Upcoming Learning Opportunities at Christview Ministries Center
FEEDING ON THE WORD OF GOD
A Christian Spiritual Growth Experience for Women
led by Judy Turner
Tuesday evening, August 26
6:00 – 8:30 PM
at the Christview Ministries Center
Meditate on a Bible Passage
Enjoy friendship with other Christian women
Enjoy fresh-baked bread
Have you wondered what it means to “meditate” on scripture?
“Divine Reading” is an ancient Christian practice that helps us meditate on a passage of scripture and apply it to our lives.
During the evening we will feed on the word of God through mediating on a scripture passage. We’ll conclude with conversation and eating bread fresh from the oven.
Suggested donation: $25.00 per person*
*Christview Ministries is supported by donations; we do not charge for events. No one will be turned away because of inability to make suggested donations. Those who can make larger donations will help make this experience available for some who cannot donate
For more information or to indicate interest, contact Judy Turner, 479-253-5865 or Judy@Christviewmin.org
SURVEY OF THE NEW TESTAMENT
Saturdays, 9:00 AM to Noon, most Saturdays beginning August 2, 2008
led by John Turner
One student who has completed the Old Testament Survey says, "I will never read the Old Testament the same way again. Now I can't wait to get to the New Testament! I am expecting great discoveries."
The sequence and approximate schedule of study will be:
August 2 The Gospel of Mark
August 9 The Gospel of Matthew
August 16 The Gospel of Luke
August 23 The Acts of the Apostles
August 30, no class, Labor Day weekend
September 6 The Letters of Paul, Part 1, Galatians, 1 and 2 Thessalonians
September 13 The Letters of Paul, Part 2, 1 and 2 Corinthians
September 20 The Letters of Paul, Part 3, Romans
September 27 The Letters of Paul, Part 4, Ephesians, Colossians, Philemon, Philippians
October 4 The Letters of Paul, Part 5, 1 and 2 Timothy, Titus
October 11 The Letter to the Hebrews
October 18 The Letters of James, 1 and 2 Peter, and Jude
October 25 The Gospel of John
November 1 The Letters of John, The Revelation to John 1--3
November 8 The Revelation to John 4--22
Novemebr 15, 22 Make-up or catch-up days as needed.
Cost: The sessions will be provided on a donation basis. Suggested donation for each session is $20.00. Donate more or less as you are able. No one will be turned away for financial reasons.
For more information or to indicate interest, contact John Turner, 479-253-5865 or John@Christviewmin.org
SURVEY OF THE OLD TESTAMENT
Saturdays, 9:00 AM to Noon, most Saturdays beginning January 3, 2009
led by John Turner
If there is sufficient demand, we will offer an opportunity in the first portion of 2009 for those who wish to take a survey of the Old Testament.
One student who has previously completed this survey says, "Before I took this course, I thought of the Old Testament as simply providing the historical background for the New Testament. John showed us how to find the main themes of each part of the Old Testament and then how to connect those themes to the big message running through the whole Bible. I now know that the entire Old Testament makes a great contribution to the overall message of the Bible and to our Christian faith. It all fits together."
The sequence and approximate schedule of study will be:
January 3 The Five Books of Moses, Part 1, Genesis 1—Exodus 18
January 10 The Five Books of Moses, Part 2, Exodus 19—Deuteronomy 34
January 17 The Historical Books, Part 1, Joshua, Judges, Ruth
January 24 The Historical Books, Part 2, 1 and 2 Samuel, 1 and 2 Kings
Jnauray 31 The Historical Books, Part 3, 1 and 2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther
February 7 The Prophets, Part 1, Jonah, Amos, Hosea
February 14 The Prophets, Part 2, Isaiah
February 21 The Prophets, Part 3, Micah, Joel, Nahum, Zephaniah, Habakkuk
February 28 The Prophets, Part 4, Jeremiah, Obadiah, Ezekiel
March 7 The Prophets, Part 5, Daniel, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi
March 14 The Psalms, Part 1
March 21 The Psalms, Part 2
March 28 The Psalms, Part 3, plus Lamentations
April 4 Wisdom Literature, Part 1, Job, Proverbs
April 11 No class, Holy week
April 18 Wisdom Literature, Part 2, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs (Solomon), plus Old Testaemnt conclusion
April 25, May 2, May 9: Make-up or catch-up days as needed.
Cost: The sessions will be provided on a donation basis. Suggested donation for each session is $20.00. Donate more or less as you are able. No one will be turned away for financial reasons.
For more information or to indicate interest, contact John Turner, 479-253-5865 or John@Christviewmin.org
YOUR OWN PERSONALIZED SPIRITUAL RENEWAL DAY OR DAYS
OFFERED BY CHRISTVIEW MINISTRIES
Seeking God’s Direction for This Season of Your Life
For individuals, couples, and small groups
This event at Christview Ministries Center will help you:
- See more of God’s big picture for the purpose of human life
- See more of God’s little picture for the specifics of your individual life
- Seek and receive guidance for your next steps into Christian fellowship and mission
You can plan your own theme and schedule in conjunction with Judy and John, or you can follow our default theme and schedule for a Spiritual Renewal Day.
Our default theme and schedule is, “INTO THE FULLNESS OF CHRIST,” 9:00 AM -- 4:00 PM, on a date that is personally arranged. The default event includes John's leading of a study of what Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians reveals about our purpose, our personal renewal, and our power, and Judy's providing a menu of suggestions for listening to God about the fullness he wants for you and helping you process what you hear.
Suggested donation for the day, including lunch, is $50.00 per person. Christview Ministries is supported by donations and does not charge for any services. If you cannot afford the suggested donation, give what you can. If you are able to give more, your generous donation will help make our services available for some who cannot pay.
Here are soem samples of Spiritual Renewal Days at Christview:
Rev. Allen Thrasher is the Pastor of Holiday Island Community Church, located north of Eureka Springs. His wife, Georgina Thrasher, is a Christview director. They followed a slightly abbreviated version of the default event in September 2006. Here is what they said about it:
“I would really recommend this experience for someone who wants to grow closer to God. I appreciated this time for reflection. The material is rich. The teaching is inspirational. It was a beautiful setting in which to enjoy some quiet time with God. I appreciate John and Judy’s openness. I felt free to say what I think.”
But there are many ways of varying the schedule and the topics.
Rachel Mink is a Christview director and is on the staff of the Wade Center, Wheaton College, Illinois.
On Rachel's first personal retreat, a several day event in September 2006, she requested that the Bible study portion be an introduction to the major themes of the Four Gospels; on her second retreat, a six day event in March 2007, she asked for an introduction to the Book of Proverbs. On both retreats, she worked with Judy on guided times of silence.
Rachel's Retreat in September 2006
Here is what she said about it: "My sessions with John helped improve the foundation for my own Bible study, and those with Judy deepened my understanding of God's calling in my everyday life. The Turners coached me on how to look to God's revelation first and assisted me to recognize how that serves as the template for living out my day-to-day."
Rachel's Retreat in March 2007
Janet Binz, of Ruston, Lousiana, has been on several retreats to Christview that have helped her listten to God for maintaining her equilibrium as she has gone through some painful personal transitions. On her most recent retreat, she was joined by her daughter Ashley Binz, a high school senior, who set aside her Holy Week Spring Break for this retreat. Janet and Ashley spent most of their days in silence, seeking to be attentive to the Lord. John provided teaching mentoring on the Psalms and Judy offered indivdual spiritual guidance mentoring. We also had daily worship times together. Janet reviewed how God has brought her through a difficult season of her life, and enjoyed thanking and praising God. Ashley benefited from the time to prepare for a major transition in her life as she graduates from high school and begins her studies at Baylor University this fall. She was thanking God for the generous Baylor scholarship package she had received just before coming to Christview, and was also interested in improving her Bible study skills.
Janet and Ashley Binz's Retreat in April 2007
Janet Binz, of Ruston, Lousiana, has been on several retreats to Christview that have helped her listten to God for maintaining her equilibrium as she has gone through some painful personal transitions. On her most recent retreat, she was joined by her daughter Ashley Binz, a high school senior, who set aside her Holy Week Spring Break for this retreat. Janet and Ashley spent most of their days in silence, seeking to be attentive to the Lord. John provided teaching mentoring on the Psalms and Judy offered indivdual spiritual guidance mentoring. We also had daily worship times together. Janet reviewed how God has brought her through a difficult season of her life, and enjoyed thanking and praising God. Ashley benefited from the time to prepare for a major transition in her life as she graduates from high school and begins her studies at Baylor University this fall. She was thanking God for the generous Baylor scholarship package she had received just before coming to Christview, and was also interested in improving her Bible study skills.
Vivian Potee was the first president and is the present treasurer of the Christview Ministries Board of Directors and an active member of First Christian Church, Rogers, AR. She is absolutely vital to our ministry, and somehow we are so engrossed when she is around that we never seem to remember to take her picture. We will do better in the future.
Vivian has been on two personal retreats at Christiview. She more or less followed the default pattern for her Septemebr 2006 retreat, but with an extra emphasis on Sabbath. Here is what she said after her retreat: “I've been waiting for my new Sabbath, which is going to fall on Monday for me, to have one of the things I do with my "not working" time be writing to the two of you to tell you how much it meant to me.... As I drove home from Christview it washed over me that I'd just been manipulated by God into the place He needed me to be so that I would sit still and listen, and think about where my mind and my priorities could use some refreshing. My time there was so full of learning, and I came away with a sense of excitement about Sabbath, and what God wants of me there. It wasn't until the drive home, though, that it began to dawn on me the real excitement is to come, in the living out of those special times when God has complete access to me and I don't have to feel like Martha in the kitchen, but can actually just sit at His feet!”
MANY GIFTS, ONE SPIRIT
A DAY OF DISCOVERY
9:00 AM -- 4:00 PM
Led by Vivian Potee, Elizabeth Duncan, and Judy Turner
The first two times this event was held were on February 10 and April 28, 2007
It will be available on other ocasions in the future.
God has a plan and a calling for you. As you discover that plan and open yourself to the working of His will through you, your life will not be the same! You will serve not from obligation or a sense of duty, but from a sense of fulfillment, from faith, and with great energy and joy! Discovering your gifts is a liberating experience! Without you serving in your unique way, Christ’s body here on earth cannot be complete.
What Will I Take Away from the Day?
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Greater understanding of how and why spiritual gifts are given.
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Greater clarity about my gifts and how God wants me to use them.
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Greater sense of wonder at how God works in and through us.
Here is what participant Carolyn Biossat said about it:
Yesterday was the most worthwhile day I have ever had. My thoughts were fully occupied every moment. It was a seamless day of thought-provoking, entertaining, educational, from-the-heart activities that challenged and engaged me totally for 7 hours. The ladies the Lord brought together were the most spiritually mature bunch I have had the privilege to join...each participating in full, yet not hogging attention! There couldn't have been more love circling that room, with acceptance reigning in every glance. I felt respected, never talked-down-to. It was so obvious the Lord's hand was on the entire venture. I am still processing what it all means! I think you should consider doing it again, as more women should be able to profit from it.
Walking in God’s Presence
Celtic Christian prayer can help you experience God
in all the dimensions of your life
A retreat day for women
Explore the blessings of
☼ creation
☼ soulfriends
☼ our work
☼ our life’s journey
About our retreat leader: Sylvia Maddox teaches in the Religious Studies Department of The University of the Incarnate Word, San Antonio, Texas, and is co-author with The Rev. Mary Earle of Holy Companions: Spiritual Practices from the Celtic Saints, published by Morehouse Press. She leads retreats and workshops on Prayer and Spirituality.
This retreat day, originally scheduled for Saturday, October 20, 2007, was postponed indefinitely due to an illness in the family of retreat leader Sylvia Maddox. We look forward to rescheduling the retreat. It will help us if we know of your interest. Contact Judy Turner 479-253-5965 or Judy@Christviewmin.org.
The Book of Ruth: From Emptiness to Fullness
This well-received course has been taught to individual students, to groups meeting at several area churches, and to groups gathered at Christview Ministries Center. Request it for your personal study or for your group. It is best taught in four 90 minute sessions, but has been taught in less.
Okay, ‘fess up. The Book of Ruth reminds many women of a romance novel, and many men of a two-hanky chick flick. We may not know that this well-crafted little story not only offers a key piece of history about our Messiah, but also powerfully applies to our Christian lives and mission today.
We will learn
- how God’s saving plan appeared to come to an end only to be restored
- how God turns emptiness to fullness, bitterness to hope, loss to gain, and defeat to victory
- how God uses the godly qualities of his faithful servants to accomplish his purposes in dark times
- how the role of kinsman-redeemer was fulfilled on a grand scale by Jesus and continues to shape the mission of Christ’s church today
We will discuss
- what God’s plans are for our lives,
- how our faith in a God of the seemingly impossible delivers us from despair
- how the figure of speech “mending and extending the Messiah’s family tree” gives us a new way to think about evangelism
- what godly qualities God can use in our lives to carry out his purposes through us
We will develop Bible study skills in these areas
- historical setting
- literary structure
- word study
- the flow of the whole Bible’s message
Endorsement: John Turner, in the study of Ruth, introduces five different approaches to Bible study. Understanding these five approaches provides options for more effectively presenting Bible truths to people with different learning styles and for different purposes. I found it absolutely fascinating and exciting. While a tremendous amount of material was presented, all of it was given to the participant in a written format. This allows for a ready reference in the future, as well as a tool for deeper, slower, reflective, individual study later. I was particularly surprised to realize the relevance of the Book of Ruth to the culture in which we live. The story of Ruth and Boaz is set against the backdrop of moral corruption and religious apostasy detailed in the last five chapters of the book of Judges. Ruth and Boaz were recognized and blessed by their neighbors and peers for the exceptional, godly characteristics they exhibited. We too are challenged to live godly lives reflecting God's redemptive love and grace in a morally corrupt society. How do we express love and acceptance without either abandoning biblical standards or becoming judgmental or self-righteous? I found this study of Ruth particularly suited to addressing these issues. But the study provided many other emphases, which would stand out for individuals currently confronting other issues. I thank God for the opportunity John Turner provides for deep, methodical, clear, challenging, sound biblical teaching. This is something I have longed for my entire life. Karen Stalnaker.
TRAINING FOR INTERCESSORY PRAYER AND PRAYERWALKING
This event has been offered twice, March 10 and April 21, 2007.
Let us know if you would like to have this event offered for your group or your church.
Communicating With God: A Spiritual Retreat Day
led by Judy Turner
has been previously offered and will be offered again on request.
■Talking with God
■ Hearing from God
■ Praying for myself and others
■ Finding God’s direction
All who want to grow in relationship with God are invited to participate in this special day at the beautiful Christview Ministries Center. The day will include teaching by Judy Turner, small group discussion, and individual time with God.
“Fruitful Servants: A Bible Study on the Gospel of Mark”
led by John Turner
has been previously offered and will be offered again on request.
It offers:
- a great way to introduce the ministry and mission of Jesus Christ
- fresh readings of the texts with applications to personal and church life INCLUDING understanding how the the kingdom of God connects to our daily lives and developing ways to evaluate the fruitfulness of your church's religious life
- a foundation for a series of sermons or Bible classes in your church
- methods of study you can use on other books of the Bible
You can get a good idea of the biblical content of this course from A Bible Study of the Gospel according to Mark. The "live session" will be much more interactive.
“Personal Salvation and Sharing Good News: A Ten-Session Topical Bible Study”
led by John Turner
has been previously offered and is available by arrangement.
For Those Who Want a Solid Biblical Foundation
for Leading Others to the Lord
Key text for the series: Acts 2:36-39.
Session 1 Faith in Jesus’ Gospel: God Reigns!
Session 2 Faith in the Apostles’ Gospel: Jesus Is Lord and Savior!
Session 3 Faith in the Promise for Us: We Can Be Born Anew! May 23, Session 4 Repentance.
Session 5 Baptism.
Session 6 Forgiveness.
Session 7 The Holy Spirit: Conviction and Assurance.
Session 8 The Holy Spirit: Fruit and Transformation.
Session 9 The Holy Spirit: Gifts and Empowerment for Service.
Session 10 The Holy Spirit: Prophecy and Discernment.
Consider one of the following events for your church:
These are weekend spiritual renewal events on particular themes that John and Judy have designed for congregations.
What is a “Word and Spirit Weekend?”
- A spiritual growth event sponsored by Christview Ministries
- Ideal for groups of 40-100+
- Typically designed for a Friday evening and Saturday daytime (with optional Sunday add-ons)
- The events can be adapted weekday schedules as well
Below are some Weekends that we offer. Other topics and schedules are possible.
A “Word and Spirit Weekend” could take place in your church or in another meeting facility near you. John Turner will lead Bible study, and Judy Turner will lead related prayer and practical application activities.
Weekend #1: Rest and Renewal with God
Learn how to order your life to deepen your walk with God.
Do you find that you don’t have time to spend with God? Does your worship feel like it’s another activity to fit into your calendar? Are there tired, burned-out leaders in your congregation?
God established the ideas of Sabbath (a time to be with God) and sanctuary (a place to be with God) to help us worship him despite the fullness of our schedules. This weekend will help you understand how God uses rest and renewal to continually reinvigorate your walk with him.
What to Expect
John will explore with you the biblical themes of Sabbath and sanctuary. You will see how these themes connect to three key movements of Scripture—creation, redemption, and new creation.
See what John has written on these subjects by clicking these links: creation, redemption, new creation.
John’s unique teaching style emphasizes solid interpretation as the foundation for incorporating biblical principles into everyday life.
Judy will help you apply the insights discovered in the Bible study. Small-group discussion and guided individual prayer will help you grasp God’s plan of rest and renewal for your life.
In an alternative format, rather than alternating, John and Judy will do introductory summaries of their teaching content and the large group will split into two smaller groups to follow up in detail on either the Bible study track or the spiritual formation track. They will seek to fit the format to the group.
Benefit for Congregations
Congregational leaders will learn to develop patterns of rest and renewal in their lives. They will be empowered through time spent with God.
Sample Schedule (Times and Format May Vary)
Friday: (7:00-9:00 PM)
- Bible Study: “Rest and Renewal in Creation” Genesis 1-3
- Worship
Saturday: (9:00AM-4:00 PM)
- Application: “Experiencing God’s Blessing”
- Bible Study: “Rest and Renewal in Redemption” Mark 1-3; 11-13
- Application: “Experiencing God’s Wholeness”
- Lunch
- Bible Study: “Rest and Renewal in New Creation” Romans 8; Hebrews 3-4, 12; Revelation 21-22
- Application: “Experiencing God’s Power”
- Worship
For More Information
Contact John Turner (John@Christviewmin.org).
Other Word & Spirit Weekends
- Finding Your Place in God’s Mission (spiritual gifts and calling)
- A Healing Presence (how Jesus heals today)
- Celtic Christian Prayer (ancient practices that help current spiritual experience)
- The Hope of the New Creation (a study of themes in Revelation)
- The Messiah: King, Servant, Conqueror (a study of Isaiah; credit Alec Motyer)
- Taken, Blessed, Broken, Given (credit Henri Nouwen)
- Let Us Go to the House of the Lord (Psalms 120-134)
- Listening for God (hearing and discerning)
- Letting the Bible Speak for Itself (five methods of Bible study)
- plus some of the topics of other events led by John and Judy can be adapted for a Word and Spirit Weekend