Archdiocese of Miami Office of Catechesis Introduction to Sacred Scripture Instructor: Marianne Jones

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1 Archdiocese of Miami Office of Catechesis Introduction to Sacred Scripture Instructor: Marianne Jones Course Description The purpose of this course is to give catechists a basic introduction to the Sacred Scriptures, a Catholic understanding of God s self-revelation through Scripture and Tradition. It will examine the structure and context of the Old and New Testaments and the importance of each in Christian life and catechesis. Required Texts Primary - Holy Bible, preferably New American Standard version, St. Joseph press Supplementary - Catechism of the Catholic Church, Dei Verbum (Vatican II Dogmatic Constitution on Revelation) Bases of Final Grade The Final Grade will be an average of 3 separate grades reflecting 3 different aspects of the course. Those 3 different aspects are as follows: 1. Participation- based on homework reading and active participation in group discussions and activities, in small group and large group (20 pts) 2. Bible Tools quiz - brief multiple choice quiz on the 6 Bible Tools to be introduced early in the course. (30 pts) 3. Final project - see description below (50 pts) The final project for this course will be based on a 50 pt Group Project that integrates and applies objectives learned from the course into a mock lesson plan of which a summary is presented to the class on the last day of the course. The rubric for this project is handed out in the first hours of the course so that groups can begin shaping and planning their project immediately. A copy of this rubric is attached to this syllabus showing the following breakdown of the 50 pts: Reference to structure of book/section (5) Accurate context expressed (15) Understanding of audience then shown(10) Use of scripture in prayer or class ritual(10) Relevance to everyday life of student(10) A grade is assigned to each aspect based on the level and quality of it evident in the lesson. Requirements and Regulations

2 Full attendance and participation is crucial to achievement of course objectives and final grade. Each absence will result in a written assignment based on what was covered in class. All make up assignments due before end of course. Absences totaling 6 hours or more will be considered a dropped course and no grade will be given. Plagiarism Statement Provide definition of and policy regarding plagiarism: i.e. Deliberately submitting someone else's work as your own is a serious offense that will result in an F for the course. For more information about plagiarism, see The York College Bulletin , Definitions and Examples of Academic Dishonesty (41), and Purdue University s Online Writing Lab resource, Avoiding Plagiarism. Learning Objectives (please list ALL of the objectives as they appear below) By the end of the course, catechists will demonstrate progress in their ability to: Navigate the bible and be familiar with major divisions, including chapters and verses. Understand revelation as the gradual [and on-going] self-disclosure of God throughout the history of humankind. Describe the chronology of the main events of Salvation HIstory in the Hebrew Scriptures and Christian History in the New Testament. Name key figures in and major themes in the Old Testament, as well as the New Testament. Identify similarities and differences of the four Gospels. Recognize the call to conversion, transformation experienced by those in the Scriptures and relate that to the call to conversion, transformation experienced by people of faith today. Model methods of reflections with Scripture that elicit a faith response, deepen understanding and relate scripture to everyday life and culture. Identify ways of incorporating Scripture in prayer and Liturgy in Catechesis. Course Outline of Assignments and Activities

3 DAY ONE: Opening Prayer - 2 Tim 3:16-4:5 teaching All scripture is inspired by God and is useful in I. Covenant Relationship A. Love Letters from God - Revelation, Divine Inspiration - read from CCC B. Journey of Salvation History = journey of relationship, covenant 1. I will be teaching you (catechists) at Adult level so you will grasp understanding. Planning and presenting group project will help in applying it to particular grade level 2. Introduce and explain Group Project C. Stories of Faith - getting to know God via his-story 1. ask catechists to call out some of their favorite Bible stories 2. Note the connection to our own stories, journey of faith today II Relevance of Scripture - Then and Now A. Then - context of Israelites (OT), the Church (NT) OT perspective - looking back from exile realizing the error of their ways in upholding the covenant, the power of the Almighty...and endless love and mercy shown in a variety of literary forms across 4 categories - Pentateuch, Historical, Wisdom and Prophetic NT perspective - looking back from Pentecost, transformation Gospels - looking back at Jesus, seeing in a new way Acts, Letters - continuing Jesus mission, LIVING the covenant - but with hope A. Now - applying to our own lives today the timeless truths, lessons learned BREAK III. Bible Tools A. Handout and Explanations B. Worksheet and group activity to practice using We will be looking at the Old Testament in the next 2 sessions: the Pentateuch and Historical in session 2 and the other 2 categories, Wisdom and the Prophets in session 3. Session 4 will be our discussion of the New Testament with the final session reserved for Application as seen in presentation of your Group Projects. Homework: wander around the Old Testament. Practice using Bible Tools and make notes of what you learn. Bring notes to next class to use in discussion. Closing Prayer/ritual - Jer 31:31-34 word in our hearts no need to teach how to know God; He will write his DAY TWO:

4 Opening Prayer - Exodus 20:1-17 Ten Commandments (after prayer, use CF to find in another book) I. Old Testament Overview A. Reminder of OT prerspective - exile, questioning of faith, God, their role in covenant B. Journey to an Identity - recall much of what we have inherited from our Jewish heritage - Eucharist, Reconciliation, Liturgy, Priesthood - watch for its origins in salvation history C. 4 Categories 1. Pentateuch 2. Historical 3. Wisdom II. Pentateuch - from the Beginning up to, but not into, the Promised Land A. Foundation of an Identity, any relationship - courtship? getting to know one? B. MUCH MORE THAN Creation story and the Exodus story!!! C. Penta - teuch - 5 books: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy D. Remember mostly written from this experience of exile - Not in the Land, Not in power E. Review highlights of each book 1. Ask for input, favorite stories as we go along 2. Use Bible tools to study certain stories Genesis - Pre-history and the Three Patriarchs (A-I-J and the 12 sons) Exodus - character, leadership of Moses and leaving behind physical slavery in Egypt - Passover and Last Supper/Eucharist, desert journey that binds, giving of the Law Leviticus - regulations for Worship, Sacrificial rituals, atonement, how to LIVE worship (Lev 19) Numbers - More of the desert journey, learning to trust God, each other, God s Providence Deuteronomy - reflection by Moses on this journey with God- his own, the Israelites BREAK - (and also work in groups on project) III. Brief Review of Bible Tools and Discussion 1. Call out Tools - catechists answer with where found, how useful 2. take some time in groups to share what was learned in homework IV.. Historical - the Conquest of the Land, Living in the Land A. Conquest 1. Joshua, Judges and Deborah 2. Lessons Learned A. Living in the Land 1. Samuel I and II, Kings I and II, Chronicles 2. Stories of the first kings of Israel 3. the Great King David and the Messiah Homework: Spend some time journaling re: your own spiritual journey. Then ask your child to do so. Depending on the age, it may be easier to have them draw it - perhaps as a timeline. Note similarities, differences to your own, to Bible stories you may be familiar with. Listen on

5 Sundays with your child for connections between stories of your ancestors in faith and your own. Closing Prayer : Priestly Blessing Num 6:22-27 DAY THREE: Opening Prayer Experience- Pray a psalm (your choice) antiphonally connect to how we pray at mass, how the monks pray, how prayer is a dialogue, the antiphon we sing at mass is a response Have men pray a section, then women, then all. I. Brief Review 4 categories and what OT really is about A.Pentateuch - Historical - Wisdom - Prophets B. Recall prism through which OT is written, how we must understand it - EXILE why are we NOT in the land and NOT in power??? ARE we still the Chosen People of God? C. As a whole, the OT is about IDENTITY, the journey of the Jews to understand who they are I. Wisdom - reminders on how to live as God s ppl A. Contrast style of writing with Pentateuch and Historical 1. I used Ex 3:1-3 and 2 Kgs 5:9-11 only because this was referenced in Sunday s gospel 2. Then ask them to browse through Psalms, Proverbs, Song of Songs - how does it physically LOOK differently? Ref Psalms of THEN serve similar purpose as Pop Songs NOW B. Use Bible Tool of Introduction of Ecclesiates- have them scan to get a sense of purpose of this book and how author uses this style of writing - point out familiar text To everything there is a season...ch 3??? BREAK (and also work in groups on project) III. Bible Tools Quiz IV. Prophets - before - during - and after EXILE A Contrast to rest of Old Testament 1. Have them find beginning of Isaiah and hold their place. Find where Matthew starts (end of prophets and OT). Have them hold that between their fingers and compare in size Prophets to the other 3 sections of OT combined = quite small. in time = 50 years vs 1500 years. 2. Only part of OT that speaks of Messiah - NOT entire OT!!! Idea of Messiah is written about, understood in the context of understanding the relationship, identity of Jews as God s people...nothing about Jesus or Mary or God becoming human. Xns added all that much later. B/ Recall the Exile experience 3. Ask - how many were NOT born in US? in South Florida? how many not raised in US?

6 4. Somewhere else will always be HOME - same experience as Jews living in exile. 5. Ask - what do you miss most of where you came from? How often do you go back? What are your feelings as that time to go back for a visit nears? 6. All is similar to experience of Jews in exile - longing for homeland, anxious, hopeful. C. Content of Message and style 1. Choose a passage from Isaiah or Jeremiah to look at to observe the style of writing often used in prophetic writing - unique, oracle style - Thus says the Lord. 2. The prophet speaks for God - calling us back to the covenant we have forgotten a. then and now, we forget the meaning of our worship and just go through the motions or pay God lipservice - our hearts, our living is not really affected - we need change b. Prophets read the signs of the times and call us to change, to re-commit to the Lord s ways, to change our hearts, our living - to be transformed. c. Often why we hear so much from the Prophets during Advent and Lent, penitential times I. Quick Re-cap A. OT is a journey to and IDENTITY B. OT categories of books show the formation of a PEOPLE C. OT tells us Who we are and WHOSE we are, HOW we are to live and worship DAILY and calls us to task when we lose our WAY. D. OT was Jesus heritage - and because we are baptized in Jesus - it is OUR heritage too. Homework: Part 1 - Using CCC and/or DV, find sections that discuss unity, continuity of OT/NT Part 2 - Talk with your children the next 2 weeks about origins and identity - your ethnic origins as a family, each of you as individuals - and your origins and identity as Catholics. Closing Prayer/ritual - Play/Sing song from mass that uses Isaiah (Is 40 - They that wait upon the Lord Is 43 - Be Not Afraid Is 49 - I will never forget you) DAY FOUR: Opening Prayer Experience- Lectio Divina - use something from Sunday NT readings I. Overview of OT/NT A. refer to newsprint or write on board B. Key events - Perspective - breakdown and organization of books for OT/NT II. Gospels - story of Jesus A. Culture and Experience shape Worldview - explain handout on Gospel overviews B. Handout gives culture, experience of audience, author C. Consider impact of 70 A.D. on these as well - no temple, key to identity as Jews D. Groups within Judaism (back of handout) - gives context when heard now in stories E. Application: Nativity story

7 1. On 2nd sheet of newsprint or write on board - ask catechists to give elements of Xmas story 2. Now, have catechists find elements in the gospel accounts - what do they notice? a. have men look in Mt and Mk and women look in Lk and Jn? b. or do in groups and encourage them to use handout to explain what they find 3. Report back and review - connect differences found to differences in culture, exp of author, audience III.PRIMA - another study method A. Explain steps B. Use a gospel story to practice method BREAK (and also work in groups on project) IV. Story of Church - Acts, Letters, and Revelation A. Acts - key, pivotal events: Pentecost (ch 2) and Council of Jerusalem (ch 15) 1. Pentecost - Birthday of Church! Contrast before/after exp of apostles, of Church 2. Challenges a. persecutions by Jews, Saul (ch 4-9) b. apostles need help, deacons (ch 6) c. Gentile conversions, Cornelius (9) 1. Council of Jerusalem (15) - Resolution, Turning point in focus Peter, now Paul - why? A. Letters 1. Pauline letters a. specific communities, specific issues b. learning, growing pains of communities c. Paul s authority often challenged by Jewish missionaries 2. Catholic letters a. universal in scope and message b. therefore attributed to author vs community (as in Pauline) 3. Application: (if time) look at I Cor 13 - but in CONTEXT of ch 12 B. Revelation 1. End times? or End of life as we know it? does it make a difference in understanding? 2. Put in context of time written - story of HOPE, not doom 3. Application: use Bible tools - Introduction to learn more about context Cross reference to find code used from times of OT prophets Closing Prayer: Lectio Divina - Acts 2: Day Five: Opening Prayer: PRIMA - I Application in Ministry A. Group Presentations of Lesson summaries applying new knowledge

8 B. Open Forum shared insights, observations, challenges, questions Closing Prayer: Eph 1: OR Phil 1: 3-7 Thanksgiving and Blessing