ELECTIVES

Have you thought about becoming a Christian? Have you recently decided to make the Christian faith your own? Or have you identified as a Christian for many years, but maybe feel like you need a simple refresher in the gospel? In this elective, we will think through the basics of Christianity by exploring what Christians believe and how Christians are called to live. The goal by the end of the week is this: that you will understand how to grow closer to Christ, know the work of Christ, become more like Christ, and live for God’s glory and praise in all of life.

The Bible teaches that Christians go to heaven when they die. But what does that mean? What is heaven like? Will it be fun? Will it be scary? Will it be boring? Will we get tired of it? The Bible doesn’t answer all our questions on this subject, but it does give us frequent pictures and images to spark our God-given imagination of the world that is to come. Join us as we dive into the promise of the new heavens and new earth and the home that Jesus is preparing for his people.

We spend most of our days pursuing peace, pleasure & fun. In and of themselves, those aren't always bad things. God gives us pleasures and joys throughout our day-to-day lives, but he also gives us suffering. No one in their right mind would ask God to give them more pain and affliction, but it is often the primary avenue God uses to make us more like his Son, Jesus. In this class, we will consider why we suffer and how we can strive to live faithfully in the midst of a broken and hurting world.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 says, “All Scripture is breathed out by God and is profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” But sometimes God’s Word just doesn’t make sense. Just like understanding a diamond’s true value requires training to know what to look for, understanding God’s Word well involves knowing what to look for. Join me as we learn different methods of how to study our Bible, so that we can become people who are equipped for every good work!

Maybe you have been ready for this day for a looooong time, or maybe you’re feeling like you’re not quite ready for what’s next. Whichever one describes you, one thing is certain: your life is about to change, and maybe in some really significant ways. In this elective, we will look at life after High School and how you can not just follow, but live for the Lord in this next phase of your life.

How can I find beauty & truth in the music I listen to (even if that music isn’t “Christian")? How can I find God in music? Music speaks to our souls and to the world because music is art, and art is from God. The Psalms do the same thing. As St. Ambrose said, “The Psalms are a gymnasium for the soul.” Pull up for bops, chats, and reflections that compare & contrast modern songs with ancient Psalms in the ways they speak about beauty, Truth, and the things that resonate most deeply with us.

You can’t escape your body—but what does God actually think about it? In this elective, we’ll dive into Scripture to explore what God says about our bodies, why it matters that Jesus took on a body himself (John 1:14), and how God calls us to live in our bodies with purpose, not pressure. We’ll consider the extremes of obsessing over our bodies or neglecting them, and discover a better way: stewarding them for God’s glory. Anybody can join for this elective, but if you’ve ever wondered: “Is my body a problem or a gift?” “Does my faith have anything to do with how I look or feel?” “What does it mean to honor God with my body?” …this elective is for you.