How to Read the Bible | Semester Discussion Guide

This series is designed to help us understand the Bible as Orthodox Christians — what it is, how the Church interprets it, and how it can shape our spiritual lives. Across this series, you’ll explore the Scriptures through the lens of the Church Fathers, discover practical ways to read and pray with the Bible, and learn how to study the Bible as a chapter.

Written by Jacob Sparks, OCF Atlanta Campus Missionary, and reviewed by OCF staff, clergy, and biblical scholars, this guide offers a faithful and practical approach to Scripture that’s accessible to all students.

Use it in your chapter meetings, small groups, or for personal study. Each section includes discussion questions to encourage meaningful, Christ-centered conversation.

We’ll begin by grounding ourselves in what the Bible is and where it came from. Next, we’ll look at how the Church understands and interprets it, how to read Scripture in the context of history and symbolism, and how to approach it in daily life. We’ll finish with helpful resources for deeper study and a practical beginner’s guide to running a Bible study.

Part 1 – What is the Bible? | Understanding the Bible’s origin, unity, and purpose in the life of the Church.

Part 2 – How Does the Church Understand the Bible? | The Church as the interpreter of Scripture and the centrality of Christ in all of it.

Part 3 – The Bible and History | How the biblical authors wrote history and why their aim was meaning, not just chronology.

Part 4 – The Bible and Symbolism | Discovering the deeper patterns, types, and spiritual meanings within Scripture.

Part 5 – General Guidelines for Reading Scripture | Practical tips for daily Scripture reading and prayer.

Part 6 – Patristic and Academic Resources | Trusted resources from the Church Fathers and scholarly works to deepen understanding.

Part 7 – A Beginner’s Guide to Running a Bible Study | A practical, step-by-step guide for leading an Orthodox Bible study.