by Melinda Cox

 
The Friendship Class at Trinity is a Bible Study Class that enjoys delving in depth into the previous week’s sermon passage of the Bible, although on occasion we study other Biblical topics. Often Greek and Hebrew words from the scripture passage are further analyzed to help explain the meaning of the passage. After the lesson has been presented, prayer requests are solicited from the group and those requests are then prayed over before being sent out to the class via email so the needs can be prayed over during the week. These prayer requests have been sent to Heaven to the Father through Jesus Christ. What a joy it is to our class that we have a Heavenly Father that listens to our prayers!

 
Koinonia, a Greek word used in the New Testament, which translates as fellowship, describes our enjoyment with one another when there is a gathering of class members for a social. The koinonia of our class is strengthened when we gather together to break bread, laugh and enjoy one another’s company. “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer” (Acts 2:42).

 
What a delight it has been for our class this school year to pray over Adopt-a-Grad students who have graduated from high school and left their “comfort zones” with family and friends to travel off to college to meet new friends. It is with extreme joy to know that these Adopt-A-Grads felt our prayers when that first wave of college tests hit all at once, when there seemed that the week would not end and perhaps a little bit of rest would happen over the weekend, and that Thanksgiving now appeared on the horizon. Coming alongside of these recent grads with prayer has not only been a delight but a calling to equip these young men and women to follow Christ wherever they are asked to go.

 

 

 

 

 

 

by Kandi Stimson

 
It was the ‘80s when I “decided to follow Jesus,” and Amy Grant was my early exposure to Christian music. I memorized my first Bible verse from a lyric in her song, “Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” (Psalm 119:105) I’d still rather sing it than quote it.

 
In a recent discipleship class here at Trinity, we worked through the Disciple’s Prayer Life workbook by T. W. Hunt & Catherine Walker. One of our assignments was to compose our own 23rd Psalm, expressing one of the ways we related to God most frequently. Because I seek to glorify God and His creation in my art, I chose apprentice (me) to Master Artist (God.) Allow me to share:

 
The Artist’s 23 Psalm:

 
The Lord is my inspiration,
I shall not lack.
He helps me to see His design in creation,
He leads me beside the water’s reflection,
He renews my creativity.
He guides me on paths to peaceful landscapes,
To express His glory.
Even though I walk through a dark and broken world,
I will seek Your beauty,
Your light and colors, they delight me.
You prepare a canvas before me,
In the presence of worldly distractions.
You fill my brushes with paint,
My palette overflows!
Surely still life and wildlife will thrill me,
All the days of my life,
And I will dwell in God’s studio forever.

 

All this to say, our class will be studying the Psalms for the next three months. We meet in Room 212 at 9:45 a.m. on Sunday mornings. Jay Stimson will be teaching, using Lifeway’s Explore the Bible curriculum.

 
Join us as we learn how the Psalms can be used as an expression of worship; strengthen us in our walk with Jesus; give us words to pray; and allow us to lament to a God who understands.