Jesus’ call to profound discipleship in the Sermon on the Mount is too often dismissed as special instructions for only the holiest and most exceptional Christians. In The Sermon on the Mount, Clifford Yeary challenges us to hear the sermon once again as Christ intended it, as our call to follow him whose life illustrated its every ideal. Yeary helps us to hear the Sermon on the Mount as a message for each of us, a challenge that is our constant call to renewal. Commentary, study and reflection questions, prayer and access to recorded lectures are included. 4 lessons.
Thought to be the earliest of the four Gospels, the Gospel of Mark is a fast-moving, vivid account of the ministry, suffering, and death of Jesus. Enter into a rich encounter with this preacher, wonder-worker, and messiah, whose very life delivered an urgent message about repentance, transformation, and the meaning of suffering in a life poured out for others. Part One covers Mark 1:1-9:32, providing an in-depth study of Jesus' ministry of healing and preaching. Commentary, study and reflection questions, prayers, and access to online lectures are included. 5 lessons.
Open the Bible with newcomers and experienced students alike. Both will find much to learn and explore in this helpful introductory study. Stephen Binz offers clear, practical explanations that will make the Bible more familiar, giving readers a sense of the Bible’s structure, a better understanding of its various themes and writing styles, and insight into how to interpret the Bible within the Catholic tradition. This study also provides direction in how to choose a Bible, how to navigate its contents, and how to get the most out of Bible study. Commentary, study and reflection questions, prayers, and access to online lectures are included. 6 lessons.
Only one Answer Guide is needed per small group facilitator. This study has 5 sessions, incorporating an introductory session and 4 lessons. The Study Set includes the Study Guide by Catherine Upchurch and a commentary, Pilgrim People, by Clifford M. Yeary (Liturgical Press). "Clifford M. Yeary is the associate director of Little Rock Scripture Study, for which he writes and revises study materials and presents wrap-up lectures. He holds a master's in pastoral studies and a BA in Old Testament literature. He is also associate editor of" A Year of Sundays "and has contributed to "The Bible Today," both published by Liturgical Press." God's people have always been sojourners, pilgrims on a journey, open to God's call and direction. This study explores the major events and characters of the Bible that exemplify God's call to be pilgrims who are "looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and maker is God" (Heb 11:10). Among the biblical pilgrims and sojourners encountered in the study are Abraham and Sarah, Moses and the people of the Exodus, the Jews of the Babylonian exile, the Holy Family and Christ's first disciples. The commentary is written with full citations of the appropriate biblical texts and provides insight into the biblical characters, historical settings and modern applications. Weekly Sessions Introductory Session Lesson 1 - The Cal of Abraham and Sarah Lesson 2 - Exodus and Entry Lesson 3 - Exile and Return Lesson 4 - Come, Follow Me
The Gospel of John is a testament to the divine nature of Jesus, the Word made flesh, the Light of the World. Part One of our study (John 1‒10) covers the magnificent prologue of John’s Gospel and a significant portion of Jesus’ ministry. This ministry is highlighted by miraculous “signs” that reveal Jesus’ true nature and his relationship with the Father. Commentary, study and reflection questions, prayers, and access to online lectures are included. 6 lessons.
A Bible study on the Gospel According to John. Part One (6 lessons) covers the prologue of John's Gospel and a significant portion of Jesus's ministry. Part Two (5 lessons) begins with the final "sign" of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead and takes readers to the hour of Jesus's glorification in his passion, death, and resurrection. Commentary, study and reflection questions, prayers, and access to online lectures are included"--
Come along on four major pilgrimages in Scripture —the journey of trust with Abraham and Sarah, the journey of freedom with Moses and the Hebrew people, the journey of exile and return with Israel, and the journey of discipleship with Jesus and his followers. God's call sometimes leads and sometimes sends, and the destinations can be new and wondrous or even dark and dangerous. What makes the journey a pilgrimage is God's abiding companionship. Commentary, study and reflection questions, prayer and access to online lectures are included. 4 lessons.
The Gospel of John uses rich symbolism, brilliant irony, and contrasting opposites to highlight the divine nature of Jesus. Part Two of our study (John 11‒21) begins with the final “sign” of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead and takes readers to the hour of Jesus’ glorification in his passion, death, and resurrection. Enter into this deeply spiritual Gospel and its remarkable account of the Son of God who is willingly "lifted up" on the cross, fully revealing the Father and drawing all people to himself. Commentary, study and reflection questions, prayers, and access to online lectures are included. 5 lessons.
Letters from Prison, Part Two provides an in-depth investigation of Paul’s letters to the Colossians and Ephesians, two letters with a great deal in common. Besides being written from prison, both letters address Gentile communities learning to live faithful Christian lives. Exploring themes such as God’s eternal plan, the unity of the church, and the fullness of life in Christ, these letters offer a sweeping and still relevant vision of faith in Christ and the church as his body.
The exodus is the central event of the Old Testament, giving meaning to everything else we find in its pages. Part One of this study takes us through the first fifteen chapters of Exodus—from slavery to the call of Moses, from plagues to crossing the sea, from captivity to freedom in the Sinai. Discover that God hears those who are beaten down and liberates those who are in need of his justice. 5 lessons.
Part Two of this study covers the final 25 chapters of Exodus. Beginning with the insecurity of the desert wanderings, to encountering God on Sinai and then constructing the tent of dwelling, God’s people learn what it means to be part of a covenant with the one who liberates and also gives the Law to guide and direct them. 4 lessons.
Christian belief in the Holy Spirit as the Third Person of the Trinity was not officially defined by the church until the fourth century. But centuries earlier, the Hebrew Scriptures and the New Testament were already describing the action and presence of God’s Spirit. In The Holy Spirit in the Bible, George Smiga unpacks key Scripture passages, exploring the activity of the Spirit at creation, within Israel, in the ministry of Jesus and the early church, and at the end of time. The role of the Holy Spirit in our personal and spiritual lives is also explored. Commentary, study and reflection questions, prayers, and access to online lectures are included. 6 lessons.
The gospel stories of the passion and resurrection of Jesus are at the core of Christian faith, revealing the nature of God, the person of Jesus, and the path of every disciple. Explore these essential stories in the unique accounts of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John with reliable guide Stephen Binz, and embrace the cross and resurrection in your own life. Ideal for Lent/Easter study. Commentary, study and reflection questions, prayers, and access to online lectures are included. 6 lessons.
The rosary has long held a central place in the prayer lives of Catholics. At the heart of this popular form of prayer is an invitation to focus our minds and hearts on the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, Son of God and Son of Mary. Through an illuminating analysis of all the relevant biblical texts, Scripture and the Rosary provides a trustworthy guide for deepening our understanding and appreciation of key events in the lives of Jesus and Mary, reflected in each set of mysteries: Joyful, Luminous, Sorrowful, and Glorious. Commentary, study and reflection questions, prayers, and access to online lectures are included. 4 lessons.
A study of the book of Genesis is an invitation not only to contemplate the creation story, but to remember with the Israelites their ancestors in faith. Part One of this study covers Genesis 1:1-25:18 (the “pre-history” of Israel including the creation accounts, the stories of the fall and the great flood, as well as the story of Abraham and Sarah).
Women were essential to the ministry of Jesus and the flourishing of the early church. In Women in the New Testament, trusted guide Catherine Cory delves into the lives of the fascinating women who befriended Jesus, were healed and transformed by him, followed him as disciples, and proclaimed the good news of his resurrection. Journey through the New Testament, exploring the social and religious world of first-century Palestine and the remarkable lives of these women of faith. Six lessons survey New Testament texts about Mary the mother of Jesus, women healed by Jesus, the Samaritan woman, Mary and Martha of Bethany, Mary Magdalene, and various women of the early church, such as Priscilla and Phoebe. Commentary, study and reflection questions, prayers, and access to online lectures are included. 6 lessons.
The Infancy Narratives of Jesus explores the stories of the conception and birth of Jesus in the gospels of Matthew and Luke. With clear and insightful commentary, Stephen Binz helps readers understand the Old Testament background of these texts, the distinct themes and events of the two gospel accounts, and the continuing relevance of these stories for us today. Deepen your longing for the Messiah's coming as you encounter Jesus as Emmanuel, "God with us." Commentary, study and reflection questions, prayers, and access to online lectures are included. 3 lessons.
Following the oracles of destruction that dominate the earlier portion of the book of Isaiah, Part Two of our study covers Isaiah 40–66, emphasizing the majesty of God and the divine plan for Israel’s restoration. Leslie Hoppe’s commentary continues to explore the history, theology, and poetry of this essential prophetic work, making a case that Isaiah is not so much about divine retribution as it is about liberation and a return to God’s loving embrace. Commentary, study and reflection questions, prayers, and access to online lectures are included. 6 lessons.
This study has 8 sessions, incorporating an introductory session and 7lessons. The Study Set includes the Study Guide by Little Rock Scripture Study Staff and the New Collegeville Bible Commentary, The Book of Revelation, by Catherine A. Cory (Liturgical Press). Catherine Ann Cory, PhD, is an associate professor in the theology department, at the University of Saint Thomas, St.Paul, Minnesota. She is the author ofVoyage Through the New Testament (Prentice Hal) and a variety of articles related to the Bible. This study invites the modern reader to revisit a volatile period of history through apocalyptic, symbolic writing. Enter into the struggle between good and evil, hear the call to conversion and experience God's ultimate triumph. Revelation's apocalyptic imagery, symbolic colors and numbers are explored. The evils of the Roman Empire during a specific period of time persecution are behind much of the apocalyptic imagery. It contains letters to seven churches of Asia Minor (modern Turkey), which urge faithfulness to Christ. Powerful Visions of God and the victorious lamb in heaven are unveiled as God and the lamb achieve the ultimate and absolute victory over evil, culminating in a new heaven and a new earth with a new Jerusalem as home to God's holy people. Sample Wrap-Up Lecture Weekly Sessions Introductory Session Lesson 1 - Rev 1 Lesson 2 - Rev 2-3 Lesson 3 - Rev 4-7 Lesson 4 - Rev 8-11 Lesson 5 - Rev 12-14 Lesson 6 - Rev 15-18 Lesson 7 - Rev 19-22
In Scripture we encounter God and come to know God’s people. Women in the Old Testament, Part One,takes you on a journey through Israel’s beginnings, Israel’s captivity and freedom, and Israel’s tribal period from the perspective of the earliest women of salvation history, such as Sarah, Deborah, and Ruth. Guided by the classic commentary of Irene Nowell, OSB, and the contemporary scholarship of Jaime Waters, enter into these ancient stories of women of the Bible that remain rich and relevant for believers today. Commentary, study and reflection questions, prayers, and access to online lectures are included. 5 lessons.
Only one Answer Guide is needed per small group facilitator. This study has 7 sessions, incorporating an introductory session and 6 lessons. The Study Set includes the Study Guide by Little Rock Scripture Study Staff and the New Collegeville Bible Commentary, The Letter to the Hebrews, by Daniel J. Harrington (Liturgical Press). Daniel J. Harrington, SJ, PhD, is professor of New Testament at Boston College School of Theology and Ministry, Cambridge, Massachusetts, and editor of the Sacra Pagina series, published by Liturgical Press, and author of numerous other books and articles. Hebrews is more like a sermon than a letter. It reviews the history of Israel to demonstrate how Jesus Christ fulfills and even surpasses all the hopes express in the Old Testament. It presents Jesus as the unique High Priest who is simultaneously the one who offers sacrifice to God and is himself the sacrifice. It describes the exaltation of Jesus Christ as superior to all that came before, whether prophet, priest or angel. Jesus is presented as our High Priest whose compassion for us is rooted in his humanity, but whose sacrifice is all sufficient because he is without sin. Those who receive this sermon/letter are reminded of the great heroes of faith found in the Old Testament and are urged to imitate their faithful endurance. Weekly Sessions Introductory Session Lesson 1 - Heb1-2 Lesson 2 - Heb 3:1-5:10 Lesson 3 - Heb 5:11-7:28 Lesson 4 - Heb 8:1-10:18 Lesson 5 - Heb 10:19-11:39 Lesson 6 - Heb 12-13
This study has 10 sessions, incorporating an introductory session and 9 lessons. The Study Set includes the Study Guide by Little Rock Scripture Study Staff and the New Collegeville Bible Commentary, First and Second Corinthians, by Maria A. Pascuzzi(Liturgical Press). Note that the First Corinthians study and the Second Corinthians study use the same commentary. Those planning to do both studies should order Study Sets for one of the studies, and order only the study guide for the subsequent study. Maria A. Pascuzzi, CSJ, STD, teaches Scripture at the University of San Diego. She has a liscentiate in Sacred Scripture from the Pontifical Biblical Institute and her Doctorate in Sacred Theology is from the Gregorian University. First Corinthians deals with divisions in the believing community at Corinth and the harm that they inflict on the body of Christ. Paul also deals with many individual ethical problems in the community of which he has become aware through letters and contacts. Paul instructs the community concerning true wisdom; the sin of idolatry; the Lord's Supper; the role of God's ministers; the supreme importance of love; gifts of the Spirit; and the nature of the resurrection. The community of Corinth could easily be our own - struggling for unity in the midst of conflict, and discovering weaknesses and strengths. In this study, Paul invites you to find unity in the Gospel message. Weekly Sessions Introductory Session Lesson 1 - 1 Cor 1-2 Lesson 2 - 1 Cor 3-4 Lesson 3 - 1 Cor 5-6 Lesson 4 - 1 Cor 7-8 Lesson 5 - 1 Cor 9-10 Lesson 6 - 1 Cor 11-12 Lesson 7 - 1 Cor 13-14:25 Lesson 8 - 1 Cor 14:26-15:34 Lesson 9 - 1 Cor 15:35-16:24
Through a masterful mix of poetry and prose, the book of Isaiah gives prophetic witness to the complex story of God’s judgment against ancient Israel and the enduring promise of divine redemption. Both unsettling and inspiring, Isaiah continues to enrich readers with its powerful condemnation of corruption and an uncompromising call for social justice. Part One of our study covers Isaiah 1–39, including many of the prophet’s most memorable passages. Commentary, study and reflection questions, prayers, and access to online lectures are included. 6 lessons.
Did you ever wonder how the Bible became such an essential part of being a Catholic in our Day? Dei Verbum--The Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation--remains one of the foundational teachings of the Second Vatican Council. Discover how this teaching helped to move the Bible into the heart of parish faith formation, and continues to direct our efforts in liturgy, education, and spirituality. Appropriate for all parish adult faith formation efforts, Bible study groups, and diocesan education programs.
While we may know the Bible stories of Israel’s military leaders, kings, and prophets, we are often less familiar with the stories of the women who helped to establish a monarchy, defend Israel’s interests, and reflect God’s image in unique ways. In Women in the Old Testament, Part Two, a continuation of the classic commentary by Irene Nowell, OSB, in conversation with the contemporary voice of Jaime Waters, you will explore stories of women of the Bible such as Judith and Esther, whose complexities and gifts broke stereotypes and continue to reveal God to us. Commentary, study and reflection questions, prayers, and access to online lectures are included. 4 lessons.
This study has 7 sessions, incorporating an introductory session and 6 lessons. Come to know the forceful but loving character of Paul, one of the best known figures in the early Church. No other letter from Paul is so revealing of Paul's personality. Paul likens the ministry of Apostles as that of being ambassadors of God whose message is one of reconciliation. Arguing from his own experience of discipleship and ministry, Paul continues to promote unity in a divided and confused Corinth by reflecting on his own weaknesses as an opportunity to find strength in Christ. He calls the Corinthians to generosity in care for the poor who live outside their own community. Weekly Sessions Introductory Session Lesson 1 - 2 Cor 1-2 Lesson 2 - 2 Cor 3-4 Lesson 3 - 2 Cor 5-7 Lesson 4 - 2 Cor 8-9 Lesson 5 - 2 Cor 10-11 Lesson 6 - 2 Cor 12-13
This study has 11 sessions, incorporating an introductory session and 10 lessons. The Study Set includes the Study Guide by Clifford M. Yeary and the New Collegeville Bible Commentary, 'Genesis, ' by Joan E. Cook (Liturgical Press). Joan E. Cook, SC, teaches Scripture at Georgetown University in Washington, DC. She is author of Hannah's Desire, God's Design (Sheffield Academic Press, 1999) and Hear, O Heavens and Listen, O Earth: An Introduction to the Prophets (Liturgical Press, 2006), which won a first-place Catholic Press Association award in 2007. Cook has also written numerous articles on biblical women and biblical prayer. Genesis tells the story of beginnings: God's creation of the world, the beginning of human activity and the beginning of God's redemptive covenant making with human beings (the stories of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph and his brothers). Without competing with modern scientific understandings, this study investigates two different accounts in Genesis of the creation of the world and how both reveal timeless truths about God's creative purposes. Stories of universal human sinfulness lead to a divine plan of redemption initiated in the call of Abraham and Sarah. Through accounts both humorous and suspenseful of the lives of ancient Israel's patriarchs and matriarchs, Genesis lays the foundation for the epic story of the Exodus, the liberation of God's people from slavery in Egypt.
This study has 14 sessions, incorporating an introductory session and 13 lessons. The Study Set includes the Study Guide by Catherine Upchurch (Galatians) and Clifford M. Yeary (Romans) and a commentary, Galatians and Romans, by Brendan Byrne (Liturgical Press). Brendan Byrne, SJ, is professor of New Testament at Jesuit Theological College, Parkville, Victoria, Australia. A member of the Pontifical Biblical Commission (1990-96) and Fellow of the Australian Academy of the Humanities (2000-), he is editor in chief of the theological journal Pacifica. Byrne is the author of numerous books, includingRomansin the Sacra Pagina series and a three-volume commentary on the Synoptic Gospels (Liturgical Press). He is currently preparing a similar commentary on the Gospel of John. Galatians and Romans are pivotal for those seeking to understand the faith and teaching of the Apostle Paul. Many of Paul's themes are shared by Galatians and Romans, but the tone and length of the two works differ sharply. This study opens with Galatians because it was written first. Those who wish to adapt the study will find it easy to split the study into two parts or to simply focus on either Galatians or Romans, as best fits their needs. The Commentary includes a helpful glossary which clarifies the meaning of terms frequently used in discussions of Paul's theology. Galatians addresses Paul's understanding of Christian freedom and justification by faith. He reprimands the Galatians for deserting the Gospel by seeking justification through circumcision rather than through faith in Christ, who achieved our salvation by his sacrifice on the cross. Romans is the longest of Paul's letters. It addresses the universal reality of sin in the world and the need for salvation in Jesus Christ. It explores both the strength and limits of the law of Moses. Paul examines the new life attained in the Holy Spirit as God's gift and proclaims the mystery of God's plan to save Israel. Romans also highlights the ethical demands of the gospel. Weekly Sessions Introductory Session Lesson 1--Galatians 1 Lesson 2--Galatians 2:1-3:14 Lesson 3--Galatians 3:15-4:31 Lesson 4--Galatians 5:1-6:18 Lesson 5--Romans 1:1-17 Lesson 6--Romans 1:18-3:20 Lesson 7--Romans 3:21-4:25 Lesson 8--Romans 5:1-6:23 Lesson 9--Romans 7:1-8:13 Lesson 10--Romans 8:14-9:5 Lesson 11--Romans 9:6-11:36 Lesson 12--Romans 12:1-16:27
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