LINCOLN (SNR) – In a strategic effort to serve interested students who prefer daytime classes, the Emmaus Institute will offer three one-week interterm classes during January.
Each class will meet five consecutive mornings, Monday through Friday, from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.
The first, “Introduction to the Bible I: What It Is and How We Got It,” will be held Jan. 10-14. This foundational course, taught by Emmaus president Dr. Vern Steiner, is designed to familiarize students with the Bible generally.
“Each of the five sessions aims at helping students become better acquainted with the Bible,” he explained, “removing some of its ‘foreignness’ and helping us feel more at home in its pages, so that we might read, study, pray, live, and proclaim the Sacred Scriptures more confidently.”
Included also are discussions on why Catholic Bibles are bigger than Protestant Bibles, how and why Bible versions vary, and a consideration of those parts of the Bible that are difficult and intimidating. This class will be held at the John XXIII Diocesan Center, 3700 Sheridan Blvd., Lincoln.
“Reading Scripture with the Fathers of the Church” will be taught Jan. 17-21 by associate teachers Chad Steiner and Joshua Burks. The course will focus on a selection of the Church’s most influential early figures, with a view to shedding light on how they understood the Bible.
“What can we glean from those who learned how to read Scripture from the apostles and their successors, especially in terms of their interpretive methods and insights?” Dr. Steiner asked. “How can Christians today be faithful to the Church’s paternal heritage–reading the Bible not merely with, but like, the fathers as our tutors and mentors?”
The location for this class will be announced at a later date.
The third course, “Introduction to the Bible II: What It Says and How to Read It,” will be held Jan. 24-28.
Building on the foundational concepts developed in part I, this course will press further into the actual practice of reading and studying the Bible.
“If the previous course focused on general familiarity with the Bible,” Dr. Steiner explained, “this course aims at equipping students with the tools for reading and understanding it responsibly.”
Adapting a procedure honed by Dr. Steiner over the past five decades of Bible study and teaching, this is a learn-how-to-do-it course for those who wish to grow in their ability to study Scripture as faithful and growing disciples of Christ. This class will be held at the John XXIII Diocesan Center.
All interested students with available daytime hours are encouraged to consider one or more of these opportunities for faith formation. Additional information and registration details are available at www.emmausinstitute.net. The registration deadline for each session is the Monday of each course week, at noon.
