The Bible is not a single book in the usual sense, but a collection of books or writings. In it one finds: prayers, stories, poetry, battle reports, love songs, and letters. All of the different types of writings in the Bible have one thing in common - GOD! Each records in some way the living experience of the Chosen People.

Basically, we come to know God in three ways, through:

• Our own personal experience of Him
• Through the living faith of the community
• Through the institutionalized faith of the Church.

The Sacred Scriptures are the words of ordinary people like you and me, people who are trying to tell us who God is for them and how God has touched their lives. Sometimes they describe the God-experience symbolically. The prophet Isaiah (Is 6) says, that he saw God seated on a high throne, with the train of his robe so long it filled the temple. He reported that an angel from beside God's throne took a burning ember from the altar and touched his mouth with it. After which, he was sent out to speak God's words to his people. The prophet Ezekiel (Ez 2-3) describes an experience in which he was commanded to eat a scroll covered with God's words.

a) What do you think each prophet (Isaiah and Ezechiel) was trying to say?

Sometimes the writers capture the experience in a story, like the story of Jonah and the whale, or in a parable, like the parable of the prodigal son.

b).Read the story of Jonah and the whale (Jon 1:17-2:10) and the parable of the prodigal son (Lk 15:11-32). What do you think the authors were saying about their God-experience?

Sometimes the writers offer praise for God's presence - for the help and blessings God provides. Sometimes they scold God for not being there for them.

It isn't easy to read the scriptures. They were written by people who lived centuries ago in a culture very different from ours. But they were written by real people who experienced God much as we do - vaguely and mysteriously, but consistently and unmistakably. When we read their words with prayerful attention, they speak to our hearts. The ancient words of the Bible help us to name our own inner experience of God.

Bible Knowledge Quiz

Answer each of the questions below to test your knowledge of the Bible.

1. FACT or FICTION The word "bible" means "book".

2. FACT or FICTION The Bible is split into two main sections, the Old Testament and the New Testament.

3. FACT or FICTION The Old Testament tells us about the life of Jesus.

4. FACT or FICTION The Bible is only one book.

5. FACT or FICTION Words to songs can be found in the Bible.

6. FACT or FICTION There are four gospels.

7. FACT or FICTION The word "Gospel" means "The Living Faith".

8. FACT or FICTION Letters written by the apostles can be found in the Bible.

9. FACT or FICTION Catholics and Protestants use the same Bible.

10. FACT or FICTION The Bible evolved over the course of 44 generations.

11. FACT or FICTION Only the Bible talks of the existence of Jesus.

12. FACT or FICTION The Bible contains everything we need to know about our faith.

13. Name the four Gospel writers

Go to the Answer Page; Print the page and save for quick reference.
It should be placed in your Confirmation folder.

Complete the online assignment form:

Year I - Session 7

Famous Quotes
Look up the following Scripture passages and type in the space provided.  Have you ever heard the passage used? In what context?