Core Classes

Empowering Parents and Mentors to Reach Generation Alpha

Taught by April Harper and Kari Slabaugh

Description: Generation Alpha is here! Born in 2010 and later, this emerging generation is navigating a post-pandemic world, a digital landscape unlike anything before it, and big questions about identity, belonging, and faith, often without telling us. Whether you're a parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle, youth worker, coach, or simply someone who has a Gen Alpha kid in your life and wants to make a difference, this class is for you. In this four-week series, we'll dig into brand-new research from the Fuller Youth Institute on Gen Alpha and faith and explore what it means for anyone who loves and leads young people. Each week we'll unpack a key insight from the research, including why the adults closest to a young person matter more than ever, why everyday moments like home, car rides, and dinner tables are some of the most important places for spiritual conversations, how to listen in ways that build trust and open the door to deeper faith, and how to engage their digital world with wisdom and curiosity instead of fear. You don't have to be a perfect parent or a trained counselor to make a lasting impact on a young person's faith. You simply have to be present, pay attention, and be willing to listen. Each week you'll leave with practical conversation starters, simple next steps you can put into practice right away, and a clearer understanding of the young person in your life and the unique role you play in their faith journey.

Register for Empowering to Reach Generation Alpha

All in the Family - Global Perspectives on the Christian Movement

Todos en la Familia- Perspectivas Globales del Movimiento Cristiano

Taught by Brad Pontius and Sergio Lema

Description:  Join us for a four-week bilingual and interactive class exploring what it means to be one family in Christ across cultures and languages.
Through biblical reflection, meaningful conversations, and group activities, we will learn about the global Christian movement, hear one another’s stories, and discover practical ways to build a more united church community.
One faith. Many cultures. One family.

Acompáñanos en una clase bilingüe e interactiva de cuatro semanas para explorar lo que significa ser una sola familia en Cristo a través de diferentes culturas e idiomas. Por medio de reflexiones bíblicas, conversaciones significativas y actividades en grupo, conoceremos el movimiento cristiano global, escucharemos las historias de los demás y descubriremos maneras prácticas de construir una comunidad cristiana más unida.
Una fe. Muchas culturas. Una familia.

Register for All in the Family / Todas en la Familia

 Jesus, the Pentateuch and You

Taught by Grant Gardner and Matt Nussbaum

Description :The Pentateuch is the first five books of the Bible: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. These first five books set up themes and foundations that the entire Bible will build around, and despite this, they are often the most overlooked and under read books of the Bible among many Christians today. Our goal is to show you how these books will actually give you a deeper understanding of Jesus and His purpose, and that through that, you will walk away changed by the gravity of God’s love that has been present since the very beginning. 

Register for Jesus, the Pentateuch and You

 Major Denominational Differences, with a Context of Church History

Taught by John Ray

Description:There are roughly 50,000 Christian denominations found in at least 20 families (Roman Catholic, Orthodox, Miaphysiate, Nestorian, Lutheran, Reformed wing, Anglican, Anabaptist, Baptist, Pentecostal [and Irvingites], Holiness, Methodist and other Pietists, Adventists, Plymouth Brethren, Hussite, Waldensian, Quaker, Stone-Campbell, Messianic Jews, Old Catholic)  -  and this doesn't even count several denomination groups in Russia, Asia, and Africa.  Given 4 weeks, not even 20, the plan is not to discuss every denomination nor every family.  Instead, the first week, we will look at how denominations even came into existence.  The second, look at the "Catholics," lumping together the Roman Catholics, Old Catholics, Miaphysites, Nestorians, and Orthodox.  The third week, the Magisterial Reformation (Lutheran, Reformed Wing, and Anglican).  And the fourth, lumping the Anabaptists with Baptists and Stone-Campbell.  Doing it this way, every group will feel slighted, but the intent is to give a framework from which to approach these topics on your own.  This is not a Church History lesson, but the topic is approached from the perspective of Church History.  We will also approach the topic from how  particular denominations differ from the general, historical understandings of the Stone-Campbell movement, since this Sherwood Oaks Christian Church is part of that body.

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The Practicum on Prayer

Taught by Claire Roth

Description :This Core Class might be for you if you want to deepen and broaden your experience and understanding of prayer.  Through teaching, discussion, and practical application, this class is designed to take participants into new experiences in developing their prayer life. We will discuss common barriers to prayer, share experiences and practical pointers, and most importantly, we will spend time praying together.  Each class will feature a short teaching time based largely on class-generated topics, some Q and A time, and a prayer exercise.  This class is a great place to get some tools, pointers, and practices to boost your prayer life.

Register for The Practicum on Prayer

Serving with Sherwood Kids Core

Contact Katie Edwards

Description : We are called to make disciples and leading children to know the life changing power of Jesus in their lives couldn’t be more important work.  Sherwood Kids Core this fall will be focused on knowing God in a personal way. We will be introducing students to the ways they can know God by meditating on his word, praying in every situation, and being empowered to study the Bible on their own. We pray every leader and student will walk away knowing they are fully known and loved by Jesus and have some practical new ways to know God more. 

Register to Serve with Sherwood Kids Core