ENTERING THE PASSION OF JESUS

A BEGINNER’S GUIDE TO HOLY WEEK

LEADER GUIDE

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Scripture quotations are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. http://nrsvbibles.org/

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MANUFACTURED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

CONTENTS

To the Leader

Session 1: Jerusalem: Risking Reputation

Session 2: The Temple: Risking Righteous Anger

Session 3: Teachings: Risking Challenge

Session 4: The First Dinner: Risking Rejection

Session 5: The Last Supper: Risking the Loss of Friends

Session 6: Gethsemane: Risking Temptation

TO THE LEADER

You are beginning a journey. As the leader of this study, you have the opportunity and responsibility to walk with a group of learners on a journey into the story at the heart of the Christian experience—the story of Jesus’ Passion. You are not alone! You are going into this journey accompanied by a renowned biblical scholar who will help you and the group come to a deeper understanding of this biblical story. You also have this Leader Guide, which will give you all the ideas you need for six powerful learning sessions.

This Leader Guide is designed to be used with Amy-Jill Levine’s book Entering the Passion: A Beginner’s Guide to Holy Week. Dr. Levine is University Professor of New Testament and Jewish Studies and Mary Jane Werthan Professor of Jewish Studies at Vanderbilt Divinity School and College of Arts and Sciences in Nashville, Tennessee. Besides being an accomplished author and scholar, Dr. Levine is a sought-after speaker who has given hundreds of talks both in the United States and internationally. She brings her Jewish background and her historical expertise in first-century Judaism and Christian origins to her work with the New Testament, and she opens insights into the connections between the Old Testament as well as postbiblical Jewish literature and the Gospels. She is also committed to helping open the Gospels as good news for all people, with a particular interest in what the Gospels say about women.