Thank you for the wonderful opportunity to participate in The Roots of Faith. It was all that I hoped for - and so much more. My goal was to "be able to connect the dots" of the story of the Bible. I pictured the Bible stories and events as a bowl of pearls, with the string being redemption. But I didn't know how to put it all together to make a beautiful necklace. Now I do! Thank you also for so much more. Whether I am reading the Bible at home, hearing a sermon, studying in Sunday School or Bible studies - I've grown to see and understand the Bible on many more levels - from the level of being better able to share with an inquiring person who knows very little, to the levels of more understanding of God's plan.
I really appreciate the interactive learning style and the "baton-teaching" method of having one of several very knowledgeable teachers introduce a lesson, then pass the baton to the next one to lead us further into the scripture, and then the baton passed to the next one for other aspects of the lesson. I kept seeing things in scripture that I "never saw before." Chronology, geography, Biblical history - were woven through the lessons, and it was a lot of fun to work in mini-groups to list answers on flip charts, make maps with string on the floor, and experience lots of creative ways to learn in a non-threatening situation. I appreciated being able to comfortably ask questions during the sessions or on breaks. Time flew in spite of there being a lot of material to cover!
The course emphasis on God, the Promise Keeper, has been so enriching, as the story kept unfolding ways that God fulfilled His promises. The Roots of Faith has not only quenched my thirst for understanding, but also made me more thirsty to know more.
Thanks so much to you, to the authors of the material, and to all the instructors and to David Brooks for his new commentary. It reads just like he sounds when he's teaching. What a gift! I hope many others take the course, whether or not they are currently teachers of the Bible. Thank you for the blessings of this course, and for the opportunity to be there - even though I'm neither an actual missionary or pastor.