.
Bible 101, An Introduction to the Bible
Ever wonder where the Bible really came from … how it got into the form familiar to us today … how to use the Bible to help us in our daily lives? This popular six-week study focuses on the origins, development and use of the Bible. We’ll discuss several simple but powerful ways to approach Bible study to enrich our lives. Topics include the history of the Hebrew people and its influence on scripture, the variety of Bible versions available, ways to use the Bible in family studies and how the Bible informs our faith. This seminar is for anyone who has questions about the Bible, regardless of your experience and current knowledge. If you’re willing to be surprised, you’ll enjoy this introduction to the wonderful collection of writings that help to guide our journeys of faith.
Biblical Religion in Six Easy Lessons
This six-week seminar is designed to provide insight into how the Bible informs our Christian faith, not just in what we believe, but in how we live in response to those beliefs. We’ll discuss what it means to read the Bible as descriptive, rather than prescriptive. Our focus will be on moving beyond just “being religious” to truly being faithful. “Six Easy Lessons” will assist participants in discovering an active faith for practical people!
United Methodist Social Principles
From its inception, Methodism has had a strong component of social holiness … a focus of concern for persons on the margins of society, an interest in environmental stewardship, a commitment to justice for all persons and a belief that our faith calls us to participate in forming government policies that reflect our Christian perspectives. This class calls us to consider the six major themes found in our Social Principles and how they might inform our lives.
Discovering Our Spiritual Gifts
As United Methodists, we declare that each member is a minister, called by God to a life of discipleship … a life of active service. Often, we’re not sure how to live out this calling. In “A Personal Audit” we have the opportunity to discover the gifts that each of us has for ministry. We’ll discuss how to be involved in ministry in a personal way by bringing our own gifts to bear on opportunities for service offered through Vista or by other community agencies.
▲ Our Opportunities for In-Depth Discussions
Living the Questions
“Living the Questions” is a twenty-one week experience designed to provide a safe environment for asking some of the tough questions we may have about our faith. We’ll discuss the role of the Bible, the nature of God, our relationship with God and a host of other topics. “Living the Questions” will not look for pat answers to our faith questions or simple formulas for living, but will encourage us to face our uncertainties in healthy and thoughtful ways. The study was created for 21st century, progressive Christians who want to explore their faith in the context of today’s complex world. Our objective will be to grow in our relationships with God and with each other as we discuss topics like, “Creativity and the Stories of Creation,” “Evil, Suffering and a God of Love,” and “Thinking Theologically.” “Living the Questions” is an exciting and challenging experience, guaranteed to stretch your ideas about the role of faith in your life.
Saving Jesus
Vista’s newest class in Christian spiritual development is called, “Saving Jesus.” If you’re concerned that the descriptions of Jesus and Christianity in the popular media and in US politics have been distorted in recent years, or if you’d simply like to be able to discuss the life and times of Jesus and the implications of how he lived, this class is for you! We’ll be talking more about the faith that Jesus lived, rather than about the beliefs that grew up about Jesus after his death. The discussions are exciting and thought-provoking! Join a class and find out what things about Jesus need saving!
Disciple Bible Study
This wonderful and comprehensive series was created by The United Methodist Church to provide participants with an in-depth study of Scripture. The classes extend over four years, with different sections of the Bible addressed each year. Meetings include video presentations, discussion of homework assignments/readings and group responses to questions related to contemporary Christian life. Occasionally, Vista will offer a shorter form of Disciple, divided into eight-week segments.
Education for Ministry
EFM is designed to equip current or potential leaders with perspective, experience and knowledge to effectively provide leadership in the Vista congregation and beyond. Included are significant Bible study, dialogue on integrating faith into daily life and opportunities and challenges for personal growth. EFM is a four-year, holistic experience, leading participants on an exciting journey of faith and self-development.
▲ Our Sunday Morning Studies
FaithLink
This adult discussion group addresses a wide variety of topics that change every week. The class is always open to new participants. A new study guide is provided each week for background on subjects ranging from Christian responses to social circumstances, to contemporary politics, to questions of ethics. The discussions are wide-ranging and many points of view are shared in a safe and supportive environment. The basic premise is that as Christians, we are called to link our lives with what we say we believe … in short, to live our faith.
▲ Our Seasonal Offerings
Vista offers a variety of short-duration classes linked to the Christian Year. Look for sessions associated with Advent, Lent, Easter, Pentecost and other times.
From time to time, Vista will offer an opportunity to participate in a discussion group, or forum. These sessions will focus on a book study or on an important contemporary theme.
A vibrant Vacation Bible School is conducted each summer, and adult volunteers provide the hands-on energy and creativity to make VBS a success. Children from all over the nearby communities enjoy fellowship, fun and a time of personal growth in a wonderful Christian atmosphere.
All participants in the Vista community are encouraged and expected to find ways to grow in their faith and in living faithfully. Our leaders solicit your ideas and experiences in the area of spiritual development to enhance our menu of growth opportunities. Let us know what you’re thinking and what experiences you’d like to have. We’ll do our best to meet your needs!