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Description

Aim: Introducing the Bible to young people to explore for themselves. Taken from the BB Company Section Discoverer Pro Pack, Community, Christian Faith F3

Resources

Activity 1
• Paper and pens
• Enough Bibles for everyone
• ‘Banana Smoothie’ template
• ‘12 Questions template

Activity 2
• Youth Bibles
• Paper and Pens
• 'Bible Jigsaw’ template

Activity 3
• www.dramatix.org
• Bible
• Pen and Paper
• Props

Instructions

Activity 1 - What do you think about the Bible

Aim: To get young people talking about their experiences of the Bible.

Exercise 1:
• Two liquidisers
• Spoons
• Straws
• Glasses
• Measuring jug
• Bananas
• Milk
• Lemon Juice
• Almonds
• Glazed cherries
• Single cream
• Treacle
• Cucumber
• Tuna
• Chocolate
• Baked Beans
• Strawberries
• Caramel
• Custard
• Gravy

Instructions:
Exercise 1: Banana Smoothle (5 mins)
• Divide the ingredients, listed above, into two identical selections on two tables and cover.
• Explain to the group that this activity is designed to discover who out of the group can make the best milkshakes.
• Ask for two volunteers who think that they can do this.
• Reveal to the young people that you have one card that contains a recipe for an absolutely delicious milkshake. Toss a coin to decide who gets the card.
• Tell the group that because the other person has not got the card they might as well be blindfolded.
• Blindfold that person.
• Uncover the ingredients and give the young people three minutes to make a smoothie.
• Encourage both contestants to sip some of their creation and then hand it round the group for any other brave person to try.
• Make the point that one contestant had a large advantage because they had the recipe which gave them the best advice on how to combine the ingredients. Introduce the theme for the session by stating that you believe that it is possible to have a similar advantage in life by using the maker’s guidance on living. God made us and has written a ‘recipe book” for living the best way, and that this must be worth checking out.

Exercise 2: True or False (5 mlns)
• Present to the groups some phrases that appear to be from the Bible. Ask the groups to identify which are TRUE and which are FALSE.
• Give one point per correct answer.
• Use the following statements or find out your own:
1. “Aren’t we forgetting the true meaning of Christmas? You know, the birth of Santa.” (Bart Simpson) FALSE
2. “Everyone who cares for truth, who has any feeling for the truth, recognises my voice.” (John 18:37, The Message) TRUE
3. “Blessed is he who expecteth nothing, for he shall not be disappointed.” FALSE
4. “The Lord is close to all who call on him.” (Psalm 145:18) TRUE
5. For what we are about to receive may the lord make us truly thankful. Amen.” FALSE
6. “Do not be fooled: you can’t cheat God.” (Galatians 6:7) TRUE
7. “Money is the root of all evil.” (“The love of money” is described as the root of all evil in 1 Timothy 6:10) FALSE
8. “A dream is the answer to a question you have yet to figure out how to ask.” (Fox Mulder) FALSE
9. “Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.” (1 Corinthians 13:6) TRUE
10. “Cleanliness is next to godliness.” FALSE
11. Father forgive them, because they don’t know what they are doing.” (Luke 23:34) TRUE
12. “Our God is vengefull 0 spiteful one, show me who to smite and they shall be smoten.” (Homer Simpson) FALSE
13. “God helps those who help themselves.” FALSE
14. “Jesus answered, 1 tell you the truth, you aren’t looking for me because you saw me do miracles. You are looking for me because you ate the bread and were satisfied.” (John 6:26) TRUE

Exercise 3: 12 Questions ( 10 mlns)
• Handout the ‘12 Questions’ template and a pen.
• Allow 5 minutes for the sheets to be completed.
• Get the group to share their answers. It Is important to allow the group to say what they think, but also try and get to the reasons behind their answers.
• At the top of a flip chart pad write “Why is it difficult to read the Bible?”. Get the group to answer the questions.

Exercise 4: My Experiences (5 mlns)
• Select a member of the group, a leader, or a member of the church congregation to talk for a maximum of 5 minutes about their favourite passage or story from scripture (you could even video it if you prefer),
• Get them to explain why it is their favourite and how it has either challenged, spoken to, or surprised them.
• Ask the young people if they have any favourite passages or stories, and what they mean to them.

Tips / Advice:
This activity can be used as a devotion.

Activity 2 - Introduction to the Bible

Aim: To introduce some Bible characters and passages.

Instructions:
Exercise 1: True or False (5 mins)
• In small teams, get each group to come up with 5 statements about the Bible. Some of the statements need to be true and some need to be false
• Get the groups to present their statements backs to the larger group who have to decide if the statements are true or false. For every one that they identify correctly as being true or false the teams get a point.
• Let each team present their statements in turn.

Exercise 2: Bible Trivia (10 mins)
• This quiz can be done in groups or as individuals.
• Handout a piece of paper and read out the quiz, getting the young people to write down their answers.
• Tell the young people that they can get three points for a correct answer. If they do not know the answer they are allowed to ask permission to look up the answer in the Bible, however once they are given a Bible and the appropriate chapter they can only be awarded one point.

1) What is the name of the first book of the Bible?
a) Romans
b) Genesis
c) Exodus
d) Matthew

2) Which religion or religions acknowledge the Old Testament?
a) Judaism
b) Christianity
c) Islam
d) All of the above

3) Who was not a son of Noah? (Genesis 6)
a) Shem
b) Lamech
c) Ham
d) Japheth

4) Which is NOT a book of the Old Testament?
a) Psalms
b) Ezra
c) Kings
d) Corinthians

5) Who was the mother of Isaac and wife of Abraham? (Genesis 22-26)
a) Rachael
b) Mary
c) Maria
d) Sarah

6) Which book of the bible is not attributed to Moses?
a) Genesis
b) Exodus
c) Ezekiel
d) Deuteronomy

7) Pontius Pilate was governor of where? (Luke 3)
a) Rome
b) Judea
c) Egypt
d) Jordan

8) How did the betrayer of Jesus, Judas Iscariot, die? (Matthew 27:5)
a) Hung himself
b) Fever
c) Stoned to death
d) Old age

9) Who was the first Christian martyr? (Acts 7)
a) Paul
b) Peter
c) Judas
d) Stephen

10) Who needed to see Jesus’ wounds to believe that he was alive? (John 20)
a) Pontius Pilate
b) Thomas
c) James
d) Luke

11) Why were Joseph and Mary in Bethlehem at the time of Jesus’ birth? (Luke 2)
a) To buy grain
b) To pay taxes
c) To visit friends
d) To see a doctor

12) How many days and nights was Jesus in the wilderness? (Matthew 4)
a) 20
b) 30
c) 40
d) 50

13) Which Gospel has the most chapters?
a) Matthew
b) Ma6c
c) Luke
d) John

14) Who was the father of John the Apostle? (Mark 1)
a) Joseph
b) Andrew
c) Barabbas
d) Zebedee

15) Who took down the body of Jesus from the cross and placed it in the tomb? (Mark 15)
a) Pontius Pilate
b) Joseph of Arimathea
c) Simon the Apostle
d) Mary Magdalene

Exercise 3: Bible Jigsaw (15 mins)
• In the same teams, give each group the jigsaw pieces.

• Instruct the groups to put together the jigsaw, which is structured into three columns, the first is the characters name, the second a book of the Bible where they feature, and the third what they are famous for.

• Use this as an opportunity to discuss the different characters and stories.

• Go to wvm.dramatix.org or a similar resource and get a drama sketch based on a favourite Bible story. Try and get the group to suggest one and tell the group that next week you are going to look at that story in more detail and do a sketch.

• Tell the group that the Bible doesn’t just contain stories, but contains inspiring words for life. In the front of the Youth Bible (as do many others) is a life file guide that suggests passages to read in certain situations. Get the group to look up some passages and then bring them back to the group and say what they mean to them.

• Read James 1:19-27. The Bible teaches us how to live, but reading it isn’t a substitute for a right relationship with God. It inspires us to live in a way that pleases God and demonstrates love and forgiveness to those around us. Reading it alone doesn’t make us better people or more loved by God, rather it is our response to its words that is important. Follow this up by reading Acts 8:26-40 and challenge your young people to read a gospel over the next week and see if God is speaking to them.

• Finish by praying that God will speak to us through the times that we spend reading the Bible.

Tips / Advice:
Use an appropriate version of the Bible. The Youth Bible, or The Message and other contemporary translations are often a lot easier to understand.

Activity 3 - Bible Drama

Aim: To explore a biblical story through a drama.

Instructions:
• After identifying the Bible story that the young people would like to perform, and finding a drama from www.dramatix.org or a similar resource read the story from the Bible to the group.

• Subsequently read through the play asking for volunteers for each character.

• Go through each character and ask the group what they think that individual was feeling during the episode. Encourage discussion on what we can learn from the story.

• Encourage the group to think about what props they need to perform the play.

• Then rehearse the sketch this time acting out the parts. You might like to perform the sketch as part of the evening’s devotions. Encourage the young people to talk about what they learned through the sketch and ask one of them to write a prayer.

Tips / Advice:
• The group may wish to write their own drama or change the script that you have given them, particularly by adding jokes.
• You might like to develop this sketch further in subsequent weeks and/or perform it in a Church service.
• You might like to do a documentary on what different people’s favourite Bible stories are. You could video different leaders, members of the church and young people and see what they say.
• Always make sure you are using an appropriate Bible translation that is accessible to young people. Be prepared for some challenging discussions!

For full details see the BB Company Section Discoverer Pro Pack, Community, Christian Faith F3

Tags

• bible
• bible stories
• christian Faith
• community
• company
• discoverer

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