"I was introduced to this program by my daughter Michelle who told me and her mother that I would benefit immensely by attending. She was so right. I am a 75 year old psychologist and retired college professor who has been attempting to deepen my faith by reading almost all the contemporary Catholic and protestant theologians of the last 50 years. I learned a lot from them but, unfortunately, like most Catholics, I had pretty much ignored reading the Old Testament and concentrated on the New. I wish I hadn't. This course was a godsend. I never knew how much I had missed. Nothing has contributed more to the deepening of my faith than understanding the messages of the Old Testament. The discussion groups were wonderful, and Jeff Cavins is an outstanding instructor. He knows his subject so well and delivers his message in the most engaging style I have ever seen. Take this course, you will never regret it."

"The most significant impact the Great Adventure journey has had on my life is that it has renewed my faith in God, renewed my faith in the Catholic Church, but especially renewed my faith in myself! Not only did the Great Adventure journey explain the 'WHAT' and 'HOW' events happen in the Bible, more importantly it explains the 'WHY'. It was a unexpected journey for the mind, heart, and soul."

"Great Adventure has indeed been an amazing adventure. My understanding of scripture has grown significantly and I find myself so much more engaged in Mass celebration and in my faith. While I still have my “questions” and “disagreements” with the Old Testament scriptures, I certainly feel we (the good Old “T” and I) have a much closer relationship. One of the greatest gifts I have received is that of feeling better qualified to share my faith with my children. Many times during this journey I shared with them, at the breakfast table, what I was reading about and it generated some awesome discussions. I hope that if they feel my love and conviction for my faith, there is a better chance for them to live it… I thought the DVD would be the biggest “draw” for me. Yes, Jeff is awesome! However, I found myself, unexpectedly, completely engaged by the discussions each week. It was in the discussions that the scriptures came to life for me. The Lord has taken me by His hand on this journey of faith. He has opened so many doors for me… I tend to ask, “What’s next, Lord?” Great Adventure was His answer. Thank you, Lord."

"I'm not sure what I actually expected from the bible study. The effect is also difficult to put into words. It's not like a big overpowering revelation, more like little whispers that kind of sneak up on me when I least expect it. I feel the effect in church during the readings and the gospel. They are more understandable and familiar to me now in a different way than before. I have read the bible before so it's not all new to me. When I hear the readings at mass, I kind of feel like I have already seen the movie and now I'm listening to the summary. The feelings were particularly alive and different at Easter time. I seemed to have more compassion for the Jews and I understood a lot more clearly why Jesus was not at all what they were expecting. I could actually see more clearly why they did not accept Jesus as savior. I also wonder what I would have done in their place. It's an interesting question. Lots of things are a lot clearer now, especially the Old Testament. There is so much information to take in and put together. I'm sure I could do this study again and again and always come away with a wealth of life lessons. I look forward to Matthew."

"Great Adventure gave me a new perspective of the Old Testament. I tended to think of the God of the Old Testament as a punishing God and liked staying with the New Testament readings. Now I understand how patient and loving He was! This is the same loving God of the New Testament and the many connections that were made during the course of study affirmed this in a concrete way. It showed me how little I really understood and has given me a thirst for more. I can't wait until Matthew!"

"The Great Adventure journey was a wonderful discovery for me because it simplified the teachings of the complex book, the Bible, and made it easier to understand. The study helped me to get a better picture of the chronological story, and made characters and events easier to remember. The questions and insightful commentary greatly assisted in making the Scriptures more meaningful and relevant. The faith-sharing played a very special part because I think we encouraged each other to see how God's Word fits into our lives. The deep desire to learn more became contagious! The Great Adventure experience made the people and places of the Bible truly come alive and laid a great foundation for further study."

"The Great Adventure journey opened my eyes to the Bible and has provided me with a deeper understanding of our salvation history. The Old Testament used to be quite foreign to me and somewhat harsh to read because I didn't understand the events and history surrounding the readings. I now see that the God in the Old Testament is the same Loving, Patient, and Forgiving God in the New Testament. This study has strengthened my belief and understanding that we are here to love and serve God in this world so that we can be with him in the next for eternity. My only wish is that every Christian could take this study and be provided with this knowledge because it will certainly change their life."

"The Great Adventure journey was a rewarding experience beyond my expectations. It has opened up for me a greater understanding of Scripture, reinforcing God’s unconditional love for all of us. My faith is deeper, richer, and there’s a peacefulness that I can more easily grasp when I hit the bumpy roads in my life. A word must be said also for all the beautiful people I met on this journey. Our discussions and faith-sharing were so helpful. This was an opportunity that I’m glad I did not miss and would highly recommend it to others."

"24 Weeks!!!!! Saturday Morning!!!!! No way can I do this; no way do I want to do this. But that nagging little internal voice I suspect is the Holy Spirit kept saying that you should do this. That said - 24 weeks flew by; I would not have missed it for anything and I cannot wait for the next installment even though - Saturday Morning! No way can I do this for another 24 weeks; no way will I miss this!!! The patience and persistence of our God is amazing and awesome. The God of the Old Testament is truly a loving Father who forgives over and over again - not a Fire and Brimstone figure. Else why would he send his Son?!?! The continuity between the Old and New Testament is striking. The Mass means so much more now when viewed in the context of it's connection to the Old Testament; not just the readings, but the structure as well. It is an amazing story that we are part of and we have a role to play in moving forward."

"People always say that this experience makes them feel closer to God in some way. Well, I thought about this journey and tried to figure out how it related to a greater understanding for me. It wasn’t until I watched a movie I had recorded titled “Solomon” that I realized what this bible study had done for me. It actually gave me a real feeling for the word we had been studying. When I watched this movie I knew the people whose story it was telling. I knew Solomon and his history;20I knew his son, Rehoboam and the worker Jeroboam…they were real to me. Their significance in God’s story was real and I understood this movie as I never would have if I hadn’t been part of the Great Adventure bible study. Suddenly, the bible was real to me! I felt God’s presence in a way I never had before when I read the bible on my own. I understood the story and the people as never before. Who would have thought a movie would connect the dots for me in my journey of discovery of God’s love, hope, expectations and promise for me. I look forward to more connections that I know will come to me from my Saturdays with this series and my fellow seekers. "