Editor’s Preface thru 1 Timothy 1: Catholic Commentary (pgs. 9-48)

This was a very long and involved lesson to complete in just one week, so good on you if you managed to get through it all by the time we met.  I was beginning to doubt if I would be able to get through it myself, and I had to lead the discussion!  If you didn't quite make it, I would highly recommend that you try and do so before you go on to the next lesson.  We are in the process of setting up a foundation for the whole rest of the year, and I wouldn't want you to feel like you are falling behind right from the start.

If you are new to Bible study and freaked out--even just a little bit--over this first lesson, please try and stick with it!  It will get easier.  The introduction to any study is taxing, and this year we have a new text to get used to as well, so I'm sure that even those in the group who have been at this for a while likely felt your pain.  It will pay off.  I promise.

Ordinarily, I take my notes on my computer as I'm going through my study and then upload them to make them available for the members of the group who would like to look them over for review or because they were unable to attend class that week.  For some crazy reason, I started taking notes on PAPER, of all things, for this first lesson.  Not sure what I was thinking.  So, I did go ahead and scan the sheets into a file.  I think they are mostly legible.  They're a little long, since I couldn't edit them as easily as I can on the computer, but they might be of some help.  You are welcome to print them out.

Kathy's Notes for Introduction Lesson and 1 Timothy 1

Our next lesson should be much more manageable.  It covers 1 Timothy 2, pgs. 49-71 in our Catholic Commentary book.  Please let me know if you have any questions.  Otherwise, I hope to see you all on October 9!

Happy Fall!

First Meeting...And How We've Grown!

So happy to see familiar faces today after our summer break.  And very exciting to see all the new faces of  those who have registered to join our Thursday morning study group.  Our study has continued to grow steadily over the years, but we've never had as many new members as we had around the table this morning.  It's a wonderful sign of all the good things that are happening in our parish.

There is always considerable information overload on the first day, so please feel free to contact me or jot down any questions you may have, and I will do my best to address those as soon as possible.  Hopefully, we can take care of any problems at our next meeting.

Speaking of next meetings...the group has voted and decided to hold our second meeting on September 18.  That means that instead of having two weeks to complete the first lesson, we'll only have one!  The introductory lessons are generally on the longer side, so don't delay.  I'm sure everyone is very enthusiastic about starting a new Bible study, and it won't be a problem.  Give yourself plenty of time.

If you missed today's meeting and did not get a copy of our schedule, the first lesson that we will be discussing on Sept 18 are pgs.9-48 in the Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture: First & Second Timothy.  Along with the reading, be sure and write in your journals your responses and reflections to the questions on the Discussion Guide that can be found at the Catholic Commentary website.  (Scroll down on the page at "Catholic Commentary" and just beneath the picture of our textbook, under "Resources", you'll see the link to the Discussion Guide.  Print a copy to use for the year.)

Also, if you missed today, I'd appreciate it if you could come early next week so that we can get you the materials you'll need, answer questions, etc.  It's always good to get the class business out of the way so that we can concentrate on our study.

Thanks again to all the participants.  I know we're going to have a wonderful year!

As promised, here is a link to my notes from today's discussion about our summer study of Thessalonians.  Hope they can be of some help.  Study Guide to Thessalonians w/Responses

Note: If you did not get an email informing you about this entry, please let me know.  We will double-check the email address I have on file, or try adjusting your email filters.

Looking Ahead to 2014-2015: First & Second Timothy and Titus

In 2014-15, the Solid Grounds Bible Study group will be reading St. Paul's First & Second Letters to Timothy and Titus.  Our meetings are held at the Church of St. Patrick on a (somewhat) bi-weekly basis, Thursday mornings from 9-11am.  Our first meeting will be held on September 11, 2014.  This study has 14 sessions.  The complete schedule can be found in the column just to the right of this post as well as on the calendar at the very bottom of this page.  It will also be distributed on an informational sheet at our first meeting.

If you would like to join our group...

Register:  Informational flyers and registration forms for our study are available at the church.  There is no fee for the class, but each member is responsible for the cost of the materials that we use for the study.

Our main textbook is the Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture: First and Second Timothy, Titus by George T. Montague, S.M.  This is a relatively new Catholic Bible study series published by Baker Academic.  To learn more, you can visit the Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture website.  At this site you can learn about the author,  read excerpts from the book, and find endorsements and reviews.  You can also download and print a copy of the Discussion Guide that we will be using for our meetings.

The book is $20 and payment is due with your completed registration form.

Also... The Ignatius Catholic Study Bible-New Testament RSV Second Catholic Edition is the translation that we use for our study.  Even if you already own a different Bible, we suggest getting this particular translation so that everyone in the group is reading the same material.  This Bible includes excellent notes, maps, and essays that are useful in our study.

Some participants choose to buy the smaller individual booklets of this series, but most have purchased the entire New Testament.  The booklets are softcover and sell for approximately $12.  The entire New Testament comes in softcover, hardcover, and leatherette with prices ranging from $25-$45.  The Ignatius Bibles are all available for purchase and/or special order at St. Patrick Book & Gift.  Please allow plenty of time for orders to be placed if you would like your copy at the start of the study.

In addition to the two books listed here, you will also need a notebook or journal to keep notes, write reflections, and answer or ask questions.  This is open to your personal preference--a special journal, iPad or other tablet.  Whatever suits you.

One last thing...It has been our tradition to read a spiritual work over the summer break and use the second half of our first meeting in the fall to discuss what we have read.  This summer, we are going to read St. Paul's First & Second Letters to the Thessalonians.  This is an optional exercise. We are, of course, using the Ignatius Bible, and then you are welcome to use any other resources you may have to help you with your study.  Please use the study guide below as one of those resources.  Bring it to our first meeting on September 11, and we'll also use it for our discussion of the letters.

Study Guide First & Second Letters to the Thessalonians

Even if you choose not to participate in the discussion of our summer study of Thessalonians, please plan to attend our first meeting on September 11.  We will spend some time getting acquainted and talking about our plans for the rest of the year.

Hope to see you in September!

Lesson Eleven: From Slave to Son

This week's lesson covers St. Paul's Letter to Philemon.  It is the shortest of Paul's letters and as many commentaries point out, the most personal.  It is Paul's plea to Philemon regarding a runaway slave named Onesimus.

Study Guide for Lesson Eleven

The last time we met, I had promised a link to the file for a guide to the pronunciation of Biblical names.  It's not complete, but it has many of the most common names from scripture.  When you click on the link, it should automatically download to your computer.  If not, try the second link to the file I posted to Google docs.

Lector's Pronunciation Guide

Lector's Pronunciation Guide-Take Two

For those of you who may have missed the last meeting or two, please scroll down to the entry made on February 14 to read about our plans for the summer and next year's study.  I hope everyone plans to return next year--and feel free to invite someone to join us.  If you have not ordered your materials for the next study, ask me for a special order sheet at our next meeting.

See you on March 13.

Review of Colossians

If you're looking for the information and links promised at our last meeting, scroll down.  I put them in their own entry that was posted earlier.  There were so many items, I didn't want to confuse it with the guide for our Review.

As mentioned on the guide, it's best to read the entire letter in one sitting before you proceed with the questions in the LC workbook.  In addition to the questions in the book, I have added two extra questions on our study guide.

Study Guide Lesson Ten

We are also going to wrap up our study of the US Catechism.  We've been at this for quite a few years, so it feels like a real accomplishment to complete the text.  I always recommend that everyone own the BIG GREEN Catholic Catechism of the Catholic Church.  Unlike some of the less expensive editions, that one has text that is in a font that someone over 40 can read.  It  has a comprehensive glossary and index that makes looking up information fast and easy.  It is also available online and as an e-book.

Catechism of the Catholic Church

And if that's not enough, I will also take book orders for our next study.  You do not need to pay for the items until they arrive.  They will be available for purchase in St. Patrick's Book & Gift.  We have always relied on the honor system, so if you order a book, be sure to come in and pay for it.  Thanks.

See you next week!

Lesson Nine Update

Great discussion at our meeting yesterday.  As promised, here are links to the documents and other items we discussed.  The document of The Lord's Prayer is the same one you received if you were able to make our session.

Next time we review St. Paul's Letter to the Colossians in its entirety.  The review lessons can be time consuming, so don't wait until the last minute to get to it.  The review is a valuable lesson.  During the year, we break down the letter in to such small portions.  Now's our chance to put it all in perspective.

Here are the links and documents from our lesson:

The Lord's Prayer

Lesson Nine Notes

Fr. Barron's Reflections on The Lord's Prayer

Lector's Pronunciation Guide

Since we are getting close to the end our our year of study, we did spend some time discussing our plans for the summer and next year's study.  I've given it a lot of thought and done some research and think I have come up with a plan that will work--and the group was unanimous in their support.

Our summer assignment is to read and study Paul's First & Second Letters to the Thessalonians.  Nearly everyone owns a copy of William Barclay's commentary on The Letters to the Philippians & Colossians, and since it included the Letters to the Thessalonians as well, we can use that as an additional reference.  Then during our first meeting in the fall of 2014, we'll discuss those letters.

Our 2014-15 study will be The First & Second Letters to Timothy and The Letter to Titus.  And we will be using a new textbook!  The Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture series includes a volume on Timothy and Titus.  And the bonus (for me anyway) is that there is also a downloadable document that has questions for small group study.  So, for next year, you'll need your Ignatius Catholic Study Bible, the Catholic Commentary book, and a journal--either good old-fashioned paper or on your iPad, laptop, etc.--to record your reflections, thoughts, questions, and the answers to the questions provided on their guide.

At our last two meetings, I will take orders for The Catholic Commentary book.  It sells for $19.99.  If you would like to learn more about this new series, here is a link to their website.

The Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture
 
Let me know if I left anything out, or if you have trouble with any of these links.  I will post the next lesson's study guide next week.

Lesson 9: And Finally

And Finally.  Gosh, I hope you don't all feel that way.  We've still got our Review and Philemon to get through before we're finished for the year.

We will have a lot to discuss at our next meeting, so we will have to be very diligent about watching the clock.  In fact, I uploaded this session's study guide before I've even been able to complete it.

I want to have a good discussion about the Lord's Prayer.  (This week's topic in our US Catechism.)  Every time I've tried to prepare my notes for that section on the guide, I would get flustered, delete the whole works, and start again.  There's so much to talk about and so little time.

So that you could have the guide for the scripture part of our meeting, I uploaded what I had done and will bring copies for everyone for the rest.  That is if I can get my printer to work again!  Yes, it's one of those weeks.

Study Guide for Lesson Nine

See you on Thursday!