What is Bible quizzing? Essentially, it is a unique and exciting ministry that combines Bible study, competition, fellowship, and disciple making into one program. The ability of Bible quizzing to take each of these elements and mold them into a program attractive to teenagers is what makes it such a successful and worthwhile ministry. Each aspect of the program will be considered in more detail, but first we will look briefly at the history of Bible quizzing.
Teen Bible quizzing was initiated within the Kansas City Youth for Christ organization in the fall of 1946. The idea of young people studying God's Word and answering questions competitively quickly spread to other youth organizations and denominations. At the 1950 Youth for Christ International Convention, the first National Bible Quiz Tournament was held.
Quizzing was picked up by the Church of the Nazarene in 1957. Not until the 1964 Nazarene Young People's Society Convention did quizzing become an official part of the youth program. The first Nazarene National Bible Quizzing Tournament was held in Estes Park, Colorado, in 1966.
The Nazarene teen Bible quizzing program underwent such a rapid period of growth in the early 1970s that a separate division of Nazarene Publishing House, Quiz Specialties, was organized to produce and distribute only quizzing resources and materials. Quiz Specialties quickly became and has remained the largest producer of teen Bible quizzing materials, resourcing both Nazarene and non-Nazarene quizzing organizations.
Teen quizzing saw the establishment of the interdenominational World Bible Quiz Association (WBQA) in 1974 and the switch from the King James Version to the New International Version of the Bible in 1978.
After experiencing a decline in participation during the late 1970s, teen Bible quizzing was rejuvenated during the 1980s by an increased emphasis on disciple making. The 1980s also saw the expansion of the study cycle in 1984 and the establishment of numerous invitational quizzes. The state of Bible quizzing in the 1990s is one of health and continual stability in participation. More and more teenagers and youth leaders are realizing just what an impact Bible quizzing can have on their lives!
Bible quizzing is Bible study
One of the goals of the quizzing ministry is to encourage the study of God's Word. This goal is accomplished in two ways: first, we as adult leaders must study God's Word along with our young people; second, we must teach them how to study God's Word for themselves. The first step is comparable to giving someone a fish to eat. The second is like showing a person how to catch the fish for himself. Both steps are critically important in Bible quizzing.
What portion of the Bible is studied in teen Bible quizzing? Obviously, the entire Bible cannot be studied in depth each year, so a material cycle has been developed in cooperation with the denominational members of WBQA. Contact your quizzing director for a copy of the official quiz cycle, or refer to the most recent Quiz Specialties Catalog. This material cycle establishes the material to be studied each year and repeats every eight years.
When it comes to study techniques for learning this material, there are many different approaches you and your quizzers can take. Because of the variety of quiz programs and quizzers, it would not be possible to propose one study plan that would work for every quizzer. What works for one may not work for another.
There are, however, key aspects of study that must be addressed in any quizzing study plan, several of which are reading, understanding, memorization, and review. These and other study tips will be discussed in chapter 8. Again, you must remember that these suggestions are just that--suggestions. There are other study methods just as effective, and you will undoubtedly discover some study methods unique to you and your program.
Bible quizzing is competition
For some people this is the most troublesome aspect of Bible quizzing. Competition has sometimes caused more harm than good within the church. In the loving context of Christ's Body, however, competition can be an effective means for both wholesome fun and character development. Terry Armstrong gives us a closer look at the role of competition within Bible quizzing in chapter 11.
The competition levels of Bible quizzing are as follows (we will discuss here the organization of the Nazarene quizzing program; while there are numerous quizzing organizations, each differing from the others, the Nazarene program is the largest and has the most extensive structure system):
Local level. This is quizzing in the local church setting. This level of competition is comprised of quizzers competing with their teammates to gain the experience and practice needed to compete at later levels. Unlike many other competitive activities, Bible quizzing is not designed to exclude anyone. While the quizzing program may work best with a four- or five-member team, it is often possible to successfully compete with teams of two or three.
Zone level. A zone is a collection of churches within close proximity to each other. In many areas the zone level is bypassed so that all local teams can compete in the district competition; however, for those areas where the zone quizzing structure exists, the purpose of this level is to select the top local team on the zone and to choose the zone team to compete on the district level.
District level. A district is an administrative unit of the church, determined geographically to facilitate relatively easy interaction between its member churches. District level Bible quizzing involves local and/or zone quiz teams in several ways.
First, many districts schedule monthly invitational quizzes prior to the district finals. These quizzes are used as preparation for the district quizzing finals. Second, near the end of the quiz season, all districts sponsor a championship quiz where the top local or zone teams are recognized and where a district "all-star" team is selected to compete at the regional level.
Regional level. Although Bible quizzing in some form can be found in many countries worldwide, teen quizzing is active predominantly in the United States. Each of the eight U.S. regions sponsor a championship tournament each year, in which all the district all-star teams within that region are invited to participate. At the regional quiz, the top district teams are honored, and a regional all-star team is chosen.
General level. Nazarene teen Bible quizzing is directed from the General Church Headquarters in Kansas City. Nazarene Youth International (NYI), the official denominational youth organization, sponsors one major tournament each year. At these tournaments, the eight regional teams compete to determine the national champion. Every other year, this tournament is held in conjunction with either the NYI General Convention or Nazarene Youth Congress. During the other years, this championship tournament is held in conjunction with a national invitational in which any local or district team is invited to participate to determine the top non-regional team in the Nazarene denomination.
Interdenominational. In addition to the various levels of Nazarene quizzing, there are numerous opportunities for interdenominational Bible quizzing. Many other groups are involved in teen quizzing, including the Youth for Christ organization, Assemblies of God, Christian and Missionary Alliance, Free Methodists, Brethren in Christ, the Missionary church, and the Grace Brethren church.
Almost every organization competing in teen Bible quizzing follows the same quiz material cycle, allowing for great interaction between groups. Please note, however, that many groups differ from each other in both rules and questions styles. Most differences, though, are minor and still allow for interaction.
There are many interdenominational tournaments scheduled throughout the U.S. each year, such as the Eastern Tournament and World Bible Quiz Tournament of Champions. Check with your district director to see what quizzing events are available for your group.
Bible quizzing is fellowship
The need for fellowship is a basic psychological hunger. Teenagers are bombarded with opportunities to fill this need--with their friends at school, with other teenagers at weekend parties, or just "out with the gang" during the week. Perhaps a greater need, however, is the spiritual desire for good Christian fellowship.
Teen Bible quizzing can set the stage for this fellowship to occur. Many former quizzers will agree that some of the deepest and longest-lasting friendships of their teenage years were formed through quizzing. Your quizzers will have the opportunity to grow closer not only to their own teammates but also to teenagers from other churches and other districts. Here are some ways in which you can help facilitate this fellowship:
Schedule fun activities periodically for your quizzers. Quizzers will enjoy opportunities to spend time with their teammates other than during quizzing practice.
When you travel to an invitational or tournament, make the trip an "overnighter," or add an extra activity (amusement park, tourist site, etc.) as often as possible. Teens love to travel together.
Encourage your quizzers to become acquainted with teens on other quiz teams. It is good for barriers and differences to be set aside so that we can share oneness in Christ with other believers.
Involve your quizzers in ministry projects as a team so that the blessings of their fellowship can be shared with others. Your quizzers will gain much more from their studying biblical principles and values if they can see and experience them in action. Dietrich Bonhoeffer, the great German pastor-theologian, defined the biblical concept of fellowship as "life together." Anything we can do to curtail the "Lone Ranger" concept in either Bible quizzing or Christian living is well worth the effort.
Be careful, though, that your efforts to build team unity and togetherness do not inadvertently erect barriers between your quizzers and the rest of their youth group. Both you and your team will need to make certain that the rest of the teens do not see the Bible quizzers as a group interested only in themselves and their own activities. Effective communication between the quizzing leader and youth pastor/leader concerning scheduling and activities can virtually eliminate any problems of this nature.
Bible quizzing is disciple making
Gene Sanford addresses this opportunity for ministry in chapter 6. It is important to remember that the aim of Bible quizzing is to produce disciples, not Bible scholars. Both Stalin and Hitler were students of the Bible and had large portions of Scripture memorized, but it is obvious that neither one was a disciple of Jesus Christ. Although we rejoice whenever any of our quizzers memorize the entire quizzing material, we rejoice more whenever a teen is following Jesus and seeking His will daily. The desire for competitive success should not blind us to what is truly important. As Paul wrote, "I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord" (Philippians 3:8). If teen Bible quizzing fails to help a teen reach this goal--no matter how much Scripture he has memorized or how many trophies he has collected--it has failed in its true purpose: to nurture disciples of Jesus Christ.
