Kid's Sunday School Place

BIBLE KEYS

Bible references use certain keys to help indicate book, chapter, verse, etc.
This Activity will help children know how to find verses and how to read common Bible references

Write the following letters on the board, and ask the children if they know what they represent.

J F M A M J J A S O N D

Some kids will guess correctly, if not after a short time tell them that the letters represent the first letters of the months of they year in order. Then say, "now that you know the key, see if you can guess this next one.

M T W T F S S

Amazingly, the kids will guess with no problem that it is the days of the week. Acknowledge to them that is is easy once they know the key. See if they can guess one more, warn them that it is very hard.

O T T F F S S E N T

Wait a while but if they still have trouble, ask them to count how many letters there are. They will then realize it is the first letter of each number spelled out from one to ten. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10.

Explain that the Bible uses "keys" to help us find verses. When we refer to verses, we need to use these keys in the proper way. Write the following references on the board, and explain each as you go.

John 3:16 Point to the : and describe how the colon is used to separate chapter from verse. The way you would say it is John chapter three verse sixteen.

Acts 2:4,7 Point out the , and describe how it is used when referring to two verses in a chapter that are not together. The way you would say it is Acts chapter two verses four and seven.

Romans 8: 1-17 Point out the - and describe how it is used when referring to a series of verses in a chapter. Say Romans chapter 8 verses one through seventeen.

Mark 5:22-24, 35-43 Point out the the , again and describe how it is also used when referring to more than one series of verses in a chapter. Say Mark chapter five verses twenty-two through twenty four also verses thirty five through forty-three.

Hebrews 4:14; 5:1-10 Point out the ; and describe how it is used to refer to verses in more than one chapter. Say Hebrews chapter four verses fourteen and chapter five verses one through ten.

John 3:16a and John 3:16b Describe how the a means the first part of a verse and the b means the last part of a verse.

John 3:16f Describe how the f means to read the reference verse but then continue reading the next few verses as needed.

After describing the different types of reference keys, see how well the kids have learned. Ask for volunteers to come to the board and try to correctly write references as you say them. Give each child an opportunity to write a Bible reference on the board.