Overview
This Lent St John’s Hingham (Natalie’s deacon internship placement) is holding an Adult Education series titled Back to Basics: The Bible to introduce people more fully to the Bible led by Fr. Noah Van Niel and Natalie Finstad will cover both the Old and New Testaments, aiming to give you some basic understanding of what to expect when you open the Bible, how to read it, and why you should. We’ll also be providing participants with a 40-day calendar of Bible passages they can read as a Lenten a discipline to supplement what is covered in the classes and give you the chance to experiment with what it’s like to read the Bible on your own. Natalie will be writing short reflections on each passage below throughout lent – you can read her reflections on the blog daily.
Two Ways to Read Scripture
We have included two methods for reading the Bible. The Lectio Divinia is a heart-centred and intuitive approach to reading. Exegesis provides a way of studying through our minds and reason. We suggest trying on both methods and finding the one that works for you. If neither work feel free to read the Bible in any way that supports your learning and growth:
Lectio Divina
- Read: As you read the passage underline or circle words that stick out to you.
- Meditate/Contemplate: What does this passage reveal about God and/or God’s people? How is this passage relevant to your life today?
- Pray: Share your thoughts, questions and feelings about the passage with God through prayer. Ask the Spirit to guide you, “How might I be called to change or adapts because of this passage?”
- Act: How will you live out this passage in your life today?
Exegesis
- Write a short paraphrase of the text. What do you include? What do you leave out
- What question is the text trying to answer?
- What does this passage tell you about the authors and/or the community in which it was written?
- What conflict or inconsistencies do you notice in the text?
- What wisdom or instruction might this passage have for us today?
Individual Study Passages
The following are the Bible passages that we are offering as a supplement to our weekly gatherings. These passages span the entire Bible and are, in our opinion, key pieces of Bible to read. We expect that each day will take you somewhere between 10 – 30 minutes to read depending on the amount of reflection you do after reading. You will notice that there are not passages for Sunday. In addition, each week comes with a short introduction about that portion of the Bible.
| Day of Lent | Date | Summary of Scripture | Chapters |
| These earliest passages of the Bible highlight the important theme of “covenant” between God and humankind. A covenant is more than a contract, it is a relationship where both parties make promises to one another. God desires a relationship with humankind but how does humankind respond? What sort of themes, truths about human nature do you see emerging in these stories? | |||
| 01 | Feb 14 | Earliest Covenants with God: Creation and the Leaving Eden | Genesis 1, 2, 3 |
| 02 | Feb 15 | Earliest Covenants with God: The Great Flood |
Genesis 6, 7, 8, 9 |
| 03 | Feb 16 | Earliest Covenants with God: Abram and Sarai | Genesis 12, 15, 17 |
| 04 | Feb 17 | Earliest Covenants with God: Abraham and Sarah |
Genesis 16, 18, 21 |
| The theme of covenant that began in Genesis now focuses in on the People of Israel–God’s chosen people. But how are God’s promises of a land to call home and descendants more numerous than the stars going to be fulfilled in the face of slavery and wilderness wandering? Pay attention to how God’s promise to the chosen people gets called into question again and again. That is the central tension of the entire Old Testament: will God be faithful and uphold God’s end of the bargain? Will we? | |||
| 05 | Feb 19 | Calling of Moses | Exodus 2, 3, 4 |
| 06 | Feb 20 | Exodus from Egypt | Exodus 5, 6:1-13, 7, 12, 13, 14 |
| 07 | Feb 21 | Life in Desert and the Ten Commandments | Exodus 16, 20 Leviticus 19 Deuteronomy 30 |
| 08 | Feb 22 | The Role of the Land in Shaping Israel’s Identity | Joshua 19, 20, 23 |
| 09 | Feb 23 | Struggling to Maintain Order in Israel | Judges 4, 5, 18 |
| 10 | Feb 24 | Ruth & Naomi | Ruth 1, 2, 3, 4 |
| The Old Testament Books between Joshua and Esther deal with the history of the nation of Israel. These books cover the life of the nation from their possession of the land down to the two deportations and loss of the land because of unbelief and disobedience. These books cover about 800 years of Israel’s history. After the historical books we reach the poetical books of wisdom. These poetical books reveal the nature of Israel’s relationship with God through the lens of lived human experience and emotion. | |||
| 12 | Feb 26 | A King for Israel: Samuel, Saul and David | 1 Samuel 15, 16, 17, 18 |
| 13 | Feb 27 | The Ark and the Temple | 1 Kings 8 1 Chronicles 15, 16, 17 |
| 13 | Feb 28 | Esther Saves Her People | Esther 2, 3, 4, 8 |
| 14 | Mar 01 | The Story of Job | Job 1, 2, 3 & 40, 41, 42 |
| 15 | Mar 02 | Psalms for Deliverance and Pardon | Psalms 25 & 51 |
| 16 | Mar 03 | Psalms of Praise and Wonder | Psalms 139 & 146 |
| The word prophet comes from the Hebrew word nabi which can be roughly translated to mean watchperson. The prophets were responsible for watching over Israel, for reminding God’s people of God’s sovereignty despite their experience of unrest and exile. The prophets chided Israel for leaving the ways of God and called the community to repent and turn back towards God’s ways of mercy and justice. | |||
| 17 | Mar 03 | Wisdom Texts | Proverbs 8,9 Ecclesiastes 3 |
| 18 | Mar 05 | The Prophets: Israel’s Exile | Jeremiah 29 Lamentations 3 |
| 19 | Mar 07 | The Prophets: Israel’s Infidelity and God’s Faithfulness | Hosea 1, 2, 3, 4, 11 |
| 20 | Mar 08 | The Prophets: God’s Redemption of Israel | Ezekiel 16, 36 & 37 |
| 21 | Mar 09 | The Prophets: A Call for Repentance Micah/ Do Justice | Micah 2, 4, 6 |
| 22 | Mar 10 | The Prophets: Promises of God’s Redemption | Isaiah 60, 61, 62 |
| Introduction to these Readings (Coming Soon) | |||
| 23 | Mar 12 | Paul’s Conversion | Acts 8, 9 |
| 24 | Mar 13 | Paul’s Nurturing of the Early Church | Ephesians 1, 2, 3 |
| 25 | Mar 14 | Paul’s Articulation of the Gospel Message | Romans 5, 6, 7, 8, 12 |
| 26 | Mar 15 | The Life of the Believer | 1 Corinthians 13 Galatians 5 Colossians 3 |
| 27 | Mar 16 | Division in the Early Church | Galatians 1 Colossians 21 Timothy 1:3-11 |
| 28 | Mar 17 | Priesthood and the Foundations of Eucharist | Hebrews 4, 5, 10, 11, 12:1-12 |
| Introduction to these Readings (Coming Soon) | |||
| 29 | Mar 19 | Narrative of Jesus’ Birth | John 1 Luke 1, 2 Matthew 2 |
| 30 | Mar 20 | The Baptism and Temptation of Jesus | Luke 3, 4:1-12 |
| 31 | Mar 21 | Sermon on the Mount | Matthew 5, 6, 7 |
| 32 | Mar 22 | Jesus and the Crowds | Matthew 14:13-21 Mark 6:30-44 Luke 9:10-17 John 6:1-15 |
| 33 | Mar 23 | Jesus and the Powerful: Zaccheus, Nicodemus and the Centurion Soldier | Luke 19:1-10 John 3:1-21 Matthew 8: 5-13 |
| 34 | Mar 24 | Jesus’ Relationship to Women | Matthew 15:21-28 Mark 5: 21- 34 John 8: 2-11 John 12:1- 8 |
| Introduction to these Readings (Coming Soon) | |||
| 35 | Mar 26 | The Entry into Jerusalem: Palm Sunday | Mark 11:1-11 |
| 36 | Mar 27 | Jesus Confronts Authorities | Mark 11:12-33, 12 |
| 37 | Mar 28 | The Destruction of the Temple | Mark 13 |
| 38 | Mar 29 | The Washing of the Feet and the Last Supper | John 13:1-20 Mark 14:1-31 |
| 39 | Mar 30 | The Crucifixion of Jesus | Mark 14:32-72, 15 |
| 40 | Mar 31 | Grieving Jesus | Matthew 27:3-10 & 62-66 |
| April 01 – HAPPY EASTER! | |||
Natalie E. Thomas 