Sessions included:

• HERMENEUTICS defined
• VIRTUES and how they enable
• WYSWYG – modelling a session
• FAST Track – working quickly through two sessions
• KEY MESSAGES – looking at the apprenticeship model and some specific ‘case studies’ within the sessions
• 10 RECOMMENDATIONS – discovering how to use the programme.

At the end of the 2 days delegates are reflecting when and how to put this course on in their Church.  Half were definite that they would be doing so and the other half will be speaking with their church leaders.

An email from one delegate said:

I really enjoyed the training course and it certainly touched a chord with me.  Back in the 80′s I did an MA at London School of Theology on the subject of Hermeneutics, because the whole thing of understanding what the Bible says has been important to me. 

I have always thought of myself as an applied theologian, and it has been my vision to get Bible understanding into the hands of the ordinary people in the pews …. I see in h+ a very creditable means to encouraging ordinary Christians to be able to interpret the Bible for themselves. 

Having had the opportunity to pilot the programme and now design and deliver most of the training, I can honestly say that my commitment and enthusiasm for h+ has grown. Through seeing others take on board the enormity of its potential I am excited at the possibilities and look forward to the training and networking I will be involved in next year.  The printed resources and multimedia content contribute to make this a programme every church needs.  In fact every Christian needs it to equip them in understanding the Bible and in fulfilling their mission.

The next step is the launch of the h+ website around 30^th November. Please do click on the logo at the top of the right hand column to go straight there, bookmark it and then plan to visit the new site in December.

The Facilitators Guide and Participants Handbook are being printed as I write.  With their new design and distinctive covers they, with the DVD’s containing PowerPoint Presentations and specially commissioned video clips, will provide all that is needed to lead groups of Christians to h+ Making Good Sense of the Bible.

Over two days delegates will discover the vision behind the programme, the content and how it will help church members, the requirements for putting on an h+ course in their church and how to make the most of the resources.  Follow the two days on twitter using #hpluscourse or visit this blog after the event.

• The Facilitators Guide and Participant Handbook will be printed in the next two weeks!
• The website will be live: Click here
• Preparations are almost complete to train at least 50 people booked into the Training Facilitators two day conference.

Recently Dr Paula Gooder spent a day speaking to 300 people at an event organised by Bible Society in Swindon.  She began the three sessions on Paul: Mystic or Theologian by emphasising:

• it was essential to ‘think’ and that if she achieved nothing else it was vital that everyone was enabled to do some thinking.
• the definition of a disciple is not as is often said ‘a follower’ but ‘someone who is a learner‘.  The challenge is are we passionate about learning?
• theology is not be incomprehensible but is defined as ‘finding words that speak of God’.

These three perhaps sum up the intention of H+ Making Good Sense of the Bible.  The programme provides the skills, the environment and the modelling of good practice in enabling ordinary Christians to think, learn and ‘do theology’ that changes lives.

 is a ground-breaking 10-session programme from Bible Society to help Christians grow in their interpretation of the Bible. Incorporating practical exercises, expert advice, facilitator input and audiovisual features, H+ deals with these questions and more to help you to make good sense of the Bible.

The website and this blog will go live in September.  Meanwhile subscribe by clicking on Email Subscription on the right hand side.