Looking for a good Bible study guide

[iona_scribe]

Hello! I was hoping someone might be able to recommend a good Catholic Bible study guide for reading and discussing the book of John in a small group.

Also, my diocese (Orange, CA) is beginning to require that all Bible study leaders receive the same training and certification as catechists. This seems like an excellent idea to me. Is this standard practice in other dioceses? My parish is really big on promoting the study of scripture and I’m told we’re ahead of the curve in that area. I was curious to know, how many of your parishes encourage and equip Bible study groups?

Thanks for your help!

 

[Fidelis]

Hello! I was hoping someone might be able to recommend a good Catholic Bible study guide for reading and discussing the book of John in a small group.

I can recommend three:

amazon.com/Gospel-John-Ignatius-Catholic-Standard/dp/0898708206

amazon.com/St-Johns-Gospel-Commentary-Individuals/dp/0898708214/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1211051861&sr=1-1

cssprogram.net/?page=the_program&subpage=studies#1

Also, my diocese (Orange, CA) is beginning to require that all Bible study leaders receive the same training and certification as catechists. This seems like an excellent idea to me. Is this standard practice in other dioceses?

I think it is a good idea only if it has the effect of making Church approved Bible study groups more available rather than less. What I mean is: if they make the training so long, expensive, inconvenient, or otherwise onerous that no no person that really is on fire to learn how to serve the Church is going to bother. Also, if they are going to create and/or mandate specific Bible study programs that are watered down, boring, touchy-feely or even downright heretical that no one will attend, it will create more harm than good. It seems like diocese and parishes consistently favor this approach (yes, yes, I know there are exceptions).

My parish is really big on promoting the study of scripture and I’m told we’re ahead of the curve in that area. I was curious to know, how many of your parishes encourage and equip Bible study groups?

The parish I am in is very open to the idea in general, however, Bible studies are either closely tied in to RCIA, or else a guest presenter will be brought in for several weeks, as in the LOGOS program. I’m not counting such milque-toast disasters as RENEW and Small Faith Community.

 

[Strategery]

Hello! I was hoping someone might be able to recommend a good Catholic Bible study guide for reading and discussing the book of John in a small group.

Also, my diocese (Orange, CA) is beginning to require that all Bible study leaders receive the same training and certification as catechists. This seems like an excellent idea to me. Is this standard practice in other dioceses? My parish is really big on promoting the study of scripture and I’m told we’re ahead of the curve in that area. I was curious to know, how many of your parishes encourage and equip Bible study groups?

Thanks for your help!

I just started one at my parish in the St. Louis area. I coordinated with a nun in the parish to get things going. I’m beginning with my CHRP group, but word has already gotten out a bit and a couple more folks will be coming next week.

It’s very exciting for me. I’ve wanted to start a men’s bible study for the last several years, and in the wake of CHRP I’ve finally jumped at the chance. We meet weekly at a constant place/time (630 am Fridays at a bagel shop). There’s a core group of four that has committed to be there, and one of those four will fill in for me as leader when I can’t make it.

I’d like this to become a constant, safe place for people to come. We’ve already got some new folks starting to attend.

I agree with the comment above about training - I’m for it as long as it isn’t so onerous that it sucks the life out of those who want to start a study.

 

[puzzleannie]

I . I’m not counting such milque-toast disasters as RENEW and Small Faith Community.

good, because they are not bible studies, they are small faith sharing groups, and do not promote themselves as bible studies nor should they be compared to bible studies.

I salute any diocese who requires bible study leaders or facilitators to be properly trained, it is a step, although the training most catechists receive in scripture is inadequate, it is a start.

 

[Fidelis]

good, because they are not bible studies, they are small faith sharing groups, and do not promote themselves as bible studies nor should they be compared to bible studies.

Which is why I didn’t count them.

My experience, however, is that very often when parishioners approach parish staff about starting a Bible study, they are often brushed off with comments like “Oh, we already have RENEW (or whatever). That and the liturgy are all the Scripture study you need.”

 

[iona_scribe]

Thanks everyone! Especially Fidelis for the recommendations and website!

I have to admit I am a bit frustrated by the number of “credits” I have to earn for my certification. The head of the adult ministry at my parish has been working with me to mitigate some of it by letting me run a Bible study while I’m in training, and giving me partial credit for all the theological material I covered in RCIA 2 years ago.
As a convert, I’m grateful for the times when I can play catch-up and make sure that I’m properly grounded in Catholic teaching. So all in all I can’t complain too much.

Still, I wish they would find a middle ground. The evangelical understanding of a Bible study leader is more or less someone who can facilitate a discussion, not someone who has to have all the answers. Hopefully the time will come when Bible study leaders will get a shorter, more specialized training than catechists, but there’s probably not enough resources or interest for that right now.

 

[Fidelis]

Still, I wish they would find a middle ground. The evangelical understanding of a Bible study leader is more or less someone who can facilitate a discussion, not someone who has to have all the answers. Hopefully the time will come when Bible study leaders will get a shorter, more specialized training than catechists, but there’s probably not enough resources or interest for that right now.

Hear! Hear! We can only pray for the day.

I’ve led several Bible studies and, really, all it takes is:

Enthusiasm and commitment :extrahappy:

A love of Scripture and a love of sharing the Faith with others

Top-notch orthodox materials that are neither over everyones head or too watered down and touchy-feely and the willingness to do ones homework and learn the material each week (or whatever)

Decent organizational skills :juggle:

A non-confrontative, non-authoritarian, and patient attitude, and a supportive family for your time leading, planning and studying:grouphug:

A supportive parish to allow you to advertise and perhaps provide a space

A healthy prayer life.

That’s it!

 

[Michael_G]

Hello! I was hoping someone might be able to recommend a good Catholic Bible study guide for reading and discussing the book of John in a small group.

Also, my diocese (Orange, CA) is beginning to require that all Bible study leaders receive the same training and certification as catechists. This seems like an excellent idea to me. Is this standard practice in other dioceses? My parish is really big on promoting the study of scripture and I’m told we’re ahead of the curve in that area. I was curious to know, how many of your parishes encourage and equip Bible study groups?

Thanks for your help!

you might want to check out these threads for a disccussion on esword catholic Bible study program which is free and downloadable.

discussion of : esword
forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=215917
forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=215917&page=2
forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=215917&page=3
forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=215917&page=4
forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=215917&page=5
forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=215917&page=6

A great Catholic software Bible Study Program and best of all its free for download and nothing out there compares to this, its also going to get better.

From: esnips.com/web/CatholicApolegetics
What we have here at this web site a synopsis:

These are all eSword modules-Bibles, Commentaries, Dictionaries, and Topical all for the eSword base Bible software program… All to help Catholics and those interested in knowing more or understanding what the Catholic Church truly teaches and why. All modules are free as well as the Base esword program for download. The Base progam is a free download at:
http://www.e-sword.net/downloads.html .

e-Sword is a fast and effective way to study the Bible.
e-Sword is feature rich and user friendly with more capabilities than you would expect in a free software package. The fact that e-Sword is free is just one of the blessings and does not speak of the quality of the software. I make my living writing software and I believe I have put forth my best effort in this endeavor. The real work, however, was put in by the godly men and women who devoted countless years creating the texts that have been made available for our benefit. (From the e-sword Web site Rick Myers)

The Program has the ability to accept user created modules hence a substantial number of user Catholic modules including the Early Teachings of the Church in the first few centuries (a must read),** Haydock Commentary, St Thomas works** in the Catena commentary on Gospels by early church fathers, and his Summa Theologica, a number of Catholic Bibles, Catechism, 1909 Catholic encyclopedia another must, a Catholic Doctrinal Concordance, and a number of special tools for studying the Bible With Greek and Latin tools for studying the basic Greek Grammer and Latin language to enhance one’s understanding of definitions etc. This has become a consolidation of free modules for e-Sword base progam, modules scattered across ensips web, and a few other websites on the internet all to make for easier download and finding of Catholic modules and good study tools. Michael Jacques.

Hoping to add some good Catholic commentary and dictionaries which would be great editions at a $ Cost.

 

[joyreno]

I have recenetly purchased NAB The Catholic Study Bible, the print is a bit small for me so I need to get some new glasses.

 

[101bible]

www.101Bible.com is a free Bible study site. You can read a variety of versions for the Bible and there is a quick and easy Dictionary definition for all places,names and words in the Bible.

 

[iona_scribe]

Thanks for the great links everyone!

My group has been having a really good experience with these Bible study guides from Loyola press: loyolaeducationgroup.org/productviewer.asp?id=76579

They hit just the right balance for my young adult group’s needs, incorporating questions that not only analyze and compare scripture texts, but also challenging personal application questions.

We spend about half of our time trying to really understand what the scripture passage is teaching. And the other half is spent wrestling with the implications. So we not only learn more about scripture, but we let it change us (so there is an element of faith sharing, but it’s very meaty, challenging faith sharing, not a fluffy feel-good session.)

It’s like the guide describes itself: “For busy adults who want to study the Bible but don’t know where to begin”

I’d love to work with something even more in depth and intellectually challenging at some point, but this is great for starters, and I appreciate how practically grounded it is (especially since seeing the spiritual growth it’s fostered in our lives, and that’s ultimately our goal).

 

[tobinatorstark]

www.101Bible.com is a free Bible study site. You can read a variety of versions for the Bible and there is a quick and easy Dictionary definition for all places,names and words in the Bible.

um. I didn’t see any Catholic versions on your site. You do know there are differences between Protestant and Catholic Bibles???

 

[tobinatorstark]

Hello! I was hoping someone might be able to recommend a good Catholic Bible study guide for reading and discussing the book of John in a small group.

Also, my diocese (Orange, CA) is beginning to require that all Bible study leaders receive the same training and certification as catechists. This seems like an excellent idea to me. Is this standard practice in other dioceses? My parish is really big on promoting the study of scripture and I’m told we’re ahead of the curve in that area. I was curious to know, how many of your parishes encourage and equip Bible study groups?

Thanks for your help!

You may want to check into the Navarre Bible Series. I don’t know for sure it they do have anything on the book of John. I assume you mean Gospel of John. I am sure they do. Not sure about 1, 2, and 3 John though

 

[iona_scribe]

You may want to check into the Navarre Bible Series. I don’t know for sure it they do have anything on the book of John. I assume you mean Gospel of John. I am sure they do. Not sure about 1, 2, and 3 John though

Thanks, I’ll look into it!

Sorry, it’s a bad habit from my pre-Catholic days…I sometimes forget to refer to the Gospels as Gospels or leave out the “St.” from St. Paul when I refer to his letters. I’m getting better though, I promise!

 

[stanmaxkolbe]

um. I didn’t see any Catholic versions on your site. You do know there are differences between Protestant and Catholic Bibles???

101bible is Protestant.