Exploring the Bible: Downloadable Course (Adult/Youth)

Many of us are intimidated by the Bible. It seems too distant, too difficult to understand, and too long. Exploring the Bible is a twenty-six session, all-ages curriculum that uncovers the vast, sweeping story of God's extraordinary love for ordinary people, in a clear and easy-to-follow format.

Each week, participants read selections from the Bible, with passages excerpted and condensed by biblical scholars for easier reading. On this journey through the scriptures, from Genesis to Revelation, participants learn that the hope God offered to the faithful in ages past is the very same hope to which God is calling us today. Through thought-provoking questions in the curriculum and weekly group discussions, participants examine all of the highlights of the biblical narrative?and learn how the pieces of the story fit together.

This free downloadable course is designed for adults and young adults, with an appendix on how to adapt sessions for youth. For communities with young children, a free secondary version of the curriculum The Path: Family Storybook Facilitator's Guide allows the entire family to take part. Each member of the family can come to church and learn about the same story, each in their own class, and have a shared starting point from which to go home and talk, discuss, and debate about what they learned in Sunday school.

Each session is designed to be approximately an hour long, utilizing a largely discussion-based format, rather than lecture-based. Instructions and facilitator notes guide the leader(s), while participants are asked to read each week to prepare for the discussion. Sessions correspond to the chapters in the course companion book, The Path: A Journey Through the Bible.