"For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” - 2 Peter 1:5-8
Classes
Grace Institute provides a structured and communal class environment for the GBC family to grow in their knowledge of God, his Word, and discipleship to Jesus (2 Peter 1:5, Romans 8:30). Every follower of Jesus is called to a life-long journey of discipleship or "learning", and we want to help you do that. For those exploring faith in Jesus, we believe learning can play a key role, and we hope one of these classes can help you on your journey (John 20:31).
We offer classes in four categories:
- Foundational Theology - What should we believe and why?
- Spiritual Formation - How can my heart be formed into the person of Jesus?
- Mission - How can I engage in God's mission in my community and the world?
- Practical Theology - How do I live out the gospel in a particular area of my life?
Most of our classes are short-term (3-8 weeks), though Foundational Theology typically meets regularly throughout the year with topics rotating. For new believers or skeptics exploring Christianity, we particularly recommend the Foundations of Life class, which meets on Sunday nights during our youth programs.
We hope that you consider participating in a class. We know that God is at work among his people, growing us by his Spirit into the image of Jesus. We are praying for the Lord to use these efforts to grow us in him, for our joy and his glory.
For any questions please email .
CURRENT CLASS OFFERINGS - WINTER 2025
#1 Biblical Marriage Foundations | Living out God’s Purpose and Vision for Marriage
Category: Practical Theology
What is marriage? Why did God create marriage? When we get engaged and married, we don’t always think about these questions. Yet, as we build our lives together these questions become central to how we live our faith in the context of marriage. This class will cover the fundamental theology of marriage and how it should affect how we live as married couples. This class will focus on couples currently married; however, dating and engaged couples are welcome.
This 6-week class will be taught by Bryon and Jennifer Harvey, long-time GBC members and former GBC marriage conference speakers.
This class will meet during the 9:30am service beginning on 1/12 in Fellowship Hall. This class will meet weekly, with the exception of a break the week of 2/2.
#2 Co-Mission | Discovering our place and purpose in God’s Story
Category: Mission
What does it mean to live on mission? How do we make our lives count within God’s Story? Join us this winter for Co-Mission, where we will explore God's mission in the Bible. We will look at how we can be effective on His mission both locally (in the Ann Arbor area) and globally (to the ends of the Earth). This class will also include guest speakers, discussion, and optional resources to dive deeper.
This 8-week class will be taught by Todd Sanford, our Director of Missions & Grace Youth.
This class will meet during the 11am service starting on 1/19 in Fellowship Hall.
#3 Foundational Theology | Christian Evidences
Category: Foundational Theology
The faith we have as Christians is not "wishful thinking" or an uncritical set of beliefs we have acquired. The faith we have is a confident hope. This confident hope is anchored in evidence from history, philosophy, and science. In this introductory course, we will explore the evidence we have for God's existence, the historicity of Christ's life and resurrection, the truthfulness of the Bible, and other foundational topics. Everyone is welcome in this class; however, this class is ideal for high school students, college students, and anyone who wants to be equipped to talk with family, friends, and colleagues about the reason we have for faith.
This 8-week class will be taught by Dave Brzezinski, elder at GBC and professor in the sciences at the University of Michigan.
This class will meet during the 9:30am service starting on 1/12 in Fellowship Hall.
#4 Foundations for Life | Making Sense of Life and Faith
Category: Foundational Theology
This class is designed to provide you with answers for some of life’s most significant questions. The class will explore the basics of Christianity. We all need a solid foundation to build on and this class is the place to start your journey. If you're beginning your search, feel like the Bible is foreign to you, overwhelming, or trying to understand what following Jesus means, come join us.
This 8-week class will be taught by Jack Glupker, long-time GBC member who has regularly taught this class for many years.
This class will meet on Sunday nights from 5:00-6:30 in Fellowship Hall starting on 1/12.
#5 Prayer | Developing an Intimate Walk with God
Category: Spiritual Formation
Do you want a deep prayer life but don't know how to get there? Do you face frequent difficulties, roadblocks, or challenges with motivation in prayer? Through prayer, God invites us to draw near to him and live life with him and for him (Matt 11:28-30, Heb 10:19-23). Yet so many of us find it difficult to pray regularly and to persevere in this essential practice. This class will explore promises of God that form the foundation for prayer, explore practical tips and tools for cultivating a strong prayer life, and provide an opportunity to practice prayer together. “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened." (Matthew 7:7–8).
This 4-week class will be taught by Alex Glasson, pastoral resident at GBC.
This class will meet during the 11:00 service in Fellowship Hall starting on 3/16.