I was just speaking to a woman who used to be a parish Director of Religious Education. She recounted a time when someone in her parish offered to teach a course in Biblical Greek. Some powers that were demurred, suggesting that no, that's not what people would want. They want to (wait for it) share their faith. Reflect.
She said, eh, let's try it.
It was the most popular adult education program she ever offered.
Are you surprised? I'm not - it's practical. People like practical. They like concrete. It's interesting. It gives people a chance to really do some study, try something new and grapple with Scripture texts in a profound way (I'd assume that the goal was probably working one's way through John, eventually) in a way far beyond going around a circle and sharing what it means to us. Endlessly. Because circles have no beginning and no end. Unfortunately.
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