© Diocese of Guildford 2011

Encountering God

Session 3Encountering God

in the Bible

© Diocese of Guildford 2011

Encountering God

Session 3Encountering God in the Bible

© Diocese of Guildford 2011

Encountering God

Roots of Faith

Looking at the main foundations of Christian Faith– The Bible– Tradition– Reason– Experience

Five sessions1. Encountering Jesus2. Encountering Passover3. Encountering God in the Bible4. The Bible in Conflict5. The Bible – so what?

© Diocese of Guildford 2011

Encountering God

Keys

• Key Point

– God speaks to us through the Bible

• Key Skill

– Active learning

© Diocese of Guildford 2011

Encountering God

Today

• Media bringing the Bible to Life• People bringing the Bible to Life• Study bringing the Bible to Life

Coffee break!

• The Bible speaking to us• Speaking to one another

• Wrap up

© Diocese of Guildford 2011

Encountering God

Films, Plays & Books

• Personal encounters

• Jesus Films– Jesus of Nazareth– The Passion of the Christ– Jesus of Montreal– The Last Temptation of Christ

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Encountering God

People

• Famous People– Martin Luther - Reforming a corrupt church– Elizabeth Fry - Prison reform– William Wilberforce - Slavery– Lord Shaftesbury - Child cruelty and poverty– Martin Luther King - Racial equality – Desmond Tutu - Anti-apartheid– Mother Theresa - Poverty & end of life care– Bono - Poverty & globalisation– Steve Chalke - Church and community– …

• Personal Acquaintances

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Encountering God

Get to grips with the Bible

• How have you approached the Bible in each of these ways?

• How have you benefitted?

• How might you? (Picture courtesy of David Cooke)

“All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be

thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

© Diocese of Guildford 2011

Encountering God

Coffee Break

• Share ideas on how you might try new ways to approach the Bible

• Choose one of your senses & read John 21 focussing this sense

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Encountering God

Let the Bible Speak

Spend about 10 minutes doing a study, then come back together and give some feedback.

1. Luke 15:11-32 (the Prodigal Son): The Bible tells a human story

2. James 1:19-26 (listening and doing): The Bible as a lifestyle guide

3. Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 (a time for everything): The Bible as spiritual reflection

4. 1 Samuel 16:1-13 (Samuel anoints David):The Bible as the history of God’s dealings with people

5. Matthew 6:25-34 (do not worry): The Bible as self-help manual

© Diocese of Guildford 2011

Encountering God

Your Two Minutes!

• Based on a Bible passage: Present a message or idea to the whole group in two minutes

– prepare a two minute talk based on the passage– come up with an idea for a film of this passage– draw out three key learning points from the passage– act out a short interview with the author the passage– your own idea for putting the passage into action

© Diocese of Guildford 2011

Encountering God

Wrap-Up

• Reflection Continued– How does this session influence my thoughts on the topic I have

chosen?

• Reflection Topics– ‘Criticise’ another Bible book– Re-write a parable– Bible and contemporary society– Bible reading, my approach– Encountering Jesus in the Bible

• Feedback

• For Next Week:– Free time!

• Close