NPC’s Adult Education program provides diverse opportunities for our diverse community interests, including various Bible study groups that meet on Sunday and throughout the week.  We also welcome new small group studies — if you’re interested in starting one up, please contact Rev. Wonjae for resources.

Monday Night Bible Study

A new Bible study will start Monday night, January 9.  The goal will be to study the basic Christian doctrines, but always with the       understanding that doctrine is a wonderful servant and a horrible master.  What does that mean for a Bible study?

First, Jesus encourages us to “bind and loose”, which is the technical term rabbis used for forbidding or allowing scriptural interpretations.  A rabbi’s interpretation of how to live the Torah, was called the rabbi’s yoke.  One rabbi even said his “yoke was easy” (Matthew 11:30).  If the rabbi thought the   student had totally missed the point of the text, he would say “you have abolished the Torah”.  The Bible study should include some historical perspective.

Second, the binding and loosing was done in community, to ensure a person never went too far in a twisted interpretation.  Thus, Jesus said, “where two or three come together in my name, there I am with them”  (Mathew 18:20).  The Bible Study must include lots of questions and challenges.

And third, the Bible Study must maintain an intricate balance of conviction and humility,  which is made very clear to Moses when he asked for God’s name, “I will remove my hand and you will see my back” (Exodus 33:23).  That is to say, “Not who I am, but where I just was”.  As the psalmist said, “His understanding has no limit” (Psalm 147:5).   Jesus also did not have much patience with those who thought they had it all figured out (Matthew 25:41).

So that’s the way the Bible Study will work:  some challenging videos, some text and commentary on the church’s basic doctrines, many references to biblical passages and to Christian thinkers, and lots of discussion on how the life that Jesus offers can gradually become our lives.  After all is said and done, Christianity is more about the experience we are actually having.  All our study and discussion and doctrines about God help us put words to realities that are beyond words.  Doctrine is a wonderful servant and a horrible master.                                                                                                                                        J.D. Graham