Contact:
Monthly Bible Study at St. Ignatius Parish
In 2026, parishioner David Nelson will lead a once-a-month, year-long Bible study based on his workbook The Heart of a Worshiper.
When: Third Tuesday of each month
Times: 1:00 p.m.–2:30 p.m. or 6:30 p.m.–8:00 p.m.
Begins: Tuesday, January 20th
Where: Ministries Room
Contact: biochemr@icloud.com
About the study:
While we will look at the act of “corporate worship” during the course of this study, it will not be the main focus of our attention. Rather, the main focus of our concern will be with the worshiper’s heart, mind, thought processes, and attitudes. As we examine those elements, we will discuss what responses, in terms of “every-day life” choices, should naturally flow from the “heart” of a worshiper.
The workbook consists of 11 sessions:
Lesson 1: A Call to Worship
Lesson 2: The Heart of a Worshiper
Lesson 3: Discoveries of Worship
Lesson 4: Results of Worship (part 1)
Lesson 5: Results of Worship (part 2)
Lesson 6: Loving Jesus (part 1)
Lesson 7: Loving Jesus (part 2)
Lesson 8: Loving Jesus (part 3)
Lesson 9: Portraits of Love
Lesson 10: A Kingdom of Priests (part 1)
Lesson 11: A Kingdom of Priests (part 2)
About David:
David is a former Protestant Minister. After teaching chemistry at Christian Brothers High School for 2 years, he became Catholic. While there, and at various other Catholic high schools, he taught Old and New Testament Scripture. He holds a certificate in Biblical Studies from Berean College, a BS in Biochemistry from UC Davis, and a MA in Education from St. Mary’s College of California.
An Interview with David (1.18.26):
1. You were a former Protestant minister—what drew you to the Catholic Church?
From a young age, I questioned why there were so many Christian denominations and why Protestants separated from the original Church. While teaching at Christian Brothers High School, I had many conversations about Catholic beliefs with members of the Brothers’ community and the campus minister, Susannah Fucich, who later became my wife. After we married, she gave me Born Fundamentalist, Born Again Catholic by David Currie. After finishing it, I contacted the Newman Center to ask when the next RCIA class would begin.
2. What inspired you to write The Heart of the Worshiper?
The idea began with a sermon preached by a friend, which inspired me to preach on worship myself. That sermon eventually led to my being invited onto a church staff, where I helped lead small-group discussions. I often wrote short Bible studies for those groups, and several of those reflections ultimately became the foundation for this workbook.
3. What changes have you seen in people who deepen their understanding of the Bible and worship?
I’ve seen people discover a depth to their faith they didn’t know existed. During a study on the Catechism, one lifelong Catholic told me he was encountering Scripture and teachings he had never heard before. In this worship study, many participants realized their understanding of worship had been very limited and were opened to a much richer, fuller vision of what worship truly is.
4. What happens in a typical monthly session, and how is it structured?
Each session focuses on a lesson with guided questions and Scripture references. Most passages are included in the workbook, though participants are encouraged to bring a Bible. We discuss the written responses together, and each lesson ends with summary questions to reflect on at home, which help launch discussion at the next session.
