Covenant Love, Lesson 2.5

Covenant Love: Introducing the Biblical Worldview

Lesson Two: From Sabbath to Flood

Lesson Objectives

  1. To read Genesis 1-12 with understanding.
  2. To learn the meaning of the first two covenants of salvation history - the Sabbath, and the covenant made with Noah.
  3. To begin to understand the "patterns" of biblical history.

V. Study Questions

1. What does it mean to say that the Bible teaches us "religious" truth?

2. What is the goal and purpose of creation, according to Pope Benedict?

3. What is God's "divine teaching style"?

4. What are the two images that the Scripture uses to describe God's love and the relationship He desires with the human race?

For prayer and reflection:

The Mass readings for the First Sunday of Lent (Cycle B) are Genesis 9:8-15; Psalm 25:4-9; 1 Peter 3:18-22; Mark 1:12-15. Read the texts in order and pray for the Lord's help in hearing the connections that the Church wants us to hear. Ask especially for help in understanding the connections that the Church makes between the Flood and Baptism.

Begin Lesson 3

Lesson Outline

  1. Review and Overview
  2. How to Read Genesis
  3. Creating a Covenant of Love
    1. The Love Story of God and Humanity
    2. The Wedding in the Garden
    3. The Child-Like Image of Man
  4. A New Creation, A New Covenant
    1. Falling Towards a Flood
    2. Beginning With the Rain
    3. The Story of Two Names
  5. Study Questions

Other Lessons

  • Lesson One: The Master Key that Unlocks the Bible
    • Lesson Objectives
    1. To learn the "big-picture" overview of the Bible - the story that the Bible tells.
    2. To understand the concept of "covenant" and its importance for reading and interpreting the Bible.
    3. To learn in general detail the six major covenants in the Bible.

    Begin Lesson One

  • Lesson Three: Our Father, Abraham
    • Lesson Objectives
    1. To read Genesis 12-50 with understanding.
    2. To understand God’s covenant with Abraham and to see how that covenant is fulfilled in the New Covenant of Jesus Christ.
    3. To appreciate key figures and elements in the Abraham story - Melchizedek, circumcision, the sacrifice of Isaac - as they are interpreted in the Church’s tradition.

    Begin Lesson Three

  • Lesson Four: The First-Born Son of God
    • 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: A Throne For All Generations
    • 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: The New and Everlasting Covenant
    • 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