Core Disciplines Class
The purpose of this class is to cultivate a desire for fellowship with God through learning and practicing the spiritual disciplines. Classes will be held from 4-6pm on Sundays, beginning in September 14, 2025 and will run for 11-weeks. There will be a cost for textbooks and materials. Participation in the class requires approximately 2-3 hours of homework per week—reading and journaling.
Registration is now closed.
Please note: There is a $5 materials fee for your workbook. Additional textbooks will be required for purchase separately from your registration and will be available for purchase in the lobby.
The Purpose Of Core Classes
In an increasingly post-Christian world, the church body needs to know first-hand the sacred text that is the Bible. Core Classes will help you deepen your understanding of Scriptures and doctrine, and how to apply them practically to your everyday life. Core Classes are now a consistent rhythm of our church (offered in Fall and Winter/Spring semesters). Currently, our Core series includes a Scripture class and a Doctrine class.
What is Core Disciplines?
As the Westminster Catechism states, the chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy him forever. The goal of the Core Disciplines class is to help cultivate our desire for God through learning and practicing the spiritual disciplines of Scripture intake, meditation, and prayer so that we can better do what we were created to do: enjoy fellowship with God for the glory of God! So, come join us so that we can learn to enjoy our God together.
What to Expect
Each week, adult participants will be expected to complete prep-work before attending class—including scripture reading, approximately 20-30 pages of textbook reading, and journaling through some questions about what you read. During each weekly class, there will be discussion of your prep-work within table groups, a teaching on a specific biblical narrative, worship, applicational discussion, and prayer.
Reading, writing in your own words, discussing, hearing and doing, even singing—we all learn in different ways. We’re going to sample all of these learning styles on a weekly basis in the hopes that you will not only retain information, but transform your heart, mind, and practices.
The content of this class is designed to be challenging to adults. However, we believe it is also accessible to high-school-aged students.
DISCLAIMER: We do ask that you consider whether you are able to commit to a full semester-long class BEFORE you register. We offer Core Classes every Fall and Spring. So, if now is not the best time time for this extra commitment, please consider waiting until a future semester.
Adult Textbooks
- The Bible (we highly recommend an ESV Study Bible)
- Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life (Whitney)— available for purchase in the lobby for $8 each (over 55% discount from retail price).
- Desiring God (Piper)— brand-new edition coming in September, for approximately $21 each (a 30% discount from retail price).
“…Rather train yourself for godliness; for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.
1 Timothy 4:7-8
COURSE OVERVIEW
Weekly Content*
01. Core Disciplines Overview
Part 1: Learning the Disciplines: How to Have Fellowship with God
02. Scripture Intake
03. Scripture Meditation
04. Prayer
Part 2: Learning Desire: Enjoying God as the Goal of the Disciplines
05. Enjoying God
06. Conversion
07. Worship
08. Bible & Prayer
09. Money
10. Missions
11. Suffering
*Weekly content subject to change
Class Structure
- Group Discussion & Application (with your table group)
- Lecture + Q&A (led by a teaching team)
So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
1 Corinthians 10:31
Frequently Asked Questions
I'm participating with a spouse—do we each need a textbook?
That will be completely up to you and your specific needs. If you are the type who likes to highlight or make notes/underlines as you read, you may wish to have your own copy.
What if I already own a copy of a textbook?
That’s awesome! We actually anticipated that many may already own Spiritual Disciplines or Desiring God, as they are both very popular books. This is why we sell them separately from registration. You’re free to use your existing copy. (Please note, due to various print editions over the years, there may be some discrepancies in page numbers identified in our workbooks.)
What if I can't make it to all of the classes?
We understand that you may miss a class or two for various life-and-season reasons. We will do our best to supply you with any notes you may have missed from our lectures. And—we’d highly encourage you to dialog with a friend that week over what you studied, since you will have missed your group discussion time.
That said, if you are looking over your calendar and realize you are likely to miss a fair amount of classes, then maybe this semester isn’t the BEST time for you to take a class. We have a limited class-capacity of 250 participants, and we want to ensure that as many who wish to participate can do so. So, if you know you’ll miss a lot, you may be taking a seat from someone else who would have joined. Consider waiting until a future semester when you have a greater likelihood of full participation. You’ll be better for it.
What makes classes different from a small group or bible study?
Classes are primarily an independent, topical study (biblical theology, systematic theology, and spiritual disciplines), with the chief purpose of education and increasing your personal discipleship. Classes are for a set period of time (11 weeks), while Groups tend to have a more ongoing nature.
Similarly, our Studies are more of a “classroom” environment than a “living room” environment. Our studies focus on a line-by-line study of a specific passage of Scripture and are semester based (11 weeks) and meet in single-gender spaces for teaching.
At Gospel City, our Groups have a primary purpose of biblical community—caring for each other, holding each other accountable, and living out the “one another’s” of Scripture. Typically, small groups are not focused on learning outcomes like a class would be.
Classes, Studies, and Groups are not meant to be a substitute for one another, but rather are designed to come alongside one another in a complimentary way. Classes and Studies are committed to advancing biblical education, and Groups are committed to advancing biblical community.
Can I take this class with my small group?
While registering, you are able to name up to two other people you’d like to be seated with for discussion and we will do our best to accommodate those requests. However, we believe that Core classes are a great space for you to meet people who are potentially outside of your current circles. We’ve heard many great testimonies of new gospel friendships that were forged by participating in this class and meeting someone new.
Why isn't Kids Core being offered this semester?
After a few successful runs of Kids Core (Scripture + Doctrine), we are so very thankful to everyone who helped us, as well as all of the feedback that was provided. It is so powerful to sow these truths into the hearts of children.
We are continually evaluating ways to enhance and provide this type of content for kids and middle-grade students. We also know that coming back for a couple hours on a Sunday afternoon isn’t the most conducive or effective way to accomplish this. You can join us in prayer as we are considering new options for teaching biblical theology, doctrinal truths, and Christian living to our kids at early stages.
For now, Kids Core will not be offered during the 2025/2026 ministry year. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.
Is childcare available?
While classes are available to some school-age children (9th- 12th grade), there is no onsite childcare for this class. You will need to make other off-site arrangements for your younger children. We would also ask that you not bring your young children to sit and wait for you in the lobby.
Can I take this online/virtually?
No—Our Core Classes are designed to be taken in-person only.
What if I've already take a Core Class?
We’re thrilled that you’ve already made the commitment to your spiritual maturation. One of the best ways to employ what you’ve learned and further put it into practice is to TEACH it to someone else. Consider taking the class again as a table facilitator for the adults,
What is next after Core Classes?
While challenging, these Core Classes are only scratching the surface of the deep riches that God has revealed in His Word. Both the Core Scripture and Core Doctrine classes are quick overviews of biblical and systematic theology, and we could easily spend well over 11 weeks on any one single topic addressed in those classes.
That said, we offer a one-year program—Academy—that is available to church members who have completed both Core Scripture & Core Doctrine classes. Academy is designed to be a more intensive and rigorous program than our Core Classes. They will be a limited class size, and you will need to apply (vs register) to participate. (Currently, Academy will not be offered again until Fall 2026)
In the meantime, reference the bonus resources in the appendixes of your Core workbooks for recommended reading on specific subjects to go deeper on your own.