The Bethel Bible Series is a two-year in-depth study of the Old and New Testaments that makes use of forty colorful pictures that communicate the main themes of the Scriptures.
Settings
Seminar in small or large groups
Styles of Learning
Seminar, Research, Visual Aids (one image for each week), Memorisation of Scripture, leadership development.
Number of sessions
42 - six seven week blocks. Participants can start the course at the beginning of any of the six blocks.
Length of sessions
2 1/2 hours
Aims
The mission of the Bethel Series is to lead members of a local church into disciplined study of Scripture in such a way that they encounter the Living Christ.
Theological Perspective
Conservative Evangelical
Age Group
Adult
Where to purchase
Directly from Bethel in USA (see web site below)
Cost
See web site for catalogue.
Specific leadership requirements
Before the program can be presented to the leaders of a congregation, the minister or another staff member attends an Orientation and Training Clinic. Ideally a member of staff does the training and comes back to take congregational leaders through the course over two years. After two years those lay leaders lead other members of the congregation in the Bethel Series.
Country of origin
United States
Available in languages other than English
Korean, Japanese, Russian, Spanish, German, and soon Chinese
Resources provided
Teacher/discipleship training set with Old Testament & New Testament binders, Extra assignments, Set of large posters, Pocket picture/concept cards, Bulletin covers, Administrator’s manual and video for congregational phase, Bible Tutor CD Rom, Christian History Tutor CD Rom, Bethel Series PowerPoint on CD Rom, Overhead Transparency Set, Paul’s Journeys on Overheads, Personal Map Set. The resources have been updated in the last five years.
Technology needed
Overhead Projector for transparencies, Computer & Projector if using PowerPoint.
Web site
http://www.bethelseries.org/
Bethel Contact for Australia
Canon Graeme MacRobb
Adult Christian Education Foundation of Australia
Covenant House
10 Eisenhower Street
Warragul Victoria 3820
Australia
E-mail: graeme@acef.org.au
Phone: (03) 5623-4654
Uniting Church Congregations that have used the Bethel Bible Series
Logan
Aitkenvale used Bethel in the 1980s
Glebe Rd used Bethel in the 1990s
Robina Surfers Paradise
Content
Old Testament:
Introduction
Creation and its Concepts
Divine Intentions
Disharmony
Pronouncment of a Destiny
Ardent Dream of a Destiny
United for a Destiny
An Emerging Nation
A Destiny Ensured
Empowered for a Destiny
The Conquest
Judges Forestall Threats
The Philistine Menace
The United Kingdom
Recalling a Destiny
The Crumbling North
The Crumbling South
Pointing Ahead
The Exile
History is the Judgment of God
The Restoration
6 responses so far ↓
1 Graham Beattie // Jun 21, 2006 at 5:41 pm
Yes Duncan, I used the Bethel Bible Series in the mid 1980s when I was at Griffith in NSW, Australia. We had about 40 people doing it over 2 courses, one day group and one evening. However, I haven’t used it since so would not be familiar with recent updates.
We found it great, particularly in helping folk gain a perspective on the Old Testament and especially its teaching and history. In my opinion Bethel’s strength lay in providing an historical window into scripture particularly against the backdrop of the course’s central theme of ‘blessed to be a blessing’. As a byproduct, it also helped people gain some confidence in sharing their ideas in a group context.
However, I found Bethel not to be as helpful when addressing the New Testament, particularly outside the Gospels and Acts. The style of Bethel doesn’t seem to work as well with Paul’s writings and other scriptures that are more abstract than story based.
The course is quite rigorous and in my view would only be suitable for those prepared to put in the ‘hard yards’. There’s considerable memorisation (at least in the original version)and reading required.
2 Graham Slaughter // Jun 21, 2006 at 5:42 pm
I did Bethel about ten years ago and found it tremendously helpful at the time. Because of its style, I say it’s definitely for folk who are in it for the long haul and may be difficult for people to commit to given people’s increasingly busy lifestyles. It’s an in depth study of the Bible and I still remember some of the concepts when I come across them such as “Blessed to be a blessing” as per the Genesis reading set down for this Sunday. Bethel is an overview of the Bible and for that reason helps participants make sense of Biblical history as it unfolds throughout the various books of the Old and New Testaments. Because of the amount of homework, depth and style of learning that’s required, plus the degree of commitment needed, Bethel at either of its two levels wouldn’t be for everyone.
3 Jenny Brecknell // Jun 21, 2006 at 5:43 pm
I would agree with everything the two Grahams say. I did Bethel in the 1980s - Chapel Hill UC had a Bethel program going all through the 80s - and found it provided an excellent knowledge base for everything I’ve done since, through its overview of the whole of the Scriptures. But it’s not for the faint-hearted!
I’ve also done the Disciple Bible Study course, which also provides a good overview of the Scriptures and a sound knowledge of the flow of Biblical history, without being quite so demanding. Where Bethel requires a two-year commitment, the foundational Disciple course requires only one.
The approaches are different. Bethel has a strong emphasis on learning “about” the Scriptures, ie, gaining a strong knowledge base, and it involves a lot of memorisation of concepts, texts, etc. The emphasis is deliberate & comes out of a belief that sound knowledge is the basis for good praxis. Disciple seeks more intentionally to integrate learning “about” the text and getting “involved with” the text, and constantly challenges to live out what is learned. The last two sessions of the foundational course focus on identifying the participants’ gifts and the areas of the life of the church where they might consider offering to serve. It’s a lovely time - some really discerning affirmations come out of it, as the participants encourage one another.
Another difference: While the foundational Disciple course is not as thorough or demanding as Bethel, the Disciple course has three other levels (one year each) which you can go on to if you want to, and by the time you’ve done them all, you’ve studied just about every book in the Bible in depth. There’s also a youth version of the basic course. And very soon - in the second half of this year - there will be two new introductory courses, each eight weeks long, on the OT and NT, so people can get a taste before they make the commitment to the whole year course.
Both courses are excellent and make a great contribution to growing a more biblically literate church.
4 Graeme MacRobb // Jun 21, 2006 at 5:45 pm
Another Graeme - Graeme MacRobb now in charge of the Bethel Bible Series in australia. We have just completed an exhustive upgrade and improvement of the Old Testament Bethel program for use in australia. Next month we start on the equally exhaustive upgrade of the New Testament year. I agree with theose who mentioned the limitations in the New Testament section - these problems are already being addressed.
ACEF Australia, distributors of the Bethel Series in Australia and New Zealand now has anew National Office and Distribution Centre at Warragul in victoria. The number of churches around australia has doubled in the past year and we look forward to that happening again in the next.
If you have been aBethel teacher we would love to hear from you and keep in touch (ring (03)5623 4654 or email me graeme@acef.org.au. If you would like to know more about running the Bethel Series in your church contact us and we will help you get ti going and give you support as you run the program.
I look forward to heaaing from you.
Graeme MacRobb
Hon. National director
ACEF australia
5 frank niero // Mar 13, 2007 at 4:26 pm
dear director
thank you for conducting the Bethel course, I am a seasoned Christian and doing it at the FULL BLESSING CHURCH IN FRANKSTON VICTORIA with rev. BOB PAYNE, he is wonderfully equipped and I am enjoing it immensly, please see my web site if you wish in the back of my book I make reference to 2 CHRISTIAN COURSES - BETHEL AND ALPHA, PLEASE is there a church finder for bethel so that I can include it on my reference…. thank you and GOD BLESS..your brother in christ frank niero.
6 suzanne popp // Jul 18, 2007 at 10:37 am
I have the illustrations to the Bethel Bible series and will be taking them to Zambia for an adult literacy class. I have never taken the class and would appreciate any instruction or advice as I am leaving this July 27th for Africa.
Description of Illustrations
Lessons pertaining to each.
Easy guide to leave with the bible teacher at our mission school. Thank you and God bless you.
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