Session 1: September 13—October 18, 2026

Reading Ephesians Again for the First Time

Andy Le peau

Paul’s letter to the Ephesians offers his most dramatic, sweeping panorama of what God is doing in Christ throughout creation and eternity. Yet it also offers some of the most gritty, down-to-earth guidance for us as individuals, families, and churches. In this letter Paul asks Jesus to open our hearts, widen our souls, expand our minds, and be our strength so we will live out the truth in love toward each other.

Andy Le Peau is a founding elder of Immanuel, having been part of our community for over forty years. He also served as editorial director of InterVarsity Press during that time and is the author of several books, including Mark Through Old Testament Eyes.

Session 2: November 15—December 20, 2026

Lessons for Parents, Politicians, and Ordinary Christians from the R-Rated Life of King David

MARK NOLL

David was "a man after God's own heart" and "the sweet singer of Israel"—but also a murderer, an adulterer, a negligent parent, a polygamist, and a guerilla drenched in blood. From the history of David in I and II Samuel, we will explore why such an exemplary saint-sinner was so important in the Bible's history of salvation, and perhaps for us today.

Mark Noll is retired after teaching at Wheaton College and the University of Notre Dame. He and his wife, Maggie, have been privileged to be part of this congregation for nearly 50 years.

Session 3: January 10—January 31, 2027

Know the Theologians

Jennifer & David McNutt

The Bible describes the church as a kind of family. Those who believe in Christ are sisters and brothers in the faith, whether they live at the same time or are separated by centuries. For that reason, believers today need to know our family members who have come before us and shaped our beliefs and practices. In this four-week class, David and Jennifer McNutt will consider some of the church's most significant theologians. Copies of their book, Know the Theologians, will be available for purchase.

Jennifer Powell McNutt (PhD, University of St Andrews) is Franklin S. Dyrness Professor of Biblical and Theological Studies at Wheaton College, where she oversees the M.A. degrees in History of Christianity and Theology. She is also the author or editor of several books, including The Mary We Forgot, the co-author of Know the Theologians, the co-founder of McNuttshell Ministries, an ordained minister in the Presbyterian church, and a senior fellow of the Center for Pastor Theologians.

David McNutt (PhD, University of Cambridge) is Senior Acquisitions Editor at Zondervan Academic and Senior Lecturer of Core Studies at Wheaton College. He is also the co-author of Know the Theologians, the co-founder of McNuttshell Ministries, an ordained minister in the Presbyterian church, and a fellow of the Center for Pastor Theologians.

comedy and christianity

Denise Daniels Barwell

This class will take a light-hearted look at comedy and Christianity. We will explore questions around the biblical basis for comedy and laughter, through scripture, readings, and other stuff. We will also be interested in seeing what makes different people in our church laugh and how that laughter helps them in their Christian lives.

Ron Netzel has been a member at IPC for roughly 20 years. His wife, Dee, and daughter, Sophie, also attend Immanuel. Ron works in the financial industry, which really doesn’t qualify him to teach a class on comedy, let alone laughter, but he’ll do it anyway.

Session 4: February 14—March 21, 2027

Epic of Eden

lauren mathues

A survey of Sandra Ricther's book by the same title to gain a better idea of key OT motifs. Together we will "deepen [our] love for God’s Word by uncovering the beauty and unity of His story from Eden to the New Jerusalem."

Lauren Mathues and her family have worshipped at IPC for the last six years. During that time, she has served in various ministries including teaching a Bible study on Tuesday mornings. Lauren senses God's call on her life to preach and is a candidate under care in the EPC in pursuit of becoming an ordained minister. 

The Seven Deadly Sins as Teachers for God's People

John Schuurman

John Schuurman will revive and revise a course on the seven deadly sins that he taught in 2013 at IPC. The course will be a reexamination of the medieval structure and use of these sins as a teaching tool for God-honoring living in both our ancient and contemporary worlds. The course will be during the season of Lent in 2027.

John Schuurman is a retired pastor from the Christian Reformed Church of North America. He served the CRC in Wheaton for 22 years. Janet and John have been attending IPC since 2011.

Session 5: April 11—May 22, 2027

Who are We, and What are We Here For?

Missions Team (Mark Garavaglia & Stan Anderson spearheading)

This class is not about “missions.” It’s about growing our understanding of God and his plans in the world. This class will explore some of the insights in Christopher Wright’s book The Mission of the People of God to give us corporate and personal glimpses into the big picture and practical ways of building His kingdom. We want to be people who bless the world, including the creation and our neighbors. How can we better represent God to the world around us? How do we live and work and engage in the public square that God governs and redeems? How can we better love our neighbors? We all want to live out our concern for the environment since Jesus created it and God has given us the task as humans to care for it! The Great Commission is a lot bigger than we may have considered. As a church, we’ll grapple with these relationships and pursue becoming more intentional followers of Jesus where we are sent to work or we send others.

Weekly classes will be taught by a variety of Immanuel leaders on missional living in their spheres of influence and expertise.

The Religion Clauses of the United States Constitution

Steve Bretsen

This series will explore the foundations of religious liberty in the United States – the Establishment and Free Exercises Clauses of the First Amendment to the Constitution. The focus will be on how the United States Supreme Court has interpreted their dueling mandates of prohibiting government from establishing a religion while limiting how government can regulate expressions of faith by religious individuals and organizations.

Steve Bretsen is the Volkman Associate Professor of Business and Law at Wheaton College, where he teaches a course on constitutional law. Along with his wife Cindy, he has been a member of Immanuel Presbyterian Church for over twenty years.

Adult Education Zoom Recordings

Audio recordings of some Adult Education classes are available on the Members page, found on the top menu.