Recommended for Grades 9-10

This Student Exercise Book complements the Teacher Manual with the same title, providing a comprehensive introduction to the meaning and significance of key aspects of the Christian Scriptures’ people, events, and times.  The text begins with basic introductory information, moves on to the Gospels, considers the community that first witnessed to the Gospel, and presents Paul—the messenger who spread the Gospel.  Major themes in the pastoral letters and general letters are addressed.  The text concludes with the words of the last apostolic witness to the Gospel—John--in his Book of Revelation.  Students work with the actual biblical text rather than simply read about passages under consideration, and they see connections between the truths of the New Testament and their own lives.

The text consists of six parts: Introduction to Bible Use, The Gospels, The Early Church, The Epistles of Paul, General Letters, and Revelation and the Last Things.  Students use Scripture extensively, read contemporary Catholic scriptural scholarship, and learn the teachings of Vatican II.  Each lesson includes reading, writing, questioning, critical thinking, and prayer. 
Exercise books can serve as records of individual faith journeys.  Activities stimulate class involvement, explore real-life experience, promote biblical and doctrinal literacy, foster creative thinking, teach community commitment, invite spiritual growth and prayer, and present service as essential to discipleship.  This resource is to be used in conjunction with the Teacher Manual by the same title.

Students participate in class discussions and reflect on experiences. They examine Bibles for special features, study Gospel genealogies to link Jesus to great people in Jewish history, and learn about theological issues surrounding Jesus’ passion and death.