May 16:

Watch  this video about Pharisees and Sadducees, sects of Jewish leaders that developed during the 400 years before Jesus was born.

Then using your Infographic #15, read about the many different religious groups that rose within Judaism during the 400 year period between the Old and New Testament events. You will find these at the bottom of the page. You will talk more about this during your zoom time.

May 9:

Watch a video about the Book of Proverbs. 

Look at infographic # 13:  Wisdom Works and read some of the boxes to learn more about wisdom literature in the Bible.

May 2:

Watch a video about the book of Psalms

Read Psalm 91 and pick an encouraging phrase from it to write on a notecard to mail to a friend who needs encouragement. Note that Verses 14-16 are God speaking to the author. Index cards for this activity were in your retreat bag.

April 25:

Major prophets spoke to the people before the Exile to warn them to change their ways. They also spoke to during the exile to offer hope.
Minor Prophets (called minor because of their short writings) spoke to the people as they returned to Israel.
Before Sunday:

Watch the videos below to hear the story of Nehemiah

Enact: Look at Infographic #11. Check out the right side of the page and read the boxes under Major or Minor. Why are some prophets called major and some minor?

Nehemiah part 1

Nehemiah part 2

April 18:

Where we left off: The people of God are in Exile in Babylon. God still sends prophets to share God’s message with them while in Exile. The Major Prophets speak to the people.
Before Sunday:

Watch this video about Jeremiah.  

Listen for why Jeremiah is called by God to announce the destruction of Judah. Then check out Infographic # 11-How to Spot a Prophet. Look for the names of the 4 Major Prophets. Pick one to read about using the Scriptures suggested on the infographic under each prophets’ name.

April 11:

Before Easter we looked at the Destruction of Jerusalem, the Temple and the exile of the people to foreign lands.  Now we turn to stories of what happened to some specific people during the Exile.

Before Sunday:  Watch a video about Daniel

Look at the top of the left side of infographic #10: Ditching God’s Directions. How many years were the Hebrew people in captivity? In how many books of the Bible can we read about the Babylonian exile?  

For April 4:

We will not Zoom this week. To learn about the Babylonian Exile, check out this interactive space. 

March 5:

Last week, we saw Saul and David anointed as Kings of Israel and saw how David found favor with God. The lineage of the Messiah, the anointed one, would come through David. 
This week we hear about what happened as Solomon, David’s son, takes the reins of the nation and the succession of kings that followed him.

Watch this video about I and II Kings

Listen for the criteria God used to decide if the king was good or bad.

Find the lineup of Rulers at the back of your NRSV Student Bible and read about King Jeroboam and King Rehoboam.

February 28:

Recap: The Israelites are living in a time of constant conflict. Judges rise up to lead battles but the people continue to commit idolatry and fall away from the One True God. Into this time come Ruth, Samuel and David, faithful followers of God.
Watch the video about Ruth.

As you watch, listen for the faithful human decisions that God uses for God’s plan to restore Naomi and who are the ancestors of the Messiah, Jesus. Write what you hear on the plaid part of Infographic #8-Piece by Piece.

February 21:

Recap: God promised to bless the Israelites, the descendants of Abraham, so they could be a blessing to the other nations. God delivered God’s people from slavery in Egypt and the people wandered in the wilderness as they learned to worship one True God and witness God’s provision for them.  This week we explore what happened when the people entered the land promised to them through their ancestor Abraham.

Watch the video on Joshua
Look at Map #4 in the NRSV Student Bible and identify the land of 11 sons of Jacob. Which son of Jacob was not given land and why? Check out Joshua 13:14 to learn the answer.

February 14

Watch these two videos and look up Matt. 22:37-39 and see how Jesus interprets the Law and gives us the most important law. Remember it and be ready to share it with a small group during your zoom.

Numbers

Deuteronomy 

February 7

Watch this video then use Map # 3 of your NRSV Student Bible to look at the geography of the Exodus and where the people traveled. Be prepared to talk about the topography of the area near Mt. Sinai. (to give perspective, Nashville is at 597 feet above sea level.)