We meet most Mondays via Zoom. We open the session at 6:45 PM Central Time with informal chat. At 7:00 PM Central Time we open with prayer for each other and for the world. We then read and dscuss the Bible, spending up to eight weeks on each book of the Bible we have chosen. We meet for an hour or so each week, and end with a closing prayer. Our discussions have been blessed by the the fact that some of best Bible scholars in the word join us for at least one session for each book or issue we study.

We believe the Bible is both divine and human. The Bible is our authority as we strive to find and follow God’s will for our lives. As a book of ancient and long-term dialog and conversation the Bible also authorizes us to use our God-given intelligence and faith to join the conversation as we decide how to apply biblical wisdom to our lives.

The Bible reveals to us the God who is love, and whose Son has reconciled us both to God and to one another.

NIOBS was born April of 2020, at the beginning of the Covid 19 pandemic. About 50 people have been full time or part time participants at some time since then. About 30 have been fairly active. And on a typical evening we have about 20 people participating.

About 1/4 of us are retired and active clergy, and 3/4 lay. Almost all are key leaders in their congregations, and absolutely all are great people to share with and learn from.

We draw Bible loving participants from Nebraska and Kansas, to the Upper Penninsula of Michigan, to Virginia; but most of us live in Northern Illinois.

To join us, please send an email to heatherhopefarm@gmail.com, and ask to be put on the NIOBS list. We will send you updates and invitations along with the Zoom link necessary to become part of our happy community.

SPECIAL NOTE: Our first face to face gathering of NIOBS will be October 5, 2024 at Heatherhope Farm. Please see the "Upcoming" page for more details.