You know the stereotype: Catholics don’t know the Bible. Unfortunately, I perpetuated that stereotype in my own life until my early 20s. I grew up Catholic and understood the Sacraments, but had little knowledge of Sacred Scripture. I didn’t know what was contained in Scripture (beyond the ever-popular preschool stories), I didn’t know how to read Scripture, and I didn’t even know that praying with Scripture was a thing. It wasn’t until a college professor opened my eyes to the Word of God that I understood the profound importance of the Bible, both for where we’ve been, and for where we’re going.
Longing for a Bible Study…
I know I’m not alone in my desire to want to know Scripture more, to understand it more clearly. In fact, that’s what brings many of us in the Blessed is She community together! We desire to know the Lord more through His Word.
This leads many of us to desire to partake in a Bible study. We want to know and love the Bible, but we need someone to teach us. We need some help diving into the history, meanings, senses, and rhythm of Scripture.
However, when it comes to finding a Bible study, the search can be frustrating. There are plenty of options, but how do we know which one will best suit us?
Moreover, finding a solid Bible study is what causes most of us to stop in our tracks. What if it’s an incorrect interpretation of Scripture? What if it contradicts Catholic teaching?
A Bible Study that Works for Real Life
Finally, most of us are looking for a Bible study that works with our actual lives. We’re busy women with hundreds of spinning plates, but we want to make time for the Word. We might not have hours each week to attend collegiate level Scripture courses, but our desire to meet God in Scripture is strong. So we need a Bible study that is thorough, engaging, beautiful, concise, and worth every minute.
Many of us want to find a Bible study we can do with our small group from church or our local Catholic community. Some of us would like to find a Catholic Bible study we can do with our spouse or significant other. And some of us just want a Bible study to journey through on our own, in the nooks and crannies of our daily lives.
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The Genesis to Jesus Catholic Bible Study
When we found the Genesis to Jesus Catholic Bible study, we knew we had to share it with you. It’s created by the St. Paul Center, a Catholic organization founded by Dr. Scott Hahn (yes, that Scott Hahn).
A Free Video Series
The core of this Bible study is a series of videos that examine Scripture in light of core Catholic beliefs and teachings. For example, one segment is about The Bible and the Sacraments, another is about The Bible and Mary, and so on. Clearly, you won’t have to worry about the direction and interpretation you’re receiving. You can trust that what you’re learning about Scripture is in line with the teachings of Holy Mother Church.
This Bible study is not just a look back. It’s a look within. On this journey through the Bible, we won’t just examine it as a historical text; we’ll come to see our own selves and our own lives in light of Salvation History. As the very first video states:
We’re not going to just learn the facts of the Bible Story; we’re going to come to fully understand how we’re a part of it.
The Genesis to Jesus Bible Study will help Scripture come alive for us—not just in our minds, but in our hearts. We won’t just learn about Scripture; we’ll learn how to read it, how to understand it, and, most importantly, how to live it.
What You Need
As noted above, this video series is completely free. You can sign up with your email here. Take note of the streaming schedule, as we’ll only have access to each video for a certain period of time. (If you’ve ever watched network shows online after they air, it’s a similar concept. You’ll have a window of time to view each video for free.)
It’s suggested that you pick up the accompanying workbook and/or A Father Who Keeps His Promises by Scott Hahn. The Bible study is based off this book, so the duo of the book and interactive workbook will make your experience even richer.
For the remainder of February, the St. Paul Center is offering our community 20% off the book and workbook. So you’ll get two $20 books for $28. Bargain shoppers, rejoice!
You can get all the materials you need at the bottom of this page.
How It Works
So now that you’ve signed up and have everything you need, let’s talk about how this works.
Each video lesson is about 30 minutes long. It’s the perfect length for a lunch break, while waiting for your kid to get out of practice, during a middle-of-the-night nursing session, or a weeknight small group meeting.
There are 12 lessons total. So if you watch two lessons every week during Lent, you’ll finish by Easter. How awesome is that?!
A Terrific Lenten Practice
Speaking of Lent, joining us for the Genesis to Jesus Catholic Bible study would make a beautiful Lenten practice. Has the Lord been asking you to meet Him more deeply or frequently in the Word? Do you feel a draw to better understand Sacred Scripture? This is a marvelous opportunity to accept His invitation to know, love, and serve Him more.
And perhaps, for Lent, you can buddy-up with another woman who wants to move through this study as well. You could each watch the videos on your own time, and then grab coffee to chat about it, or even meet over Skype or Google Hangout! The options are endless here, friends.
When it comes to knowing the Bible better through a Catholic Bible study, your search doesn’t have to be frustrating. Just start here.
Will you be doing the Genesis to Jesus Bible Study, too? Let us know in the comments!
A Great Bible Study for Catholics #BISblog // Click To TweetThis blog post is sponsored by the St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology. As always, all our opinions are our own!
I am SO excited about this! I’ve always been hesitant to start bible studies not hosted by Catholics but with this, I’m thankful to be able to just breathe it all in word for word with no worries. Thank you for sharing!
I feel the same way! So looking forward to this.
When I go to the link it is not free….you must buy a workbook
I cannot find where the Bible study videos are free? Can you give me a direct link?
Hi Diane,
Here are our #BISvbs videos! I hope you’re able to pray with us! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IEdhg6TE808&list=PL3ifxPSQgHc6nYhA9G9aU0kk1d5yfsSH6
We are also starting a *NEW* #BISvbs this Wednesday at 1pm ET. Find out more right here: https://blessedisshe.net/vbs/