Category:Bible Quizzing

Bible Quizzing is a competitive game for Christian teens. The purpose of Bible quizzing is to help teenagers study the Bible and become obedient to Christ by learning of Him.

Teams of quizzers memorize portions of the Bible, and then meet together to answer questions.

Bible quizzing was started in Kansas City at Kansas City Youth for Christ in 1947. YFC Executive Director Al Metsker and Club Director Jack Hamilton discussed 'how can we help Christian kids learn the Bible?'

Al related, "Jack was always a great 'idea guy'. He said, 'Why don't we make it fun, like a game?' Jack put together the format, and we were off and running."

Soon, budding Youth for Christ organizations all over the country were starting Bible quizzing programs of their own. Not long after, many church denominations developed quiz programs, many of which exist to this day.

These include quiz programs in the Church of the Nazarene, Assemblies of God, Free Methodists, Baptist groups, and of course Youth for Christ organizations and their successors such as Teens for Christ groups.

With so many groups involved, the original format has been modified often so that it can vary from group to group. A typical quiz , such as one using modified YFC/YEA rules might run like this:

The quiz consists of two 6-minute halves. Three teams of 5 participants (plus 2 substitutes allowed) sit in chairs facing a panel of adult Quiz Officials.

The first of these officials is the Quizmaster, who reads the questions and judges the correctness of the answer, awarding points or errors as appropriate.

The other two officials are Scorekeeper and Timekeeper. Other adult volunteers needed are a Coach for each team. Some teams prefer to have an Assistant Coach as well.

The quizzers are seated and in their chair is a small quiz pad with a battery operated switch, joined to a panel in the quiz box in front of the Quizmaster. When the quizzer jumps, the switch turns on a light in the quiz box.

When a question is read, the quizzers jump, the first one up gets the chance to answer. The Quizmaster determines whose light went on, and calls upon the quizzer to answer. The quizzer has 20 seconds to answer the question. A typical question might be: 'According to 1 Corinthians 12:21 What cannot say to the feet "I don't need you"?'

If the quizzer answers correctly, he is awarded 20 points. If he is incorrect an error is assigned. A quizzer with 5 correct answers will 'quizout' and be replaced by a substitute, if one is available. A quizzer with 3 errors will 'error out' and be replaced also.

Bonuses can be awarded to an individual quizzer for 'quizzing out' with no errors. Bonuses can be earned by the team by having 5 or more quizzers answer correctly in the same quiz. Points can be deducted from the team by having too many errors.

Quiz teams typically will practice a few times a month and get together to quiz competitively once a month. A local city-wide quiz program could have as few as a handful of teams, or several dozen.

Regional and National Tournaments are organized and teams from many parts of the country participate. Teens form friendships with other Christian teens from different cities, and many stay in contact thru out the year afterward.

Bible quizzing is good fun and great competition. But more, it is a motivating way to encourage teenagers to learn for themselves what the Bible says. It helps them to learn it in context, instead of in tiny bits and pieces, a verse here and two verses there.

The ultimate goal of Bible quizzing is not the points and the win, but to help teenagers follow Christ by learning of Him and filling their hearts and minds with God's Word.