Discipleship

Union with Christ Resources

The class audio and notes are being recorded and posted here if you've missed a past week:

Click here for resources

2012 Winter Classes

Check out the new classes starting January 8 at NPC. You can sign up for the class you'd like to take over the phone the next two weeks, or at the Education Table on Sunday, January 1.

New Classes: Click here

Upcoming Lecture: Stefan Gustavsson

How is Europe's Spiritual Crisis Influencing America?

You’re invited to hear Stefan Gustavsson, a leading communicator of the gospel in Europe and President of the Swedish Evangelical Alliance, answer this question on Friday, September 9, 2011 at Naperville Presbyterian Church (943 Sanctuary Lane, Naperville, IL) from 7:30 pm - 8:45 pm.

Finding Common Ground

One of the best books I have read on sowing the seeds of the gospel in our world, on how to engage culture in significant spiritual conversations, and moving from the sruface, to the real issues, to the gospel is this book from Tim Downs, Finding Common Ground. We have it here in the library at the church, but I woudl recommend you make space for it on your own shelves, very visible, and readily accessible for missional living and the conversations that result:

Take a look.

Themelios | A Journal

If you are interested in solid reading on a number of subjects theologically and practically, consider Themelios from The Gospel Coalition.

Themelios is an international evangelical theological journal that expounds and defends the historic Christian faith. Its primary audience is theological students and pastors, though scholars read it as well. It was formerly a print journal operated by RTSF/UCCF in the UK, and it became a digital journal operated by The Gospel Coalition in 2008.

Fall 2010 Education Classes

UPDATED: If you are interested in seeing what classes will be offered this fall, click the link below for a one-age printout of the classes. More information will be posted shortly, so watch here and on the main website for more details!

Download AE Fall 2010 Classes

Download AE Fall 2010 Classes Detail NEW

Moody Men's Conference

After a hiatus, the Moody Men's Conference is back, a conference that several men at NPC have taken advantage of in year's past. Click here for more information on time, places, registration and speakers. Take the chance to encourage your growth in God's grace with other men who have a similar passion to know God more.

Rule of Life | Exploring the Rhythms of the Spiritual Life

We have come to the end of our Lenten church-wide focus for 2010. For many this season was a time for refreshment and being reminded of the precious good news of the gospel. For others, it was a renaissance of spiritual rhythm and the graces of patterns of holiness and pursuit of God.

For all it was a welcome invitation to be near God. To experience him in new ways, to be enlivened in faith and deed, to sit quietly in the presence of the Holy Spirit and to enjoy the Lord.

On March 28, we summarized the weeks together and captured some time in class to form a rule of life, or rule of faith. We spent time considering what we have learned this Lent, what God has been teaching us or encouraging us in faith and the practice of that faith in our everyday rhythms. The desire was to help men and women establish life-giving rhythms in a daily, weekly, monthly or annual context. 

Please download the lesson material from this week:

Download Rule of Life handout.pdf

Download Rule of Life class outline.pdf

The Image Used This Lent

The image on the cover is a simple metaphor for our spiritual lives. As we journey through this world and all its stresses, difficulties, temptations, sorrow, pains as well as joys and good times, all the pieces of our life swirl around us, out of control and increasingly quite messy.

When we engage in the gift of the spiritual rhythms in our lives, we place ourselves in a spot where God transforms us and our world, weaving together all the pieces into a beautiful tapestry where Christ is formed in us. Order out of chaos. Beauty from ugliness. Nearness for what once was distant.

But as for me, it is good to be near God (Psalm 73:28a NIV)

Service | Exploring the Rhythms of the Spiritual Life

Our last rhythm (but certainly not the last of all possible rhythms) is the Rhythm of Engagement. With the previous rhythm we mentioned that we withdraw in order that we might engage more fully with God. But we mean something different here.

The natural end result of all this receiving from God in relationship through Word, Prayer, Examen, Rest and Sabbath is that it can’t be contained. We are filled to overflowing. And so we find ourselves engaging in service, acts of compassion, mission and witness.

The beautiful truth is that it’s not just a result of growing in Christ, it is also a means! While we’ll be focused on the practice of service, all of these outward expressions are places where we truly see Christ and are consequently changed by Christ.

Download two-sided handout here