Sunday Morning Adult Education at St. John the Divine

In week Three of Temple, Tabernacle, Today, we move from the wilderness tent to the settled glory of Jerusalem’s Temple—and see why both are essential for understanding Jesus and the life of the Church. Tracing the story from Sinai to Zion to Christ, we’ll explore how sacred space reveals God’s holiness and nearness, shapes a people’s identity, and becomes a beacon of mission—a place where heaven and earth meet, and where God’s presence sends us back into the world with hope.

This talk launches our Art in Advent Adult Education series with an exploration of the Virgin Mary through the lens of art history. Beginning with the brief biblical account, we trace how centuries of artists, theologians, and storytellers sought to understand Mary’s identity, vocation, and holiness through painting, legend, and devotion.

Drawing on Renaissance masterpieces and early Christian sources, this session examines how images of Mary’s life, family, and childhood shaped Christian imagination and theological reflection as the Church prepared for Christmas. Together, we consider why Mary mattered so deeply to early believers and how art helped make the mystery of the Incarnation visible.

In the finale of our Prayer: Conversations with God series, Tom draws us into Paul’s letter to the Colossians and shows how prayer reveals God’s plan for our lives.

Paul urges the church to pursue the knowledge of God’s will, to live in harmony with God and one another, and to rely on the Holy Spirit for strength. From Colossians to 1 Thessalonians, we discover a simple but transformative call: be joyful, pray continually, and give thanks in all circumstances.

Through Scripture, story, and a powerful reflection inspired by Max Lucado, this teaching reminds us that joy, prayer, and gratitude are not products of our circumstances. They are choices we make each day because of what Christ has done.

A hopeful and practical ending to our series on prayer.

In this week’s lesson on Prayer: Conversations with God, we look at Acts 4:23–31 and see how the early church responded when pressure and persecution came their way. After healing the lame man and proclaiming the resurrection of Jesus, Peter and John face opposition, but their first instinct is to gather with their community and pray.

This talk reminds us to remember who God is, trust His sovereign work, root our prayers in Scripture, and ask for the boldness to keep speaking the truth of Jesus Christ. When we pray this way, we can expect God to answer.

How do we learn to make wise choices and see the world as God sees it? In this Sunday Adult Education talk, David Modesett explores the gift of discernment through the story of Solomon and the two women in 1 Kings 3. True wisdom is not simply about clever judgment, but about compassion, listening, and seeing people as God does.

Drawing from Scripture, prayer, and personal stories, David reminds us that discernment grows through prayerful attention to God, learning to “pray attention” as we seek His guidance in every part of life. Through Christ, the Word made flesh, we are given not only wisdom but the indwelling Spirit who teaches us how to listen and to love.

In a world that constantly tells us we need more, how do we learn to be content with what we have?

Drawing from Proverbs 30 and Philippians 4, this talk explores the wisdom of living between two extremes, neither wealth that leads to self-reliance nor poverty that leads to despair. Through scripture, personal stories, and humor, we’re reminded that true contentment comes from trust in God’s provision, gratitude for daily bread, and generosity that reflects His heart.

Prayer isn’t just something we say. It’s the power that connects us to the heart of God. In this week’s Adult Education series on prayer, we look at Psalm 19 and discover how creation, Scripture, and self-reflection draw us closer to our Creator. As David prays, “May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be pleasing in your sight,” we’re invited to make every thought and word a reflection of God’s glory.

In this reflection on Numbers 6:22–27, Dr. Kira Moolman Pettit unpacks one of Scripture’s oldest and most beloved prayers: “The Lord bless you and keep you.” She explores the context of the priestly blessing, what it reveals about God’s name and character, and how we can carry that blessing into our own lives and relationships. Rooted in worship and trust, this timeless prayer reminds us that true protection and peace come from the Lord alone.

What does real prayer actually look like? Is it reserved for spiritual experts, or is it something we are all invited into in every season, setting, and circumstance?

In this honest and practical talk, we explore how prayer is far more than a Sunday ritual. It is a conversation, a partnership, a wrestling match, and even a dance. Prayer can be messy, ordinary, joyful, frustrated, or profound, and yet it remains the way we connect with God and are shaped by Him.

Whether you have been praying for decades or do not know where to start, this talk is an invitation to see prayer not as a performance but as a living, breathing relationship with God in the midst of real life.

What do we do when our prayers seem unanswered? In this Week 3 of Prayer: Conversations with God The Revd. Dr. Michael Lloyd thoughtfully explores the mystery of prayer, the reality of suffering, and the hope we have in God’s presence. With honesty and compassion, the talk reminds us that every prayer matters, that God’s love is never absent, and that even in weakness we can glimpse His transforming power.