Seminars & Reading Groups

Seminars at the Study Center offer opportunities for weekly thought-provoking, small group discussion about topics relevant to faith, life in the university, and beyond. All are led by NCSC staff, sometimes in partnership with campus ministries, visiting teachers, and/or UNC faculty members.

Fall 2025

Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Image via The International Bonhoeffer Society

This reading group will explore the life, thought, and legacy of Dietrich Bonhoeffer—the German pastor, theologian, and anti-Nazi dissident whose call to radical discipleship continues to challenge the church today. Together we’ll ask: Who was Bonhoeffer? What did he say and do? And does it matter for us now? Our discussions will consider not only his courage and convictions but also how his insights might confront and shape American Christianity in the present.

Note: This seminar has limited spots, and priority will be given to upperclass students.

Led by Dr. Bill Roper
Tuesdays at 3:00 pm
This seminar will last five weeks, beginning on October 21

The Book of Ruth

*Ruth and Boas*, Julius Schnorr von Carolsfeld, 1825

The book of Ruth contains genius-level storytelling, and it's worth a closer look. All of the details matter. The emotional payoff is significant. And, somehow, the theological questions it takes on are enormous. Does God's love hold up under pressure? Like, does God's love withstand tragedy and temptation and the day-to-day realities of being human? We'll take a chapter per week for four weeks and wrestle with these questions ourselves.

Led by local pastor Brian Pell
Tuesdays at 3:30 pm
This seminar will have four sessions, beginning on October 21 and ending on 11/18 (no meeting on 10/28)

Glittering Vices

The goal of the Christian life is to become more like Christ. But how is Christ formed in us? One of the tasks of the Holy Spirit is to open our eyes to the beauty of Jesus, to quicken our hearts so that even our desires begin to shift, and to empower us to act in ways that are more and more consistent with the character and command of Jesus. As that begins to happen, our eyes are increasingly opened to the dissonance between who we are and what we are called to be. The Christian tradition has wisdom to offer as it has reflected on Scripture and the reality of the dividedness of our own hearts and minds. Rebecca DeYoung’s book, Glittering Vices (2nd edition) is a wonderful introduction to that wisdom, one that will invite us to see ourselves more clearly in light of the love of Christ, and then to set in motion new habits of reflection and action that will help us on our way to that ultimate goal of Christlikeness.

Wednesdays from 3:30-4:45 pm
Beginning on Sept. 18th
Led by Rev. Allan Poole

The Gospel According to Matthew

Join us this Fall as we dive deep into the Gospel of Matthew—a rich, compelling account of Jesus as the long-awaited Messiah and Teacher. Together, we’ll explore themes of the Kingdom of Heaven, Jesus’ fulfillment of Old Testament promises, the call to discipleship, and the radical way of life He outlines in His teachings.

We’re offering mens’ & women’s cohorts on Mondays and Thursdays—pick the one that works best for you:

Beginning the week of Sept. 8th
Led by NCSC Staff

Angels & Demons

Cherubim, Seraphim, Nephilim, O my! Spiritual beings are all over the pages of Scripture, but we rarely talk about them. What do we know about these mysterious creatures? Do humans have guardian angels? Can demons repent? What are powers and principalities? Join us for an 8-week short course on the unseen realm. We’ll discuss all these questions and more.