Bible Bee
Jun 01
Bible Bee Basics
What is the Bible Bee?
The National Bible Bee Competition is a series of events designed to help parents encourage diligence in Bible study, Scripture memorization, and prayer in their families. There are two focal points: 1) Bible memorization and Bible knowledge competition held at Local Bible Bees organized by volunteer Hosts and Local Event Teams in various locations throughout the United States, and 2) The National Bible Bee competition for the 300 top-scoring contestants from the Local Bible Bees. Family discipleship is reinforced during the time leading up to these events through planned voluntary social interactions around the Word, memory verse games, and Christian fellowship.
Where are the Bible Bee Contests held?
Local Bible Bees will be held in churches, schools, universities, and community centers across the United States on Saturday, August 28th, 2010. The National Bible Bee Contest will take place at the Renaissance Hotel and Conference Center in Schaumburg, Illinois, just outside of Chicago, on November 11-13, 2010.
Who can participate in the Bible Bee?
On May 1, 2010, families may begin to register their children and youth who will be 7 to 18 years of age by November 13, 2010. Contestants will compete in one of three age divisions: Primary (ages 7-10), Junior (11-14) or Senior (15-18).
How is the Bible Bee set up?
Contestants at the Local Contests will participate in a Preliminary Oral Round in which they have 10 minutes to recite up to 30 Bible verses or passages from their age division’s level(s) in front of two judges. They will also complete a 200-question Written Test Round, which tests their comprehension of the memory verses as well as their understanding of a specified book of the Bible.
The scores from the Preliminary Oral Round and Written Test Round determine which contestants move on to the Final Challenge Round, an onstage, sudden-elimination oral round. The winners of the Final Challenge Round in each age division win their Local Bible Bee.
The scores from the Local Preliminary Oral and Written Test Rounds are also tabulated to determine the top 100 contestants nationally in each age division, who are then invited to compete in the National Bible Bee Contest. The contestants’ ranking in the Local Final Challenge Round does not affect this selection.
The National Bible Bee Contestants are challenged with another Preliminary Oral Round and Written Test Round, structured just like the Local Contests; the top-scoring youth from these two rounds move on to the Semi-Final Oral Challenge Round, another onstage, sudden-elimination oral event.
The final five contestants from each age division who remain standing in the Semi-Final Oral Challenge Round will advance to the Final Challenge Round; this exciting, sudden-elimination oral round in front of thousands of Bible Bee family members will determine the 2010 National Bible Bee winners.
What are the rewards for being in the Bible Bee?
The greatest reward is your family drawing closer to the Lord and closer to one another as you study God’s word together, memorize Scripture and pray together. Local Event Teams may choose to arrange awards and/or prize money for their Local Bible Bee winners. The top National Bible Bee winners are awarded from $5,000 up to $100,000 according to their Final Challenge Round rank and age division.
How do you prepare for the Bible Bee?
At the beginning of June, Bible Bee boxes arrive on every contestant family’s doorstep. Everything your family needs to help you prepare is included for your registration fee of $25.00 per child ($125 maximum). Each contestant will receive a “Sword Study Handbook” and memory verse cards for his or her age division. Parents will each receive a Parent Handbook to guide you in your family’s study and preparation for the Bible Bee.
One book of the Bible will be specified in the Parent and Sword Study Handbooks for family and individual contestant study; this is the book that will be covered in the Written Test Round.
Contestants in the Primary age division are accountable for memorizing 250 Level 1 verses (all included in your study cards). The Junior Division is accountable for learning the 250 Level 1 verses as well as an additional 250 Level 2 verses. The Senior Division is accountable for the 250 Level 1 verses, 250 Level 2 verses, and 300 Level 3 verses for a total of 800 verses to memorize.
New this year for children or youth who cannot, or prefer not, to embrace the requirements of the standard Local and National Contests, is the “Timothy Track”. This track has reduced memorization requirements, a shorter written test, does not include participation in the onstage Local Contest Final Challenge Round, and does not qualify for advancement to the National Contest.
The Timothy Track Written Test Round, which will cover the same specified book of the Bible that all Bible Bee family members will be studying, is only 100 questions. Primary Division contestants on the Timothy Track are accountable for learning 100 Level 1 verses. Junior Division is accountable for memorizing the 100 Level 1 verses, as well as an additional 100 Level 2 verses. The Senior Division Timothy Track contestants are accountable for the 100 Level 1 verses, the 100 Level 2 verses and an additional 100 Level 3 verses.
Why participate in the Bible Bee?
The Bible Bee is a summer catalyst for families to establish a life-long pattern of discipleship through in-depth study of the Word of God, Scripture memorization, and prayer. All the events, including the Local Bee, are designed to be enjoyable, family-style get-togethers to encourage, recognize, and reward diligence in Bible study, memorization, and prayer. The blessings of drawing close to God and one another are without limit. You will likely meet many like-minded families and have tons of fun along the way!
