Living Biblically
The Bible has hundreds of guidelines for living. Is it possible to follow them all? Using the experiment of athiest A.J. Jacobs' book "The Year of Living Biblically", we'll explore some of the more obscure Biblical mandates, such as never trimming your beard or wearing clothes made of mixed fibers. We'll also discuss the life impact of trying to live under a literal Bible. We hope you'll see that it's a drastic change from typical American life, but even so, it's full of other rewards.
WEEK ONE: July 21 - "Laws abolished, or fulfilled?"
Did Jesus's sacrifice negate the laws of Moses? We'll discuss the scope of Jacobs' experiment to follow the entire Bible -- both old and new testaments -- and what value the ancient laws have to modern-day Christians. Week 1 topics, links and notes
WEEK TWO: July 28 - "What was God Thinking?" Part 1
We start to look at Jacobs' five most perplexing rules in the Bible. One is not to wear clothes made out of mixed fibers. Another involves specific punishment for wives who help their husbands too much in a fistfight. The other three, well, will be a surprise. What do these unusual regulations teach us about God? What was He thinking? We'll discuss. Week 2 topics, links and notes.
WEEK THREE: August 4 - "What was God Thinking?" Part 2
We tackle the last two of the five most perplexing rules in the Bible. Of all the ways that God could have chosen to distinguish the Jewish people, why'd he pick circumcision? And what does a perfect red cow have to do with anything? We'll discuss. Week 3 topics, links and notes.
WEEK FOUR: August 18 - "God's Big 10" Part 1
Most of us are familiar with the 10 commandments, but how do the Mosaic laws refine and clarify their true meaning? For example: Are you allowed to make a graven image of something that doesn't exist on heaven or earth? Hmm. We'll discuss the first two. Week 4 topics, links and notes.
WEEK FIVE: August 25 - "God's Big 10" Part 2
In this session, we'll discuss commandments 3-4, including the proper treatment of the Sabbath and God's name Week 5 topics, links and notes.
WEEK SIX: Sept 8 - "God's Big 10" Part 3
Honoring parents and not killing. How cut-and-dry are these commandments, really? God sanctions killing elsewhere, and tells children to not follow the ways of their parents in others. What did God really mean when these commands were set in place?Week 6 topics, links and notes.
WEEK SEVEN: Sept 22 - "God's Big 10" Part 4
Thou shalt not commit adultery, and thou shalt not steal. Are these commandments related? Can we successfully muddy up these nine simple words? Week 7 topics, links and notes.
WEEK EIGHT: Sept 29 - "God's Big 10" Part 5
We conclude our discussion on the big 10 by discussing wanting stuff that doesn't belong to us, and/or lying about it. Week 8 topics, links and notes.
WEEK NINE: October 20 - Christianity's Image Problem
Crusades, witch hunts, inquisitions, radical condemnations and abortion clinic bombings have often been our legacy. As Christians, how should we respond? Week 9 topics, links and notes.
WEEK TEN: October 27 - Hot Topics
Abortions should be banned and homosexuality condemned. These are issues that all Christians can agree on, right? We'll explore the basis for these Biblical "mandates". Since these are hot topics and we can't resist a metaphor, we'll be meeting in the kitchen for this study. You know the saying -- "If you can't stand the heat...."Week 10 topics, links and notes.
WEEK ELEVEN: November 3 - Hot Topics
On the day before the election of the next US president, we're going to finish the discussion we started last week talking about the Biblical basis for abortion. Week 11 topics, links and notes.
WEEK ELEVEN: November 10 - Attitude and Behavior
On this, the last week of the study, we'll discuss the idea of cognitive dissonance and the role of the Holy Spirit in transforming our hearts and attitudes.Week 12 topics, links and notes.
Read the review of "The Year of Living Biblically" at Amazon.com