This is our catalog of courses. We will occasionally adjust the course listing to reflect the addition of new courses and the retirement of others.
We know as Catholics that spending time in God’s Word is important, but sometimes it can seem overwhelming. What about the parts that don’t make sense, the parts that seem really shocking and hard to comprehend? Also, how are we supposed to know anything about the people we are reading about, and the culture that they lived in that shaped their words and actions? It can all seem to be just too much. But it isn’t! This class will walk through the story of the Bible, and give students the knowledge they need to understand the whole Bible – including the difficult parts – and to see how this story continues today in our own lives. Salvation History isn’t a random series of events – it’s designed by the greatest storyteller of all!
Total classes: 12
Prerequisite: None
Suggested grade level: 9th – 12th grade
Suggested credit: One semester of theology
Description
This course is intended to teach students how to read and understand well the Word of God – the most important book we can read! We will begin by looking at what the Bible is, who wrote it, and how it is organized. We will then move through the story of salvation history, beginning in the Old Testament and paying special attention to important, and also difficult, passages. From there we will move into the New Testament, the Life of Christ and the Church, and will wrap the course by returning to an overview of the Bible and setting students up for successful, lifelong study of and interaction with the Word of God.
Outline
Class 1: What is the Bible; The Old Testament
Class 2: Creation
Class 3: Early World
Class 4: Abraham and the Patriarchs
Class 5: The Exodus
Class 6: The Law
Class 7: The Rise of the Kingdom and the Kingdom of David
Class 8: Wise King Solomon and the Divided Kingdom
Class 9: Conquest, Exile, and a Remnant
Class 10: The Revolt of the Maccabees
Class 11: The World of the New Testament and the New Testament
Class 12: The Incarnation
Materials and Homework
Materials:
-Understanding the Scriptures, Didache Series; ISBN: 978-1-890177-47-8 (https://www.amazon.com/Understanding-Scriptures-Complete-Course-Didache/dp/1890177474). Check bookfinder.com for used copies.
-A Catholic Bible (ESV-Catholic preferred but not required)
-Optional – Great Adventure Bible Tabs – https://www.amazon.com/Great-Adventure-Bible-Indexing-Tabs/dp/1932645705
-Optional – Great Adventure Timeline Chart – https://ascensionpress.com/products/great-adventure-bible-timeline-chart
Homework: Homework time outside of class could range about an hour a week, possibly more some weeks. The homework will consist largely of the readings from the textbook and from Scripture, as well as a mix of quizzes and essay questions, and one paper.
Important Dates
Class dates: Thursdays, September 5 to December 5, 2024. (No class Oct. 17 & Nov. 28)
Starting time: 1:00 PM Eastern (noon Central; 11:00 Mountain; 10:00 Pacific)
Duration: 55 minutes
