Getting Started with the Bible

Gather

Today’s Story• Bible Text: John 1:1-14; John 20:31, 21:24;

Luke 1:4; Romans 15:4; 2 Timothy 3:16-17 • Lesson Focus: The Bible tells the amazing

story of God’s love for creation and, specifically, you.

• Big Question: What’s the Bible got to do with me?

Key WordsSCRIPTURE: writing that is sacred to a religious group. For

Christians, the books of the Old Testament and the New Testament are scripture.

CANON: a list of books that authorities agree is scripture.INTERPRETATION: the finding, making, and sharing of

meaning. It is impossible to read and understand something without interpreting it.

TRANSLATION: the restatement of words from one language into another language. Unless you’re reading it in Hebrew or Greek, you’re reading a translation of the Bible.

Opening PrayerLeader: Lord God, you speak to us through the Holy Scriptures.Group: Thank you for this gift.Leader: You inspired everything in the Bible.Group: Thank you for this gift.Leader: Scripture gives us hope and encouragement in our journey of faith.Group: Thank you for this gift.Leader: Scripture shows us examples of how to follow you.Group: Thank you for this gift.Leader: Give us the desire to learn more about you through the scriptures.Group: Thank you for this gift.All: Amen.

Teach

My Faith Story

• Big Question: What’s the Bible got to do with me?

Open the Bible• Lutheran Study Bible page 1553• John 1:1-14 • Gospels

– See examples: Matthew and Mark• Letters of Paul

– See example: Romans• Table of Contents

Open the Catechism

• Here We Stand Student Book page 305• Here We Stand Student Book page 307

Quiz Show

1. How many books are in the Bible?

a. 1b. 33c. 66d. 99

2. Which has the greater number of books?

a. The Old Testamentb. The New Testamentc. They have the same number of books.

3. In a Bible passage listing like Jeremiah 27:13, the number 27 refers to the…

a. chapter. b. verse.c. number of words.d. year it was written.

4. When you see Genesis 23:4, the number 4 refers to the…

a. chapter. b. verse.c. number of words.d. year it was written.

5. The Bible was first written in…

a. English.b. Latin.c. Egyptian hieroglyphics.d. Hebrew and Greek.

6. A good reason for reading the Bible is to…

a. make God love you more.b. enrich your faith.c. seek information.d. both b and c

7. Lutherans believe the Bible is…

a. inerrant (without errors).b. written by God.c. the source and guide for our

Christian living. d. all of the above.

8. The main purpose of the Bible is…

a. to give hope and encouragement. b. to make us feel guilty.c. to give us a history lesson.d. none of the above.

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