God’s Covenant Plan, Lesson 1.5

God’s Covenant Plan

Lesson One: How a Catholic Starts to Read the Bible

Lesson Objectives

  1. To learn how to read the Bible the way the Catholic Church has always read it.
  2. To understand the concepts of “salvation history” and “covenant” and their importance for reading the Bible.
  3. To learn the key points of the creation story in the Bible’s first book, Genesis.

V. Study Questions

1. Name and explain the three ways that God reveals Himself to us.
2. What does it mean to say that the Bible is inspired by God and free from error?
3. What’s the difference between a covenant and a contract?
4. What do covenants do and why are they important to understanding the Bible?
5. There may be two hints of the Trinity in Genesis 1. What are they?
6. How is God’s creation like the tabernacle and Temple He ordered to be built?
7. What is the meaning of the Sabbath day?

For prayer and reflection:

The Genesis creation story is the first of nine Scriptures that are read during the Easter Vigil Mass on Holy Saturday night. Read all the readings for the Vigil, the Responses and, if possible the prayers that go along with the readings. Ask God to help you see the pattern of salvation history that these readings unfold, using the prayer that’s said during the Vigil after the reading of Genesis and the Psalm:

Almighty and eternal God,
You created all things in wonderful beauty and order.
Help us now to perceive
how still more wonderful is the new creation
by which in the fullness of time
You redeemed your people
through the sacrifice of our Passover, Jesus Christ,
who lives and reigns forever and ever.

Amen.

The readings for the Easter Vigil are as follows:

Genesis 1:1-2:2 Response: Psalm 104:1-2,5-6,10-14,24,35
Genesis 22:1-18 Response: Psalm 16:5,8, 9-11
Exodus 14:15 -15:1 Response: Exodus 15:1-6,17-18
Isaiah 54:5-14 Response: Psalm 30:2-6,11-13
Isaiah 55:1-11 Response: Isaiah 12:2-3, 4, 5-6
Baruch 3:9-15, 32-4:4 Response: Psalm 19:8-10,11
Ezekiel 36:16-17, 18-28 Response: Psalm 42:2-5; 43:3-4
Romans 6:3-11 Response: Psalm 118:1-2, 16-17, 22-23
Matthew 28:1-10 (Year A) or Mark 16:1-7 (Year B) or Luke 24:1-12 (Year C)

Begin Lesson 2

Lesson Outline

  1. Course Introduction and Overview
    1. Reading the Bible Cover-to-Cover
    2. Tips for On-Line Learning
  2. Going By the Book: How a Catholic Reads the Bible
    1. Divine Revelation: How God Speaks to Us
    2. Interpreting the Bible: The Three Rules
    3. Scripture is Divine: Inspiration
    4. Scripture is Human: The Bible as Religious Literature and History
  3. Salvation History: The Story the Bible Tells
    1. Salvation History and Covenants
    2. The Old and New Testament
  4. Starting in the Beginning: An Introduction to Genesis
    1. The Story of Creation
    2. The Word and the Sabbath
  5. Study Questions

Other Lessons

  • Lesson Two: Creation, Fall and Promise
    • Lesson Objectives
    1. To read Genesis 1-3 with understanding.
    2. To learn God’s “original intent” in creating man and woman.
    3. To understand the sin of Adam and Eve and understand God’s promise of a New Adam and a New Eve.

    Begin Lesson Two

  • Lesson Three: East of Eden, Headed to Egypt
    • Lesson Objectives
    1. To read Genesis 3-50 with understanding.
    2. To understand God’s covenants with Noah and with Abraham and to see how these covenants look forward to, and are fulfilled in the New Covenant of Jesus Christ.
    3. To appreciate the key figures in the story of Abraham - Melchizedek, circumcision, the sacrifice of Isaac - as they are interpreted in the Church’s tradition.

    Begin Lesson Three

  • Lesson Four: On the Way to the Promised Land
    • Lesson Objectives
    1. To read the Books of Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy with understanding.
    2. To understand God’s covenant with Israel at Sinai and to see how this covenant looks forward to and is fulfilled in the New Covenant of Jesus Christ.
    3. To appreciate the key figures and events - Moses, the Passover, and the vocation of Israel as “a kingdom of priests” - as they are interpreted in the Church’s tradition.

    Begin Lesson Four

  • Lesson Five: To Kingdom Come
    • Lesson Objectives
    1. To finish reading the Old Testament (from Joshua to Malachi) and to read with understanding.
    2. To understand the broad outlines of the history of Israel in light of God’s covenant with Abraham.
    3. To appreciate the crucial importance of God’s everlasting covenant with David.

    Begin Lesson Five

  • Lesson Six: Into the Kingdom of the Son
    • Lesson Objectives
    1. To read the New Testament with understanding.
    2. To understand how the New Testament depicts Jesus as the fulfillment of the covenants of the Old Testament.
    3. To appreciate, especially, the importance of God’s everlasting covenant with David for understanding the mission of Jesus and the Church as it is presented in the New Testament.

    Begin Lesson Six