Fall Bible Study

Galatians: Set Free to Live

The most important question a Christian can ask is: “What must we do to be saved?” Paul’s letter to the Galatians provides the answer and reveals the merciful love God the Father has for his children. The Galatians: Set Free to Live study speaks of the extraordinary gift of salvation Jesus has won for us and explains how we can unite ourselves to Christ’s redeeming sacrifice through faith and love.

In this 8-session program, presenter Jeff Cavins explains how Christ fulfilled the Law and set us free to live in the Spirit. Learn what “justification” means and how faith and works are an integral part of it. Discover how we become heirs to the promises and blessings of Christ through faith.

Spring Bible Study
 

Why We Worship & Why We Confess
 

 by Dr. Brant Pitre

Why We Worship

Christians today have lots of different opinions about what "worship" should look like. Some think it should be all preaching, others think it should be 'entertaining', still others think it's all about the music. But what does the Bible say about worship? And why do Catholics do what they do at Mass? Why all the standing, sitting, kneeling, and repetition? Where does it all come from?

In this important series, Dr. Brant Pitre takes you on a scriptural tour of topics such as:

The Shape of Worship: Who determines how we worship? God or us? 
The Meaning of Sacrifice: Why did God demand animal sacrifice in the Old Testament? What was the meaning of blood sacrifice? Does it play any role in Christian worship today? 
The Tabernacle of Moses:  What did worship look like in the Old Testament? How does it parallel the Mass today?
The Book of Revelation:  What does worship look like in Heaven? How does Revelation reveal the Mass?
The Jewish Passover: What was Passover worship like at the time of Jesus? Why was it so important, and how does it parallel Catholic worship today?
The Last Supper and the Death of Christ: Why did Jesus choose to die during the Passover? How did his death fulfill the Jewish sacrifices in the Temple?
The Biblical Roots of the Mass: How does the Bible unlock the mysteries behind the words and actions in the Mass?

Many Catholics know what to do at Mass, but not why we do it. And many non-Catholics are confused by the rituals and words of the Mass. Some even think that most of the Mass is just 'made up'--a tradition of men. Nothing could be further from the truth. If you've ever wondered about whether or not the Mass is biblical, then look no further: Why We Worship is the perfect resource for parishes, RCIA programs, Bible studies--for anyone who wants to understand the Bible really says about the mystery and meaning of worship.

Why We Confess

When it comes to the Catholic Church in our time, perhaps the most frequently asked question is: "Why do I have to confess my sins to a priest?" It is often followed by two others: "Why can't I just go straight to God? Where is the sacrament of confession in the Bible?"

In Why We Confess, Dr. Brant Pitre gives an eye-opening Bible study on the origins and meaning of the Sacrament of Reconciliation, commonly known as "Confession." In this two-part Bible Study, you will learn about:

• The Fall of Adam and Eve and the First "Confession"
• Confession of Sins to a Priest in the Old Testament
• John's Baptism of Repentance and Confession of Sins
• The link between Jesus' Miraculous Healings and the Sacrament of Reconciliation
• The Parable of the Prodigal Son
• When Jesus Gave the Apostles the Power to Absolve and Retain Sins
• The Practice of Confession in the Early Church

Many of us know Catholics who haven't been to Confession in years, even decades. Maybe you are one of them. Whoever you are -- if you've ever wondered about the biblical roots of this sacrament, then Why We Confess is the Bible Study for you.

As you'll discover, Jesus was (quite literally) dying to institute the sacrament of Confession as an essential part of God's plan for "reconciling the world to himself" (2 Corinthians 5:19).