The Layman's Bible Resource
      A potpourri of ideas and helps for the Sunday school teacher or youth leader

Pen & Paper

Women Word Scramble In Genesis
You can write out this list and copy it or run it out on your computer. Put a line under or beside each name to give the student space to correctly write the name. Pass out one copy to each student telling them not to begin till everyone has a copy. Set a time limit and see who comes in first, second, third, etc. Note: the same exercise can be done using male characters.

VEE- EVE                      EACHLR- RACHEL
AHASR- SARAH             ALHE- LEAH
RAAHG- HAGAR             IHAND- DINAH
BHEAKER- REBEKAH


Here are a few more from Genesis that are not as well known. You can use them for bonuses.

CHLIMA- MILCAH              ARTHEKU- KETURAH
IUJHDT- JUDITH                  HAETASN- ASENATH

 

Word Scrambles
Here are some more word scramble groups that can be used like the exercise above.
Old Testament characters, books, places
New Testament characters, books, places
Mothers
Fathers
Disciples
Fruits of the Spirit
Another suggestion would be to take a familiar Bible verse and scramble each word and the reference.

 

Character Recall
Pass out paper and pens to each student. Encourage them to quietly work on their own. If your class likes friendly competition give special mention to the top three achievers.

  • Give them 3 minutes to write down characters in the book of Genesis
  • 30 seconds to write down characters in the book of Ruth
  • 1 minute to write down every female Bible character they can think of in Genesis
  • 1 minute to write down the disciples of Christ
  • 1 minute to write down male characters from Genesis
  • 3 minutes to write down the books of the minor prophets
  • 2 minutes to write down the Pauline epistles

These ideas can be used individually or collectively. With a little thought this list can be added to- the twelve tribes, animals mentioned in the Bible, what God created on what days, cities and towns, the miracles of Christ, etc. The time limits are just suggestions; you will have to be the judge on what works best for your particular class. Be sure to do your homework and have an exhaustive list of characters on hand for whichever exercises you use. It is amazing the variety of correct answers your students can come up with!
Here are a few more ideas:

  • Name pairs of brothers and/or sisters
  • Name all the Bible characters you can think of that begins with the letter “J” or A, B, etc.

 

Elijah Or Elisha?
This can either be done orally or put the quiz on paper and pass it out to your group. Read the incident and have the student tell whether it involves Elijah or Elisha. You can also divide into two teams and go back and forth.

  1. His bones restored a dead man to life. Elijah

  2. He struck the waters of Jordan and passed over on dry ground. Elijah & Elisha

  3. He was mocked by the children of Bethel. Elisha

  4. He fasted 40 days. Elijah

  5. He slew the prophets of Baal. Elijah

  6. He raised a son to life. Elijah & Elisha

  7. He healed Naaman of his leprosy. Elisha

  8. He caused an axe-head to swim. Elisha

  9. He called fire down on the soldiers of Ahaziah. Elijah

  10. He brought blindness upon the army of Syria. Elisha

  11. He increased a widow’s store of food. Elijah & Elisha

  12. He put salt in the waters at Jericho. Elisha

  13. He prayed for rain after 3 ½ years. Elijah

 

Hebrews Treasure Hunt
Hebrews chapter 11 is sometimes called the roll call of the heroes of faith. Give the student the verses in Hebrews 11 and let them find the Old Testament reference that the verse is referring to. You can either do this during class time or send it home and have them bring it back next time. Encourage them to do the work on their own.


 Verse 3- worlds framed by the Word of God; Genesis 1:1
 Verse 4- Abel’s sacrifice; Genesis 4:3-5
 Verse 5- Enoch’s translation; Genesis 5:24
 Verse 7- preparing the ark: Genesis 6:13-22
 Verse 8-  Abraham leaving; Genesis 12:1-5
 Verse 9- Sojourned in a strange country; Genesis 23:3, 4
 Verse 11- Isaac’s birth; Genesis 21:1-3
 Verse 17- Isaac offered; Genesis 22:6-14
 Verse 18- In Isaac shall thy seed be called; Genesis 21:12
 Verse 20- Jacob and Esau blessed; Genesis 27:26-29, 39, 40
 Verse 21- sons of Joseph blessed; Genesis 48:15, 16
 Verse 22- Joseph’s bones; Genesis 50:25
 Verse 23- Moses hid 3 months; Exodus 2:2
 Verse 24- Moses’ choice; Exodus 2:11
 Verse 27- Israelites departing; Exodus 12:31
 Verse 28- Passover kept; Exodus 12:21
 Verse 29- Passed through the Red Sea; Exodus 14:22
 Verse 30- Walls of Jericho fell down; Joshua 6:20
 Verse 31- Rahab perished not; Joshua 6:25

 

Where do you find…?
The purpose of this exercise is to help the student remember where things are found in the Bible.
Read the Scripture but not the reference. The student then writes down whether the verse is found in the Old Testament or the New Testament. If he knows what book it is in he writes that down; do the same for the chapter and verse. Four points are possible for each verse if the student can give the full reference.
Be sure to match your verses with the age level of your group and their general Bible knowledge.

Example: The teacher reads- “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” If the student knows this verse came from the New Testament, he would write down “NT”. For the book line he would write “John”. But if he could not remember the chapter and verse he would receive a score of 2 points for that verse.
 
(See the "PDF section" for verses and an answer sheet you can print off.)

 

Title
Have a Bible name or place and see how many words can be spelled from that name.