2026 Winter Bible Study – Feb 1, 2026

Faithful Citizenship: An Adult Study from The Thoughtful Christian.  Every Sunday, 11:30 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.,

This weeks theme is “Earth Day”. 

Class facilitators are Rev Bev and Elder Steve Wood.

This 6-week conversation will engage participants in a thoughtful discussion about the Church and Family as “schools of Civic Virtue.” Participants will receive a handout and discuss a variety of questions, with the concepts of covenant, community, common good and a diverse range of timely topics that make our study relevant to our lives. The leader will introduce a covenant of healthy conversation in light of the challenges we face to be open and honest about differences of opinion in a culture that seeks to push us away from one another while Christ prays for our unity. “Audacious Openness” is a pathway for our conversations, by author and Christian ethicist Eric Mount. 

WEEK 3 review and homework—

The lesson reflected on the theme of ecological justice. We reflected on the challenge of individualized concerns and actions for loving God’s creation and the challenge of communal action, especially through possible legislative policies.  

The Scriptures for consideration this week are: Creation and Sabbath: Gen 1; Psalms 19: 1-4, 136: 1-9, 104; Job 38-42; Romans 8: 18-26; Colossians 1: 15-20

Questions for reflection:

1.What are some specific ways I might change my personal behavior to better honor and protect God’s creation?

2. How aware am I of pending legislation or policy changes, locally, nationally or globally, that affect the environment?

3. What is the role of audacious openness when we talk about the environment?

What do you think of: My responsibilities as a faithful CHRISTIAN citizen are____

 Click here to download and read the Participant Handout for Week 4 — printed copies will be available on Sunday. 

See you Sunday!

WEEK 2 review and homework–

The lesson reflected on the theme of economic justice. We reflected on the challenge of individual pull yourself up by your bootstraps thinking and communal responsibility (Bev adds: to whom much is given much will be required —Luke 12 contains significant stories of the economic concerns of disciples in the Kingdom/Kin-dom of heaven).

The Scriptures were: The Good Samaritan Luke 10: 25-37; The Rich Young Ruler Luke 18: 12-30 and Zaccheus Luke 19: 1-10.

Journal Questions for reflection:
1. Where do our mission and outreach projects get at economic issues?

2. In what ways, if at all, is our congregation seeking to understand systemic problems in the economy that work against God’s vision for the world, and how are we advocating for change?

3. In response to Eric Mount’s anecdote, in what ways can you identify that you are on welfare?

What do you think of: My responsibilities as a faithful citizen are____

WEEK 1 review and homework–

The lesson was about audacious openness, community, covenant and common good.

The Scripture was Gen 18:1-8.

Journal Questions–

Reflect on moments in your own life in which you have been “audaciously open.”

Where in your life do you already interact with people who are different from you?

What do you think of: My responsibilities as a faithful citizen are____

For Previous Studies – Please click here