Session 1:
Reading the Old Testament

• The CFC Bible Formation Course has been developed as a ministry training tool to equip current and emerging ministry leaders with a robust understanding of the Bible to empower participants to discuss the Bible in their local ministry settings (e.g. life group leading, youth and children’s ministry, worship leading, etc.).

• The course is also intended to cultivate a personal passion for the Bible and to increase participants’ confidence in navigating the Bible, studying the Bible, and applying the Bible to day-to-day life.

Term 1: Old Testament

• Session 1 Reading the Old Testament

• Session 2 The Beginning

• Session 3 The Exodus and Wilderness

• Session 4 The Rise of Israel

• Session 5 The Fall of Israel

• Session 6 The Prophets

• Session 7 Biblical Poetry & Wisdom Literature

Term 2: New Testament

• Session 8 Reading the New Testament

• Session 9 The Gospels Part 1

• Session 10 The Gospels Part 2

• Session 11  The Acts of the Apostles

• Session 12 Paul's Letters Part 1

• Session 13 Paul's Letters Part 2

• Session 14 General Letters & Revelation

• 7 weeks on Old Testament (Feb and Mar), break (Apr), 7 weeks on New Testament (May and Jun).

• The first week of each term will be an overview, followed by 6 weeks of working through major story movements or literary types.

• Each week you will be provided with six videos (approx. 5 minutes each) to watch (daily) between the Thursday night sessions. The Old Testament videos are available here and the New Testament videos are available here. These videos will run through an outline of the content of most books of the Bible. The aim of the sessions is not to simply repeat this video content, but rather to:

  • Hone in on a small number (e.g. 2 or 3) critical moments in Biblical narrative introduced in the weekly videos.

  • Discuss tools and techniques for studying and understanding the literary styles introduced in the weekly videos.

  • Spend time working through examples as a group (including times for small and large group discussion).

• (I.e. The course is structured to do things out of session that can be done anytime, so that in the session we are doing what can only be done in a group session. NOTE: If you are unable to watch the mid-week videos, please don't let that deter you from joining the Thursday night sessions. You will still be able to follow the Thursday night sessions.)

• The course has a variety of presenters with different backgrounds and styles, which is beneficial as you’ll see a few different perspectives, which aims to provide a richer overall perspective. Group discussions will create opportunities for you to also share your experiences and perspectives, which will further increase the richness of the experience.

Each session of the Bible Formation Course will have the following structure:

• 7pm-7.15pm: Recap previous weeks & prayer

• 7.15pm-8.15pm:  1 hour session

• 8.15pm-8.30pm: Break

• 8.30pm-9.30pm: 1 hour session

Participants can join either in-person in the classroom, or remotely via Zoom using the provided link.

Recordings and session notes will be made available on the course website. (Session recordings allow participants to catch-up if they are unable to attend the sessions 'live'. However, recordings should not be used as the primary means of course attendance.)

It's genuinely exciting that in just over 40 days time you could have a firm understanding of the Old Testament. And that after another 40 day block you'll be similarly confident with the New Testament. This is a unique opportunity. Well done for signing up. We encourage you to make the most of the opportunity. (Pray over the cohort.)

An answer:

• The Bible is a library of texts, of different genres, written by different authors, in different locations, in different languages, in different moments of history, that tell a unified story that leads to Jesus.

This definition highlights a number of reasons that it is beneficial to learn how to study the Bible.