Ancient-Future Bible Study incorporates contemporary study of the Bible with an experience of the church's most ancient way of reading Scripture, lectio divina. This time-honored practice consists of five basic movements: biblical study (lectio), reflection (meditatio), prayer (oratio), discernment (contemplatio), and contemplative action (operatio). In six clearly written volumes, bestselling author Stephen Binz helps readers study the Bible in a way that leads to spiritual transformation and brings them closer to God.
Binz leads readers in a vivid study of key biblical characters, including Abraham, Paul, Peter, David, the women of the Torah, and the women of the Gospels. He shows all Christians who desire to have a transforming experience with the inspired Word of God how studying Scripture through lectio divina can enrich their discipleship. This ecumenical Bible study, designed for use by individuals or groups, includes questions for personal reflection and suggested action. Each volume includes leader's notes for guiding a study over the course of six sessions.

Bestselling author and biblical scholar Stephen J. Binz presents the first book to combine the ancient Western practice of lectio divina (sacred reading) with the lesser-known Eastern Orthodox tradition of visio divina (sacred seeing). Binz offers a life-changing way to pray through twenty gospel readings paired with beautiful, never-before-published contemporary icons. St. Benedict urged his followers to listen to God's Word "with the ear of the heart." Eastern Orthodox spiritual writers focused on gazing at icons, as St. Paul said, with "the eyes of the heart." Popular speaker and retreat leader Stephen J. Binz draws on the richness of both traditions by combining lectio and visio divina. Contemplation is more difficult than ever during this digital age and Binz offers a proven and profound way to cut through the noise and pray the gospels. He walks you through six steps: reading, seeing, meditating, praying, contemplating, and acting. Binz also provides simple suggestions for self-reflection that can lead to practical changes in your everyday life. The book's twenty Bible passages-starting with the Annunciation and ending with Pentecost-are paired with full-color icons of each story.

Learn how the power of scripture can renew our lives, AND make us living witnesses of the Gospel. Inspired and influenced by Pope John Paul II, Pope Benedict XVI, and Pope Francis.

An appreciation of the feasts of Judaism will help Christians understand modern Judaism and the faith of Jesus. The biblical festivals are celebrations of God's saving actions for all generations. In the Jewish rituals, the past becomes present and all partake of the saving graces of God's redemption. Here you will study the pilgrim feasts of Passover, Pentecost, and Booths, the High Holy Days of Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur, the minor feasts of the Ninth of Ov, Purim, and Hanukkah, and the Sabbath and Jubilee Year. Understand the roots of the Christian faith in the faith of our elder brothers and sisters in Judaism.

Open the Bible with newcomers and experienced students alike. Both will find much to learn and explore in this helpful introductory study. Stephen Binz offers clear, practical explanations that will make the Bible more familiar, giving readers a sense of the Bible's structure, a better understanding of its various themes and writing styles, and insight into how to interpret the Bible within the Catholic tradition. This study also provides direction in how to choose a Bible, how to navigate its contents, and how to get the most out of Bible study. Commentary, study and reflection questions, prayers, and access to online lectures are included. 6 lessons.

Part Two of this study covers the final 25 chapters of Exodus. Beginning with the insecurity of the desert wanderings, to encountering God on Sinai and then constructing the tent of dwelling, God's people learn what it means to be part of a covenant with the one who liberates and also gives the Law to guide and direct them. 4 lessons.

The exodus is the central event of the Old Testament, giving meaning to everything else we find in its pages. Part One of this study takes us through the first fifteen chapters of Exodus-from slavery to the call of Moses, from plagues to crossing the sea, from captivity to freedom in the Sinai. Discover that God hears those who are beaten down and liberates those who are in need of his justice. 5 lessons.

Beginning with the Gospels and Acts and continuing through the letters and final book of the Bible, Panorama of the New Testament invites us into familiar scenes but with a wide angle lens to capture the big picture. For newcomers to Bible study, this is a wonderful place to begin to put the pieces together; for seasoned Bible students, this study identifies major themes that emerge throughout the New Testament books. Commentary, study and reflection questions, prayer and access to recorded lectures are included. 4 lessons.

Explore the sweeping saga of God's people and their sacred journey. Panorama of the Old Testament surveys the variety of books found in the Old Testament. Uncover interwoven themes, the background of familiar characters and God's overall plan of salvation. A perfect way to begin a great adventure or step back and see where you have been in your study of the Bible. Commentary, study and reflection questions, prayer and access to recorded lectures are included. 4 sessions.

While every character, story, and book of Scripture is significant in itself, stepping back for a broad, panoramic view of the entire Bible helps us to take in and understand God's single, unified plan for human history. In this second of a two-part panorama of the Bible, noted Scripture scholar Stephen Binz shows us how all of the Bible's many parts fit together in a grand and awesome narrative. With a clear vision of this sweeping unity, we can then understand far better our own place within the storyline and our own personal role within the mission of God.

While every character, story, and book of Scripture is significant in itself, stepping back for a broad, panoramic view of the entire Bible helps us to take in and understand God's single, unified plan for human history. In this first of a two-part panorama of the Bible, noted Scripture scholar Stephen Binz shows us how all of the Bible's many parts fit together in a grand and awesome narrative. With a clear vision of this sweeping unity, we can then understand far better our own place within the storyline and our own personal role within the mission of God.

Catholics are often reluctant to begin reading the Bible, this is for various reasons. Perhaps we hang on to the notion that the Bible is a book meant for display, for recording the dates of family members ' births, baptisms, marriages, and deaths. Or perhaps we once attempted to read the Bible and discovered there a culture entirely different from ours 'and came to the conclusion that the Bible had nothing relevant to say to us in this place and time. Attentive to these and the many other reasons Catholics might give for not reading Scripture, Stephen Binz offers practical explanations that will make the Bible less foreign and more familiar.

"Introduction to the Bible" allows readers to discover how the Bible came to be, how to choose a Bible translation, how to interpret the Bible within Catholic tradition, and how to benefit the most from Bible study. Readers will find practical explanations that will make the Bible less foreign and more familiar.

"Stephen J. Binz is a Catholic biblical scholar, speaker, and counselor. He did graduate studies at the Pontifical Biblical Institute in Rome and is a member of the Catholic Biblical Association and the Society of Biblical Literature. Binz is the author of numerous books on the Bible, including "The Passion and Resurrection Narratives of Jesus "and" The God of Freedom and Life, "both published by Liturgical Press."

2008 Catholic Press Association Award Winner
Los catalicos muchas veces somos renuentes a comenzar aleer la Biblia por varias razones. Quizas guardamos la nocian de que la Biblia es un libro destinado para un mostrador, para apuntar las fechas de nacimiento, bautismo, casamiento y muerte de los miembros de la familia. O tal vez una vez intentamos leer la Biblia y descubrimos en ella una cultura completamente diferente ala nuestra y por lo tanto llegamos ala conclusian de que la Biblia no contena-a nada relevante para nosotros en este lugar y este tiempo. Prestando atencian a astas y lasmuchas otras razones que puedan dar los catalicos por no leer las Sagradas Escrituras, Stephen Binz ofrece explicaciones practicas, las cuales convierten ala Biblia en algo menos extraano y mas familiar.

"Introduccian ala Biblia" permite que sus lectores descubran camo se desarrollala Biblia y camo escoger una traduccian de la Biblia, interpretala dentro de la tradician catalica y beneficiarse lo mas posible del estudio de ella. De mayor importancia, sin embargo, es que los lectores llegaran a entender el poder transformativo de la palabra de Dios mientras conocen mas a-ntimamente la Palabra Encarnada, Jesucristo.

"Stephen J. Binz es erudito, conferenciante yconsejero ba-blico y catalico. Completa sus estudios graduados en el Instituto Ba-blico Pontifical en Roma y es miembro de la Asociacian Ba-blica Catalica y la Sociedad de Literatura Ba-blica. Binz es el autor de numerosos libros sobre la Biblia, incluyendo "Las narrativas de pasian y resurreccian de Jesas y El Dios de libertad y vida," ambos publicados por laliturgical Press (Prensalitargica). "