The Millenials
A Different Kind of Bible Study in A Different Kind of Place ...
The Millennnials adult education Bible study class was begun almost a year ago at the behest of Amanda Jackson who had a desire for a Bible study class that focused on off-the-beaten-path topics not normally covered in conventional Bible studies. She was further interested in utilizing biblical language word studies when appropriate and so approached Pastor Matt about leading such a class. Matt had been looking for just such an opportunity and, together, they formed the first class which met at the Flying M Cafe located in downtown Boise. For that first class, others were invited to participate. Today, the class has a solid core of about 6-8, at times as many as 10 or more. The Pastor named the class after the constituency it seeks to primarily reach: younger adults, between the ages of mid-20s to early 30s, a generational group sociologists have termed "Millennials." Thus said, the class is not closed to anyone who has a desire to show; besides the pastor, another steady attender is just 50.
The class is strictly discussion based, facilitated by the pastor, and each class centers on a subject of discussion brought by and of interest to the class members themselves. Mid-week, the pastor sends out via e-mail a short set of discussion questions concerning the topic with appropriate Bible texts in order to "prime the pump;" for the class study and discussion. Everyone brings various translations/editions of the Bible and the scriptures are engaged to begin a theological exploration of the topic at hand. Some subjects of study covered have been sexual ethics; the meaning of Sabbath; God's justice vs. God's grace; the sacredness of life vis-a-vis abortion/capitol punishment/war; the development of the concept of the Trinity or the Triune God; the current relevance of levitical injunctions against tattoos, lying, and homosexuality; God and suicide; the meaning of grace vs. behavior in terms of salvation as expressed by Paul and James; etc. The class members most often contribute the topics for study and discussion; other weeks, Pastor Matt picks the topics. Currently, the class is taking a chapter by chapter in-depth look at Paul's letter to the Roman church to study the nature of early doctrinal Christianity and the formation of the faith. Again, original word studies are used when needed or desired. The underlying question for all topics is, "How does this apply to our lives today?"
The only stipulation is the class meets over coffee at a cafe, not at church, because caffeine and the informal atmosphere of a cafe offers a more inviting approach for a study of this kind to people of this age range. Eventually the Flying M ran out of room for the class so it now meets at the Moxie Java cafe in the Vista Village Shopping Center close by to church. For the summer (until September 9, 2007), class meets after church at 12:00; the rest of the year (starting September 9, 2007) it meets at 1:00 PM and usually goes to 1.5-2 hours. While most of the participants are anywhere from 24-30 years of age, our group is an eclectic one, running the gamut from Africans from Ghana to divorced mothers to disenfranchised Mormons to native Idahoans and more, all seeking deeper levels of engagement with the Bible and life, with no subject being off limits for study. And perhaps, this is an apt description for 'Millennial.' Seeking a different type of Bible study? Check us out at Moxie Java. All are invited despite one's age. Another thing that defines being Millennial is they don't bite.