Adult Study

Disciple Bible Study II (Traditional Track)

Description Disciple Bible Study is designed to “equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ” (Ephesians 4:12). It is a program of disciplined Bible study aimed at developing your Christian faith. It focuses on the disciple as learner, believer, follower, proclaimer, and servant while providing the fellowship of a small group for study, prayer, preparation, support and servanthood. The Traditional Track is comprised of four, year-long courses beginning with Disciple 1 - “Becoming Disciples Through Bible Study (the starting point)”, Disciple 2 - “Inside the Word, Into the World”; Disciple 3 - “Remember Who You Are”; and Disciple 4 - “Under the Tree of Life.” This is a 34 week commitment (17 in the fall and 17 in the spring).

Dates and Time Mondays (Sept - April) from 6:00-8:30pm

Childcare Provided Yes

Time Commitments Outside of the Meeting There is study, reflection, and some preparation for the class.

Leader All of our leaders have taken Disciple Bible Study and many have taught classes for several years.

A Word from the Leader “The study of God's word helps strengthen, shape, mold, and fill the lives of Christians. This Bible study was created to equip God's children for their spiritual growth and for service in God's Kingdom.”

Sign up here

Disciple Bible Study II (Fast Track)

Description Disciple Bible Study is designed to “equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ” (Ephesians 4:12). It is a program of disciplined Bible study aimed at developing your Christian faith. It focuses on the disciple as learner, believer, follower, proclaimer, and servant while providing the fellowship of a small group for study, prayer, preparation, support and servanthood. In Disciple Fast Track, the fall session will study Genesis and Exodus.

Dates and Time Sundays (Sept - April) from 10:15-11:30am

Childcare Provided Yes

Time Commitments Outside of the Meeting There is study, reflection, and some preparation for the class.

Leader All of our leaders have taken Disciple Bible Study and many have taught classes for several years.

A Word from the Leader “The study of God's word helps strengthen, shape, mold, and fill the lives of Christians. This Bible study was created to equip God's children for their spiritual growth and for service in God's Kingdom.”

Sign up here

Disciple Bible Study I (Traditional Track)

Description Disciple Bible Study is designed to “equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ” (Ephesians 4:12). It is a program of disciplined Bible study aimed at developing your Christian faith. It focuses on the disciple as learner, believer, follower, proclaimer, and servant while providing the fellowship of a small group for study, prayer, preparation, support and servanthood. The Traditional Track is comprised of four, year-long courses beginning with Disciple 1 - “Becoming Disciples Through Bible Study (the starting point)”, Disciple 2 - “Inside the Word, Into the World”; Disciple 3 - “Remember Who You Are”; and Disciple 4 - “Under the Tree of Life.” This is a 34 week commitment (17 in the fall and 17 in the spring).

Dates and Time Mondays (Sept - April) from 6:00-8:00pm

Childcare Provided Yes

Time Commitments Outside of the Meeting There is study, reflection, and some preparation for the class.

Leader All of our leaders have taken Disciple Bible Study and many have taught classes for several years.

A Word from the Leader “The study of God's word helps strengthen, shape, mold, and fill the lives of Christians. This Bible study was created to equip God's children for their spiritual growth and for service in God's Kingdom.”

Sign up here

Disciple Bible Study I (Fast Track)

Description Disciple Bible Study is designed to “equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ” (Ephesians 4:12). It is a program of disciplined Bible study aimed at developing your Christian faith. It focuses on the disciple as learner, believer, follower, proclaimer, and servant while providing the fellowship of a small group for study, prayer, preparation, support and servanthood. In Disciple Fast Track, the fall session will study the New Testament.

Dates and Time Mondays (Sept - April) from 6:00-8:30pm

Childcare Provided Yes

Time Commitments Outside of the Meeting There is study, reflection, and some preparation for the class.

Leader All of our leaders have taken Disciple Bible Study and many have taught classes for several years.

A Word from the Leader “The study of God's word helps strengthen, shape, mold, and fill the lives of Christians. This Bible study was created to equip God's children for their spiritual growth and for service in God's Kingdom.”

Sign up here

“It’s OK to Ask That...” a CSM Parent Study

Description Equipping parents to respond to youth's tough questions. This 6 week study is for any parents of CSM students.

Dates and Time Wednesdays (Sept 12 through Oct 24) from 6:00-7:00pm

Childcare Provided Yes

Time Commitments Outside of the Meeting none

Leader Pastor Michael Pitzer has been serving as a youth director for Calvary for the past 17 years. During this time he has worked with 6-12th grades and young adults.

A Word from the Leader “The hope for this class is that parents will be more equipped and more confident to address tough questions about life and faith with their youth.”

Sign up here 

Financial Peace University

Description Do you worry about your debt?  Do you have a plan for retirement?  Do you want to know what God’s plan is for your money?  Do you know what the most fun thing to do with money is? Financial Peace University can answer all those questions and more!  FPU is about getting out of debt, planning for your future and your legacy, and learning how God wants us to handle our finances.

Dates and Time Two options:
Wednesdays from 6:00-8:00pm (Sept 12-Dec 5)  
Sundays from 9:00-10:00am (Sept 9-Dec 2)  
PREVIEWS held 8/19 and 8/28 at 9am

Childcare Provided Yes

Time Commitments Outside of the Meeting Wednesday class about 1 hour a week, Sunday class about 2 hours a week.

Leaders Members of Calvary since 2005, Adam and Nicole Shake took Financial Peace University in early 2014 after the death of Nicole's father.  After paying off nearly all their debt in just under 2 years, the Shake's felt called to share Dave Ramsey's life and legacy changing message with as many people as possible. Adam and Nicole live in Mackinaw with their 3 children, Bryan, Bobby, and Britney.

A Word from the Leaders “Financial Peace University will teach you how to use the money God has entrusted to your care in His ways.  Dave's lessons are a biblical approach to money management, borrowing, saving, investing, and giving.  Attendees will leave with a stronger understanding of the Bible's teachings about money.”

Sign up Wednesdays OR Sundays

Beth Moore Bible Study

Description Women's Bible study, "1 Peter: A Living Hope in Christ" by Jen Wilkin. This study helps readers discover what it means to experience the Living Hope they have in Christ.

Dates and Time Two options:
Tuesdays from 6:30-8:30pm (Sept 25 - Nov 20)  
Thursdays from 9:00-11:00am (Sept 20 - Nov 15)

Childcare Provided Available upon request

Time Commitments Outside of the Meeting About 30 minutes of work per day.

Leader Carolyn Brown has been leading the Beth Moore class for the last 14 years.

Sign up Tuesdays OR Thursdays

Mom's Book Study

Description Join fellow moms as we gather every other Monday night to discuss a Christian parenting book and share in the joys and struggles of motherhood.

Dates and Time September 17th, October 1, October 15, October 29, November 12 and November 26 from 6-8pm

Childcare Provided Yes

Time Commitments Outside of the Meeting Roughly one hour of reading over the course of 2 weeks

Leader Leslie Gully is mom to two girls, and firmly believes it takes a village to raise a child. She is involved in the adult choir, KidVenture Choir, and Mom2Mom. In addition to being active in the life of Calvary, she loves to cook, bake and spend time with friends.

A Word from the Leader “Motherhood is a ministry like no other. While raising the children God has given us, connecting to and supporting other moms is vital to growing our own faith and the faith of our children.”

Sign up here

Tuesday Evening Men's Faith and Fellowship

Description This men's group meets on Tuesday evenings to study together, pray together, and be a place of encouragement in our walks of faith. We welcome everyone to come and experience God's grace in this setting.

Dates and Time Tuesdays (beginning Sept 4) from 6:30-8:00pm

Childcare Provided No

Time Commitments Outside of the Meeting There could be some reading relative to a book study - it’s suggested but not mandatory

The first study this fall will be led by Jim Brown and will be an Adam Hamilton video Bible study.  This video based program also allows for prayer time and fellowship.  Dennis Wentworth will also be leading later studies.  We look forward to men of the community joining us.  Questions, call Dennis at 309-825-4585.

Sign up here

Wednesday Morning Men's Faith and Fellowship

Description Men's F&F gathers to pray, do some learning, growing, sharing, and to encourage one another in the middle of the week.  Coffee, juice, donuts, bagels, etc. are available.  We welcome and often have new guys come and share in the experience.

Dates and Time Wednesdays (beginning Sept 12) from 6:30-7:30am (Room 111)

Childcare Provided No

Time Commitments Outside of the Meeting Typically no outside study commitment

Leader Pastor Randy Reese is one of the co-directing pastors of Calvary UMC.  His 48 years in ministry bring a background to the learning, fellowship, and experience of the group.

A Word from the Leader “We gather in the middle of the week to encourage one another in our walks of faith.  Through our study and reflection, we're praying to sharpen, strengthen, and walk with each other through and in life.”

No sign up needed.

Wednesday Morning Women's 
Bible Study

Description We will study the presence of the Holy Spirit in relation to the children of God from Genesis to Revelation.

Dates and Time Wednesdays (Sept 5 - Nov 14, does not meet Oct 31) from 9:30-10:30am

Childcare Provided No

Time Commitments Outside of the Meeting There will be brief readings from Scripture.

Leader Grethe Armstrong was a teacher and administrator in Unit 5 for 34 years.  Since retirement, she’s volunteered at the McLean County Child Protection Network and here at Calvary in Adult Ministry and the Calvary library. Both she and her husband Don are proud parents of Grant and Britta and grandparents of four wonderful youngsters.  She loves to paint (not houses) and watch baseball and ice hockey.

A Word from the Leader “Our weekly discussions provide ample opportunity to share our own faith journeys and explore the Biblical foundations of our faith while enhancing the bonds of fellowship and friendship.”

Sign up here

Pitzer’s Sunday School Class

Description This is an ongoing class that meets on Sunday mornings. Subject matter varies. It's a lecture based class as opposed to a discussion class.

Dates and Time Sunday mornings from 9-10am (Room 111)

Childcare Provided Yes

Time Commitments Outside of the Meeting None

Leader Jim Pitzer is involved in the Great Banquet experience as well as having taught class here for many years. 

No sign-up needed

Seekers

Description An informal group that enjoys thoughtful and animated discussions based on various resource materials. Next video series features John Dominic Crossan discussing "The Challenge of Paul.” We are an accepting group where all questions are welcomed and discussed.

Dates and Time Sunday mornings from 9-10am (Conference Room)

Childcare Provided Yes

Time Commitments Outside of the Meeting None

Leader We have no teacher per se.  Larry and Carroll Bross are the hosts.  We generally view videos featuring various experts and faith leaders.  Discussion ensues.

No sign-up needed.