PARISH-LEVEL STUDY
Bible Study in
Plain English
[18-part study]
A simple, inexpensive study of the entire
Bible that you can buy online, download, and begin using the same day. Written by
Bill Huebsch, a specialist in educating Catholic adults, this study offers a quick
tour of the Bible that really does cover all the books. Each part offers a few printable
pages with easy guidance, texts to read, and questions to think about, write about,
and discuss. Participants meet the key stories and people of the Bible and connect
what they read with their lives. Includes information charts on the books of the
Old Testament and the New Testaments. Prayers for study groups available on-line.
Probably the easiest way to begin Bible
study, for groups or individuals. Works great for small Christian communities and
informal groups. Simple yet solid information, easy and non-intimidating style.
(English & Spanish)
(Twenty-Third Publications)
Bible Stories Revisited:
Discover Your Story in the Old Testament
and
Bible Stories Revisited: Discover
Your Story in Luke and Acts of the Apostles
These two books offer simple Bible studies that help Catholics
focus on the theme of aging by considering selected stories in Scripture. The books
provide reflections and professional guidance for each story by Macrina Scott, O.F.M.,
a pioneer in Catholic Bible study. Includes reflection questions and prayers.
Excellent and simple Bible studies for
older Catholics, who often bring different questions to Scripture than younger Catholics.
The beautiful reflections by Sr. Macrina and the thoughtful reflection questions
support both group and individual study.
(St. Anthony Messenger Press)
Six Weeks with
the Bible[series]
Short (6 weeks!), excellent, simple courses on many books
of the Bible, as well as several key themes of the Bible (such as Jesus the Healer,
Living for a Just Society), edited by biblical educator Kevin Perotta. Each course
(provided in one short book) includes a brief introduction, reading guides, advice
for the group, biblical texts, prayers and good reflection questions. Series includes
18 New Testament courses, 12 Old Testament courses, and 11 theme courses. Online
leader's guide and support for parish marketing.
A great series for parish Bible
sharing groups, informal groups, and individuals, and a simple, inviting way to
get started with the Bible. With the six-week format, it's easy to do a few studies
each year. Good on-line resources provide parish marketing support.
(English & Spanish)
(Loyola Press)
Threshold Bible Study
[series]
A program that focuses on personal
transformation in our encounter with Scripture, written by biblical scholar and
educator Stephen Binz. Rather than studying a particular book, participants explore
the Bible by themes essential to the Catholic faith (such as The Holy Spirit
and Spiritual Gifts, Jerusalem the Holy City). Each course (provided in one short
book, with 15 themes/courses in the series) consists of 30 lessons to be covered
over a six-week class. Includes well written reading guides, suggestions for both
group and individual study, biblical texts, prayers, and good reflection questions.
The theme
approach of this unique program guides students in exploring the entire Bible and
getting a sense of the unity among the books. An excellent choice for parishes,
groups, or individuals who want to combine Bible study and sharing with learning
about and deepening their Catholic faith. Also has good online resources for groups
and individuals.
(Twenty-Third Publications)
Little Rock Scripture Study
[series]
This well known study series offers a broad range of topics as well as several different
levels of study, in courses that vary in length from four sessions to sixteen sessions.
Study materials for each course include a study guide, a basic commentary, and an
audio or DVD lecture. Participants are guided through short daily study periods,
then come together weekly for prayer, discussion, and lecture. The program is designed
to be used by parishes and provides marketing support and opportunities for training
group facilitators.
The ten
beginner-level courses include an introduction
to the Bible (7 weeks); studies of each of the four gospels, Acts of the Apostles,
three of Paul's letters, and Exodus (10 weeks each); and studies of the infancy
stories of Jesus and the passion and resurrection stories.
Seventeen
intermediate-level studies include theme studies
(Pilgrim People; Praying the Scriptures), as well as several studies of biblical
books.
Seven
in-depth programs give participants focused
studies of the parables (two 6-week courses); the history of ancient Israel (two
7-week courses); the gospel's movement from the Jewish world to the Gentile world
(9 weeks); and two courses on women in the Bible (10 weeks and 8 weeks).
Two video-based courses (no commentaries
needed) give an overview of the New Testament and an overview of the lands of the
Bible.
The most complete parish Bible study program
available today in terms of topics and aspects of the biblical world. The three
levels build on each other and easily lead participants to an advanced beginner
level of knowledge about the Bible. The program effectively combines teaching (through
high quality yet easy-to-read books and commentaries, and audio or video lectures)
with building a daily habit of Bible reading and prayer and growing in faith with
a Scripture-based community. Excellent support resources are available for parishes.
Gives you everything thing you need to establish long-term Bible study and sharing
in your parish. Requires trained small group facilitators; graduates of diocesan
biblical schools or ministry formation programs would be good coordinators for the
program as a whole.
(English & Spanish)
(Little Rock Scripture Study)
Paulist Bible
Study Program
[series]
A program that brings serious yet accessible Bible study to
the parish level. Each 8-week course uses audio/video lectures written by Old Testament
scholar Fr. Lawrence Boadt, an exceptionally useful leader's guide, and student
workbook. Opening and closing prayers, reflection questions, review questions and
suggestions for further study give the leader all that's needed. When used in order,
four courses in the series (Israel Becomes a People, Prophets and Kings, Jesus and
the Gospels, and Paul, Missionary to the Gentiles) introduce students to the entire
Bible and give a good foundation for the other courses in the series focused on
specific biblical books (Isaiah, John, Galatians and Romans). Meant to be used with
a popular companion text, Reading the Old Testament: An Introduction by
Fr. Boadt.
An older but still excellent Bible
study series. Combines true introductory Bible study (including video lecture) with
Bible reflection. A great choice for parish study groups that want a solid Catholic
overview of the Bible. Requires a good leader, preferable with some Bible background.
Graduates of diocesan biblical schools or ministry formation programs are ideal
leaders for these courses. Don't be put off by the plain design of the workbooks
or the lectures recorded
on videocassette rather than DVD. This is an excellent series!
(Paulist Press)
The
Great Adventure
Bible
Timeline:
The
Story of Salvation
[24-part study]
A program designed to tell
a particular version of the overall story of the Bible, using fourteen books selected
by the study's author, biblical educator Jeff Cavins. (The other 59 books of the
Catholic Bible are presented as supplemental to the story told in the selected books.)
The author's goal is to enable participants to read the Bible like a novel, that
is, as you would a story. The author has divided his story into twelve color-coded
time periods, beginning with creation and ending with the time of the Church. Students
receive a Bible timeline chart and memory bead wristband keyed to these color codes
to help them remember the time periods designated by the author. The student kit
also includes study questions and responses. The parish kit includes 24 50-55-minute
audio or DVD lectures by Mr. Cavins. Leader materials and online support are also
available. The first part of The Great Adventure Adult Bible Study series,
which includes foundational studies and ongoing studies (not reviewed here.)
While this
program introduces Catholics to some books they may never have opened, such as Ezra,
and legitimately teaches that Christians do view the Christian Bible as having an
overall story, beginning students learn little of the modern Catholic approach to
Scripture and hear a chronology and aspects of biblical theology that are unique
to this program and presenter. Mr. Cavins reads Scripture as a biblical fundamentalist.
He draws his teaching mainly from early Church interpretation and the Catholic Catechism—two valuable resources to be sure, but not well suited
to helping modern Catholics begin with the Bible, either in terms of addressing
modern questions or in terms of presenting the books of the Old Testament as having
value beyond their foreshadowing of Christ. Parishes and individuals will be better
served with other Catholic Bible study programs.
(Ascension Press)
A Quick
Journey
through
the Bible
[8-part
study]
A shorter version of The
Great Adventure Bible Timeline: Story of Salvation (above). Student kit includes
student workbook, Bible timeline chart, and memory bead wristband. Parish kit includes
eight 30-minute talks by biblical educator Jeff Cavins.
See comments
for The Great Adventure Bible Timeline: Story of Salvation (above).
(Ascension Press)