Adult Study Groups
Find community and grow in your spiritual walk through our adult discipleship groups.
See options below for in-person and hybrid (Zoom + in-person) meetings.
How to Find and Pay for Books
Study books are on 1) shelves in the main church entrance (Door #2) and 2) the GROW Connection Tables in the Gathering Area. Entrance shelves are available Mon-Th (9a-4p), Fri (9a-1p), Sun mornings.
To pay for books, mark your envelope as “Study Books” and place in the offering plate, office, black box on the shelves, or basket on the connections table. Make checks to St. Mark’s UMC with “study books” in the memo line. You can also pay online. On the online giving page, click the box under “How would you like to allocate your donation” and select Study Books from the dropdown menu.
Themed and Short-Term Studies
Short-term studies explore specific themes (e.g., discipleship topics, spiritual growth, social justice, Advent & Lenten seasons).
Disciple I Fast Track Bible Study
Sunday evenings, October 12, 2025, to May 3, 2026 with breaks for holidays | 5:30-7:00 PM
Led by Ken Steppe | Room N, The Living Room | Cost is $35 to cover both workbooks and class materials.
Disciple Fast Track I is a 24-session survey of the entire Bible. For the first 12 sessions, the class will explore the Old Testament, from Creation in Genesis through the stories of the patriarchs, Moses, prophets, and kings, as well as wisdom literature. The next 12 sessions will cover the New Testament: the life of Christ, the early church, Paul’s letters, and the mysteries of Revelation. By the end, you will have read about 60% of the Bible. Each session includes a video in class, reflection questions, and weekly Bible reading assignments to read ahead of the meeting.
Wednesday Evening Study: The Gospel of John
For those who have been thinking about a short-term weeknight group, this is your opportunity!
Wednesdays, September 3-October 8, 6:00-7:15pm
Led by Amy Pritchard | Room B/C | Books $13
New Member Class
Sundays, September 7, 14 & 21, 2025, 1:00-3:00pm
Are you interested in exploring membership at St. Mark’s? We invite you to join us for a three-week class to get to know the pastors and meet others investigating membership as we learn more about what it looks like to welcome, grow, and serve at St. Mark’s—and our broader part in the history and mission of the United Methodist Church. Find out how St. Mark’s can help you continue a lifelong discipleship journey. Childcare is available with 72-hour advance notice.
Can’t make it to every session? Please choose the “I might have a schedule conflict…” or the “I can’t attend any of those dates…” options and put a comment in the notes with details.
Please contact Jennifer Cloud-Buckner at grow@stmarkscarmel.org with any questions or fill out the registration form.
Save the Dates for Living Room Guided Discussions
Do you feel like the stress you experience from a busy schedule keeps you from feeling more connected with your family, with the needs of others, and with your spiritual life? We will explore several topics related to this question with occasional guided discussions in 2025. Email Jennifer C-B with your suggestions for other topics. Save the date for other upcoming events, open to everyone:
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- September 14 – Coffee & Conversation with Pastor Nathan, 10:10-10:50am
Whether you’re new to St. Mark’s or a long-time member, drop into The Living Room (Room N) for an informal group conversation with Pastor Nathan Whybrew. - September 21 – Mission Guatemala and resources on international missions with Amy Adams. What could it look like for your family summer vacation to be about making a difference in Guatemala or some other part of the world?
- This fall, date TBD: dealing with stress in the family, in the midst of busy schedules
- September 14 – Coffee & Conversation with Pastor Nathan, 10:10-10:50am
As always, Room N is open for The Living Room at 10 AM every Sunday for drop-in, informal gatherings and individual down time; these discussion will take place in a portion of the room, leaving plenty of space available to chat or read as desired. Each week you can find coffee, conversation, a resource cart of books and articles, and space to relax in The Living Room.
Weekday Study Groups: Fall 2025
New descriptions for studies beginning September 2025 are below! Books will be available in mid-August.
Wednesday AM Study: Invitation to Romans
Wednesdays, September 3-October 22 | 9:30-11 AM
Exploring two weekly chapters of Romans for 8 weeks, this Disciple study by Pamela M. Eisenbaum offers a unique perspective on Paul’s epistle by exploring how it has been interpreted throughout Christian history. Through engaging video segments featuring theological discussions and storytelling by Michael Williams, you will gain a deeper understanding of the text’s original context and its enduring relevance to a variety of theologians. Romans reveals Paul’s radical vision of God’s relationship with both Christians and Jews and their relationship to each other, thanks to the “love of God in Christ Jesus.” If you’d like to connect a prayer practice with scripture, this study is for you—no matter how much or how little experience you have in the Bible.
* Study will begin in Cornerstone Commons, moving to Room J/K if needed.
The Gospel of John by A.J. Levine
Men’s Bible Study, 8:00-9:00 AM (new time!)
Led by both of our Pastors, Nathan and Karla, in alternating seasons | Room B/C and Zoom | Books $13
Take note of the S-apostrophe for 9:30AM and the new, later time for the Men’s Bible Study! Thanks to all who gave their feedback on options to keep the long-time early AM men’s study going. The Men’s Bible Study, now at 8AM, and the Pastors’ Bible Study, remaining at 9:30AM, will be led by both of our pastors in alternating seasons with occasional fill-in facilitating from lay members. Pastor Nathan is taking the lead on this fall’s first book, AJ Levine’s The Gospel of John.
About the study: John’s Gospel offers readers a new language—of being born anew, of living water, of wind and spirit, of the “I am”—that enhances how we understand the divine, how we experience the world, and how we participate in the mystery of faith. With her characteristic wit and charm, scholar and author Amy-Jill Levine explores the entire John narrative with insights into the original context and contemporary interpretations—from the prologue and the wedding at Cana to encounters with outcasts, acts of healing, and more. You are invited to this study to discover the richness and enduring relevance of John’s Gospel in your own faith journey.
Thursday AM Study: Bible Stories for Grown-Ups by Josh Scott
Thursdays, September 4-October 9 | 10-11AM
Read the Bible for the first time – again. In Bible Stories for Grown-Ups: Reading Scripture with New Eyes pastor Josh Scott looks at familiar Bible stories and reveals new details and interpretations for an adult audience. This six-week Bible study will consider stories many read as children including Noah’s Ark, the binding of Isaac, Jonah and the big fish, Jesus and Zacchaeus, Jesus healing a blind man, and the parable of the talents. Scott reimagines these stories and opens new visions for readers to understand well-known pieces of Scripture in our modern culture.
Friday AM Study: Subversive Witness
Fridays, Sept. 5-Nov. 7, no meetings 9/19 or 10/10 | 9:30-11 AM
Led by Jennifer Cloud-Buckner and Annessa Miller | Room B/C + Zoom | Books $15
Sunday Morning Small Groups & Classes
Cutting Edge
Zoom can be available upon request
Reel Spirituality
Foundations and Friendships
The Living Room
This informal, drop-in space is open for conversation, connection, and places where you can just BE, rest, refresh, read, listen to a podcast or sit before or after your preferred worship service. Our Family Ministry team has also provided parenting books, articles, conversation starters, and games for this room. Occasional guided discussions are offered (details at stmarkscarmel.org/workshops). May this be a space that feeds your soul with a sense of community and connection, spiritual insights, social interaction, or quiet reflection time. If you have feedback or questions about The Living Room or other 10 AM options, please contact Jennifer at grow@stmarkscarmel.org.
For more information on adult studies, please contact Jennifer Cloud-Buckner (grow@stmarkscarmel.org), St. Mark’s Adult Discipleship Coordinator.