"Journeying Through Scripture - Encountering the people, places, and themes of the Bible" is a group that commits to meet for nine months in order to read and discuss the Bible in fellowship together. The group is led by Allison and Lee Colglazier.
What is the format?
The group will meet weekly. Each meeting will begin with a short video summarizing the readings for the week. The rest of the meeting is then discussion and reflection of the passages. Handouts will be used for further reflection about how the Church and Christians have interpreted and been influenced by passages over the centuries.
What if I do not have time to read?
No worries! Each meeting is designed to summarize and outline the book and readings for the week. Selected passages will be read and discussed during the class. The classes are designed so that even if you do not get to any of the readings, you will gain a better understanding of that particular book of the Bible and of the Bible as a whole.
Who is the group for?
Anyone who wants to spend time learning about and discussing the Bible. People who have never owned or opened the Bible have taken this class, as well as those with well worn Bibles and experience. All have found it meaningful. No one is too young, too old, too inexperienced, or too experienced to take the class. The only requirement is to listen to others with charity with the goal of growing in faith and fellowship together.
What is the purpose of the group?
Reading the Bible is a life-long endeavor. Years can be spent just studying one book of the Bible. Yet, we will be reviewing most of the Bible in one year. The purpose of this class is to develop (for beginners) or deepen (for others) an understanding of the Bible as a whole, so that individual books or particular passages can be better put into context. We will be diving deeply into particular sections, while at the same time, we will be making the journey through most of the Bible. The main purpose is, through scripture, to know Christ more intimately, and by knowing to love Him more deeply, and by loving to follow Him more closely.
Why is so much time spent on the Old Testament?
Irenaeus (202 AD) said that “Christ himself is the great treasure hidden within the field of the Old Testament scriptures.”
Christ is prefigured in the Old Testament, and is fulfilled in the New Testament. Understanding the Old Testament helps to understand the New Testament, and the New Testament shines light on the Old Testament. Each week in the Old Testament we will focus on finding Christ. The Old Testament and New Testament are one unified story of God’s Covenant love and mercy growing through and despite our messy history.
Is this group academic, or for personal growth?
Both. Karl Barth said, “There is a river in the Bible that carries us away once we have entrusted our destiny to it - away from ourselves to the sea.” The purpose of the class is for each individual person to explore the scriptures, as a tool ultimately to explore purpose, meaning, and a relationship with God.
The class is meant to reinforce “Lectio Divina” (Divine Reading), the practice of scriptural reading, meditation, contemplation, and prayer intended to promote communion with God.
However, sometimes in order to better appreciate the beauty of the Bible and God’s story, it is necessary to spend some time studying in order to understand. For example, understanding the book of Isaiah to its fullest requires understanding Israel’s history, including the stories of King Ahaz and King Hezekiah. Understanding the book of Daniel requires understanding the Babylonian, Medo-Persion, Greek, and Roman empires.
It sounds good, but I don't think I will find the time to read.
Don't have much time to read? Have a smartphone? There is a free app called Bible (also known as YouVersion), made by Life.Church which will stream audio versions of virtually any translation of the Bible. You can listen in the car, on a run, or while working around the house.
Read about it at... www.bible.com
