BIBLE BASICS BIBLE STUDY
A LOOK AT THE WHOLE BIBLE

written by:

REV. RICHARD J. FAIRCHILD
CHARLENE E. FAIRCHILD
Springfield, Ontario
1991, 1996
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION AND OUTLINE OF THE PROGRAM

PARTICIPANT'S GUIDE TO THE SESSIONS
Session  1:    INTRODUCTION: WHAT IS THE BIBLE? 
Session  2:    THE CREATION OF THE WORLD
Session  3:    THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOOD AND EVIL
Session  4:    HUMAN HISTORY AND SIN AND REDEMPTION
Session  5:    DECISIONS OF FAITH: LIVING THE PROMISES
Session  6:    A PEOPLE OF PROMISE: THE MOSAIC COVENANT
Session  7:    DECISIONS OF FAITH: SEEKING GOD'S WILL
Session  8:    THE KINGSHIP OF GOD AND MAN
Session  9:    DECISIONS OF FAITH: WHERE GOD SPEAKS
Session 10:    PROPHETIC TRADITION: JUDGEMENT & GRACE
Session 11:    THE BABYLONIAN CAPTIVITY AND A NEW VISION
Session 12:    PEOPLE OF THE TORAH: ONE (HOLINESS)     
Session 13:    PEOPLE OF THE TORAH: TWO (WISDOM)
Session 14:    THE TIME BEFORE CHRIST
Session 15:    THE NEW COVENANT: THE GOSPEL AND THE CROSS
Session 16:    THE NEW COVENANT: JESUS: HIS GIFTS, MISSION & PERSON
Session 17:    SALVATION: LAW, LOVE, FAITH & RIGHTEOUSNESS
Session 18:    DECISIONS OF FAITH: PRAYER AND WALKING WITH GOD
Session 19:    THE STORY CONTINUES: THE CHURCH
Session 20:    THE ETERNAL KINGDOM AND THE END OF TIME

BACKGROUND NOTES FOR SESSIONS
Session  1     SELECTING A BIBLE
Session  2     BIBLICAL AUTHORITY AND INTERPRETATION
Session  4     BIBLICAL CHRONOLOGY AT A GLANCE
Session  6     THE EXODUS AND THE GIVING OF THE LAW
Session  8     THE PROBLEM OF WAR
Session 11     MESSIANIC PROPHECY
Session 13     A HEBREW - CHRISTIAN VIEW OF SUFFERING
Session 15     INTRODUCING THE NEW TESTAMENT
Session 18     PRAYER
Session 19     SEASONS AND SYMBOLS OF THE CHURCH AND THE BIBLE

SOME SUGGESTED SESSION PROCEDURES FOR LEADERS
Session One    Session Two    Session Three   
Session Four   Session Five   Session Six   
Session Seven   Session Eight

THEOLOGICAL TERMINOLOGY

LIST OF SCRIPTURES READ
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BIBLE BASICS BIBLE STUDY
A LOOK AT THE WHOLE BIBLE
INTRODUCTION AND OUTLINE OF THE PROGRAM

INTRODUCTION
     This program is intended to give the participant the
tools he or she needs to grasp the overall scope and unity
of the entire Bible.  For the general idea of the program
the authors are indebted to Bernhard W. Anderson's
excellent work: The Unfolding Drama of The Bible
(Association Press, 1971).  The Unfolding Drama of The
Bible was a study in eight sessions that introduced the
concept of "salvation history" to the beginning student of
the Bible.  Bible Basics: A Look At the Whole Bible goes
beyond this concept and introduces not only God's unfolding
plan of salvation within history to the participant, but
also explores the major themes of the scriptures as they
relate to our experience here and now.  Further this
program is set up to stress the dynamics of actually
sharing the biblical material in a group format and is
designed to bring to the participant's mind the promises
and the demands of a life based on faith in the Good News
of Jesus Christ.

     The beginner and the advanced student of the Bible
will both benefit from following through this course on
Bible Basics.  This is because of both the content of the
program and the process or method by which information is
shared and the members of the study group are encouraged to
relate.  While a great deal of knowledge and a large number
of facts will be shared, the stress in this program is not
just about acquiring biblical knowledge.   Acquiring
spiritual wisdom - wisdom in the faith, is equally
important and is the goal of all good Bible Study programs. 
Naturally we study the Bible because such wisdom can be
found in the scriptures in abundance.  Such wisdom is also
acquired, and in fact it is primarily acquired, through our
actual relationship with God and the world God has made. 
It is acquired when people encounter God in their
neighbours, their world, and their selves and are able to
recognize that they have done so.  Undergirding the Bible
Basics program is the conviction that Christ is present
when his people gather in his name and that, equally, each
person present is a "temple of the Holy Spirit" - the
Spirit which is present to "lead you into all truth".  Thus
we gather not only to learn more about God and His Word as
it is found in the scriptures, we gather to grow in faith
as individuals and as members of Christ's body.  Bible
study is, in the long run, most effectively and profitably
done in groups for these reasons.

     Worship is a key way through which we bless God and
God blesses us.  Each session begins and ends with prayer
and praise.  The opening prayer is for God's blessings on
the session.  The closing prayer is for the needs of each
member of the group and for anything that is on the hearts
of the participants.  Everyone is given the opportunity to
pray (aloud) if they choose to.  Consistent with the
understanding of spirituality and faith held by the
authors, it is the intention of this study to help the
participants experience different "styles" of pray and
share in prayer with others.  We believe that exposure to
different types of spirituality will enhance and expand the
faith of each participant.

     God speaks to his people through his people, whether
they be "new" in the faith or "old hands".  Remember, God
even spoke through Balaam's ass!  Each session calls for
individuals to share, as they feel able to, their personal
encounter with the Word: be that encounter filled with
doubts, questions, answers, or new insights or any
combination of these.  We often learn more from each other
questions than we do from some prepackaged answer.  For a
similar reason the emotional reaction to the Word we
frequently experience is an important factor in each
session.  When permission is given by a participant
experiencing such a reaction, or as "type" of reaction to
the text arising from our cultural heritage is discerned,
we will attempt to explore the meaning and significance of
those reactions.  Each session tries to be sensitive to the
leading of the Holy Spirit.  What may at first seem to be a
distraction or a "red herring" in the discussion may turn
out to be the most important thing of the night.  Of
course, it may not - and the session members, along with
the leader, are responsible to bring stray conversations
back "on track".

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USING THIS OUTLINE
     Linked together in this study are many of the most
important passages of scripture that reveal the history of
God's plan for humanity and humanity's response to God. 
Perhaps most importantly the course outline provides access
for the participant to the richness and wealth of the Old
Testament tradition.  The first reaction of most people to
the Old Testament is one of confusion.  It is viewed by
many people as containing a God who is somehow different
than the God of the New Testament.  The record of bloodshed
and war contained in its pages alarm and shock us - and
very often blind us to what is really happening in the rest
of the Testament.  This program will help to overcome that
first impression and help us see the unity of the entire
scriptural record.  Our understanding of Jesus, the Christ,
will be greatly enhanced as will our understanding of the
problems that Jesus addressed in his teachings and overcame
in his death and resurrection.

     The general approach to the Bible that is used here is
both thematic and historical.  Each session is "set" in a
particular period of history and deals with particular
themes during that period of history.  Those themes, in
turn, are found in different settings within the scripture,
and finally, as we shall see, emerge into our own personal
experience.  We all experience the goodness of Creation and
the problem of good and evil.  We all wonder about
suffering and we all must deal with judgement and the need
for mercy.  The people of the Bible dealt with these
things, both as individuals and as part of a community.  We
examine the "community history" as a way of understanding
not only the story of how God dealt with that community,
but as a way of understanding how God deals with us today.

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SESSION NOTES
     The session notes serve as a guide to what will be
covered in any particular session.  They are meant for both
the participants and the leaders.  Read them before
attending the session.  Each session chapter is divided as
follows:

     Title of Session  - gives the basic theme or topic to
     be explored.

     Read- a list of readings that serve as the essential
     background to the topic to be explored.  If the
     participant reads all these passage he or she will
     cover a significant part of the Bible during the whole
     program.

     Quick Outline - roughly outlines the flow and content
     of a session.

     For The Session Read and Ask  - contains the key
     passages that will be explored during the session and
     poses questions for reflection upon that will help the
     participant begin struggling with key issues of faith
     and understanding.  These passages should be read
     prior to the session and the participant should
     attempt to answer the questions for his or herself.

     To Think About - raises some of the issues that the
     participant may wish to think about in relationship to
     the passages covered by the session and to the life of
     faith.  Some of these issues will be covered in the
     session as either the leader or the participants
     choose.

     The Session Outline is all that a participant requires
to adequately prepare for a session.  By particularly
focussing on the section titled "For the Session Read and
Ask" you will obtain an understanding of some of the facets
of the scriptures to be discussed and the overall theme of
the session.

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BACKGROUND NOTES
     The background notes contained in Section Two of this
book deal with a variety of subjects.  These notes are
presented to provide the participants and the leaders with
resources for studying the scriptures as a whole and for
understanding particular issues that often arise in that
study.  Most of the notes' subjects concern common
questions that are raised in Bible studies.  Why do we read
the Old Testament?  What are to we make of passages
concerning war?  What authority does the Bible have and
what interpretations are more faithful?  Other notes
present material such as a list of the major "Messianic
Prophecies" and a outline of the Biblical history.

     Most of the notes are written in essay fashion and are
designed to "stand alone".  In other words each Background
Note can be used in contexts other than the the Bible
Basics Program.  By themselves the notes provide an
introduction to several topics of concern to the study of
the Bible and the Christian faith and could, if a leader
chose, become the source text of an entirely different kind
of "Bible" study.

     Each background note is linked to a particular session
of the Bible Basics Course.  However it is neither
necessary or required that the participants in the
appropriate session read this material.  Leaders, will
however, want to deal with the material in the notes in
their preparation for the study since, as already
mentioned, the notes deal with matters most often asked
about in Bible Studies.

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SESSION PROCEDURE NOTES
     The third section of this book contains Session
Procedure notes for leaders of this Bible Basics program. 
The Session Procedure notes are a guide to the conduct of
the actual session and give to the leaders further
information on how to deal with the material.  Sometimes
their is very little additional material given about the
texts to be examined.  In all cases, however, opening
meditations, group methodology, and others instructions are
given.  Guidelines to encouraging prayer and contemplation,
as well as visualization exercises are also included. 
While participants may want to refer to these notes prior
to the session meeting it should be remembered that the
Spirit, not to mention the leader, may take the session off
in a direction not covered in the Procedure Notes.

THE BIBLE READINGS
     All scripture passages used by the leader of the
session will be from the NIV (New International Version). 
The NIV, The RSV (Revised Standard Version), or the TEV
(Today's English Version or the Good News Bible) are
recommended.  You may assist yourself in the study of God's
word by purchasing a good study bible or other resources
(See the page dealing with Bibles).

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ATTENDANCE AND RELATED MATTERS
     Naturally it is most profitable to a person who is
attempting to learn new things to be regular in attending
the sessions that offer that learning environment.  You
will want to commit to the 18 sessions of this study if you
plan on getting the most out of it.  Nevertheless events
occur that prevent regular attendance.  Do not choose to
not come to the entire program because you fear that you
will miss some of the sessions.  That would be like
deciding not to eat supper because you had to miss lunch! 
Read the session outline for any session that you miss and
ask the leader or another participant any questions that
you have about the material.  In any case, you will not be
"left behind" because you miss a few sessions.  God's word,
as this course will help show, is contained in every part
of the scripture - and you will quickly pick up in one
session what you thought you had missed in another.

     Participants should bring a pen, notebook, and bible
to each session.   The best kind of notebook is a three-
ring binder since pages can be moved around, inserted, and
deleted.  There will be several handouts in addition to
this outline that you will want to keep.  Making notes
during the session will help you remember key questions and
insights later on and provide a starting place for future
study, reflection, and prayer.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
     The authors would like to thank all the individuals
who have over the years have shown such an eagerness to
study the word that they have permitted complete strangers
to try all manner of experimentation upon them.  Their
tolerance and indeed acceptance and approval of the
methodologies contained within this book, not to mention
their contribution to the questions and views expressed
within it, has been experienced as grace upon grace.  It is
because of them we have been so bold as to offer to
everyone this study program.  They, and indeed our God
working in both them and us are responsible for all that is
good herein.  Charlene and I acknowledge that those things
not so pleasing herein are entirely of our own doing.  
     We also wish to thank the people of the Springfield-
Corinth Pastoral Charge of the United Church of Canada for
their support of us during the "study leaves" we took to
prepare this study and during the countless hours we were
preparing material for Wednesday evening study time when we
might have been out doing other parts of the Lord's work.

                                      Richard J. Fairchild
                                      Charlene E. Fairchild         
                                      July 1991, September 1996

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