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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.
Happy New Year
This is a time of new beginnings, freshness, and changes. BibleWise is working to add to the site as many of the missing Bible stories and events as possible this year. We have not included creation stories in the past, but it is a much-needed addition.
Genesis 1 is filled with such hope for life when we get our priorities in order. Think of it, God doesn’t create man and woman first, but last. He creates a habitation that supports every aspect of life and moves the male and female of His creating into the foundation prepared for them. Consider the wonder in Eugene Peterson’s opening paraphrase of Genesis: “First God. God is the subject of life, God is foundational for living. If we don’t have a sense of the primacy of God, we will never get it right, get life right, get our lives right. Not God at the margins; not God as an option; not God on the weekends. God at center and circumference; God first and last; God, God, God.”
What better way to start the year than recognizing God first. The accounts highlighted this month show levels of obedience and disobedience. We have an opportunity to learn from good examples, and to commit ourselves to not repeating mistakes others have made.
Watch for changes to our site throughout the year. We appreciate your use and support of BibleWise. |
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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.
January 4
(NLB) 1 Tim 4:14 Be sure to use the gift God gave you.
- Why should we view our special skills and talents as gifts from God?
- What gifts has God given you?
- Is creation one of God’s gifts to us?
Janurary 11
(ERV) 2 Cor 10:5 casting down imaginations, and every high thing that is exalted against the knowledge of God, and bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ;
- Why is it important to obey God?
- What does it mean to obey Christ?
- What “imaginations” need to be cast down?
January 18
(NRSV) Heb 11:7 By faith Noah, warned by God about events as yet unseen, respected the warning and built an ark to save his household;
- What kind of faith did Noah have?
- Would you be willing to endure public ridicule to follow God?
- Have you ever heard God instructing you to do something for Him?
- Under what conditions does God talk to us?
January 25
(AV) Ps 18:2 The Lord is my Rock, my Fortress, and my Deliverer; my God, my keen and firm Strength in Whom I will trust and take refuge, my Shield, and the Horn of my salvation, my High Tower.
- How is God a “rock”?
- What is a “high tower”?
- What would it mean to cast down “imaginations”?
Translations used:
AV Amplified Version
ERV English Revised Version
NLB New Life Bible
NRSV New Revised Standard Version |
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ACTIVITIES |
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Bible Overview looks at The Life and Times of the Disciples -- Following Jesus.
Hot Topic - Become Like Little Children
BibleWise Guest this month is Singer/Songwriter, Desiree Goyette.
Parenting with the Bible addresses Change Needed - or Stuck in the Mud?
The Freshness of a New Year – a New View – a New Way of Understanding God
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. I just did an assessment with my class and most of the goals were achieved. The few that weren’t were “almosts”. So the class made a new list. It was a more realistic list of goals. Help pupils to write goals that are achievable and assess them once a month. Sometimes they need help in accomplishing those goals. Sometimes they put goals on their lists that they think you want to hear. Make sure they are specifically designing ones for themselves. One girl last year wanted to develop more confidence. Her family told me what progress she made on that one, but she feels she needs to keep it as a priority.
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 and 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 of the said
- Be kinder
- Be more thoughtful
- Be a better student
- Be nicer to my siblings
- Tell the truth to my parents
Help them discover what states of thought they have outgrown. A poem by Samuel Longfellow concludes: “The Life that makes all things new.” Help them see how God is making them “new” moment by moment. They never have to wait for January 1 to be made new. It takes place hourly. |
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Spiritual Goals
Help your pupils prepare a grid for accomplishment of their goals. For example:
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Jan |
Feb |
Mar |
Apr |
May |
Jun |
Jul |
Aug |
Sep |
Oct |
Nov |
Dec |
| Pray daily |
X |
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| Put God 1st |
M |
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| Read a Bible story (nightly) |
M |
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| Be more loving |
X |
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X = accomplished
M = most of the time
Or whatever code. Make the chart for each child so the child can keep track of his or her progress. There is nothing wrong with missing the mark, we just keep working at it, we don’t give up.
- What kind of spiritual goals have you set for this year? (studying the Bible, praying each day, forgiving, planned acts of kindness, etc.)
- How will these goals improve your ability to help others?
- How will your goals improve your contribution to family? Church? Friends? School? Sports? Hobbies?
- If any of these goals are about character change, talk about the importance of asking God if these are goals He has for them.
- 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 our desire to be better?
- What qualities do you want to express this year?
- What kinds of goals does God have for us? (look at the goals for different figures of the Bible: Noah, Abraham, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Aaron, Joshua, Gideon, Samson, Deborah, Ruth, Esther, Job, Samuel, Saul, David, Solomon, Hezekiah, Daniel, Meshach, Shadrach, Abednego, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Jonah, Mary, John the Baptist, and Jesus,)
Teachers: You might want to put each name of the Bible characters above (and add others) on index cards 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: Reading the Bible through in a year or a couple of years.
This is a great task to help students increase their awareness of the Bible.
With younger classes, take one of the toddler or pre-school Bibles we use in Kids Korner. Ask the parents to read at least one story (or more) a week to their children. Discuss this story in class each Sunday. With older children, use an Adventure Bible or Hurlbut’s Kid’s Bible. Give specific reading assignments for each week. For teens, use Eugene Peterson’s The Message or a translation of their liking. The important thing is to begin this wonderful journey. Don’t let getting behind keep you from finishing this goal. There are rich rewards for completing this assignment. If it takes two or three years to accomplish, stay with it. Look at Bible Overview for different ways to read through the Bible. |
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Notebook
Supply each student with a small spiral notebook with three or more divided sections.
In section one – list Spiritual Goals and Progress. This is where the new year of achieving the spiritual goals begins.
Section two can include Bible verses or stories or phrases from sermons that help them move forward in their understanding of God. These often make good bumper stickers for their rooms. If they find appropriate pictures, they can add the Bible verse and turn it into a poster. Here’s an example using this year’s theme of “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.”
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| THY WORD IS A LAMP |
UNTO MY FEET, |
AND A LIGHT UNTO MY PATH. |
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Ps. 119:105 |
After reviewing their entries, you might suggest making post-it notes of verses or phrases that will inspire them throughout the week.
One of my pupils needed encouragement about a relationship challenge. We found Bible verses that helped her change her thinking, then we made post-it notes for her mirror, school notebook, lunch box, and locker as places to remind her to maintain her joy and keep on loving.
Section three should list healings or lessons learned or whatever you deem appropriate for your age group. Sometimes I’ve had them list what they are learning about God and God’s Word. The point is to inspire them to maintain a record of their spiritual journey. |
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Exercise: Memorizing the books of the Bible
January is often a good time to review memorizing the books of the Bible. Ask the students to name the books in order. If they are still struggling, help them find a way to learn each book. Start with smaller chunks: Torah or first five books of the Bible; followed by some history of moving into the Promised Land, having judges for the people and then the people wanting kings instead of judges. See what happens when we try to live life our way and not God’s way. From the history, move into literature and then the prophets. That covers the Old Testament. In the New Testament – learn the Gospels and then look at the beginning of the Christian church through Acts of the Apostles and the letters. Help them create pneumonics to help remember. Discuss why it is important to be able to find each book of the Bible and to understand why it’s included in the Bible.
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Exercise: The book of Genesis is about “firsts.”
Make a list of all the “firsts” from Genesis 1 – 11. For example: Light is the first thing created, the serpent is the first talking critter, etc. Discuss each one after the pupils have written their lists. |
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Exercise: Have students draw pictures of each day of creation. I did this with a first grade class. We read the first chapter of Genesis and drew pictures for each day. I did this along with the children. When we got to the sixth day, I drew stick figures of male and female. One of the pupils looked over my shoulder and said, “We can be grateful you’re not God!” It was a fun learning experience to think in terms of the days of creation. |
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Don't forget to go to the Character and Theme Index and click on Noah and Newness for a complete listing of articles and exercises on the site.
Below is a sample of the types of articles and activities you'll find in this comprehensive listing of all we offer on Noah.
- Projects and Activities
- Noah Teaches Sunday School
- Build an Ark Out of an Old Shoe Box
- Everything I Need to Know About Life, I Learned from Noah's Ark
- And many more activities
- Puzzles, Mazes, Coloring
- Homing Instinct
- Ark Crossword
- And many more fun games, puzzles and coloring
- Articles
- Like Noah We Can Trust God to Direct Our Lives
- God's Ever- Present Protection
- Bible Overviews
- New Views and Facts About Noah and the Ark
Below is a sample of the types of articles and activities you'll find in this comprehensive listing of all we offer on Newness.
- Puzzles, Mazes, Coloring
- Who Received a New Name
- Who was Made New?
- Saul Hears About Jesus
- And many more fun games, puzzles and coloring
- Articles
- Parenting
- New Beginnings
- Goals for a New Year
- For Teens
- Keep Your New Year's Resolutions: Leave the Old for the New
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DISCUSSION QUESTIONS |
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God Creates
Read Genesis 1–2:3 The Beginning; How the World was Made
- According to the first chapter of Genesis, what did God create on each of the six days?
- What is the most important part of Genesis 1? (It all starts with God)
- Some Bible commentaries indicate that God knew nothing about time and that “beginning” meant “always.” So it would read “In the always, God created heaven and earth.” That would open the door to the constant revelation of God’s creation in the present tense.
- What do we learn daily about each day of creation?
- How do you account for God creating light on the first day, but the sun, moon, and stars aren’t created until the fourth day?
- Is there any significance to the phrase “and the evening and the morning were the first (second, third, etc.) day”?
- Why would evening be listed first?
- Why did God create man and woman last?
- What is meant by “our” in “And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness…”?
- Why do you think the 7th day is carried over to the second chapter?
- What does God resting on the 7th day tell us about life?
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Adam Dreamer
Read Genesis 2:4-4 The Special Helper; A Sad Day; The Story of the First Earth-Home
- Why does the first chapter of Genesis through Gen 2:3 speak of “God” and then switch to “Lord, God” in Gen 2:4?
- Is it plausible for people to be created from dust?
- When writers talk about the Adam dream, what are they talking about? [Gen 2:21 talks about Adam being put to sleep]
- Can you find anywhere in Genesis that Adam ever woke up?
- If he didn’t wake up, what was Eve? The serpent? The expulsion from the garden? Cain and Abel’s offerings and result?
- Why do you think two creation stories are listed?
- Would you spend time talking to a snake?
- What did the serpent look like when it talked to Eve, since the penalty imposed on it was to slither in the dust? Did the serpent walk before that time?
- How does the second “creation story” depict God? [man-like]
- Which creation do you most identify with and why?
- Is there more than one creation? [NO!]
- What is the first sin? [disobedience?]
- Why is the first sin attributed to Adam?
- Why is obedience to God so important?
- How do you obey God?
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Noah’s Obedience
Read Genesis 6-8 Noah’s Ark; God’s Promise to Noah; Safe in the Boat; Why A Great Ship was Built
- Discuss Noah's qualities. 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?
- What did Noah build?
- Why did he build it?
- List the directions for building the ark.
- What materials did Noah need?
- What kind of wood did he use?
- What made the ark waterproof?
- How long were they on the boat before it began to rain? [7 days]
- What would you do if you were on the ark?
- How long did it rain?
- 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?
- Could you stay with a task God gave you, if people made fun of you?
- How long did they have to stay in the ark? [1 year, 1 month and 27 days]
- What qualities would you need to live with a floating zoo for a year?
- What kinds of activities do you think they had on the ark?
- What challenges would you have living on an ark with all those animals?
- What's the first thing Noah does when he gets off the ark?
- The Bible tells us that Noah walked with God. What a companion! What would it be like to walk with God? Do we walk with God today?
- What didn't God give Noah? [a rudder]
- Why do you think God omitted this item?
- Do you let God steer your life? Why or why not?
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The Tower of Babel
Read Genesis 11:1-9 The Tower of Babel; The Tower of Babel, and Why It was Never Finished
- Why do you think the earth was of one language?
- What did the people want to build? Why?
- Do you know any cities in the world that are trying to build the tallest buildings?
- What was this tower to represent?
- Do you think this was a wise thing to do?
- What were the motives of those building the tower?
- What happened?
- Is this just a story to explain how we got different languages and cultures?
- Why do you think the story says “Lord” and not “God”?
- What was the tower called?
- What word does that sound like in the English language today?
- Does a personal ego lead to babbling?
- Why was this story included in the Bible?
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