It is time to share our next sneak peek, and it is one that with the passing of my Dad this week is nearer and dearer to my heart than ever. For Bible in the World History Guide, we will be scheduling The Most Important Thing You'll Ever Study: A Survey of the Old Testament by Starr Meade.
Starr Meade is the author of Grandpa's Box, which we carry and schedule in Preparing Hearts for His Glory. The Most Important Thing You'll Ever Study is an amazing course that guides students in a walk through the Bible from beginning to end to better understand the big picture. Understanding the big picture is truly an area where Starr Meade has been gifted by The Lord. Meade guides students to know what God is like, what He requires, and how to have a right relationship with Him through reading His precious Word. God chose to reveal Himself to us through the written Word, His Holy Book the Bible. To see God's overall message, the Bible is to be read like any other book... from beginning to end.
To gather the Bible's meaning, we need to study and analyze it. We need to think deeply about the it. Meade shares that each book of the Bible has at least one or more main arguments and important points to make. Following these arguments and points requires study. Of course, we need to turn this "head knowledge" into "heart knowledge," affecting how we live out of our lives. But, as God's Word says, "Knowledge (of God) is the beginning of wisdom."
Meade shares that she looks upon her survey of the Bible as a study. This study is based upon reading God's Word each day and studying it. The focus is on seeing the Bible as a book, with a main character that is God Himself. In His Book, he reveals His own character. This leads us to ask as we read His Word, "What does God do in the story? What do we learn from Him about what He does?"
Next, Meade shares that we need to understand that each book of the Bible was written by a human author who had a reason (or intention) for writing his portion of the Scripture. This intention helped determine what was included in that particular book of the Bible. Even though all Scripture is God breathed, knowing to what audience and for what purpose the human author wrote the book helps us understand what he wrote.
Meade also reminds us that while the Bible is to be read and studied like a book, it is not just any book. This means that we cannot pick and choose what we believe or agree with as we read God's Book. Instead, all of our "beliefs, opinions, and preferences must bow before the truth that God reveals in Scripture." This is such an important distinction that sets study of God's Word apart from the study of other books!
Last, Meade reminds us that because of sin's effect upon us, we are in need of the Holy Spirit's help to grasp what God is saying in His Word and to be moved to obey it. "Real understanding requires the work of the Holy Spirit in our hearts." Apart from God, we will never truly understand His Word. Studying also requires hard work and diligence! God has good reason for each part that is included in Scripture. This means it is worth the work to get to know His Word well.
In our guide, we will schedule Bible study daily. The study will include reading God's Word and answering questions in the companion study guide. Meade's context directs the study and helps students delve more deeply into what God is saying and revealing about Himself in His Word.
Students will also have memory work that will be required to be memorized daily and recited at the end of each quarter. This memory work is still being selected but will most likely include memorizing the names of the Books of the Bible in order, the Ten Commandments, the 23rd Psalm, and one other passage.
Students will continue to keep a daily prayer journal. They will also listen to hymns as part of their Bible time this year, using Selah's Greatest Hymns CD. This CD includes 15 wonderful hymns with liner notes that give either a little background on the hymn or give a personal note about the hymn from one of the members of Selah. Hymn study is a wonderful Charlotte Mason inspired part of the school day, and taking into account the maturing age of our students, the Selah Greatest Hymns CD brings hymn study to our students in a way that will speak to their hearts. Even if you are not a fan of Selah, this Greatest Hymns CD will probably become a favorite. I didn't own any Selah CDs, yet this particular one is so highly recommended so many places (and is so beloved by my mother and sisters) that I had to include it. It speaks to my heart now too!
Hymns included are as follows:
Be Thou My Vision
Great Is Thy Faithfulness
Bika Mono Ve (Pass Me Not, O Gentle Savior)/It Is Well With My Soul
There is a Fountain
Amazing Grace
How Great Thou Art
His Eye is on the Sparrow
Be Still my Soul/What a Friend We Have in Jesus
By and By
When I Survey the Wondrous Cross
Part the Waters/I Need Thee Every Hour
Precious Lord, Take My Hand/Just a Closer Walk With Thee
There is Power in the Blood
O Sacred Head Now Wounded
Be Thou Near to Me (with Jim Brickman)
Students will earn one full credit of Bible: Old Testament Survey by completing the study plan I've outlined above. The plan includes Scripture reading, studying, answering questions, memorizing, recording entries in a prayer journal, and hymn study.
Blessings,
Carrie
What an excellent pairing with the World History guide!! I can hardly wait!!