Intro and Structure

A Bible Study for Progressives

    Noting the lack of highly organized Bible-centered, Bible studies for progressives available through traditional bookstores, the attempt is being made to host an on-line Bible study that starts with the conservative fundamental Biblicism of scholars such as J. Vernon McGee and Martin De Haan II, not to mention Matthew Henry and the Expositors, while opening up our minds to the possibility of alternative readings from the gay and lesbian, the feminist, the non-Western and the non-Christian perspectives.  Clearly, this will be a work in progress with many failings and stumbles, both large and small, but under supervision of the Holy Spirit and in reference to the Holy Writ, the hope is that those of us who might otherwise have felt discouraged or alienated from Bible studies led by dismissive, grumpy old white men (not that there’s anything wrong with dismissive, grumpy old white men), might open new venues for discussion, learning and discernment.

    All are welcome to participate.  Please, if you use these materials, make reference to the blog, noting dates and times of postings.  Debate is welcome, but dismissive language and tones are not.  With apologies, comments that are deemed destructive, vitriolic or simply dismissive may be removed in order to preserve dialogue.  Also, as useful comments and or additional materials become available, earlier postings will be freely edited, augmented and amended to provide as useful a long-term guide as possible.  This is meant to be an on-going journey that might be followed either directly as an on-line community or later, at one’s own pace.

    My background is evangelical Mennonite, similar to Christian Missionary Alliance or Evangelical Free with a healthy dose of Roman Catholic educational background and a deep respect for Jewish religious scholarship.  I grew up with the King James Bible, heavily influenced by the German Lutheran Bible.  Alternate texts will be used to bring out differing perspectives or to jar loose commentary, but always in reference to the classic English and German.  I am a gay man from a rural Mennonite background whose total livestock holdings now include three small dogs, one cheery parakeet, thirty-odd fish and scores of disaffected houseplants, each with his or her own personality.

     Links to Betterworldbooks.com or Amazon.com for the purchase of books and additional resources will be freely established for your use.  One should always delve further in one’s own study and one should always check the teachings against the Book.  Neither this site nor the author is making any money off of these links or potential sales.

Thanks.  Steve

In order to make this most adaptable for Bible Study, Lessons or Sunday School Class, we will break it down into Quarters (13 weeks or 3 months).

Schedule:

Week 1:	Introduction and Overview	Relation to Scriptures and Historical Church	Internal Structure
Week 2:	Chapter 1	Types and Signs	John the Baptist
Week 3:	Chapters 2, 3	Jesus Begins Ministry / Cana	Nicodemus
Week 4:	Chapter 4, 5	Die Anderen:  Samaritan	Healing at Pool
Week 5:	Chapter 6	Feeding of 5,000	Bread of Life
Week 6:	Chapters 7, 8	Jesus self-identifies	Further Proofs
Week 7:	Chapter 9, 10, 11	Jesus as Shepherd	Raising of Lazarus
Week 8:	Chapter 12	Mary Magdalene	Voice of God
Week 9:	Chapter 13, 14	Washing of Feet	Holy Spirit
Week 10:	Chapters 15, 16, 17	Vine & Branches	Holy Spirit / Prayer
Week 11:	Chapters 18, 19	Jesus Arrested	Jesus Crucified
Week 12:	Chapters 20, 21	Empty Tomb	Commissioning
Week 13:	Review & Response	General Discussion	Personal Application

Bible Study format (30 to 45 minutes):

1. Prior, make sure that everyone has their coffee and biscuits
1. Build into timing that YOU will be there 15 minutes ahead of time for coffee and pre-fellowship to give others permission to get there early and settled in -- rather than settling in as you are trying to do the Bible reading.

2. Welcome and Prayer

3. Bible Reading
1. Teacher read first two verses, then continue in circle
1. Adjust according to size of group with larger segments preferred

4. Teaching
1. General Background (ca. 10 minutes)
2. If additional time, may choose additional 10 min segments or summarize Perspective Points to generate discussion

5. Open Discussion

6. Summarization and Wrap-up if time

7. Closing Prayer

8. Theme and Assignment for next week.

Sunday School Lesson Format (1 hour):

1. If Possible, have Arts music playing in background and images displayed on monitor -- either screen, television, laptop or PDA device.

2. Welcome and Prayer

3. Bible Reading (see above)
4. Personal Reflection (10 minutes)
1. Meant to encourage pre-study at home, to help identify themes, and to break the ice, de-formalize discussion
2. Teacher might go first to give some thematic direction, structure and cohesiveness to class. 
3. If possible, stress themes, perspectives or engage questions within lesson following.

5. Teaching (20 minutes)
1. General Background (10 minutes)
2. In-Depth Themes (10 minutes) or may substitute alternative perspective

6. Discussions (10 minutes +/-)
7. Most pertinent alternative theme (10 Minutes)
8. Closing Prayer

9. Theme and Assignment for next week.