Four week class: May 4 & 5, 2022 through May 25 & 26, 2022
Wednesdays Online @ 1pm
Thursdays @ 1pm, Upper Room
Throughout the weeks of Easter our gospel texts focus on the Gospel of John this year. Join us for this four week class as we explore Jesus’ post-resurrection appearances, what they mean, and what they hope to make us believe.
Grab your favorite Bible and come for either class or join us for both to branch out further in your study or deepen your fellowship roots! If you can’t join at these times, we can connect you to videos to watch on your own schedule.
Check back here each week for more details about each class topic.
Contact info@tllc.org for the login information for the online class or to get the recorded videos of each class.
Written that YOU May Believe Class Schedule:
May 4/5 Introduction to John
Resurrection of Our Lord (John 20:1-18)
“John: Written that YOU May Believe” is in-depth look at the resurrection stories of the fourth gospel. The class will explore the why John’s gospel was written so that we 21st century Christians would believe the Easter story and “believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God” and “have life in his name” (John 20:31). As we study John’s resurrection story, we will examine its nuances, differences relative to the synoptic gospels, and unique perspective meant to draw us in and help us believe. We will consider with which disciple do we most identify: Mary Magdalene, Peter, or the Beloved Disciple.
May 11/12 “Doubting Thomas” (John 20:19-30)
As we continue under the theme “John: Written that YOU May Believe” this week we will continue to explore why John’s gospel was written so that we 21st century Christians would believe the good news of the resurrection, “believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God” and “have life in his name” (John 20:31). As we study Jesus’ Appearance to the Disciples and Thomas, we will examine what it means for Jesus to appear to his disciples in this way, the significance of the sharing of the peace and Holy Spirit with them, and how this story in particular is meant to help us believe. We will consider how we identify with the disciples who are hiding behind locked doors and with Thomas, who needs to see for himself.
May 18/19 Jesus Appears on the Beach (John 21:1-14)
As we continue under the theme “John: Written that YOU May Believe” this week we will continue to explore why John’s gospel was written so that we 21st century Christians would believe the good news of the resurrection, “believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God” and “have life in his name” (John 20:31). As we study Jesus’ Appearance by the Sea of Tiberias, we will examine how this appearance connects to others in John and the synoptic gospels and why the variety of appearance stories is valuable to us. We will consider how this story speaks to us in times when we need Jesus to “show up” in our lives, especially in moments of confusion or dejection.
May 25/26 Jesus & Peter, Jesus & Beloved Disciple (John 21:15-25)
As we wrap up our study of “John: Written that YOU May Believe” this week, we will continue to explore why John’s gospel was written so that we 21 st century Christians would believe the good news of the resurrection, “believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God,” and “have life in his name” (John 20:31). As we study Jesus’ Appearance to Peter and the Beloved Disciple, we will examine how these conversations connect to the church’s mission today and why these appearance stories are valuable to us still today. We will consider how Peter’s denial of Jesus relates to his interaction with Jesus and how the role of the Beloved Disciple in the community of faith is solidified in his interaction as well.