STUDIES

Join us for a Bible study with great fellowship and scripture discussion every Wednesday morning!

Offered during children's choir and intended for those with little ones in their lives! So many adults know that God is so much bigger than the list of do's and don'ts they were taught about as children. They want to pass along a faith that children don't have to heal from. Woven is the guidebook parents and parent figures have been looking for. With a deep reverence for scripture and suggested activities to help your family grow in faith together. Woven is for adults who want to go beyond a list of do's and don'ts and pass along a resilient faith based on a genuine love for and trust in God.

As we head into the season of Lent, perhaps you are wanting to learn more about this important time in our church calendar.  Pastor Madison leads a series of special lessons for Sunday School during Lent titled "The Body and the Blood".  These lessons explore how we as United Methodists narrate the story of the cross.

March 9: What Did the Cross Accomplish? - An Overview of Atonement Theologies and John Wesley's Interpretation

March 16: Did Jesus Really Have to Die? - Notions of Sin, Salvation, and the Necessity of Violence

March 23: What Does the Cross Symbolize? - Notions of Terror, Trauma, and the Glorification of Suffering

March 30: What is My Cross to Bear? - Notions of Guilt, Shame, Love, and Self-Sacrifice

April 6: Professor Pop-Up with Dr. Natalya Cherry from Brite Divinity School

April 13: Were You There? A New Way of Experiencing Holy Week and Seeing Yourself in the Story

This Lent, ponder the themes of justice, poverty, freedom, and love.

Each Gospel offers a different lens through which we understand Jesus’ Passion. One portrait reveals Jesus to be in control, while another emphasizes his suffering. In one story Jesus offers hope to the thief on the cross, and in another Jesus only receives derision. These different perspectives aren’t a reason to dismiss the Gospels; rather the reveal an abundant, diverse, and complementary picture of God’s work in the suffering, death, and resurrection of Jesus.

In 2025, First UMC Arlington is focused on sharing our faith stories, and during the last part of Lent, we'll have a chance to hone those story-telling skills. Loni Fancher, Director of Youth Formation leads this study exploring the power of sharing our faith stories, reflecting on how God has worked in our lives and how those stories can encourage, inspire, and connect us with others. How to Tell a Story: The Essential Guide to Memorable Storytelling from the Moth is a practical guide on how to craft, share, and engage others with meaningful and authentic stories. This Lenten book study focuses on how to tell your own personal faith story and how to speak about your experiences of God's presence in your life with authenticity and impact.