Post by Emily Hollars Leitzke on Jul 19, 2010 10:54:55 GMT -5
INTRODUCTION:
Lutherans believe that God speaks to us through the Word: the written
word (Holy Scripture), the spoken word (preaching), and the living
word (Jesus the Christ). In this Bible study, we will explore the
written Word, particularly focusing on the Old Testament as the
stories and writings which developed as a witness to who God is and
what God is doing in the world.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
The Old Testament can be compared to a family album, passed from
generation to generation, and filled with stories about God and God's
people. In the early days, the stories were passed from person to
person orally; later they were written down. Each generation added
its own stories to the "album" as it was passed along. The stories
contained within the Old Testament are stories of people who were as
human as you and I, and who experienced many of the same struggles
that we do. There are stories about temptation, greed, envy, hatred,
love, power struggles, and pride, to name a few, but the most
important stories are those that tell us about people's encounters
with God. After all, it is because of these stories that the "album"
has been preserved and passed along for future generations.
PRAYER:
God of all, we pray that you would be present with us as we begin to
explore the family album of our faith. Open our eyes that we may see
you in our study and in each other; open our ears that we may hear you
speaking to us and through us; open our hearts that we might receive
you and all you have to teach us with willingness and joy. We pray
this in the name of Jesus Christ, the Word made flesh. Amen.
Lutherans believe that God speaks to us through the Word: the written
word (Holy Scripture), the spoken word (preaching), and the living
word (Jesus the Christ). In this Bible study, we will explore the
written Word, particularly focusing on the Old Testament as the
stories and writings which developed as a witness to who God is and
what God is doing in the world.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
The Old Testament can be compared to a family album, passed from
generation to generation, and filled with stories about God and God's
people. In the early days, the stories were passed from person to
person orally; later they were written down. Each generation added
its own stories to the "album" as it was passed along. The stories
contained within the Old Testament are stories of people who were as
human as you and I, and who experienced many of the same struggles
that we do. There are stories about temptation, greed, envy, hatred,
love, power struggles, and pride, to name a few, but the most
important stories are those that tell us about people's encounters
with God. After all, it is because of these stories that the "album"
has been preserved and passed along for future generations.
PRAYER:
God of all, we pray that you would be present with us as we begin to
explore the family album of our faith. Open our eyes that we may see
you in our study and in each other; open our ears that we may hear you
speaking to us and through us; open our hearts that we might receive
you and all you have to teach us with willingness and joy. We pray
this in the name of Jesus Christ, the Word made flesh. Amen.