Christianity Explained, an eight-week class that explores the fundamentals of the Christian faith, will begin on May 1st. Christianity Explained focuses on the basic tenets of the Christian faith and offers a clear explanation of what the Bible teaches.
"Christianity Explained is an excellent foundational class," says Tom Piazza, a Parkside Church elder who will be teaching the upcoming class with fellow elder, Steve Terrell. "We realize that people who attend Christianity Explained come from a myriad of backgrounds, so we teach the basics. As we teach the foundational truths of God's Word, we also pray that the Holy Spirit will strengthen believers and will bring any unbelievers to a saving faith.”
Not Just for Beginners
While mature Christians may think that this class is just for new believers, Tom encourages those at all stages of their Christian walk to consider taking the class. "I imagine that there are some people who don't even consider taking Christianity Explained because they feel it's an entry-level class, but it is essential for each of us to continually review the foundations upon which our faith rests."
Tom's wife, Liese, echoes that sentiment. "Even though I've been a believer for many years, I realized that I wasn’t taught the foundations in a structured and concise manner, but I learned them in bits and pieces. The book used in the class, Fundamentals of the Faith, allows one to explore the foundational truths of the Bible in a condensed timeframe."
What to Expect
Christianity Explained is taught by elders in teams of two, approximately four times a year. The session starts by introducing the books of the Bible, how they relate to one another, and how to study the Bible. It then continues with a systematic examination of God and His attributes, the person and work of Jesus Christ, the person of the Holy Spirit, and the topics of salvation, prayer, evangelism, and obedience. The last week is devoted to a question and answer period. Tom states that “the ideal is to attend all eight weeks in a row; however, potential participants shouldn't be discouraged if they need to miss a week or two. The class is structured in such a way that people can make up a missed class in a future eight-week session.”
New Dynamics
Tom enjoys the class interaction that occurs in each session. “Each class has its own personality and the questions raised are often different from session to session. Because of this, I’m challenged to dig deeper in my own study of God’s Word and I learn something new each time I teach. We get families, groups of teenagers, new visitors, and people who are bringing their friends as a way to disciple them. No matter what motivates a person to attend the class, he or she will come away with a better understanding of God’s Word."
Help Make a Big Place Feel Smaller
Tom and his wife, Liese, (pictured above), have been attending Parkside since the early 1990's. Tom, a native of northeast Ohio, met Liese, a transplant from Kansas City by way of Atlanta, in the Singles Ministry at Parkside Church. Tom and Liese have two boys, Tommy and Brian, who attend Valley Christian Academy's fifth and third grades, respectively. While they keep busy with the boys' sports and church ministry work, the Piazzas also enjoy spending time with their family and friends. If you see Tom and Liese in the halls of Parkside, please be sure to say hello!
For More Information
The next session of Christianity Explained begins this Sunday, May 1st. Please join us in room 223 at 9:45 a.m. and bring a friend!
