Mission Statement
The mission of the Adult Bible
Study is to enrich the understanding and faith of each participant
through an exploration of biblical texts and deepen our
spiritual outlooks.
What does it mean to be an Orthodox Christian? What
do we believe? What are we really expressing when we recite the Creed
each Sunday? How are our beliefs different than those of the Protestant
and Roman Catholic faiths and other world religions?
Goal of the Group
The group’s goal is to enrich the understanding and
faith of each participant through an exploration of the biblical texts
and to deepen our spiritual outlooks. The class takes into consideration
the historical context for the Bible, its characters and events, and then
draws out various Orthodox interpretations with the goal of delving into
the deeper theological meanings, especially as they relate to Orthodox
Tradition. We will explore how to live our faith as individuals and as
“one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church.”
How are
we doing?
Classes are a mix of presentation and
discussion and participants are encouraged to make comments and ask
questions. All are welcome to attend and participate or to just listen
in.
Do you
want to join with us?
For questions and reservation in joining our bible
study, please, send your inquiry with your full name and email address
and email it to:
stnectarioschurch@gmail.com
Joining
with the Bible Study Group is free. The Orthodox Study Bible book is
available from our Book Store. It is the FIRST EVER Orthodox Study Bible
presents
the Bible of
the early church (Orthodox Church) and the church of the early Bible.
Saint Nectarios
Bible Study
An Open Letter from Christos Theoharatos
The Saint
Nectarios Bible Study Group has been meeting on Thursday nights since
September of 2013. We have had a small but dedicated group that possessed
a sincere desire to study the Word and knowing God through the Bible.
We originally
embarked upon an Orthodox approach to studying the Word of God by
utilizing skills of observation, interpretation, and more importantly
application while under the watchful eyes of the Church Fathers. Within
our subsequent studies, which took us through the Old and New Testaments,
we were given the opportunity to observe the character of God unfold
before our eyes providing us with a greater appreciation and thankful
attitude toward God as He was revealed in Scripture. Our studies continually reminded us as
to why the Bible was written, which is according to Father Anthony Coniaris in his book Knowing God, "to reveal
God's plan of salvation to us through the coming of Jesus, to help us
receive Him as Savior, and to live the life of salvation as members of
His Body: the Church."
According to Dr.
George Cronk, there are five main reasons why we as Orthodox Christians
should study the Bible:
1.
The Bible is a primary source of
truth concerning the nature of God, the condition of man and the overall
purpose of the universe.
2.
The Bible is an inspired record
of divine revelation. It is God's Word to mankind concerning Himself and
His kingdom. And it is especially addressed to those who are members of
the Church, who are called to listen to it, heed it, take it to heart and
respond to it in faith and obedience.
3.
The Orthodox Church teaches that
the Bible is a verbal icon of God himself. Through reading, studying, and
praying over Holy Scripture it is possible to make contact with, and
commune with, God himself.
4.
The liturgical life of the
Orthodox Church is grounded in and expressive of Holy Scripture. One's
understanding of and participation in the liturgies and services will be
deepened and intensified when one possesses a greater understanding of
Scripture.
5. The
Bible is a major expression of the holy tradition of the Orthodox Church.
The study and knowledge of Scripture assists us in our responsibility of
maintaining and transmitting that inherited tradition. It provides us
with a firm foundation and a biblical worldview that is expressed by Fr.
George Florovsky as the "scriptural
mind."
It is with these
reasons that our study group, after sincere discussion and prayerful
consideration have decided to change our study day from Thursday to
Sunday. We feel that this would afford the majority of people within the
community who have a sincere desire to engage in a Bible study group the
greatest opportunity to attend.
This change has come with the full support and blessing of our
parish priest, Father Konstantinos Douvikas.
We will commence our Bible study after
the Divine Liturgy on Sunday, January 15th with an in depth look into the
Epistle of James, and it is our sincere desire that many of you will be
able to join us for our brief Sunday study sessions. We feel that it will
be a wonderful opportunity for many of the members to bond and grow
together in our faith and draw us into a deeper relationship with Christ.
St. Silouan taught, "You must read the Holy Scriptures—grace lives in them and
this grace will delight you and you will come to know the Lord." St. Isaac, the Syrian, wrote, "Without the perusal of Holy
Scriptures, the mind can never approach God." We pray that this
fellowship will be a positive learning experience and a spiritual
blessing to all who attend as we begin our Sunday Bible study in January
2017. "All Scripture is given
by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for
correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be
complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy
3:16-17)"
In Christ'
service,
Christos Theoharatos
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