We believe that doctrine is for life transformation. We desire to equip our church to know the Bible, to know the Bible’s world-and-life view, and to invest the gospel in the lives of others. Through our Adult Christian Education (ACE) classes, we seek to mature in Christ-likeness, being able to navigate the complexities of life with knowledge, wisdom, and grace.

ACE classes are offered throughout the year; classes are categorized under five main categories, known as “Growth Paths.” Explore current class offerings, and learn about our Growth Paths and the ACE Certificate below!

Staff Contact

J.T. Tarter
Lead Pastor
[email protected]

Current Class:

Hebrews: Jesus is Better

JANUARY 7—may 26 | Lower Commons Room | 9:15am

What does it mean that Jesus is our “High Priest?” We often speak about Jesus as our Prophet & King, but in the entirety of the Bible it’s actually only in the book of Hebrews that we see Jesus’ role as Priest clearly described. The author of Hebrews is writing to a group of Christians who know the Old Testament very well and were once passionate about Jesus, but have allowed their faith to grow cold in the midst of trial. The book of Hebrews seeks to show how the whole story of Israel can act as an illustrative guide to the Christian community in how Jesus is better than all of the other biblical leaders, and because Jesus is better, faithfulness to him is worth it regardless of the trials we face in life.

ACE Growth Paths

We have identified six primary areas to focus on in our Adult Christian Education curriculum. We call these areas Growth Paths because they give disciples the tools they need for growing in Christian faith and maturity. All of our courses fit into one of these Growth Paths and have specific goals to achieve our overarching main goal.

The Bible is the primary way God reveals his character, will, and actions in history to his people. It is a complex book comprised of sixty-six distinct works, spanning several genres, written by dozens of authors over more than a thousand years. Our Bible courses aim to make the Bible more accessible and more precious to believers.

Courses include:

  • Doctrine of Scripture
  • How to Study the Bible
  • Old Testament Survey
  • New Testament Survey
  • Books of the Bible

Theology develops out of a close reading of the Bible. It organizes the facts of Scripture into logical categories to make the faith as clear and easy to apply as possible. Our Theology courses aim to equip people with language and concepts that help bring biblical truths to bear on every facet of their lives.

Courses include:

  • Creeds and Confessions
  • Covenant Theology
  • Doctrine of God / Doctrine of Creation
  • Christology / Soteriology / Eschatology
  • Ecclesiology

Throughout the whole of the Bible, across every book and chapter, God weaves together a single story of who he is and what he is doing to redeem his people. Biblical theology focuses in on individual themes throughout Scripture, like individual threads in the single story God is weaving. Our Redemptive History and Biblical Theology courses aim to chart out that grand story and closely examine primary themes throughout it.

Courses include:

  • Redemptive History (Biblical Theology) Introduction
  • Kingdom
  • Temple
  • Other themes

Coming to faith in Jesus comes with radical changes in how one lives. As our church likes to say, grace changes everything. Christ teaches that the two defining markers of a genuine faith are love of God and love of neighbor. Our Ethics courses aim to teach how Christian love plays out in real life.

Courses include:

  • Ethics Introduction and Survey
  • Biblical Ethics
  • Christian Ethics

Just as Scripture tells one grand, overarching story, each individual tells their own grand story to account for life’s big questions—questions like, “What is the meaning of life?” or “Why is there evil in the world?” This personal grand narrative is called a world-and-life view. Every person finds answers to these questions in their upbringing, culture, education, and many other factors. Our Christian World-and-Life View courses aim to ask those big questions, work out what answers we’ve come up with, and explore how our answers compare with a Christian world-and-life view.

Courses include:

  • Biblical Metanarrative (CFRR)
  • History of Christianity
  • Christianity and Culture
  • Mission – Local and Global
  • Apologetics
  • Current events / hot topics

Some specific topics outside of the five set growth paths are worth special attention. Our Elective courses aim to address particular needs and produce well-rounded disciples who are equipped to face the full complexity of life.

Courses include:

  • Preparation for Leadership and Service
  • Lay Counseling
  • Spiritual Disciplines
  • Parenting
  • Conversations in Worship
  • Stewardship and Budgeting
  • Instruments in the Redeemer’s Hands
  • Evangelism
  • What does it mean to be Presbyterian?
  • How People Change
  • Other

ACE Certificate

We have identified nine specific courses across our five main Growth Paths that we consider foundational in shaping disciples who make a difference. These courses form the core of our ACE curriculum and are offered on a rotating schedule every two years. For those who complete all core classes, our church offers a certificate of completion and hosts a banquet to celebrate their accomplishment. We encourage all of our members to earn our ACE Certificate.

Courses required for the ACE Certificate:

  • Doctrine of Scripture
  • How to Study the Bible
  • Creeds and Confessions
  • Covenant Theology
  • Redemptive History (BT) Introduction
  • Ethics Introduction and Survey
  • Biblical Metanarrative
  • History of Christianity*
  • Christianity and Culture*

* Only one of these two courses is required to earn the certificate