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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 in January, we collected all of the archived resources for specific Bible stories, characters, and themes into one place: Swap Shop. We continue to add new material to the existing list, including stories not previously used on BibleWise. All the activities, discussion questions, puzzles and games on our site will be listed under each category.
Teaching the Bible is being re-designed to enable you to find what you want to teach as opposed to BW creating a set curriculum every month. We continue to add new material on Bible characters and events that have not yet been covered by Biblewise. By Fall, there will be a new format for Activities and all of the archived activities will be converted to the new index.
We’d like your help with this ongoing project. If you know of a Bible character or an event not covered by BibleWise, please contact us at biblewise.com. Also, we need a name for our new resource, so BibleWise is launching its first-ever contest. The winner will receive a BW t-shirt and have his/her picture and an interview posted on BW. Be the first one to submit your title for the new Swap Shop collection.
All entries must be submitted by July 1st. When you email your entry, please include: your name, phone number, email address, and the title that best represents our new section. All entries must be received by midnight of
July 1st PST.
Enter as many titles as you want; just send each one as a separate entry to:
swapshop@biblewise.com.
The winner will be announced in the August edition of BW. |
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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.”
New This Month:
For the past few months, we’ve been studying stories about Bible characters, who worked to maintain God’s approval in their everyday lives. One of our readers wrote: “I don’t think in terms of seeking God’s approval, but of claiming it as my identity – my children’s identity. As God’s expression, how can we NOT inherently be approved by God given that we are what He is? When we humanize a verse like this, it generates a feeling that we have to try to be better, and keep trying to be better in order for God to love us. That’s simply not true. God made man in His image and likeness (see Gen. 1:26-27) – we don’t go in and out of God’s approval.”
We agree with that statement. God loves us no matter what we do.
As a result of that comment, this month we’re going to look at Bible characters who might not have gotten human approval, but who were certainly acceptable to God. It is a good reminder not to use human judgment to determine who is worthy.
We’ll start with God’s instruction to Samuel not to look on the outside in selecting a successor to Saul. We’ll examine the persistence of the Shunamite mother in seeking healing for her son. We’ll also see that God isn’t hung up on the details of our lives when he chooses people who might not measure up to our standard. Moses was a murderer and 80 years old. Neither his past mistakes nor his age interfered with God selecting him for service.
Zacchaeus was a tax collector and despised by many for taking excessive amounts of money, yet Jesus saw his worth and invited himself to his house. This caused the Jews to wonder why Jesus, if he was a holy man, would spend time with such a guy.
Last, we’ll see that even Paul’s persecution and killing of Christians didn’t stop God from making him an instrument for the founding of the Christian church. This takes us right back to God’s statement in I Sam 16:7 for man: “ for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.”
As we study each of these characters, look for all the “mothering” qualities of God in these stories. It’s wise to remember your mother every day, and especially on Mother’s Day, May 10th. |
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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.
May 3
(TAB) I Sam 16:7
For the Lord sees not as man sees; for man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.
- How do you know God sees differently than we do?
- How can we look beyond the “outward appearance”?
- Should appearances affect how we view God’s children?
May 10
(NCV) II Kings 4:26
Run to meet her and ask, 'Are you all right? Is your husband all right? Is the boy all right?' " She answered, "Everything is all right."
- Who is speaking?
- Who is coming for help?
- What has happened?
- How can she answer everything is all right when her son has just died?
- What does that tell us about accepting outward appearances?
May 17
(KJV) Ex 4:12
Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say.
- Who is speaking?
- Who is listening?
- Why did God say He’d be with Moses’ mouth?
- Do we pray to let God put words in our mouths?
May 24
(KJV) Luke 19:9,10
And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house,... For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.
- Who is Jesus talking to?
- Whose house is he going to visit?
- How does Jesus save that which is lost?
May 31
(NIV) Acts 9:17
…"Brother Saul, the Lord - Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here - has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit."
- Who is talking?
- What was Saul’s name changed to?
- Why was Saul made blind?
- Why was the person speaking considered brave?
Translations used:
CEV Contemporary English Version
GNT Good News Translation
TAB The Amplified Bible
KJV King James Version |
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Bible Stories
This month’s Bible stories show how God sees only the good in each of us.
Samuel Anoints David
Read I Samuel 16:1-13; A Good Heart; Why God Sent Samuel to Bethlehem
Shunamite Mother
Read II Kings 4:8-37; A Room on the Roof; The Story About a Little Boy
Moses is Chosen
Read Exodus 2:11-25 & chapters 3 and 4; The Burning Bush; Why Moses Lived in the Wilderness; The Voice from the Burning Bush
Zacchaeus
Read Acts 9:1-23; Saul Believes; Saul in Damascus; The Wicked Plan that was Spoiled by a Vision of Jesus
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ACTIVITIES |
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Bible Overview covers the book of 3 Maccabees.
Teen Time’s Guest of the Month is Dr. Rocco A. Errico, Minister, Aramaic Bible Scholar, Author – Shedding Light on the Bible
Hot Topic handles Defeating the Goliath of Anger and Resentment
Explore Doers Do Deeds on Parenting with the Bible.
This month, we’re looking at Bible characters who might not have gotten human approval, but who were certainly acceptable to God. It is a good reminder not to rely on human judgment to determine who is worthy. We’ll also consider several different Bible mothers in preparation for Mother’s Day. And, we’ll explore the meaning of Pentecost. We are also including passport materials for you to get ready for this summer’s new trip on the Kids’ Tour of the Holy Land. |
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Exercise: Write a Letter to Mom
With Mother’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 mothers. You might ask them to add specific details about what they have learned from their mothers. Statements such as “Mom you’re great, I love you” are nice, but giving an example of a special experience they have had with their moms is much nicer – it’s thoughtful.
Ex: “Dear Mom, I love you. You make every day special. Do you remember when we went canoeing and I tipped over the canoe by accident, and ruined your new shirt? You didn’t get mad, you just told me it was part of the learning experience. Do you remember when I ran the canoe into the bank and hit a tree and all the spiders fell out? Again, you didn’t get upset. Thanks. I also appreciate it when I need to talk, you always have the time. You’re the best mom ever.”
Don’t leave grandmothers, aunts, or other church members and friends out of the letter writing, either. |
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Exercise: Name some mothers in the Bible.
[Eve, Sarah, Hagar, Rebekah, Leah, Rachel, Hannah, the Shunamite mother, Bathsheba, Naomi, Elisabeth, Mary (mother of Jesus)] What qualities do they have in common? What makes each one different? What makes a “great” mother? |
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Exercise: Ask a girl in your class to play the Shunamite mother or Hannah or any of the other mothers listed in the above exercise. If a student isn’t willing, the teacher can play the mother. Ask the pupils to interview the mother and find out what kind of a mother she was. Describe her qualities. |
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Exercise: Find all the children who belong to each mother in Old Testament Mothers and Children.
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Exercise: Get out your crayons and enjoy coloring Jesus at the Morning Meal.
 Print/ Download Coloring Page -- Jesus at the Morning Meal
Shortly after the morning meal, Jesus ascended into heaven 40 days after the resurrection. He instructed his disciples to stay in Jerusalem. On the festival day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit breathed life into each of them, so much so that they were moved to preaching about Jesus.
Pentecost (50 days after Jesus’ resurrection) was an important day in the birth of the Christian church. |
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DISCUSSION QUESTIONS |
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Samuel Anoints David
Read I Samuel 16:1-13; A Good Heart; Why God Sent Samuel to Bethlehem
- Retell the story from I Samuel.
- Why is Samuel looking for a new king?
- What is Samuel looking for in a new king?
- Why is judging the outward appearance a problem for Samuel? For us?
- What does God require of Samuel?
- How can we get beyond physical appearances and personality traits to really see the child of God’s creating?
- What does the following quote from Mahatma Gandhi mean to you in light of God’s instructions to Samuel?
- If you don't find God in the next person you meet, it is a waste of time looking for him further.
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Shunamite Mother
Read II Kings 4:8-37; A Room on the Roof; The Story About a Little Boy
- Discuss the story of Elisha and the Shunamite mother.
- What had she done for Elisha?
- What did he promise her?
- What happened to her son?
- Why did she go to find Elisha?
- Why do you think she said “It was well” with her and her family when her son had just died?
- What indication did she give Elisha that something was wrong?
- What did Elisha tell his servant, Gehazi, to do?
- What did Elisha do?
- What kind of faith did the Shunamite mother have?
- What kind of faith do we need?
- What are some of her mothering qualities?
- What do you love about your mother?
- What qualities of mothering do you see in God?
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Moses is Chosen
Read Exodus 2:11-25 & chapters 3 and 4; The Burning Bush; Why Moses Lived in the Wilderness; The Voice from the Burning Bush
- Read or tell the story of Moses’ encounter with the burning bush.
- Why did Moses have to leave Egypt?
- Where does Moses first encounter God in the desert?
- Why didn’t the bush burn-up?
- What does God ask Moses to do?
- What’s Moses’ response?
- What name does God give Moses to tell the Children of Israel?
- What is unusual about that name?
- What does I AM signify to you?
- How do you think it helped the Children of Israel?
- Why do you think God selected a murderer to deliver the children of Israel?
- Would you have selected someone 80 years old to be the leader of such a huge operation? Why or why not?
- What do you learn about God’s selection process?
- Why is it important not to judge a person by his or her past?
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Zacchaeus
Read Luke 19:1-10; Little Zacchaeus; The Little Man Who Climbed Into a Tree to See Jesus
- Retell the story of Zacchaeus.
- Where did Jesus find Zacchaeus?
- Why was he in a tree?
- Why do you think he wanted to see Jesus?
- Why didn’t people like Zacchaeus?
- Did you know that tax collectors paid Rome the tax amount for all the people living in an area and then they went out to get their money back, plus extra? Sometimes they overtaxed people unfairly just to make sure they made a profit.
- What did Zacchaeus do wrong?
- Who forgave Zacchaeus?
- Why was what Zacchaeus offered so special?
- Do you ever judge people by their careers?
- What does Jesus teach us in this case?
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On the Way to Damascus
Read Acts 9:1-23; Saul Believes; Saul in Damascus; The Wicked Plan that was Spoiled by a Vision of Jesus
- Retell the story of Saul’s conversion.
- Who consented to Stephen’s death?
- Where was Saul going and what was he going to do?
- What happened as he traveled?
- Who talked with Saul?
- Why was Saul blinded?
- Which disciple was told to go and heal Saul?
- Why didn’t he want to see Saul?
- Would you have trusted God and visited Saul, a known killer of those who followed Jesus?
- How did Ananias greet Saul?
- What did Saul do after his healing?
- Why was Saul so important to the Christian church?
- By what name is he best known?
- Why would God select someone like Saul to lead His church?
- Was that a terrible mistake on God’s part? Why or why not?
- How can we learn to look on each other the way God knows us?
- Why is it important to drop any preconceived notion that you have about someone?
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