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Inviting Community (Bible Class)

Inviting Community, led by Pastor Ted Hopkins
Sundays @ 9:45 a.m.: March 16, 23, 30, and April 6

Beginning Sunday, March 16, all of Chapel's Bible study groups will meet together in the sanctuary for a Bible study on the church, community, and mission led by guest Bible study leader and pastor, Ted Hopkins. We hope all of our members at Chapel are able to join us for this terrific Bible study.

Inviting CommunityOverview of Bible Study:

Questions about the church are particularly pressing today as the church has lost its place of privilege in society. The church is not the only game in town, so to speak. Children play soccer games on Sunday mornings; movie theaters are open on Sundays; Saturday night has become the late party night. All of these things have had a dramatic impact on congregations. In light of these problems, it is imperative that we once again drive toward the center of what the Bible says about the church and how we can be church to our community. Pastor Ted Hopkins will lead a four week study on a new book from Concordia Seminary Press, called Inviting Community. This study will address such questions as: What is the church? What is the church called to be? What role does worship play in our common life together and in our outreach to the community? How do my individual gifts and joys fit into the life of the church? To answer these questions biblically is to see how God calls his church into Christ's own mission and sends the church forth to invite others into the community of God.

Biography for Ted Hopkins:

Rev. Theodore Hopkins is an editor of a new book by Concordia Seminary Press, Inviting Community. He is also an adjunct professor of Systematic Theology at Concordia Seminary, and he teaches theology at Lutheran High School South. Pastor Hopkins is passionate about the church, and helping the church to be what God has called it to be. He enjoys spending time with his wife Beth and playing trains and reading books with his 3 year old son Thomas.

Book and Study Guide

Chapel will provide study guides for all Bible study participants. You may also download the study guide below. The book, Inviting Community, will be available for sale in the Commons Area and Crocus Bookstore for the discounted price, $10 each (marked down from $15). Purchase of the book is optional but encouraged for those interested in reading the full collection of essays on the church, community, and mission.

View/Print Inviting Community Study Guide (5.3 MB, .pdf file)

Listen to archived studies from this series here