In the 1960s, the General Youth Committee of the United Pentecostal Church envisioned a program of involving teens in systematic study of the Bible and founded the ministry we now call Senior Bible Quizzing. Whether intended or not, the ministry of Bible Quizzing has become a means of developing Christian character, leadership traits, good study habits, time management skills, self-discipline, and godly attitudes, in the young people that dedicate themselves to intense interaction with the word of God. In fact, no other aspect of youth ministry leads them into such an intense study of the Word. As a result, spread throughout the kingdom of God one can find pastors, lay leaders, district and national officials, evangelists, and missionaries whose commitment to God and God’s work was mightily nurtured during their hours of memorization and study of the Bible.

Each quiz year, a portion of the Bible is designated for memorization. Youth aged fifteen to eighteen memorize over 500 verses; youth aged twelve to fourteen memorize over 400 verses. The study for 2011 is taken from Paul’s epistles to the Thessalonians, Timothy, and Titus, and from Peter’s epistles. During a quiz, youth are asked questions about the verses they have learned and, in some cases, to quote verses verbatim. More than Bible trivia, these questions are designed to uncover the meaning of the verses. As such, not only do youth who quiz memorize large portions of the Bible, but they also gain much practical experience in understanding and interpreting the Bible. This prepares them to be effective witnesses to others and competent spokespersons for the integrity and power of Scripture.

Click here for an introduction to our vision for Senior Quizzing at Living Way Church in 2011. You can view all quizzing-related posts and activities here.