Bible Quiz Tips

Tips for Quizzers

There are countless ways to improve your quizzing skills, but by far the most practical way is to memorize the entire portion. If you are confident in your ability to answer any question that comes, you will be able to interrupt without waiting to see whether or not you know the answer. There are countless ways to memorize. Try new ones until you find what works best for you.

As you memorize, use quote cards or some other method to learn the references. It may seem like a lot of work, but it is well worth it.

Frequent review is not something your coach makes you do in order to kill your social life. If I had a dollar for every time I missed a question because I didn't review what I'd memorized, I wouldn't be applying for college scholarships.

Speed in review translates directly into speed at the buzzer. If I can quote a chapter quickly at home, I will also be able to scan it quickly during a match.

Time how long it takes you to quote a chapter and try to do it faster the next time you quote it. Trying to beat your best time will help motivate you.

Review is the starting point for building confidence. If you've quoted a verse a billion times at home, you won't hesitate to try that question in a quiz match.

Use your practice time to improve your interruption skills. Don't be afraid to hit early and try to figure it out. Even though you may miss some, you will begin to develop the thinking patterns used in completing questions.

The most important thing to remember is to let the scripture you memorize get past your head and into your heart. Psalm 119:11 doesn't say, "I have hidden your word in my head." Let what you memorize effect your daily walk. God bless you as you study His Word.

Ryan Decker
Illinois

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In Bible Quiz, there are three aspects of studying I concentrate on, essentially in this order:

1. Master of material

2. Chapter analysis

3. Cross reference

I usually start memorizing early, shortly after Nationals. I take anywhere from seven to ten verses a day and aim for a chapter per week. To help me memorize, I read the section and chapter several times to get a feel for the position and length of the verses.

Then I take each verse as I memorize and read it several times.

Then I quote the verse without looking. I do this until I can quote the material almost without error.

Most importantly I review chapters constantly. For review quoting, I usually do anywhere from three to four chapters at a time. This keeps all of the material fresh and ready for quizzing.

I make a special effort to study chapter analysis. I write questions for every possible question that can be asked (by chapter and by section) over the material found in the Chapter Analysis. I then look for patterns in the questions, study them, and use them to hit questions faster. Writing the questions helps me remember how many answers there are, where they are, and what order they are in.

I then set out to master the cross-reference. I write tons of questions by using the concordance and study them by letter. Specifically for Nationals, I write questions that can't be found in the concordance, but are unique to the style of the writer for that year.

Dan Marlow
Kansas

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Tips for Coaches

A few years ago on my way to a coaches' seminar I was to speak at, I asked myself the question, "Am I a coach or a mentor?" I had recently read the book by Lou Tice, Personal Coaching For Results. The statement was made, "A coach's activities are often limited to helping us perfect a specific activity or set of skills. A mentor can do the same thing, but our mentors may also become involved with many aspects of our lives, helping us grow as whole people." Now it was time to reflect.

This statement seems obvious and not profound. However, the answer to the question I had to ask myself did not lie within myself but rather with my quizzers, and how they perceived my motives for coaching them. Are they more important to me as quizzers or souls, an end to a means or the means itself? How involved in my quizzers' lives was I outside of the team? When was the last time I went to their sporting events or band and choir concerts? Did I go up to the altar and pray with them the last time they went forward for prayer? Did I pray for them during my personal devotion time today? Do my quizzers know I love them at all?

To keep myself in check, I use goal-setting exercises regularly. Each quizzer has their own goals, and each team must have common goals among its quizzers. Goals must be very specific, achievable (but not necessarily easy), and measurable.

As a coach, I can hold the quizzers accountable to those goals. I review these goals every month to see if the quizzers are staying on task or, if perhaps, my goals have replaced their goals and has now become more important to me then to the quizzers.

Occasionally, goals need to be revised; I do this around the first of January. Some quizzers need to make their goals a little higher, some a little lower. "Goals are much more likely to happen than wishes or hopes."

As a coach, I believe my greatest measure of success is if my quizzers reach their goals. As a mentor, my greatest measure of success is how many of my former quizzers serve God. Did I impact them in a positive way? Tell each of your quizzers weekly that you care about them and their problems, and they will open up to you as their mentor and friend.

Ted Barrans
Auburn, WA

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"Known by God"

Praise and Glory be to our God! God is so awesome! As I was reading through 1st Corinthians, verse three of chapter 8 caught my eye. "But the man who loves God is known by God." Such a small, simple verse, but it really packs a wallop. To be known by God!! Take a moment and think about it. The King of Kings; the Lord or Lords; the Alpha and Omega; the Creator of all the Universe – knows YOU! I would like to share an experience in which God made this verse very real to me.

About 4 years ago I received a phone call from the Bible Quiz coordinator of North Florida requesting that I speak at their coach’s conference. After praying about it, I called her back and reluctantly agreed to do it. Why the hesitation? Mainly because I had never done anything like that and I didn’t want to go and look stupid. I wonder how many blessings we miss out on just because we don’t want to get out of our comfort zone? Anyways, because of my feelings, I began to fast and pray for this conference meeting. Not only did I pray but I also asked everyone that I knew to pray! I did not want this to be just another old coach’s meeting.

Everything was going along perfectly – right? Absolutely not! Some things began happening in my life that caused me to question if I should even continue to be a coach let alone go and speak at a coach’s conference. As I left early that Friday morning, spiritually, I was about as low as you can get. How could God possibly use me? For six hours I listened to tapes and prayed.

Arriving early at the campground, I walked around the building and began to wonder what I had gotten myself into. As I entered the office entrance I began noticing some pictures hanging on the walls. These pictures were of former ministers. You could just tell by looking at those pictures that these were men of God! The ones that are going to be lined up behind Moses and Abraham. You know what I mean? Talk about feeling small – you can only begin to imagine!

I finally located the secretary to find out where to put my things. The first words out of her mouth were, "Who are you?" Just what I needed – a real ego boost. After telling her I was the guest speaker she replied "Oh", and directed me to a dorm room. I could tell she was totally impressed! Still having a few hours before the meeting would start I decided to stay in my room and you guessed it – Pray.

After a short meeting with the youth director and Bible Quiz coordinator it was finally time to get started. Where was the praise and worship leader?

As everyone began gathering around a table to be seated I explained that the meeting would be made up of two sessions. In the first I felt led to seek God and in the second I would share how our team had gotten to Nationals. After a short prayer, I requested that they sing loud since I would be leading them in a few songs.

Where was the praise and worship leader? As the singing started such a sweet anointing filled that room. People began praising the Lord in other tongues – it was so wonderful. After a period of time I felt led to speak. Trust me, it was no great sermon. Just some simple words about how blessed we as Bible Quiz coaches are to first be called into this ministry and second to have such good soil to sow into. And that if we will just be faithful and do what God has called us to do; He will take care of the rest. In closing I asked if anyone needed prayer? One man came up! He explained that he had never done Bible Quiz but felt led to be at this meeting. Praise God! As we began to pray; God began to move again. God is so faithful.

Then there was a short pause in the worship and I felt led to ask if there was anyone else that needed prayer. I will never forget the words of a lady that raised her hand. "My husband is a children’s pastor, and I’ve lost my vision!" Men and women jumped out of their chairs, surrounded and began praying for her! I couldn’t even get near to pray for her. Isn’t God good? As I knelt off to the side all I could do was thank God for blessing beyond my imagination. To Him be all the praise and glory.

Perhaps you’re reading this and have lost your vision or maybe you’re discouraged. No matter what your situation, you can rest assured that it’s known by God and that God knows YOU. Isn’t that what really counts?

Blessings,
Ray Berkey

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Chapter Sampler Question Writers

Richard Ely
1833 Santa Fe
Lewisville, TX 75077
phone: 972-436-1004
e-mail: ely@airmail.net
70 sets for $25 (1/chapter; 5/section; 21 comprehensive)
Additional 45 set of 10-point questions available with purchase of regular set for an additional $5.

Fred Fortunato
1840 Branch Valley Dr
Roswell, GA 30076
phone: 678-352-8359
e-mail: ffortunato@microcoating.com
Tournament Coordinator:
Looking for A and B League Questions set
Please contact me!

Jeremy Gibbs
1701 E Cherry
Springfield, MO 65802
phone: 417-894-1711
work phone: 417-864-8571
e-mail: jgibbs76@juno.com
70 sets for $30 (25 via e-mail)
1/chapter; 4/ league meet; 21 comprehensive
Comprehensive sets include: 6 sets for last league meet; 7 district sets; 4 regional sets; 4 National preparation sets. Also, 4 special sets written for 1 Corinthians in preparation of Missouri Classic in Springfield, MO.

Mark Gilmer
3081 Habersham Cir
Covington, GA 30014
phone: 770-786-5060 or 404-626-3079
e-mail: magbq@peachnet.campuscwix.net
75 set for $35 ($28 via disk; $25 via e-mail)
1/chapter; 5/section; 27 overall

Maureen Harr
9079 E Blue Water Hwy
Pewamo, MI 48873
phone: 517-855-2509
e-mail: maureenbq@triton.net
40 sets for $20 ($17 via e-mail)
Proceeds to support a Missionary Associate

Stephanie Harr
9079 E Blue Water Hwy
Pewamo, MI 48873
phone: 517-855-2509
e-mail: sjharr@triton.net
Proceeds to raise support for a 1-2 year missions trip

John Hunter
11667 Melridge
Middlebury, IN 46540
phone: 219-825-7338
e-mail: jsyehunter@hotmail.com
75 sets for $30 per set (via hard copy or e-mail)
Available June 1, 2001

Nilay Saiya
154 Deer Dr
Jonestown, PA 17038
e-mail: nilaysaiya@hotmail.com
70 sets for $25 ($20 via e-mail)

Eunice Singh
161-38 86 Ave
Jamaica, NY 11432
e-mail: bethelhembq@yahoo.com
10 sets for $5
Emphasizes comparisons in 1 and 2 Corinthians
Written by 1992 National Finalist.
Available August 15, 2001

Rhoda Yost
76 Fourth St
New Haven, CT 06519
phone: 203-776-2350
e-mail: MomYost@aol.com
75 sets for $35
10/league meet; 35 comprehensive
Worksheets for $15
Worksheets by section titles. Approx. 550 questions
Questions and worksheets $45

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Tips for Coordinators

Bible Quiz in Kansas has grown steadily for the last few years. Many things have been vital to the growth, but the most important key has been breaking the idea that Bible Quiz is "Island unto itself." We strive to let every pastor, youth pastor, and church know that Quiz enhances the total ministry of their church. This is not an easy task when you have such a large district.

I take advantage of my ministerial status. Since I go to most district functions (District Council, summer camps, sectional fellowships, minister renewals, youth conventions, and Sunday school seminars), I have many opportunities to set up a booth or to speak in front of a captive audience.

Of course this involves a supportive relationship with my DYD and superintendent. If we (the district leadership) don't share the same vision, then Bible Quiz will always be another "program." If you can't do the public relations at district events, then maybe you can recruit a "Bible Quiz-loving" pastor to do the leg work. Just continue to be visible.

Another piece in the puzzle has been the emergence of the "B" division. This level of quizzing has allowed our younger quizzers and newer coaches to develop and gain confidence without the pressure of the older veterans. It also bridges the gap between Jr. and Teen Quiz. Last year our region had it's first B Division tournament. It was very successful.

So far this season, interruptions and quotations are much higher than last year. This is a very healthy way to strengthen and grow the Bible Quiz ministry in your district.

John Durham
Kansas District

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