Advent Light

Threshold Bible Study

by Stephen J. Binz

Threshold Bible Study is a thematic Scripture series designed for both personal study and group discussion. The thirty lessons in each study may be used by an individual for daily study over the course f a month or they may be divided into six lessons per week, providing a group study of six weekly sessions. Through the spiritual disciplines of Scripture reading, study, reflection, conversation, and prayer, readers will cross the threshold to a more abundant dwelling with God. Ideal for Bible study groups, small Christian communities, parish leadership teams, adult faith formation, student Scripture-study groups, RCIA teams, catechumens and candidates, catechists and teachers. "The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light" 9Is 9:2). Advent is a time for new understanding, for putting different pieces of God's revelation together so as to see the divine plan more clearly. We listen to the words of the ancient prophets, to the wisdom of Jesus, to the stories of his birth and infancy, and we make connections. Then we connect those truths to our own lives and our world and see how God is acting anew, how God continues to reveal the coming of Jesus today. Our best model for this Advent search for understanding is Mary of Nazareth. By making connections between the ancient and the new, between her people Israel and her own life, Mary grew in understanding of God's plan and responded to God's will with her acceptance: "Let it be with me according to your word" (LK 1:38).

113 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 2004

About the author

Stephen J. Binz is a biblical scholar, writer, and speaker, with graduate studies from the Pontifical Biblical Institute in Rome and Jerusalem. He has written over three dozen books in biblical theology and spirituality. His books have earned first and second place awards from the Catholic Press Association and three First Place awards from the Catholic Publishers Association’s Excellence in Publishing Awards.

As a popular speaker, Stephen Binz addresses audiences at national and regional conferences, offering keynotes, seminars, and workshops. His audiences include the Los Angeles Religious Education Congress, the Mid-Atlantic Congress, the National Catholic Education Association, and Fashion Me People. He is also an active member of the Society of Biblical Literature and the Catholic Biblical Association.

He is the founder and author of Threshold Bible Study (Twenty-Third Publications), Ancient-Future Bible Study (Brazos Press), Lectio Divina Bible Study (OSV Publications), and the Conversing with God in Scripture series (Word Among Us Press). All of his books in print may be found at his website: www.Bridge-B.com

He lives in Baton Rouge, LA, where his wife Pamela is a member of the School of Music faculty at Louisiana State University.