Bethlehem Lutheran: Adult Education

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Adult Education Small Groups
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Adult Education Opportunities

Sunday Bible Study Classes

January 20 – March 4 • Community Center • 9:45 – 10:45 am

Councils, Creeds, and Controversy

Do you understand the Nicene creeds which we recite in the Divine Liturgy? Have you ever puzzled over the meaning of “[I believe] in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of His Father before all worlds, God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God, begotten, not made, being of one
substance with the Father, by whom all things were made?” Only-Begotten? Very God of very God? Begotten, Not Made? Of one Substance? This course will step you through the first three ecumenical councils and explore what controversies gave rise to the creeds. We’ll explore the various heresies that emerged in the early church and meet some of the key players in the development of the Church’s
confession. Along the way we’ll examine the relationship of the Father, Son, and Spirit as the Trinitarian God. We’ll also struggle to decipher what is meant by the phrase “true God and true man.” We’ll also grapple with the central tenet which is the starting point for every Church Father: the incarnation of Jesus Christ.

Our special presenter for this class will be Dr. Mike Thomas. Mike and his family are members at Bethlehem. Mike is Associate Professor of Classical Languages and Humanities at Concordia University in NE Portland.