Bible study group at school

[Orate_Fratres]

Greetings all,

Some classmates from school want to set up a Bible study group. So far, two of the people (including me) initially invited are Catholics. What is the best way to approach this? For me, it’s an opportunity to become better acquainted with Scripture and a way to get to know my classmates better. But at the same time, I am aware of previous threads concerning Protestant “ecumenical” Bible study groups… Any tips and resources would be helpful!

+JMJ+

 

[wardrandolph]

May I suggest a book by Father Oscar Lukefahr,“A Catholic Guide to the Bible”.This book is an easy read and will give you the basics.You can order it from Liguori Publications for about $10,Or you can get from www.amm.org/chss.htm.The latter you can make a donation or they will send it free of charge.This book does have an Imprimatur.Peace

 

[Fidelis]

Greetings all,

Some classmates from school want to set up a Bible study group. So far, two of the people (including me) initially invited are Catholics. What is the best way to approach this? For me, it’s an opportunity to become better acquainted with Scripture and a way to get to know my classmates better. But at the same time, I am aware of previous threads concerning Protestant “ecumenical” Bible study groups… Any tips and resources would be helpful!

+JMJ+

Before you commit, you need to find out if your classmates that are setting up this Bible study already have some kind of format in mind. If it is a pre-packaged Protestant one right away you know that it has a non-Catholic bias. As Catholic who sounds like he (or she) is not very well acquainted with Scripture from a Catholic perspective, you may well be setting yourself to become confused by cutting your Scriptural teeth on erroneous material. You would be better off finding an orthodox Catholic Bible study group to start off. Even self-study with good Catholic materials until you are well grounded would be preferable (see my website linked below).

If there is no agenda or program, but you are all going to just sit around and read Scripture and share your thoughts on it (not really Bible study; more like Bible sharing), then you need to make sure that you will be allowed to share the Catholic interpretation of a given passage or verse (presuming you know what that is). A lot of these groups call themselves “non-denominational” but in practice are Protestant groups where the Catholic view is not allowed and is condemned as “divisive” and “sectarian” or even non-Christian. If that’s the case, it would be a waste of your time --maybe even dangerous to your faith–to attend.

 

[jcrichton]

Greetings all,

Some classmates from school want to set up a Bible study group. So far, two of the people (including me) initially invited are Catholics. What is the best way to approach this? For me, it’s an opportunity to become better acquainted with Scripture and a way to get to know my classmates better. But at the same time, I am aware of previous threads concerning Protestant “ecumenical” Bible study groups… Any tips and resources would be helpful!

+JMJ+

***Hi, Orate Fratres!

If you are not well versed in the Bible that’s not a really big problem; either get a Catholic Bible with built in concourdance or get a Bible Concourdance as a companion to your Bible. Engage your Catholic friends and family in this study as your assistants (help with search material, as bouncing boards, etc.); do not employ Bible sites as your worker-bees (no posting hundreds of questions to have ready answers); if possible, ask the group to create a little chart listing topics for discussion and deadlines; be careful about guest speakers–too many times their goal is not to present a Biblical theme as much as proselytizing; whatever format you use, an alternating moderator is the best way to go (everyone would be given a chance to direct/orient the group); rather than reading through the Bible in x time your goal should be to understand and share the Christian Faith in a respectful and loving environment (Christ’s Love).

… as suggested, A Catholic Guide to the Bible is an excellent (easy read) book–Father Lukefahr has several others which are just as easy to work with.

Feel free to post for specific assistance with trouble issues–yes even if every issue is a troubled one!

Maran atha!

Angel ***

 

[juliamajor]

Greetings all,

Some classmates from school want to set up a Bible study group. So far, two of the people (including me) initially invited are Catholics. What is the best way to approach this? For me, it’s an opportunity to become better acquainted with Scripture and a way to get to know my classmates better. But at the same time, I am aware of previous threads concerning Protestant “ecumenical” Bible study groups… Any tips and resources would be helpful!

+JMJ+

As someone who has been teaching an adult study for the past 4 years I would say get yourself educated first before you lead a study. It doesn’t have to be four years of study- ( like I had)but at least become familiar with the books of the bible& it’s lay out -Salvation history.com is a great site(scott Hahn’s site)catholic-resources.org is also a great site"you can understand the bible" by peter Kreeft.’ understanding the old testament’ by Lawrence Boadt- ‘reading the New Testament’ by pheme perkinsI are recommended
Are you talking High school? college? If I can help send me note via the forum.Good Luck!! God Bless! And remember what St.Jerome said" ignorance of the scripture is ignorance of the Lord.’ or as Hosea said" my people perish for want of knowledge"

 

[Orate_Fratres]

Thanks for the responses! I’ll definitely keep your advice in mind (and take a look at that Catholic Study guide).

And remember what St.Jerome said" ignorance of the scripture is ignorance of the Lord.’

That was what motivated me to actually do some scripture study/reading (apart from what I hear at Mass)

So far, I’m not sure what kind of Bible study (or sharing) it would be, but I would guess it would be open to discussion and insight, especially since the people involved are people I know at school (I’m currently attending college).

I’ll definitely chime in here on the forums with questions that may arise.