Levels of Commitment

The format and disciplines of the Bethel Series guarantee broad participation and involvement by your adult members. The extended study results in a corps of well-trained men and women who really know and understand the Bible.

Commitments of Time, Work and Money

The Bethel Series is an investment in the Christian life of your congregation. It requires a minimum of four years, many hours of challenging study, and it costs money. These commitments of time, work and money are some of the key factors that contribute to the success of the program.

Commitments at the Center of the Church

In any congregation there are different degrees of commitment. Perhaps 10 to 20 percent of a church's membership can be described as strongly committed. Yet, many times, when a Bible study course is offered, it's expected that the entire congregation will participate. More often than not, this is wishful thinking.

The Bethel Series departs from this strategy by starting with a small group having the strongest level of interest, and then spreading that interest throughout the rest of the congregation. By the time the nucleus group of lay members has completed its training, the next commitment level within the congregation is ready and willing to start Bible study.

Overview Study of the Bible

One of the most unique features of the Bethel Series is the fact that it uses the entire Bible as its textbook. Instead of teaching through a series of the most popular areas of the Bible-- or by the "bits-and-pieces" method--it presents a total framework for a strong foundation of biblical understanding.

This overview study presents the Bible without imposing theological knowledge. It speaks the language of the lay person, and it meets the students where they are--not where the church wishes they were.

The overview gives each student an understanding of the biblical concepts as they relate to the entire book, and of the entire book as it relates to the concepts. Through the Bethel Series, students gain an overall understanding of the Bible and the messages it really holds for them.

The Bethel Series Provides the framework -- the Minister Provides the Theology

The Bethel Series crosses denominational lines because while the Bethel Series provides the biblical framework, each individual minister continues to provide the church's theology. Through this approach, the minister is the trainer of the lay teachers within the congregation.

Taught by Lay People

The Bethel Series is a program planned for lay people and taught by lay people who have been trained by their minister.

In a sense, it's a return to the basics, because the program recognizes that there are no shortcuts to understanding the entire message of the Bible. Since the Bethel Series is long-range, it presents a challenge to know the Word of God in order to carry out the will of God.

The program requires a two-year training period in order to equip the lay leadership and to develop interest among congregational members. Even at that, the training period is only the beginning. The Bethel Series is designed to be ongoing, while introducing and creating other levels of Bible study and leadership in the church.

The Bethel Series Builds Long-Term Involvement

This feature of the program cannot be overemphasized. Most Bible study courses are short-range and fragmented. They are centered around a once-a-week meeting, with no follow-through or transition into other study. They don't consider an overall understanding of the entire Bible in order to build a strong knowledge base. The Bethel Series is an intensive, long-range program which studies the entire Bible.

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Navigation Home What is Bethel? Welcome Overview First Steps Reaching Adults Benefits Bethel In Depth Unique Approach How it Works Why it Works What They're Saying Participate in Bethel Training Program To Enroll Already Enrolled Teaching Tools Order Forms The Unkalung Choir Contact Us eNotes	Levels of Commitment The format and disciplines of the Bethel Series guarantee broad participation and involvement by your adult members. The extended study results in a corps of well-trained men and women who really know and understand the Bible. Commitments of Time, Work and Money The Bethel Series is an investment in the Christian life of your congregation. It requires a minimum of four years, many hours of challenging study, and it costs money. These commitments of time, work and money are some of the key factors that contribute to the success of the program. Commitments at the Center of the Church In any congregation there are different degrees of commitment. Perhaps 10 to 20 percent of a church's membership can be described as strongly committed. Yet, many times, when a Bible study course is offered, it's expected that the entire congregation will participate. More often than not, this is wishful thinking. The Bethel Series departs from this strategy by starting with a small group having the strongest level of interest, and then spreading that interest throughout the rest of the congregation. By the time the nucleus group of lay members has completed its training, the next commitment level within the congregation is ready and willing to start Bible study. Overview Study of the Bible One of the most unique features of the Bethel Series is the fact that it uses the entire Bible as its textbook. Instead of teaching through a series of the most popular areas of the Bible-- or by the "bits-and-pieces" method--it presents a total framework for a strong foundation of biblical understanding. This overview study presents the Bible without imposing theological knowledge. It speaks the language of the lay person, and it meets the students where they are--not where the church wishes they were. The overview gives each student an understanding of the biblical concepts as they relate to the entire book, and of the entire book as it relates to the concepts. Through the Bethel Series, students gain an overall understanding of the Bible and the messages it really holds for them. The Bethel Series Provides the framework -- the Minister Provides the Theology The Bethel Series crosses denominational lines because while the Bethel Series provides the biblical framework, each individual minister continues to provide the church's theology. Through this approach, the minister is the trainer of the lay teachers within the congregation. Taught by Lay People The Bethel Series is a program planned for lay people and taught by lay people who have been trained by their minister. In a sense, it's a return to the basics, because the program recognizes that there are no shortcuts to understanding the entire message of the Bible. Since the Bethel Series is long-range, it presents a challenge to know the Word of God in order to carry out the will of God. The program requires a two-year training period in order to equip the lay leadership and to develop interest among congregational members. Even at that, the training period is only the beginning. The Bethel Series is designed to be ongoing, while introducing and creating other levels of Bible study and leadership in the church. The Bethel Series Builds Long-Term Involvement This feature of the program cannot be overemphasized. Most Bible study courses are short-range and fragmented. They are centered around a once-a-week meeting, with no follow-through or transition into other study. They don't consider an overall understanding of the entire Bible in order to build a strong knowledge base. The Bethel Series is an intensive, long-range program which studies the entire Bible. Would you like more information? Contact us today via e-mail or by calling 1-800-462-2335.	"A well-organized, creative, multi-sensory Bible study like the Bethel Series helps organize and teach the Scriptures so the congregational members can understand God's Word and be better disciples of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ." Rev. Jeff Lambert Red Bank United Methodist Church Red Bank, Tennessee "The benefits of being a congregation where hundreds of people have taken the Bethel Series is that your leadership is biblically literate. . . . "That leads to enthusiastic participation in worship, a strong emphasis on caring for the poor and the ability to share the faith with others. It's worth its weight in gold." Rev. Bill White, former Senior Pastor Bethel Lutheran Church Madison, Wisconsin
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