Online Bible Study?

philologos

I've been just thinking that it would be really good if we could study a section from the Bible on a week to week basis. I'm just wondering as to who would be up to do this.

My suggestion is that each week there would be a section of Scripture posted up say for example Mark 1:1-15 and that thread would be open for anyone to discuss and to share about how this passage works, and what God is trying to communicate to us through it. The next week a thread on a further section would be posted so that the next bit could be discussed. The previous thread would remain open if anyone wants to discuss any one section further.

As an idea I would welcome non-believers to post, but to post on the provisio that the thread is intended not as a basis for an argument about God's existence, but rather assuming that God exists what could this passage mean in our lives as Christians. I think that is a fair request to ask.

So who would be up for it, and what book do you think we should start with? Personally I think a Gospel such as Mark or Luke could be the place to begin.

If it's a disastrous idea let me know why

Lady Chuckles

No

Good idea!
I'd like to take part in that

georgieporgy

No

Fanny tried it last year but seemed to lose interest after a few weeks
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=68186803

Plowman

No

This post has been deleted.

JimiTime

It should be clear that the forum tumours of: 'But Peter is the rock....', 'One true church.......', '33,000 denominations......' 'only magestirium interprets....' etc and every other idiot cliché that regularly stifle discussion is met with an instantaneous ban from the the thread. Let discussion and disagreement occur, but not due to 'My religion is the best' style argument. You must make sure that type of nonsense has no place. If a poster can't enter the discussion with a Christian common ground, then make sure that they stay out. My two cent.

philologos

No

JimiTime: I presume the moderators will deal with such posts and move them to the Protestant / Catholic megathread. I feel that reading the Bible together could be a very constructive activity, focusing on our common identity in Jesus Christ rather than on denominational tit-for-tats.

JimiTime

philologos wrote: »

JimiTime: I presume the moderators will deal with such posts and move them to the Protestant / Catholic megathread. I feel that reading the Bible together could be a very constructive activity, focusing on our common identity in Jesus Christ rather than on denominational tit-for-tats.

Exactly. I think its a thread that should be administered (Maybe the mods could even grant you a certain amount of power over it), and seeing as its your bright spark:), you'd probably be the one. By administered, I mean, you set the agenda, decide what scripture we are doing, and decide when and what the next scripture will be about. Maybe make out an agenda. Actually, I don't know if its possible, but can a sub forum type of thing be done? I'll tell you why I say that, I think it would be great that each study is separated for ease of perusal. Lets say sometime in the future I'm reading a certain scripture and have questions about it, I could identify exactly where it was discussed rather than having to thrawl through a megathread type of setup. Maybe thats impossible, but thought I'd throw it out there:) (BTW, i know you can just setup a seperate thread for each study piece, but I was thinking more of a well collated forum style setup)

Anyway, thats my reckoning....

alex73

No

JimiTime wrote: »

It should be clear that the forum tumours of: 'But Peter is the rock....', 'One true church.......', '33,000 denominations......' 'only magestirium interprets....' etc and every other idiot cliché that regularly stifle discussion is met with an instantaneous ban from the the thread. Let discussion and disagreement occur, but not due to 'My religion is the best' style argument. You must make sure that type of nonsense has no place. If a poster can't enter the discussion with a Christian common ground, then make sure that they stay out. My two cent.

Problem is that the frequent posters here are either good Protestants or Good Catholics. We get the odd wanderer when a Gay topic pops up.

With all the good will in the world how we view the bible is coloured my our affiliation.

Why not have a Bible study for each denomination. Evangelical Bible study, Catholic Bible study, Presbyterian etc..

I can just see WWIII break out when we don't agree on the interpretation of XYZ. If we each have our own thread we avoid the offence.


OR.

We focus on set topics we all agree on.

philologos

No

alex73: The purpose of this thread would be for Christians who want to familiarise themselves with Jesus and to study the Bible together. I believe firmly that Christians together can do this. I don't think denominational apartheid is necessary or warranted. I'm hoping we can do something positive together and that we can probe into who the Lord Jesus really is together and that our day to day lives might be continually inspired by Him.

georgieporgy

No

philologos wrote: »

alex73: The purpose of this thread would be for Christians who want to familiarise themselves with Jesus and to study the Bible together. I believe firmly that Christians together can do this. I don't think denominational apartheid is necessary or warranted. I'm hoping we can do something positive together and that we can probe into who the Lord Jesus really is together and that our day to day lives might be continually inspired by Him.

Excellent sentiments with which I agree wholeheartedly. Getting to know Christ is after all the whole idea of christianity. Go on then, start the ball rolling.

philologos

No

If we're up for it, the first thread can be posted tomorrow.

The way I'd like to do it would be to provide the passage in a quote, I'll probably be using the English Standard Version on the thread, but you are welcome to read any Bible you'd like. I'd also like to provide some questions to get the ball rolling on each discussion topic. You are of course welcome to deviate from the questions that I'll leave up, but I think that there should be at least some initial structure to each thread.

I'm leaning towards doing Mark's Gospel considering that I'm currently studying this with my small group from church every week so it is freshest to my mind. If you are all happy with this I'll probably get the ball rolling either tomorrow or Friday?

I think it is better to leave the moderation to the moderators on this thread. Remember to use the report button on the side if necessary.

PDN

I would suggest that this can work if we all have enough humility to listen to one another's insights on the Bible rather than seeing this as simply a matter of defending one's own denominational standpoint.

It would be perfectly in order to say, "As a Catholic (or Presbyterian, or Evangelical) I believe this."

It would be equally ok to respond with, "Coming from a different denomination, I disagree."

But anyone trying to turn this into a Catholic/Protestant spat will be kicked into touch.