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Learning and Living Scripture
Geoffrey Lentz and Henry Neufeld, a pastor and a teacher team up in Learning and Living Scripture to present the Participatory Bible Study Method, an approach to Bible study that is rooted in the conviction that God can and will speak to us in scripture. They bring together their different experiences and perspectives to present this method of study in a practical, usable way. There are three key elements to this 1. The integration of prayer and study
2. Serious questioning and research that is nonetheless within reach of the non-scholar
3. Study in community with both witness and accountability through sharing In this guide you will learn to integrate prayer and scripture reading while also being faithful to the historical meaning of the text and its use throughout history by the community of faith. This method is not just about study and learning facts; it's about letting the God, who gave scripture, live in and through you, as you learn and share.
2. Serious questioning and research that is nonetheless within reach of the non-scholar
3. Study in community with both witness and accountability through sharing In this guide you will learn to integrate prayer and scripture reading while also being faithful to the historical meaning of the text and its use throughout history by the community of faith. This method is not just about study and learning facts; it's about letting the God, who gave scripture, live in and through you, as you learn and share.
130 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 2010
2 people want to read
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
February 28, 2012
Homo Homini Lupus
http://manisawolftomen.blogspot.com/2...
What are we learning about today?
Learning and Living Scripture is an introduction to the Participatory Study Method of Bible study. Energion Press founder Henry Neufeld and Geoffrey Lentz come together to give a comprehensive and demanding outline for personal and corporate study of the Bible.
The book is divided into two major sections. The first section, Learning, is the comprehensive overview of the Participatory Method proper. This covers the basic from overview reading to the more in depth central loop. The basic layout for the design is read, study, reflection, question, share: rinse and repeat. The approach is in itself a simple one but it is not without rigors.
The second half of the book takes everything that comes before it and applies this to the varieties of literary types in the bible. In this way the authors manage to provide a bible study method that drastic customization can be applied to the bible in its entirety.
The Good
The participatory method strikes at the heart of a sore lack for many contemporary churches in that it proposes that bible study should entail the actual study of the bible. Too often small groups and bible studies focus on programming much of which includes DVD's and set questions which are design to maybe-kinda challenge but certainly not to offend or upset anyone sensibilities. There are the occasional gems in the bunch but one must slog through endless hours of vapidity to find them. The participatory method is refreshing in that it skips all the flash and flowery words to put the word of God before God's people. It assumes not only that anyone can study the bible and be greatly edified, but that one should study the bible and share that study with the fold around them.
Learning and Living does not set the Word before the reader and say, "Go at it and good luck." Rather the work slowly add the pieces of the method together with each of the first chapters adding to those that proceed. In addition each chapter is laden with advice for personal and corporate study, sample questions and examples, and exercises at the end of each chapter to integrate the lesson into ones bible study. Normally when I read through a book like this I will read through the exercises but not actually do them. In this case I was taken up with the material and couldn't help myself. It may be that the participatory method was created with me in mind.
The final half of the book is not only helpful but is itself a resource that can be kept at hand for tackling whatever literary form the bible throws one's way. This portion is not comprehensive in the sense that one will need no other reference materials. Instead it expects more work on the student's part guiding the pupil's mind to the best modes of understanding and study.
The Caveat
The book has a number of small typographical errors. It was produced by a small independent press and is in first edition still. This fact makes the typos understandable but it does not take away from their distraction. That these irritants are there is a disappointment but they hardly detract from the better part of the book which is what it has to say.
The Final Word
For anyone wishing to know more about the Bible, interested in studying the Word of God, or tired of the same humdrum DVD pop Christianity variety bible study Learning and Living will provide the anodyne to your bible woes. Not only does it facilitate individual study but the method herein improves with sharing as more minds come to join in the conversation.
4/5
Propter Sanguinem Agni,
RS
PS. The exercise for Chapter 14 on Poetry suggests that the reader rewrite a passage as their own poetic. As it turns out Henry Neufeld is a talented poet as well: All water's safe where God his help can lend. / His city glows with joy as streams there fare. . . the rest here.
This book was provided to me free of charge by the publisher. They asked only for my honest opinion. Nothing weird or anything like that. I am only disclosing this information because it is illegal if I don't. I'm pretty sure that I would go to prison, probably for life, seeing how reviewing a product you are given for free under the guise of having purchased it yourself is similar to murder. O laws, like whitewashed tombs!
http://manisawolftomen.blogspot.com/2...
What are we learning about today?
Learning and Living Scripture is an introduction to the Participatory Study Method of Bible study. Energion Press founder Henry Neufeld and Geoffrey Lentz come together to give a comprehensive and demanding outline for personal and corporate study of the Bible.
The book is divided into two major sections. The first section, Learning, is the comprehensive overview of the Participatory Method proper. This covers the basic from overview reading to the more in depth central loop. The basic layout for the design is read, study, reflection, question, share: rinse and repeat. The approach is in itself a simple one but it is not without rigors.
The second half of the book takes everything that comes before it and applies this to the varieties of literary types in the bible. In this way the authors manage to provide a bible study method that drastic customization can be applied to the bible in its entirety.
The Good
The participatory method strikes at the heart of a sore lack for many contemporary churches in that it proposes that bible study should entail the actual study of the bible. Too often small groups and bible studies focus on programming much of which includes DVD's and set questions which are design to maybe-kinda challenge but certainly not to offend or upset anyone sensibilities. There are the occasional gems in the bunch but one must slog through endless hours of vapidity to find them. The participatory method is refreshing in that it skips all the flash and flowery words to put the word of God before God's people. It assumes not only that anyone can study the bible and be greatly edified, but that one should study the bible and share that study with the fold around them.
Learning and Living does not set the Word before the reader and say, "Go at it and good luck." Rather the work slowly add the pieces of the method together with each of the first chapters adding to those that proceed. In addition each chapter is laden with advice for personal and corporate study, sample questions and examples, and exercises at the end of each chapter to integrate the lesson into ones bible study. Normally when I read through a book like this I will read through the exercises but not actually do them. In this case I was taken up with the material and couldn't help myself. It may be that the participatory method was created with me in mind.
The final half of the book is not only helpful but is itself a resource that can be kept at hand for tackling whatever literary form the bible throws one's way. This portion is not comprehensive in the sense that one will need no other reference materials. Instead it expects more work on the student's part guiding the pupil's mind to the best modes of understanding and study.
The Caveat
The book has a number of small typographical errors. It was produced by a small independent press and is in first edition still. This fact makes the typos understandable but it does not take away from their distraction. That these irritants are there is a disappointment but they hardly detract from the better part of the book which is what it has to say.
The Final Word
For anyone wishing to know more about the Bible, interested in studying the Word of God, or tired of the same humdrum DVD pop Christianity variety bible study Learning and Living will provide the anodyne to your bible woes. Not only does it facilitate individual study but the method herein improves with sharing as more minds come to join in the conversation.
4/5
Propter Sanguinem Agni,
RS
PS. The exercise for Chapter 14 on Poetry suggests that the reader rewrite a passage as their own poetic. As it turns out Henry Neufeld is a talented poet as well: All water's safe where God his help can lend. / His city glows with joy as streams there fare. . . the rest here.
This book was provided to me free of charge by the publisher. They asked only for my honest opinion. Nothing weird or anything like that. I am only disclosing this information because it is illegal if I don't. I'm pretty sure that I would go to prison, probably for life, seeing how reviewing a product you are given for free under the guise of having purchased it yourself is similar to murder. O laws, like whitewashed tombs!
Displaying 1 of 1 review