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.
The Village
Begins August 23
Open to adults of all ages, but especially targeting parents of elementary school-aged children, The Village class embodies the truth that “it takes a village” through authentic conversation around topics that intersect with modern Christian life, including marriage, parenting, vocation, theology, ethics, and more. This group also occasionally gathers for coffee and fellowship just down the street from First Pres, so keep an eye on the calendar for those dates!
Lifting Up the Lowly: The Gospel of Luke
Begins August 23
Open to adults of all ages, this Bible-focused class is taught by Parish Associate Rob Spach. This year, the class will focus on the Gospel of Luke, especially on encounters between Jesus and people who have been marginalized. These conversations reveal God’s love and care for all those the world considers lowly, and they serve as a call to action for Christians seeking to live out the gospel today.
Passages Sunday School
Resumes August 23
Open to adults of all ages and taught by a variety of teachers from week to week, the Passages class offers opportunities to engage with the Bible, theology, Christian ethics, contemporary issues, the arts, and a range of other topics through the lens of the gospel. Some topics we’ll explore this year include: Speaking the Truth in Love: How Should the Church Respond to Divided Times?, Siblings in the Faith: Amish and Mennonite Traditions, Jewish Festivals and the New Testament, and more!
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 1.
Inspired by writers such as Cynthia Bourgeault, 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.
Thursday Morning Men’s Bible Study
Join to engage in questions and responses that flow from reading a Biblical text according to the ancient practice of lectio continua. No preparation is needed.
Chuck Williamson, Parish Associate, will guide the conversation each week.
“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.
FPC Travels
The mission of Adult Formation is to encourage and inspire our congregation to become lifelong and faithful followers of Christ. Just as much of Jesus’ ministry took place on roads and hillsides outside the synagogue, trips with FPC outside the walls of the church provide meaningful and transformational education.
FPC travelers immerse themselves in experiential learning, share their new findings with fellow travelers, and observe how studying in alternative contexts inspires fresh insights when they return home. Join FPC Travels for a first-hand look at how God is at work in the world. Contact Garrell Keesler for more information about FPC Travels.
“Reformed and Always Reforming” – Switzerland, Germany, and France
SEPTEMBER 20 – OCTOBER 2, 2027
Our Protestant tradition calls us to always be reforming, which means that we, both personally and as a church, are always listening for and aligning ourselves with the ways God is moving in the world. In this 13-day trip, we’ll have a chance to learn about the faith of Martin Luther, John Calvin, and Ulrich Zwingli that led them to seek reform of the 16th-century Church, sparking the Protestant Reformation. Through shared worship, learning, and fellowship, we will deepen our understanding of our Reformed heritage and reflect on what it means to be “Reformed and always reforming” today.
Our education will begin in sessions before the trip as we learn about the reformers’ efforts that shaped the Church as well as the history of the West. On the trip through Germany, France, and Switzerland, we will visit sites linked to the Protestant Reformation, spend time in delightful cities such as Heidelberg, Geneva, and Strasbourg, and have a somber visit to Buchenwald, the German concentration camp. View itinerary and trip details
Please note that this is a fast-paced trip with about 8,000 steps and lots of standing each day. Pricing and more details will be available in early August.
Sign up begins September 17 and will be limited to 40 travelers.
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