Formation Groups

We think of our church as a vocational school where the goal is learning love.  The best learning happens when great instruction is combined with practical experience in the context of cooperative relationships.  Schools often refer to them as cohorts or learning labs.  We call them Formation Groups because the purpose of each group, regardless of its content, is spiritual formation.

Like most schools, our groups operate on a trimester schedule and are intended to be short-term experiences.  These are not life groups or home groups that meet weekly or monthly for the rest of your life.  Most groups meet for 6 weeks per session. Like most schools, we offer certain groups every term because we consider them essential and we hope everyone in our church eventually takes them, as well as "elective" groups for "continuing ed."

Fall 2026 Term - Registration now open

October 6 – November 10
Tuesdays: 6pm - 8pm

reading  the Bible Like Jesus
Facilitator: Mike O'Shea

The Bible has always held a special place in the Christian faith.  But it can be a source of confusion and division.  That is because the Bible is a written document, and like all written documents it has to be interpreted.  In this group we'll talk about what the Bible is, learn the keys to interpreting it well by investigating how Jesus himself read it, and practice methods of interpretation that lead to a spiritually mature life.
Register

Practicing the Way
Facilitator: Dana Keim

Most people assume Jesus lived the way he did simply because he was God. You can't live the way Jesus did because you're not Jesus. But what if Jesus was able to live the way he did largely because of the practices that shaped his humanity? Perhaps you could live more like Jesus if you allowed similar practices to shape your humanity. In this group we'll discuss the practices that shaped Jesus' humanity and build personalized plans that enable them to shape yours.
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Bible Study: Hebrews
Facilitator: Tyler Dunlap

The New Testament book of Hebrews is one of the richest texts in the Bible. But it is also one of the least understood and appreciated, largely because of our modern misunderstanding of the ancient practice of ritual sacrifice which is a prominent theme in the book. In this study we'll discuss the nature of Old Testament sacrifice and reimagine how the book of Hebrews illuminates the significance of Jesus' sacrificial death.
register

Future Schedule

Winter Term 2027: Wednesdays, 6PM–8PM, Jan. 20 – March 3
  • Seeing People As People (Facilitator: Dana Keim)
  • Practicing the Way (Facilitator: Mike O'Shea)
  • Systematic Theology (Facilitator: Tom Stuber)
  • Bible Study (Facilitator: Ann Rothhaus)
Spring Term 2027: Tuesdays, 6PM–8PM, April 20 – May 25
  • Church History (Facilitator: Mike O'Shea)
  • Practicing the Way (Facilitator: Dana Keim)
  • Intentional Parenting (Facilitator: SaraBeth Schmidt)
  • Bible Study (Facilitator: Ann Rothhaus)
Fall Term 2027: Tuesdays, 6PM-8PM, Sept. 28 - Nov. 11
  • Reading the Bible Like Jesus (Facilitator: Mike O'Shea)
  • Practicing the Way (Facilitator: Dana Keim)
  • Systematic Theology (Facilitator: Tom Stuber)
  • Bible Study (topic and facilitator TBA)