NEW Holy Land Tours
During June, July, and August, we will feature another Kids’ Tour  of the Holy Land similar to what we did last summer. This is an entirely different tour led by Olene Carroll, with new stories and new opportunities to learn the geography and terrain of the land where many Bible stories took place. It is a wonderful adventure to look beyond the stories and learn about the setting and the customs of that time period. Please encourage your church members, families, and friends to join us on this summer’s tour.

Olene Carroll has led 23 tours to the Holy Lands. She agreed to continue our journey after the success of last summer’s online trip. This year we’ve added the itinerary for this tour, passport information, as well as quizzes at the end of each stop. Each traveler will receive a passport stamp similar to what he or she would receive when actually visiting these countries, and a picture of each of the Bible stories studied in these areas.

This year we have Passport Covers and Passport Question and Answer Pages for each tour. Each student can choose a picture or a blank page, where he or she can add his or her own picture, for their individual passport.

Each tour has two corresponding Passport Question and Answer pages.

After completing the Question and Answer pages, print out the corresponding tour stamps and paste them in upper-right corner your passport pages.

Earn a BibleWise T-Shirt by Completing Your Passport Q&A Pages
At the end of the tour, you can submit your finished passport, via email, fax, or snail mail and we’ll send you a t-shirt as proof that you took the Kids’ Tour of the Holy Land. Even SS teachers can earn a t-shirt if they like.

To receive your t-shirt, email, fax or mail a copy of your completed Passport pages. Don't forget to include your mailing address so we can send you your t-shirt.

Email: TShirt@Biblewise.com

FAX: 408-354-3857

Mail:
1484 Pollard Road, Suite 525  
Los Gatos, 95032

Obviously, there is much more to “show and tell” about than we have space for in three months, but it will be fun to continue our journey and associate places in the world today that were traveled by Bible greats. If you missed last summer’s tour, you can find it in our archives.

This month, we are starting at Mount Tabor and going to the Jabbock River and Peniel. July’s trip includes stops at:  Mount Pisgah, Moab, and Petra. In August, we’ll journey to: Beersheba and Jericho.

Each stop will include wonderful Bible stories retold by Olene. Kids Korner will highlight additional stories to read on the site or directly from your Bible. You might want to find a good children’s Bible for easier reading and understanding by young people. We’ll have some fun and games related to many of the stories as well as discussion questions for each story.

Please join us for another exciting traveling adventure!

Earning the God and Country Badge
We recommend encouraging students to earn their God and Country badge for their specific religion.

You do NOT have to be a scout, any youth group or Sunday school pupils are encouraged and eligible to participate in this program.

Contact praypub.org for your specific workbook. All students must fulfill the requirements given by their specific religious group.

At this time, these are the religions they have available:

Contact praypub.org for additional programs for boys and girls in 1^st grade through 8^th grade.

Here is a report of one Sunday school teacher whose students have been working on this for a year.

I have four 6^th and 7^th grade girls in my class. Two of them are girls scouts and the others are not. When the two scouts talked about earning their God and Country badge, all the girls wanted to work on this activity. Fortunately, the God and Country badge can be earned by any boy or girl regardless of affiliation with the scouts.

They have workbooks available for approximately 50 different denominations.  We selected our religion’s guidelines and began work to understand the Bible and the framework of our own church.

When the girls had completed all the requirements, we had a special award assembly on Mother’s Day. The Mother’s pinned the medals on their daughters after the girls made a presentation of what they had learned.

Here are a few of their comments about what they learned:

I just loved the Commandment work. I could see why Jesus divided them into two. Obviously, loving God with all our heart, soul, and mind is first. The first five commandments teach us how to do that. The second commandment Jesus said was to love our neighbor as ourselves. Commandments 5-10 explain how we achieve that level of love. The fifth commandment gets double duty in that we are shown how to honor our divine Parent as well as our human parents.

I like all the Commandments but I especially like the 4th commandment. That we get to rest the way God did.  I never thought of just being willing to quiet my day so as to think about Him and His creation. It’s really not a day to spend at the mall or movies. I really want to rest the way God does - in absolute appreciation of His creation. 

E.S.  6^th grade

The next girl recited the 23^rd Psalm and explained what it meant to her.

What I love about this Psalm is that it is a prayer. In some translations the first verse is:

“Because the Lord is my shepherd I have everything I need.”

It is clear that God provides a place for us to feel His presence and peace. It’s green pastures – not rocks and weeds. If you are a lamb – you can rest because your next meal is in front of you. All our needs are covered – He makes us lie down and rest even if we’d rather be doing something else. He supplies water for nourishment, He restores us after a long day. Just as the Lord’s prayer asks that we be not led into temptation – this Psalm tells us He leads us into paths of doing His will. This prayer tells me I have nothing to fear – God is preparing a table for me – even in the midst of my enemies. He offers me all the comfort and discipline that I need. He fills me with the oil of consecration.

When they would anoint a king they poured oil over his head.   Well, God is anointing us daily for His service – and it’s not just a drop of oil. And then we have the wonderful assurance that we dwell in His house securely, safely, happily, with love – forever.

MV 7^th grade

I love the beatitudes. Just the name gives you a hint. These are the be – attitudes. The attitudes we get to bring to every day.

Every one tells us to be happy. The word blessed is translated happy.

We are happy when we are so poor in spirit that we’ll do everything to get rich in our understanding of God – and then we  receive the kingdom of heaven as our prize. Each beatitude tells us when we live this way we get a reward.  Like a prize in a cereal box: you just have to open it and it is in there.

I like that the fourth beatitude reminds me to “hunger and thirst after righteousness,” not French fries and a milkshake. To be truly filled, we just need to seek the right things.

But my favorite of all the beatitudes is “blessed (or happy) are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.” Did you know that to be a peacemaker meant to practice the presence of God? I want to practice the presence of God. When I do, I bring peace to any situation. And we are all children of God, so we all must be peacemakers.

N.M. 6th grade

I love knowing the Lord’s prayer is a way of looking at how to pray. Jesus said to pray on this manner – not just memorize his words. So what is this manner? What should prayer include?

The first four points are all about God.

1. Our Father which art in heaven – tells us to talk directly to God.

2. that we should praise and honor God’s name.
   
   
3. to recognize that His kingdom is come – that was Jesus’ message – the kingdom of heaven is at hand, it’s not some far off place.
   
   
4. that we really want God’s will to be done, rather than just hoping He’ll go along with our will.

5-7 is our wish list

5. We want to be fed – nourished –

6. Forgiven –

7. And kept from temptation.  The interesting thing about this verse is that the translation isn’t “don’t lead us into temptation” as if God ever could or would – but do not let us enter into temptation – in other words – keep me awake and alert so I know what I’m getting into.

Then the 8th line takes us back to God.  We start and end with God.

I like learning to pray this way.  Prayer is just a conversation with God.

TK 6th grade

 

We’d like your help with bringing our Swap Shop section up to date.  If there is a Bible character or an event not covered by BibleWise, please contact us at biblewise.com.

CONTEST
We need a name for our new resource. So BibleWise is launching its first ever contest. The winner will receive a BibleWise t-shirt and have his/her picture and an interview posted on BibleWise. Be the first one to submit a name for the new Swap Shop collection.

All entries must be submitted by July 1^st.

When you email your entry include:

• Your name
• phone number
• email address
• the name that bests represents our new section. 

All entries must be received by midnight of July 1^st PST. 

Enter as many names as you want, just send each name as a separate entry to:
Contest@BibleWise.com.

The winner will be announced in the August edition of BW.

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.

Bible verses for summer will include specific verses to help us on our travels.  Whether we’re headed to camp, taking the on-line Kids’ Tour of the Holy Land, traveling with parents or family or friends these verses are great ones to pack for day in day out use.

June 7
(Message) Prov 3:5 Trust GOD from the bottom of your heart; don't try to figure out everything on your own.

• Why should we trust God more than our own way of figuring things out?
• When have you trusted God with all your heart?
  • What was the outcome?
• How can you trust God more this summer?

June 14
(NLT)  Prov 3:6 Seek his will in all you do, and he will direct your paths.

• How hard is it to yield to God’s will?
• Are you ready to let God direct your summer vacation?
• How do you find what God’s will is for you?

June 21
(NLT) Ps. 18:32 God arms me with strength; he has made my way safe.

• What kind of strength do you need?
• Is it comforting to know that God is the source of your strength?
• How had God made your way safe?

June 28
(NCV)  Ps. 121:6 The sun cannot hurt you during the day, and the moon cannot hurt you at night.

• What is this Psalm telling us about the sun and moon?
• How is this Bible verse helpful if you’ve spent too much time in the sun?

July 5
(KJV) Gal 5:1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.

• How has Christ made us free?
• What is the yoke of bondage?
• What would bind us today?
• Where does freedom come from?

Translations used:
The Message
NCV New Century Version
NLT New Living Translation
KJV  King James Version

Bible Stories
Are representative of each of our stops on the Kids’ Tour of the Holy Land.

Transfiguration
Read Mark 9:2-9;  Jesus’ Face Shines as the Sun

Elijah is fed by Ravens
Read I Kings 17:1-7  Food from Birds; Why Birds Fed a Prophet by a Brook

Abram and Sarai Travel
Read  Genesis 12:1-5;  A New Land; A Man Who Heard and Obeyed God’s Call

Finding a Bride for Isaac
Read Genesis 24:1-67; A Wife for Isaac; How Abraham Found A Wife for Isaac

Jacob Stealing the Birthright
Read Genesis 27:1-45; Esau and Jacob; Selling the Birthright

Jacob’s Ladder
Read Genesis 28:10-22 Jacob’s Dream; Jacob’s Lonely Journey and His Wonderful Dream

Jacob Wrestling 
Read Genesis 32:1-31 A Midnight Wrestling Match

Exercise:
With Father’s Day approaching, this would be a good time to ask your pupils to write a letter that tells what they love most about their dads. You might ask them to add specific details about what they have learned from their dads. Think of all the reasons you are grateful for your dad. Maybe he plays catch with you after work,  shoots baskets, tosses the football, or has taught you to build something or how to bait the hook and fish. It could be water sports or winter sports, or taking time to read to you. Whatever wonderful moments you enjoy with your dad, express your gratitude for him and place your note where he will find it on Father’s day morning.

Ex: “Dear Dad, You are a one-of-kind-dad. I love you. Thanks for teaching me how to ride my bike without training wheels. Do you remember when you taught me how to catch fly balls and one landed right in my eye? I’ll never forget how you sat there holding me and calmly telling me everything was all right. I could trust you and, more important, I realized I could trust God’s love for me at that moment.

Thanks for your comforting words and the ones that discipline me, too. I appreciate it when you listen to me. Thanks for being the greatest Dad.”

Don’t leave granddads, uncles or other church members and friends out of the letter writing, either. We all like to hear messages of gratitude.

Exercise:
Name some famous fathers in the Bible. [Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, David, Isaiah, Zachariah] What qualities do they have in common? What makes each one different? What makes a “great” father?

Exercise: Get out your crayons and enjoy coloring the pictures of the kids packing to go on the Holy Land tour.

Print/Download Coloring Page - Packing for the Holy Land Tour

Print/Download Coloring Pages - Mount Tabor Our First Stop

Exercise: Listen to Jesus

Print/Download Listen to Jesus
Print/Download Listen to Jesus Answer Sheet

Exercise: Food for Elijah

Print/Download Food for Elijah
Print/Download Food for Elijah Answer Sheet

Exercise: Look Around Abraham

Print/Download Look Around Abraham
Print/Download Look Around Abraham Answer Sheet

Exercise: A Kind Girl

Print/Download A Kind Girl
Print/Download A Kind Girl Answer Sheet

Exercise: A Wife for Isaac Maze

Print/Download A Wife for Isaac Maze
Print/Download A Wife for Isaac Maze Answer Sheet

Exercise: A Flash of Lightning

Print/Download A Flash of Lightning
Print/Download A Flash of Lightning Answer Sheet

Exercise: Breakfast with the Birds

Print/Download Breakfast with the Birds
Print/Download Breakfast with the Birds Answer Sheet

Exercise: Moving Day

Print/Download Moving Day
Print/Download Moving Day Answer Sheet

Exercise: What is It?

Print/Download What is It?
Print/Download What is It? Answer Sheet

Exercise: Stairway to Heaven

Print/Download Stairway to Heaven
Print/Download Stairway to Heaven Answer Sheet

Exercise: Dads and Sons Younger

Print/Download Dads and Sons Younger
Print/Download Dads and Sons Younger Answer Sheet

Exercise: Dads and Sons Older

Print/Download Dads and Sons Older
Print/Download Dads and Sons Older Answer Sheet

Transfiguration
Read Mark 9:2-9; Jesus’ Face Shines as the Sun

• Retell the story of the Transfiguration.
• Why did Jesus only select three of his disciples?
• Which three were chosen?
• What do you know about Peter? James? John?
• What happened on the mountain?
• What did the disciples see?
• What was their reaction?
• How would you have felt if you saw Moses and Jesus today?
• What did God say to the three disciples?
• Why was that important to say?
• Have you ever been in a situation where you just didn’t know what to do or say so you started making suggestions to get beyond the uncomfortable moment?
• Is that what Peter was doing?
• Why is this event so important?
• Why was the transfiguration important to the early church?
• What does it say to you today?

Elijah is fed by Ravens
Read I Kings 17:1-7 Food from Birds; Why Birds Fed a Prophet by a Brook;

• Who was Elijah?
• Why did God tell him to go to the brook Cherith to drink and be fed by ravens?
• Did you know that the Arab Bedouin people were also called ravens since they dressed in black desert garb?
• The word for the desert people and ravens is spelled the same, but just pronounced differently, like wind (turn something) or wind (air that blows). The way in which you pronounce them determines their meaning. It was true of the word for ravens or Bedouins. So maybe the people actually fed Elijah.
• Would you want to eat food that birds gave you?
  • It might be great if that’s all there was to eat.
• What does this story suggest about God’s individual care for each of us?
• In what ways has God supplied you with what you need?

Abram and Sarai Travel
Read Genesis 12:1-5; A New Land; A Man Who Heard and Obeyed God’s Call;

• Have you ever heard God speak to you?
• What kind of courage and obedience would it take to be willing to give up a comfortable life to become a nomad? 
• Imagine being over 70 years old and God asks you to get in your RV and travel to the desert without any preplanned destination.  What would you think?
• What kind of people were Abram and Sarai?
• What did God promise them?
• Would His promise to make you a great nation be enough to convince you to leave a lovely home to travel for God?
• Is this what missionaries do?

Finding a Bride for Isaac
Read Genesis 24:1-67; A Wife for Isaac; How Abraham Found A Wife for Isaac

• Tell the story in your own words.
• What is unusual about this story?
• How old is Isaac?
• Why isn’t he getting a wife on his own?
• What do you think of arranged marriages?
• Why was it so important to find Isaac a wife from Abraham's homeland?
• How would you feel if your parents decided whom you were going to marry?
• Does that happen anywhere in the world today?
• So maybe you’re not thinking about marriage; but what if your parents selected your date for the prom?
• How would you feel if you were the servant?
• What was the servant's prayer? (Gen 24:11-14)
• Are we that specific when we pray?
• What did the servant ask God to do?
• What sign indicated that Rebekah was the one?
• How long do you think it would take to water 10 camels? In the book, Running with the Giants, author John C. Maxwell calculates how many jars of water it would take to water 10 camels. "Each camel could drink 20 gallons of water."
  • 10 camels at 20 gallons each = 200 gallons
  • 200 gallons drawn with a 5-gallon jar = 40 trips
  • 40 trips at (a conservative) 3 minutes each = 2 hours.
  • What seemed like a simple act of kindness would require 2 hours of work.
• Maxwell contends extra effort brings extra blessings. Would you be willing to do that much for a stranger? A friend? A member of the family? A boss?
• What extra blessing did Rebekah receive? A husband? Or something even greater? [she was the great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great grandmother of Jesus.]
• Who is blessed when we give generously?
• What was special about Rebekah besides being beautiful?
• What qualities did she express?
• Was she looking for approval?
• What in the story tells you how Isaac felt about Rebekah?

Jacob Stealing the Birthright
Read Genesis 27:1-45; Esau and Jacob; Selling the Birthright

• Retell the story of Esau selling his birthright for some stew.
• Was Esau really that hungry that he’d give up his birthright?
• Do you think the birthright meant that much to him?
• Why was the birthright so important to Jacob?
• Was it fair for Jacob to do that to his brother?
• What might Jacob have done differently?
• What does this teach you about treating your brother(s) or sister(s)?

Jacob’s Ladder 
Read Genesis 28:10-22 Jacob’s Dream; Jacob’s Lonely Journey and His Wonderful Dream

• Why was Jacob running away?
• What had he done?
• Why did he need reassurance from God?
• What did he see in his dream?
• What do you think it meant to see angels on a ladder?
• What did it mean to Jacob?
• How do you know that it was a special moment?
• What did Jacob say?  Do?
• Have you ever had any dreams where you felt God was guiding you?

Jacob Wrestling 
Read Genesis 32:1-31 A Midnight Wrestling Match

• Describe what’s happening in this account about Jacob.
• Why is Jacob afraid of Esau?
• What does he send his brother?
• Why is Jacob’s gift so large?  Is it an appropriate size?
• Is this a good strategy for Jacob to use to reconcile with Esau?
• Does this strategy work today?
• After Jacob sends everyone across the Jabbok river, he stays on the other side alone.  What happens?
• Who is Jacob wrestling with?
• Have you ever wrestled over decisions you’ve made?
• What was different about this encounter?
• What was his name changed to?  Why?
• When Jacob felt he had seen God face-to-face, was it easier to see his brother?
• How often are we expected to see God in people we meet?
• When does Jacob get his relationship with Esau straightened out? [After he got his relationship with God right]
• Why is it important to have a good relationship with God?
• Who needed to be forgiven? [There are a lot of people in these stories who need forgiveness]
• Who forgave?
• Can you think of a time when you needed forgiveness or forgave someone?
• How did you feel when you were forgiven?
• How would you instruct someone to go about the act of forgiving?