Bible Study Is Not Just for Adults  September 2008

By Kelley Renz

Any age can study the Bible. Use Scott Hahn’s wonderful laminated six-sided resource Faith Charts: The Bible at a Glance to introduce many concepts about Scripture to your elementary-aged students. Teach them genre, authorship, chronology, “Old” and “New” Testament, inspiration, and many other facts about the most popular book of all time.

 Begin each “study” time with reverence. The Bible is not like any other book. The Bible’s words are alive, sacramental, grace-giving, if we read with open hearts and open minds. Have a special place for the Bible. Read it in a special place, Handle it with great care.

Begin with prayer: Lord Jesus Christ, Light of the World, shine the light of Your Holy Spirit upon me as I read Your Word. May my heart be open. May my mind be open. May I come to know You more in this reading. Amen.

 Read in small amounts. Do not take on a whole book at one sitting. Choose a book or letter or psalm or proverb or even one verse. Read it slowly. Read it repeatedly. Read it aloud. Ask God to help you understand and apply it to your own life.

 Know the background. Know something about the passage you are reading: Who is its intended audience? Does it make a difference if the passage is written before or after Jesus’ Incarnation?

 Test your interpretation. Find a good Catholic commentary on the passage you have selected. What do you learn from this commentary?

Just selecting one passage of Scripture and observing these steps of “Bible study” can go a long way toward teaching your students how to understand the Bible and motivating them to continue to read and pray with Scripture on their own!

Kelley Renz is a catechist and author of God Listens to Our Children (OSV).