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Adult Education Opportunities

The adult education programs of Fourth Church provide short-term and ongoing education for our members, friends of the church, and the wider community, through both in-person and Zoom options.

Video Archive of Past Adult Education Classes
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CURRENT CLASS OFFERINGS

January 4 Session POSTPONED
Mind, Body, and Spirit: Seeking Wholeness

Originally scheduled for Sundays, January 4 and 11, there will be no session on January 4.
Borwell Dining Room and livestreamed
Nanette Sawyer, Fourth Church Associate Pastor

As we greet a new year, we continue to strive for resilience in challenging times. This class, taught by Nanette Sawyer, will explore the practice of Christian meditation and the mind-body connection in the quest for spiritual, mental, and physical wholeness and well-being for the new year.

Session I, Christian Meditation as a Form of Prayer: POSTPONED

Focus on and connect with the presence of God via silent contemplation and reflection on Scripture in order to deepen our relationship with God, calming our spirits and improving our relationships with other humans in the process.

Session II, Nurturing Health: Striving for Wholeness
January 11, 2026, at 11:00 a.m.
Register here

Stress is a part of modern life. By understanding the mind-body connection, we can grow in our ability to cope with daily life events and strive towards wholeness and spiritual well-being.

American Prophets

Sunday, January 18
Borwell Dining Room and livestreamed
Carey Cranston, President of the American Writers Museum
Register here

Coinciding with the exhibit “American Prophets: Writers, Religion, and Culture” at the American Writers Museum, the museum’s President Carey Cranston will join us for a discussion of the museum’s largest exhibition to date and the profound ways writing reflects and influences our understanding of religion.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer: Becoming Christ for Others

Sundays, January 25, February 1, and February 8
Borwell Dining Room and livestreamed
Andrew DeCort (PhD, University of Chicago)
Register here

Bonhoeffer’s life story and the historical context of his youth will be explored as a major influence on the development of his personal theology. We will discuss Bonhoeffer’s beliefs on social justice and neighbor love which led to his resistance to the Nazi regime and fascism of the era. Arising out of Bonhoeffer’s life, what parallels do we see today? How can we faithfully respond to the injustices all around us?

Andrew DeCort (PhD, University of Chicago) is the Founder of the Institute for Faith and Flourishing and Co-Founder of the Neighbor-Love Movement in Ethiopia. Writer, teacher, and ethicist, Andrew is the author of Bonhoeffer’s New Beginning: Ethics After Devastation and Reviving the Golden Rule: How the Ancient Ethic of Neighbor Love Can Heal the World (among others).

The Enduring Influence of Henri Nouwen
Sunday, February 15
Borwell Dining Room and livestreamed
Steven Stanley and Larry Braskamp, Fourth Church Members
Register here

Henri Nouwen’s many books and teachings have profoundly influenced so many of us. Join us for an honest and personal sharing of how the therapeutic effect of Nouwen’s wisdom has helped fellow Fourth Church members deal with personal suffering in their lives.

Sermon on the Mount
Sundays, February 22, March 1, and March 8
Borwell Dining Room and livestreamed
Matt Helms, Fourth Church Associate Pastor
Register here

From the Beatitudes to the "salt and light" metaphor that inspired Fourth Church's mission statement, the Sermon on the Mount has been one of the most influential and enduring teachings Jesus delivered in his ministry. We will explore these texts through two different lenses, combining historic/linguistic analysis with devotional/spiritual reflections of some of the greatest thinkers of the 20th and 21st century to discover what they meant for the world he was speaking to, as well as what they mean for us today.

The Belhar Confession
Sunday, March 15
Borwell Dining Room and livestreamed
Jeff Doane, former Fourth Church Associate Pastor
Register here

Our second confession of resistance in the Presbyterian tradition is The Confession of Belhar, which emerged in the midst of the oppressive circumstances of apartheid in South Africa. Crafted to follow the pattern of The Theological Declaration of Barmen (discussed last fall), it first states what we believe, and then names what we reject. It was affirmed by The Dutch Reformed Mission Church in 1986 and finally approved by The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A) in 2016. How might these prophetic words inform us as progressive Christians, grappling with our increasingly authoritarian civic order?

Copies will be available at Reception, and before the class on March 15.

The Other Man Behind Handel’s Messiah
Sunday, March 22
Borwell Dining Room and livestreamed
John Clum, Professor Emeritus of Theater Studies and English at Duke and Fourth Church member
Register here

John Clum will lead us in discussion about Charles Jennens, an English landholder, art expert, Biblical scholar, and the librettist for many of Handel's major oratorios including MESSIAH. John will tell the story of the friendship and artistic collaboration of Handel and Jennens and discuss Jennens’ text for the most performed oratorio.

No classes:
• March 29, 2026 Palm Sunday
• April 5, 2026 Easter

If you want to tap into the rich resources of previous classes, simply click on this link to find all the adult education classes that were recorded.

Videos of Tom Are’s Bible Study on Philippians

During the pandemic, Tom Are wrote a short book, Joy Even on Your Worst Days, which he calls “a preacher’s read of Philippians.”

Using the book as a guide, in autumn 2024 Tom led us in exploring the letter of Philippians, the most joyful writing in the Bible even though it was written while Paul was in prison.

You can view the four presentations from the Bible study here:

Video of Session 1
Video of Session 2
Video of Session 3
Video of Session 4

Give Us Your Input

To make an inquiry for information or to send evaluative comments, or to suggest a future course offering, email the Adult Education office.

Recommendation Form for a class or speaker
Proposal Form to submit a class of your own for consideration

Staff/Contact Information

Matt Helms
Associate Pastor
Email

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