Getting To Know Your Bible

Point:

Students will learn how to explore the Bible in order to enjoy all its benefits

Scripture:

(a bunch!) You’ll see.

Materials Needed:

• Pens/pencils, etc.
• Bibles (of course!)
• Note cards
• You may want to have a prize for everyone (or treats) to motivate them to finish the activity.
• (see some examples I’ve included below)

Setup:

• Write down Bible verses on the blank sides of the cards (one verse per card, like flash cards, but only with the reference). Include some easy ones in the beginning of the Bible, and some more difficult ones for those who are more experienced with their Bibles.
• Write down some cities, countries, etc. that students need the maps in the back to find.
• Write down names (for them to search their glossaries and indexes for)
• (You may also write down questions with the verse listed to where they can find the answers)

Intro:

Hold up a Bible and ask, “What is this?” “What do we believe about the Bible?”
(Looking for: “Word of God, compilation of 66 books, Old Testament and New Testament, etc.)

Explain:

We believe that “All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17 – NLT) – Therefore, we need to learn how to use the Bible.

Digging In:

“Open your Bibles to the Table of Contents.”

Explain:

• The Bible isn’t one book, but a collection of 66 books
• The Bible is written by many different people at many different times
• The Bible is divided into several different types of writings:
  • Old Testament (39)
    • Law (5)
    • History (12)
    • Wisdom and Poetry (6)
    • Prophets (16)
      • Major (4)
      • Minor (12)
    • New Testament (27)
      • Gospels (4)
      • Beginning of the Church (1)
      • Letters (22)
    • It’s structured by chapter and verse to help us find specific passages (explain how to write)

(Show them the maps in the back, any footnotes, study notes below, glossaries, index, etc.)

Activity:

1. Once the students have a basic idea of where everything is and how to find it, pass out the note cards that you prepared before group. Students may team up or work by themselves.
2. On the backs of the cards, students will write down the answers:
   • For reference cards, write the verse (or summarize the verse)
   • For maps, maybe they should show and have the leaders sign off on the cards.
   • For questions, write the answers on the backs
   • For glossary words, write the definitions
   • For Index words, write the 1-2 references where the words/names are found
3. Give the students a treat (or prize) when they finish (and as motivation)

Pray

End in prayer, asking Jesus to help you read the Bible, to understand it, and to apply it.

List of some key Bible verses to write on the cards:

Old Testament:

• Genesis 1:1 (creation)
• Genesis 6:9 (Noah)
• Genesis 11:9 (Tower of Babel)
• Genesis 17:19 (Isaac’s role)
• Exodus 3:2 (Burning bush)
• What were the 10 plagues (in order)? – Exodus 7-11
• Exodus 12:13 (Passover)
• List the 10 Commandments (Exodus 20:1-17)
• (or what was the Xth commandment – Exodus 20:__)
• Who is the first person in the Bible to have been filled with the Holy Spirit? (Exodus 31:2-6)
• Who was Israel’s leader after Moses? (Deuteronomy 31:3)
• Joshua 1:8 (why read the Bible)
• What was the common theme of Israel, mentioned in Judges 2:18-19?
• 1 Samuel 8:7
• 1 Samuel 16:7 (God judges hearts, not outside)
• 1 Kings 18:21
• Who was king during the time of Esther? (Esther 1:1)
• Job 1:21
• Psalm 5:8
• Psalm 32:5
• Psalm 119:9 (why read the Bible)
• Psalm 145:8
• Proverbs 1:7
• Isaiah 1:18
• Isaiah 43:25 (forgive and forget)
• Isaiah 53:6
• Isaiah 53:8
• Isaiah 53:9
• Jeremiah 25:15
• Ezekiel 33:11
• Ezekiel 34:16
• How many men did Nebuchadnezzar see in the furnace? (Daniel 3:16-25)
• Joel 2:12
• Amos 4:13
• Obadiah 1:21 (trick verse, because there’s only 1 chapter, so it’s not listed as “1”)
• Jonah 3:10 – How did God respond to the Ninevites’ response to Jonah’s warning?
• Micah 6:8
• Nahum 1:3
• Habakkuk 2:4
• Zephaniah 3:17
• Haggai 2:9
• Zechariah 8:7
• Zechariah 9:9
• Malachi 3:1

New Testament:

• Matthew 3:8
• Matthew 21:5
• Matthew 27:57-60
• Matthew 28:19-20
• Mark 9:34
• Luke 8:18
• John 1:1
• John 1:12
• John 3:16
• John 14:6
• John 16:24 (Assurance of God’s provisions for our needs)
• Roman Road:
  • Romans 3:23
  • Romans 6:23
  • Romans 5:8
  • Romans 10:9
  • Romans 12:12
• Romans 8:15
• Romans 10:9
• Romans 15:4
• 1 Corinthians 10:13 (Victory over temptation)
• 2 Corinthians 5:2
• Galatians 3:26
• Ephesians 2:14
• Ephesians 3:6
• Philippians 1:21
• Colossians 3:16
• 1 Thessalonians 1:5
• 2 Thessalonians 2:14
• 1 Timothy 4:12
• 2 Timothy 3:16
• Titus 3:5
• Hebrews 4:12
• James 1:26
• 1 Peter 5:7
• 2 Peter 1:5
• 1 John 1:9
• 1 John 5:11-12 (assurance of salvation)
• 2 John 1:9
• 3 John 1:11
• Jude 1:21
• Revelation 3:20
• Revelation 22:20

Index Look-ups:

• Eden
• Covenant
• Lot
• Nimrod
• Oath
• Passover
• Megiddo
• Forgiveness
• Judah
• Edom
• Jerusalem
• Hope
• David
• King
• Heaven
• Hell

Glossary Look-ups:

• Disciple
• Last Supper
• Baptism / Baptize
• Messiah/Christ
• Holy Spirit
• Oath
• Covenant
• Passover
• Salvation
• Sin