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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.
This year, BibleWise is making it easier for you to find the stories, characters, or themes you want to share with your Sunday school pupils. Starting this month, we are collecting all of the archived resources for specific Bible stories, characters, and themes into Swap Shop. Then we will add new material to the existing categories, including stories not previously used on BibleWise. We’d like your help. If there is a Bible character or an event not covered by BibleWise, please contact us at biblewise.com. All the activities, discussion questions, puzzles and games on our site will be listed under each category.
Teen Time, Living with the Bible, Parenting with the Bible, and Bible Overview will continue with their existing structure. Teaching the Bible is being re-designed for you to find what you want to teach as opposed to creating a set curriculum every month. For now, we will run Activities as we have in the past. Check weekly for updates to the Swap Shop section. Our web-spinner has been working on this project for the last six months.
The theme for 2009 comes from 2 Tim 2:15 (Good News Translation) Do your best to win full approval in God's sight, as a worker who is not ashamed of his work, one who correctly teaches the message of God's truth. In helping students prepare their spiritual goals for this year, ask them to consider how they can gain God’s approval for all they do.
For the next few months we will be studying stories about Bible characters who worked on gaining God’s approval in their everyday lives. This month, we’ll look at Noah’s obedience and God’s promise; Elijah’s trust in God’s word; Nehemiah’s resolve to build the wall; and Jesus’ parable of the restoration of the prodigal son.
Encourage your pupils to review their daily activities to see how much they are willing to gain God’s approval for all they do: sports, relationships, academics, church, etc.
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.
January 4
(GNT) 2 Tim 2:15 Do your best to win full approval in God's sight, as a worker who is not ashamed of his work, one who correctly teaches the message of God's truth.
- Why is it important to seek God’s approval?
- Why might we be ashamed of our work?
- What is the “message of truth”?
January 11
(KJV) II Tim 3:14,15 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
- What is this verse referring to?
- How much do you know about the Bible?
- Why is it important to know the Bible?
- How do you plan to know it better?
January 18
II Tim 3:16,17 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
- Is all the Bible inspired by God? Why or why not?
- What is the responsibility of scripture?
- What is our responsibility to the scriptures?
- How will knowing scripture improve our school work, relationships with family and friends, service to church?
January 25
(Message) Romans 15:4 Everything that was written in the past was written to teach us. The Scriptures give us patience and encouragement so that we can have hope.
- What does the Bible teach you?
- How does the Bible give you patience?
- How has God’s Word given you encouragement?
February 1
John 5:39 (to ;) Search the scriptures;
Now that we’ve been learning verses about the Scriptures, let’s live this year as searchers of the scriptures.
- What do you want to find in the Scriptures to help you be a better worker, son, daughter, friend, brother, sister, student?
- Share a passage of Scripture that has helped you in life.
- If someone is in need of your prayers, which verses would you share?
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Bible Stories
This month we are reading stories that show how Bible figures worked to earn God's approval.
Fellow workers gaining God’s approval:
Noah
Read Genesis 6-9; Noah’s Ark; God’s Promise to Noah; The Great Ship That Saved Eight People
Elijah
Read I Kings 17:1-6; Elijah is Fed by Ravens; Why Birds Fed A Prophet by a Brook Near Jordan
Nehemiah
Read Nehemiah 2-6; Nehemiah Builds the Wall; How the Walls of Jerusalem Were Rebuilt
Prodigal Son
Read Luke 15:11-32 A Boy Comes Home; Prodigal
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ACTIVITIES |
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Bible Overview continues to focus on the Apocrypha with Addition to Jeremiah - The Letter.
Teen Time’s Hot Topic is Studying God=God’s Approval.
Kids Korner offers puzzles, games, and stories Bible characters who sought God’s approval.
Parenting with the Bible speaks of the Blessings of Change.
Coloring page: Goals for the New Year. |
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Exercise: Spiritual goals for 2009
- What kind of spiritual goals have you set for this year? (studying the Bible, praying each day, forgiving, planning acts of kindness, etc.)
- How will these goals highlight your ability to help others?
- How will your goals deepen your contribution to family? Church? Friends? School? Sports? Hobbies?
- Talk about the importance of these goals being God-centered – bringing out one’s true nature as God’s image and likeness.
- Are the Ten Commandments goals? How so?
- What's the difference between a law and a goal?
- Is the speed limit a goal or a law?
- What would keep us from achieving our goals?
- How can we guarantee that we will be successful in achieving our goals?
- What does prayer have to do with achieving our goals?
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Exercise:
A new year – a new view – a new song – new opportunities to seek God’s approval. If you have done this activity in the past, ask the students to review their spiritual goals from last year and see what kind of progress they made. Help pupils write goals that are achievable and establish a system to assess them once a month. Sometimes they need help in accomplishing those goals. Sometimes they put goals on their lists that they think you or another adult want to hear, seeking someone else’s approval rather than God’s. Ask them to list goals that God would approve. Make sure they are designing ones specifically for themselves.
Rev 21:5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new.
As we ring in the New Year, we can help our pupils see the differences between the old person we were this past year and the new person we want to be in the new year.
Ask the students to make a list of the past year’s mental garbage they are willing to throw away and what new qualities or concepts they want to replace it with for the new year. Find the labels that seem to fit the “old you” and pull them off. Replace them with goals for the new year – what will the “new you” do instead?
In the past, middle school and high school students have shared the following ideas:
Fear – I was afraid of being alone at night, but now I want to trust God more.
Jealousy – My best friend has all the guys in school drooling over her, but I want to be grateful for who I am.
Comparisons – I want to stop comparing my life (body, complexion, grades, clothes) with my friends and be grateful for how God made me.
Criticism - I sometimes find more things wrong with life than is right. This next year, I want to find the good and be less critical.
Gossip – I have a tendency to share bits and pieces of information about people without really knowing what’s true. I want to stop spreading gossip and only tell the truth about people.
Complaining – I complain about everything -- my teachers, my parents, sister, brother, friends, classes, food at school, my allowance (what allowance?) no car, you name it. This is going to be a tough one to stop, but I want to see how much more I can praise the people in my life.
Stupid Mistakes – I want to totally forget all the dumb things I did this past year trying to be someone I’m not. I really want to be happy with being me.
Cheating – I want to quit thinking someone else has better answers and trust what I know.
You might also work on making a list of goals for the new year.
Goals To:
- Forgive
- Be a better athlete
- Use wisdom about what I eat
- Master the unsaid rather than be a slave to the said
- Be kinder
- Be more thoughtful
- Be a better student
- Be nicer to my siblings
- Tell the truth to my parents
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Exercise: Bible Character Goals
Put names of the Bible characters we are using this month on index cards: Noah, Elijah, Nehemiah and the Prodigal son. Then, ask the children to list more names of individuals in the Bible who worked to serve God and gain his approval.
Some might include:
- Abraham
- Sarah
- Lot
- Hagar
- Isaac
- Rebekah
- Jacob
- Joseph
- Moses
- Gideon
- Samson
- Samuel
- David
- Jonah
- Daniel
- Jesus
- Paul
- Peter
Place their names on the cards as well and let children draw them out of a stack. Their responsibility is to tell a little bit of the character's story and what kind of goals God gave him or her. This may take a few Sundays. It is a great review and shows our accountability all year to be in service to God. |
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Exercise: What’s Your Approval Rating?
As you look at your spiritual goals for 2009, how many of them include seeking God’s approval for what you want to accomplish? With your parents or Sunday school teacher, devise a plan to study the Bible and list ways you’ll work to seek God’s approval. |
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Exercise: Thank You Notes to God – Follow Up
Ask the students to share the thank you notes they wrote to God. Help them to find Bible verses that might match their gratitude. |
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Exercise:
Class project – Read the Bible through in one year or over a couple of years. All you need to do is get started. To get started, click on Read through the Bible. |
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Exercise: Start a Bible Study For Young People.
Select a book of the Bible or a theme to study and set a time to meet once a week or twice a month. Make sure you read the passages for discussion and look at Bible resources to better understand each passage. During the session, start off with silent prayer: open your heart and mind to new inspiration. Then, share what you enjoyed in the assignment, or start reading a few verses at a time and discussing their meaning. When you have finished the reading assignment, discuss how you will each put the ideas into practice in your lives. This is a great growing and bonding time for the group. Make sure you don’t allow people to monopolize, but that everyone has an opportunity to share. Happy studying!
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DISCUSSION QUESTIONS |
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Approval Rating – In using II Tim 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth help your pupils look at their lives.
- Whose approval do you seek? Why?
- Whose approval rating of you is the most important?
- Parents
- Peers
- Teachers
- Scout leaders
- Brothers/sisters
- Other relatives
- God
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Noah
Read: Genesis 6-9; Noah’s Ark; God’s Promise to Noah; The Great Ship That Saved Eight People
- Discuss Noah’s qualities in light of our theme: 2 Tim 2:15?
- The Bible also tells us that Noah found grace in God's eyes. What does that mean?
- In Genesis we find that Noah was:
- Just
- Perfect
- Spiritually upright
- Genuine
- Inwardly entire and complete
- Obedient
- What other qualities do you see in Noah?
- We know Noah walked with God. What a companion! What would it be like to walk with God? Do we walk with God today?
- What did God ask Noah to do?
- How difficult a task do you think it was to follow God’s request?
- If God asked you to build a boat four and a half football fields long in the desert, what would you say?
- How would you handle the heckling of people who thought it was a pretty dumb idea to build such a huge boat in the desert?
- Did Noah seek approval from the people around him?
- Could you stay with a task God gave you if people made fun of you?
- Look at the materials and dimensions of the ark.
- Calculate how long it would take you to build the ark if you were working alone.
- What made the ark waterproof?
- What didn't God give Noah? (a rudder see Healing Messages)
- Why do you think God omitted this item?
- Do you let God steer your life? Why or why not?
- How consistently do you seek God’s approval?
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Elijah
Read: I Kings 17:1-6 Elijah is Fed by Ravens; Why Birds Fed A Prophet by a Brook Near Jordan
- What was Elijah’s occupation?
- What was happening in the land?
- Why were they having a drought?
- What did God tell Elijah to do?
- Did he do what God asked him?
- How did God tell him he would take care of him?
- Who was going to feed Elijah?
- How many times a day were the ravens going to feed him?
- How would you feel about eating the food ravens brought you?
- Would you eat it? Why or why not?
- How did Elijah earn God’s approval?
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Nehemiah
Read: Nehemiah 2-6 Nehemiah Builds the Wall; How the Walls of Jerusalem Were Rebuilt
- Who was Nehemiah?
- What was Nehemiah’s job?
- Who noticed he was looking sad?
- What did he tell the king?
- Why do you think he wanted to return to his home city?
- Who did he rely on to complete the building of the wall?
- Which city’s walls were destroyed?
- Why were they destroyed?
- How difficult is it to build a wall?
- Why did they have to build with one hand and have a weapon in the other hand?
- How difficult would it be to hold a weapon and build the wall?
- Who tried to stop Nehemiah from building the wall?
- Why?
- Has anyone ever tried to stop you from doing something that needs to be done?
- Was Nehemiah concerned about his enemies’ approval?
- What have you done to make sure a task is completed?
- Were Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem terrorists?
- What did they try to do?
- Why didn’t they succeed?
- What does this story tell us about dealing with terrorists?
- What do terrorists and bullies have in common?
- Have you ever had to deal with a bully?
- What did you do?
- Aren’t bullies working to get our approval?
- Why was Nehemiah successful?
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The Prodigal Son
Read: Luke 15:11-32 A Boy Comes Home; Prodigal
- What is this story about?
- Money?
- Wild living?
- Stubbornness?
- Forgiveness?
- Anger?
- Who wants his share of the family inheritance?
- Are you aware that both boys receive their inheritance at the same time?
- Who received more?
- What does the younger brother do with his money?
- Whose approval was he seeking when he had money?
- What must it have been like for everyone to desert him?
- Have you ever found that if you have some money, everyone wants to be your friend until the money is gone?
- What was this experience telling him about true friendship?
- Did his dad kick him out of the house for asking for his inheritance?
- Where did he go when he didn’t have any money?
- What did he end up doing to earn food and shelter?
- Why was this a repulsive activity? (Jews saw pigs as unclean)
- What did he think about while feeding the swine?
- What did he decide to do?
- Whose approval is he seeking this time?
- When he returns, how does his father greet him?
- With angry words?
- With “I told you this would happen?”
- With love?
- What does the father do to make the son feel at home?
- Why does the older brother get angry?
- Do you think the older brother was justified for being upset that his brother got a party?
- Whose approval was he seeking?
- What was the father’s message to the younger son?
- What was the father’s message to the older son?
- Was this a case of unconditional love?
- If you were the older brother, what do you think the father should have done to your brother?
- Why did the older brother think the younger brother should be punished?
- Do you want to see people punished before you forgive them?
- What things are happening in the world today that require forgiveness?
- In Jesus’ parable, whose approval rating do you think he was talking about?
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