Preparation
As I mentioned in my blog post “Walking after the Messiah”, the opportunity to host another home Bible study for individuals from the church I have been attending presented itself a little more than a month ago. At that time, the pastor approached me and asked if I would be willing to host another home study, on the book of Acts, using a video resource called The Visual Bible. The Visual Bible is a dramatization of Acts which uses the word for word NIV translation as the script. With cautious anticipation I asked if such a study might incorporate discussion questions gleaned from Messianic resources in order to introduce participants to a Hebraic-Historic look at Acts.
The pastor said he fully expected me to suggest this, knowing my interest in ”Hebraic” things from the FFOZ HaYesod study I hosted in my home last winter (and which he had attended). Similarly, I knew of the pastor’s displeasure with certain teachings presented in HaYesod which caused the study to end on an unpleasant note. Because of this I was quite surprised that he would ask me to host a Bible study at all. After briefly addressing the tensions of the HaYesod study and touching on aspects he still thoroughly disagrees with, the pastor explained that he would like me to host another Bible study because he finds great value in considering the New Testament from a historic, first century, Jewish cultural perspective.
After presenting the pastor with a sample of resources I intended to use and a rough outline of how the study would proceed, I was given the go ahead. Eight participants signed up for the study in my home which begins tonight, November 6. Two of the participants include the pastor and his wife. We will meet for 12 Sundays from 6 pm – 7:30 pm with a two week break for Christmas and New Year’s days.
Although last year’s HaYesod study had a disappointing conclusion, I quickly realized that this experience provided valuable information about dynamics in hosting a church group study. HaYesod was a “sit and soak” experience. No weekly preparation necessary. Fill in the blanks of the workbook along with the video lesson. Discuss basic questions. Have food and fellowship. Each week the pastor brought with him the small catechism of the denomination, and a large “(Denomination Name)” Bible. When the video lesson ended and questions were at hand everyone went dead silent, waiting for the pastor to begin. He gladly expounded on the questions week by week and referred to the catechism to consider certain details that were being presented in HaYesod, as compared to the denominational doctrine. I can remember only a handful of times that others actually commented or asked questions as the pastor took his natural position and responsibility of preaching and teaching. After the 10 week session concluded the pastor told me that HaYesod, in his opinion, was “college level” study not suited to the majority of his congregants. This is a sad statement considering the foundational and introductory nature of HaYesod and the firm sola scriptura viewpoint of the denomination which prides itself on knowing and living by the Word of God.
With these details in mind I developed a twelve week study of Acts in the following manner. The book will be considered in eleven sections. Written resources will be provided to each participant in advance, consisting of one or two brief topics from a Hebraic perspective, in commentary form, followed by two to four questions on these topics. The study will begin each week with a 15-25 minute viewing of The Visual Bible chapters that correspond to the Acts section for the week. After this the topical commentary will be read out loud paragraph by paragraph by the study participants as a matter of review. Then the questions will be discussed.
Each participant will be asked to prepare in advance by reading the topical commentary provided and writing down answers to the questions. Only those who attend the study session prepared with written answers will be permitted to participate verbally in discussion of the questions. Others, who were unable to prepare in advance, for whatever reason, will be asked to listen but not participate in the discussion questions. This is a technique that I learned through my involvement with Bible Study Fellowship (which I was active in for 10 years). This technique works well in encouraging individual responsibility for study and avoiding off topic, reactionary comments that are not well thought out or edifying in a small group setting.
Ultimately, because the pastor will be involved, there will be a level of intimidation and the temptation for others to look to him to answer for them. To avoid this I will (personally, on the side) ask the pastor to allow others to answer and comment first to aid fuller more well rounded discussion. Participants will be encouraged to write down notes during their preparation for the study session including additional questions, comments, concerns etc. These additional things will be opened to discussion during the final thirty minutes of the evening during a time of casual fellowship and light refreshments. During the fellowship time all can contribute and comment, including those who were not prepared with the lesson in advance. At the end of the evening each week I will invite the pastor to take 5-10 minutes for any additional comments or clarifications he may like to express or sum up. In this way he will have the last word, and satisfy his pastoral responsibility. This also should help avoid long pastoral oratories during the discussion of the questions. Yet, no matter what the pastor says at the end of the evening, whether positive, negative, in agreement, or disagreement, all in participation will have been exposed to Hebraic-Historic thought related to the book of Acts in their own study.
Tonight is the first, introductory week, of study. Participants will meet and introduce themselves. Resources will be given out and the method and goal of the study will be explained. A general overview of Acts will be considered with time given for comments to be expressed on this. The evening will end with fellowship and light refreshments.
Yet, despite the well thought out, advanced preparation . . . I have no idea what to expect regarding the outcome and/or impact this study will have. Why do I put myself through all of this, I wonder? It’s because I’m a hopeless optimist when it comes to opportunities which happen to come my way, unexpectedly, and as it were, from HaShem Himself.
