Using a special deck of Bible game cards that you can download from this site , you can help your Bible class students learn the Books of the Bible through games. Seven card Games for learning the names of the books of the Bible.

1. Memory print two sets of these cards. Turn them face down and find the pairs. Use only New Testament cards for a shorter game.

2. Go Fish or Old Maid Print two sets of Bible cards. Shuffle and deal. Use the traditional rules. Use only New Testament cards for a shorter game.

3. Lay them straight. Sequence race Shuffle the deck and give each team (or player) 10 cards. When the dealer says “go”, lay them out in order. The first team to put them in order wins.

4. Uno or SkipBo inspired game - similar to the popular card game except with fewer rules and different cards from books of the Bible.

5. Phase 10 inspired game - similar to the popular card game, but with Bible cards and different phase goals.

6. Solitaire - adapted from the classic single player game, but with Bible books.

Check out the other 200+ games, puzzles and Bible lessons in the Sunday school seciton of this site.

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Where does the Lord intend me to focus my service?

Where does the Lord intend me to focus my service?

All service begins with devotion to the Lord; serving Him is the ultimate. The Law teaches us this principle: love for God is first and flows out in love for our neighbor (Mark 12:29-31;" TARGET="_blank">Mark 12:29-31; Romans 13:8-10)." TARGET="_blank">Romans 13:8-10). Never did an act of service bring such glory and honor to God as the death of the cross (Philippians 2:6-8)." TARGET="_blank">Philippians 2:6-8). Never has an act of service brought such benefit to others: "With His stripes we are healed" (Isaiah 53:5)." TARGET="_blank">Isaiah 53:5).

The sphere in which we express that service is the assembly. Believers are "to do good and to communicate." This injunction is in the context of an assembly, with submission to elders following it and offerings of praise "outside the camp" preceding it (Hebrews 13:13-17;" TARGET="_blank">Hebrews 13:13-17; see also 10:25). The self-sacrificing love that is kind to others ( 1Corinthians 13)" TARGET="_blank">1Corinthians 13) was essential to the functioning of the Corinthian assembly.

Of course, our service is not limited to the four walls of an assembly’s meeting place. "Let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith" (Galatians 6:10)." TARGET="_blank">Galatians 6:10). When Paul wrote, essentially all "the household of faith" was in the various assemblies then existing. God intends for our service to focus on the assembly and to flow out from there.

Any service we render to others then must be consistent with the principles of the assembly and as an extension of the assembly’s testimony. That is true of every facet of our lives and will not keep us from serving, but it will channel our service. Joining in any other association or taking any other name than the Lord Jesus Christ in order to serve others denies the sufficiency of the design of God’s house to fulfill our Christian service.

D. Oliver
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What are some examples of deacon work?

What are some examples of deacon work?

Those whom the Lord calls to preach His word are deacons (Acts 12:25)." TARGET="_blank">Acts 12:25). Those who have regular responsibility to preach the gospel or arrange the speakers for assembly gospel meetings are deacons. Those who have primary responsibility to open and teach the believers in assembly Bible Readings are doing deacon work. A man entrusted with the responsibility of superintending an assembly’s Sunday School work serves as a deacon. Sunday School teachers have a spiritual responsibility for imparting divine truth to young people (as do the children’s mother and father), but the structure of the Sunday School is more like an extension of the home than an assembly meeting, so I question if Sunday School teachers are deacons in the spiritual sphere addressed in 1 Timothy 3." TARGET="_blank">1 Timothy 3. A brother or sister may be entrusted with the responsibility of arranging a dinner to take care of believers attending an assembly gathering. In that case, they are deacons in the Christian sphere, as was Phebe, but not in the sphere described in 1 Timothy 3." TARGET="_blank">1 Timothy 3.

D. Oliver
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What is Fat Tuesday or Mardi Gras?

Mardi Gras is the French translation of “Fat Tuesday”. Those who know Spanish can see the resemblance in Martes (Tuesday) and grasa (fat). Fat Tuesday or Mardi Gras occurs the day immediately preceding Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent. In mid February, the pagans in the Roman empire celebrated the Lupercalia, a circus-like festival. Like other holidays, the Roman Catholic religion decided to adopt the practices of the pagans rather than offend the newly "Christianized" masses.

Mardi Gras is celebrated for a few weeks, depending on the location in the world, in a festival called Carnival. Unbridled partying, drunkenness, sex and debauchery are the features of this festival. Freqently Carnival is celebrated in Central America, South America and Southern Europe where Catholic traditions are strong. New Orleans is the largest and most famous Mardi Gras celebration in the United States. Elaborate costumes and barely clothed women are common in Mardi Gras parades.

Since the Catholic teaching of Lent stipulates that the faithful refrain from sinful practices, fast and pray during the 40 days of Lent, Mardi Gras has been a tradition for centuries to have a huge party just before the days of Lent. Think of it as one last binge before giving something up for 40 days.

There is either a serious misunderstanding or ignorance of God’s word in the combination of Mardi Gras and Lent. The Bible says that Christians should avoid willful sin and uncontrolled behavior all of the year, not just during Lent or Holy Week.

“Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.” Romans 13:13-14" TARGET="_blank">Romans 13:13-14

When is Fat Tuesday?
March 8, 2011
February 21, 2012
February 12, 2013
March 4, 2014
February 17, 2015

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What translations of Scripture help in understanding its message?

Do other translations of Scripture help in understanding its message?

Yes, but be careful! You must know what you are reading. Is it a literal translation or a paraphrase? Does it employ "dynamic equivalence?" Were the texts in the original language reliable? God's Word was given by verbal inspiration to men who wrote down the message. Those original writings do not exist, but copies do. Our responsibility is to ensure we are reading the most accurate translation of the most accurate copies.

With God's Word, every word matters; therefore, using a literal translation is imperative (KJV, NKJV, RV, DARBY, SPURRELL, NASB). Sometimes the literal may be hard to understand because of idioms in the original language, so a paraphrase can help. Also, some versions employ a "dynamic equivalence," where the translator uses words that convey to the modem mind what was understood by readers of the original text (NIV). Be aware, however, that a paraphrase or "dynamic equivalence" includes the editing committee's own interpretation. That could introduce a bias which limits or changes what the Spirit intended in the original text.

Stan Wells

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How does the Spirit guide a meeting?

THE SPIRIT’S GUIDANCE

Is the Breaking of Bread meeting open for ministry, etc., under the Spirit’s guidance, in a way which would not equally apply to a Conference, a Gospel meeting or a Prayer meeting?

I certainly think it is; but in order to understand why, it is necessary to apprehend the special character attaching to meetings of different kinds. Each has in effect its special character, which predominates, though there is a certain latitude, and other things may have their place up to a point. Thus a Gospel meeting is for the preaching of the good news to sinners; that should characterise the meeting, though a short word to believers present may sometimes be in place and cannot be forbidden. A teaching meeting is for teaching the truth of God to believers, and need not be taken up too much with long prayers and hymn singing; an exhortation meeting is for exhortation, also to believers. In these cases it is a question of the exercise of gift manward. All are not evangelists or teachers; all are not called to exhort, etc. “He gave some, evangelists, some, pastors and teachers” (Ephesians 4:11);" TARGET="_blank">Ephesians 4:11); and in Romans 12:6" TARGET="_blank">Romans 12:6 we are reminded that “we have gifts differing according to the grace given,” either for prophesying (a foundation gift that no longer exists) or for ministry of various kinds—teaching, exhortation, etc. To apply the principle of equality of opportunity to all in such cases is clearly to set on one side the Lordship of Christ, who has given gifts according to His own will. We may invite men known to be qualified to evangelise or teach to the more general meetings for teaching (wrongly called “conferences,” for rarely does anyone confer). Where there are several teachers present, unless some special brother has been invited to minister the Word, there may well be an opportunity for open ministry, not however to all present, but only to those known to possess the gifts needful for edification.

Too often what is called “the open platform” has been abused, either because of too much liberty granted by elder brethren convening the meetings, or because of too much liberty taken by brethren present, who are not truly qualified to teach, but who get up on the plea of “the liberty of the Spirit,” and waste valuable time by unedifying talk. Let those who are gifted to teach wait on their ministry, and consider their brethren. The liberty of the Spirit is not anybody’s liberty to do as they like, but for the Spirit to do as He wills and use whom He chooses. The breaking of bread meeting is quite different; it is not primarily for ministry, though there may be secondary opportunities for this, when the true object of the meeting is over, which is to “shew the Lord’s death” (thus remembering Him in the breaking of bread), and to worship the Father. The object of those present is not to receive instruction, but to obey the Lord’s command, and as priests to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. As all believers, by the fact of the new birth, are constituted priests, the meeting is left open for all present to worship the Father, whether silently or vocally.

In the 1 Corinthians 11" TARGET="_blank">1 Corinthians 11: passage there is not a hint of any arrangement of speakers for ministry, and much less of anyone to preside and, as clergyman, minister, or pastor, “administer the sacrament” or “dispense the elements.” The bread is “the bread which we break,” the cup is “the cup of blessing which we bless.” These are terms which make breaking the bread and giving thanks for the cup a general privilege, rather than an ecclesiastical monopoly. The same principle applies to a prayer-meeting. All may pray, the women silently (1 Corinthians 14:34), the men “everywhere lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting” (1 Timothy 2:8);" TARGET="_blank">1 Timothy 2:8); that is, it is they who lead in prayer. How can a prayer-meeting be rightly anything but “open” for the Spirit’s guidance? He alone knows the state of each soul; He alone knows the particular needs, and can make known that need to each and give suitable words to express it. Accordingly, there is not a hint in 1 Timothy 2" TARGET="_blank">1 Timothy 2: of anyone presiding over or directing the prayer-meeting.

W.H.

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Why will animal sacrifices be required in the Millennium?

Why will these animal sacrifices be required?

The New Testament makes it clear that the offerings under the Old Covenant anticipated the once-for-all sacrifice of Christ, but they did not satisfy God’s requirements (Heb 10: 1-12)" TARGET="_blank">Heb 10: 1-12) nor bring rest to the offerer. The sacrifice of Christ completely satisfied God’s requirements and ended the need of these typical sacrifices. Further, the New Testament shows that righteous living was not dependent on a legal system which included the offering of sacrifices (Galatians 3:2, 3, 5)." TARGET="_blank">Galatians 3:2, 3, 5). Therefore the sacrifices in the Millennium will not anticipate the sacrifice, for it is completed. They will not be typical, for the types are fulfilled in "the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all" (Hebrews 10:10)." TARGET="_blank">Hebrews 10:10). Neither will they contribute to righteous living.

Those offerings will be a visible reminder of the infinite sacrifice that has brought such blessing to believers of every age, to the nation of Israel and to the nations, to the Church, to the entire creation, and to the ages of the ages. "To Him be glory both now and forever. Amen" (2 Peter 3:18)" TARGET="_blank">2 Peter 3:18)!

D. Oliver
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When should a church collect money?

Why does the assembly collection customarily follow the Lords Supper?

"Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him" (1 Corinthians 16:2)." TARGET="_blank">1 Corinthians 16:2). This is a personal responsibility enjoined on each believer (not couple) in the assembly. Paul has in view, though, "the collection for the saints" (verse 1) and wants to avoid a "gathering" when he comes to Corinth (verse 2). He teaches, therefore, that on the first day of the week the believers should contribute to a collective fund. These communications (Hebrews 13:16)" TARGET="_blank">Hebrews 13:16) are sacrifices, a part of our worship. Offering up spiritual sacrifices is the first priority of our gathering, but we should not conclude our gathering without these material offerings - whether by passing a basket or contributing to a box conveniently located in the place we meet.

D. Oliver
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Does a husband guide or lead his wife apart from a right example?

Does a husband guide or lead his wife apart from a right example?

Whether a husband or wife, a parent, a Sunday School teacher, a preacher or elder, or a brother or sister in Christ, none of us has the ability to bring greater spiritual help to others than what we practice ourselves (1Ti 4:12, 16)." TARGET="_blank">1Ti 4:12, 16). Can a husband who finds fault with the other believers in the assembly hope to help his wife feel comfortable in the company of those believers? Will an elder expect his wife to submit to the teaching of the elderhood (namely, the teaching of the Word of God) if she sees that his life is not spiritually consistent with the Word of God? Does a husband who will not submit to the Scriptures in one aspect of his life have any "weight" in helping his wife to obey the Lord? She could easily sense that his interest in her obedience is only for the sake of appearance, since reverence for the Lord hardly characterizes him.

Examples of humbly submitting to the Lord and delighting in His will and Word are the strongest influence for good in any believer’s life. Our steps provide much better guidance than our words, no matter how loud, strong, persuasive, or apparently sanctimonious they are (Mat 23:3, 13)." TARGET="_blank">Mat 23:3, 13).

D. Oliver
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Why did God make Adam if He knew that Adam would sin?

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