The Three Witnesses

You can lead an Orthodox Christian Bible Discussion Group This book is a manual with clear instructions and discussion questions to enable you to facilitate discussion in an Orthodox Christian Bible Study. This set of nineteen group Bible discussions are designed to encourage group dialogue with the ancient Orthodox Christian Tradition. These discussions are designed not only for inquirers and catechumens, but also for Orthodox Christians who wish to deepen their faith, understanding, and experience of Orthodox Worship and Spirituality. Through this course, the discussion group examines various Old and New Testament passages which present basic Orthodox teaching regarding the Holy Trinity, the Deity and Humanity of Christ, and the three initiatory sacraments of Holy Baptism, Holy Chrismation, and Holy Communion. Each discussion is composed of one or more Biblical passages, commentary from an Orthodox perspective, and approximately 20 questions eliciting thought and discussion. Three types of questions are used: observation questions, interpretation questions, and application questions. Occasional reference is made to both Greek and Hebrew words of the Biblical texts in such a way that is useful to someone who has little to no knowledge of these languages. According to the author, the primary goal of these discussions is "to increase awareness of the Orthodox Faith and of one's own views in relation to the Faith." The discussions are prefaced by an instructive chapter with information to guide the group Bible discussion facilitator in starting a Bible discussion group and directing the group Bible discussions in an Orthodox Christian manner in consultation with Orthodox clergy. This introductory chapter provides various bibliographies of books recommended as reading for people from various religious and non-religious backgrounds. Included are some sample prayers to use in Bible discussion groups, a sample ad for starting groups, a list of preferable Bible translations, two quizzes, a crossword puzzle, and a table comparing Orthodox Christianity with Naturalism and Gnosticism. These group Bible studies are a recommended component of any evangelistic, catechetical, or small-group fellowship program in any English-speaking Orthodox Christian parish, whether OCA, Greek, Russian, Serbian, Antiochian, Rumanian, Bulgarian, Finnish, Georgian, Coptic, Syrian, Ethiopian, Armenian, or some other. Protestant pastors wishing to transition their church toward union with the Orthodox Church will also find this book to be a valuable resource. Along with being used with adults, the book can also be used as curriculum for a high school Sunday School class or discussion group. Everything you need to facilitate an Orthodox Group Bible Discussion is contained in this facilitator's manual