Grapple Unit: Bible Fact or Fiction Grapple Question 3: How Is the Bible Different From Other Books? Dec. 24 Key Faith Foundation: The Bible Is a Message From God Key Scriptures: Psalm 19:7-11; John 20:30-31; Romans 1:16-17 Bible basis for teachers Psalm 19:7-11; John 20:30-31; Romans 1:16-17 Grapple Question 3: How Is the Bible Different From Other Books? Key Faith Foundation: The Bible Is a Message From God Based on outward appearances, the Bible looks like just another book. Sure it may come with a fancy cover and have footnotes, but it s basically pages with words like any other book. However, there is one important distinguishing factor. The Bible is a message directly from God to share his love for each of us. Use this lesson to help kids discover the truth of the Bible and to encourage kids to spend time in God s Word so they can hear what God has to say to each of them. In John 20:30-31, John explained why he wrote this Gospel so people would know who Jesus is and, by believing in Jesus, gain eternal life. The entire New Testament was written for that purpose. It begins with accounts of Jesus birth and ends with a description of Jesus return. Between are accounts of Jesus life, teachings, and ministry on earth, as well as the ministries of his early followers. The entire New Testament is based on Jesus and describes what we need to know to believe in and follow Jesus. John 20:30-31 will help kids understand that the Bible is different from other books because it s God s message of salvation to each of us. Romans 1:16-17 explains what the good news is through Christ, we can be made right with God. Through God s Word, we hear God s message of redemption. While we were still sinners, God sent his Son to die so that we might have a relationship with him. Without the Bible, we might never know the whole story of God s plan to save us from our sin. Through the Bible, we get a complete picture of God s righteousness and grace. Psalm 19:7-11 says the Bible can revive the soul, make wise the simple, bring joy to the heart, and help us gain insight for living. The Bible is unique because it guides our lives in a way no other book can. This passage encourages kids to look to the Bible as a valuable resource. understanding preteens By this age, kids are hitting the books and might begin feeling overwhelmed by all they have to learn. So it s important that they understand how the Bible differs from other texts. In this lesson, you ll share that the Bible contains the best news and most important wisdom that kids will ever hear.
the lesson at a glance LESSON SEQUENCE WHAT KIDS WILL DO SUPPLIES 1 grapple community (5 minutes) Build relationships. 2 grapple games (10-15 minutes) Choose two games to play. index cards pencil masking tape prepared clues that match items in the room 2 identical trash cans tape balloons 3 grapple time (10 minutes) Determine how things are different and alike and how the Bible is different from other books. paper pencils 4 grapple team time (15 minutes) Learn why the Bible was written and what it can do for us and for others. Bibles pencils copy of the Grapple Team Guide for each person 5 grapple team reports (10 minutes) Report what they learned from the Bible passage they studied. Bibles paper pencils 6 grapple prayer (5 minutes) Choose a prayer option. paper pencils 7 grapple dare Hear the Grapple dare.
grapple community Give kids this discussion starter as they gather. Say: Discover who in our group currently has the most books checked out from the library. grapple games Say: We re going to play a game, but you ll get to choose. Would you rather play Silent Spelling Bee (see Games Guide), where you spell words without using your mouth? Or would you like to play On- Site Scavenger Hunt (see Games Guide), where you go on a visual hunt in this room? Have kids vote on the game they d like to play. Then lead kids in playing the game. Say: Now we ll play another game. Would you rather play Cat and Mouse (see Games Guide), which involves a furious chase? Or would you like to play Dunk It (see Games Guide), which involves a balloon version of basketball? Have kids vote on the game they d like to play. Then lead kids in playing the game. grapple time Get Ready: Have kids get into their Grapple Teams. Lead the entire group in the following: Let s play a game called Different but Alike. I ll call out two things that are similar, and you ll have one minute as a team to come up with a list of ways they are different. Call out these sets one at a time: pen and pencil, purse and wallet, car and truck, ipod and stereo. If you have extra time, let the team with the longest list call out a set of similar objects. Now we re going to mix it up. I ll call out two very different things, and you ll have one minute as a team to come up with a list of ways these two things are alike. Call out these sets one at a time: elephant and mouse, grown-up and child, winter and summer, book and Bible. If you have extra time, let the team with the longest list overall call out a set of different objects. Tell All: In Pairs: What things were you surprised to find so different? What things were you surprised to find so similar? What things are the same with a book and the Bible? Do you think the Bible and a book are more alike or unlike? Explain. If a book and the Bible are basically the same thing, is the Bible any better than other books? Explain. Wow! A book and the Bible do seem to have a lot in common. Remind kids of what makes them similar. Is the Bible just a good story with pages and words like the other books we read? If so, is the Bible really different from any other book? Let s grapple with that.
grapple team time Break into Grapple Teams. Encourage Grapple Team leaders to check in with kids about their week. Grapple Team leaders will facilitate discussion, using the Grapple Team Guide at the end of this lesson. grapple team reports At the end of Grapple Team Time, have kids work with their team to choose one of the options below to report what they discovered. Option 1: Auctioneer Style Choose the member of your Grapple Team who talks the fastest, and have that person speed talk your report in 30 seconds or less. Option 2: Charade Fun Have each member of your team act out a different part of your report. Match Grapple Teams that chose Option 1 with Grapple Teams that chose Option 2. Have teams present their reports. (Do this one team at a time if you have only two Grapple Teams.) grapple prayer Read the Grapple Prayer options. Have the group choose one prayer option that everyone will do. Allow kids time to pray about what they discovered. Then close in prayer. Option 1: Note Prayers Write God a note to express your thanks for the message he gave us in the Bible. Option 2: Ear Prayers Close your eyes, cup a hand under each ear, and listen quietly for God s voice. Reflect on what you discovered about God s message for you in the Bible. grapple dare Say: The Bible isn t like any other book it s a message directly from God that shares his love for each of us. Here s your Grapple dare: This week I dare you to spend time in God s Word learning about the message God gave you in the Bible. I dare you to take that message and tell one friend how God demonstrated his love for each of us by sending Jesus to die for our sin. (Find the Parent Page for this lesson on the enhanced DVD. Have each child give a copy to his or her parents. Alternatively, send the file to parents via email.)
grapple team guide 3: How Is the Bible Different From Other Books? In your Grapple Team, use this guide to grapple with today s question. What makes the Bible different from any other book? Read John 20:30-31. How do these verses help you understand why the Bible was written? What does it mean to you that God wrote the Bible to give you an important message? How does that make the Bible different from other books? Read Romans 1:16-17. What is the good news from the Bible? Why do we need the Bible to deliver this message? How does that differ from the messages in other books you ve read? How can you share this message with people around you? Think of two people you need to share this message with, and write their names here. Read Psalm 19:7-11. These verses list five things the Bible can do for you. Write a personal example for each one. Revives the soul Makes you wise Brings joy Gives insight Lasts forever Cross through the things on the list that other books (don t include Christian books) can do for you. Circle the things that only the Bible can do for you. In Pairs: Share one of the personal examples you wrote on the last page. Let s think about the different ways God could have communicated this message to us. Form two groups, and take
turns trying to communicate this message: God loved the world so much he gave us his Son, Jesus, to save us from our sin. Group 1: Communicate this message through charades with no words or sounds. Group 2: Communicate this message by writing a short phrase on paper. Let each person read it. Which way was the easiest to communicate the message? to understand it? Why do you think God chose to record his message to us in the Bible? grapple team reports With your team, choose one of the options below to report what you discovered. Option 1: Auctioneer Style Choose the member of your Grapple Team who talks the fastest, and have that person speed talk your report in 30 seconds or less. Option 2: Charade Fun Have each member of your team act out a different part of your report.