1 Samuel

1 Samuel traces one of the most fascinating storylines in the entire Bible--the reign of King David. God's themes of King and Kingdom will be explored and we'll ultimately see how this book points us to our true King--Jesus. 

2 Samuel

2 Samuel explores one of the most fascinating stories in all of Scripture – the reign of King David. As we trace the lives of its key characters, we’ll explore the themes of king and kingdom, pointing us to our divine King, Jesus Christ. This study will push you into the Scriptures and is a great study to do with a spouse, a fellow believer, or even an unbelieving friend.

Angels, Demons, & Spiritual Warfare

The angelic world is a fascinating topic. It is mostly an unseen world, but it has tremendous impact upon our lives as Christians. In this course you will look into the spiritual realm around you to discover what God says about what angels, demons, and Satan are up to. You will learn what your role is in the spiritual battle and how Jesus wins.

Authentic Manhood (for men only)

What does it mean to be a man? Our culture constantly tells men they are defined by money, power, women, and other false identities. In this course, we will define authentic manhood through the life of Jesus and find other dudes who will help us embrace true masculinity according to the Scriptures.

Christianity in a Polarizing World

Americans are quickly losing the ability to have respectful, meaningful conversations with those who hold differing beliefs. Jesus calls His followers to show the world a better way forward. This course will examine ways to break down barriers for the Gospel in the context of discussions about creation, suffering, the reliability of the Bible, the life of Jesus, and more.

Confronting Anger & Depression

Life is hard and our responses to the injustices of life are varied. We struggle with trusting God, being patient and turning the other cheek. In this course you will learn how to help yourself and others who battle things like depression, bitterness, and anger. You will be equipped to know what to believe and what to say to those who are hurting around you.

Christ in Cultural Conversations

Our world is rapidly becoming more secular and hostile to Christianity. This presents numerous challenges as we seek to boldly proclaim Christ and live on mission. This “class” will be an open forum for conversation on whatever topics you’d like to discuss.

Defending Your Faith with Creation

God's creation is one of beauty, complexity, and inspiration. In this course you will marvel at God's hand in various areas of science. You will also learn the importance of the Genesis creation account and how foundational it is for a Christian worldview. The goal is to help the student be better equipped to view God's world through the lens of Scripture and engage others with that worldview.

The Destiny of Mankind

In this course you will focus on the reality of Heaven and Hell as you are taken on an in-depth journey into what eternity will be like. You will never look at life after death the same.

Digital Discipleship

Most of us know that certain dangers come with social media and the constant allure of phones, tablets, and TVs. How do we leverage these technologies to aid our spiritual growth? Can they even be leveraged, or should we just dump them? This class will equip you to grow as a disciple of Jesus, especially in light of how current technologies push us to be their own disciples.

The Faithful: Heroes of the Old Testament

In The Faithful you will explore pivotal moments in the lives of five of our Old Testament predecessors. There is a different teacher each week; Priscilla Shirer, Kelly Minter, Beth Moore, Jennifer Rothschild, and Lisa Harper, from whom you'll see how God uses the lives of ordinary people for His glory and the good of His people. Strengthen your faith as you walk alongside Gideon, Nehemiah, Esther, Hosea and Malachi as they choose to obey God, no matter their circumstances.

Family Discipleship 101

At Parkside, we believe the Bible calls parents to be the primary disciple-makers of their kids. What a glorious calling! And yet, it can be challenging and at times downright discouraging. This class will provide basic principles and simple points of application for Family Discipleship that can be applied across multiple stages of child rearing.

Financial Peace University

Money is a powerful tool for good but can also be a source of much pain. In this course you will develop a plan for your money with practical steps to get from where you are to where you want to be. You will learn how to get rid of debt, save money, and build a financial plan. Financial Peace by Dave Ramsey will be the curriculum for the course.

Finding God in Art

In this course you will discover how to see God in art. You will look at what God says in His Word and how the world conveys it in movies, music, literature, and creative expressions.

God's Big Story

While we have broken the Bible down into two testaments, 66 books, and 31,102 verses, God tells one big story. In this class we will study the various sections of the Bible to observe how they connect into God's overarching theme of redemptive grace. You will deepen your knowledge and understanding of each book of the Bible, all the while learning how to see the major plot God is developing in each scene of Scripture.

Gospel Living in a Broken World

In this course you will find out how to reach those who are lost, broken, and hurting around you with the love of Jesus. Your eyes will be changed to see people as God does.

Gospel Threads

Hands up if you’ve ever wanted to share the gospel with someone and just don’t know where to begin. Yup, me too! Knowing how to begin and what to say is half the battle. In this BI workshop, we’ll discuss the gospel threads that you can weave into everyday conversations with friends, coworkers, or family. Calling someone to faith in Christ is much less challenging when you have already woven gospel threads into your conversations. Come out and practice sharing your faith as we work to cultivate a culture of evangelism at Parkside!

Grieving Pain & Loss

No one goes through life unscathed by suffering, pain and death. We face it ourselves as well as walk with others through those shadows. In this course you will learn how to Biblically grieve your losses and help others who are facing similar struggles.

Hope & Healing in Marriage

Marriage brings with it some of the most enjoyable moments of life, and yet it also brings some of the most difficult moments in life. This course will discuss how to build a good marriage from both a constructive and remedial perspective. The focus will be on using proper communication, identifying and resolving conflict, and practicing forgiveness - all with a Biblical worldview.

How to Battle Fear, Anxiety, & Addiction

Jesus promised that, “if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed” (John 8:36). Unfortunately, we find our freedom in Christ challenged by the shackles of habitual sin. In this course you will learn how to help yourself and others who battle fear, worry, anxiety, pornography, and substance abuse. You will be equipped with how to think Biblically and how to help others tackle these weighty issues.

How to Lead Yourself & Others

We are all leaders in some way, yet we find ourselves ill-equipped for the situations we find ourselves in. This class is a practical, hands-on course for anyone who desires to make a positive impact on their family, community, or workplace. Topics will include leading yourself first, time management, communication, the power of saying “no” to the nonessential, plus other leadership skills you can put into practice right away. The course is designed for students, parents, professionals, and others who wish to make an impact within their sphere of influence.

How to Teach the Bible

Helping people see and understand the Word of God is a demanding task. It requires both science (finding the meaning of the passage) and art (presenting the passage in an understandable way). In this course you will gain tools for teaching the Bible as well as learn to hone your skills through workshops where you are given feedback on your current teaching ability. Each student will be required to teach a short lesson to the class.

Identity & Hope in Christ: A Study in 1 Peter (women only)

Our identity as children of God in Christ is sure, yet we find ourselves many times trying to find our identity in something we do or even in other people. This course will help you solidify your identity in Christ and find hope through the study of 1 Peter. Students will work through a study of each chapter as homework and then come to class to watch a lesson by Jen Wilkin and discuss the application together.

James Bible Study

The book of James is a gold mine for practical teaching on how to live a genuine life of faith. For centuries it has produced fierce controversies as well fantastic life transformations. Whether you want to grow in wisdom, putting sin to death, rightly connecting faith and works, or how to deal with your finances, James is the book for you. We hope you’ll join us for this rich study in the Word of God!

A Journey through the Psalms of Ascent (women only)

This course will be based on a Beth Moore video study focusing on Psalms 120-134. Traveling pilgrims sang these Psalms both on the way to the great festivals of the LORD and as key elements of the worship at those festivals. Just as a song or poem can express feelings of fear, doubt, hope, and joy, these 15 Psalms model how we can voice our own petitions and praises to our God, who is always available and ready to hear us.

The Man Called by Christ

In this course you will discover how to be a man called by Christ. You will look closely at how God says a man is to live, work, fight, pray, and be a husband and father. You will see Jesus.

Men as Rebels (Men Only)

In Matthew 5-7, we will explore, study, and stand in awe of the greatest sermon in the history of the world. And here is what Jesus will call us to as men: to rebel! To rebel against the secular culture, against the wavering morals, and the world system that seeks to press us into its mold. And so Jesus will call us to follow Him, going against the grain, and to be light and salt to our lost and dying world. Come study, explore, and encourage other men as we together seek to rebel and follow Jesus.

The Nest (for women who have experienced miscarriage, infertility, or adoption loss)

What is the deep cry of your heart? "The Nest” is a special BI course open to women who have experienced or currently are experiencing miscarriage, infertility, or adoption loss. This unique and intimate course will utilize the Bible Study “Finding I Am: How Jesus Fully Satisfies the Cry of Your Heart” by Lysa TerKeurst. In conjunction with “Finding I Am” we will be discussing specific topics relating to miscarriage, infertility, and adoption loss and how healing and even joy can be a part of our journey. Please join me in finding deep contentment and satisfaction in Christ alone.

New Life in Jesus

In this course you will discover who you are in Christ and how to live out your new faith in Jesus. You will dig deep into the book of Ephesians and study your position in Christ and the new life He has called you to live.

The Origin, Beauty, & Viability of the Bible

The Bible is the most published and well-known book in the history of the world. Yet many are confused on how we got it, where it came from and what the real meaning of it is. In this course you will look at origin of the Bible, how you can trust it, and how you should study it. You will receive tools for a lifetime of study and enjoyment in Jesus.

Parenting Children in a Difficult World

It is hard being a parent! It is a 24-7 job commitment that requires more than you can possibly give. In this course we will explore how the grace of God empowers and equips us to be the kind of parents God calls us to be! Our focus will be on parenting newborns through elementary school age children. And in order to be very practical we will devote much time to Q&A so bring your questions!

Parenting Teens in a Difficult World

Teenagers face an intricate life stage where they are trying to figure out who they are and how they relate to the family and the world. In this course you will learn biblical principles and practical wisdom on how to walk with your teens through these years of searching, struggle and maturation.

Preaching & Teaching Scripture (men only)

Helping people see and understand the Word of God is a demanding task. It requires both science (finding the meaning of the passage) and art (presenting the passage in an understanding way). In this course you will gain tools for teaching the Bible as well as learn to hone your skills through workshops where you are given feedback on your current teaching ability. Each student will be required to preach a short lesson to the class.

Roman Bible Study

The book of Romans is arguably the greatest explanation of the Gospel in the history of the world. Martin Luther said it was the most important piece of the New Testament. Saint Augustine said God used it to dispel all of his doubts. John Wesley was converted through this book. Encountering the Gospel through the book of Romans will transform your life too! This is a great study for inviting an unsaved friend or family member.

Seeing People Through the Eyes of Jesus

The Gospels tell of our Creator God coming down to dwell among us. Jesus saw people, spoke to people and touched people. In this course you will discover how people mattered to Jesus. You will be better equipped, through a study of the gospels, to look at people through eyes of mercy and compassion.

Sharing Jesus in a Disinfected World

How to share your faith when you're supposed to keep 6ft. away, half of what you say could be considered politically incorrect, and you’ve run out of hand sanitizer. This class will provide you with practical and simple ideas to share your relationship with Jesus with those around you. Pastor Eddie will walk you through examples from the New Testament that apply to our circumstances today. 

The Story of the Bible

The Bible is the most published and well-known book in the history of the world. Yet many are confused on how we got it, where it came from and what the real meaning of it is. In this course you will look at the origin of the Bible, how you can trust it, and how you should study it. You will receive tools for a lifetime of study and enjoyment in Jesus. 

Suffering

A momentary journey in suffering. Helping to build a foundation to withstand the waves of suffering in our lives.

Systematic Theology: The Nature of God and How We Relate to Him

The study of God can seem daunting and appear impractical. Yet you will find nothing more practical in life than understanding who God is and how you enjoy a relationship with Him. In this course you will uncover breathtaking realities about the existence and characteristics of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. You will discover how personal God is.

Transforming Prayer

Transforming Prayer is a 51-day spiritual journey with God. You will be guided to honestly evaluate your current spiritual health in order to prepare yourself for deeper engagement with God. The class leaders will seek to instruct and model prayer that is worship-based, Scripture-fed, and Spirit-led. Our goal is to help each class participant develop a more vibrant relationship with God and make prayer a high life priority.

Systematic Theology: Your Salvation, the Church, and the Future

The Bible has much to say about God’s saving grace, the role of the local church, and what lies ahead in the future. In this course you will witness the greatness of God’s grace in saving the lost, come to understand the function of the church, and look at what God says about the future of our world and what eternity will be like.

Sermon on the Mount (Women Only)

Join us for nine weeks for a Jen Wilkin Bible study in Jesus' Sermon on the Mount through small group discussion and large group teaching! You will be challenged to think differently as a follower of Jesus through considering the Lord's Prayer, religious devotion, money, ambition, relationships, and what it means to be blessed. Bring your friends!

Widow Service

Parkside has over 30 widows, many of which are unable to attend BI. This serving opportunity is a tangible way to grow through relationships while serving our widows. If you would like to help our widows, sign up here. Bruce Crum and Jared Alsdorf will be coordinating this effort.

World Religions

This class will help equip you to understand and engage people of different beliefs and worldviews with the gospel. You will cover the specifics of Mormonism, Jehovah Witnesses, Catholicism, Islam and other Eastern religions.