SUNDAY DISCIPLESHIP OPTIONS

This page has Sunday School options for adults.  To find out more about Sunday School options for children and teenagers (and about seasonal Sunday night opportunities) click below.  To contact our interim Sunday School Director, Cathy Hyatt, please click here.

Sunday school- 9:45 a.m.

The church family gathers to study God's Word in community on Sunday mornings at 9:45.  Studying together brings out aspects of God's Word that otherwise may have gone unnoticed!  There's also the fellowship aspect, as conversations, for some, happen more naturally during Sunday school than during the worship service.  

There are ongoing classes and topical classes, offering flexible options.  For example:
  • Some choose a class based on the relationships they have with others in the class; they grow spiritually through studying among those people.  
  • Others choose a class based on the topic; they grow spiritually through the content study.  
  • Still others may attend a class regularly, but may take a 4-8 week break to attend a special-emphasis class, and then return to their former class once it's over.  
Regardless of which style you prefer, there are plenty of choices below, and we pray the Lord uses them to help you grow in relationship with Him and with His people, the Church.
Class Title: Sunday Morning Refill
Led by: Natalie & Hunter Pate
Duration: Ongoing
Class Style: Guided Group Discussion
Class Composition: Adult Co-Ed
Class Location: Room 306
Overview:  If you stop by Room 306 on a Sunday morning, you'll find a place to fellowship your way through discipleship with spiritually-focused conversation-starters each week, beginning with nuggets from each book of the Bible. Coffee brews at 9:45 and stays warm until 10:45.  Some people may even call this the Sunday School for people who aren't good at Sunday School-- ha! This class format has no curriculum, no "homework," and no weekly commitment in order to grow from your time participating.  There is no "teacher" (since we're all learning), but Hunter and Natalie Pate will be there to get the coffee brewing.  Class is for any age, so if this sounds interesting to you, then you're very welcome to attend!
Class Title: Explore the Bible
Led by: A triad of rotating facilitators
Duration: Spring 2023
Class Style: Group Discussion
Class Composition: Adult Co-Ed
Class Location: Room 206
Overview: God doesn't just want us to read His Word, He wants us to know it and live its truth. That's why Explore the Bible: Adults takes groups book by book through Scripture, framing every passage in its appropriate biblical and cultural context. This spring, this class will continue its study of John (12-21), moving on from its last study of John 1-11. In these later chapters, we find Jesus teaching His disciples much about being a Christ follower in a hostile world. Christians still need to understand and embrace those principles, which makes studying John 12–21 imperative.
Class Title: My Encounter with Jesus
Led by: Mark Whitley & Cathy Hyatt
Duration: March 5 - April 9
Class Style: Direct Instruction with Group Discussion
Class Composition: Adult Co-Ed
Class Location: Room 303
Overview:  We are living in an epidemic of loneliness and isolation. A recent study by Harvard revealed that 36 percent of Americans experience a serious level of loneliness. That sense of loneliness and isolation is greater in some groups, like young adults and mothers with small children. Relationships and connection matter. We need those encounters in order to thrive. Throughout this study we are going to see what happens when people encounter Jesus in their moment of need. He reached out to a woman alone at a well, healed a man born blind, showed compassion to a woman caught in sin, and willingly died on a cross and was raised from the dead to meet our greatest need. Jesus was always meeting and transforming people just when they needed Him most.  If you have ever needed Jesus to meet you, then this study is for you. If you have ever needed your life transformed, then there is a message for you in these texts. However, be prepared. Jesus often asked those He encountered difficult questions. He often caused them to reflect and think about their lives, their sin, and their future. He was even known to ask them to do difficult things, but this is how transformation works.  Transformation happens as we encounter Jesus.
Class Title: Big Events of the Old Testament
Led by: Roger Haas
Duration: January - June 2023
Class Style: Direct Instruction
Class Composition: Adult Co-Ed
Class Location: Room 201
Overview: The Old Testament is one of the most exciting books in all of literature- and it’s true!  God’s work through the nation of Israel is an important background study for Christians to understand.  This semester-long class will take a journey through many of the big events of Old Testament history.  These lessons will help participants understand when and why things happened as God dealt with the nation of Israel and how it set up the New Testament and affects our lives today as well.
Class Title: The Gospel Project: Chronological
Led by: Jo Barringer
Duration: Ongoing
Class Style: Direct Instruction with Group Discussion
Class Composition: Adult Co-Ed
Class Location: Room 204
Overview: This class is continues in its chronological study of the Holy Bible. Participants can join in at anytime, as it revolves and is ongoing. During this portion of the ongoing series, the class will transition into its study of the Bible by moving into the New Testament. Heaven met earth in the most profound way when the Son of God, the Creator of everything, in the fullness of time, entered into His creation as a human being. From His miraculous conception and birth to His temptation and ultimately to His saving work on the cross, Jesus remained faithful to His mission to fulfill the Law and the Prophets as He embodied the love of God for His image-bearers. Class participants will be challenged to respond to this Savior with faith and with God’s love for a lost and dying world.
Class Title: Senior Adult 4
Led by: Cindy Stafford
Duration: Ongoing (Series listed below is May-August 2023)
Class Style: Direct Instruction
Class Composition: Senior Adult Co-Ed
Class Location: Room 103-A
Overview: There are four very interesting units for this quarter using the curriculum from Next Sunday Resources:

  1. The Work of the Holy Spirit: We will explore the work of the Spirit in creation, in redemption, and in sanctification.
  2. Women of the New Testament: This unit will look at the Samaritan woman, the sisters Mary and Martha, Dorcas, and Lydia.
  3. The Prophet Isaiah: Portions of the first 39 chapters will be discussed in this unit.
  4. Family Relationships: This unit will consider families of the Bible and will look at four principles of family life.

Come join us to explore these exciting topics together.
Class Title: Senior Adult 4
Led by: Cindy Stafford
Duration: Ongoing (Series listed below is May-August 2023)
Class Style: Direct Instruction
Class Composition: Senior Adult Co-Ed
Class Location: Room 103-A
Overview: There are four very interesting units for this quarter using the curriculum from Next Sunday Resources:

  1. The Work of the Holy Spirit: We will explore the work of the Spirit in creation, in redemption, and in sanctification.
  2. Women of the New Testament: This unit will look at the Samaritan woman, the sisters Mary and Martha, Dorcas, and Lydia.
  3. The Prophet Isaiah: Portions of the first 39 chapters will be discussed in this unit.
  4. Family Relationships: This unit will consider families of the Bible and will look at four principles of family life.

Come join us to explore these exciting topics together.
Class Title: James
Led by: Frank Critz
Duration: Undetermined
Class Style: Direct Instruction
Class Composition: Adult Co-Ed
Class Location: Room 103-B
Overview: This class is exegetical in nature, going verse-by-verse through various books of the Bible.  Participants who appreciate detail, language study, and history with theology will enjoy this class.  The current book of study is the New Testament book of James.
Class Title: Be Complete: Become the Whole Person God Intends You to Be
Led by: Pam Bailey
Duration: Undetermined
Class Style: Book Study with Group Discussion
Class Composition: Adult Co-Ed
Class Location: Room 207

Overview: We live in an age when everyone is trying to live richer, fuller lives. We're told to buy this, try that, eat those, and say no to the rest, as if that's all we need to do to make our lives complete.  Two thousand years ago, the church at Colossae faced similar challenges. The Apostle Paul wrote a letter outlining the only way we can live complete lives: Christ. What can we learn today from this ancient church?  Called by many scholars the "most profound letter Paul ever wrote," Colossians warrants a careful, faithful study. In this short, but exciting letter, Paul makes the case for the supremacy of Christ in all things. Best selling author and teacher Warren Wiersbe calls attention to Paul's essential thoughts on living a complete life—Christ alone—in this study on Colossians.  Class participants will undoubtedly have ample opportunity to grow in the depth and richness of this biblical epistle and modern-day life application in this discussion-based class.
Special Needs
First Baptist has a class dedicated to spiritually guiding those with special needs, developmental delays, etc., regardless of their age.  The class is tailored to meet the needs of the students as they come and changes fluidly with the class members' needs. Class is led by Patti Miller.

1st Floor, Room 105-A

Sunday night classes

First Baptist offers seasonal discipleship courses for adults during the year, most often in the mid-Winter, though not exclusively so.  Keep checking back for opportunities and details as they become available.