APPENDIX A

Basic Bible Quiz

Directions: This quiz tests your basic Bible knowledge. Answer each question to the best of your ability. If the group leader allows, you can work on this quiz with a partner. 1. How many books are there in the Old Testament? __ A. 39 __ C. 55 __ D. 66 __ B. 40 2. How many books are there in the New Testament? __ A. 24 __ C. 35 __ B. 27 __ D. 37 3. Who is the traditional author of the Gospel of John? __ A. John the Baptist __ B. John, son of Zebedee __ C. John of Arimathea __ D. The Beloved Disciple 4. Which was the first Gospel to be written? __ A. Matthew __ C. Luke __ B. Mark __ D. John 5. Which of the following is not a synoptic Gospel? __ A. Matthew __ C. Luke __ B. Mark __ D. John 6. The New Testament was written only by the original disciples of Jesus. __ True __ False 7. What is the name of the last book in the Old Testament? ____________________________ 113

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8. When was the first Gospel written? __ A. AD 7 __ C. AD 65 __ B. AD 35 __ D. AD 70 9. Which parable is not found in the Gospel of John? __ A. The Lost Coin __ B. The Prodigal Son __ C. The Ten Virgins __ D. The Lost Sheep __ E. All of the above 10. Which New Testament book was written first? __ A. Matthew __ B. First Thessalonians __ C. First Peter __ D. First Corinthians 11. Place these Old Testament Kings in order: __ A. David __ C. Solomon __ B. Josiah __ D. Saul 12. Where are the I am sayings of Jesus found? __ A. Matthew and Mark __ B. Only in Luke __ C. Luke and Matthew __ D. Only in John 13. Number these in chronological order __ Moses __ Noah __ Abraham __ Ezekiel __ David 14. In what year was Jesus born? __ A. The year 0 __ B. 5 BC __ C. AD 5 __ D. None of the above

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15. How long was Jesus earthly ministry? __ A. 1 year __ C. 3 years __ B. 2 years __ D. 4 years 16. In which Gospel is found the story of Jesus ascension into heaven? __ A. The Gospels of Matthew and Mark __ B. The Gospel of John __ C. The Gospel of Luke only __ D. The Gospel of Thomas __ E. None of the above 17. There are only four Gospels in existence. __ True __ False 18. Which of the following are mentioned only in the Gospel of John? __ A. The I am sayings of Jesus __ B. The water turned to wine __ C. The Samaritan woman __ D. The resurrection of Lazarus __ E. The washing of the disciples feet __ F. Jesus last prayer 19. How many missionary journeys did Paul make? __ A. 1 __ C. 3 __ B. 2 __ D. 4 20. Which prophet ministered to the people of Israel during their exile? __ A. Amos __ D. Ezekiel __ B. Habakkuk __ E. Jonah __ C. Zechariah
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Answers to the Basic Bible Quiz

1. A. 39 2. B. 27 3. The answer can be B. John, son of Zebedee or D. The Beloved Disciple. Strictly speaking, the answer is D, since the author is identified as such in the Gospel. 4. B. Mark. Marks Gospel was the earliest of the Gospels in the canon and was written around AD 65. 5. D. John. The Gospel of John is not a synoptic Gospel, that is, the lens through which it views Jesus is different from the other three Gospels. 6. The answer is False. Luke and Paul, who wrote major portions of the New Testament, were not original disciples of Jesus during his ministry. One of the tests for inclusion in the canon of the New Testament was apostolicity, but that did not require that a disciple or apostle himself write the work. 7. Malachi 8. C. AD 65. This is the traditional date for the writing of the Gospel of Mark. 9. E. All of the above. There are no parables in the Gospel of John. 10. B. First Thessalonians. Pauls epistle to the church at Thessalonica was the first book in the New Testament to be written and is typically dated around AD 50 or 51. 11. (1) Saul, (2) David, (3) Solomon, (4) Josiah 12. D. Only in John 13. In chronological order: (1) Noah, (2) Abraham, (3) Moses, (4) David, (5) Ezekiel 14. B. 5 BC. Strangely enough, due to a miscalculation by the monk who gave us our modern way of counting years (the Gregorian calendar), Jesus was born in 5 BC, Before Christ.

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15. C. 3 years. But scholars have argued for anywhere from a oneyear to a four-year ministry. 16. E. None of the above. The account of Jesus ascension is found in the Book of Acts. 17. False. There are four Gospels in the canon, the accepted books, of the New Testament, but several other Gospels are in existence, the best known of which is the Gospel of Thomas. 18. The correct answers are: A, B, C, D, E, F. All of these are mentioned only in the Gospel of John. 19. C. 3. Pauls third and final missionary journey ended in Rome, where he was martyred. 20. Ezekiel

Scoring: Give yourself 5 points for each correct answer.

Your Score 95100 5590

What Your Score Means Excellent! You should be teaching Sunday school or a Bible study group if you arent already! Not bad. Youve been paying attention, are a good student of the Bible, and are able to recall basic information about the Bible. Good going! You need to invest in a good study Bible! You are new to the church, have been sleeping in class, may have gone to seminary, or have been the Sunday school superintendent or director and havent attended a Bible study class in years.

2550 020

Photocopying privileges are granted to the purchaser of How to Be the Best Christian Study Group Leader for congregational or small group use only. May also be downloaded at www.judsonpress.com/free_download_book_excerpts.cfm Used by permission. Judson Press, 2006

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APPENDIX B

Sample Group Covenant

Commitment to a group covenant can go a long way toward helping your group establish corporate values, articulate expectations, and hold each other accountable to making the group experience as meaningful as possible. You can use the following sample group covenant as a model for your group. Adapt the sample covenant to your needs, or create one with your group. Make copies of the covenant for the group members and suggest that each member sign the covenant when entering the group.

Our Covenant
As members of the body of Christ seeking to learn and to grow together, we covenant with each other to affirm one another, be available and present, pray for each other steadfastly, be open and transparent, be honest, be sensitive, maintain confidentiality when asked. To affirm one another means that we recognize that each of us is on the journey to growth and maturity. We will accept each member where he or she is and will not expect perfection, but rather, extend grace to each, believing that each is beloved of God. To be available and present means that we will be good stewards of our time, beginning and ending on time, and participating fully in the process of learning together through sharing and responsible learning. 118

Sample Group Covenant

To pray for each other steadfastly means that we will intentionally pray for each member of our group when we are together and when we are apart, asking for Gods redemptive presence and guidance in one anothers lives. To be open and transparent means that we will trust the group by being willing to be vulnerable in order to be challenged to grow, that we will work at being persons of integrity in our dealings and in our representations of ourselves. To be honest means that we will speak the truth in love, share accurate information when required, and take responsibility only for our own growth and not that of another. To be sensitive means that we will be redemptive and compassionate in our dealings with one another, even in times when challenge and admonition are appropriate postures. At all times we will strive to maintain the other persons dignity. To maintain confidentiality when asked means that we will honor requests to be responsible with personal and sensitive information that a group member shares as appropriate. But we covenant that we will not be bound by information that can be harmful to others if keeping a confidence means we are helpless to help or can prevent a harm.

Photocopying privileges are granted to the purchaser of How to Be the Best Christian Study Group Leader for congregational or small group use only. May also be downloaded at www.judsonpress.com/free_download_book_excerpts.cfm Used by permission. Judson Press, 2006

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