Biblical Studies
“These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scripture daily, whether those things were so.” (Acts 17:11 – KJV)

Mission
Our mission is not to teach the Bible to the learner but to teach the learner the Bible so that they receive the word with all readiness of mind and search the scripture daily, whether these things are so!

The Beginning
The Ministry of Biblical Studies (MBS), under the pastorate of Rev. Leon Perry, III, was called into existence on Wednesday, June 26, 2002, at 11:00am, with its first course: Bible 101 – Biblical Overview. 

2011 MBS Course Descriptions
See Calendar of Events for Dates and Times
General Bible Study
Evangelism
Easter
God and The Arts (Semiannually)
The Lenten Season
General Bible Study

Lord, Change My Attitude
Lord, Change My Attitude Before It's Too Late by James MacDonald teaches you how to reverse the negativity that sabotages happiness, and foster an attitude that brings joy! Through practical instruction, MacDonald walks you through how to change habitual negative thought patterns. You'll be amazed at what happens when complaining is replaced with gratitude; criticism with love; doubt with faith; and rebellion with submission.  (10 sessions)

Running the Race: Philippians
This hard-hitting Message of Paul Series will provide opportunities to explore the thought-provoking letters of Paul. The 7 books focus on diving into the realities of being a believer. Your group will engage in energetic dialogue as they deliberate on the dangerous, yet life-enhancing challenges Paul encountered and gave us wise counsel on.

Paul wrote some very inspiring and challenging letters while in prison. He knew what it meant to suffer for the cause of Christ. His pain forced him to learn the secret of joy and peace, even in the midst of difficulty. Running the Race will lead you and your group to the well of peace, even while living in the dessert of difficulty and devastation—all while learning to have the mind of Christ. (7 sessions)

Who We Really Are: Romans (part I)
This hard-hitting Message of Paul Series will provide opportunities to explore the thought-provoking letters of Paul. The 7 books focus on diving into the realities of being a believer. Your group will engage in energetic dialogue as they deliberate on the dangerous, yet life-enhancing challenges Paul encountered and gave us wise counsel on.

Sin is not an enjoyable topic of conversation for most. It is avoided because the issue of sin can create a cutting conversational edge, that slashes through the outer layer of surface discussions and lands at the core of the heart. Why is it so difficult to discuss our own wrongdoing? Because we forget to tie forgiveness and wholeness to it.  Studying Who We Really Are with your group will connect the too often disconnected topics of sin and salvation. (13 sessions)

Being a Part of God's Plan: Romans 8-16 (part II)
This hard-hitting Message of Paul Series will provide opportunities to explore the thought-provoking letters of Paul. The 7 books focus on diving into the realities of being a believer. Your group will engage in energetic dialogue as they deliberate on the dangerous, yet life-enhancing challenges Paul encountered and gave us wise counsel on. It's simple to become a Christian, but it seems to take great effort to live like one. Knowing what is expected of us is the first step to being more like Jesus. This study will guide you and your group to a greater understanding of the vital expectations of Jesus for all believers. (13 sessions)

40 Days of Love Study Guide
The practical wisdom found in 40 days of Love—the newest six-session group DVD study by bestselling author and one of America’s most influential pastors and spiritual leaders, Rick Warren—will help you make authentically loving God and loving others your deepest desire, highest aspiration, and constant focus. Learn to love like Jesus … in 40 days. (6 sessions)

Taking on Tough Issues: 1 Corinthians
This hard-hitting Message of Paul Series will provide opportunities to explore the thought-provoking letters of Paul. The 7 books focus on diving into the realities of being a believer. Your group will engage in energetic dialogue as they deliberate on the dangerous, yet life-enhancing challenges Paul encountered and gave us wise counsel on.

Paul wrote a tough letter to a tough audience–immature believers at the church in Corinth. The issues Paul was forced to address are not unknown to you and might even be exhibited by some of the members in your small group.

Taking on Tough Issues is more than a parental letter to spiritual adolescents. It’s a study guide that will remind small-group members how important it really is to continue to grow closer to Christ and how to relate to one another when wrongdoing and conflict invade your group and church. (13 sessions)

Evangelism

Christianity, Cults & Religions
The Christianity, Cults & Religions DVD-based study helps Christians know what they believe and why. By comparing Christianity with groups such as Mormons and Jehovah's Witnesses, people have a better grasp about what the Bible says about who Jesus is and the message of the Gospel. This six-session study simply explains the history, background, and beliefs of the most common world religions and cultic groups: Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, Mormonism, Jehovah's Witnesses and other groups. (6 sessions)

More Than a Carpenter
This outreach program has everything your church needs to equip your members to share their faith with others. Ideal for the season leading up to Easter, it contains a DVD with introductions to six sessions hosted by Josh McDowell and Sean McDowell. It also includes a PDF leader’s guide, a PDF church promo kit, a sample outreach booklet with door hanger bag, and a quick-start guide. Additional door hanger bags and copies of the outreach booklet are available. (6 sessions)

Fresh Encounter - Experiencing God's Power for Spiritual Awakening
Fresh Encounter guides believers through the biblical pattern of experiencing God’s presence which leads to revival in the church a spiritual awakening in the world. As churches today search for the right ministry to reach their community, the Blackabys’ teaching will help them return to their “first love” of Christ so He can work powerfully in them and through them. (7sessions)

Easter

Experiencing the Passion of Christ
With the flood of questions and deep introspection that Mel Gibson's blockbuster movie, The Passion of the Christ, created, John MacArthur responds with a workbook that answers those deep, personal, and sincere questions.  So many people know about Jesus, but they don't really understand why Jesus had to suffer and die.  Experiencing the Passion of Christ will give you a front-row seat as Christ's life unfolds.  You will be placed on the scene, confronted up close with the painful events of the cross, but you will also see the majestic glory found in "the rest of the story." (10 sessions)

Passover Seder
The Passover Seder (Hebrew: סֵדֶר‎ [ˈsedeʁ], "order, arrangement"; Yiddish: Sayder) is a Jewish ritual feast that marks the beginning of the Jewish holiday of Passover. It is held on the evening of the 14th day of Nisan in the Hebrew calendar, which corresponds to late March or April in the Gregorian calendar. The Seder is a ritual performed by a community or by multiple generations of a family, involving a retelling of the story of the liberation of the Israelites from slavery in ancient Egypt. This story is in the Book of Exodus (Shemot) in the Hebrew Bible. The Seder itself is based on the Biblical verse commanding Jews to retell the story of the Exodus from Egypt: "And you shall tell it to your son on that day, saying, 'Because of this God did for us when He took me out of Egypt.'" (Exodus 13:8) Traditionally, families and friends gather in the evening to read the text of the Haggadah, an ancient work derived from the Mishnah (Pesahim 10).[1][2  This study is to prepare our faith community to participate in a Seder with a local Jewish congregation .


God and The Arts (Semiannually)

Dinner and a movie (pm class) /Lunch and a movie Bible Study (am class)

Finding Jesus in the Movies
Stories, great and small, share the same essential structure because the great stories we tell borrow from a Larger Story. Ecclesiastes 3:11 suggests that we come ready-made to understand the greatest story, the Epic story of an enemy’s betrayal, the fight between the destroyer and the redeemer, something lost and the journey to recovery, and a hero coming to rescue and ultimate restoration. The Larger Story is the story of the gospel, with Scripture providing the back-story (the truth) behind every meaningful story. Great movies speak to that ready-made part of us because story is the language of the heart.

Finding Jesus in the Movies is the first release in the God and the Arts series, a new small-group Bible study experience that draws from the stories of our time. Each film drives two group meetings, a Dinner and a Movie conversation and a discovery Bible study. Your group will learn to pay attention to what moves them. )1 session)

Finding Redemption in the Movies
Finding Redemption in the Movies is the second release in the God and the Arts series, a new small-group Bible study experience from Serendipity House. Each film drives two group meetings, a "Dinner and a Movie" conversation and a Bible study. Redemption is the central theme of the Larger Story. Your group will learn to pay attention to the great redemption stories that only borrow from the greatest redemption story. (1 session)


The Lenten Season

This series will run through the four Wednesdays in March and are designed to prepare us for the Lenten Season.

The classes will focus on the book by Dr. Kingsley A. Fletcher, “Prayer and Fasting.” The sections that will be highlighted are: “Why I Still Believe in Prayer and Fasting;”  “Why Most Christians No Longer Practice Prayer and Fasting;”  “Why We Should Pray and Fast;” and “How You Can Pray and Fast More Effectively.”