What is the Great Adventure?

The Great Adventure is a Catholic Bible learning system that makes the complex simple by teaching the story (the narrative) of the Bible. Every day, more and more people are encountering God’s Word through the methods taught in The Great Adventure.

Jeff Cavins developed The Great Adventure in 1984 when he realized that most people, despite their strong faith, did not grasp the “big picture” of the Bible. Though they knew selected stories, they were not able to connect them into a full narrative. His answer was to identify the books of the Bible that tell the story from beginning to end. By reading just these 14 “narrative” books, a chronological story emerges.

From this idea grew the immensely popular program, "The Bible Timeline," which teaches the story in a way that is easy to remember and helps people to continue reading Scripture on their own. Hundreds of thousands of Catholics have learned to read the Bible through this system, which provides a solid foundation for all other reading and study. Parishes around the world are finding renewed faith and increased involvement among parishioners whose lives have been changed by this exciting study series.

The St. Patrick’s Bible Study Ministry offers the following five bible studies of The Great Adventure series. Each weekly Study Session is presented via video DVD and is followed by group discussions. Not all are offered each year. See “Current Studies” below for studies being offered in 2011-2012.

"The Bible Timeline" - A clear understanding of the underlying Scriptural narrative is essential to all Bible reading and study, and for this reason The Bible Timeline is the first foundational study in The Great Adventure Bible Study Series. The Bible Timeline is an immensely rich study, diving deep into each time period of the Bible. Salvation history is covered from its beginning in Genesis through the coming of Christ and the establishment of the Catholic Church. A 24 week study (September thru May) presented via DVD video by Jeff Cavins. Registration fee - $50.00.

“Matthew: The King and His Kingdom” - This study shows how Jesus builds on the foundation laid in the Old Testament to inaugurate the kingdom of heaven on earth. For this reason, it is an ideal follow-up study to the basic narrative of Scripture taught in “The Bible Timeline.” A 24 week study (September thru May) presented via DVD video by Jeff Cavins. Registration fee - $50.00.

“Acts: The Spread of the Kingdom” - This study builds on “The Bible Timeline” and “Matthew” by showing how Christ’s Kingdom on earth is empowered to carry out his work in the world. The book of Acts shows the Church, enlivened by the Holy Spirit, teaching, preaching, healing, and restoring outcasts in the same way that Jesus did on earth. The Acts of the Apostles provides an historic framework for understanding the rest of the New Testament. Paul’s letters in particular come alive in a new way when they are read within the context of the Acts narrative. See how the Gospel witness spread outward in waves, from Jerusalem to Judea and Samaria, and finally to the ends of the earth. Share with the early Christians the joys and struggles of living the life of Christ, and learn how these apply to us today. See how the Holy Spirit guided the apostles into Truth. Observe the way the Spirit-filled Church adapted to new cultures when proclaiming the Gospel. Watch the seeds of Church structure and authority take root, and see how conflicts were resolved even at that early stage. See your place in Christ’s Church, and how you should live day-to-day as a disciple of Christ. A 20 week study (September thru April) presented via DVD video by Jeff Cavins. Registration fee - $50.00.

“First Corinthians – The Church and the Christian Community” - The conflicts of the early Christians in Corinth were in many ways similar to our struggles today as Christians. With divisions, immorality, persecution, and other trials of the faithful, the message of St. Paul to the Corinthians is a much-needed message for our own times. This study explores the key elements that the apostle Paul introduced to a new and growing Church. St. Paul taught the Corinthians about the nature of grace and the Church as the Body of Christ. In addition, he introduced the Corinthian Christians to the most powerful gift of all, the Eucharist. You will learn the importance of Christian unity in relation to the Church as the Body of Christ, explore St. Paul’s strategy for successful evangelization, see how to live a Christian life in the midst of a pagan culture, discover why St. Paul sees the Church as the Body of Christ, learn how St. Paul’s letter proves that the sacrifice of Christ is truly made present in the Eucharist, and gain a new vision for seeing the body as a temple of the Holy Spirit. An 11 week study (September thru mid-January) presented via DVD video by Dr. Tim Gray. Registration fee – See note below.*

“Revelation: The Kingdom Yet to Come” - In this intriguing look at one of the most talked-about books in Scripture, Jeff Cavins explores “Revelation” to demonstrate how the Kingdom established by Christ in His Church is intimately connected with the Kingdom of Heaven, especially through the celebration of the Mass. You will also learn what all the mysterious figures and images of “Revelation” represent, as well as what will happen during the Second Coming of Christ, what has already happened, and what is happening now in salvation history. You will learn the meaning of the mysterious figures and events in the book of “Revelation”, discover how the Mass is really heaven on earth, learn about the Antichrist and his destruction, see the Second Coming of Christ and the Final Judgment in the context of history, and learn what will happen at the end of time and the establishment of a new heaven and a new earth. An 11 week study (End of January through May) presented via DVD video by Jeff Cavins. Registration fee – See note below.*

*Note: “First Corinthians” and “Revelation” are offered together as a 22 week study with a total registration fee for the combined studies (2 separate study books) of $55.00.

• Location: St. Patrick’s Education Center, Rms 107/108
• 24 week study
• Thursday evenings, 7:00pm to 9:00pm commencing Sept. 15, 2011
• "Matthew" Session Calendar

“First Corinthians – The Church and the Christian Community” (11 weeks) AND “Revelation: The Kingdom Yet to Come” (11 weeks)

• Location: St. Patrick’s Parish Center
• 22 week study
• Monday evenings, 7:00pm to 9:00pm commencing Sept. 12, 2011, and Thursday mornings, 9:45am to 11:45am commencing Sept. 15, 2011 (Babysitting available on Thursday mornings)
• “First Corinthians/Revelation” Monday Night Session Calendar
• “First Corinthians/Revelation” Thursday Morning Session Calendar

Registration: June 1 through June 30 – Registration forms will be made available in the vestibules of the Main and Stone Churches. Registrations may be mailed or submitted after Masses on a selected weekend in June.

Registration Fee: See individual study above for fee amount. Fee covers the cost of a workbook for each individual study and administration costs of running the study. The workbook will be provided to each participant at the first session of the study.

Study Materials: In addition to the Study Workbook, participants are requested to bring their own Bibles to the first session. Bibles will also be on display and available for purchase.

Participant Attendance: Each weekly Study session will begin promptly as scheduled, and it is requested that participants make every effort to arrive in a timely manner so that he or she may log in attendance and be seated for the commencement of the Study session.

Bible Study Coordinators: Kathy Mignanelli - 914-962-5891 and Barb Turro - 914-245-7410