Adult Learning Archive
Explore previous Learning Series led by our Adult Learning Instructor Tony Amoury Alkhoury.
-
Description text goes hereWeek 1:
What is the Bible?Tony introduces our new learning series with an overview on how, why, and when different portions of the Bible were written and how they were selected to be part of the canonical text–and how that influences how they are read today.
-
The Bible tells a unified story of God’s relationship with humanity, beginning with creation and culminating in the promise of a renewed world. It introduces God as the author of reality, humanity as his image-bearers, and the central tension between trusting God’s wisdom or defining good and evil independently.
-
The Bible is a diverse collection of books written in different literary styles, yet it tells one unified story from beginning to end. These literary styles help convey the richness of the biblical message and shape the way we interact with its content.
-
The Bible is a diverse collection of books written in different literary styles, yet it tells one unified story from beginning to end. These literary styles help convey the richness of the biblical message and shape the way we interact with its content.
View this week’s PDF
Watch this week’s YouTube videoItem description -
Biblical narratives are complex and deeply meaningful. To fully understand them, it is essential to analyze four key elements: plot, character, setting, and design patterns. These elements help uncover the structure, themes, and theological messages within the biblical text.
By paying attention to these aspects, readers can engage more deeply with Scripture and recognize how individual stories contribute to the grand narrative of the Bible.
-
The four Gospel accounts—Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John—offer unique yet interconnected biographies of Jesus. While many are familiar with individual stories about Jesus, these books are most impactful when read as a whole, revealing how Jesus' life and teachings fulfill the broader biblical narrative.
The word Gospel means "good news," but good news about what? According to Mark, Jesus announced that the time was fulfilled, God's Kingdom had come near, and people should turn and trust this news. This statement connects Jesus’ mission to the entire biblical storyline.
-
This week provides a comprehensive review of the key themes covered in the previous six weeks. By reflecting on the insights gained, we can see how they build upon one another to deepen our understanding of the Bible and its role in shaping faith and practice.
How do we read
the Bible?
COURSE 1
This five-week Lenten journey explores the theme of God's will in the Gospel of Matthew, inviting participants to reflect on Jesus' teachings and actions. Beginning with an overview of God's will in Matthew, the course delves into the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus’ relationship with the Law, the parable of the lost sheep, and Jesus’ ultimate act of surrender in Gethsemane.
Through these passages, we will engage in thoughtful discussion and reflection, deepening our understanding of discipleship and faithfulness during the Lenten season.
Matthew, Discernment, and the Will of God: Exploring Lent through the Lens of the Book of Matthew
COURSE 2
-
The Gospel of Matthew teaches that God's will (thelema in Greek) is not something to be discovered! It is clear and needs to be enacted. True discipleship is not about knowing God’s will but about actively participating in it.
-
The Lord’s Prayer is more than a set of words to be repeated—it is a framework for aligning ourselves with God’s will. Jesus presents this prayer in contrast to the long, formulaic prayers of the pagan world, emphasizing that prayer is not about manipulating God but about trusting Him as our Father.
-
Step 1: Read Matthew 18:1-14 Before diving into the study, read Matthew 18:1-14 carefully. As you read, reflect on the following question: Where does the will of God appear in this passage? What does this passage teach us about God’s will?
-
In the Gospel of Matthew, the will of God is never described as distant or abstract—it is the will of “your Father in heaven.” This phrase appears again and again (Matthew 6:10; 7:21; 12:50; 18:14; 21:31; 26:39), reminding us that God's will is rooted in relationship, not rules alone.
-
Biblical narratives are complex and deeply meaningful. To fully understand them, it is essential to analyze four key elements: plot, character, setting, and design patterns. These elements help uncover the structure, themes, and theological messages within the biblical text.
By paying attention to these aspects, readers can engage more deeply with Scripture and recognize how individual stories contribute to the grand narrative of the Bible.
This seven-week series invites participants to engage the Apostles’ and Nicene Creeds with fresh eyes. We will explore how these ancient affirmations of faith continue to shape, challenge, and inspire Christian belief and practice today.
Together, we will hold tradition and transformation in tension: rooted in the past, while open to renewal in the present.
-
We begin with the historical background of the Apostles’ Creed and the Nicene Creed. When and why were they written? How do they differ?
This session introduces the series and invites participants to consider how these ancient affirmations continue to shape Christian faith today and how they can be challenged by it.
-
What does it mean to call God “Father”? We will explore the theological richness and limits of this language, asking how we can speak about God in ways that are faithful, inclusive, and not bound by patriarchy.
We will reflect on God as Parent — both Father and Mother — and how that shapes our understanding of divine care and power.
-
This week centers on Jesus: Who is he? How do the creeds help us articulate who Jesus is and what he means for the world?
We will explore the titles given to Christ, his humanity and divinity, and what it means to follow him today. A renewed Christology invites us to see Jesus not as an exclusive claim but as a radical model for love, liberation, and solidarity.
-
Who is the Holy Spirit, and how do we recognize her presence and work? We will discuss the Spirit’s role in creation, in the church, in justice and renewal, and in our personal lives of discernment and growth.
Why it matters: Emphasizing the Spirit encourages openness to mystery, transformation, and movements for justice within and beyond the church.
-
What is the church, and what does it mean to belong to the “communion of saints”? This session considers the visible and invisible church, the local and the global, and how the creeds invite us to be part of something larger than ourselves.
Reclaiming the idea of church as a diverse, global communion helps us resist isolation and cultivate a community that is both rooted in tradition and attentive to the needs of our world.
-
This week explores the resurrection of the body and our hope for new life. How does this affirmation shape Christian views on death, justice, embodiment, and future restoration? What does it mean to live in the present in light of this hope?
Why it matters: Affirming resurrection invites us to value bodies, resist despair, and live with hopeful commitment to healing and wholeness in the here and now and in the life to come.
-
In our final session, we engage in a synthesis of the entire series. Participants will be invited to create a personal or group annotation of the creed—rewriting or commenting on each line in light of what they have learned and wrestled with over the course.
Over five weeks of adult learning, we will engage the Bible in a way that involves our minds, emotions, and even our bodies. Through communal practices like lectio divina (to be introduced in Week 1) and other interactive methods, we will explore Scripture not just for information, but for transformation: reading with our whole selves and in community.
Course materials:
COURSE 3
Rooted and Re-imagined: Exploring the Creeds Anew
COURSE 4
Embodied Reading of Scripture
West End’s How Do We Read The Bible? series was adapted by Tony Amoury Alkoury using materials from The Bible Project, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization dedicated to providing free study guides and videos for classroom study. If you would like to support The Bible Project’s work, click here.