Ann has led this class many times, generally hosted by a particular parish community (in person or online). Invite her to bring the course to your own church!
This class of six weekly sessions is for anyone who has any interest in studying the Bible, either for the first time or in greater depth than in the past. It is an excellent way to encounter Jesus in a new way, experiencing the entire accounts of his life as passed down to us. It helps newcomers to scripture get a sense of how to begin reading the Bible, as well as giving a great deal of more "academic" background for those who are hungering for that.
During the course, class participants are asked to read all four gospels in their entirety in consecutive weeks. (It's not as hard as it sounds!) For those who have never done this before, it is a very eye-opening experience. Students in the past were surprised to discover some things that were in the Gospels that they didn't know were included and some things that weren't in them that they assumed were. Also, they experienced a sense of empowerment in "seeing for themselves" what is in the Gospels rather than having someone else tell them what the Gospels are about.
We spend time each week discussing the history of the Gospels, for example: Who were Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John anyway? When did they write the Gospels? Who did they write them for? Why did they include or exclude what they did? What are their different Christologies? Why are Matthew, Mark, and Luke’s Gospels so similar, and why is John’s so different?
The class includes slide presentations, handouts, and class discussion.
My rates are negotiable depending on the needs of the hiring party, but they typically fall in the range of $100-150 per hour, depending on topic, distance, and prep time.
We are offering a six week "Overview of the Four Gospels" class taught by Ann Naffziger, MA, MDiv.
Whether you’ve never cracked open that family Bible on your mantle or you have some background with Bible study groups or scripture classes, this course has something for everyone. From the very basics ("Who were Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, and when did they write the gospels anyway?") to more complex questions ("Why is Jesus portrayed so differently in each gospel?" and "What are the apocryphal gospels?"), we’ll explore the gospels in an exciting and thought-provoking manner.
You’re guaranteed to learn something new and you’ll come away with greater insights about who Jesus is/can be for you. There will be no "homework" except that the class will read each gospel in its entirety during the course. (It's not as hard as it sounds!).