The Bethel Bible Study: a class designed to take you from Genesis through Revelation in 2 years and learn about God's love for His creation in the process. If you've attended Bible studies that seem difficult to understand because you're unsure of the larger context or don't have a firm understanding of the Bible, the Bethel Bible study is designed to give you a comprehensive overview of God's word, including Old and New Testaments. It’s also a great way to fellowship within the Bel Air community and grow together as we learn.
The Bethel Bible Series is a unique overview approach of the Old and New Testaments. It's an excellent tool to establish a biblical knowledge base. In the process, the student lifts from Scripture the amazing story of how God has moved through history to bring about his plan of salvation. Herein lies the groundwork for a firm foundation of faith. The Bethel Series is a great first step.
Bethel Ongoing Classes:
(You must complete the six units in consecutive order)
Unit 3 - Sunday Afternoons, Begins April 13, 12:30 to 2:00, Room C302; Noralea Goodrow, Dan Slate and Jaci Verser, teachers. Contact Noralea for exact dates.
Noraleagoodrow@yahoo.com
Unit 3 - Tuesday Evenings, April 15 to June 3, 7:30 to 9:00, Room C204; David Solitare, David Decker and Bill Lomax, teachers.
David@solitarelaw.com
Unit 5 - Tuesday Evenings, April 15 to June 3, 7:30 to 9:00, Student Center; Elizabeth Chao, Brian Robinette and Rob Stevenson, teachers.
Brian.Robinette@nbcuni.com
Unit 6 - Tuesday Evenings, April 8 to May 20, 7:30 to 9:00, Room ; Fint Dille, Jo Anne Fogarty, Jack Fogarty and John Fogarty, teachers.
jafogarty@msn.com
For general information contact:
Jo Anne Fogarty at (310) 821-3114 or jafogarty@msn.com.
"With God all things are possible."
Matthew 19:26
Unit I: Creation
This is the beginning class which starts a person on the journey of learning the Bible as an Adult. It covers basic concepts of biblical study and explores Genesis through Exodus 20.
Unit I: Conquest
Continue following the journey of the ancient Israelites as they leave Egypt, take over Palestine, and form a united kingdom under David. The class covers Exodus through 1 Kings.
Unit III: Prophecy
This class investigates the people God called to speak His message to Israel. It covers portions of the major and minor prophets in the Old Testament.
New Testament Study
Unit IV: Incarnation
The wonder of Almighty God becoming human flesh and living amongst us is the focus of this class. It covers the gospel accounts, Matthew through John.
Unit V: Missions
The focus of this class is the study of the Acts of the Apostles and the expansion of the early Christian church.
Unit VI: Priesthood of Believers
This class looks at the call to every Christian as a servant of God and a part of the covenant community. It covers the Pauline epistles and other letters in the New Testament.
As a new Christian, I embarked on uncharted territory filled with new concepts; the Bethel Bible study illustrated the hows and whys of God's word. Through the weekly readings and the study, I began to understand a biblical foundation for my belief, which further validated it.
The two-year-long study starts with a glimpse of Eden and then tumbles into the Fall and concludes with Revelation. The class quickly moves through the entire Bible. Through the course, we learn the loving, but sometimes painful, revelation of God through the history of His people. What is truly amazing is that you'll see how times haven't changed and we as Christians still live in world and struggle with some of the same issues that affected people in Old and New Testament days.
The class is not a straight reading of the text, but a study that illustrates large concepts within the context of history, geography and what cultural backgrounds influenced the thinking of the authors. Through a series of maps, time-line chronologies and study guides, you'll cover the areas and peoples that the 12 tribes, Moses and Jesus encountered; all designed to reveal the big picture of what God is saying through His word.
The Bethel instructors also offer contemporary references for illustrations in Scripture with such modern-day authors as C.S. Lewis. So if you are interested in knowing why you believe what you believe, the Bethel Bible Study will give you the foundations.
--Janet Harold
The Creator of The Bethel Series
Bethel was originally authored by Harley Swiggum, founder of the Adult Christian Education Foundation. Since its introduction more than 25 years ago, Bethel has been offered in hundreds of churches in the United States, and in many countries around the world.
Weekly classes provide an opportunity for learning, questions and answers, fellowship, and student participation in an encouraging atmosphere. Professionally prepared study materials are distributed each week to aid in the learning process.
Bethel teachers are dedicated members of the Bel Air congregation who have undergone an intensive two-year leadership training program.
The Bethel Series at Bel Air
As Presbyterians who are known as "people of the Book," we underscore the importance of the Bible as the word of God, the book which provides what Emil Bruner calls "the soil from which all Christian faith grows." Again, from our Confession of 1967, we emphasize that:
The Scriptures are not a witness among others, but the witness without parallel. The church has received the books of the Old and New Testaments as prophetic and apostolic testimony in which it hears the word of God and by which its faith and obedience are nourished and regulated (9.27).
We take the Bible seriously at Bel Air and make its study foundational to all our preaching and teaching. Among many educational opportunities at Bel Air, we offer THE BETHEL SERIES as the starting place for all who want to understand the Bible and to allow its Author to nourish and regulate their faith and obedience. Why Bethel? It is a systematic, comprehensive overview which introduces the student to the whole of the Bible better than any course of which I am aware.
If you have never read through the Bible, or if you have been discouraged by "begats" and genealogies, strange admonitions, or Old Testament History, consider enrolling in Bethel. I can testify from personal experience in four different pastorates, this course can make your Bible reading come alive.
