Pentecostal Bible Study -?

[petr]

I have been asked to lead a bible study with a group of rather devout Pentecostals next week after Easter. What subjects or ideas might be best covered?

They are good people and live their faith proudly. I’ve been attending their bible study because of a friend of a friend sort of thing. I sit quietly and have found it fascinating mostly, although some heretical ideas are painful to hear. But, the food is good, the fellowship is good, and now they have asked me to lead one night.

I feel like a fox in the hen house.

What bible study is appropriate … on time … with ideas that bring us together?

One idea I had was to study the Holy Father and emulate. What will Pope Francis be speaking on next week and how can I mimic his lecture?

 

[jhynds]

If you are comfortable with your background on the topic, I suggest going straight to the Eucharist via in the Bread of Life discourse found in John 6- 22:59 (The Bread of Life Discourse - usccb.org/bible/john/6/).

Obviously evangelicals and i assume Pentecostals, don’t read this as “literal” as they don’t understand the Catholic Church that Jesus established nor the laying of hands that ensures apostolic succession and consecration.

It could be enlightening and potentially a farming exercise for you … planting seeds

 

[klm120861]

What have you been studying so far? For example, if you have been working your way through a particular section, I would just go with the next section. You will be in the Easter season, so what about the Paschal Mystery. From that starting point, you can slip in the Eucharist, without being quite as…obvious as using the Bread of Life discourses. Save those as supporting texts, rather than the main text. Or, since they are Pentacostals, if you feel prepared enough, you could take on the Sacrament of Confirmation by which we are “sealed with the Holy Spirit” (which is the same as a Pentacostal’s Bapitsm in the Holy Spirit, the only difference is the insistance on the “initial physical evidence of speaking in tongues” to quote my Assemblies of God theology courses.) Or if you feel really bold and they know you are Catholic, you could just open it up for questions and answers from the Bible about Catholicism. If you do that, you would need to know scriptures for the Eucharist, Purgatory, the Blessed Mother, praying/“worshipping” Saints, Reconciliation, the Holy Spirit, etc. It would be a fun Bible Study to lead - in my opinion. Kind of a “where is that in Scripture” based on their questions. The key is to not offend, but to give them something to think about…subtly and in language they can understand. And be prepared to explain “Catholic” terms. They won’t know words like “concupisience”,
Kris

 

[InspiritCarol]

Pentecostals may find some of the facts about Saints’ lives fascinating.

They in no way believe in *praying *to them, but some common ground may be found in relating to their very personal relationships with Jesus. To put it succinctly; here’s an exchange I had with an AOG friend of mine.
(ME) So, you don’t believe Jesus shares his friends with us and allows them to pray for us in heaven?
(AOG Friend) No way! (Looking at me like I’m the Devil talking to say such).
(Me) So what do you think happens to us when we die. Do we just go away?
(AOG Friend) Yep. We go far away from the world and all its troubles.
(Me) But what if we dedicate our lives to praying for others; don’t you think Jesus will let us do that after we die.
(AOG Friend) NOPE! (Again with that rebuky look in her eye).

The point I’m making is - please don’t go down the praying to saints road. It is too bumpy for a friendly study - BUT - sharing and exploring the recorded miracles of Saints and seeing if others in the group have experienced similar might be eye-opening and fun.

Also,(BTW) the Pentecostals I have interacted with *do *believe in the real presence in the Eucharist.