OT survey/ study: any recommendations?

[StaceyL in Canada]

This year we did a NT survey, using Encountering the New Testament. Son #2 will be heading to private Christian school for gr 12 next year (his choice, but I agree!), having covered the NT this way and the OT the year before with the more literary approach of A House for His Name. Son #3 will still be home next year and in gr 10. He came along for the ride when we used AHFHN, but I doubt that much stuck...and that was gr 8. If he ends up attending the same Christian school further down the road, he will also have to have done an OT study. Any suggestions re what you may have used and liked? TIA.

[Lori D.]

Probably not an option for you, but I *loved* the Old Testament surveys through Bible Study Fellowship BSF). There are 3 of them (each a 1-year long study):

- Genesis
- Life of Moses (Exodus, Numbers, Leviticus, Deuteronomy)
- History of Israel and the Minor Prophets (12 books of the Old Testament)

BSF in some cities also includes classes for young adults. You can check it out at: www.bsfinternational.org/

Similar to BSF in approach (some historical/doctrinal background and inductive study with personal application) are the Kay Arthur Precept studies. Here's a chart of her OT ones: http://www.precept.org.au/bible_studies_pup_ot.html


Finally, here's one I've not used, but looks interesting: Grapevine Studies
http://www.currclick.com/product_info.php?products_id=529&it=1&filters=0_0&manufacturers_id=29


BEST of luck, Stacey! Warmest regards, Lori D.

[JenninMN]

I read once that the Explorer Bible studies are similar to the BSF bible studies. Does anyone know if that is true? Has anyone used the Explorer studies for high school credit?

Jennifer

[StaceyL in Canada]

I read once that the Explorer Bible studies are similar to the BSF bible studies. Does anyone know if that is true? Has anyone used the Explorer studies for high school credit?

Jennifer

Actually, we used some of these years ago. They were pretty intense, even at the younger levels, with quite a bit of scripture reading followed by many questions. We found it hard to keep up with it because it took up to an hour a day.

[JenninMN]

Thank you.

Jennifer

[Julie in MN]

I just had my older dd read the Old Testament, and we used the Greenleaf Guide to add a few questions to keep alert, and it offered a few connections to the chronology. That way, we got the most "Bible" in and less time spent on workbook questions.

For my younger son, we're using My Father's World, and for OT they use something called Taking the Old Testament Challenge. I haven't used it yet, but it appears to also meet my goals for reading the Bible.

P.S. I know another mom who just had a list of questions for her son to write on after reading each book of the Bible.

[laughing lioness]

Have you looked at MP's Christian Studies I & II? They are intended for eled students doing one a year but we are doing I, II, III this year as an O.T. and N.T. survey for high school. They have lots of reading, questions, maps, memory work. It's a basic but good overview.

[Lori D.]

Jennifer: We used an Explorer's Bible Study (Quest level for gr. 7-12) last year with our then 8th and 9th grade boys. It was the Early History of Israel study, which covered quite a few Old Testament books -- too many, I thought, so often the study was too shallow in my opinion.

In some ways the Explorer's Bible Study was like BSF -- several helpful pages of background info notes, but too many of the questions were "fill in the blank" types to me, rather than actual thinking/discussion or application questions (which BSF usually has quite a few of).

We slowed the study down, usually taking 2-3 weeks to finish a lesson (also only taking about 30 minutes to get partway through a less on -- we didn't have an hour a day to devote to it). The study was written to be done in 1 week, and since we slowed it down, we had time to really think about, discuss and "chew on" the spiritual meanings within the Scripture passages being read. It took us about 18 months to complete the study (written for 32-weeks). It was good; we finished it; and I'm glad we did it -- but I'd still looking for a "more perfect" match out there.

See sample pages and decide for yourself at: www.explorerbiblestudy.org


Hope that helps! Warmly, Lori D.