WEEK 1: What is in the Bible?
Video: All videos will be found here.This week, watch the first video What is in the Bible?The Bible is a massive and ancient book that reflects a lot
of different perspectives on the story of God’s people – starting from the
first people, through the Children of Abraham and Jewish world, through the
expansion throughout the known world. Sometimes it is hard to know where to
begin. This video gives you a sense of the general narrative of the Bible.
The video reflects the idea that the Bible presents a
unified story. The two views of this idea can be described as what was always
INTENDED to be a unified story and what BECAME a unified story. Here is a very
simplified breakdown of what that means:
- Intended: God had always intended for us to have what we know of as the Bible. Thus, over thousands of years of history and God’s intervention, we have the completed story of Jesus and God’s people.
- Became: Like many family narratives, the story of the Bible was an ever-enfolding record of how God’s people understood God and their place in the world. That is why some of the concepts feel more “ancient” than other concepts – God’s people were in a constant state of learning who God is, much like us who can learn from their experiences. (Full disclosure, Pastor Michael tends toward this view)
Journal Question: What is your relationship with the Bible?
Do you find it challenging? Have you ever found yourself encountering your
faith in a different way through the pages of the scripture?
Question for Michael: Send Michael one question that has
arisen for you in considering this week’s module.
WEEK 2: The Story of the Bible
Video: Watch the Video on The Story of the Bible Regardless of your perspective of “intended” vs. “became”,
the Bible presents a story of God forming a people, protecting the people
through some of the most challenging seasons, sending Jesus, and guiding toward
the kingdom of God. Where I find the most comfort is that God is always showing
up, throughout the history of God’s people, as what they need God to be in that
moment. What I take away from this is that knowing the “whole” Bible isn’t the
goal of a Christian but finding guidance in your place and time.
There are three different perspectives on the authority and
accuracy of the Bible – what we call “inspiration”.
There are many Christians that believe the Bible was somehow authored by God through the ancient writers. That means for them that every word is a holy word intended for us to consider for our lives.
Most Christians are somewhere more moderate and believe that the Bible was inspired in the way that I am inspired by a piece of music, nature, or art. My expressions are “true” in the sense that they are real engagements with what I am inspired by (in this case, God) but it requires discernment, context, and even scholarship to read the Bible in a way that is enriching.
There are also a few Christians, and most non-Christians, who do not believe in any divine contribution to the Bible. In their view, it is a complex and flawed text that should be avoided.
Journal Question: How do you approach the Bible in your life
and why?
Question for Michael: Send Michael one question that has
arisen for you in considering this week’s module.
WEEK 3: Literary Styles
Video:
Watch the Video on Literary Styles This week we are just trying to get a handle on WHAT we are
reading. Obviously, there is a huge difference between something intended to be
a law and something intended to be art. Our goal is to get a grasp of the
different styles and how to handle them.
Journal Question: What style of Biblical literature appeals
to you most and why?
Question for Michael: Send Michael one question that has
arisen for you in considering this week’s module.
WEEK 4: Jewish Meditation Literature
Video: Watch the Video on Jewish Meditation Literature
One of my favorite concepts in the video is how we must
“slow down” when engaging the scripture. Our culture is all about having all
the information in the quickest time possible. This ancient form of writing was
not about information but spending time with the words and engaging what it
might be saying to the life of the reader.
Journal Question: Do you find it difficult to slow down and
spend time in the scriptures or in prayer? Why is this do you think?
Question for Michael: Send Michael one question that has
arisen for you in considering this week’s module.
Want to go deeper? There are more videos on the different
types of Biblical literature found
here: