SUNDAY ADULT EDUCATION CLASSES         “The Prodigal God:  Finding Your Place at the Table” by Timothy Keller (meets in the Vineyard classroom): In six captivating sessions, pastor and New York Times bestselling author Timothy Keller opens your eyes to the powerful message of Jesus' best-known---and least understood---parable. The Prodigal God is a revelation of the very heart of the gospel: God's radical love for sinners of every kind. Taking you beyond the traditional focus on the wayward younger son, Keller helps you glean insights from each of the characters in Jesus' parable: the irreligious younger son, the moralistic elder son, and the Father who lavishes his love on both. January 15: The Parable January 22: The People Around Jesus January 29: No class due to the church retreat - please feel free to join the Class in the Bread House February 5: No class due to Congregational Meeting followed by Pancake Breakfast in Fellowship Hall February 12: The Two Lost Sons February 19: The Elder Brother February 26: The True Elder Brother March 4: The Feast of the Father      “Faith and Fiction: Studying Religion through Good Literature” (meets in the Bread House classroom): Jan. 8:  Congregational Breakfast Jan.15:  Richard Raum: Robert Frost Jan.22:  Betty Raum: Faith through Children’s Picture Books Jan. 29:  Laura Smit: Selected Poems by William Wordsworth Feb. 5:  Congregational Meeting and Breakfast Feb.12:  Mary Ann Walters, Professor of English, emerita, Calvin College: “Cutting for Stone,” Abraham Verghese Feb.19:  Henry Vander Goot: “Blood of the Lamb,” Peter De Vries Feb.26:  Betty Raum: “Holy Sonnets,” John Donne March 4:  Congregational Breakfast March 11:  Mary Vander Goot: Faith and Folk Tales March 18:  Rhoda Janzen Burton, Professor of English, Hope College: “Supernatural Love,” Gjertrud Schnackenberg March 25:  Brian Ingraffia, Professor of English, Calvin College: “Mr. Ives Christmas,” Oscar Hijuelos. April 1:  Congregational Breakfast April 8:  Easter, No Class April 15:  Chad Engbers, Professor of English, Calvin College: “The Brothers Karamazov,” Fydor Dostoevsky April 22:  Richard Plantinga, Professor of Religion, Calvin College: “Amadeus,” Peter Shaffer April 29: Jeff Polet, Professor of Political Science, Hope College:   “Ahasuerus, the Wandering Jew,”  Par Lagerkvist       BIBLE STUDIES   THURSDAY MORNING BIBLE STUDY   Second & Fourth Thursday of each month, 9:30-11:00 am   SOME ISSUES IN THE NEW TESTAMENT Taught by Pastor Richard Raum This series is not intended as a comprehensive survey, but takes-up a number of important and interesting topics concerning the content, meaning and interpretation of the New Testament.   Jan. 12:   “Jesus’ Origins: Genealogies, and Stories of Birth and Childhood” Jan. 26:    “How John Differs from Matthew, Mark and Luke” Feb. 9:     “Jesus’ Best Friend, Simon Peter” Feb. 23:   “Jesus’ Other Friends, Male and Female” Mar. 8:    “Why and How Jesus Was Killed, and By Whom” Mar. 22: “The Significance of I Thessalonians 4:13-18” April 12: “Reading Paul Through Mediterranean Eyes” April 26: “Making Sense of the Book of Revelation”         SMALL GROUP MINISTRIES   There are still a few spaces available in three of our newly-formed five small groups.   For information about small groups click here