Helpful, Age-Appropriate Bible Study Resources?

[Tara Smith]

Hi all,

In the past year, I've found myself teaching 7th and 8th grade Sunday School. The material I've been given is from a very Calvinist perspective, and really not all that high of quality at that. I know my kids can do better than this. In particular, they have been asking me about how to read their Bibles, and I'd like to be able to take them through an actual Bible Study, rather than just the standard topical lessons that most teen material centers around. But I have been dismayed at how difficult it is to find good age-sensitive resources for this. Anybody have any suggestions? I'm particularly interested in resources from a Wesleyan perspective, but failing that, I'd appreciate any advice you all have.

Thanks in advance!

Tara

[Anne and Dwayne Hood]

Tara, Where does our material come from?

[Brad Mercer]

When I taught 5-6th grade boys Sunday School 20 years ago, the best thing I found was put out by David C. Cook. It was more Biblical than topical, was very quick and easy to prepare, and kept the attention of the kids. NPH didn't have anything as good. Obviously a lot may have changed in 20 years. If you don't find what you're looking for from NPH, sometimes the Wesleyan Publishing House has some different stuff.

And of course, if worse comes to worse, you could always create your own. ;-)

We actually had a very creative person at NewStart-Frisco do that for one quarter, and she did it brilliantly.

Brad

[Tara Smith]

Tara, Where does our material come from?

I'm not sure if I know what you're asking? If you mean the material I'm using, I'm not sure where our youth pastor gets it, but I know it's a Southern Baptist production of some sort.

As for the Nazarene Publishing House youth stuff, it's actually really good - I used that before our youth pastor tried this new series, and it was, for the most part, very insightful. However, it's arranged topically (don't get me wrong: topical arrangement is not by any means an inherently bad thing; it's just that right now, I want to teach the kids how to read the Bible and not just "proof-text" what they already think).

[Anne and Dwayne Hood]

Tara, do you teach in a Nazarene Sunday School? Could you use the material you have, and find a way to leave out the parts that are different than our belief? I know some churches that order a different Wesleyan
material, but do not remember the name of the company I will try to find out.

[Walter Thompson]

When I taught 5-6th grade boys Sunday School 20 years ago, the best thing I found was put out by David C. Cook. It was more Biblical than topical, was very quick and easy to prepare, and kept the attention of the kids. NPH didn't have anything as good. Obviously a lot may have changed in 20 years. If you don't find what you're looking for from NPH, sometimes the Wesleyan Publishing House has some different stuff.

And of course, if worse comes to worse, you could always create your own. ;-)

We actually had a very creative person at NewStart-Frisco do that for one quarter, and she did it brilliantly.

Brad

David C Cook has a division that is called Wesley something, however it is still written by some Calvinists and sometimes it comes through their material. NPH has upgraded their material over the last few years and it is being used by about 6 different denominations now. IT is good material. Maybe you might want to try something like Basic Bile Studies or go on to the Basic Holiness Bible Studies from NPH.
Another resource could also be the Methodist Church material. It has a Wesley perspective, but I am not sure if it is good. I believe it is called Cokesbury.
Here's the link for the Wesley material and NPH and Cokesbury

http://www.nph.com/nphweb/html/nph/index.jsp
http://www.davidccook.com/curriculum/Wesley/
http://www.cokesbury.com/forms/home.aspx

I don't allow any material except NPH to be used in my church. I trust it and will help any teacher understand and learn how to best use it. Warning... there is more material and resources given than what you can use in one class, therefore you have to read it all and then decide what will fit in your time alloted for Sunday School. You will learn a lot. Adult teachers have DVD's they can use and online resources that are additional to the material in their packets. There is a wealth of information for teachers.

[Tara Smith]

I don't allow any material except NPH to be used in my church. I trust it and will help any teacher understand and learn how to best use it. Warning... there is more material and resources given than what you can use in one class, therefore you have to read it all and then decide what will fit in your time alloted for Sunday School. You will learn a lot. Adult teachers have DVD's they can use and online resources that are additional to the material in their packets. There is a wealth of information for teachers.

I really did like the NPH stuff when I was using it, and will probably go back to it later. But I didn't see anything where they did an actual Bible study, working through one particular book. Are you aware of anything, maybe in the past, that they've done like this? Which book doesn't really matter much, I just want to give the kids some skills in Bible-reading.

Thanks to everyone for your suggestions so far!

[Tara Smith]

And of course, if worse comes to worse, you could always create your own. ;-)

We actually had a very creative person at NewStart-Frisco do that for one quarter, and she did it brilliantly.

Brad

I've been considering creating my own stuff, but it's pretty time-consuming and I'm hoping to at least have something to base it off of. I don't suppose you still have access to that other material you were referencing??? :basic01

[Brad Mercer]

I've been considering creating my own stuff, but it's pretty time-consuming and I'm hoping to at least have something to base it off of. I don't suppose you still have access to that other material you were referencing??? :basic01

No, and hers probably wouldn't help you much. It was for elementary kids and wasn't specifically the kind of Bible study you envision.

There is a book from NPH,though on "How to Read the Bible for All It's Worth" or something like that. I think Dennis Bratcher was a contributor. That might be a starting place.

Brad

[Walter Thompson]

Tara, Look at the Bible quizzing material. It is book oriented and has study books as well as memorization. Personally I think it would be great to have it for all of our children and teens Sunday School classes. You don't have to quiz, but why not? Have quizzing just within the church....
It can be a lot of fun and the kids learn the Bible. Really learn the Bible. I have always been impressed with quizzing material.

[Gina Stevenson]

Tara, Look at the Bible quizzing material. It is book oriented and has study books as well as memorization. Personally I think it would be great to have it for all of our children and teens Sunday School classes. You don't have to quiz, but why not? Have quizzing just within the church....
It can be a lot of fun and the kids learn the Bible. Really learn the Bible. I have always been impressed with quizzing material.

:w) I say, as a long, long ago quizzer, both in and outside of the church [outside was with a YFC group]. gs

[Barb Bouldrey]

I have always taught adults in Sunday School. I have always believed that my first gift is teaching. Most Sundays I create my own lesson plans according to what I want to accomplish and what I feel my class needs.

I know it is not always possible for every teacher to be able to take anyone's material and make it her own. But that is what I have always done.

I am not pleased when a Nazarene church uses Baptist materials..particularly if the student books promote eternal security. I can delete Calvinism from my teaching resources and ignore it in my teaching, but it should not be in the student books to confuse them.

It is hard when a teacher is given the next quarter's materials by the authority over them and it is not material the teacher is comfortable with. But it is possible to take that material and make it better and more in accord with what the teacher wishes to teach.

Barb