“I want to say thank you to everyone for welcoming me to this class, and to my sister for her constant invitations until I said yes. I was really unsure of doing a “bible study” because that felt complicated and the idea refreshed some past church hurts. But this group is just an amazing group of people that felt so welcoming and started to heal some hurt I have had from church. So thank you.”

🤍  Abbie 

CURRENT & UPCOMING CLASSES

Better Ways to Read the Bible: Transforming a Weapon of Harm into a Tool of Healing

By Zach Lambert

8 Sessions, Once a Month, 2nd Mondays
September – April

9/14/26, 10/12/26, 11/9/26, 12/14/26, 1/11/27, 2/8/27, 3/8/27, 4/12/27
7:30 – 9:00 pm ET

Do you have difficulty reconciling the God revealed in the Old Testament with the love of Jesus Christ in the New Testament? Have you been hurt by harmful interpretations?  Find your way back to the Bible’s good news.

One of the first things we learn in seminary is to examine our presuppositions (lenses) which we bring to reading the Bible. Through this study, we will discover and dismantle four common lenses that lead to harm and discover four Christ-centered alternatives, along with testing out these lenses on a familiar biblical text. Meeting once a month from September through April, we will be taking the time for this study to truly transform us. This book welcomes all – regardless of background, doubts, or wounds – to reengage Scripture in life-giving ways:

• break free from harmful interpretations that distort Scripture’s true message,
• develop Christ-centered reading practices,
• renew your relationship with Scripture,
• apply new frameworks to challenging Bible passages that have historically been misused to cause harm, and
• connect with Christians who embrace Scripture’s call to abundant life for everyone.

Zach Lambert is the Lead Pastor and co-founder of Restore. Born and raised in Austin, he holds a Bachelors of Science in Communication, a Masters of Theology, and is currently pursuing a Doctorate of Ministry at Duke Divinity School.

Bonhoeffer: A Study in Courage

By James C. Howell

6 Sessions, Weekly 
Tuesdays, October 6 – November 10, 2026

7:30 – 9:00 pm ET

One of the most inspirational studies involves learning about the saints from the past. Join us in studying scripture with Dietrich Bonhoeffer – a pastor, theologian, and spy who had to live out his faith under one of the darkest regimes in human history. What does it actually look like to follow Jesus when the stakes are high? This study isn’t about having all the answers. It is a safe space for honest questions, deep wrestling, and real community.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer – German pastor and lifelong reader of Scripture whose engagement with the Bible shaped his identity, guided his pastoral work, and sustained his resistance to Nazi tyranny. Bonhoeffer’s close reading of Scripture became God’s call during turbulent times, and a bold awareness that his life belonged to God, even in the face of uncertainty, suffering, and evil. As the world today is rapidly changing in ways that feel incompatible with Christianity, we will discover hope and a stronger, more confident faith in Christ.

James C. Howell, is senior pastor of Myers Park United Methodist Church, Charlotte, NC. He studied chemistry and physics at the University of South Carolina and holds a PhD and MDiv from Duke University. Howell is a dynamic preacher and teacher and has published 20 books. 

The Prayers of Jesus

6 Sessions, Weekly
Thursdays, September 17 – October 22, 2026 

7:30 pm – 9:00 pm ET

How do we create for ourselves a life of prayer? Explore sites in the Holy Land (on video) where Jesus prayed. Jesus gave us a way of living, a way of praying that actively engages with God every moment, every day.

• Watch and Pray (Jesus’ Model Prayer Life)
• Our God Listens (The Persistent Widow)
• Joining in Jesus’ Prayer (The Lord’s Prayer)
• Praying to a Good God (The Friend at Midnight)
• Praying with Purpose (Jesus’ Final Prayer)
• A Friend in High Places (Faith & Answers)

All you need for this class is a Bible, any version.

Great Sermons: Dry Bones
Bishop LaTrelle Easterling

Sunday, October 25, 2026
7:00 – 9:00 pm ET

Ezekiel 37:1-24

This past summer, the 2026 Session of the Western North Carolina Annual Conference opened with a powerful worship service inviting everyone to reflect on the changing world while remaining rooted in Jesus Christ. Bishop LaTrelle Easterling challenged worshipers to move beyond comfort and complacency and respond to God’s call with courage, compassion, and faith.  She encouraged church congregations to become places where people experience both spiritual transformation and practical expressions of Christ’s love. Bishop Easterling’s words were met with multiple rounds of standing ovations and applause as she recognized and called out injustices in the world. 

We will view portions of the service, read and discuss the scripture prior to viewing the sermon online together. No preparation is required.

Bishop LaTrelle Easterling is the episcopal leader of the Baltimore-Washington and Peninsula-Delaware Area. Easterling received a bachelor’s degree in Telecommunications and Political Science from Indiana University and a Doctor of Jurisprudence from Indiana University School of Law. She graduated summa cum laude in 2004 with a Master of Divinity from Boston University School of Theology.

Great Sermons: For All The Saints
Rev. David Beam

Sunday, November 1, 2026
7:00 – 9:00 pm

Isaiah 61:1-3 and Luke 4:16-21

During the 2026 Session of the Western North Carolina Annual Conference, Rev. David Beam preached during the Celebration of Life Service, remembering and naming clergy and clergy spouses who had died during the previous year. David spoke tenderly about the death of his wife, sharing the assurance he received from God during her illness: “I’ve got her. I’ve got you. And I’ve got this.” His message held grief and resurrection hope together, reminding worshippers that God remains present with those who mourn.

November 1 is All Saints Day. We will gather online to learn more about what we believe about the communion of saints and to remember and name those we love who have died. We will view portions of the service, read and discuss the scripture prior to viewing the sermon online together. No preparation is required.

David W. Beam serves as Senior Pastor of Mt. Tabor United Methodist Church in Winston-Salem, NC. A graduate of Brevard College, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and Duke Divinity School. David is known for his thoughtful preaching, pastoral care, and deep love for the Church. David’s wife, Angie, passed away in October 2023 after a courageous six-year battle with breast cancer. This sermon not only celebrates all the saints who have gone before us but also honors those who loved them. 

Wakening in the Word

Returns January 2027
Sunday Mornings
9:00 am – 10:15 am (Eastern)

No preparation, just a time to read a Bible story, discuss and pray together. Come as you are. Come when you can.

Wakening Reads

Monthly, Last Thursdays
Begins January 29, 2026
7:30-9:00 pm (Eastern)

So many books, so little time! So come and listen to what everyone else is reading. Bring whatever book you are reading at the moment and your beverage of choice for a casual conversation around whatever you wish to share. Or just listen. Trust me, there will be laughter. Come to one or all. No pressure.