Life can be messy and hard, yet no matter where you are in your faith, it’s important that you find your next step and keep moving forward. Growing is a process and there’s always something happening at Gainesville First to help you connect with God’s Word and with one another. See a list of the Bible Studies we offer as ongoing and seasonal Disciple Groups below.

Mondays

Monday Scripture Study

Led by Rev. Carolyn Clifton / starts September 8 / 12pm-1pm / Lakeside Conference Room & Zoom

How would your worship experience be different if you prepared your heart in advance? Gather with this group on Mondays to discuss the Scripture text for the upcoming Sunday sermon. Newcomers to the group are always welcome and advanced preparation is not required. Join us in person or via Zoom.

Tuesdays

Men’s Bible Study

Led by Rev. Jamey Prickett / starts August 12 / 7am-8am / Reception Hall & Zoom

Men mark your calendars to join for biscuits and Bible study! We meet every Tuesday morning at 7am for a time of fellowship, reflection, and spiritual growth. Dive deep into the scriptures, discuss their relevance in today's world, and connect with fellow believers. Whether you're new to the Bible or have been studying it for years, this group is open to all men seeking to grow in their faith.

Ladies Bible Study: How Much More?

Led by Sheri Duke / starts August 12 / 10am / Room S-13/15

Maybe your head knows that God is always good, but your heart’s not so sure. Or perhaps while reading Scripture, you’ve wondered if our Creator Redeemer went through a personality change—from strictly enforcing the rules in the Old Testament to loving the outcast in the New!

In this 7-session Bible study by Lisa Harper, you’ll discover divine love in the often overlooked and misunderstood passages in Scripture. And you’ll be delighted to find that Jehovah of the Old Testament is the same redemptive and compassionate God we see through Jesus Christ in the New Testament. He has always been and will always be for us!

The class has a video, and a workbook component combined with time for sharing prayer concerns and fellowship.  Join us beginning Tuesday, August 12 in room S-13/15.

Ladies’ Bible Study: The Amazing Collection: The Poetical Books (Job-Song of Solomon)

Led by Ellen Wren / starts August 12 / 10am / Room S-02

Let the most beautiful words ever written lead your heart in meditation and praise. Ancient writers reveal they are much like us as they question suffering, debate philosophy, wrestle with depression, ponder their purpose, honor intimacy and worship gloriously.

Women of all ages are very welcome to join us in fellowship, study and prayer with old and new friends. 
Join us beginning Tuesday, August 12 at 10am in room S-02. 

Young Adults Small Group

Led by Ginnie Highsmith / Every Tuesday starting August 12 / 6:30pm / GFUMC Campus

Is Hell really a place people go to? Did Jonah actually get swallowed by a whale? And what is going on in the book of Revelation? Your twenties and early thirties are full of transitions and unknowns. This small group creates opportunities for young adults to experience authentic Christian community and explore faith's big while having fun. If you like big questions, dogs, and cheese dip, the Young Adults Small Group is for you!

Join us Tuesday beginning August 12 at 6:30pm.

Wednesdays

*Please note that on Wednesday evenings, we also have small groups for our children and students. We encourage you to make this a family night for your small groups!

David: A Man After God’s Heart

Led by Rev. Jamey Prickett / August 13-September 17 / 6pm / S-49 / In person & Zoom

David’s story is one of the most compelling in the Bible — shepherd, warrior, poet, king, sinner, and worshiper. His life is full of victory and failure, courage and vulnerability, and through it all, we see what it means to follow God with a whole heart.

In this study, we’ll walk through key moments in David’s life, looking at:

• God’s call and David’s heart

• Facing giants with faith

•  The power of deep friendship

• Failure, repentance, and restoration

• Worship and leaving a legacy

We’ll also be reading short chapters each week from Eugene Peterson’s book, Leap Over a Wall, which brings David’s story to life in fresh, practical, and deeply human ways.
This is a great study whether you’re a longtime Christian or just curious about the Bible. There’s room for questions, discussion, and real-life connection.

Join us on Wednesdays, starting August 13. In-person or via Zoom.

Creating a Life as Jesus Followers

Facilitated by Lee Highsmith, Kay Walker, Mary Wall / starting August 13 / 6pm / Room S-13/15

Are you looking for ways to explore a beginning to your walk with Jesus?
Have you been walking with Jesus for a while and are looking for ways to deepen your walk?
What exactly are Spiritual Disciplines? What does it mean to Practice the Way? What is a Rule of Life?
Are you curious about practices such as Prayer, Fasting, Scripture, Service, (and others)? What about these ancient practices that speak to us in 2025 (and beyond)?

Join us as we explore the building blocks of creating a life as Jesus Followers. We will be guided by John Mark Comer and the team at Practicing the Way. Together, we will compare notes, engage in discussion, and learn to organize a Christ-centered life. There is no book to purchase for this class.

Join us on Wednesdays, starting August 13. In-person.

Radicle Methodism: Back to Our Roots

Led by Rev. Sandra Skinner / Wednesdays, August 13-September 3 / 6pm / Lakeside Conference Room

Do you ever wonder where the word “Methodism” comes from?  How did Methodism begin?  How did the denomination move from Methodism to United Methodism?  This 4-week class examines the history of Methodism, the people and the movements that crossed oceans and centuries.  Join us to explore the very beginnings of Methodism that, like the radicle – the first part of the seed that sprouts to become the root system and the future plant – were vital to the denomination as we become rooted and grounded, and are now essential as we live into the connectionalism of United Methodism.

Join us on Wednesdays, starting January 8. In-person or via Zoom.

Bridge Builders 2.0

Led by Rev. Sandy Skinner / Wednesdays, October 1, 8, 15 & 22 / 6pm / Lakeside Conference Room

This 4-week class brings newly joined members and seasoned members together for a time of discovery.  Each week we will take time for self-exploration. The various tools utilized will help us determine how best to connect as unique individuals to the work of building bridges to Jesus within our church and community.  

Advent Deep Dive: The God Who Comes Close

Led by Rev. Jamey Prickett & Ginnie Highsmith / Wednesdays, December 3, 10, & 17 / 6pm / Reception Hall

Advent isn’t just a sentimental countdown to Christmas — it’s the story of God breaking into human history to meet our deepest needs for hope, peace, and joy. Together, we’ll explore what it means that God didn’t stay distant but came close to us in Jesus.

Here’s what we’ll cover:
December 3: The Promise of Light in Darkness
December 10: God With Us: The Incarnation
December 17: The Joy of God’s Kingdom Breaking In

What to expect:

• Honest conversation about mystery and meaning

• Space to ask questions and wrestle with big ideas

• Connections between familiar longings (hope, justice, joy) and the heart of the Advent story.

Whether you’re full of faith, full of questions, or somewhere in between…you are welcome here.
Join us this Advent season, starting December 3.

Deep Dive: Faith in a Changing World: A Study for Navigating Life, Purpose, and Spiritual Growth

Led by Rev. Jamey Prickett and Ginnie Highsmith / April 23 - May 7 / 6pm / Reception Hall

You are invited to dive deep to discover how faith evolves as we journey through life in an ever-changing world.

Join Rev. Jamey Prickett and Ms. Ginnie Highsmith as we discuss integrating faith into every aspect of our lives, balancing ancient truths with modern realities. Let’s discover what it means to live faithfully in a constantly changing world together.

Come with your questions. Leave with clarity, hope, and a deeper connection to God’s calling for your life.

Thursdays

Thursday Ladies Morning Group: The Bible from 30,000 Feet: Soaring Through the Scriptures from Genesis to Revelation

Led by Carol Terrell / ongoing on Thursdays / 8:30am / Lakeside Conference Room

Enjoy the magnificent panorama of Scripture like never before! This study shares a FLIGHT plan for all 66 books of the Bible to help you better understand the context and significance of each. In this overview, you'll discover...
Facts—about the author and the date each book was written; Landmarks—a summary of the highlights of the book; Itinerary—a specific outline of the book divided by themes; Gospel—how to see Jesus within the book's pages; History—a brief glimpse at the cultural setting for the book; Travel Tips—guidelines for navigating the book's truths

If you have ever found yourself getting lost and wandering from verse to verse in Scripture, put yourself firmly on track with the clear aerial view offered in The Bible from 30,000 Feet.

This small of group of ladies gathers on Thursday morning to study the Bible together and share life together.  While this group has a great history of studying together faithfully, all are welcome!

Faith Café: Signs and Secrets of the Messiah: A Fresh Look at the Miracles of Jesus

Led by Nancy Evans and Pam Katz / *Break til August / offsite

Are you or someone you love desperate for a miracle? As witnessed through Scripture, the God who was and is and is to come has been performing miracles from the beginning of time—so you can trust that Jesus wants to do something miraculous in your life today.

In this follow-up to his book Mysteries of the Messiah, Rabbi Jason Sobel dives deep into Scripture, biblical culture, and ancient texts to help you better understand the truths and the power behind God's miracles, and to increase your faith that Jesus can perform miracles in your life.

By taking a deeper look at Yeshua's miracles, Rabbi Jason reveals promises for all Christ followers based on miracles throughout Scripture:

• Jesus takes the ordinary and turns it into something extraordinary, because He wants you to live out of His overflow (He turned water into wine).

• Jesus wants to renew you so that He can do something new in you (He revealed to Nicodemus the miracle of rebirth).

• You can stop wandering aimlessly or feeling stuck in your current situation, but instead experience abundant life and healing (He healed the man at the Pool of Bethesda).

• God wants to bless you abundantly so you, in turn, can bless others and sow into His kingdom (Jesus multiplied the loaves and fish).

As you go on this journey with Rabbi Jason, a Messianic Jew, he is praying that God will lead you to new insights and breakthroughs in your life. And as God reveals Himself to you in a fresh and powerful way, you will be filled with a sense of His presence and shalom.

Join us Thursdays beginning January 9 from 10 am – 11:30am at Panera Bread in Gainesville.

Caring for the Caregiver

Facilitated by Brenau psychology students / ongoing on Thursdays / 2pm / Connect Café
               
Caring for loved ones experiencing issues with aging and dementia can be challenging. Gathering with others in similar situations to share experiences, gain insights, and receive encouragement can be helpful. In partnership with Brenau University, GFUMC hosts an ongoing support group facilitated by trained, graduate level psychology students on Thursdays from 2 – 3 pm in the Connect Café. Please contact Mildred Smith in the church office for more information or to register prior to attending the group.

Centering Prayer

Led by Rev. Carolyn Clifton / starting September 4/ 3 pm/ S-52

Centering Prayer is a spiritual practice rooted in the Christian contemplative tradition that invites us to be present to the presence of God who is always with us. Gather with others on Thursdays at 3 pm for a time of prayer and study as we seek to incorporate this practice into our lives. Guidance is offered weekly for those new to the practice. Join the group at any time! Our book study will be Falling Upward: A Spirituality for the Two Halves of Life by Richard Rohr.