Abbey west launched a new curriculum for their on-campus Bible studies titled “Common Ground.” Though using curriculums isn’t something new for abbey west’s Bible studies, “Common Ground” was specifically written by familiar faces for Concordia students.

Noks Shabalala, Director of Small Groups and Connections, said, “The Common Ground curriculum is an 8-week experience in a Bible study setting that explores big questions in community through reading, reflection, group discussion, fellowship and service.” 

She continued, “It’s theologically sound and with many contributions from faculty, staff, students and local church members” and that, “it ensures that the curriculum is also engaging and relevant for our student body.” 

Jessi Borton, junior and Athletics Ministry Leader, said, “Each topic is beneficial, as it includes information that is interesting to both experienced Christians and newer Christians.” She said that the “Common Ground” experience is about, “building a community of fellow Christians by meeting together and discussing topics of our mutual beliefs,” and that “this curriculum allows us to find common ground with each other and spend time together in the Word.”

Ruth Pearson, senior and Beloved Coordinator, said, “This book contains four short daily devotions with reflection questions for each week.” She continued, “This study is about common experiences we have as Christians. Each week, a different topic, such as common struggles, mission, and brokenness, coinciding with a spiritual discipline, is discussed.”

Abbey west is always intentional about the curriculum being used. Having a curriculum written by the professors and contributed to by students and local church members was not incidental, but rather having the students' hearts in mind. Pearson said, “Concordia professors see and hear common struggles that students have here on campus. The heart is to unite us as a family of Christian believers and encourage one another.” 

Borton said, “Having a curriculum written by Concordia professors allows the readers to feel safe and comfortable with the information they are reading and studying. Since the devotions are written by familiar people, the reader may be more intrigued by the text, yet also more open to the possibilities of what the text has to say if they are not confident in their faith yet.”

What “Common Ground” does is, “have an intentionality in communing together as Christian men and women for our discipleship through the study of the Word, prayer and encouragement,” said Shabalala.

For those who might not know, abbey west is Concordia’s on-campus ministry that is split into three different Bible studies, “Battalion” for men, “Beloved” for women, and Athlete Bible Study (ABS). Shabalala said, “Bible study groups are a platform for discipleship, and belonging.”

Borton advocated for joining an on-campus Bible study and said, “It allows people to belong to a group and have fellowship with other CUI students. Specifically, joining a Bible study on-campus gives the opportunity to both grow in your faith in Christ and to build relationships that will last a lifetime! No matter where you are in your walk with Christ, any sort of Bible study at CUI is a great place to progress.”

It is not too late to sign up for a Bible study. Shabalala said, “If anyone is looking for a community that gathers around the Word of God and intentionally does life together through worship, and service here at CUI and beyond we invite them to come and join us, there is always room at the table.”

For more information, students can join by downloading the ChurchCenter app and selecting abbeywest as their church or following @abbeywest_cui on instagram to find links to join any of abbey west’s small groups. They also are having a “Common Ground” event on Oct. 28 at 7:45 p.m. in the CU Arena. It is open to everyone for a time of fellowship, worship, reading of the God’s Word.

Tags: community

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