The Problematic Bible Study
Held on Substack. You can join late!
If you have just joined, or join a little late, you won’t be getting the first Weekly Post by email, because it’s already out! Check it out here:
You’ll get all others by email going forward, once you’re signed up. And yes! You can join late, you’ll just have to do a little catch up.
The Bible Study weekly posts also don’t go to the main substack page, but instead to a separate tab to organize them.
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Alrighty! Information and Context about This Bible Study Below!
Why Am I Doing This?
People have been asking me on instagram to start a Bible Study, and I’ve said… yea… I mean that could be cool and all but, I dunno, I don’t really feel qualified?
Some other people responded that that didn’t matter… “God qualifies us,” or something… and I was like … yea, I mean, that sounds nice but...
Someone else said that they WANT my chill low-stakes unqualified Bible Study, because it doesn’t feel as daunting to them.
And then, just today, someone else reminded me that The Bible Recap is starting the Chronological New Testament on October 1st. And I thought…. hmmmmmmmmm. Perfect timing… and this way, there is a way to keep us on track and not off in demon-land (either fighting them, or being conned by them. hahaha.)
I started the Bible Recap podcast back in January, and I’d been slogging through the Old Testament, until I fell off the wagon some time in July. But I’d always been meaning to hop back on when the podcast got to the New Testament. I’ve been reading the New Testament on my own. I read the Gospels a few times (love them. seriously.). I’ve been listening to sermons on some of the different ‘letters’ at my church. I was in my church small group going through 1 Corinthians, but, I wanted the Bible Recap commentary to go along with the entire New Testament, and to go through in chronological order, which is unique.
So, what is The Bible Recap?? It’s a free podcast by Tara Leigh Cobble, that “recaps” and explains daily Bible readings, one Bible reading every single day for a year. The readings take you chronologically through the Bible. Meaning, it follows the story of the Bible, instead of just reading the books from start to finish. Which means you’re actually often hopping around a bit through the books, to keep the story chronological.
What this also means, is that if we are following the readings through the New Testament, it will start October 1st, and even December 31st!
“So You Think You’re a Bible Scholar Now Caroline?”
NooOooOooOOOOOoooOOOOOOOO. no.
I am not going to be holding this group as any sort of scholar/ authority/ expert. Yes I’ve done a lot of research in the past year, but there is always soooo much more to learn. I am facilitating this to have a place for conversation. That’s about it. I feel more comfortable knowing that we will all be listening to Tara Leigh every day, after every reading, so we can all trust that I’m not taking you totally rogue.
Actually, the Bible Recap has their own community for discussion on Patreon, which I encourage you join (also, or instead) if you want a bigger group that might actually know what they are talking about more than me… but, I’m still doing this anyway. For fun?
And I want the discussion MYSELF! I want to discuss! AND, I want to have the kick in the pants to do the readings every day.
Who is this for?
Anyone. Really. If you have been reading my posts about God/Jesus on here, or on instagram, and you think it would be fun to be in a low stakes Bible Study with me, then join.
Catholics. Protestants. Orthodox. Young. Old. Newbie. Seasoned Bible Reader. All I ask is that if you are well-versed, you be respectful of where people are in their God/Jesus process. And that if you’re a big newbie or still very skeptical, you join and discuss with an open mind.
Most of you probably know I was raised Catholic, but am currently attend a “Bible Based” non denominational church, and I’m still open and learning from both.
The Bible Recap is run/created by a Protestant, if you are Catholic. But I’ve listened to hours of her speaking at this point and she is very well versed in The Bible….
So far, many skeptical, curious, and hesitant newbies have joined, (and that was me last year, so I’m very excited to facilitate a space for all of the people in that headspace!) as well as many people who are extremely passionate or well versed in the Bible, and just want another chance to go through and discuss…
Where Will I Hold this Last Minute, Low Stakes Bible Study???
Here! On substack!!! All you have to do, is become a paid subscriber, which will give you the opportunity to comment on the posts, start your own reply topics, and reply to the daily chat threads in the substack app.
We will have weekly zoom meetings too, that I’ll record and send out to people who couldn’t attend live. More info below.
I considered a few different platforms, but I’m going to try substack first. I’m not 100% convinced that the community features are going to work well enough, but again… we should just try! We are already here!
If we want to eventually shift where the discussion is happening in the future, we always can.
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How to Join:
Become a paid subscriber if you aren’t already (it’s $7 a month). And once you are a paid subscriber, comment below on this post that you want to join the Bible Study.
Then comment below!!! I want to know who is joining, and how many people we have! (For now, discussion will be held in the comment replies of each weekly post, but I am going to reassess how well that is working at a certain point!)
Figure out where you want to listen to/watch the daily The Bible Recap content. And use the reading plan for the Chronological New Testament starting October 1st (that’s the bible app version, but you could get a hard copy too).
That’s it.
You can also donate a “pay what you can” to this “ministry” (christian jargon! help!) through my venmo or paypal if you want to, but having this be a $7/month base entry fee through substack is is the easiest (and cheapest ) way to run this, without getting another platform. The paywall will allow you guys to comment below posts and on the “chats” like a forum, without free subscribers being able to see your comments! The paywall adds a little exclusivity/privacy, while also keeping it cheap and accessible.
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We start Officially on October 1st… which is really soon.
It’s very low key! Low cost! Low stakes.
Will be having a kick-off call on Sunday October 1st at 1 pm EST, just to go over how it will all work.
Alright, paywalled further details below: