What’s it all about?

Ask for the ancient paths,
ask where the good way is, and walk in it,
and you will find rest for your souls—Jeremiah 6:16

The Christian faith is the good way, a journey with God that unfolds over the course of a lifetime. Evening School is a place for you to deepen your understanding of God, and God’s work in the world. It’s a learning journey for your faith, an accessible offering of evening classes grounded in the Bible, the Christian tradition, and pastoral wisdom. In this, it follows the ancient paths of the Church: learning to follow and serve Christ with others for the good of the world.

The learning journey

Evening School is designed to be an accessible and flexible learning journey. It’s a bit like Te Araroa trail: you can jump in at any point, opting to complete just one or two sections, or you can sign up for the full journey. The full journey is made up of three learning paths, each of which has three classes. Completing the full journey will mean taking all nine classes over three years.

The School runs in Auckland in Autumn (May), Winter (August) and Spring (October) of each year, in runs of three consecutive Wednesday evenings. Each season features three classes—one from each learning path.

You can start your learning journey at any point in the year—Autumn, Winter, or Spring. You can also start on any learning path—Bible, Doctrine, and Christian Living. Choose a path, sign up to a class, and you’re on your way.

These evenings are a warm, hospitable time together: they include combined worship, teaching, exercises and reflections, and space for conversation and kai.

Who’s it for?

Evening School is for anyone who wants to deepen their understanding of God, Scripture, and Christian Living. The classes don’t presume prior learning: they aim to stretch, grow and encourage you. Whether you are new to the Christian faith or have been following Christ for a long time, Venn Evening School will strengthen you for the journey.

Evening School is also a great option for church small groups: we’ve designed these classes with them in mind as well. If you’re in a small group, consider making this part of your year together.

Paths & Classes

The nine classes are grouped into three learning paths: Bible, Doctrine, and Christian Living.

Bible Path

The Bible is the wellspring of the Christian faith. On this learning path you will engage with three biblical books, one from the Old Testament and two from the New Testament. These classes will foster your enjoyment of Scripture, help you to understand the shape of the Bible as a whole, and strengthen your confidence in reading and opening Scripture with others.

Classes on offer:
Gospels (Autumn 2025)
Letters (Winter 2025)
Law & Prophets (Spring 2025)

Doctrine Path

Christian doctrine invites us into a true and beautiful understanding of who God is and God’s work in the world. On the Doctrine learning path, we will consider God the Holy Trinity, the person and saving work of Jesus Christ, the ministry of the Holy Spirit and the mission of the Church, and the renewal of all things. These classes will ground you in the Christian tradition, help you to read Scripture theologically, and guide you in your everyday life.

Classes on offer:
Who is God? (Autumn 2025)
Who is the Church? (Winter 2025)
What is Life Everlasting? (Spring 2025)

Christian Living Path

God intends our lives to be centred on Jesus Christ, drawing all that we need from him in the power of the Holy Spirit. Walking this path is an invitation to become “joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer” (Romans 12:12). These classes will teach you to pray, to forgive, to resist evil, and to serve, drawing on the pastoral wisdom of the Church.

Classes on offer:
Praying the Psalms (Autumn 2025)
Praying the Lord’s Prayer: Part I (Winter 2025)
Praying the Lord’s Prayer: Part II (Spring 2025)

Learn more and register at venn.org.nz