THIS WEEK: Study Acts, Chapter 5

This week (September 30 thru October 6), please study Acts, Chapter 5.

If you want to read the chapter online, click here. (Free website Biblegateway.Com)

Click here to download an MP3 of the chapter.

If you'd like to read a commentary on the chapter, click here. (Free website, BibleGateway.com)

If you want to download the puzzle for this week, click here.

Study Tip: Ask yourself, are you learning SCRIPTURE or QUIZ QUESTIONS? Bible quizzing is certainly a great competition, but our ultimate goal is to really learn the Bible verses we are studying. Be sure as you read through these books, you take the time to make sure you understand what you read. Are there terms you don't understand? Ask your parents, or the coaches. Are there concepts or stories referred that you have not read? Seek them out in the Old Testament! The more you understand what you read, the better you will be able to bring it back later when you need it.

Upcoming Events:
- October 4 - Quiz Meet in Monroe, CT
- November 1 - Quiz Meet in Trumbull, CT

CHAPTER REVIEWS: Acts 4

If you'll miss practice this week we don't want you to miss out on the review of the chapter.  You can download Coach Mark's lesson by clicking here, or on the image below.

REFERENCE QUESTIONS: Acts 4

Remember, the full list of Reference Questions can always be found in the sidebar or at this link.

QUESTION:  According to Acts 4:4, who believed?
ANSWER:  Many of those who had heard the word.

QUESTION:  According to Acts 4:8, who was filled with the Holy Spirit?
ANSWER:  Peter.  (cf 4:8; 6:5; 7:55, 11:24; 13:9)

QUESTION:  According to Acts 4:10, God raised whom from the dead?
ANSWER:   Jesus Christ of Nazareth.  (cf 3:15; 4:10; 13:30)

QUESTION:  According to Acts 4:10, let it be known that what?
ANSWER:    (To all of you and to all the people of Israel) That by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead - by him this man is standing before you well.  (cf 2:24; 3:15;4:10; 10:40)

QUESTION: According to Acts 4:18, they charged them not to what?
ANSWER:  Speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.  (cf 4:18;5:40)

QUESTION:  According to Acts 4:25, who was our father?
ANSWER:  David, your servant.  (cf 4:25; 7:2)

QUESTION:  According to Acts 4:33, the apostles were what?
ANSWER:  (With great power) Giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus.  (cf 4:33; 5:12, 41; 6:6;8:14; 11:1; 15:6, 22)

QUESTION:  According to Acts 4:34-35, who laid it at the apostles’ feet?
ANSWER:  As many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold and laid it at the apostles’ feet.  (cf 4:35, 37; 5:2)

QUESTION:  According to Acts 4:36-37, who laid it at the apostles’ feet?

ANSWER:  Joseph, who was also called by the apostles Barnabas, a Levite, a native of Cyprus.  (cf 4:35, 37; 5:2)

MUSICAL INTERLUDE: How Can It Be?

WEEKLY COMIC: Wait for it...

FINISH THE VERSE: Acts 4

Remember, the full list of FTV's can always be found at this link. The // in the verse marks the minimum number of words you need from the FTV to uniquely identify it.

QUESTION:  If we // are being examined...
ANSWER:  ...today concerning a good deed done to a crippled man, by what means this man has been healed, let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead—by him this man is standing before you well. (Acts 4:9-10)

QUESTION:  This Jesus is // the stone...
ANSWER:  ...that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. (Acts 4:11)

QUESTION:  And there is // salvation...
ANSWER:  ...in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12)

QUESTION:  Now when // they saw...
...the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus. (Acts 4:13)

QUESTION:  So they // called them...
...and charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.” (Acts 4:18-20)

QUESTION:  Now the // full number...
...of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common. (Acts 4:32)


QUESTION:  There was //not a needy person...
...among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold and laid it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need. (Acts 4:34-35)

CHAPTER REVIEWS: Acts 3

If you missed the last two weeks, you can always catch up on the lessons with Coach Mark's chapter reviews.  We'll be posting these weekly on Mondays from now on, but for the moment, here is the one from Monday:  ACTS 3 LESSON.

THIS WEEK: Study Acts, Chapter 4

This week (September 23 thru September 29), please study Acts, Chapter 4.

If you want to read the chapter online, click here. (Free website Biblegateway.Com)

Click here to download an MP3 of the chapter.

If you'd like to read a commentary on the chapter, click here. (Free website, ChristNotes.com)

If you want to download the puzzle for this week, click here.

Study Tip: How many senses are you engaging when you study? For most of us, the more of our senses we use, the deeper what we study is moved into our memory. Try reading the chapter out loud (engaging eyes and ears). Try writing out the chapter by hand (engaging eyes and hands). Try associating parts of the chapter with pictures that you draw (engaging eyes in multiple ways). Experiment with different ways of embedding scripture into your memory.

Upcoming Events:
- October 4 - Quiz Meet in Monroe, CT

MUSICAL INTERLUDE: Sing on the Battlefield

HUMOR: Thinful!

Not mine.  From here.

  The church was badly in need of a coat of paint. So the pastor decided he'd do the job himself. But all he had was one bucket of paint. So he got a bunch of buckets and some water, and he thinned the paint enough to cover the entire church. Then he spent all day painting. That night it rained—very hard—and washed all the paint off. The pastor was quite discouraged and asked God, 'Why...why God, did you let it rain and wash off all my hard work?'
      To which God thundered his reply, 'Repaint! Repaint! And thin no more!'

ART OF THE WEEK: Peter & John Heals the Blind Beggar

A fresco by Masolino.

WEEKLY COMIC: Ancestry

MUSICAL INTERLUDE: We Dance

CHAPTER REVIEWS: Acts 1 & 2

If you missed the last two weeks, you can always catch up on the lessons with Coach Mark's chapter reviews.  We'll be posting these weekly on Mondays from now on, but for the moment, here are thw first two weeks:

• Acts 1 Chapter Review
• Acts 2 Chapter Review

THIS WEEK: Study Acts, Chapter 3

This week (September 16 thru September 22), please study Acts, Chapter 3.

If you want to read the chapter online, click here. (Free website Biblegateway.Com)

Click here to download an MP3 of the chapter.

If you'd like to read a commentary on the chapter, click here. (Free website, BibleGateway.com)

If you want to download the puzzle for this week, click here.

Study Tip: Having problems absorbing the text in such a way that you can get questions at practice? Consider getting your family or friends involved. Have them pick up a Bible and pick a verse from the chapter you are studying. Have them read the first half (or little bit) of the verse, and then you try to complete as much as you can. This gets you used to hearing the text the same way you will in practice.

Upcoming Events:
- October 4 - Quiz Meet in Monroe, CT

DID YOU KNOW: What is "Pentecost"?

This is a reprint from this summer's "DID YOU KNOW" series.  But it is especially appropriate given this week's chapter.

What is "Pentecost"?

You may or may not have noticed, but today is the traditional observation of the church holiday of Pentecost.  Unlike Christmas or Easter or even Palm Sunday, it is not often noted in Protestant churches (except Pentecostal ones) but it is an important day both for Ancient Israel and for the Church.

Pentecost is literally Greek for "the Fiftieth Day" on the Hebrew calendar and is set aside in scripture as a day to remember the giving of the law and thank God for His gift of the first fruits of the harvest.  It's called "The Feast of Weeks" or Shavuot.  (Exodus 34:22)

But Pentecost is also the day when the Holy Spirit came upon the apostles, visible as tongues of fire.  They spoke in other languages they did not previously know, and from that time on did miracles through the power of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:1-31).

There are many church traditions for Pentecost (none of which are scriptural, but they mark how various churches have regarded the holiday in times past). Many churches decorate themselves with the color red, in honor of the Holy Spirit.  Some do special teaching or scripture reading in foreign languages, to commemorate the speaking in tongues.  And many place a symbol of a dove prominently to remind Congregations to think of the Holy Spirit.  The time between Ascension Sunday and Pentecost is often also marked with Fasting and Praying together, marking the time that the disciples waited patiently for the promised coming of the Holy Spirit.

HUMOR: Yuck!

Not mine.  From here.

  A preacher visits an elderly woman from his congregation. As he sits on the couch he notices a large bowl of peanuts on the coffee table. "Mind if I have a few?" he asks.
      "No, not at all!" the woman replied.
      They chat for an hour and as the preacher stands to leave, he realizes that instead of eating just a few peanuts, he emptied most of the bowl. "I'm terribly sorry for eating all your peanuts, I really just meant to eat a few."
      "Oh, that's all right," the woman says. "Ever since I lost my teeth all I can do is suck the chocolate off them."

PHOTO OF THE WEEK: Pentecost in Stained Glass

Modern stained glass depiction of Pentecost and the giving of the Holy Spirit from St Aloysius' church in Somers Town, London

WEEKLY COMIC: Unpublished

MUSICAL INTERLUDE: Empty Handed

BONUS COMIC: Psalms Cry Out

THIS WEEK: Study Acts, Chapter 2

This week (September 9 thru September 15), please study Acts, Chapter 2.

If you want to read the chapter online, click here. (Free website Biblegateway.Com)

Click here to download an MP3 of the chapter.

If you'd like to read a commentary on the chapter, click here. (Free website, Biblestudytools.com)

If you want to download the puzzle for this week, click here.

Study Tip: All bible quizzing is done in the ESV's 2004 edition. This is different from past years which were always in the NIV 1984 version.  If you got a scripture portion from the coaches, it is in the correct version.  Be careful, as if you give answers from the NIV (or other versions) it may be ruled wrong.

Upcoming Events:
- October 4 - Quiz Meet in Monroe, CT

PRACTICES BEGIN TONIGHT!

Woo-hoo!  The day has come.  Bible Quizzing is back!  Come on out tonight and remember our new day and time - PRACTICE BEGINS AT 6:30 PM.  And we'll be quizzing on Acts, Chapter 1.  See you there!

HUMOR: Message from God

Not mine.  From here.

  Inspirational speaker Dr. Wayne Dyer still remembers the card his kids gave him for his 64th birthday. The front said, "Inside is a message from God."
      Pleased they finally appreciated his work, he opened it to read, "See you soon!"

ARE YOU READY? Practices begin Monday!

There are only a few short days left until practices begin.  Are you ready?  If not, it's time to dust off your scripture portion, warm up your MP3 player, and call your fellow quizzers for a group cram session!

Remember, all the tools you need are available in the sidebar.  If you're missing anything or need help, please contact the coaches!

WEEKLY COMIC: Through the Looking Glass

QUIZ CHALLENGE: Bible Riddles

This week's Bible Quiz Challenge is a series of Bible-based riddles.  Can you crack them?

PHOTO OF THE WEEK: Bible Covers as Art

MUSICAL INTERLUDE: Risen

THIS WEEK: Study Acts, Chapter 1

This week (September 1 thru September 8), please study Acts, Chapter 1.

If you want to read the chapter online, click here. (Free website Biblegateway.Com)

Click here to download an MP3 of the chapter.

If you'd like to read a commentary on the chapter, click here. (Free website, Bible.Org)

If you want to download the puzzle for this week, click here.

Study Tip: For Bible Quizzing, we recommend at a minimum that quizzers read the chapter at least twice each day. This provides a good foundation for studying as the quizzer becomes familiar with the material. It is often good to make this a first-thing-in-the-morning, and a last-thing-at-night event, as that lodges the material in the brain for the subconscious to work on it during your day and overnight.

Upcoming Events:
- September 8 - Practices begin
- October 4 - Quiz Meet in Monroe, CT