About the Bible Study Class

This class is named "Bible Study Class" and that has meaning. We make an effort to keep our discussion on the Bible. It is the teacher's intent to give the scripture top billing. We also try to include the entire Bible in our discussion, not ignoring any part. We read through different books of the Bible and made our discussion straight from the Bible. Our class studies on two levels: One, a detailed presentation of bible content found online at occbiblestudy.blogspot.com and an in person, general discussion that focused more on fellowship than serious bible study. Most class members are retired, but it is open to all ages. For most of us, the hardcore questions of the Bible have been answered years ago and faith is alive in our lives. So, our meetings are more inclined toward fellowship, encouragement, and spurring one another with some biblical concepts. 

2 Timothy 2:15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.

Matthew 23:37 “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!

(Links to other pictures: Fellowship  Pics and Class Fun 2008)

A LOOK AT HISTORY

Sunday school classes at Owensboro Christian Church started not long after the Church was founded in 1954. By 1963 the following adult classes were listed in an annual report.

The Bible Study Class was first taught by Buford Nail, Charlie Falk, and Richard Peck. With some help from substitute Paul Stovall. Richard Peck continued teaching until 1988 when Jack Barrett became a temporary substitute. In 1994 Jack moved from substitute to full-time temporary teacher and as of the fall of 2024 is still temporary. (it's all temporary on Earth) Byron Williams and Tom Clark have served as substitute teachers for a portion of the last decade.

For many years we followed the Standard Sunday School lessons and each member had their own bible study book. In 2021 we dropped the lesson books and started reading through different books of the Bible and making our discussion straight from the Bible. We are now working from a blog that we produce with lessons emailed to each member. The blog is https://occbiblestudy.blogspot.com.

In 1998 the Lydia Class members decided to disband and began attending the Bible Study Class. For quite some time our class had a membership of 35 to 50 members. But when Covid came along in 2020 things changed drastically. We closed the class on March 8, 2020, out of an abundance of caution for the pandemic. Some members moved out of town to be with family, others were not able to return for various reasons, and still, others have died. Many were not sure we would ever start up again. During a conversation between Jack and Rose Lee in the spring of 2021, Jack told her he doubted that we would ever reopen the class. Rose said, "Oh, we have to start back." That was enough encouragement. On May 30, 2021, we started back for the first Sunday in over a year. There were seven people in attendance that Sunday. That number has been the norm with a high of eleven and a low of two on some Sundays. By the fall of 2024, we saw a new generation with attendance in the upper teens.

If there were a driving force or central thought for the class it would have to center around the bible. It has taken us years to see an important theme running through the Bible that has helped us focus on how much God loves all people and what our task is in his plan. It has to do with God's anger, patients and love.

In the time of Noah, the Lord said in Gen 6:5,6 "5 The Lord observed the extent of human wickedness on the earth, and he saw that everything they thought or imagined was consistently and totally evil. 6 So the Lord was sorry he had ever made them and put them on the earth. It broke his heart.

Then in Numbers 14:11 And the Lord said to Moses, “How long will these people treat me with contempt? Will they never believe me, even after all the miraculous signs I have done among them?

There is a reason why God set aside certain people, to be an example (priest) to all nations. Exodus 19:4-6 - 4 ‘You have seen what I did to the Egyptians. You know how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. 5 Now if you will obey me and keep my covenant, you will be my own special treasure from among all the peoples on earth; for all the earth belongs to me. 6 And you will be my kingdom of priests, my holy nation.’ This is the message you must give to the people of Israel.”

Obey and keep, then you will be God's treasured possessions, a kingdom of priests. (our concept of a priest is to minister to others) To bring it forward to today see what 1 Peter 2:9 says "But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light". God intends to prepare His followers, through obedience, to be examples/priests to the world, the people we meet every day.

Now notice what it says in Luke 13:34 “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones God’s messengers! How often I have wanted to gather your children together as a hen protects her chicks beneath her wings, but you wouldn’t let me. 35 And now, look, your house is abandoned. His heart breaks when we fail.

Christmas 2005

In 2009 we started using the phrase "promote to heaven" as part of our first Sunday back after the death of a member. You know how in the elementary grades, churches usually have a "promotion Sunday" where, as kids get older they move up to a different class. Our thinking is that death for a Christian is just a change of address based on our faith in Jesus. We have seen quite a few promotions over the years. Here is a list: