Creative Bible Study BlogWelcome to our Creative Bible Study blog - a Christian blog dedicated to getting believers excited about God's Word and all it holds. We will update you on any new and exciting additions to our site as well as highlight items you might otherwise miss. Have you ever wondered if you were "creative?" Well, God is and we each were created in His image. Today is your day to be creative as you let the truth of God's Word impact your life and the lives of those around you. The dictionary defines creative as: cre·a·tive 1. having the quality or power of creating. 2. resulting from originality of thought, expression, etc.; imaginative: creative writing. 3. originative; productive (usually fol. by of). 4. Facetious. using or creating exaggerated or skewed data, information, etc.: creative bookkeeping.
Subscribe to our Creative Bible Study RSS feed and you can have creative Bible lessons, ideas, and updates delivered to you everyday. You don't have to fill out any personal information; just click the orange button marked "RSS" - (Real Simple Syndication)at the bottom of our navigation bar on our homepage and follow the instructions. We hope you'll join us! Side Note: My Windows browser has an orange RSS feed button on my toolbar that detects RSS feeds; I can just click it to subscribe to my favorite interest sites. It's so easy and fun! Jul 30, 2010, Back to School - Making a DifferenceAs Summer begins to wind down, many of us are returning from youth camps. We've experienced a time away from the chaos and influences of the world and been in the presence of a passion for Christ! But how do youth, as well as us as adults, keep the commitments we've made and make a difference back in the world God has placed us? One of my friends shared a neat idea with me for students of any age. This year keep "tic-tac-toe" in mind.
Think of your desk in the classroom or your space at work as a tic-tac-toe board with you being the "X" in the middle. Notice who those are sitting around you in your classes or office space. Do we know them? Do we have a relationship with them? More importantly - do we know they have a relationship with Christ? Let this be our mission field. Let's make a plan to allow God to use us as a tool to point them to the Cross of Christ! Camps may be over, but the journey has just begun! Permalink -- click for full blog post "Back to School - Making a Difference" Jul 12, 2010, Our Teens...A Great Generation! Part 2{continued - it was too may words for one blog!}
#5 - PerseveranceAlready talked about this in #4, but even if you have a slow bumpy start, it WILL get better. God is just waiting to show us so much if we're willing to strengthen our relationship with Him. Just like running, it takes time and work, but it is SO Worth it. #6- The race marked for usSo I guess cross country is marked out.. or you'd just have a bunch of kids randomly running around. God has it marked out for us [ The Bibleee ] All we have to do is follow! It's real easy to get off the path, but once again, our FOCUS needs to be where it should be! I Mean, sin, again, looks good. If I'm running and I see a snocone stand.. I'd be VERY tempted to stop and devour it.. but then I'd lose my pace and get lazy and you can"t eat a snowcone and run at the same time! Same thing with your Christian walk/runYou Can't enjoy sin and keep up your pace. You stop. and it takes awhile to start going again and to set a good pace!But this way is marked for US. Cross country isn't for people in hoverrounds!( Though I'd LOVE to see that race! ) it's for the runners.. on a team.. like Christians.. On God's Team! .. And Guess What.. God Wins(: ( Ben Hackler ) #7 Let us fix our eyes on JesusJust like you have your eyes fixed on the finish line ( behind that are fruitbars by the ton to devour when you're done.. aka.. Heaven(: ) Our eyes need to be on Jesus as we run the race. He's like that song on our ipod that makes you feel that if it's playing. . You Can Make it to your goal!! #8 -And the whole thing about running.. It can get tiring.. I was talking to Becca one day and she told me she runs beside people sometimes and just says " Keep going You're Doing Great! You Can Do This!" Just that little big of encouragement probably helped A LOT ! That applies to us Christians. We need to encourage our brothers and sisters in Christ. They're struggling with wanting to stop and devour a snocone too, but if we help keep each other focused, we can finish the race and make a difference(: -------------- Find out how other teens are standing out for God in this generation at - The Rebelution! Permalink -- click for full blog post "Our Teens...A Great Generation! Part 2" Jul 12, 2010, Our Teens....A Great Generation!We hear so many negatives about teens in our world today. It's time we start looking for and listening to the positives! This is a great generation, and many have such a heart for God and willing to share it! The following was written by my 16-year-old daughter: ----------------------
Hebrews 12:1&2b 1) Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easy entangles and let us run with perseverance the race marked for us
2) Keeping our eyes on Jesus, the source and perfecter of our faith So #1- We are surrounded ! hands in the air, everyone lookin at us! the angels, God, the devil, the people before us, and the people around us! People witness what we do. They witness whenever out actions do or don't match up with what we say! #2- THROW, Not just a toss aside where you're in reaching distance of getting it, throw it far far away!like in Micah 7:19-You will hurl out iniquities to the depths of the sea So it's like a big God-throw.. which is alot bigger than ours! #3 ( I Feel Like A Preacher With All These Points(: )The sin that SO easily entangles us. Sin really is easy.. it's like a big huge piece of 4 layer chocolate cake with white chocolate drizzled on top..It tastes good, but afterwards you usually regret all the fatty calories you put in your body.. and after a while the tastes goes away so you would've done better eating a yummy healthy, all natural fruitbar(: [ They're AMAZING ] #4 RUNHow convenient after talking about 4-layer chocolate cake with white chocolate drizzled on top(:but really, running is hard for most people [ Not Becca Dark, but she's just amazing so she doesn't count(: ] I started runnin.. not that great yet.. It's hard to make yourself get going, but when you reach your goal or even about it, you get so happy! And it's worth the sore legs the next day. But you have to keep going when you get started. It seems like it'll just get worse and it"s very very easy to stop, but if you hang in there, it does get better. Same with spending time with Jesus and reading your Bible. It might be a slow start, but if you will keep going, God will show you so much more than you would expect! continued.....below! Jul 9, 2010, One Life to Live - Let's Live It Well“Being sensible that I am unable to do anything without God’s help, I do humbly entreat Him by His grace to enable me to keep these resolutions, so far as they are agreeable to his will for Christ’s sake.” This is how Jonathan Edwards prefaced the 70 resolutions he wrote for his life at the age of nineteen, and he then read them every day of his life.
1 Timothy 4:12 - Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity." God has been using teens to glorify Him since the beginning of time and still is, but He wants each of us no matter our age not to miss out on what this life is all about. If you are a young person or an older person...God's desire is for us to delight in glorifying Him. That is the joy of the journey! That is the purpose of life! That is the essence of our being! Isaiah 43:6-7 "I will say to the north, 'Give them up!' and to the south, 'Do not hold them back.' Bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the ends of the earth-- 7 everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made."
Here are just 3 of Edward's resolutions to live by: Resolution #5: "Resolved, never to lose one moment of time; but improve it the most profitable way I possibly can." Resolution #6: "Resolved ,to live with all my might, while I do live." Resolutin #52: "I frequently hear persons in old age say how they would live, if they were tolive their lives over again: Resolved, that I will live just so as I can think I shall wish I had done, supposing I live to old age." July 8, 1723.
Do our lives have such a focus? Do we have such a passion for Christ? If I could just live by these three, what a difference it would make! We have but one life...let's truly live it and live it well for God's glory! Jul 8, 2010, ABC Preschool Bible LessonsI'm always looking for something new to add to our free Bible resources, and was excited to find this group of ABC Bible Coloring pages with lessons for preschoolers! If you're a preschool mom or teacher, these may be just what you're looking for to help teach your kids their ABC's along with God's Word. These include coloring pages for each letter of the alphabet matched to a Bible word - A=Angel, B=Bible, etc. They also include lessons, Scriptures, preschool Bible crafts, and more! Permalink -- click for full blog post "ABC Preschool Bible Lessons" Jul 3, 2010, The Book of Eli Part IAs a family, we chose long ago not to watch R-rated movies. Last night though, I watched “The Book of Eli.” My teenagers had heard great reviews about it, and I had heard the storyline had to do with the Bible.
I literally felt sick watching the beginning because of the gruesome violence. The language was not what I’m used to hearing either! Yet this morning I'm here in tears, because God pricked my heart and caused me to see how many times I close my eyes or ears to the world around me because it’s difficult to see or hear. Like Eli, we as Christians carry the Hope- not just in “The Book” - but within ourselves!
At one point Eli says, “In all these years I’ve been carrying it and reading it everyday, I got so caught up in keeping it safe that I forgot to live by what I learned from it.” I wonder; how often do we hear God’s Word, read it, study it, even memorize, and yet forget or choose not to live it?!
Today marks my “29th” birthday! Okay….those who know me, know that my physical age is not 29, but my spiritual age is! On June 23, 1981, Jesus Christ drastically changed my life! I no longer just knew about Him (I grew up in church.), I now actually knew Him in a personal relationship! On that day, I began carrying His Truth within me, and my life needs to be evident of that EVERY DAY! Jul 3, 2010, A Flickering Light"Darkness has a strategy. For millennia, evil has been associated with chaos, but in reality, it marches in strict cadence to a master plan. Its goals are simple. Its greatest enemy is light. Wherever light appears the darkness rises up to snuff it out. In a small North Carolina town, a light was flickering. No one noticed the light. Those who held it did not recognize its significance. it shone in the midst of a new generation, and thus posed a great threat." * Excerpt from The Sacrifice by Robert Whitlow This excerpt struck a chord with me. Are we letting the light of Christ shine through us? Even one small flicker in a dark place gives light to the darkness. I had to ask myself - am I living in such a way, full of light and life, that I'm a threat to the darkness? I hope so...what about you? Matthew 5:14-16 "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." Jun 28, 2010, Sand DollarUse the legend of the sand dollar, to teach a Bible object lesson that shows how God's creative fingerprints are everywhere! Permalink -- click for full blog post "Sand Dollar" Jun 23, 2010, The Book of Eli Part II
It really bothered my 19-year-old son that there was very little color in this movie! Yet even that was thought provoking. To so many out there, their world is drab and hopeless as without any color. God’s Word tells us that we as Believers are to be “the light of the world.” (Matt. 5:14) A fact of color is that light is necessary in order for our eyes to even perceive color.
I’m not really recommending the movie if you haven’t seen it, but I am recommending it’s message. When Eli was asked what it was like before, he answers, “People had more than they needed. We had no idea what was precious and what wasn’t. We threw away things people kill each other for now.” Let us realize what is precious and not waste another moment of this Life God has given us to live for Him.
Like a good friend of mine says, “Let’s live fearlessly!”
Romans 14:7-8, “For none of us lives to himself alone and none of us dies to himself alone. If we live, we live to the LORD; and if we die, we die to the LORD. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the LORD.”
*Final note: Those of us that have seen this movie can use it then as a tool to open up a “conversation door” to share the true message of Jesus! Permalink -- click for full blog post "The Book of Eli Part II" Jun 19, 2010, Prayer LifeTalking to God is exciting & essential! Bring creativity to your prayer life with these free Bible study lesson ideas and Scriptures. Permalink -- click for full blog post "Prayer Life" Jun 18, 2010, Photo Prayer Journaling
I love pictures! I guess that's why I started using a photo prayer journal. As I'm praying for my family, friends, etc., I can look at their faces. It just makes it a more focused and powerful prayer time for me. I just take a plain (well, I do like the pretty decorated ones) 1-in., 3-ring binder with dividers. On each divider I've taped pictures of my family members or friends - one divider for each. Then I journal my prayers for each on lined paper. I love that I can add paper and expand my journal at any time! You could also put pictures in a folder pouch and pray for each as you pull their photo out. Or try using an index file to hold photos and index cards with prayers and Scriptures to pray or memorize. Be creative! Photo prayer journaling is a great way to record those ongoing prayers that we need to lift up daily and also so we can go back and see God's answers. Jun 17, 2010, A Girl's Guide to Life
A Girl's Guide to Life: The Truth on Growing Up, Being True, and Making Your Teen Years Fabulous!
I have to admit at first I was a little disappointed in Katie Meier's book - A Girl's Guide to Life. Little is mentioned about having a relationship with God and his involvement in our lives, and it has even less mention of any Scriptures or Scripture basis for any of the topics. One chapter is dedicated to religion and showing that Christianity is different from other world religions, but still no Scriptures are mentioned. Katie is pretty cut and dry when addressing the readers, which I’m sure many girls just need someone to be upfront with them about life in general. Katie begins chapters with statements like, "This chapter isn't going to pull any punches," and "This is the hardest thing I'll have to tell you, and I'm not gonna beat around the bush." She does however address many up-to-date, time-sensitive issues in the lives of teenage girls such as texting and sexting, disorders such as anorexia and cutting, body changes including answering questions about breast changes and tampon vs. pad use, etc. My own 16-year-old daughter wasn't really captured by Katie's style of writing. She's read several books for teenage girls such as Redefining Beautiful, Pure, and Guys are Waffles, Girls are Spaghetti and loved them! Even though my daughter and I aren't rave reviewers for A Girl's Guide to Life, this does not mean God isn't using it! It does hold a lot of great factual, in-your-face reality advice that many teenage girls need to hear from somewhere! Katie addresses important issues that may be uncomfortable for girls to verbalize. Katie does give solid advice; I was just disappointed there wasn't more Scripture included to back up the truth that was given.
Jun 16, 2010, Keeping a Journal
Keeping a journal is one of the things I may not do everyday, but I'm so thankful I keep it when I do! Being able to look back over the words God has spoken to me in my quiet time & Bible study, seeing the prayer requests that have been answered, being able to see how God has moved in my life and the lives of others around me - all these bring encouragement to my spiritual walk! Find the time, somewhere - somehow, to be alone with God. Then record the moments! I am the worst at thinking, "Oh, I'll never forget that!" Guess what though; I usually do forget! That's one reason I've learned to journal. My kids get frustrated with me because of my lack of memory; at least they'll have the moments I've journaled! Journaling helps me focus. It keeps my thoughts and memories. It records a legacy of my daily walk with God for my kids, later-to-be grandkids, etc. My Bible study time is richer and deeper because journaling does help me focus. So...go get a inexpensive notebook, a pen or pencil, your Bible, and spend some time talking with your Father! You won't regret it! Over the next few days I'll be recording other ideas about journaling, saving memories, and a few of my own journal entries. Hope you'll join me! :)
Jun 16, 2010, Music - A Youth Bible Study LessonLooking for creative youth Bible study lessons? Try this free youth Bible lesson on music called, "It's the Song that Matters." Help teens find out how God wants to write their life song! Permalink -- click for full blog post "Music - A Youth Bible Study Lesson" Jun 15, 2010, More VBS - Mop Ponies!
Our preschool teachers made these, and the kids loved them! They are a great make-beforehand decoration or craft idea for a little older children. You could even have older children & youth make these to give to kids in the community, children's home, etc. as a mission project!
Mop ponies are made from a basic cheap mop, rubber bands, yarn or twine, wiggle eyes and hot glue. Of course, if used as a craft, teachers may want to be the holders of the hot glue gun! Here are the complete printable instructions with illustrations for Mop Ponies! Instructions from American Horse Daily; photos by Heather G. (my sweet sister-in Christ!) Permalink -- click for full blog post "More VBS - Mop Ponies!" Jun 14, 2010, VBS-Saddle Ridge Ranch 2010Just got back from visiting Saddle Ridge Ranch - VBS Theme for 2010! What a great experience! The kids (and adults) loved the Western theme! Kids learned that when they need answers - Ask God! Following are a few photos of the VBS decorations:
Permalink -- click for full blog post "VBS-Saddle Ridge Ranch 2010" Jun 9, 2010, Salvation Message for KidsWe're in midstream VBS this week and loving it! My husband and I were talking about ways to help children understand the Gospel. Object lessons are great tools to teach Bible lessons that will "stick" in children's memories. One such object is using a team jersey to share how to become part of God's Team - a believer in Christ. Jeff pointed out that sports players have to work to make it on a team. Both colleges and pro sports have drafts and try outs. They have to earn a team jersey. God, however, offers for us to wear His team jersey free! All we have to do is choose to be on His team, receive His gift, and commit to His team. No drafts, no tryouts! Using the ABC's of Salvation (Admit, Believe, Confess with Scriptures) along with a visual, in this case a team jersey, can go hand in hand in helping kids understand God's gift of salvation. Permalink -- click for full blog post "Salvation Message for Kids" Jun 4, 2010, A Kaleidoscope of Wisdom found in ProverbsPatsy Clairmont’s Kaleidoscope is a “popcorn” book that could easily be used as a devotional, Bible study focus, or just for inspiration! She takes kernels of thirty-three individual verses from the Book of Proverbs (in no certain order) and lets them pop open into fluffy, tasty puffs of practical Bible principles. At first, I didn’t really care for what seemed like such randomness and lack of organization. Like the title of the book though, Kaleidoscope, and like real life, you never know what you may get. Each moment is a surprise of something new and yet beautiful! Isn’t that what is so marvelous about God’s Word?!
As Patsy unwraps each verse using humorous stories, she also ends each short chapter with six to nine thought provoking questions that cover a vast array of different aspects of life. She also includes other related verses from all over the Bible, which lead to even more new exploration on your own with Christ.
Patsy brings an “awe” approach to God’s Word that is creative and exciting. The message of this book will last beyond its pages as she helps us dig deeper and then apply the practical principles found in the vast wisdom of God’s Word.
May 22, 2010, Lessons from the Home
As I glanced around our house knowing that a group of ladies, our Heart to Home group, was coming to my house, I decided not to move a thing. I left it just as it was. My house is far from perfect! Everything is not in its perfect place. There are shoes by the door, roses in a vase that are dead, an Easter basket still sitting on the dresser in my bedroom! It is fairly clean though, and those other things are there because we live here. It made me think of my life - my house isn't perfect and neither am I. This is where and how we live. Just like in life, I don't want to put on a "false front." If you were to walk into our front room, I wouldn't be embarrassed. It's been kept respectfully clean because we do a little every day, and we try to keep it a simple place - uncluttered. This is how or what I need to work on in my life though! Each day I need to spend time with God - dusting off the dirt from the day, straightening attitudes that have gotten out of line, etc. I also need to learn to keep it simple - uncluttered with things that don't matter! Jesus knew we needed to know this! In Matthew 22:34-40 He answers the young lawyer's question - "Teacher, which is the most important?" Jesus kept it simple - "love God and then love others!" As believers, we can get too caught up and distracted with programs and how-to's. I'm so thankful Jesus taught us to keep it simple! Permalink -- click for full blog post "Lessons from the Home" May 16, 2010, FREE Evangelism Training Videos to Download!Here's another GREAT resource! These are evangelism training videos by Greg Stier from Dare2Share. Use these for your own training or in helping teach others to share their faith. Greg shares Scripture along with humor as he teaches important messages on how to share our faith. The following is called "Reach Out - Don't Freak Out!" Find this along with many other training videos dealing with evangelism, Bible study, and more! Permalink -- click for full blog post "FREE Evangelism Training Videos to Download!" May 16, 2010, Teaching Youth to Share the Gospel MessageI teach 9th & 10th grade girls in Sunday School; I love my girls! Tomorrow the lesson is on sharing the Gospel Message. As I was looking for new resources, I found The Gospel Journey by Dare2Share Ministries. The Gospel Journey uses the following acrostic: God created us to be with Him. Our sins separate us from God. Sins cannot be removed by good deeds. Paying the price for sin, Jesus died and rose again. Everyone who trusts in Him alone has eternal life. Life with Jesus start now and lasts forever.
Visit them and see how they take the Gospel message of the acrostic on a journey through the Bible! They also have where you can print the Gospel Journey Steps for the youth to stick in their Bible or take with them. Dare2Share offers lots of great ideas that will help you teach and train! Permalink -- click for full blog post "Teaching Youth to Share the Gospel Message" May 2, 2010, A Mother's Day Monologue - Great Encouragement!Mother's Day is a wonderful time to honor our mothers! ....But how often do we as women feel that all the things we do for others just go unnoticed? You know...the daily deeds - like washing the clothes, transporting kids, changing diapers,...the never ending "dailies." Have you begun to feel invisible? If so, then take time to read "The Invisible Woman" and then share it with other women you know that need to be encouraged and know that God sees the "dailies" and you are making a difference! Permalink -- click for full blog post "A Mother's Day Monologue - Great Encouragement!" May 1, 2010, Vacation Bible SchoolDiscover creative FREE Vacation Bible School ideas and lessons including crafts, games, object lessons, and more to add to your VBS curriculum or find free themed lessons to develop your own VBS! Permalink -- click for full blog post "Vacation Bible School" Apr 24, 2010, The Story of the TeacupOne of my favorite illustrations in the Bible is that of God as our Potter. It amazes me how a potter can take a common lump of clay and mold and shape it into something beautiful - something useful! That's what God desires for us, just as He compares Himself to a potter in Jeremiah 18. Let us be like the clay and say, "Yet, O Lord, you are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand." Isaiah 64:8 This is the story of a simple teacup from its point of view! Permalink -- click for full blog post "The Story of the Teacup" Apr 2, 2010, Sunday's Comin!Have you had those days...or weeks...or months that make you feel down and hopeless? In all honesty, we probably all have. It is important for us to look beyond...and remember... there is a Great Hope...Sunday's Comin! No matter how dark things may look, there is a wonderful Light that we can look to for our hope and salvation. His name is Jesus! This Easter, let us not forget how dark that Friday became for Him as He bore all our sin upon Himself and His Father had to turn away because of it. He took our place of punishment and brings us Hope! Let us also remember He had victory over death & the grave and arose! Sunday is Comin! ... and not only Sunday, but His great return! Look to the future with HOPE Church! 1 Peter 1:3 "Give praise to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. In His great mercy He has given us a new birth and a hope that is alive. It is alive because Jesus Christ rose from the dead." (New International Reader's Version)
Permalink -- click for full blog post "Sunday's Comin!" Mar 28, 2010, Easter Themed Night for YouthNeeding something already planned and ready to go for a fun, inspirational night for youth? Try this Easter Eggstravaganza written by Grahame Knox. It's fourteen pages of Easter ice breakers, activities and reflections on the true meaning of Easter.
Permalink -- click for full blog post "Easter Themed Night for Youth" Mar 26, 2010, Resurrection EggsMake your own Resurrection Eggs to share the true meaning of Easter! These are simple to make with everyday objects; Scripture verses are included. Permalink -- click for full blog post "Resurrection Eggs" Mar 26, 2010, Christian EasterKeep the resurrection of Jesus Christ as the center of your Easter celebration and teaching. Take these free Christian Easter ideas, games & Bible object lessons to teach the true meaning of Easter. Permalink -- click for full blog post "Christian Easter" Mar 10, 2010, Free Bible StudiesGet actively involved in Bible study with free Bible Studies that are interactive. Free, printable Bible lessons for personal use, Bible study groups, or Sunday School. Permalink -- click for full blog post "Free Bible Studies" Mar 9, 2010, Object Lessons with M&Ms CandyUse M&mMcandies to teach Bible object lessons for children, youth or adults on being who God called you to be and sharing God's love! Permalink -- click for full blog post "Object Lessons with M&Ms Candy" Mar 9, 2010, Object Lessons for ChildrenWhether you are a parent, grandparent, Sunday school teacher, Children's Minister, etc., let these Bible object lessons for children help you transform kids' lives! Permalink -- click for full blog post "Object Lessons for Children" Feb 25, 2010, Christian Testimony of Brian Kinchen - NFL Long SnapperRecently Brian Kinchen was the guest speaker at our school's benefit dinner. Following is his testimony. If you've been looking for fulfillment in things or people, Brian shares how true life can only be found in knowing Jesus Christ.
Permalink -- click for full blog post "Christian Testimony of Brian Kinchen - NFL Long Snapper" Feb 24, 2010, Inspirational Teaching Videos for Youth |
