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2022-2023 MS Bible School Plan

Introduction

The curriculum is separated into three units: Pre-History (Genesis 1-11), Patriarchs (Genesis 12-36), Joseph (Genesis 37-50)

Components of a Bible School lesson:

  • Patristic Interpretation of the Scripture
    • To give a sound and Orthodox Interpretation
    • To model for them the fact that we get our interpretation from the Fathers and not from our own mind

  • Three Levels of Interpretation: Literal, Tropological, Allegorical
    • The Literal should include cultural and historical context as needed, and explanations of exactly what happened
    • The Tropological should be fitting for the age group, with real examples they may encounter
    • The Allegorical should be of sound interpretation and according to the Tradition of the Church

Unit 1: Pre-History (Genesis 1-11)

In this unit, we will study the first section of the Book of Genesis

Date Topic GoalsContentGoal Assignee
Wed 08/31 Introduction to the Old Testament
  • What is the Bible?
  • What is inspiration?
  • Why to read the Bible?
  • Story of the Old Testament?Testament
  • Relation to the New Testament

MorcousUnderstand the  importance of the Scripture and the purpose of the Old Testament


Wed 09/07 Introduction to Genesis
  • Authorship
  • Structure
  • Symbolic or Literal?
  • Science vs Religion
  • God's revelation to Mankind through Nature and Scripture
  • Why learn Genesis?
 MorcousPrepare them for discussions about Creation
Wed 09/14 Genesis 1:1-2

"In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth"

  • What is "the beginning"
  • Who is "God"
  • How did God "create"
  • What are "the heaven and the earth"
 Morcous

Introduce the Concept of studying a single verse in detail
Wed 09/21 Genesis 1-2: Creation
  • Memorize the Seven Days of Creation
  • The Bible is not a Scientific Textbook
  • Answer questions like:
    • how is there light before the Sun is created
    • Did God create darkness?
  • Apologetics related to Creation
  • Don't discuss the Making of Man or "Image of God" in detail, that will be discussed next week
 Morcous
  • Memorize the Seven Days of Creation
Wed 09/28 Genesis 1: Making of Man
  • The Lord prepared all of Creation for Man
  • Image and Likeness of God
    • How do we grow in the Likeness of God
    • How is this concept related to the rest of the Holy Scripture and the economy of Salvation?
  • Male and Female
  • Breath of Life
  • Be Fruitful and Multiply
  • Seventh Day God rested
 Rafeek
  • What does Image of God me
Wed 10/05 Genesis 2: Garden of Eden
  • The Rivers of Baptism
  • The Tree of Life (Eucharist)
  • Marriage
  • Man's state in the garden
  • Relate this Paradise to the Paradise described in Revelation
 Lisa
Wed 10/12

Genesis 3: The Fall of Man
  • Why did God give a commandment?
  • What is free will?
  • Relate the temptation of Eve with the temptation of Christ and with the verse in St John "the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, the pride of life"
  • How can we overcome Temptation?
  • What are the effects of sin?
    • Their eyes were opened
    • They tried to handle the situation on their own
    • Shame and hiding
    • Blame and pointing the finger
    • Sin leads to sin
  • God came looking for them and gave them a chance to repent
  • What are the Consequences of Sin
  • Can we blame Adam and Eve?
    • In the Liturgy of St Basil, Abouna describes this event as "we did xyz"
    • In the Liturgy of St Gregory, Abouna describes this event as "I did xyz"
 Mina
Wed 10/19 Genesis 4-5: Cain and Abel
  • Why was Abel's sacrifice acceptable and Cain's not?
  • The Lord seeks out Cain and wants him to repent
  • Sin leads to sin
    • Jealousy --> Murder --> Lying --> ???
  • Punishment of Cain versus punishment of Adam
  • Evil of Lamech
    • Example of the behavior of Cain's descendants
    • Cain's way is becoming the way of the land... opposite of God's will for Adam and Eve
    • This is a precursor to the Flood and Noah
  • Genealogy of Adam (Seth)
    • What are the big numbers of ages?
    • Who is Enoch? What does it mean to "Walk with God"
    • Etymology of the names
 Andrew
Wed 10/26 Genesis 6-9: Noah (Part 1)
  • Sons of man and daughters of God
    • What does it mean? (SethiteView vs Nephilim)
  • The Lord was sorry that He had made man
    • Did the Lord make a mistake? Can God make a mistake?
    • God's love for us and God's hatred of evil
  • Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord
    • Just!
    • Perfect!
    • Walked with God!
  • Design of the Ark
    • Allegorical Interpretations of it by Origen
  • Entrance into the Ark
 Mirolla
Wed 11/02 Genesis 6-9: Noah (Part 2)
  • The dove
  • Noah built an altar and offered a sacrifice
  • The New Covenant
    • The Rainbow
    • Be fruitful and multiply
  • Noah's Drunkenness
  • Canaan's Punishment
 Mirolla
Wed 11/09 Genesis 10-11: Tower of Babel
  • Genealogy of Noah
    • Some common names like Mizraim (Misr - Egypt), Canaan, Assyria, etc.
    • Purpose of Genealogy
  • Tower of Babel
    • Why would they do this?
    • What does it mean for God to "come down and see"
    • Scrambling of the Languages
    • Compare with Pentecost
 Maivel
Wed 11/16 Review and Bible Jeopardy
Morcous
Wed 11/23 No Bible Study


Unit 2: The Patriarchs

In this unit, we'll study the character of Abraham - First in Faith

Jacob
  • Jacob
frompursues
Date Topic GoalsContent Assignee
Wed 11/30 Genesis 12-14:13: Abram's Travels
  • From Ur of the Chaldeans
  • To Egypt
Wed 12/07 Genesis 15-17:13-14: God'sAbram Covenantand with AbrahamLot
  • God'sConflict promiseand toseparation of Abram and Lot
  • Captivity of Lot and Rescue by Abram
  • Hagar and Ishmael
  • God's Covenant with AbrahamMelchizedek
Wed 12/14 Genesis 18-19:15-17: SodomPromise andof Gomorraha Covenant
  • Abraham'God's Intercessionpromise about multiplying Abram's seed
  • DestructionSarai oftakes Sodommatters into her own hands (Hagar) and Gomorrahregrets it
  • Lot'sGod Daughtersrenews
    • MoabitesHis andcovenant Ammonites
      • with
    Abraham
Wed 12/21 Genesis 20-21:18-19: AbimelechSodom and the Birth of IsaacGomorrah


  • Hospitality of Abraham
  • Intercession for Sodom and Gomorrah
  • Destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah
  • Deliverance of Lot
  • Sin of Lot's Daughters
Wed 12/28 Genesis 22:20-21: The SlaughterSon of Promise
  • Abraham and Abimelech
  • Birth of Isaac
  • Casting out of Ishmael
    		•
    Wed 01/04 Genesis 23-25:22-24: Sarah,Isaac Rebecca,a KeturahType of Christ
    • Slaughter of Isaac
    • Death of Sarah
    • A bride for Isaac
    Wed 01/11

    Genesis 25-27:25: Jacob and Esau

     
    • Abraham and Keturah
    • Death of Abraham
    • Birth of Jacob and Esau
    • Esau sells his birthright
    Wed 01/18 GenesisNo 25-27:Bible Jacob and EsauStudy

    Theophany Feast
    Wed 01/25 Genesis 28-30:26: JacobIsaac and LabanAbimelech
    • Isaac and Abimelech and the Wells
    Wed 02/01 Genesis 28-30:27: Isaac Blesses Jacob
    • Deception of Rebekah and Laban
  • Blessing of Jacob
  • Wrath of Esau
    		•
    Wed 02/08 Genesis 31-33:28-29: Jacob Returnsand HomeLaban
    • Jacob's Ladder
    • Jacob meets Rachel
    • Laban's Deception
    • Jacob marries Leah and Rachel
    Wed 02/15 Genesis 31-33:29-30: JacobJacob's Returns HomeSons
    • Leah and Rachel's Contest
    • Jacob's Agreement with Laban
    Wed 02/22 Genesis 34-36:31-32: Jacob Flees Laban

    WedFlees 02/29 GenesisLaban 34-36:
  • Laban

    • Jacob
  • Jacob wrestles with God
    		•
    Wed 03/01 Genesis 37-39:33-34: JosephJacob andin JudahShechem
    • Jacob meets Esau
    • Jacob settles in Shechem
    • The Dinah Incident
    Wed 03/08 Genesis 40-41:35-36: Joseph'sJacob Risein to PowerBethel
    • Jacob dwells in Bethel
    • Death of Rachel
    • Death of Isaac
    • Family of Esau
    Wed 03/15 Genesis 42-45: JosephReview and HisBible BrothersJeopardy 

    Unit 3: Joseph


    Date    		TopicContentAssignee
    Wed 03/22 Genesis 46-47:37: JacobJoseph GoesDreams toof EgyptGreatness
    • Joseph Dreams of Greatness
    • Joseph is sold by his brothers
    Wed 03/29 Genesis 48-50:38-39: Jacob'sJudah Lastand WordsJoseph
    • Judah and Tamar
    • Joseph and Potiphar's Wife
    Wed 04/05 ReviewGenesis 40-41: Joseph Interpreter of Dreams
    • Joseph interprets the baker and Biblethe Jeopardycupbearer's dreams
    • Joseph interprets Pharaoh's dream
    • Joseph is made ruler of Egypt
    		Morcous
    Wed 04/12 No Bible Study Holy Pascha Week
    Wed 04/19 No Bible Study FirstPascha Relief Week after Pascha
    Wed 04/26Genesis 42-43: Joseph and His Brothers
    • Joseph's brothers seek food
    • Joseph sends them away and keeps Simeon
    • Joseph's brothers return with Benjamin

    Wed 05/03Genesis 44-45: Joseph Revealed to His Brothers
    • Joseph's Cup
    • Judah intercedes for Benjamin
    • Joseph reveals himself to his brothers

    Wed 05/10Genesis 46-47: Jacob in Egypt
    • Jacob's journey to Egypt
    • Jacob meets Pharaoh
    • Joseph deals with the famine

    Wed 05/17Genesis 48-49: Jacob's Last Words
    • Jacob blesses Ephraim and Manasseh
    • Jacob's Last words to his sons

    Wed 05/24Genesis 49-50: Jacob and Joseph's Deaths 
    • Jacob's Death and Burial
    • Joseph's Death and Burial

    Wed 05/31Review and Bible Jeopardy
    		 

    Unit 3: 






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