Adult Formation
Part of growing deeper in Christ is committing to personal study and spiritual conversations with others. Our Adult Formation ministry gives you opportunities to take what you read, learn, and hear in worship and turn it into a faithful and compassionate way of living.
We know getting across Charlotte during the week can be difficult, so we use a combination of virtual and in-person gatherings to make it easy for you.
Classes and Studies
Rather than just providing information, our classes and programs create experiences that engage and transform our hearts and actions. Time together as a community nurtures us personally and encourages us to pour out the love of Christ to all.
During the school year we offer classes that focus on scripture, theology, and/or discipleship every Sunday morning at 9:45 a.m. You can join these classes in-person at our church or online via Zoom.
During the week, Bible studies and small groups meet weekly at various times and places. Pathways to Discipleship, an online database of resources, provides materials to further your studies and recordings of past classes.
Passages Sunday School
Join the warm community in this class for biblically and theologically based lessons and discussions to help adults of all ages respond to the call to live faithfully in the world today. Topics include scriptural study, theology, church history, mental wellness, and outreach. View the fall 2025 syllabus here. Register for Zoom: fpc.tiny.us/passagessundayclass
- Nov. 16 | The Scots-Irish Part 1 – Against All Odds, The Presbyterian Church Prevails in Scotland and is Spread to Northern Ireland by the Resolute Scots-Irish
- Nov. 23 | The Scots-Irish Part 2 – Hardy Scots-Irish Migrate from Northern Ireland to the American Colonies, Establish the Presbyterian Church, and Make an Enduring Contribution to the Culture of What Would Become the United States
November 30- December 7 | Advent: The birth and return of Christ – led by Rev. Dr. Lewis Galloway, Transitional Pastor at First Presbyterian
- The four Sundays of Advent prepare us for the coming of Jesus not only as an infant in Bethlehem but also as the Returning Lord at the end of time. On the first two Sundays of Advent, the class will examine what the Bible and Christian traditions say about the birth and return of Christ.
January 4 – February 1 | The Book of Isaiah – led by Becky and John Hart
In this series on the Book of Isaiah, we will visit its promise of new beginnings in the midst of a chaotic world. The prophet Isaiah paints vivid images of a time of both grief and glory, conflict and compassion, and sends out promising shoots of hope for the coming of the long-awaited Messiah. Join to discover anew your favorite passages and promises.
If you would like to view recordings of First Presbyterian’s Sunday School Classes since 2020, visit Pathways to Discipleship at fpcpathways.com
The Bible Jesus Read
This weekly overview of the Hebrew Bible (traditionally called the Old Testament by Christians) brings together head and heart. Participants explore the story of God’s relationship with God’s people, learn about interpreting diverse genres of biblical text, and gain an appreciation for the startling variety and moving depth of sacred writings that Jesus knew and lived by. Open to all ages.
Led by Parish Associate Rob Spach.
Join via Zoom
Passcode: TBJR
Spiritual Direction
Are you longing for a deeper connection with God? Curious about where God may be leading you? Spiritual Direction can help you deepen your relationship with God or discern God’s calling in your life. Sessions are guided by a trained spiritual director and may include prayer, conversation, and silence, offering an unhurried space to share freely without fear of judgment. If you have questions about spiritual direction, contact Rob Spach at rspach@firstpres-charlotte.org, or scan the QR code to schedule your first session online!
Frequency: Once a month
Length: One hour per session
Duration: Up to six sessions available per individual
Location: In person at the church or virtual
Cost: No cost for First Presbyterian Church members and staff
Tuesday Morning Bible Study
Resumes September 17th.
Inspired by writers such as Richard Rohr, Amy-Jill Levine, Barbara Brown Taylor, Greg Boyle, and Jonathan Sacks, this group seeks a profound awareness of God’s presence and revelation in Jesus Christ that leads us to greater compassion for others. Book topics include scriptural study, theology, ethical living, and spirituality. All are welcome.
Bread for the Journey
Join to engage in questions and responses that flow from reading a weekly Gospel passage together. No preparation is needed. Bring your lunch if you’d like.
Rob Spach, Parish Associate, will provide the text and guide the conversation each week. This offering is open to all ages.
Thursday Morning Men’s Bible Study
Resumes September 5th.
This is a Bible study in the purest sense of that word. Our primary focus and the question that guides our scriptural reading is how a particular passage shapes our daily living. New participants are always welcome.
“Pathways to Discipleship” | Additional Resources
We offer a database of additional resources so you can continue your education whenever it’s convenient for you. Resources include recordings of past classes and resources to read or listen to.
The Willard is an annual event that engages our faith tradition with relevant issues including justice, human dignity, and inclusion. It is sponsored by The Willard Endowment of First Presbyterian Church, a fund that was established in memory of Charles R. Willard, Jr.
The Willard Lecture with Dr. Sherry Turkle
March 1, 2026 | 5:30-7 PM | First Presbyterian Church Sanctuary
Our world has shifted from face-to-face conversation to speaking through machines, and now "we have taken a further step and speak not just through machines to but to machines. This is a turning point. When we consider conversations with machines about our most human predicaments, we face a moment of reckoning that can bring us to the end of our forgetting. It is an opportunity to reaffirm what makes us most human.” (Reclaiming Conversation, p. 17)
Dr. Sherry Turkle is the Abby Rockefeller Mauzé Professor of the Social Studies of Science and Technology in the Program in Science, Technology, and Society at MIT. She’s also the author of “Alone Together: Why We Expect More from Technology and Less from Each Other” (2012), "Reclaiming Conversation: The Power of Talk in a Digital Age" (2015), and "The Empathy Diaries: A Memoir" (2021). She is the founding director of the Initiative on Technology and Self, a center of research and reflection on the evolving connections between people and artifacts. One of the first scientists to examine AI as it was being created, Turkle argues that over-reliance on devices is harming our ability to have valuable face-to-face conversations – “the most human thing we do” – by splitting our attention and diminishing our capacity for empathy.
Dr. Turkle favors a mindful integration of the digital into our lives by balancing ethics with our use of technology. In her lecture, she will explore Artificial Intimacy and how relying on machines sidesteps the process of mourning, discourages resilience, and undermines empathy. But she won’t leave us there - she will also guide us to consciously reclaim and nurture empathy in our workplaces, communities, schools, and homes.
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