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This web-site is for everyone interested in learning more about the Bible.
This section helps Sunday school teachers find new ways of teaching familiar materials. Our goal is to augment lessons you may already have in your Sunday school curriculum.
In November, we are celebrating Thanksgiving, National Bible Week, and the 5th Anniversary of BibleWise.
The entire Activities section is divided into Memory Work, Activities, and Discussion Questions. You can go to any of these sections and select what best works for your pupils.
You can now download all three sections for ease in using these materials for teaching. |
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MEMORY WORK |
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Teachers and Parents
It is so important to encourage our little ones as well as ourselves to memorize Bible verses and stories – to become so familiar with the passage or story that its timeless relevance appears to us more and more clearly with every retelling. A major difference was evident between Sunday school pupils required to tell the story versus those who gave nodding recognition to the same story. We can not overlook the significance of memorizing a verse or story.
Consider sharing with your Sunday school pupils and parents ways to help little ones learn the verse and understand the impact of the message on their lives.
- Write out or type this week’s Bible verse on a card and place it on a mirror the child uses each day.
- Place the verse for the week in his/her lunch box.
- Ask the child to recite the verse before or after grace at the dinner meal.
- Practice as a family at dinner, going around the table with each one saying a word until the verse is complete.
- Put the verse to music. Create your own tune for each Bible verse. Create pictures to help remember the verse.
- Write it in a Bible verse notebook as many times as you can.
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Bible Verses
Work with your child and your students to learn each verse. Then, discuss the meaning of the verse and how it can be applied to everyday lives. On Sundays during class, riding in the car, or at dinner, it's fun to share stories of how the children have used the verse in their lives that week.
We provide memorization verses for each week. You can add your own.
November 4
(KJV) Jude 1:21 Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
- How do we keep ourselves “in the love of God”?
- What is “mercy”?
- Where do we look for “the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ”?
November 11
(New Living) Jude 1:22 Show mercy to those whose faith is wavering.
- What is “mercy”?
- Who are those whose “faith is wavering”?
- How do you help those who are in doubt about their relationship to God?
November 18
(New Living) Jude 1:2 May you receive more and more of God's mercy, peace, and love.
- Why is this a good verse for the week of Thanksgiving?
- How are you prepared to receive more of God’s peace? Love?
- How will you share God’s mercy, peace, and love this Thanksgiving holiday?
November 25
(God’s Word) Jude 1:24 God can guard you so that you don't fall and so that you can be full of joy as you stand in his glorious presence without fault.
- What kind of “fall” is God guarding us from?
- What is it like to be full of joy?
- Describe what it is like to stand in God’s presence.
- How do we stand without faults?
December 2
(KJV) Rev 1:3 Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.
- What is being read?
- What is the prophecy?
- What prophecy is read at the Christmas season?
- Who fulfilled that prophecy?
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Bible Stories
This month we are looking at ways to celebrate good and give thanks. Since National Bible Week is this month, we are going to review some less familiar stories as well as ones that show the importance of understanding the Bible. Thanksgiving is a big part of November, so we will look at ways to praise God and those who did praise God.
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ACTIVITIES |
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Bible Characters examines one of Jesus’ brothers, Jude.
Bible Overview looks at the shortest book in the Bible, Jude.
This month’s Hot Topic, Make A Difference, and Teen Time Question and Answer center around the life of wind-surfer Dave Osborn.
Kids Korner offers puzzles, games, and stories celebrating Thanksgiving and National Bible Week.
Parenting with the Bible looks at gratitude. |
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This month, we are celebrating reasons to review, rejoice, and be thankful.
Exercise: National Bible Week November 18-25
Have your pupils make posters to put up around the church to remind everyone of this important week
- The poster might include questions about the Bible, like:
- How many books in the Bible?
- How many books in the Old Testament?
- How many books in the New Testament?
- What is the shortest verse in the Bible?
- What is the longest book in the Bible?
- Or questions about Bible characters and stories, like:
- Who was the first prophet?
- Who brought down the walls of Jericho?
- Who are the women in Jesus’ genealogy?
- What is the 5th commandment?
- How old was Jesus when the Wise men arrived?
- How many Beatitudes are there?
- Here is an example of a Quiz you can post for members to be BibleWise:
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Exercise:
Ask each pupil to answer fill in the blanks and post their responses on a church bulletin board for members to enjoy:
- What I love about the Bible is ______________________.
- Whenever I have a problem, I turn to _______in the Bible.
- My favorite passage, story, character in the Bible is __________
because __________________________________________.
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Exercise:
Teachers, share why you love the Bible with your students. Ask them to look for articles in newspapers and magazines, or to search for ideas in television programs and movies that mention God, the Bible, or the importance of gratitude this next week. Have them bring the results next Sunday. |
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Exercise:
Plan an activity for the family to recognize National Bible Week
- Agree to read the Bible as a family for 15 minutes after dinner.
- Share any Bible verse that has helped you.
- Assign a different task for each day. The following is just an example. Create a program that will work for your family.
- Sunday, quote your favorite verse and discuss it.
- Monday, have each member tell his or her favorite story.
- Tuesday, play twenty questions about a character in the Bible.
- Wednesday, divide up the responsibility for writing a prayer for each meal on Thanksgiving. Make certain it includes a Bible verse. Ex. The Bible says to Make a joyful noise unto the Lord. Thank you God for everyone sitting at this table. Thank you for ….
- Thursday, each person gets to share his or her prayer prepared for all of the meals.
- Friday, write out your favorite Bible verse and give it to a family member.
- Saturday, list all the things you learned about the Bible this week to share in Sunday school.
- Sunday, share what you learned with your Sunday school class.
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Exercise:
This can be an individual or group exercise. Have a contest and see who can recite the most Bible verses. You can make a nice Bible bookmark or buy some at a local religious book store. |
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Exercise:
Create a Bible Jeopardy game for Sunday school pupils and church members. Take questions off the Bible quizzes, for children and adults, on BibleWise. |
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Exercise: What a Trip
A great review of Bible characters who traveled for God. Plot their journeys on the map.
 Print/Download What a Trip
Print/Download What a Trip Answer Sheet
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Exercise: Rides
Match the type of vehicle for getting around to the Bible characters.
Print/Download Rides
Print/Download Rides Answer Sheet
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Exercise: The Sower
Retell the story of the Parable of the Sower and the Seed and explain the meaning of where the seeds fell.
Print/Download The Sower
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Rejoicing and Thanksgiving Activities: |
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Exercise: Gratitude lists
In preparation for Thanksgiving, ask each student to make a gratitude list. Or print off the following page for each student:
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Exercise:
With young children you can write down for what they are most grateful and let them draw pictures that represent their gratitude. |
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Exercise: Thank you notes to God
Write a thank you note to God. Be very specific about why you are grateful. What has God done for you and your family this past year? Teachers, you might want to post the notes for church members and parents to see.
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Exercise:
Write thank you notes to:
- Family members (aunts, uncles, grandparents, siblings, cousins, parents)
- Tuck the thank you notes to parents under their pillows, or tape on the mirror in their bathroom, or set in the refrigerator, or slide into work spaces, obviously a place they will find them and have a quiet moment to read your special message.
- Make sure your note includes more than just “Thank you”, but includes examples of gratitude. Maybe that you have clean laundry, great meals, all the driving to and from school, music lessons, athletic practices, and games, quiet times together, etc. Think of one special moment this past year that meant something particularly special to you. Maybe it was the hike you took with Dad or the cooking lesson with Mom, or learning how to wakeboard. You know what wonderful things you’ve done with your family. Just let them know you haven’t forgotten and that you are grateful. Don’t forget grandparents, brothers and sisters, aunts and uncles.
- People at church (SS teacher, fellow classmates, minister, priest, youth pastor, choir director, clerk, etc.)
- If you start early enough, it is a nice gesture to write a thank you note to your city’s mayor, state’s governor, your country’s president or prime minister, or men and women serving your country in the military.
- Look for all kinds of opportunities to express gratitude.
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Exercise: Psalms 117
This is the shortest psalm in the Bible. Write two things that you praise God for.
Print/Download Psalms 117
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Exercise: Thanksgiving
See how many words you can make from “Thanksgiving.”
Print/Download Thanksgiving
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Exercise: Psalms 147
This is a fun exercise in finding the hidden objects of the words in this Psalm.
Print/Download Psalm 147
Print/Download Psalm 147 Answer Sheet
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DISCUSSION QUESTIONS |
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Balaam and Balak Read Numbers 22-23 A Talking Donkey, How Balaam Tried to Please the King
- Who was the King of Moab?
- Who did he want Balaam to curse?
- Was Balaam capable of blessing as well as cursing?
- What did God want Balaam to do?
- What did Balaam decide to do?
- What prevented him from getting to the king?
- What did Balaam’s donkey see?
- How did Balaam treat the donkey?
- What did the donkey say?
- Do you think the donkey could talk?
- What did Balaam see?
- What did God want Balaam to do?
- Why shouldn’t we curse people?
- Why should we bless instead?
- How do you bless someone?
- Who have you blessed lately?
- Who has blessed you?
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Samuel Hears God Read 1 Samuel 3:1-10 Voice at Night, The Little Boy with a Linen Coat
- Who was Samuel’s mother?
- Why was Samuel living in the temple at such a young age?
- How often did his mother visit him?
- What did Samuel hear when he went to bed one night?
- What did he do when he heard the voice?
- Who is Eli?
- What did Eli tell Samuel the first time?
- How many times did Samuel hear the voice?
- Whose voice did Samuel hear?
- What did Eli tell him to say the next time he heard the voice?
- What did Samuel say?
- Samuel’s obedience linked him directly to God for his communication.
- Do you realize you are linked to God?
- Have you heard God’s voice?
- How would you respond if you heard God calling you?
- Are you ready to be God’s servant?
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Elijah and the Ravens Read 1 Kings 17:2-6 Food from Birds, Why Birds Fed a Prophet by a Brook near Jordan
- Who is Elijah?
- Why are ravens feeding him?
- Do you really think birds would have fed him?
- There is reason to believe that the word for “ravens” was the same as “Arab Bedouins” except they were pronounced differently. Does it make more sense that the desert people would have fed Elijah over the birds?
- What kind of birds are ravens? [they don’t even feed their young]
- Is anything impossible to God?
- Who do you trust for your supply?
- What lessons do we learn from this story?
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Ten Lepers Read 17:11-19 The Man Who Remembered, Ten Poor Lepers, The Ten Lepers
- What is this healing about?
- What did these ten men ask Jesus to do?
- What is leprosy?
- What did the men have to do when they were within six feet of people? [Ring a bell and shout “Leper.”]
- Being a leper was very lonely because they could no longer live with their families. What did Jesus say to them?
- Why did Jesus send them to the priest? [The priest had to declare they were clean and could re-enter society]
- Were the men healed?
- Who returned to give thanks?
- Why didn’t the other 9 turn back to thank Jesus?
- Do we sometimes forget to thank people when they help us?
- Do you remember to thank God when He helps you?
- Why is it important to give thanks to God?
- Why don’t we do it more often?
- For what things are you grateful?
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Philip Interprets the Bible Read Acts 8:5-12 The Man from Ethiopia, Philip Preaches to a Stranger on a Lonely Road
- What is this story about?
- Who spoke to Philip?
- What did the angel tell Philip to do?
- Do you ever find the angels telling you to do something? What?
- Did Philip obey the angel?
- Who did Philip meet in the road?
- Who was the man and what was his occupation?
- What did he ask Philip to do?
- What was the man doing?
- What book was he reading?
- Did he understand it?
- What did he ask Philip to do?
- What did Philip explain?
- How well do you know the life of Jesus?
- Can you explain Jesus’ life to others?
- If someone asked you to tell something significant about the Bible, what would you say?
- How much do you know about the Bible?
- What are some of your favorite Bible stories?
- What happened after Philip explained Isaiah to the Ethiopian?
- What is baptism?
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Parable of the Sower Read Matthew 13:1-23 The Farmer’s Seeds
- What is a parable?
- Why did Jesus use parables?
- Describe what the sower is to do.
- What do the seeds that land on the roadside represent?
- What do the seeds that land on the rocks represent?
- What do the seeds that fell among weeds represent?
- What happened to the seeds that landed in the good soil?
- What causes the seeds to grow?
- What about our love for God – do you find it’s like the roadside seeds? The seeds among the rocks? The seeds caught in the weeds? Or is it growing in good soil?
- How did Jesus explain the parable to his disciples?
- Retell it in modern language.
- What does this story tell us about priorities?
- What does this story tell us about “yes, but” thinking?
- How do we become good soil?
- What do we need to do daily to cultivate God’s Word?
- If we see God’s Word as seeds, how many of those seeds are making it to good soil?
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