Table of Contents:
This teacher’s copy of the How to Find a Verse in the Bible lesson plan is printer-friendly.
RESOURCES:
Any book which has page numbers.
Bibles for each child, or a number of Bibles for the ‘looking up references game’. (All these references are in the New Testament.)
There are two options:
- Visit Grid Reference Finder
- Road Atlas with an index and having a grid on the maps. (Make sure you know how the grid references work!)
STARTER:
[A] How to find somewhere using a grid reference
(Choose either of these two things:)
1) What does this grid reference refer to?
Visit Grid Reference Finder (opens in a new tab), then enter 523536 into the X (Easting) and 171202 into the Y (Northing).
You may need to zoom out a little on the map to see where that place is.
(Wimbledon Common)
2) We need to find where the village of ………… is. (Teachers note: Look in the index of a Road Atlas for a town or village which you haven’t heard of.)
We need to find it on this map. (Teachers note: By using the grid reference).
Q. How easy would it have been to find this place without the grid reference?
[B] How to find a sentence in a book:
(Teacher’s note: Find a good sentence in a storybook, then hold the book up).
I need a volunteer to find a sentence in this book.
The sentence is ……………..…
The teacher may have to say things like:
Do you want to know what page it is on?!!
OK, it’s on page ……..
That was difficult finding that sentence.
Q. Was it easier to find the place on the map or a sentence in a book?
Why? Discuss.
Q. How could it be made easier to find that sentence in a book?
Discuss.
MAIN TEACHING:
The Bible has got an easy system for finding a certain sentence.
- The Bible is split into two sections: the Old Testament which is the first part of the Bible,
- and the New Testament which is the second part.
- It is then divided into different books,
- which are then divided into chapters.
- Then each chapter is divided into verses so that a certain sentence can be found quickly.
How to find a verse in the Bible
A verse (or a sentence) can quickly be found in the Bible.
We are going to have a game now, to see who is the quickest.
We will be only looking at the New Testament part.
But first, we need to give an example:
- Mark is the second book of the New Testament.
- If the sentence we wanted to find was in chapter 4 and in the 40th verse, then we would say:
- Book of Mark, chapter 4 verse 40.
- This is written as Mark 4:40
So let’s look that up.
1) Find the Table of Contents at the front of the Bible. This will tell you where the book is.
Q. What page does the book of Mark start on?
2) Find the big numbers which show the chapter numbers. Then find Chapter 4.
3) Find the little numbers which are the verse numbers. Now find verse 40.
Q. What does that verse say?
Answer:
He said to His disciples, ‘Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?’ “
Mark 4:40 NIV
Some books have the same name but are written as 1 and 2.
For example 1 Timothy and 2 Timothy. These are actually two different letters written by Paul to Timothy.
So let’s see who is the fastest:
[1] First, we are going to look up a verse about food and clothing:
1 Timothy 6:8
Q. Who was the first to find it?
Q. What does it say?
But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.”
1 Timothy 6:8 NIV
It is talking about being content with what we’ve got.
[2] The second one, what is hostile to God? Romans 8:7 will tell us.
Q. Who was the first to find it?
Q. What does it say?
the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so.”
Romans 8:7 NIV
Sinful means a ‘bad’ mind that is hostile towards God and it is at war with God.
[3] Third, how do we please God? Hebrews 11:6 will tell us:
Q. Who was the first to find it?
Q. What does it say?
And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”
Hebrews 11:6 NIV
So faith in him pleases God.
You now know how to find your way around the Bible, by using the book names, chapters and verses.
PLENARY:
Q. Why would someone want to point out a particular verse within the Bible?
Christians believe that the Bible carries God’s authority and therefore any teachings about God, or what pleases him, should start from the Bible.