Books-of-the-Bible-Introduction

Ideas for Study and Review

(Some of these ideas were written after we did them, and some before, so I apologize for the tense change.)

As we enter into Week 4 of our study I am greatly pleased with the enthusiasm of the young people. One family is using the study for daily devotions and working together on the sheets. Another child who can't come every week is asking his grandparents to bring home each new set of study sheeets. Every student present was able to recite the first 18 books of the Old Testament in order. They have kept up their questions and bring their notebooks to each meeting. We do not take the time to read the paragraphs at each meeting, but I try to teach something interesting to help them learn something special each week. Here are a few ideas for study and review:

Everyone received a notebook at the first meeting with the invitation and challenge on the first page. The next pages are Progress Sheets for them to list the new books and number of chapters for each new week. There is also a column for stickers upon completion. They bring their books to each meeting and add the new pages of Bible study and questions.

Each student is given study cards for the 6 new books for each week printed on different colors of cardstock paper. They can cut them apart and practice putting the books in order.

We have a chart in the room and the students can write the names of the 6 new books on the chart. They also made a chart of the complete Old Testament books for the younger Sunday School class.

At the first meeting we introduced the program and gave them the notebooks and study pages for Week 1. At the second meeting we reviewed the books for Week 1 and gave them the study pages for Week 2 (with holes punched so they could add them to their notebooks.) We continue to review the previous books as we hand out each new week of Bible study pages.

Week 3 brought us through the Old Testament history so we drew a time line on the board. Beginning at Genesis, all the books were added with a review statement about each book.

Week 4 introduces the division of the Old Testament books.

Week 5 we may practice turning to the books, by finding and reading the first verse of each book studied, in order. -- We also sang "Dem Dry Bones" from the story in Ezekiel 37.

Week 6 will be the middle week of our 11 weeks and would be a good week for a party. There are several ideas on the Activity page. (We had our party and included a Bible Feast. Each person was asked to bring a food found in the Bible. We had some usual foods and some unusual, such as lentils and figs. Everyone enjoyed the food, fun, and fellowship.)

Week 7 completes the Old Testament. To review we will read down our list of books and number of chapters on the Progress Sheets giving everyone a chance to complete any missing information. We will discuss the time between the Old Testament and New Testament and also the differences in the four gospels. (I also gave each family an answer sheet to make sure their books were complete up to this point.)

Week 8 brings us to John 3:16 and "The Romans Road", so our focus will be on salvation. -- I drew a line down the center of the board and put "Saved - heaven" on one side and "Lost - hell" on the other side and explained that everyone is on one side or the other. I added another line down the center and wrote "Going to be saved" and told them that many people think they are on that road. I then asked someone to read John 3:16-18. I explained that verse 18 shows that there is no middle road. I erased the line and the words "Going to be saved" and explained again that if they are not saved, they are lost. We then discussed the simple A, B, C of being saved.

Week 9 includes the Armor of God in Ephesians 6:13-17. For a different activity, you may divide into groups and give each group a stack of newspaper, tape, and scissors. Ask each team to dress one person in their group with as many pieces of armor mentioned in these verses as they can in a limited time period. Give them 5 minutes, or so, and then let each team explain the pieces of armor they made. We did this in the past and the kids and parents enjoyed it.

Week 10 brings us almost to the end of our Bible study. We included the divisions of the New Testament. We are discussing plans for our church presentation in the end. We are planning to meet and make sure everyone's book is complete so we can put them on the tables for everyone to look at. We will practice our song, "Dem Dry Bones" for the presentation. Posters we can make include, Old Testament Divisions, New Testament Divisions, Foods in the Bible, Romans Road and A, B, C's of Salvation. We will try to recite the Books of the Bible in order as a group. We have our study cards and may challenge the adults at our presentation to see which table can put the books in the correct order first.