The Boring Bible

"I've read the Bible three times," the ten-year old proudly proclaimed.  (I'm pretty sure she meant she had opened the Bible three times, but hey - let's go for some positive reinforcement, right?)

Last night's drop-in had me at the craft corner: a place where I often find conversations happen.  This time was an especially encouraging night, and those, I find, are always worth writing down.

"That's great!" I told her.

"I don't read the Bible.  It's boring."  A much more honest ten-year old boy told us.

"Last week's memory verse had throw-up in it.  Bet you didn't know the Bible talked about throw up."  (Psalm 25:16).  His face scrunched up, but he was grinning (and all the girls said "ewwww!").

"Can I tell you a story from the Bible that's not boring?"

He looked skeptical.  "Ummm... okay...."

So I told them the story of Ehud, the left-handed judge who killed the fat king.  (Judges 3).  10:10 Kids does a great job with this story in our JUDGES unit.

His eyes grew wide.  "No way.  Tell me another one."

So I spent the next fifteen minutes trying to come up with all the obscure - and hilarious - Bible stories.

An invitation to teach the Bible?  A captive audience?  I LOVE these moments!  This is one for the "why files"

15 Ways to Have Fun with Bible Memory Verses

It's important.  You know it.  Your volunteers know it.  But they just never seem to get around to it.

Helping children memorize Bible verses can be intimidating and, well, boring.  Try some of these fun ideas to help memory verses stick while having some fun!

1. Do an activity while saying the memory verse (jumping jacks, squats, running lines).  It's much harder to say memory verses while running on the spot, but it does help make it stick.  It's also great way to run off extra energy!
2. Make up your own actions to the memory verse.
3. Add rhythm to the memory verse, and make it a rap or a chant
4. Add music to the memory verse to make it a song.  (One great resource for this is www.seedsfamilyworship.net)
5. Write each word of the memory verse on a balloon, then slowly pop the balloons one at a time.  When all the balloons are gone, see if you can still say the memory verse!
6. Write each word of the memory verse on individual pieces of paper.  Lay out on the floor in a hopscotch pattern.  As you jump on the word, say it out loud.  Slowly take words away and see if you can still play hopscotch and say the memory verse without any prompts.
7. Add your own illustrations to the memory verse.
8. Learn sign language to go along with the memory verse.  (ASL dictionary found here)
9. Write the memory verse out on a poster board, then cut it into a puzzle.  Use putting the puzzle back together as a learning exercise
10. Write the memory verse out word by word on index cards.  Shuffle the cards and try to unscramble the words.
11. Play "Go, Go Stop!" only have the kids recite the verse word by word - if they get a word wrong, out of order or hesitate too long they start from the beginning (best for groups)
12. Write the memory verse on a chalkboard or white board, and take turns erasing one word at a time.
13. Think up scenarios where it would help to remember that memory verse.  Act out the scenarios, and use the memory verse each time.
14. Make a craft to correspond with the memory verse (ie decorate a picture frame with the verse inside)
15. Write the memory verse on peices of cardstock to make signs, and divide them among your group.  Have your group unscramble the words and stand in order, showing their word sign.

What's your favourite tip or method for helping kids learn memory verses?

Curriculum Spotlight

I came across a curriculum for inner city kids that inspired me. Tasty Faith puts out nice little 2-page spreads they call "Shorties" that bring the Bible straight into the heart of the inner city. They refer to Joshua's taking back the promised land as "turf wars",refer to Jesus' healing of Legion as a lesson in running with the wrong crowd and the dead-ends of bad choices being like getting stuck in an alley. I love how they connect these truths!  I also love their illustrations.  Best part: an average pack (10x2-page lessons) runs at about $11.00, and is totally reproducible. 

The downside for me: it's very much a small-group/individual style curriculum (no storytelling time.)  There's good BIble connections, Bible verses to look up and well thought-out questions to draw out the life lesson.  It also comes with a colouring page that's cool enough for older elementary.  But it's not the full meal deal.  For our ministry, we always use the large group teaching time, and sometimes use the small group.  "Shorties" would work as an add-on, or a building block, but I would still be writing my own lesson (nothing new there!)  It is also very dependent on the literacy of the children - which is very poor in our area.  Now, they sell this as a feature, describing their lessons as a literacy tool.  They also suggest using it for after school clubs to teach literacy (not just during "Bible time").  So, good point.  But it doesn't fit with our current ministry model.

All in all, I love what they've done, and at that price am willing to do some of my own writing to make it work for a few sessions.  Well done, Tasty Faith!


http://www.tastyfaith.com