The following is an excerpt from the Bible Quest curriculum book that details the Equip Phase, step-by-step.
STEP 1: Read the week’s lesson
To begin your preparation, first read over the material on the current week’s page (weekly lessons begin on page 19). The answers to the four basic questions will be the material that you will have your student memorize. The most important questions are the “Who?” and the “What?” so if you feel overwhelmed, start with those two. Bible Quest is designed to be revisited more than once to ensure total mastery, so more information can be added when your student goes over it again later.
Remember, the “Why?” section is for the mentor, to help them in answering any questions that come up and is not intended to be taught directly to the student. The ‘Bringing it All Together’ section on the second page of each week’s material can help you understand how all of the material fits together.
STEP 2: Rehearse the Equip Phase
Be sure that you are prepared to teach each part of the Equip Phase.
· Listen to the “WHAT?” (Verse Song)
Listen to the Bible Quest verse song for the current week. Each song is designed to help you know how to sing each verse according to the melody given. Most of the songs will be familiar tunes. This is intentional, so that even young children can easily pick them up and retain them.
· Look at the “WHO?”
All of the key word statements about the “Who?” are backed up with specific Scripture. Additionally, there are general Scripture passages for each week. Ideally, parents and mentors could read these to better understand the context of the person or people they will be talking about, but this is not necessary for beginners or younger students that will not be using the Empower Phase. If students will be using the Empower Phase, having parents and mentors read these passages is strongly encouraged.
· Study the “WHERE?” (Map)
Familiarize yourself with the map for the week. The maps can be found in the back of this book, starting on page 157, and may be reproduced for personal use. Be aware of where the location for the week is and how that location relates to the territories around it geographically.
· Take note of “WHEN?” (Timeline)
Look at the historical time frame for the week’s material, answered by the “When?” question. The Big Bible Story Song (found on page 22) corresponds with the Bible Quest timeline on the inside front cover. Be aware of when the week’s material took place in relation to other points on the timeline. The “Time Note” for each week’s “When?” is optional, providing extra information for more advanced students. The primary goal for younger students and beginners should simply be to know approximately when the events of the week occurred and be able to point to that area on the timeline or identify when they occurred in the Big Bible Story Song.
STEP 3: Memorize the “WHAT?”
Ask the question prompt above the “What?” (the Bible verse for the week), then play the song for your student. If you like, you can add actions to the song (these are totally up to you, but they are very helpful to kids and beginners!). Alternatively, more advanced or older students can help make the actions to help them remember!
Repeat the song over and over until the student can recite (or sing) it when you ask the prompt question (the “What does the Bible say about…” question given above the verse). Seven times is a good target number, but more is even better.
STEP 4: Memorize the “WHO?”
Teach the student the “Who?” sentences verbatim. You may choose to use actions for those as well, or you may want to show them one of the cards from the appropriate Bible Quest Review Card Game.
Each sentence has key words that are in bold. One way to use these is to say the whole sentence without one of the key words. For instance, one sentence might be, “God is Father, Son, and… what?” The student would answer “Holy Spirit!” Do not do this exercise until the student has had a chance to hear the sentences a few times, first! Many of the sentences will be difficult for beginners to answer if more than one key word is removed at a time, but older students may find the challenge fun.
STEP 5: Memorize the “WHERE?”
Show the student the “Where?” on the appropriate map in the back of this book. Ask the prompt question a few times and have the student point to the location until they have it. It is also helpful to show where the location is on a world map or globe for context.
STEP 6: Memorize the “WHEN?”
Sing the Big Bible Story Song with your student. Make up actions to the song if you like, or feel free to use the ones from our website. Tell your student when this week’s material takes place in the song, or have them memorize the time note.
STEP 7: Review
Finally, review the material over and over! Make trivia games, review map locations, and play Bible Quest songs or sing the songs yourself many, many times so that the student (and everyone else around you!) MASTERS the information! If you are leading a group and parents are not in the classroom with you, help them to know how to review the material at home. Review resources can be found in the form of all memorized content in list format starting on page 104, and in review games starting on page 119.
Appendices with the lists of all of the Equip Phase content can be found starting on page 101, and timeline content can be found starting on page 154. Maps begin on page 157.