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Has anyone ever been to a Bible study and how are they usually done?
I'm just wondering since I thought of trying to find one.
I used to go to a Bible study. But it was a Search for Truth (oneness Pentecostal) bible study which is published by the United Pentecostal church. To me it was just a cult indoctrination. There was no room for discussion other than, this is right because it's what the UPC says is true. It seems similar to a Jehovah Witness Bible study, in that it's assumed the person being taught knows nothing or whatever they believe is falsehood, and the teacher is correct. But in actuality the teacher only knows what the material says.
This is why I am wondering if normal Bible studies are a one way or two way discussion.
Has anyone ever been to a Bible study and how are they usually done?
I'm just wondering since I thought of trying to find one.
I used to go to a Bible study. But it was a Search for Truth (oneness Pentecostal) bible study which is published by the United Pentecostal church. To me it was just a cult indoctrination. There was no room for discussion other than, this is right because it's what the UPC says is true. It seems similar to a Jehovah Witness Bible study, in that it's assumed the person being taught knows nothing or whatever they believe is falsehood, and the teacher is correct. But in actuality the teacher only knows what the material says.
This is why I am wondering if normal Bible studies are a one way or two way discussion.
Has anyone ever been to a Bible study and how are they usually done?
I'm just wondering since I thought of trying to find one.
I used to go to a Bible study. But it was a Search for Truth (oneness Pentecostal) bible study which is published by the United Pentecostal church. To me it was just a cult indoctrination. There was no room for discussion other than, this is right because it's what the UPC says is true. It seems similar to a Jehovah Witness Bible study, in that it's assumed the person being taught knows nothing or whatever they believe is falsehood, and the teacher is correct. But in actuality the teacher only knows what the material says.
This is why I am wondering if normal Bible studies are a one way or two way discussion.
It depends. My former priest (he retired) did a three-year study on the Old Testament. I didn't attend, but the people who did loved it. He was a scholar and brought the historical context of what they studied into the conversation.
If you are seriously looking for a more in-depth study that includes a two-way conversation and that is open to everyone's point of view, check your local Episcopal churches to see if anyone is offering the course called EFM. There is a fee to attend, and it is a four-year program, but you are not obligated to go for all four years. The first year is a study of the Old Testament, the second year the New Testament, the third year the History of Christianity, and the fourth year various aspects of how people apply Christianity to their lives.
Discussion and questioning is not only allowed, it's encouraged. Everyone brings their own unique backgrounds and perspectives into the mix.
I've led hundreds of Bible studies over the years ... and have some new ones starting-up shortly. Generally it only entails getting together with a group of people who wish to study the Bible.
I prefer an expository study where everyone reads/studies the same book of the Bible and then comes together to learn and discuss it verse-by-verse. The amount of discussion (versus teaching) generally depends on the preference and Bible knowledge of each group.
In a Bible study, folks often refer to other materials (commentaries, guides or other), but, the primary focus is on the Bible. In recent years, I've noticed that many groups lean toward videos or study guides. IMO, these often digress into studies of what other people think/say about the Bible, rather than a study of the Bible itself.
So you guys do Bible studies by book and verse. Interesting. Because in UPCI, the Search For Truth just does it by topic of belief and then lists a bunch of scriptures that supposedly support their belief. Some of them might be correct, others might be taken out of the context. But in general, you never really knew what the sentences around that scripture said, except that the scripture was related to the belief. Such as why women shouldn't cut their hair, or why you're supposed to speak in tongues if you're a Christian.
I've led hundreds of Bible studies over the years ... and have some new ones starting-up shortly. Generally it only entails getting together with a group of people who wish to study the Bible.
I prefer an expository study where everyone reads/studies the same book of the Bible and then comes together to learn and discuss it verse-by-verse. The amount of discussion (versus teaching) generally depends on the preference and Bible knowledge of each group.
In a Bible study, folks often refer to other materials (commentaries, guides or other), but, the primary focus is on the Bible. In recent years, I've noticed that many groups lean toward videos or study guides. IMO, these often digress into studies of what other people think/say about the Bible, rather than a study of the Bible itself.
You cannot study with a preconceived bias or you will be led down the wrong path.
I’ve taught adult Bible study for years. We do books of the Bible, verse by verse, both OT and NT. We also do topical studies and video studies, using Rightnow Media. While we are all professing Christians, we welcome and encourage discussion.
I’ve taught adult Bible study for years. We do books of the Bible, verse by verse, both OT and NT. We also do topical studies and video studies, using Rightnow Media. While we are all professing Christians, we welcome and encourage discussion.
Yet, you (and a few other fundamentalists) cannot answer simple questions on this forum?
I’ve taught adult Bible study for years. We do books of the Bible, verse by verse, both OT and NT. We also do topical studies and video studies, using Rightnow Media. While we are all professing Christians, we welcome and encourage discussion.
Pretty much ditto for me... except no video studies and we use a different source.
Quote:
Originally Posted by jghorton
I've led hundreds of Bible studies over the years ... and have some new ones starting-up shortly. Generally it only entails getting together with a group of people who wish to study the Bible.
I prefer an expository study where everyone reads/studies the same book of the Bible and then comes together to learn and discuss it verse-by-verse. The amount of discussion (versus teaching) generally depends on the preference and Bible knowledge of each group.
In a Bible study, folks often refer to other materials (commentaries, guides or other), but, the primary focus is on the Bible. In recent years, I've noticed that many groups lean toward videos or study guides. IMO, these often digress into studies of what other people think/say about the Bible, rather than a study of the Bible itself.
We have a book like that... I never teach the lesson from the book. I just use the Scripture scheduled and teach whatever the Lord brings forth from studying it all week.
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