JUDA - The Juda Zion United Methodist Church doesn't exactly suggest its Bible study group ask the question "What Would Sheriff Andy Taylor Do," but it might come close.
The church is in its third week of a new Bible study series based on the television series "The Andy Griffith Show," which ran from 1960 to 1968. The class, which meets from 6 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at the church, uses the show and a guide book to answer questions and take a deeper look at the Bible and moral questions.
The idea to use "The Andy Griffith Show" came about after the church's adult Sunday school class used a similar lesson plan based on the "The Beverly Hillbillies."
It was a pretty popular lesson plan, church secretary Jan Ladwig said.
"One of the students suggested we look to see if there was a class based on 'The Andy Griffith Show' and we found that there was," she said.
Many of the shows had a moral theme, she added.
Most people are familiar with the show and its characters, Sheriff Andy Taylor, his son, Opie, and Deputy Barney Fife.
The Bible study uses the guide book "The Mayberry Bible Study."
Each week the class meets at the church and watches an episode on a big-screen television and then spends the rest of the time answering questions and talking about the episode.
For example, the first episode, entitled "Andy's English Valet," presented a lesson about service to others. The class learned about the moral of the story and then answered such questions as: When was the last time you were of service?; Like Andy, have you been of service to someone who serves?; and like Barney, have you been critical of those who serve?
There also are comments in the study guide.
For example, one comment said, "Barney didn't trust the servant because he himself wouldn't serve. By contrast, Opie saw the servant as an equal and treated him like a friend. Likewise, Christian service springs from kindness and appreciation."
The study guide also has scriptures for people to think about and talk about during their discussion.
The guide book's author, Stephen Skelton, said Jesus used stories about everyday life to teach his followers.
"Because the Bible is the most influential book in the world, modern writers borrow from it more often than we think," he wrote in the guidebook's introduction.
There are four episodes per study book and Ladwig said the Bible study will continue throughout the summer.
Next week's lesson is from the episode "Dogs, Dogs, Dogs" and the theme of the study is mercy.
People don't have to be a member of the church to attend the Bible study, Ladwig said. Guide books cost $5.
More information is available by calling the church at 934-5398.
The church is in its third week of a new Bible study series based on the television series "The Andy Griffith Show," which ran from 1960 to 1968. The class, which meets from 6 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at the church, uses the show and a guide book to answer questions and take a deeper look at the Bible and moral questions.
The idea to use "The Andy Griffith Show" came about after the church's adult Sunday school class used a similar lesson plan based on the "The Beverly Hillbillies."
It was a pretty popular lesson plan, church secretary Jan Ladwig said.
"One of the students suggested we look to see if there was a class based on 'The Andy Griffith Show' and we found that there was," she said.
Many of the shows had a moral theme, she added.
Most people are familiar with the show and its characters, Sheriff Andy Taylor, his son, Opie, and Deputy Barney Fife.
The Bible study uses the guide book "The Mayberry Bible Study."
Each week the class meets at the church and watches an episode on a big-screen television and then spends the rest of the time answering questions and talking about the episode.
For example, the first episode, entitled "Andy's English Valet," presented a lesson about service to others. The class learned about the moral of the story and then answered such questions as: When was the last time you were of service?; Like Andy, have you been of service to someone who serves?; and like Barney, have you been critical of those who serve?
There also are comments in the study guide.
For example, one comment said, "Barney didn't trust the servant because he himself wouldn't serve. By contrast, Opie saw the servant as an equal and treated him like a friend. Likewise, Christian service springs from kindness and appreciation."
The study guide also has scriptures for people to think about and talk about during their discussion.
The guide book's author, Stephen Skelton, said Jesus used stories about everyday life to teach his followers.
"Because the Bible is the most influential book in the world, modern writers borrow from it more often than we think," he wrote in the guidebook's introduction.
There are four episodes per study book and Ladwig said the Bible study will continue throughout the summer.
Next week's lesson is from the episode "Dogs, Dogs, Dogs" and the theme of the study is mercy.
People don't have to be a member of the church to attend the Bible study, Ladwig said. Guide books cost $5.
More information is available by calling the church at 934-5398.