Is Anyone Interested in a Bible Study?
I know that there was some interest expressed in a bible study in the not so distant past. There has been thought of beginning a type of open dialogue over a given scripture. Who shares this interest? Perhaps rather than coming another night, just stay an extra 20-30 minutes on Tuesday nights. What are you thoughts?
20 comments
I am very interested. I think we should either find out more about the Bible Adventures series by Jeff Cavins or just start picking chapters and moving forward on our own. Either way, let’s do it!
Maybe we should start with Luke five, since that is the foundation of our site.
Let do it. Next week after the meeting sounds good to me.
Do you know how it works as far as the parish? Do we need to get permission? If so, who should I contact?
I’m definitely interested. I don’t see why it would be a problem if it’s just an extention of our normal meeting and we don’t do anything heretical.
Great, so anyone that is interested try to read the first chapter in Luke by this coming Tuesday and come with ideas as far as where we want to go from here.
I think the Bible study would be a great idea. If you’re planning on having it right after our YAM’s meeting you might want to make sure we end our meeting on time. So, it’s not too late. How about the Bible study info Irma brought, is that something people want to do?
So excited for a bible study, what a great idea! I’m afraid having it after our normal meetings may make it a bit late for some. Just an idea, but why don’t we do bible study every other week of YAM or after mass on Sunday. Your thoughts?
I thought we had already discussed using Irma’s bible study guide by Jeff Cavins. We had also decided to meet Fridays. I personally would prefer to be guided by the DVD series that Irma has.
I would really like to do the DVD series on Friday nights. I am just thinking this could be a separate 15-20 minute “round-up” for those that are interested in an informal way to discuss our personal reflections on the passages of Luke 5 (in honor of the new web name).
I think we can do both for those that want to stick around because most of us end up lingering in the parking lot for an extra 15 minutes after the meeting anyway.
I am game, though I think that having it after the regular meeting may put us a bit late. Possibly having one meeting a month that is designated as a Bible study night would be good. Then again, on the flip side, there are some of us that stay after and talk for an hour or more anyway… and if you are like me sleep walk at work the next day.
I think it’s wonderful that some of you are interested in The Bible Timeline dvd series. It is a 24 week bible study. I don’t mind showing the dvd’s at my house on Friday nights. We can start the bible study in Aug. or Sept.. Let me know if this works for you guys?
I also like the open dialogue over a given scripture idea. We should add this discussion during the class. There’s no way that I can stay in extra half hour after the class. I get up early in the morning to go to work AND I really don’t want to sleep walk while I’m working.
If people choose to conduct a Bible study after our regular Tuesday meetings that is fine with me. I will be unable to attend because I work early. Earlier on some of us had expressed some concern that the regular YAM meetings would become Bible study meetings, which is not the purpose of YAM. Bible study should be conducted outside of the regular meetings so that those who would like to attend may, and those who choose not to do not have to.
Also, I hope my comments don’t dissuade people from presenting different Bible verses for prayer/contemplation and/or discussion at our regular YAM meetings. This is distinct.
It seems that many people are concerned with staying out too late. I understand. Many people want to get deeper into scripture. So do I. There are two options as I see it: somehow make Tuesday nights work or find another night.
First, if we go with Tuesdays, I think the key is organization. If we commit to an hour long YAM meeting that is properly organized, then we should have no problem spending an extra 20 minutes discussing a particular verse.
Currently, our meetings run anywhere from an hour and twenty minutes to two hours, about 20-40 minutes of which are administrative.
Is there a way to minimize the administrative aspect of our Tuesday meetings so more people would be able to attend a informal scripture talk?
Perhaps those that are interested can go to Java after the end of the YAM meeting (and skip the administrative portion). It seems that most of us are not needed for those administrative sessions. Further, anything of note can be presented on the Web site, such as upcoming events, plans, and volunteers for upcoming Tuesday meetings. Any remaining issues, such as voting, can be done promptly at the beginning of each meeting.
Second, we could have the “scripture talks” on other nights. My concern, however, if that we already have the DVD Bible Study set for Friday nights. If we start spreading out too far, it might become difficult to keep people coming. On the other hand, having smaller groups meeting up individually could still work. In fact, this could be more attractive to new people because it gives them a variety to chose from. Variety, being the spice of life, is always a good thing when it comes to group activities.
Ultimately, we need to just try something. Since Kristina, Chris, and I always spend about 30-60 minutes hanging out in the parking lot after YAM meetings anyway, I think we should spend this Tuesday hanging out with our Bibles. So, until these scripture talks find a permanent home on a proper night, I propose that those interested prepare for a trial run tomorrow night. We will be covering Luke 5:1-11.
*I think the website will help cut down on administrative time. I know I could be better organized about it, and I apologize for taking so much time with logistics. I’m working on it, so stay tuned.
* I’m agreeable with the “post-meeting Bible discussion for those who can and the DVD series on a separate night” plan.
*I’m willing to hold the DVD series at my house, that way we could make our group up more accessible to our Lodi brothers and sisters.
Thank you for all of those that were able to come to the bible talk last night; I know it is late and hard to stay. I think it was very successful. Some of the highlights that were touched on Luke 5:1-11 are below:
*After Simon Peter gave his career tool (boat) to Jesus, He repaid him 100 fold. This reminded some of paying tithing or volunteering…when we think we don’t really have the resources (either finances or time) , GOD PROVIDES!!!
*The nets in the passage represents the church, and all the fish represent all of us who are so different, but must be unified under the truth of the church.
*We found the progression of Peter fascinating. His embracing transition from “master I don’t think it will work, but I will try it” to “Lord, depart from me for I am a sinful man” and finally to leaving this big catch behind to follow this man named Jesus.
*Which is a nice transition to leaving EVERYTHING behind to follow Jesus. After Jesus called him to be a fisher of man, Simon left the biggest catch of his life to follow Jesus
**Finally a stimulating analogy about the various christian denominations. The Catholic church was likened to the big ship full, but one by one, the passengers decide to jump board and use a floatation devices to get to where we are going. They are all headed in the same direction, but they do not have the benefit of the whole truth and everything that it offered in the Catholic church. Also as they decide their choice of devices, they are taking pieces from the bigger ship, making it weaker because we are loosing some major components.
I hope more will be able to stay next week; there is great dialogue. Are there any ideas, or desired passages to go over for next week? Hopefully we will see all soon.
KristineO,
Thank you for putting together that summary of our scripture talk on Luke 5:1-11. I think it was a complete success too. I hope others can join in next time.
Although I will not be there next week, I propose we continue with Luke 5 by going over 12-26. For those that are wondering, we said a prayer, had someone read the passage, then we each shared our reflections. The discussion was great because each reflection touched off related questions and thoughts on our Lord.
I loved it.
Sounds like you guys had a very fruitful scripture talk! This is simply a suggestion. During past YAM meetings, we have conducted similar scripture talks or mediatations on scripture. Considering many of us cannot stay that late why not sign up to present one of the Tuesday evenings? This would also add new people to the presentation line-up!
Thanks for sharing your thoughts with us! Hope you continue to be fruitful in your discussions.
Although last night’s scripture talk was short, I think much came out if it… (the scripture was Luke 5:12-26)
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*In the cleansing of the leper, it was re-brought up about Jesus telling him not to tell anyone, why would He do this? The suggestion last week those whom Jesus was teaching were not ready for the full revelation Jesus had to offer.
*We highlighted the transition again from accusations of blasphemies to by the end of the healing of the paralytic in verse 26 they walked away glorifying God.
*The question was posed, why would God claim such faith for these people, when it was a superficial faith? They believed for their own sake. They believed because they were going to get something out of it, but why would God encourage such greed? Answer we came up with: God sees more than we do. He knows that although they may come for the wrong reason, they will get truth out of it. This particularly moved me as this is how I came into the Catholic faith. Not for God, but for selfish reasons, but God shed his ultimate beauty on his church enlightening me to his truth (Thank you Chris
*Verse 16 in Luke 5 also brought a couple different views forward: Although we are doing the work of God, that doesn’t mean that we are going to develop intimacy with Him. We also need alone time with our God. Just as in a relationship, if one was always with someone they cared about in a group, only so much intimacy could become of the relationship. It is when the two take time to learn who each other are…time with just the two of them. This is where prayer comes into play, we must converse with God in order to deepen intimacy. Also this brought up that not only do we need to pray to successfully do the work of God, but we also need some down time. We need time to relax and get away from all of the hustle and bustle that we are surrounded with on a daily basis.
*We are all spiritual lepers. We all have some type of uncleanliness on us that can be made clean by the power of the Holy Spirit.
I forgot to post this weeks readings. This Tuesday we will be discussing the last portion of Luke 5. Luke 5:27-39. sorry it is such late notice