Issue link: https://discover.cph.org/i/991802
8 6 Where We Learn about the Christian Faith Now that we have a good definition of the Christian faith, it's time to turn our attention to where we learn and get information about that faith: the Holy Bible. The Bible is a library of sixty-six different books combined into one volume. Read Question 6. In the open-book image below, write the central message of the Bible. What Is the Bible? Look over Question 7 for answers to the key questions about the Bible. 1. How long did it take to write the Bible? 2. Who, exactly, wrote the Bible? 3. Why is the Bible reliable for the Christian life and faith? Why Can We Be Confident That the Bible Is the Word of God? Many, many people want to say that Christians are foolish for believing that God's Word is true. When we read the words of Jesus recorded in the Bible, we see that Jesus Himself taught that God's Word is true. Read Question 8. Pick one of the three examples of how Jesus declared that all Scrip- ture is God's own Word. Use exactly fifteen of your own words to summarize that one example here. Where Does the Bible Get Its Power? The amazing thing about the Bible is that it is God's Word. Because of this, when the words of the Bible are received—through hearing, reading, or the Sacraments—it's God who is doing the work, not us! The Holy Spirit works by using the Word to create and keep faith in us as we receive it. Read Isaiah 55:10–11. Pick out one word or phrase from this passage. Why does this stick out to you? What does this tell you about how God's Word works? Digging Deeper Let students who struggle with learning work in pairs to read, find, and write the answers to these questions. As a quick formative assess- ment, after they've figured out the answers, quiz them on these three questions; or have them quiz one another to recall these basic facts about the Bible. If you want your learners to do a fifteen-word sum- mary (which is a great way to teach them to do some deep reading and get to the point), yet don't know where to start, try these steps: 1. Have the students read through the question and pick out four to five key words. 2. Have them include those key words as they write or dictate a short sentence summary—but without counting the words. 3. Then have them count their words and think through how they can refine their summary to exactly fifteen words. If you are pressed for time, this might be an appropriate thing to skip.