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JillD
Member
| Joined: | Fri Sep 29th, 2006 |
| Location: | Visalia, California USA |
| Posts: | 597 |
| First Name: | Jill | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | heathen, EvFree, Messianic, LC-MS, Catholic 2007 |
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Posted: Sun Oct 28th, 2007 07:00 pm |
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Our parish hadn't had a Bible study in 7 or 8 years, and Father wanted to get one going, bless his heart which we did, just this fall. Unfortunately, the study was not a good choice. We used the Little Rock Scripture Study series on the Book of Acts. It's a great study! But not for the group of folks we had attending. Nearly all of them had NEVER done any sort of study and this was too hard and required too much homework.
Do you know if there are any good studies out there for a group like that - complete novices, may not even be sure how the Bible is put together or how to approach it, and which would require VERY little, if any, homework and would be easy to do right on the spot? Am I asking too much???? A video would be OK, but it would either need to be VERY well presented, fun to watch, or be short, like less than 20 minutes, with time for discussion afterward or before.
I'll peruse some websites, but it's hard to know just looking at the cover. I think I've heard an old adage along those lines before.....
Thanks for your suggestions!!
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"The alternative to obedience is to turn the conversation into a cacophony of Christians making it up as they go along." - Fr. Richard John Neuhaus
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CajunRick
Network Helper
| Joined: | Fri Sep 29th, 2006 |
| Location: | Houma, Louisiana USA |
| Posts: | 4977 |
| First Name: | Rick (& Kermie) | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Lifetime Catholic, Latin Rite |
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Posted: Sun Oct 28th, 2007 09:25 pm |
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JillD wrote: Do you know if there are any good studies out there for a group like that - complete novices, may not even be sure how the Bible is put together or how to approach it, and which would require VERY little, if any, homework and would be easy to do right on the spot?
We have good success with the Catholic Serendipity Bible by Zondervan. Unfortunately, it is out of print, but the NIV version might be acceptable. I have not reviewed that version, and I don't know if it includes the deuterocanonicals. Several copies are available used at Amazon, and Zondervan might still have some available in their warehouse.
Unlike a more traditional bible study like Little Rock, this bible includes hundreds of ways to study the bible. The approach is more of a "what does this passage mean to you?" type of study. It is self-directed, so an expert on scripture is not needed. There are no wrong answers, so it's not intimidating. It's purpose in our parish is more to get people accustomed to reading scripture and looking beyond the words to a deeper meaning.
The only "homework" required is to read the passage and think about it. If you choose to follow the lectionary, they can hear it at mass and don't even have to read it ahead of time.
Let me stress that this bible (the Catholic version is NAB) does not include footnotes or specific Catholic interpretations. The purpose is to make each person consider what it means to them. Each session is designed to last an hour, with pre-designed programs lasting 6 or 13 weeks for beginners or advanced readers.. There are studies for men, women, youth, abuse victims, those struggling with addiction, the divorced and widowed, and literally hundreds more. Studies are available for each book of the bible, each "passage", each lectionary entry, etc. There are even studies based on women in the bible, heroes of the bible, bible stories, and many, many more.
I paid almost $40 for my hardcover edition, but my parish bought case lots at $12.00 each. We sold them for $20 to those who could afford them, which left enough profit to give it away to those who couldn't.
Sorry to recommend something that is out of print, but it really has been very useful in our parish. Many groups have been meeting for years, and when they do come across a difficulty understanding a particular passage, they come back to the parish for guidance.
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Understanding is the reward of faith. Therefore seek not to understand that you may believe, but believe that you may understand. - Augustine
Rick Luquette
Luquette Lane
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mg57
Member
| Joined: | Mon Oct 9th, 2006 |
| Location: | Tolland County, Connecticut USA |
| Posts: | 166 |
| First Name: | mg57 | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Infant Baptised Catholic |
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Posted: Sun Oct 28th, 2007 09:27 pm |
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Jill -
In our faith-study group during past Advent & Lent seasons, we've gone through the upcoming Sunday readings together on the Sunday before. In this way we're doing bible study plus preparing ahead for Mass which we can reflect on during the week.
Everyone brings their Bible, and the host / leader ( which we rotate) will also have the Catechism, Ignatius Study Bibles, Navarre Bible(s), etc., and any other solid references to refer to as we read through as a group.
We begin each time praying the Liturgy of the Hours, - the easiest version can be found in Magnificat http://www.magnificat.com/ and we limit the whole thing to one hour, concluding with a decade of the Rosary.
This is what we've found as easiest and best for beginning groups, using the Liturgical readings as guide.
God bless !
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Annie
Member
| Joined: | Wed Feb 14th, 2007 |
| Location: | Columbus, Ohio USA |
| Posts: | 718 |
| First Name: | Annie | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | nothing, Quaker, Mennonite, Presbyterian, Methodist, Anglican, Catholic |
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Posted: Mon Oct 29th, 2007 10:48 am |
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If people don't even know how the Bible is arranged, etc. I would suggest starting with some basic materials from the American Bible Society. They have pamphlets and things like that.
http://www.bibles.com/bibleresources
click on "learning Bible resources"
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Annie
Ora et labora
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TotusTuus
Member
| Joined: | Tue Oct 31st, 2006 |
| Location: | Alabama USA |
| Posts: | 111 |
| First Name: | Mark | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Cradle Catholic (thanks Mom and Dad!) |
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Posted: Tue Oct 30th, 2007 11:59 pm |
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I think Jeff Cavins has done a good job with his Great Adventure Bible Timeline Study Kits.
Information here:
http://www.greatadventureonline.com/
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TTM!
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