What is a Bible?

The Bible is God's message to us.  Actually, the Bible is not just one book but a collection of many books that have been put together.  THe word Bible means "book".  The Bible serves as an instruction manual for living God's way; it tells us what's right and wrong.  It has many stories and lessons that He wants us to know.  The Bible tells us about God and how we are suppposed to live.  You can look in the Bible to find out what God wants you to do.

KEY VERSES:  Psalm 119:105

Did the Bible Really Happen, or Are They Like Fairy Tales?

The stories in the Bible really happened.  Some of the events seem amazing to us because they're miracles, but they still happened.  We know that the stories are true because the Bible is God's Word, and God wouldn't lie to us or fool us.  The Bible also says that every word in it is true.  Some people don't believe the Bible because they haven't read it.  Some don't believe it because they don't think miracles can happen.  Others don't believe because they don't want to; they don't want to learn about God and do what He tells them to do.  But we know that God can do anything, and He's the best one to tell us how to live.  We should pray for those who don't believe in the bible or who think it's full of fairy tales.

KEY VERSES:  1 Corinthians 10:11

When Was the Bible Made?

God wrothe the Bible over many, many years, a long time ago - long beforecomputers, cars, and even before books.  The people who wrote down God's words used scrolls of paper made from papyrus leaves and animals skin.  They wrote it over a period of 1,500 years, from the time of Moses to the apostle John.  Even though the Bible was written hundreds of years before we were born, it is still up-to-date.  When we read the stories and understand  what God is saying, we learn how we should live today.

KEY VERSES:  Hebrews 1:1-2

Who Wrote the Bible?

The words in the Bible came from God.  That's why it's called "God's Word."  God used people to write down the ideas, thoughts, teachings, and words that He wanted to put in the Bible.  The writers were very special people, chosen by God for this very important task.  And God used many people, writing over many, many years.  These people wrote in their own style and in their own language, but they wrote God's Word.  God guided their thoughts as they wrote.  And God made sure that what they wrote was exactly what He wanted.  He kept them from making any mistakes.  Today we can read the Bible, God's Word, which He wrote through these special people so many years ago.

KEY VERSES:  2 Peter 1:20-21

Why Do We Study the Bible?

It's important to study the Bible because the Bible is God's message to us and studying it elps us know and understand it better.  If you want to learn more about butterflies, you study butterflies.  Stuying the Bible helps us fin out how to live and to find out what God wants.  When we only read the Bible (without studying it), we may not see the meaning right away.  Studying helps us learn lessons for life - we learn God's Will so we can obey Him.  Studying the Bible is like reading a story many, many times - each time you see something different and learn more.

KEY VERSES:  Acts 18:11

How Can Kids Study the Bible?

Studying the Bible is not as difficult as it may sound.  In fact, it can be fun!  First, start out just by reading the Bible.  Read short portions - a paragraph or story.  Second, ask a parent to explain big words to you that you don't understand.  Third, memorize verses that tell you what you should do.  As you read and study, you will have questions about what the Bible means.  Save your questions and find someone to answer them, like a parent, teacher or pastor.  It's good to read the Bible every day.  Make it a habit.  And if you get really ambitius, you can use a Bible disctionary and atlas; a dictionary tells what the Bible words mean and an atlas shows where the Bible palces are.

KEY VERSES:  Joshua 1:8

Is Archaeology the Study of Noah's Ark?

Archaeology is the study of ancient cultures.  It tells us about Bible times and people who lived long ago and hat life was like back then.  Archaeologists are the people who study  and teach about archaeology.  They find out about Bible times by digging up old cities to find buildings and things people used long ago.  They are even trying to find Noah's ark.  Archaeologists study other places, too, and have shown us many interesting things about people and places all over the world.

KEY VERSES:  Genesis 8:3-4

Why Do We Memorize Verses?

We memorize Bible verses because we want to remember what God has told us.  When we have the Bible in our heads, God's Word will be with us when we are out playing, at the pool, or doing anything - it's with us wherever we go.  Then, when we face a problem or a tough situation, we will be able to remember what God has told us to do.  It's also fun to memorize verses - then during the day, we can think about the verses and what they mean.

KEY VERSES:  Psalm 119:11

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** These questions and answers are provided from the book 801 Questions Kids Ask About God—with Answers from the Bible, by Heritage Builders, a ministry of Focus on the Family, For All Ages.  Copyright 2000 by Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.  All rights reserved.  Used by Permission.