Cathedral’s Eastside Young Adults Bible Study

2009-10-09T11:09:00.002-05:00

John 19:1-22, Tues., 10/13

John 19:1
•Was this treatment prophesied in OT?
-IS 53:3-6
•Who else was scourged in NT?
-2 Cir 11:24

John 19:2
• When thorns were 1st mentioned in the Bible?
-Gen 3:17-18
•What was the result of the Fall, and how were thorns involved?
-Rom 8:18-22
•What was the theological significance of Jesus wearing crown of thorns?
-Gal 3:13
•What do purple robe represent?
-Dan 5:29

John 19:3-4
•Why did Pilate go out again?
•How does Pilate violate the law of God?
-CCC 2258,2237

John 19:5
•How did Pilate refer to Jesus?
•How is Adam referred in the Garden?
-Gen 1:25, 2:15
•How is Mary referred in this Gospel?
-Jn 2:4, 19:26

John 19:6
•What was the prescribed for capital crimes?
-Deut 13:6-11, 17:5
-Lev 20:14, 21:9
•Why did Jews choose crucifixion?

John 19:7-11
•Why did Jews push the job back to Pilate?
•Did Jesus blame Pilate?

John 19:12-15
•What did Pilate seat Jesus?
•How did the Jews finally “twist the arm” of Pilate about crucifixion?
-CCC 596
· When did then event took place? Why?
-CCC 613

John 19:16-17
•Why John mention “outside” the wall?
-Ex 29:14 Heb 13:11-13
•What’s Calvary?

John 19:18-22
•Why did John mention Jesus was “in between” 2 criminals?
-Ps 22:16, Is 53:12
•Why might Pilate put such am inscription on the cross?

Advance questions
•How are we affected by Christ’s ill-treatment?
-1 pet 2:24, CCC 612-17
•Can all Jews be blamed for the death of Jesus?
-CCC 597-98

2009-09-25T15:02:00.002-05:00

John 18, Tues., 9/29

John 18:1-2
•Where did this event take place? Any theological significance of the location?
-19:41, CCC 411
•How did Judas know the location?
-LK 21:37

John 18:3-4
•What 2 groups came out to arrest Jesus? Why did they bring so many armed men?
-JN 18:36
•Was Jesus surprised by them?

John 18:5-9
•Why did they fall to the ground?
-Rev 1:17, CCC 207

John 18:10-12
•Why did Jesus want his disciples to fight?
-Mt 26:52-54
•Why did Jesus give himself into the hands of his enemies?
-CCC 606-607

John 18:13-14
•What had Caiaphas advised the Jews earlier?
-Jn 11:47-53
•What elements played into His death?
-Mt 27:18, Jn 10:33

John 18:15-18
•Who was the other disciple? How did he get access to the courtyard? How about Peter?

John 18:19-24
•Why did Jesus ask why he is being questioned instead of having witnesses called?
-Deut 17:6
•What was Anna’s concern?
-CCC 596

John 18:25-27
•Why do you think Peter denied Jesus?

John 18:28-31
•What did the Jews want to do to Jesus?
•What Charge against Jesus did the Jews bring?
•Why do they bring to Pilate?

John 18:32-35
•What did Ver32 mean?
-CCC 574, John 3:14; 12:32-33, MT 20:18-19
•Why did Pilate 1st ask Jesus if He was a king?

John 18:36-37
•What is Jesus’ Kingdom?
-CCC 2819
•How are we to testify the truth?
-CCC2471-2472

John 18:38-40
•Did Pilate expect an answer for his question?
•Why did Jews choose Barabbas?

Advanced Question
•Please comment on all the characters in this story

2009-09-08T11:39:00.002-05:00

John 17, Tues., 9/15

John 17:1-3
§What does Jesus mean by 'the hour'?
-CCC1085
§What's eternal life?
§What does it mean by 'know' God and Jesus?
-CCC1996, 2045

John 17:4-5
§How did Jesus glorify the Father on earth?
-CCC2750
§Where was Jesus before the world began?
§Can God's glory be shared?
-Is 48:11
§How was Jesus glorified before the world was made?
-JN 17:24

John 17:6-7
§How did Jesus reveal the Father?
-CCC516

John 17:8-12
§What are the 3 things mentioned about the disciples?
§Who was the “son of destruction”?
§Was “son of destruction” chosen by Jesus? Did Jesus fail by choose him?

John 17:13-16
§Why did the disciples “ do not belong to the world any more”?
-CCC1003
§From what Jesus asked the Father to protect them from? Why?
-CCC2851-2852

John 17:17-19
§What does Consecrate mean?
§How are we consecrated?
-CCC1989, 1999,
§What did Jesus pray for the disciples? Why?
-CCC877

John 17:20-23
§Who did Jesus Begin to pray?
§How will future believers come to know Jesus?
-CCC76

Oneness
§What is to characterize those who believe in Christ?
§What will the world conclude based on this character?
§How many “Church” exists?
-CCC866

John 17:24-26
§What “where I am” refer to? Why did Jesus want us to be there?
§What was the last thing Jesus asked us to do?
§What did Jesus pray for us? Why?

Summary
§What is a main task of the Jewish high priest?
-2 Chron 30:27
§Who is the new High Priest? How do our priests work in conjunction with Him?
-CCC1410
§Are all the baptized also in holy priesthood?
-CCC784, 1546
§Then what are the difference between priest consecrated by Holy Orders and “common Priesthood”?
-CCC1141-1142
§What are the main points Jesus taught and prayed about before the Passion?

2009-08-27T12:34:00.002-05:00

John 16, Tues., 9/1

John 16:1-4
•What was the motivation for them to kill the disciples?
•Which of the Twelve was first to die for the faith?
-Act 12:2

John 16:5-11
•Why is it to the apostles' advantage for Jesus to leave?
•How did Jesus reside with them as a man?
•How will Jesus, though the spirit, reside with them after his ascension?
-CCC 813

John 16:12-15
•Was Jesus able to impart to his disciples everything he wanted them to know?
•How will His teaching develop in the future?
-CCC 78, 85, 91
•How does the “Spirit of Truth” differ from other spirit?
-CCC 392
· How can we tell the false prophets?

John 16:16-24
•Why no one can take away the joy Christ gives?
-CCC 769-80
•Do God answer everything asked in Jesus' name?

John 16:25-28
•What did Jesus mean by “figure of speech”?

John 16:29-33
•Why did Jesus explain all these to his disciples?
-Jn 16:1,33

2009-08-11T11:49:00.002-05:00

John 15 (II), Tues., 8/18

John 15:18
•What does the “world” mean in this context?
-CCC408-409
•Is the “world” in John 3:16 the same means as here?
-CCC341
•Why does the world hate Jesus?
-Jn 3:19-20

John 15:19
•How are the disciples in the world but not of the world?
-Jn 17:14-17, CCC2850
•Can we be friends with the world?
-James 4:4

John 15:20-21
•What can the disciples expect?
-Mt 10:16-23, 24:9-14
•How should Christians deal with persecutions?
-Rom 12:14, 1 Pet 4:15-16

John 15:22-25
•What does Jesus means when he says that the Jews would be without sin if he had not come and revealed himself?
-Jn 9:41, Rom 7:7-11
•How are the works of Jesus a witness against them?
-CCC 548

John 15:26-27
•Who and what is the Advocate ?
-CCC 263, 691-692
•Who would send the Advocate?
-CCC244
How will the spirit testify to Jesus?
-CCC1433, 264

Advance Questions
•Please summarize John 15

2009-07-30T14:48:00.002-05:00

John 15, Tues, 8/4

Theology of the Vine in OT
•Who is the true vine? Who is the vine grower?
-PS 80: 9-20, Jer 2:21, Ezek 15,17,19
•How does Is 4:2-4 shed light on OT understanding of the vine?
•Basing on the understanding above, How are the Gentiles able to partake of the vine?
-CCC 60

1-5
•Who is the true vine?
•Who is the vine grower?
•Who are the branches?
•What is the fruit?
•What does Jesus mean by “pruning”? How does God prune the branches?

6-8
•What is the difference between pruning and throw away?
•Who are the thrown out branches?
-CCC162
•What are things that can cause us to be cut off?
-CCC1033, 2089
•What are the fire?
-CCC1033-1037

9-11
•What does Jesus mean by “remain in my love”?
-CCC787
•How does Jesus continue to love and remain in us?
-CCC1380,1406
•Do you think relationship between Jesus and the church are more intense now or when walked on earth?
-CCC788

12-13
•How can we show this love in practical ways?
-CCC2447

14-16
•What is the difference between a slave and a friend?
-CCC1972
•Who is the only character in OT been called the “friend of God”?
•What are the benefits of being “friend of God”?
-CCC142, 1972
•What prerequisite is required to be considered a friend of God?

2009-07-16T15:21:00.002-05:00

Galatians 6, Tues., 7/21

1-2
•What is “law of Christ”?
•Is “personal relation with Jesus” enough for Christian Faith?
-CCC 2030

3-5
•Comparing with vs. 5. Is Paul contradicting what he just said in vs. 2? What does he mean? Why did he mention this here?

6-8
•What two ways of life does Paul contrast? Why?

9-10
•What is the threat Paul anticipates to the work of sowing to the Spirit?

11-13
•What does Paul suspect is the reason the Judaizers are so eager for the Gentiles to be circumcised?

14-16
•What does “new Creation” refer to?
-CCC 1214
•In vs. 14, Paul says he will only boast in the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ. What kind of boasting can one do about the Crucifixion?
•In Vs 16, what “this rule” refers to?

17-18
•Why should “the marks of Jesus” on Paul’s body serve to silence his opponents?

Advance Questions

•Summarize this chapter.
•Does this chapter deliver us up to despair over our falling into sin after baptism? How would you describe the tone of this part of Paul’s letter?
•Summarize St Paul’s Epistle to the Galatians.

2009-07-02T12:45:00.004-05:00

Galatians 5, Tues., 7/7

1-4
•Why does Paul make a comparison between receiving circumcision and submitting to a “yoke of slavery”?
-CCC 1741
•For those who seek to be justified by the law, what will become of their relationship with Christ?
•There are some who say that a person cannot fall from grace, that “once saved, always saved.”. How would you use this section of Paul’s letter to refute that idea?

5-6
•Why did Paul mean by “wait for the hope of righteousness”?
•What are important to Christ?
-CCC162, 1814

7-10
•In Vs7, Why do you suppose he uses the word “following” rather than the word “believing”?
•What hope does Paul express for his friends in vss. 8-10?

11-12
•Paul has used strong language to describe the problem the Galatians are experiencing. Does all this provoke any questions in you?

13-15
•How is Christian freedom different from the world’s idea of freedom?
•What impact has this controversy over circumcision had on the love the Galatians have for one another? Why would this worry Paul?

16-18
•What tension will everyone who seeks to “walk by the Spirit” face in this life?
-CCC 2515
•Why they are against each other?
•What did Paul mean by “not under the law”?

19-21
•Look carefully at each word in the list of works of the flesh. Does anything surprise you about this list?

22-23
•Any surprise here?

24-26
•Paul says that “those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.” Does this mean that we are no longer troubled by them?
•In vs. 26, why do you suppose Paul is concerned about these particular problems?

Advance Questions
•Did Paul teach “Faith alone”?
•Did Paul promote Gnostic thoughts?
-CCC 41, 285
•How can we successfully walk by the Spirit and not cave into the works of the flesh?

2009-06-18T15:16:00.002-05:00

Galatians 4, Tues., 6/24

1-3
•What were the “supervision of guardians and administrators” for Jews?.
•Why did St Paul say Jews were enslaved to the elemental powers of the world?

4-5
• What do you think the phrase “when the time had fully come” means?
-CCC 702
•Why do you think St Paul describe Jesus as “under the law”?

6-7
•How does God prove that a person’s relationship with God has changed to a son?
•What does “Abba” remind you of?
-MK 14:36
•How did we become the adopted sons/ daughters of God
-CCC 1265

8-11
•See how Paul re-phrases himself in vs. 9? Why is this re-phrasing so important?
•In vs. 10, does Paul condemn the Catholic practice of holy days, feasts, and liturgical seasons?
-1 Cor 5:6-8
•What is Paul worried about in vs. 11? What does this concern say about the possibility of losing one’s justification?

12-20
•How was Paul's initial relationship with the Galatians?
•How did Paul feel about the Galatians?

21-25
•What does Paul say the two women in Abraham’s life represent?
•Why would Paul say the present Jerusalem is “in slavery along with her children” ?

26-31
•Where is Jerusalem above? Why she is our mother?
-CCC 757
•Where in the Bible Ishmael persecuted Issac?
-Gen 21:9
•Is there any similarity between Sarah and Virgin Mary?

Advance questions
•Was St Paul anti-Semitic?
•What must a Christian keep in clear focus to preserve the joy of sonship and not let it turn into the fear that comes with slavery?

2009-05-21T15:19:00.002-05:00

Galatians 3 (I), Tues., 5/26

1-3
•What's Paul's attitude here?
•How did Paul know Galatians already received Spirit? How do we receive the Spirit?
-CCC 1266

4-5
•What kind of experiences with the Spirit do you think Paul is referring here?
•How would the Galatians answer Paul's question? Why?

6
•Why did Paul choose Abraham as the example?
-Gen 12:3, 18:18
•Can you give the examples of Abraham's faith?
-Gen 12:1-9, 15:1-6
•Where were Abraham credited as righteous?
-Gen 15:6
•If an act of faith resulted in justification for Abram, was he justified only once?
-Heb 11:8-19

7-9
•Who are the “true sons of Abraham”?
•What scripture did Paul quoting?
-Gen 18:18
•Can we reject God's blessing? Can we lose God's blessing? How can we regain God's blessing?

10
•Paul quotes Deut. 27:26. What is the big problem facing anyone who expects to be justified by keeping the law?
-CCC 580

11
•Where in the Bible Paul was quoting?
-Hab 2:1-4

12
•Referring to Lev 18:1-5, Why does he say “the law does not rest on faith”? According to the Leviticus passage, what does the law rest on?

13
•Why is this such a logical place for Paul to mention Jesus?
•Read Deut. 21:22-23, Why is this quote from the Old Testament especially powerful to further Paul’s line of argument?
•Is there consequence if we break the law? How do we get away from God's curse?

14
•How does he describe the “blessing” that the Gentiles will receive?

2009-05-10T09:36:00.002-05:00

Galatians 2, Tues., 5/12

1-2
•To what does Paul attribute the decision to make that trip?
•Why did he need to make such trip?

3-6
•What might be the teaching the false brother brought in?
•Who were “those who were reputed to be important”? what did they do about Paul’s teaching?

7-10
•Why did they approve Paul?
•After giving Paul and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, what one thing did the apostles want them to do? Why has this always been an abiding concern in the Church?
-CCC 886

11-13
•Who were “some people came from James”?
•What happened? Why Paul call it “hypocrisy”?
•How did Paul know Peter was wrong?
-ACT 14:21-28; 15:1-35
•Can Pope make mistake? In what situation, the Pope is infallible? Do this meet such conditions?

14
•What Paul means in the question he confront to Peter?

15-16
•What is the definition of “Justification” ?
-A translation, from that state wherein man is born a child of the first Adam, to the state of grace, and of the adoption of the sons of God, through the second Adam, Jesus Christ, our Savior
-CCC 2019
•Is it the same as “in the state of Grace”? What’s Grace?
- CCC 1997
•What are the difference between Catholic and Protestant about Justification?
-Catholic: a process, Synergism, Can be lost via mortal sin.
-Protestant :a Event, Divine monergism, Cannot be lost

17-19
•What is Paul’s new relationship to the Law of Moses?
•When does a person die to the law?
-Rom 6:1-4

20-21
•What seems to be the distinguishing characteristic of Paul’s new life in Christ?
•If a person wants to cling to the old system of legal perfection, what becomes of the work of Christ?

2009-04-23T16:14:00.002-05:00

Galatians 1, Tues. ,4/28

1-2
•Where did Paul get his apostleship?
•What does he seem eager to do in the way he writes about himself? Why?
-CCC 857
•Was Paul being a sexist here?

3-5
•What two words does Paul use in his greeting in vs. 3? Think about what they mean. Why does that simple greeting sum up all that is best in the Christian life?
•What were evil for Paul?

6-7
•Who is “one who called you”?
•What problem is threatening the churches in Galatia?

8:9
•What does Paul reveal to be of absolute, utmost importance when it comes to preaching the gospel?

10
•What do you think is the accusation again Paul? How did he answer it?
•Read I Cor. 9:19-23. Did Paul contradict himself? How can we make the distinction between what can be adapted to different people or cultures in the gospel and what cannot?

11-12
•What does Paul say was unique about the way he received the gospel?

13-16
•What was Paul persecuting? A building? What’s the theological significance?
-CCC 752
•When was Paul called? When did he find out his vocation? What does this teach us about vocation?

17
•Why do you think Paul went to Arabia?

18-20
•Who is Cephas?
•What do you think Paul needed to meet Cephas?
-CCC 862
•Who’s James?
•Why did Paul emphasis that he only met few Apostles?

21-24
•Up to that point in his ministry, what was Paul’s reputation?
•Why did they glorify God?

2009-04-09T15:14:00.002-05:00

ST Paul- the Murder, the Blind, the Evangelist, the Saint, Tues. ,4/14

True or False?
• Paul received the Holy Spirit in Pentecost along with all other Apostles.
• Paul is among the 12 original Apostles chosen by Jesus
• Paul was responsible for the death of the 1st Christian Martyr.
• Paul was renamed from Saul after his conversion.
• Paul fall off a horse during his conversion.
• St Paul and St Peter always agreed on evangelization.

Before the conversion (Acts 7:54-8:3, 9:1-2)
• What type of personality Saul had?
• What do you think Saul’s motivation was?
-CCC 576

Encounter with Jesus (Act 9:3-9)
• Knowing what you know about Saul’s personality, what do you think it was like for him to be led by the hand to Damascus, unable to see?
• Most of us expect to experience joy, not humiliation and darkness, when Jesus draws near. Why do you suppose it happens like this sometimes?

Encounter with Church (Act 9:10-19a)
• What was the reaction of Ananias to the Lord’s directive to him?
• What’s Paul’s life mission? What, in Saul’s background, would equip him to fulfill such a mission?
• What will Paul do for Jesus’ name?
-Rom. 8:16-17, CCC1505
• When Ananias enters the house and speaks to Saul, how do we know that he was able to overcome the fear of Saul he felt initially? How did Ananias know that he could help Paul?
• How did Saul get away with murder?
-CCC 1263, CCC 1424
• When did Paul receive the Holy Sprit?
-CCC 1266
• How many days were Paul blind? Surely Paul’s total conversion could all have been accomplished right at the beginning, when he saw the Lord. Why do you suppose it happened this way instead?
A life Re-directed (Acts 9:19b-30)
• How did the apostles first react to him?
• Who broke the ice?
• Do you see any of the old Saul in the new?

Advanced Questions
• In the conversion of Saul, there were 3 Christians. What kind of roles they played? What do they indict about the function of the church?
• How shall we deal with the ones persecuting us?

2009-03-25T17:25:00.002-05:00

John 14: 15-31 The Advocate, Tues. ,3/31

John 14:15
•What are Jesus’ commandments, He asked us to keep?
-JN 13:34, 2Jn 1:5-6, CCC1823
•Is Jesus’ law against the Jewish law? Why?
-MT 5:17-20, Gal 5:22-23, CCC 2196

John 14:16-17
•What does the word “Advocate” mean?
•Who is the Advocate?
-CCC 692
•How will the Advocate “take the place” of Jesus?
-CCC 729
•How will the Advocate be with the disciples and in them?
-Act 2:1-4, CCC 687, 689

John 14:18
•What does Jesus mean by “I will not leave you orphans”?
•How will Jesus come to them?
-CCC 788 (not 2nd coming)

John 14:19-20
•What does Jesus mean in Ver.19?
•On what day will you realize…?

John 14:21
•What’s the relationship between belief and obedience?
-Jn 3:36
•What’s the definition of “Love Jesus”?
•What did Jesus promise to do for disciples who love and obey him?

John 14:22-24
•What did Jesus keep ask the disciples to do here?

John 14:25-26
•What will the Holy Spirit do?
•In here, Who did Jesus speak to and send the Holy Spirit to?

John 14:27-28
•Why did Jesus leave his disciples?
•What were Jesus predicting here?
•How shall we feel about Good Friday according to Jesus here?

John 14:29-31
•Why did Jesus predict all these before the disciples?
•Who is the “ruler of the world”? Why did Jesus say “no power over me”?
•How did Jesus’ love for the Father demonstrate?

Advance Questions
•How do you understand the teaching about Holy Spirit?

2009-02-14T10:41:00.004-06:00

John 13:18-32 The Betrayal and Glory

John 13:18-19
•Read Psalm 41. Why do you think Jesus chose this verse?
•Again we see Jesus refer to himself as I am. To what does I am refer to?
-Jn 8:24, 58-59, CCC 590

John 13:20
•Who sent Jesus? Who did Jesus send?
-CCC 1087

John 13:21--25
•Who is “the one Jesus loved’?
•Why did Peter have to speak through the other disciple?

John 13: 26-30
•What’s the significance to ‘Jesus handing Judas the morsel’?
•Why did Satan enter Judas?

John 13:31-32
•Read “Son of Man” Prophecy by Daniel. What did Jesus mean by glory comparing with Daniel:
-Dan 7:13-14
•How was God glorified?

John 13:33
•Why did Jesus call the disciples “little children”/
•Where would Jesus go while the disciples could not come? Did the disciples get it?

John 13:34-35
•Who can give commandment?
•How has Jesus just vividly illustrated the love? How will he illustrate further?
-12-15, 1 Jn 3:16 -CCC1269,
•How will all people know that these 12 and all those who believe are the disciples of Jesus?

Love Commandment
•Comparing with Lev 19:18, Why the Love Commandment is a new commandment?
-Lev 19:18
•What is our strongest and most effective witness to the reality of Christ and His church?
-CCC 1823

John 13:36-38
•Did St Peter understand the significance of the moment?
•How were St Peter and Judas similar while very different?
-CCC 1429, 2 Cor 7:10
•How do we handle sorrow over our sin and betrayals in life?

Advanced questions
the problem of Judas
•What was going on in Judas’ mind?
•Why did Judas do it? Predestinated or free will?
•Can Judas use the defense “Satan made me do it”?
•Please summarize John 13
-CCC 1337

2009-01-15T15:22:00.003-06:00

John 13:1-17, Jesus Washes His Disciples' Feet, Tues., 1/20

Background
•What had happened the day before?
-Jn 12:2-3
•When was this event?
•What were the disciples discussing among them?
-LK 22:24-27
•How “feet-washing” was considered in Jewish culture?

John 13:1-2
•What may “his own in the world” refer to?
•When did “feet-washing” take place?

John 13:6-7
•Who did Jesus come 1st?
•Why Did Peter have this reaction?
•What did Jesus mean when he said that Peter would understand afterward?
- Jn 14:26

John 13:8-10
•What the difference between Bath and Wash?
•What did Bath refer to?
-Eph 5:26, Titus 3:5
•What did wash refer to?
-Act 22:16; 1 Cor 6:11

Foot Washing
•What “foot washing” represent?
•Is foot washing a sacrament? Why not?
•What are the definition of sacrament?
-CCC 1131
•Which sacrament does foot washing most close relate to?

John 13:11-12
•Did Jesus wash Judas’ feet?
•By Judas ‘ betray, what does we can conclude about the grace of sacrament?
•How are we to respond to our enemies?
-Jn 15:20, LK 6:27-29

John 13:13-17
•What did Jesus tell us to treat each other?
-CCC1269, 1 Jn 3:16

Advanced questions
•When do we Liturgically washing feet?
•How do we celebrate it?

2008-12-10T14:06:00.002-06:00

John 12: 44-50 Recapitulation, Tues., 12/16

John 12:44-46
•Who is “the one who sent me”?
•Why “see Jesus” also “see the one who sent me” ?
-Col 2:9-10, CCC 516
•Yes, it’s important to listening to Jesus. But who else must we listen?
-Jn 13:20, CCC 858

John 12:47-48
•Did Jesus say “faith alone is enough” here?
•Why did Jesus come to this world?
•How will Jesus’ listeners be judged on the last day?
-CCC 678

John 12:49-50
•How do “death and Judgment” work?
-CCC 1021-1022

Conclusion
•How did Jesus conclude his “public” ministry in Jn 12:44-50?
•How would you rate Jesus “public” ministry so far in this Gospel?
-Jn 1:11

The Book of Signs
•How many miracles Jesus performed so far in St. John’s?
1. Wedding at Cana (John 2:1-11)
2. Healing the noble man's son (John 4:46-53)
3. Healing the man at the pool (John 5:1-9)
4. Feeding the 5,000 (John 6:4-13)
5. Jesus walks on water (John 6:16-21)
6. Healing the blind man (John 9:1-12)
7. Raises the dead (John 11:30-44)

•What are the theological significance of each signs?
1. new laws replace the old laws. Transforming work of Jesus
2. life giving word
3. word replace water offering newness of life, (woman by the well)
4. Jesus life-giving bread (manna)
5. crossing the red sea
6. Jesus light of the world
7. Jesus conquered death

•What are the major themes of the book of signs?
-New Moses (law), light,
•What was the purpose of the book of signs?
-Jn 20:30-31

Tbe Book of Glory
•In which feast did this book take place?
•What is the theological significance of the feast to the book?

Last Supper
St. John did not record Last Supper in the book of Glory.
•Did St John forget to provide us the account of the Eucharist’s institution?
-CCC 1338, Jn 6:26-71
•Which feast Jn 6:26-71 was celebrating? How did this part end?
•Then why do you think St John recorded this central event there?

2008-09-18T17:43:00.002-05:00

John 11:1-38, Jesus Raises Lazarus, Tues. , 9/23

John 11:1-4
•What “death” Jesus was referring to?
•What was the purpose of illness?

John 11:5-8
•Why do you think Jesus waited for 2 days?
•What was the reason the disciples thought Jesus waited?

John 11:9-10
•What did Jesus mean?

John 11:11-13
•What does Jesus means that Lazarus has “fallen asleep”?
- MK 5:39, Acts 7:60
•How did the disciples misunderstand Jesus?

John 11:14-15
•Why was Jesus glad that he was not there?

John 11:16-17
•How many times St Thomas was mentioned in the Bible? What was the significance that he was mentioned here?
•How many days was Lazarus died? Why?

John 11:18-22
•What was Martha’s attitude toward Jesus?
•Did she believe in HIM?

John 11:23-24
•What did Martha think Jesus was talking about?
•How did Jews believe in resurrection at that time?
-Dan 12:2, 2Mac 7:23

John 11:25-26
•What did Jesus mean by he is the resurrection?
-Jn 6:39-40, CCC 994, 999
•There’re 2 dies here. Are they the same?
-Mt 10:28; Rev 21:8

John 11:27-31
•What does Martha confess about Jesus?
•How might it be significant (even symbolic) that Jesus calls Mary away from mourning to Himself?

John 11:32-35
•What did Jesus cry about?
•What did it show about Jesus? What was Jesus mood?

John 11:36-38
•What was Jesus mood now?

Advance questions
•This is the seventh sign in St. John’s. The final sign before the passion. Why do you think St John put this sign in such an important place? Is it a pinnacle?

2008-09-03T10:37:00.000-05:00

Jesus and his Flock
John 10:19-42
Notes for September 9, 2008

John 10:19-21
Jesus had just spoken of one flock (v.17) yet there is division among the people, why?
What is a requirement to hear the word of Jesus? (Jn 8:47)

John 10:22-24
What time of year is it and why is this important?
What is the Dedication of the Temple? (St. John’s Gospel p.216)
What did the people ask Jesus and why are they still struggling with it?
Are they really looking for the truth or something else?
How does Jesus respond to the humble who wanted to know the truth?
Jn1:49-50, 4:26, 9:37; Lk. 18:9-14.

John 10:25-27
What does Jesus conclude about those who do not believe?
How were Jesus’ words and signs received by the people (CCC 548)?
People had a choice to believe or not believe, what was the determining factor in each individual that was the basis for the decision?
Why did the Jewish leaders reject Jesus? (Jn 11:47-48)

John 10:27-29
How does one get eternal life? Jn.1:1
What are the conditions? Mt. 10:32-33, 38-39
· What state of mind is the follower of Jesus in? Jn 3:16 CCC161

John 10:30
What does Jesus mean by saying the Father and I are one? (CC590)
In whose hand are the sheep protected? v.28-29

John 10:31-33
What do the Jews understand him to mean by one with God? Deut 6:4
Why do they attempt to stone Jesus? Lev 24:16
What is the correct interpretation, a man making himself God or God making himself man?

John 10:34-36
Why were they called Gods according to Jesus? (Psalm 82, Ex 7-1)
Is there insistence on blaspheme consistent or are they manipulating reason?
What is meant by the title “Son of God”? (CCC441-444)
How does v.36 relate to what is happening at this time in Jerusalem? (Num 7:1
Ex. 29:43-46
· How does this relate to Jn 2:19? Where/who is the new Temple?

John 10:37-39
· How does Jesus reaffirm his oneness with God?
· What was the response of the Jews?
· How is Jesus works unique and what should have been their response? (CCC548,582)
· Why are they blind to Jesus?

John 10:40-42
Where did Jesus go after he escaped? (Jn 1:18)
What does Jesus do that John did not do?
Where John the Baptist words foretelling the arrival of Jesus? (Jn1:26-34
3:22-36)
· What were the six signs studied to date in John? (Jn2:1-11, 4:48-54, 5:1-9,
6:1-14, 16-21, 9:1-16)

Follow up Questions:
· How do we know we are one of the Flock?
· What fundamentals must be present to become one of the Flock?
· Should it be difficult to be one of the flock?

2008-08-07T10:19:00.002-05:00

John 10:1-18, the Good Shepherd, Tues., 8/12

Theology of shepherd in OT
•What does shepherd symbolize?
-Read PS 23, Gen 48:15
•Why?
-Is 53:6, Is 40:11
•Who were shepherds in OT?
•What’s a bad shepherd in OT?
-Ezek 34:1-9, Jer 10:21
•What will happen among the bad shepherds?
-Ezek 34 10-11, Micah 5:3
•What will happen to the good shepherds?
-Zech 13:7, CCC 753

John 10:1
•To who Jesus was speaking to?
•What does Jesus mean by “Amen, Amen, I say to you”?
-Only in St John’s, in Synoptic : Amen, I say to you (13 in Mk, 31 in Mt, 6 in LK) e.g. Mk14:9, Lk 18:17)
-25 times in St John

John 10:2-3
•What does the sheep represent?
•What does the sheepfold represent?
-CCC 754, 857
•Who is the thief and robber?
-Mt 7:15, 23:13

John 10:4-6
•How did the shepherd call the sheep?
•How does God know each of us?
-CCC2158

John 10:7-10
•How did Jesus describe himself as?
•How is Jesus the door?
-Jn 14:5, Jn 1:51

John 10:11
•How did Jesus describe himself as?
•How is Jesus the good shepherd?
-MT 26:31-32 ,Heb 13:30, 1 pet 5:4, CCC 609

John 10:12-13
•What does the hired man represent?
•What does wolf represent?
-Act 20:29

John 10:14-16
•What does the other sheep represent?
-Eph 3:6, 2:11-22
•How did the other sheep join the fold?
•How many flock and shepherd on earth eventually?
•What are the 4 characteristics of Church?
•How shall we understand the ones of the Church?
-CCC 817-20

John 10:17-18
•Why does the Good Shepherd lay down his life?
•Is He murdered against his will?
•Who raises the Good Shepherd from dead?
-Jn 2:19-21 CCC 649

2008-07-25T14:55:00.005-05:00

John 9:15-41, Pharisees Investigate the Healing, Tues., 7/29

John 9:15-17
•What does “opening eyes” represent for Jews?
-Is 42:6-7, Ps 119:18-18, Acts 26:17-18
•How did the healed man say Jesus is? What do you think of this reply?
-Deut 13:1-5 ff Jn 6:14

John 9:18-23
•Why do you think the Pharisees asked the family?
•Why did the parents afraid of answer the truth?

John 9:24-34
•Why did they call Jesus a “sinner”?
-9:16
•What’s the theological foundation to the beggar’s claim?
PS 66:18, 145:18-29, Is 1:15
•Why did the leaders put him out?
-CCC 596
•Why did they call the beggar “born totally in sin”?
-9:2
•compare the attitude Jesus and Pharisees shown to the beggar.

John 9:35-36
•How did Jesus refer to Himself?
-Dan 7:13-14

John 9:37-38
•For who is worship reserved?
-Rev 22:8-9
•Did Jesus rebuke the beggar for worshipping him?
-CCC 448

John 9:38-40
•What kind of sight is Jesus referring to?
-Mt 13:13, 15:14
•Why are the Jewish leaders blind and guilty?
-Jn 15:23-25, CCC 588, 595, 1791
•What should be the “correct” reaction if the Jewish leaders really follow the law?
-Is 35:4-7, Mt 11:2-5

John 9:41
•What did Jesus mean?

Advance questions
•How to prevent spiritual blindness in our life?
-CCC 2088

2008-07-10T18:03:00.003-05:00

John 9:1-14, Jesus Heals a Man Born Blind, Tues, 7/15

John 9:1-2
•Why do you think the disciple came up with this question?
-Ex 20:5, 34:7
•How many generations are affected by an ancestor’s sin?
-Ex 20:5, 34:7
•How many generations are affected by an ancestor’s obedience?
-Deut 7:9

John 9:3
•How did Jesus answer the question about “the cause of suffering”?

John 9:4-5
•Who is the “the one who sent me”?
-Pay attention to “send”
•What does Jesus mean by “night” and “day”?
-Jn 3:19-21, 11:9-10; 12:34-36

John 9:6
•What are the 4 steps taken by Jesus to heal the beggar’s eyes? Why do you think Jesus took the 4 steps?
•What are sacrament, sacramental?
-CCC 774, 1114-1116
•Can we call the spittle sacramental?
-CCC1667

John 9:7
•What did Jesus ask the man to do?
•The pool name was Siloam, which means “Send”. Why do you think St John write down that detail?
•What do you think the washing in the pool represent?
•Is baptism necessary for salvation?
-1 Pet 3:21; CCC 1257
•Why do you think Jesus ask the blind man to go washing?
-Put yourself in the blind man’s shoes

John 9:8-12
•Who noticed the miracle?

John 9:13-14
•When was the miracle?
•Why Pharisees were angry with Jesus?

Major themes of this story
•What are they symbolizing?
-Light, day/night, blind/see, water

Pain and suffering
•The problem of pain and suffering
•Prosperity Gospel: Turning our lives over to Jesus immediately results in abundant health and financial prosperity. God will reward the believers with health and prosperity according to their faith.
•Can suffering be God’s will?
-1 Pet 3:17
•What’s Redemptive suffering?
•How shall we deal with pain and suffering?
-CCC 1505

2008-06-18T13:20:00.007-05:00

ACTS/ Cathedral’s Eastside Young Adults Bible Study Presents
Young Adults Big Bang Fireworks Party
Benefiting Catholic Relief Services

Dear young adults:

You are invited to a night of fun, fireworks and scripture. Watching the Big Bang fireworks from the 24th floor solarium of the Diamond Tower with a spectacular panoramic view of lakefront and downtown, sampling authentic Chinese drink and snacks (hot from China), learning God’s words in St. John’s Gospel, we will have a great time. The party is benefiting Chinese earthquake victims through CRS.

Date: Thursday, 6/26
Time: 7:00- 9:00 Introduction/ Bible Study (Jn 8:1-11)
9:00-10:30 Party, Gift Auction, fellowship
10:30-?? Fireworks, Party on!!
What to bring: Drink or snack, Bible
Address: 1633 N. Prospect Ave, Milwaukee
Web site: http://eastside-biblestudy.blogspot.com/
Contact: eastside_biblestudy@yahoo.com, 414-617-4547

On the afternoon of May 12, 2008, an earthquake measuring 7.9 on the Richter scale hit Sichuan Province, a mountainous region in Western China. As of last week, 69,163 are confirmed dead, 374,142 injured, with 17,445 listed as missing. The earthquake also left about 4.8 million people homeless. In the wake of the powerful earthquake, Catholic Relief Services (CRS) has committed $100,000 to Caritas, Hong Kong's relief efforts. Financial support is urgently needed for the relief efforts. More details can be found at http://crs.org/china/sichuan-earthquake/

All the proceeds from the party will be donated to CRS. Checks may be made payable to: Catholic Relief Services with memo: Chinese Earthquake fund.

2008-06-10T09:13:00.000-05:00

Jesus and Abraham
John 8:48-59
Notes for June 17 Bible Study
John 8:48-51
Jesus was accused of having a demon because he disagreed with the Jewish
leaders. Who else was likewise accused? Mt 11:18
Jesus says those who keep his word will not see death. Yet Abraham
and the prophets died except Elijah (2Kings2:11). What did the Jews think
of Jesus claim? (CCC 365-66, 400, 1008)
Would it have been difficult for you to understand what Jesus was talking about?
What would make you open to understanding it today?

John 8:52-53
Why did they say, for sure we know you have a demon?
Who’s life were they trying to live their lives through?
By what standard are the Jews understanding life and in what way is Jesus living life?
What do the Jews mean by asking who do you think you are?

John 8:54-56
How does Jesus make it clear whom he claims his father is?
Verse 55 to know? St. John’s Gospel page 195, CCC 473.
What did Jesus mean about Abraham was to see the timing of my coming?
Heb 118:19 esp.13; Gen 13,14 Related Mt 22:32, 17:3, Lk 19-31 CCC 962
John 1:15
What is the major theme or overture of what Jesus is trying to say?
Jn 1:1,2 14.

John 57-59
How old was Jesus when he started his ministry? Lk 3:23
Jesus claims that I Am. What did the mean? Ex 3:14, CCC 590, 446, 2810
Why do the Jews pick up stones to execute Jesus? Lev 24:15-16, CCC 594
Were the Jews honestly attempting to carry out the laws of Moses or were they driven by a different reason?
How do you think Jesus avoided their assassination attempt? Jn 10:39, Lk 4:29-30.
So in truth Jesus who is I Am or God is standing in front of them yet they do not
see him or rather hear the truth by the word!

Related Questions
· When we think we are right do we try to justify our thinking? Do we manipulate the truth to make us appear right?
· How easy is it to live in a reality other than the truth?
· What are some of the things that people commonly use to guide them other than the truth?
· If your foundational truth is incorrect what happens in your daily living?
· Can you still live life if you have some truth and non truth in it?
· What does true maturity mean?
· Which is easier for living life, in the truth or not in the truth and why?
· What has to be the basis for our life to live in true reality?

2008-05-27T11:43:00.000-05:00

The Truth Will Set You Fee
Notes for June 3rd Bible Study

John 8:31-32
What is required to be a disciple of Jesus?
Who truly believed in Jesus? (Ref: v30, Jn12:9-11, 42-43)
What does he say to the Jews that truly believed in him?
What is required before we can know the truth?
What effect does the truth have on a disciple of Christ?
How does one abide in Christ? (Ref: Jn 15:1-2)
What does Jesus Mean by “freedom” when he says the truth will set us free
(Ref: Jn:8:34-36: 15:1-11: Rom8:2; 2Cor3:17; Gal 5:1, 13)
John 8:33-34
Have the Jews in fact been slaves? (Ref: Exodus1:8-14, 2 Kings 25:1-7)
To what pagan empire were the Jews then subjects? (Ref: Jn 11:47-48; 19:15)
How could they claim to have always been free?
What does Jesus mean by slavery? (Ref: Rom:6:1-15, 2 Pet 2:19)
John 8:35-36
How does Jesus compare their eternal destiny with his own?
How are they to become free? (Ref: 1Tim2:3-4; 2Tim 2:24-25: CCC908, 1741)
Is there a parallel between Abrahams sons? (Ref; Gen:218-12; Gal:4:22-26)
John 8:37-43
What is really important in Abrahams Fatherhood? (Ref: Rom9:7-8)
Are all “circumcised sons” of Abraham sons of the promise? (Ref:Gen16:15, 17:26; 21:10; Rom 96-8).
How does one know if he is the true son of Abraham?
What did Abraham do that earned him favor in Gods eyes? (Ref: Gen 15:6; Heb 11:8: Jas 2:1; CCC 2571)
How did Abraham’s response compare to the Jewish leaders to Jesus? (Ref Gen 18; Jn 1:10-11)
Are the Jews right in claiming God as their Father? Ref: Deut 32:6; Is 63:16; 64:8)
How is the relationship of God as the Father of the Jews different from God as the father of Jesus? (Ref: CCC441)
John 8:44-47
Who was their (Jesus Opponents) real father, and whom did they really imitate?
Describes the three Fathers that Jesus is talking about? (Ref: 1Jn3:8-9; 12-15)
Why does Jesus say the devil is a murderer from the beginning? (Ref: Gen3:1; 4:8: Wis2:24; 1Jn3:8,12, CCC391-94, 2852)
If Jesus speaks the truth and speaks from his Father how do his opponents prove they are sons of the devil? (Ref: Jn5:18, 7:1)
Can anyone expose falsehoods in Jesus words? (Ref: CCC 578)

Related Questions:
What must be the first step in our relationship with God? What is Gods Love based on?
What must you understand about Jesus in relationship to God?
When Jesus speaks, who is he speaking for?
What connects us to Jesus and the Father?
Who actually prunes are thoughts and in what way?
What sets you free and how can we find freedom today?
Where are the laws written today and how do we follow them?
Can we do things are own way as Abraham did but what is the result?
Is envy prevalent today?
Are we or can we live like Abraham today and completely trust God and follow him in how we live our lives?
Do we actually have freedom today in the USA?
Can we pursue Gods will for our lives freely today and do we?
Do we take on Gods struggles for us and persevere through them today to set
ourselves free?
Are we pursuing freedom in the correct way?

2008-05-14T09:58:00.001-05:00

John 8:21-30 You Cannot Go Where I Am Going

John 8: 21-23
What does Jesus tell the scribes and Pharisees? (Ref: 7:34-36)
How does he explain it further and what does he warn them about?
What is the result of dying in sin?
CCC 1005,1034
Have the Jews heard these words before? (Ref: Num 27:3)
What do the Jews think Jesus might do to himself? Is this within the Mosaic Law?
What does the church think of Suicide? CCC 2280-83
How has Jesus forced them to admit they are not without sin?
Jn:8:7-9
· Where is Jesus from? (Jn3:31-32)
· Has someone previously descended from the higher realm to enable others to
comprehend and ascend back with him to the heavenly realm? Jn1:51, 3:13
· What must one believe about Jesus to gain forgiveness from sin and
the gift of eternal life? (Ref St. Johns Gospel by Stephen K. Ray page 192)
John 8:24
· Jesus repeats his warning but adds an escape clause, what is it?
· What does Jesus mean by I AM?
Ex 3:14; CCC 211, 203-04
John 8:25-27
· Are the Jews starting to realize who he is?
· Why does he not answer them directly? Mt 13:34-35)
· What is the source of his words?
· Do they really understand?\
John 8:28-30
· What does Jesus mean, ”lifted up the Son of man”? Jn3:12-21
Mk15:38-39, Jn 20:27-28
· What was the result of his words?

Discussion Questions
· How would we recognize Jesus today?
· Would Jesus be really different from any other person?
· Is life today so much different than life 2000 years ago that Jesus would
have difficulty in trying to speak the truth? Would people listen?
· How would you perceive Jesus today versus the perspective from the bible?
· Would the church today recognize Jesus and accept him?

2008-04-30T21:24:00.001-05:00

Notes for Tuesday, May 6th

John 8:12-30 Jesus the Light of the World

Prelude

John’s theme of “Light.” Jn 1:1-5

Still the Festival of Booths (remembering the time wandering in the desert)

Significance of light in context of the festival: Exodus 13:21-22.

Lighting of huge lamps during festival.

Jn 8:12

For whom is Jesus the light and how does this differ from the pillar of fire in Exodus?

Widening covenant:

To a man in Abraham.

To a nation through Moses.

Now, Jesus is the covenant to the world.

What is the significance of the symbolism of light?

Poignancy of darkness.

Isaiah 9:2-4; Lk 1:67-79.

God is beyond comprehension, but we understand through analogies.

What are some analogies of God?

See 1Jn1:5. God is light. What does this tell us about God? (theo’l note)

Jn 8:13-14

Testimony requires multiple witnesses. Who else testifies to Jesus?

Jn 5:31-32.

What does he mean in verse 14?

Jn 8:15-16

Why can’t the Pharisees understand?

They also couldn’t understand the teaching on the Eucharist, Jn 6:62.

What does Jesus mean when he says he judges no one?

Creed: “From thence he shall come to judge the living and the dead.”

Analogy of light.

Jn 8:17-18

Once again, the issue of two witnesses. Where did the Father testify on Jesus’ behalf?

Jn 8:19

The Pharisees ask where his father is.

Contrast their attitude with Jn 14:8.

If they knew Jesus, they would know the Father. Why don’t they know Jesus?

Advanced Questions

A prayer by St. Thomas Aquinas describes two types of darkness brought about by original sin (cf. CCC 374-77):

Creator of all things
true source of light and wisdom
lofty origin of all being
graciously let a ray of your brilliance
penetrate into the darkness
of my understanding
and take from me the double darkness
in which I have been born
an obscurity of both sin and ignorance

The darkness of sin.

In what ways does God dispel this darkness?

Strategies for cooperating with God’s transforming grace?

Ultimately fulfilled in heaven.

O felix culpa – heaven will be better than the original state of justice.

The darkness of ignorance.

In what ways does God dispel this darkness?

Continued guidance of the Church.

Levels of doctrine.

2008-04-16T14:50:00.003-05:00

Week XVII John 8:1-11 Christ with the Woman Taken in Adultery, Tues, 4/12

John 8:1-5
•What laws governed the sin adultery? What was the penalty?
-Lev 20:10, Deut 22:22, 23-24
•Does the law only apply to woman?
•Why did not they also bring the man?
-Lk 11:53-54

John 8:6
•why it’s a tricky question?
-If Jesus said “no”
-If Jesus Said “yes”
•Which answer were the Pharisees expecting Jesus to make?

John 8:7
•According to the law, who should be the 1st to throw a stone
-Deut 17:7

John 8:8
•What might Jesus have written? This is the only account of Jesus writing anything.
•What had God written with his finger in OT?
-EX 31:18
•Who’s the author of the law?
•What did St John imply by writing down this detail?

John 8:9
•Why did the Pharisees leave one by one?
•Why was Jesus’ answer a tricky one?
-What would the man to throw the 1st stone be claiming?
-If they stone her, what would the Romans react?
-If they let her go, who’s breaking the law, Jesus or they?

John 8:10
•How witness does it take to condemn someone of breaking the law?
-Deut 17:5-7, 19:15
-How many witness left to condemn the woman?

John 8:11
•What was Jesus command to the woman?
•Can one assume that a personal encounter with Jesus is adequate for salvation?
-CCC 162
•What does it mean to be a follower of Jesus?
-LK 9:23-24

Should this story be in the Bible?
•Should this story be in the Bible?
•Who decided what should be included in the Bible? And by what criterion?
-CCC120, 1117

What does this story teach about?
•Does this story teach about relaxing moral rules?
-Rom 3:8, 6:1,15
•What does the law pronounce against us?
-Rom 3:19-20, 4:15, 7:9, CCC 708
•How does the law bring us to Christ?
-Gal 3:24-26, CCC 1982
•What’s the relationship between Christ and Law?
-CCC1982-1985, 1963-1964
•What can we learn from this story when we engage in arguments?

2008-04-02T16:39:00.002-05:00

Week XVI John 7:32-53 Is Jesus Christ? 4/8, Tues.

John 7:32-36
•What was Jesus talking about?
•What did the Jew think Jesus mean?

John 7:37-39
•What day was the last and greatest day of the feast?
•What were the Jews doing on that day?

Living Water
•Where have we already heard this message about being thirst and living water?
-Jn 4:10-14
•Where in OT did Jesus refer to when he said “Rivers of living water will flow from within him”?
-Ex 17:6,Ezek 47:1
•What does the water refer to?
•Where does the living water come from?
-Jesus: Jn 2:21, 19:34
-Church: 1 Peter 2:5CCC 1179
-Heaven: Rev 22:1, 17

John 7:40-43
•Where in OT it was prophesized about “Messiah from Bethlehem, David's family “?
-PS 89:3-4, Mic 5:1-2

Is Jesus Christ?
•What’s Jesus’ last name?
•What does Messiah mean?
•What’s the Jewish understanding of Messiah?
-Orthodox Judaism believes in a unique future physical messiah who will usher in the messianic age of war before peace to the world.
-Reform Judaism and Conservative Judaism do not accept the idea that there will be a messiah as a physical being.
•What’s the Christian understanding of Messiah?
-CCC 453

John 7:44-49
•How Pharisees’ words show their attitude toward common man?

John 7:50-53
•Where did we heard about Nicodemus before? Later?
-Jn 3, Jn 19:39
•What did it show about Nicodemus’ spiritual development?
• Did any Pharisees believe in Jesus?
-CCC 595

Advanced questions
•Why did Pharisees hate Jesus so much?
-Jn 3:19, 1 Jn 3:12, CCC596
•Please review John 7

2008-03-17T18:18:00.002-05:00

Week XV John 7:15-31 Jesus Teaches at the Feast 3/25, Tues.
•Let’s review John 7:1-14

John 7:15
•Why did the Jewish leader marvel?
-MT 7:28-29
•What did they mean the Jesus had “never studied”?
-LK 2:41-47 4:22

John 7:16
•What’s the source of Jesus’ teaching?
-Jn 3:11-13
•How should God’s people teach today?
-CCC 427

John 7:17
•What’s the criterion for discerning if Jesus’ words are from the Father or from himself?

John 7:18
•What kind of glory did the Jewish leader seek? What about Jesus?

John 7:19
•Notice that Moses is also mentioned here. Why?
-CCC578

John 7:20-23
•What “one work” did the Jewish leader still furious about?
•What’s a Sabbath? Why you can not work on it?
-Exodus 20: 8-9
•Why circumcision on Sabbath break the law?
•What Inconsistency does Jesus expose?
•How does Jesus teach and act differently from Pharisees?
-CCC581
•Why did Jesus choose this example?

John 7:24-25
•What does Jewish laws require on judgments?
-Lev 19:15; Zech 7:9-12

John 7:26
•What does Messiah mean? What’s the difference between Messiah and Christ?
•Why did the people talking about “authorities”? What’s the result of that?

John 7:27
•Where is Jesus from?
-Jn 1:1, 6:38
•Did they know where Jesus is from?

John 7:30-31
•Why did no one lay a hand on him?
•How did the signs of Jesus affect many of the common folks?

Advanced questions
•Was Jesus against the law? How can these reconcile with “not to abolish them but to fulfill”?
-CCC 2173
•How shall we deal with Biblical law in our life? What to do if we break the Biblical law?

2008-02-27T07:49:00.003-06:00

Week XVI John John 7:1-14 Jesus Goes to the Feast of Tabernacles 3/4, Tues.

John 7:1
•When John refers to “the Jews”, to whom is it referring to?
-CCC 597
•Why were they trying to kill Him?

John 7:2
What is the “Feast of Tabernacles”? How many days did the feast last?
-Lev 23:33, 34-36 Neh 8:18

John 7:3-5
•What did His brothers ask him to do? Why?
•Did Brethren believe in him? Why do you think St John made such assessment?

Brethren, Apostle and Disciple
•Does this prove Mary had other children?
-CCC499, 500
•Who were the Brethren of Jesus?
-Mt 13:55 James, Joseph, Simon, and Jude
•What are the difference between Brethren, Apostle and Disciple?
-"Apostle": (Greek apostello) "to send forth", "to dispatch"
•What eventually happened with some brethren?
-Acts 1: 14

John 7: 6
•What does Jesus mean by saying “for my time has not yet fully come”?
•When did his time come?
-Jn 12:23 Mt 26:45-46

John 7:7
•What did the ‘world’ refer to?
-Jn1:10, 15:18-19

John 7:8-10
•Did Jesus lie to his Brethrens?
•How far away from Galilee?
•How would the brethrens travel?

John 7:11-12
•Why did people have different opinions about Jesus?

John 7:13
•Why were they afraid of the Jewish leaders?
-Jn 9:22

John 7:14
•Why do you think He waited until the middle of the feast?
•Did this contradict with Jesus’ early rejection?

2008-02-13T10:07:00.003-06:00

Week XV John 6:60-71 Many Disciples Desert Jesus 2/19, Tues.

John 6:60-62
•Ascending to where? How would this help the listener understand these matters?
•Does Jesus, after death and resurrection, still possess his physical body?
- CCC 999-1000

John 6:63
•What did “the flesh” refer to?
-Jn 8:15
•What did “my flesh” refer to?
-Jn 6:51, 54, 55, 56
•What are the difference?
-Jn 1:13-14
•Can the fleshly mind or the carnal man understand the spiritual things of Jesus’ teaching? What is necessary to understand the spiritual meaning of Jesus’ words?
-CCC 687

Gnosticism
•What’s Gnosticism?
-CCC 285
•Did John 6:63 support a Gnostic understanding of the flesh?

John 6:64-65
•What most people there for?
-Jn 6:26

John 6:66
•Notice the reaction of the crowd, as Jesus gets more explicit and demanding
-Jn6:28, 41,52, 66
•This is the only case of disciples turning away from Christ over doctrinal issues. Why?

John 6:67-69
•What did Peter’s statement show about him?
•From St Peter’s answer, what came 1st, belief or knowing?
•Does this mean that Christian faith is anti-intellectual or irrational?
-CCC2500
•Why did Peter and the other apostles stay?
-Jn 17:8

John 6:70-71
•How did Jesus treat Judas? How did Jesus treat unbeliever?
-Jn 6:67
•What can we learn from that? How shall we deal with “traitors” or scandals?
-CCC827

Predestination
•Did Jesus “predestinated” Judas to betray him?
•What’s the Catholic understanding of Predestination?
-God infallibly foresees and immutably preordains from eternity all future events, all fatalistic necessity, however, being barred and human liberty remaining intact.

Advanced questions
•Let’s review and summarize John 6

2008-01-28T17:08:00.000-06:00

Week XIV John 6:16-46 Jesus, The Bread of Life 2/5, Tues.

Overview

•6:26-34 Jesus: the bringer of the messianic gifts

•6:35-47 faith in Him is the food of eternal life

•6:47-59 Jesus is the bread of life

John 6:47
•What is needed first for eternal life?
-CCC161

John 6:48-50
•What are the difference in the reaction from recipients of these 2 breads?
•What did Jesus mean by “not die”?
-CCC1052

John 6:51-52
•Was the bread given at that time? When would it be given?
•What was the Jews quarreled among themselves about? Why?
•How did Jews understand about Cannibalism? How about blood?
-Lev 26:27-29; Ezek 5:10, Lev 7:27

John 6:53
•Why did Jesus call himself “Son of man”? Where did “Son of man” come from?
-Dan 7:13-14

John 6:54

•Guess what kind of “eat” St John used here? Why?
•What happens to those who eat his flesh and drink his bleed?
-CCC1038

John 6:55-59
•Is Holy Communion necessary for life?

Real Presence
•What’s our teaching about Real Presence?
Orthodox and Roman Catholics
-CCC 1374
•What’s the Protestant teaching about Real Presence?
-Lutherans: the Sacramental Union: "in, with, and under the forms of bread and wine"
-Anglicans: broad range of opinions
-Methodism: Real Presence as "Holy Mystery"
-Reformed (Calvinist, Presbyterian, most United churches): "Real Presence" as "pneumatic presence"
-Other Protestants: no Real Presence

Bread of life
•What are the significances of taking the body of Christ?
Body of the lamb
Spiritual life
You are what you eat
-2 Pet 1:4

Advanced questions
•Why should Jesus so ardently desire us to receive him in Holy Communion?
•Why do you think some Protestants abandon the teaching of Real Presence?
•How to defend the teaching of Real Presence?

-Bethlehem: House of bread
•How many other Christian traditions have also, in the last 300,400 years, walked away from the teaching of Jesus that is maintained in the Catholic Church? What’s the impact?

2008-01-16T13:54:00.000-06:00

Week XIII John 6:16-46 The Bread of Life 1/22, Tues.

Overview
•6:16-21 Jesus walks on water
•6:22-24 The people look for Jesus
•6:26-34 Jesus: the bringer of the messianic gifts
•6:35-47 faith in Him is the food of eternal life

John 6:16-20
•Why did the disciples get afraid?
-Mt 14:26
•How did Jesus answer them? What did that answer remind you?
-Ex 3:14, Jn 4:26

John 6:21-23
•What did John refer to “when the Lord gave thanks”?

John 6:24-26
•Why did the crowd pursuit Jesus? Is seeking Jesus always commendable? Do we seek Jesus for himself or what he can do for us?
-CCC 428
•Why did Jesus refuse to give the crowds a simple answer to their question?

John 6:27
•What kind of food were the crowds interested in? what kind of “food” was Jesus concern with?
-Is 55:1-3, Jn 4:34
•What did Jesus mean by “seal”?
-CCC698, 1296

John 6:28-29
•What work did Jesus ask them to do to accomplish the works of God?

John 6:30-35
•What kind of hunger and thirst is Jesus referring?
-1 Cor 10:3-4, CCC 2835
•Is Jesus the food, or giver, or both?
-John 6:35, 6:27, CCC1410

John 6:36-45

•What’s the relationship between Manna and true bread from heaven?
-1 Cor 10:3-4
•Jesus words contained 3 major mysteries: faith, resurrection, predestination. Any questions?

John 6:46
•Had anyone seen the Father? Moses, Elijah? When did Moses, Elijah finally see the face of God?
-CCC 42, 2683
•How does Jesus make God Known or Visible?
-CCC 240, 1159

2008-01-02T18:44:00.000-06:00

Week XII John 6:1-15 The Miracle of the Loaves and Fish 1/8, Tues.

Background
•What do you know about manna?
Ex 16:4-21

John 6:1-2
•Why are the crowd following Jesus? Are they genuine followers? What make a disciple genuine?
Jn 6:26,66, MK 8:34-38

John 6:3
•What did Jesus do with his disciples? Where else did he do that? Any significant on that?
Mt 5: 1-2
•Seat of Moses?
Mt 23:2

John 6:4
•What are the Passover food?
•Why do you think St John Mention that? (Note: St John is the only one writing down the time)
John 6:5-6
•Why does Jesus ask this question to Philip? Is Jesus unsure of what to do?

John 6:7-9
•Where did the food come from?
•Grace does not destroy but build upon nature?

John 6:11
•Where else did Jesus take these actions? What did St John try to imply?
Mt 26:26, Mk 14:22, Lk22:19, 1Cor 11:25
•How did Jesus distribute the bread and fish?
Mt 14:19, Mk 6:40-41, LK 9:14-16
•How did Jesus work through his apostles?
1548

John 6:12-13
•Why did Jesus ask them to collect the left over? How many basketful? Any spiritual significance of this detail?
CCC 1335
•Were there any surplus of mannas in the wild? What about the bread from Jesus? What did this imply?
Ex 16:16-21

John 6:14,15
•What were people’s reaction after food and drink? why? Why did they use Him for their political ends?
Deut 18:15
•Why did Jesus withdraw?

Advanced questions
•Why this Sign is the only one recorded in all 4 Gospels?
•What are the right attitude about political position/situation?

2007-12-11T11:59:00.000-06:00

Cathedral’s Eastside Young Adults Bible Study on Tuesday, 12/11: Canceled

Due to the weather, the Weakland Center will be closed today. We have to cancel Cathedral’s Eastside Young Adults Bible Study for today. Instead we will have a Bible Study on Tuesday, 12/18. Same time, location…
Let’s pray for good weather. Keep warm!

2007-12-05T18:07:00.000-06:00

Week XI John 5:19-47 The Work of the Son 12/11, Tues.

Overview
19-30 The Work of the Son
31-40 Testimonies About Jesus
41-47 Unbelief of Jesus’ Hearers

John 5:19-20
•What is source of Jesus’ works? Who do they reflect?
•What are the “great works” and “these” Jesus was referring to? What’s the reason for doing the “great work”?

What’s Love?
•Guess which one St. John used in 5:20? Why?
Love in Greek:
Eros: Romantic
Philia: friendship
Agape: Charity
Storge: affection
Thelema: desire
More detail: C S Lewis, “the four loves”
•What are the “great works” and “these” Jesus was referring to? What’s the reason for doing the “great work”?

John 5:21-23
•According to the Jews, who can raise the dead and give life?
-1 Sam 2:6, 2 King 5:7
•What did Jesus do with the power of judgment during his life time on earth?
-Jn 12:47, CCC 679

John 5:24-26
•What happens if we cease to hear and believe and obey?
-MT 13:18-23

John 5:27-30
•What is the base for judgement?
-MT 25: 31-46, Acts 24:15, Gal 6:8, Rom 2:5-8, Mt 19:29, Jn 3:36, Rev 2:23, 20:12-13, 21:7-8, 22:11-12
•Faith Alone?
-James 2:24
•What determines the kind of resurrection a person is raise to?
-CCC 1038

Death and Judgement day
•What happened after death?
-CCC 1054, 1038,1039
•When will be the judgement day?
-MT 24:36
•What about Rapture? Left behind?
-1 Thessalonians 4:15–17

John 5:31-35
•Who was testitifier?

John 5:36
•Who/what was testitifier?
•What works does it refer to? What was the purpose of the works?
-Mt 11:4-6, MK 2:1-12, CCC 548

John 5:37-38
•Who was testitifier?
•Where did the Father bear witness to the Son in the scripture?
-MT 3:17, 17:5 ccc 444

John 5:39-40
•Who/what was testitifier?
•How do the scriptures bear witness to the Son?
•What’s the source of eternal time? Scripture or Jesus?

Testimonies About Jesus
•How many witnesses were ncessary to substantiate an allegation under the law?
-Deut 19:15
•How many witnesses Jesus presented as proof?
•Who else can you think of bear witness to the Son?

John 5:41-47
•What kind of glory do the Pharisees Seek?
-MT 6:1-2, 5, 16
•What does it gain them? How are we to practice our faith and good deeds?

Advanced Questions
•What attitude shall we have about judgement day?
-Rom 8:34
•Why was it so hard for the Pharisees to accept Jesus?

2007-11-20T18:43:00.000-06:00

Week X John 5:1-18 Cure of a Paralytic by the Pool 11/27, Tues.

John 5:1-5
•Can you guess what “lamb” Gate was for?

-Bethesda in Hebrew means “the place of the twin spring outpouring”.
•Pay attention to the numbers.
-How many porticoes? How old was the man?

John 5:6-9
•Why would Jesus come to the pool?
-LK 10:9, CCC 1503
•Why did Jesus choose that man?

John 5:10-14
•Which law the man broke according to the Jews?
•Where do you think the man went after the healing? To do what?
-MT 8:1-4, Lev 14: 1-32

Suffer, Disease, Death
•What did Jesus tell this man?
•Do we know if the man’s disease was caused by sin? Did Jews believe sin caused disease or death?
-John 9:2, Ezekiel 18:20.
•Can sin or wrong conduct bring sickness or death?
-1 Cor 11:30, James 5:14-16
•Is there one-to-one connection between sin and suffering?
-John 9:1-3
•Why Jesus did not just heal everyone there?
-CCC 1505
•So how to deal with Suffer, Pain in our life?
- 2 Cor 12:7, Rom 12:12

Worse Things?
•What was the worse thing Jesus might refer to?
-John 5:29
•After we “born from above” through baptism, What are the worse things may happen if we continue to sin?
Heb 10:26-29; Rev 21:8, CCC 1861
•What shall we do?

John 5:15-16
•What did Jesus do on a Sabbath? Why did Jews begin to persecute Him?
•What was the Jewish leaders’ overall relationship with Jesus?
-CCC 575

Sabbath
•What’s a Sabbath?
-Exodus 20: 8-9
•What seemed concerns the Jewish leadership more: the act of healing or the man’s carrying a mat? Were they concerned more for man or for their own laws?
•Were the laws made for man, or man for the laws?
-MK 2:27, CCC 582

Law
•Was Jesus against the law? How can these reconcile with “not to abolish them but to fulfill”?
-CCC 2173
•How shall we deal with law in our life?

John 5:17
•What’s Jesus’ relationship with the Father? Did Jews call God their father?
-EX 4:22, 23, Is 63:16
•How was Jesus’ claim of sonship different that of Jews?
-CCC 443

John 5:18
•What were two reasons Jews wanting to kill Jesus?

Advanced questions
•What’s the hidden story beneath John’s writing?
Hint: Numbers Deut 2:14

2007-08-15T14:25:00.000-05:00

Week IX John 4:31-54 Jesus Heals the Official's Son 8/21, Tues.

John 4:31-34
•Why does Jesus refuse to eat- is he not hungry and weary?
-Jn 4:31, 32 Jn 6:27
•What is Jesus’ “food”?
-Mt 4:4, CCC 606

John 4:35-38
•Who had sown the gospel for apostles to reap?
-LK 3:18
•How did apostles actually reap the Samaria harvest?
-Acts 8:4-40
•How do evangelism and participation in Gospel apply to laity?
-1 Pet 3:15, CCC 934
•Nowadays, who should do sowing and reaping?
-Ad Gentes, 28The Christian faithful, having different gifts (cf. Rom. 12:6), according to each one's opportunity, ability, charisms and ministry (cf. 1 Cor. 3:10) must all cooperate in the Gospel. Hence all alike, those who sow and those who reap (cf. John 4:37), those who plant and those who irrigate, must be one (cf. 1 Cor. 3:8), so that "in a free and orderly fashion cooperating toward the same end,"(1) they may spend their forces harmoniously for the building up of the Church.
Wherefore, the labors of the Gospel heralds and the help given by the rest of the Christian faithful must be so directed and intertwined that "all may be done in order" (1 Cor. 14:40) in all fields of missionary activity and cooperation.

John 4:39
•What cause them to come to Jesus? How do our words and enthusiasm (witness) bring other to Christ?
-CCC904, 905
•Have you lost the joy and excitement of our salvation? What does Jesus say about losing our 1st love?
-Rev 2:4-5
•What shall we do?
-CCC 1428-29,

John 4:41-42
•What cause them to believe?
•Why is it easier for them to believe than Nicodemus?

John 4:43-44
•What did Jesus mean by “a prophet has no honor in his native place”? Why?
-MK 6:4
•What can we learn from this?

John 4:46-53
-Distant between Capernaum and Cana is 20 miles
•Compare with Mat 8:5-13

Action of the requestor
Faith of the requestor
Reaction of Jesus
Result

•What can you draw from this comparison?

John 4:53-54
•Who else believed because of the official’s faith?
•What effect can parents’ faith and choices have on the family?
-CCC 2225-2226, Acts 16:34

Advanced questions
•What do you think the Samaritan woman as an evangelist?
•Review John 1-4, Three major characters Jesus taught, Nicodemus, Samaritan woman and the royal official. What did St John try to imply among the 3 persons in that order?
-Acts 1:8

•Please summarize John 4

2007-08-01T13:29:00.000-05:00

Week VIII John 4:1-30 Jesus Talks With a Samaritan Woman, Tues, 8/7

Major topics

•Samaria/ Samaritan

•Living Water

•Love stories by the well

•Who’s thirty now?

John 4: 1-2
•Who was doing the work (baptism)? Who was making the disciples?
-John 3:20, CCC1548
-in persona Christi Capitis: In the person of Christ

Samaria/ Samaritan
•What do you know about Samaria/ Samaritan?
-2 kings 17
-Mix race:When Assyria overran the Northern Kingdom of Israel in 722 B.C. part of the population was deported, and other peoples from the Assyrian Empire were resettled in Israel.
-Syncretistic religion: national groups worshipped the Lord, but they also served their own gods in accordance with the customs of the nations from which they had been brought.
-Accepts the Torah, temple was at Mount Gerizim (Joshua 8), not Jerusalem
-“unclean”: Samaritans were considered unclean in Judaism. “To drink Samaritan water was worse than drink the blood of a pig.”
-In 2005 there were about 700 Samaritans, living almost exclusively in Kiryat Luza on the holy Mount Gerizim near the city of Nablus (Shechem)

John 4:5-6
•Why water is so important for travelers in Middle East?
-Ex 17:1
•On what other occasion does Jesus become thirsty?
-Jn 19:28
•How is thirst used symbolically in the Bible?
-PS 42:2, 63:1; IS 44:3, Mt 5:6; Jn 6:35

John 4:6-7
•What time was it? Why did the woman arrive at this odd hour instead of cool morning or evening?
•Why do you think Jesus chose her to ask for water? Why not do a miracle Himself?
-CCC 544

John 4:8-9
•Why was the woman so surprised?
-Mk 7:3-5
•How many did social taboos Jesus broke by asking water from that woman?

John 4:10-15
•How does the woman respond to Jesus? How does Jesus answer her?
•How does she misunderstand Him?
-“living” in Greek means both “living” and “flowing”, thirst

Living Water
•What does “Living Water” symbolize in OT?
-EX 17, Jer 2:13, Zech 14:8, Ezek 47:9; Prov 13:14
•What does Jesus mean by “living” water?
-Jn 7:37-39,Rev 22:1, 17, CCC 694, 1137

Love stories by the well
•Do you know any love story by the well in the Bible?
-Isaac (Gen 24), Jacob (Gen 29:9-11)
•Who did Jesus look for? Who’s Jesus’ bride?
-CCC796, Eph 5:25-27
•What do you think St John tried to imply?
-CCC 2560

John 4:17-19
•What 5 husbands may symbolize?
-5 books of the law
-Samaritans are descendents of 5 Gentile nations
•Leaving possible symbolism aside, explain why it seems the woman suddenly changes topic?

John 4:19,20
•Why it is profound for the woman to call Jesus “prophet”?
-Deut 18:15,18
•Not only Samaritan, all Jews in OT associate God with a location. How are Christians different?
-John 4:21

John 4:21-24
•What Jesus mean by “salvation is from the Jews”?
-Is 2:3, Rom 3:1-2, 9:4-5, CCC839
•Do you think the woman was surprised when Jesus called God Father?
-Rom 8:15, CCC 2782
•Let's unpack Jesus’ comparison between old way and his WAY:
-Location:
-People:
-Way to worship

John 4:25-26
•There is no “he” in Greek, simply “I am”. What does Jesus’ answer remind you?
-Ex 3:13-14590
•Do you think the women got it?

John 4:27-30
•what “leaving the jar” may imply?
-1 Tim 6:11, John 2, mk 1:20
•Why do you think people believed in her message? What does her attitude teach us about apostolate?
-CCC 905

Advanced questions
•How did Jesus “evangelized” compare with what he did with Nicodemus? What can we learn from Jesus?
•What does water symbolize so far in St. John’s Gospel?
•Nowadays, who’s thirst? How do we deal with it?
-CCC 2560
•How is the situation with Samaria similar with Protestantism today?

2007-07-30T11:53:00.000-05:00

Mid-Term Exam
St. John’s Gospel 1-3

1. What did Jesus say to Nicodemus is necessary for salvation?
a. born of water

b. born of Spirit
c. born of water and Spirit

d. faith in Him

2. In a nutshell, how is eternal salvation possible?
a. through our good works
b. through being a member of your local church
c. through believing in Jesus’ death and resurrection
d. through following one’s conscience

3. The wedding feast at Cana (John 2:1-12)
a. is the first of seven signs mentioned in John’s gospel.
b. contains the last words of Mary in the NT– “Do whatever He tells you.”
c. recalls the first plague in the time of Moses
d. anticipates transubstantiation of Jesus’ blood into wine in the Eucharist
e. all of the above

4. According to John’s gospel , Jesus tells us that the opposite of believing is
a. being an atheist.

b. denying Jesus.
c. disobeying.

d. seeing.

5. Which of the symbols of the four gospels, provided in Ezekial 1:10 and Rev. 4:7, represents John?
a. eagle

b. lamb

c. lion

d. dove

6.Who was the 1st evangelist according to John 1-3
a. St. Peter

b. St. Paul

c. St. Andrew

d. St. Mark

7. When was St. John’s Gospel written?
a. 40-60 AD

b. 60-100 AD

c. 110-150 AD

d. 300-350 AD

8. How many parables did John use in this Gospel?
a. 0 b. 7 c. 12 d. 22

9. Why was Jesus always at odds with Pharisees?
a. Because they didn’t believe

b. Because they standed for the Temple
c. Because they hated Jesus

d. Because they were hypocrits

10. Jesus is
a. created by God.
b. adopted by God at baptism.
c. with God from the beginning.
d. God became Jesus at his birth.

11. An example of Chiastic structure is:
a. ABCABC

b. ABCCBA

c. AABBAABB

d. none of above

The answer keys are available by emailing eastside_biblestudy@yahoo.com

2007-07-06T22:05:00.000-05:00

Week VII 3:22-36, John the Baptist's Testimony About Jesus, Tuesday, July 10

John 3:22-25
•What’s John’s baptism?
-Act 19:2-6
•What is the difference between the baptism of Jesus and that of John?
-Matt 3:11, CCC 696

Water baptism
•What’s the relationship between baptism of Jesus and that of John?
•Water Baptism: immersing or pouring?

Word Play
•Aenon: fountain, Salim: Peace
How might mention of these names add to the meaning the narrative?
-Zech 13:1

John 3:26-30
•What’s John’s disciple’s attitude toward Jesus’ popularity?
•How did John answer them? Why?

John 3:29-30
•Who’s the bridegroom? What wedding?
•What John’s attitude can teach us about apostolate?

John 3:31
•Pay attention of “above”. Compare with John 3:5 “…born from above”
•What do you think John was trying to emphasis?

John 3:32
•Why do they turn away from John’s witness?
-John 3:19-21
•What about us? What shall we do?
-1 John 1:5-7

John 3:34
•In OT, Holy Spirit who rested on the prophets did so “according to the measure” of each one’s assignment. So what do you think John intended to tell the Jewish readers?

Advanced questions
•Please summarize John 3.
•Some Bible (Calvinist) translate John 3:5 as “…Unless you were born of water, even the Spirit, you cannot enter the kingdom of Heaven” what do you think of it?

2007-06-14T12:36:00.000-05:00

Week VI John 2:12-25, Jesus Teaches Nicodemus, Tuesday, June 19

Major Topic
•Pharisee
•Born again
•Baptism
•Are you saved?
•Limbo

Pharisee
•What’s Pharisee? What do you know about them? Why Jesus always at odds with them?
-Mt 23:1-7
•What did Pharisee react to Jesus? Famous Pharisee you know of?
-Act 15:5, CCC 595

John3:2
•Why did Nicodemus come at night?
•Compare his greeting to St Andrews (1:41) and Nathanael (1:49), what can you draw from that?

Born again
•What does “Born again” mean in the context of American Evangelism?
-“Born again”: a conversion experience that involves a personal, and sometimes intense, encounter of the individual with the power of God. It means that the person has been awarded salvation.
•What did Jesus mean by “born from above”?
•Who is the initiating cause of the new birth from above?
-John 1:12-13

Water and the Spirit
•What is necessary to “enter the kingdom of God”?
•What does Jesus mean by “born of water and the spirit”?
-CCC 1215, 720, 1225, Titus 3:5, 1 Pet 3:20-21

Baptism
•Is baptism necessary for salvation?
-CCC 1257, 846 ,1 peter 3: 21
-Martin Luther: baptism "works the forgiveness of sins, delivers from death and the devil, and grants eternal life to all who believe."
•What about the good thief on the cross?
-baptism of blood
-baptism of desire
-CCC 1258, 1259
•Any children left in limbo?
-CCC 1261

John 3:8
•What this example remind you?
-Greek word pneuma (as well as the Hebrew ruah) means both "wind" and "spirit."
CCC 691

John 3:13
•What’s “Moses lifted up the serpent” story?
-Numbers 21:4-9, wisdom 16:5-8
•What does snakebite represent?
-Eph 2:1-6, 1 Cor 15:56, CCC 402
•What’s the remedy of snakebite?
-John 3:8, 2 Cor 5:21
•Is there any similarity between Christ and serpents?
-Rom 8:3, CCC 603

John 3:16
•Why does John say God loves the “world” instead of the souls of men?
•Is “believing” a work? Can “faith alone” save you ?
-John 6:28, 29 CCC 155, 154

Then how is one saved?
•By believing in Christ (Jn 3:16, Act 16:31)
•By repentance (Act 2:38, 2 Peter 3:9)
•By Baptism (jn 3:5, 1 Pet 3:21, Tit 3:5)
•By the work of Spirit (Jn 3:5, 2 Cor 3:6)
•By declaring with our mouths (Lk 12:8, Rom 10:9)
•By coming to a knowledge of the truth (1 Tim 2:4, Heb 10:26)
•By works (Rom 2:6,7, James 2:24)
•By grace (Acts 15:11, Eph 2:8)
•By his blood (Rom 5:9, Heb 9:22)
•By his righteousness (Rom 5:17, 2 Pet 1:1)
•By his Cross (Eph 2:16, Col 2:14)

Belief
•Pay attenuation the active tense of “believe” and the word “might”, How does this affect the Calvinist doctrine of “eternal security”? Do we have to continue in faith in order to obtain eternal life?
-Col 1:22-23, John 15:6, Mt 10:22, 24:13, CCC 162, 161, 1821
•What is the opposite of “believe” according to John?
-John 3:36

John 3: 17-18
•St Augustine’s physician illustration
•How do judgment and condemnation relate to Christian?
-Rom 8:1, 1 peter 4:17, Revelation 20:12, John 5:28:29 ,CCC 679, 1022

John 3:19-21
•What is the main reason that men turn away from Jesus?
•Where good works originate from? From oneself or works of God’s grace?
-Phil 2:12-13, 1 Cor 15:10 CCC 308

Advance Questions
•How many times Nicodemus mentioned in Bible? How does his attitude toward Jesus progress? -John 3:1-5, 7:50, 19:39 Ccc 595
•What does Nicodemus represent?
-CCC 1963
•What do you think of Nicodemus as a person?
-John Calvin: Nicodemus rejects Jesus’ word as a fable. Because Christ sees that HE is wasting time and energy in teaching this proud man. He now rebukes him.

2007-05-31T10:17:00.000-05:00

Week V John 2:12-25, Jesus Cleanses the Temple, Tuesday, June 5

Major topics:
• Brothers of Jesus
• Passover, Temple in Jerusalem
• Angry Jesus
• “evil” Business

Brothers of Jesus?
• http://catholic.com/library/Brethren_of_the_Lord.asp
CCC 501

Passover

• What is Passover? What do you know about it?
-Ex 12: 1-51
-Korban Pesac: "Paschal Lamb"
-Matzo: unleaven bread
-Removal of chametz
-Maror: bitter herbs
-Recounting the Exodus
-The Four Cups of wine
-CCC 1334, 1340

Temple in Jerusalem
• What do you know about it?
-1 kings 8:1-30
-1st Temple: build by Solomon, 10th century BC, destroyed by the Babylonians, 586 BC
-2nd Temple: built after Cyrus allowed the Jews to return from the Babylonian captivity, completed in 516 BC.
-3rd stage of the Temple: Around 19 BC, Herod the Great began a massive renovation and expansion of the Second Temple Complex. The Temple itself was torn down and a new one built in its place.
The Second Temple was destroyed by Roman Empire troops under general Titus in 70 AD.
-3rd Temple?: Ever since the Second Temple's destruction, a prayer for the construction of a new Third Temple has been a formal part of the thrice daily Jewish prayer services. However, the question of whether and when to construct the Third Temple is disputed both within the Jewish community and without. The physical location of the historic Temple is believed to be occupied by the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Dome of the Rock.

John 2:15
• why did they need to change money?
-Deut 16:1-2, 5-6, Lev 5:7
-Exodus 30:11-16
• Where did they do these?
-Isaiah 56:6-7

John 2:16-17
• How did Jesus refer to the Temple? What did he imply?
-John 5:18; 10:29-33
• Why does John quote from Psalm 69?
-Psalm 69 1-21

John 2:18
• How did the Jews react? What did the Jews think of Jesus?
-Zechariah 14:21, mal 3:1-3
• Did Jesus give them a sign?

John 2:19-22
• What does Jesus mean when he says that he will destroy the Temple and raise it up in 3 days? What do the Jews think he means?
-CCC 593
• After the Resurrection, what did the disciples remember? What did they do?
John 20:30-31

John 2: 24
• Why did not Jesus Trust them? What do we learn about human nature?
-CCC 401
• What kind of faith does God require of us?
-CCC 1814, 1815

“evil” Business
• Was Jesus against the Temple? What was He against?
-CCC 583, 584, 586
• Are money, business, enterprise evil? What’s the Christian attitude?
-1 Tim 5:8, Deut 8:18, 1 Thess 4:11, 2 Thess 3:8-12
-CCC 2426-28

Angry Jesus?
• How does this aggressive Jesus fit the picture of “meek and mild Jesus”?
-1 Peter 4:17-18
• How does this apply to our Christian lives?
-CCC 1695

Advance questions
• Basing on the historical background the Gospel (~90 AD), what do you think John was thinking about when he wrote about the Temple?
-John 14:26
• Why did the evangelist put this story between the wedding and Nicodemus?

2007-05-15T08:57:00.000-05:00

Week IV John 2:1-11, Wedding at Cana

Tuesday, May 22

Major Topics
Writing Style of John
Mary, the second Eve
Jesus vs Moses
Wine or Grape Juice?
Sacrament of Marriage

Writing Style of John
How many parables John used in this Gospel?
Chiastic structure is a literary structure which comprises concepts or ideas in an order ABC…CBA so that the first concept that comes up is also the last, the second is the second to last, and so on.
Number

John 2:1
“Third day”? What does it remind you? Why did John put this sign on the 3rd day?
-New creation,
How did John refer to Mary?

John 2:3
What did Mary do in such situation?
-To intercede is to go or come between two parties, to plead before one of them on behalf of the other.
-"Mediation" means a standing in the midst between two (contending) parties, for the purpose of bringing them together
-invocation: a form of prayer invoking God's presence

John 2:4
How did Jesus react to Mom’s request? Was Jesus angry at Mom’s request?
-Luke 8:28
What does “my Hour” mean?

John 2:5
What did Mary do? Did she expect a miracle?
How does the Church view the “ministry” of Mary? What do her life and example teach us?
-CCC 494

Mary, the Second Eve
How did Jesus call her? Where else did He call this way? Did John make a mistake?
-Gen 3:15, Rev 12:1-6, CCC2618
What’s Mary’s relationship with Jesus?
-CCC 964, 969

John 2:6
What were the stone water pots for? How many were they?
-Num19:9, Mark 7:2-5
Why did John emphasize the function of the pots?
-John 1:17

John 2:7-11
What did Jesus told them to do? What did they do?
-John 1:16
What does John call this miracle?
-Sign: an appeal to intelligence, and expresses the purpose or final cause of the miracle.

Jesus vs Moses
John 1:17
-1st sign: turn water into blood (Ex 7:20)
-container: everything (even stone pots) (Ex 7:19)
-results: fish dead, no fit for drinking (Ex 7:21)

Marriage Feast
What future event the marriage feast might point forward to?
-CCC2618, 1244 Rev 19:7-9

Wine or Grape Juice?
Theology of wine
-“where there is no wine, there’s no joy”
What’s the Catholic attitude toward wine?
-CCC2290

Sacrament of Marriage
What John 2 teach us about Jesus’ attitude toward marriage?
-CCC1613
Catholic teaching about marriage
-CCC 372,1603, 1660

2007-05-02T18:24:00.000-05:00

Week III, May 8

John 1:19-51

Major topics:
•Theology of Lamb
•Baptism Of Jesus
•Holy Spirit
•Peter the Rock
•Discipleship, Evangelism

John 1:19
• “Jews”? Is John anti-Semitic?
• The words “testify” or “Witness” were used 46 times in John. Why so often? How did early Christians witness Christ?
– CCC 2473

John 1:19-34
• Who’s John the Baptist?
– CCC 523, 1286

Theology of Lamb
• What are the significance of lamb in Old Testament?
– Leviticus 4:32-34, 5:6
– Exodus 12:3-11, Numbers 19:11-12
– Isaiah 53: 6-7
• What about NT?
– Rev. 5:6,8,12…

Theology of Lamb
• Jesus as Paschal Lamb?
– redemption of men
– sacrifice of the New Covenant
• Where do your hear John 1:29 outside Bible? Why?
– CCC 1367

Baptism of Christ
• Christ is sinless, why he needed baptism?
– CCC536, 1286
– Acceptance, inauguration, love
• How did Holy Spirit manifest itself in the Bible/ Church?
– CCC 1302-3,951

John 1:35-51
• What’s Jesus’ last name? (hint: not Christ)
– Messiah (Hebrew): Anointed one
– Christ (Greek): Anoint one
• What kind of people Jesus chose as apostles? Why?
– 1 Cor 1:26-29

Peter the Rock
• What’s the language Jesus was using?
• Who else got their names changed in Bible?

Discipleship, Evangelism
• What does Disciple mean?
– CCC 2233,1816
• How did Jesus approach discipleship/ evangelism?
• How did St Andrew react to the good news?
– CCC 848

John 1:47-51
• Any story about Jacob?
– Gen 28:11-18, 22
• Son of Man
– Daniel 7:13-14

2007-04-21T13:41:00.000-05:00

Week II John 1:8-1:18

§ Agenda - Tuesday, April 24, 2007
A. Opening Prayer
B. Review – Principles
C. John 1-18 – Prologue
D. Discussion
E. Closing Prayer

§ John 1:6-8
6 There was a man named John sent by God,
7 who came as a witness to testify to the light, so that through him all men might believe
– witness - marturia
8 but only to testify to the light, for he himself was not the light.

§ John 1:9-11
9 The real light which gives light to every man was coming into the world.
10 He was in the world and through him the world was made, yet the world did not know who he was.
11 To his own he came, yet his own did not accept him.

§ John 1:12-13
12 Any who did accept him
he empowered to become children of God. These are they who believe in his name—

– opposite of disobey is believe

13 who were begotten not by blood, nor carnal desire, nor by man’s willing it, but by God.

§ John 1:14
14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us, and we have seen his glory:
The glory of an only Son coming from the Father, filled with enduring love.

§ John 1:15
15 John testified to him by proclaiming: “This is he of whom I said, ‘The one who comes after me ranks ahead of me, for he was before me.’ ”

§ John 1:16
16 Of his fullness
we have all had a share—
love following upon love.

§ John 1:17
17 For while the law was given through Moses, this enduring love came through Jesus Christ.

§ John 1:18
18 No one has ever seen God. It is God the only Son, ever at the Father’s side, who has revealed him.

§ Announcements
Next Meeting - Invite others. All are welcome!

REMEMBER: No Bible, no breakfast;
No Bible, no bed!

2007-04-05T07:48:00.000-05:00

Week I: John 1:1-1:8

Agenda - Tuesday, April 10, 2007
A. Opening Prayer
B. Review – Principles
C. John 1-18 – Prologue
D. Discussion
E. Closing Prayer

II. Authorship of John’s Gospel
A. St. John, the Beloved Apostle
B. Brother of James, son of Zebedee, fisherman
C. Follower of John the Baptist
D. One of four “pillars”
E. Symbolized by eagle
F. Accompanied Paul
G. Died a natural death

III. John’s Audience
A. Purpose - to reveal Jesus as God
B. Jews and Greeks – all mankind
C. To strengthen faith of all Christians
D. To counter Gnostism
E. Revealed the very heart of God
F. Multiple layers of meaning

IV. The Overture
A. First 18 verses touch upon every theme found in the 21 chapters.
B. Ancient hymn

V. The Overture - Parallelism
1. The Word with God (vv. 1-2)
2. Role in creation (v. 3)
3. Gift to mankind (vv. 4-5)
4. Testimony of John (vv. 6-8)
5. The Word enters the world (vv. 9-11)
6. Through the Word we become Children of God (vv. 12-13)
5. The incarnation (v. 14)
4. Testimony of John (v. 15)
3. Gift to mankind (v. 16)
2. Role in re-creation (v. 17)
1. The Son at the Father’s side (v. 18)

VI. John 1:1-2
1 In the beginning was the Word; the Word was in God’s presence, and the Word was God.

A. “was” - continuous condition
B. Logos – Greek

2 He was present to God in the Beginning.

VII. John 1:3
3 Through him all things came into being,
and apart from him nothing came to be.

– (CCC 291)

VIII. John 1:4-5
4 Whatever came to be in him, found life, life for the light of men.
5 The light shines on in darkness, a darkness that did not overcome it.

A. Theology of life and light
B. (CCC 298)

IX. John 1:6-8
6 There was a man named John sent by God,
7 who came as a witness to testify to the light, so that through him all men might believe—

– witness - marturia

8 but only to testify to the light, for he himself was not the light.

XVII. Announcements
Next Meeting - Invite others. All are welcome!

REMEMBER: No Bible, no breakfast;
No Bible, no bed!

2007-03-21T18:31:00.000-05:00

Bible Study Methods

Interpretive Principles of Reading Bible

§The authority of the apostles and the Church preceded the New Testament writings, and the traditions of the Church is an equally infallible authority flowing from the same divine well spring (CCC80-83)
o History of New Testament:
Oldest books: Epistles of Paul written around 40, 50 AD
Mark: 60- 70 AD
Matthew: 70-100 AD
Luke: 50-100 AD
John: 90-100 AD
o The first the list of books in Modern NT is canonized in 382 AD under Pope Damasus in Council of Rome.
o How did they choose:
…(Apostolic Tradition) comes from the apostles and hands on what they received from Jesus' teaching and example and what they learned from the Holy Spirit. The first generation of Christians did not yet have a written New Testament, and the New Testament itself demonstrates the process of living Tradition. (CCC83)
o Ephesians 2:19-20 …you are fellow citizens with the holy ones and members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the capstone.

§ The authoritative interpretation of the Bible is the prerogative of the Catholic Church through the living Magisterium (CCC 85-88)
o Magisterium (from the Latin magister, "teacher"): the teaching ability and authority of the Pope and those Bishops who are in union with him.
o 2 Tim 3:14,: "continue in the things you have learned ...knowing from whom you have learned them."
o 2 Tim 2:2:...things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, these entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.

§ The Bible is not always easy to understand and needs to be considered within its historical and contextual framework- within the community to which it belongs.
o 2 Pet 3:15-16: ... as also in all his (St. Paul's) letters, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which the untaught and unstable distort, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction.
o Bible: written in 2000 years, cover ??? years history, hundreds of authors.
o 73 Books including History, Laws, Poetry, letters…
o Bible consists of the eternal truths divinely revealed within the context of embedded cultural condition.

§ Individuals can and must interpret the Bible within the frame work of the Church’s authoritative teaching, not based on their “own (private) interpretation.
o 1 Tim 3:15:... you may know how one ought to conduct himself in the household of God, which is the Church of the living God, the pillar and support of the truth.
o 2 Pet 1:20-21: But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one's own interpretation; for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will…

Bible Study Methods (Protestant Principles)
§ No infallible authority outside the Bible alone
§ No official interpretation or interpreter
§ Bible is easy to understand
§ Any individual can read the Bible and interpret it for himself

Misconceptions among Catholics
§ Leave it to the professionals
§ Too “Protestant”?
§ Lead to misinterpret it and end up confused

Bible Study Methods
4 steps of reading Bible:
1. Observe:
o Read the passage in context. Try to follow the author and read the passage in large context, not just the verse or two in question.
o The chapter and verse divisions of the Bible were not part of the original text.

2. Inquire:
o Ask questions (lots of them)
o Who, when, why, where

3. Interpret:
o Research books (Bible commentaries, dictionaries, history books, encyclopedias…)
o Compare scripture with scripture.
o How Church interpreted a passage throughout history.
o Catechism (CCC)
o The NIHIL OBSTAT and IMPRIMATUR are official declarations that a book or a pamphlet is free from doctrinal or moral error.

4. Apply:
o change our lives and bring us to a closer union with God

Tools to Use
§Bible
o Literal translations: hard to read
o Dynamic texts: denominational bias
1 Corinthians 11:2, Matthew 6:7

§New American Bible
§Catechism of the Catholic Church
§St. John's Gospel: A Bible Study Guide and Commentary for Individuals and Groups by Stephen K Ray
http://www.amazon.com/St-Johns-Gospel-Commentary-Individuals/dp/0898708214/ref=sr_1_1/104-2045964-2890325?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1174518991&sr=8-1
§Web site: for questions, comments
http://eastside-biblestudy.blogspot.com/

My Vision
§Our journey
§Teach us how to fish
§Build leader
§Prayer

Proposal of the Bible Study

2006-08-28T14:34:00.000-05:00

Proposal of the Bible Study

GOAL AND OBJECTIVES

Acquaint
believers with the contents of Sacred Scripture.

Familiarize
Catholics with the rich faith tradition and Church teaching.

Build
community in Christ through a focus on prayer.

Provide
the nourishment of the Scriptures for the people of God, to enlighten their minds, strengthen their wills, and set hearts on fire with the love of God. (Dei Verbum 6,23)

Call to Holiness

In keeping with the spirit of Vatican II, the laity is called to grow ever deeper in their knowledge and understanding of the Faith which is essentially equal to love of Jesus Christ in the story of salvation as revealed in Sacred Scripture. Love urges the beloved to seek Truth, to explore the mystery of the Triune God, and to desire to know Father, Son, and Spirit intimately. Then, knowledge and wisdom dictates an appropriate response to Love, which is complete self-abandoning and self-sacrificing as exemplified by Jesus’ love for the Father. This “game of love” is related in the Old Testament repeatedly, fulfilled in the New Testament, and continues in the Liturgy of Holy Mass.

Liturgy of the Word

Knowledge of Sacred Scripture heightens the efficaciousness of the Sacraments as real encounters with Jesus, our Brother, Healer, Bridegroom, Mediator, Redeemer, Victor, High Priest, Lamb of God. Liturgy of the Word is inherently tied to the Liturgy of the Eucharist. The link is made obvious in the recitation of the Creed. Emissions from the mouths of Catholics who say they don’t read the Bible exacerbate the untruth in the ears of their isteners that “Catholics don’t know Sacred Scripture” or as reproachful, close the door on the Spirit because “the Bible is too hard to understand,” are torturous and blasphemous if ignorance weren’t a valid defense. Out of love, in love, and for love, action must be taken to counter this recalcitrance to God’s revelation in Sacred Scripture among the majority of Mass goers so that reception of the Holy Eucharist does not become our condemnation.

Cathechesis

Rooted in a similar apprehension to learning Sacred Scripture is the disruption of educating self in matters of the Faith. The Catechism of the Catholic Church directly refers to Biblical texts to reason the Church’s teaching of Tradition. Further, Sacred Scripture is paramount to the creed, code, and cult of Catholicism in that it instructs us as how to serve the Mystical Body, how to respond to God Who is Love. Christ longed to stay with us, so He does, in the tabernacles around the globe. From Mary and the Apostles, to the Saints and angels, witnesses to God’s Revelation are given to the Church with special gifts to answer a certain need of the time. Christ died once and for all, but the Church as Bride of Christ continues to be a Living Vessel of the Spirit since the day of Pentecost.

To grow in holiness, to pray the greatest prayer of the Church that is Holy Mass, to fully participate in the Sacramental life of the Church, and to embody the Faith, Sacred Scripture plays an inherent role. Studying the Bible enables certain understanding of the past, present, and future of Christianity. It clarifies our individual role in salvation history, thereby giving purpose to our very existence. Supported by the Teaching Magisterium of the Church, and nourished by Her Sacraments, we take up the New Command to love God and to love one another as Jesus said.

METHODOLOGY

Prayer

Bible Study (Four step approach: Observe, Inquire, Interpret, Apply)

Blog/ BBS/ Website (http://eastside-biblestudy.blogspot.com/ )

Sacred Scripture mandates openness to the grace of transformation. Prayer, as defined as conversation with God, is key. Jesus came to call us away from sin and to pray unceasingly. Living in constant conversation with God crowds out ungodly thoughts, words, and actions.

Spiritual exercises such as meditation and spiritual reading augments Bible study, giving God due priority so that other daily activities are carried out with an attitude of doing the Father’s will.

The Bible study proper will meet once a week to set the tone for the upcoming week. It will not be just another weekly commitment, rather it will become a daily habit. The four-step approach: Observe, inquire, interpret, and apply, as used in the supplemental book by author and convert to Catholicism, Stephen Ray is maximizes absorption of the text from reading it to understanding the cultural, traditional, historical, and catechetical, and eschatological meaning. This takes on many dimensions and steers clear of the sola scriptura tendency of Protestantism.

Questions, observations, and discussion points between weekly Bible study gatherings, will be augmented through the dedicated Web site and blog. Also, the virtual space is open to anyone who may want to participate in the virtual Bible study who do not have the opportunity because of time or distance to attend the on site weekly meetings.

MATERIALS

Required materials:
a.) New American Bible
b.) Catechism of Catholic Church (or Compendium)

Optional
- St. John's Gospel: A Bible Study Guide and Commentary for Individuals and Groups
Author:Stephen K. Ray 2002 ISBN 089870-8214 http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0898708214/sr=8-2/qid=1148505551/ref=pd_bbs_2/103-7753092-1587031?%5Fencoding=UTF8

So as not to burden the participants with needless expense, yet encourage ongoing learning, only the Holy Bible and the Catechism of the Catholic Church are required. The Vatican provides both of these in electronic format if participants insist upon a non-book. Likewise, if the expense is too great for individual purchase, copies of both will be available at each meeting.

The three-year cycle of Gospel readings take large sections of Matthew, Mark, and Luke’s Gospels, interspersed with John once in a while. The Bible Study will address John because of this fact. The reading of the complete Gospel of John will follow the layout in the optional text and is anticipated to take a year.

SESSION PREPARATION

Facilitator:

One week prior to session,

Read the assignedpage(s) in the Bible study guide.
Choose questions and prepare notes.
Post on Web site related notes, Scripture passages and other pertinent content information for the next session.
Send e-mail to likely attendees to advise them of posting and encourage them to bring others to the next session (date, place, time)

Participants:

Download, study, and reflect on the guide before the next session.

SESSION FORMAT

Begin with a short prayer (2 minutes)

Ice-breaker questions (3 minutes)

Bible study (1 hour)
a)Reading of scripture
b)Facilitator asks a question and group discussion
C)Facilitator reads the notes from the guide.
Prayer and meditation (15 minutes)

Between sessions participants will be encouraged to post questions on the Web site. Core team with the help of advisers will answer the question.

People not in the session will follow online for independent study using the guide. Contact by phone or online chat for synchronous communication and feed-back will be encouraged. They can also raise questions on the Web site, read the blog, and receive input from others to engage ongoing communication and spiritual growth.

PLAN

We plan to begin the Bible study with small group who have already expressed interest. Before the start date, facilitators and a few others will run through a hypothetical one hour and a half session to work out further kinks. The broader launch will commence shortly thereafter.

Core Team:
Wei Zheng
Rachel Monfardini

Advisor:

Sources and resources to help answer questions posted to the Web site:
Father Tim, Fr. Robert and Fr. Kubicki

If questions of faith arise that cannot be answered or need clarification, answers will be sought after from Scripture scholars and others who are versed in certain areas of theology in various schools of thought. The goal will ultimately be to further understanding of the Church and the gift of Sacred Scripture given us to know, love, and serve our Almighty God and Father.