Name That Disciple - A Fun Bible Review Game

Have you wondered what it would have been like to be one of Jesus' disciples? The Bible shows that the disciples exhibited a gamut of emotions while with their Savior - everything from pure elation to fear. How much do your children know about these great men of God? Do they know that these chosen men were really just like them with thoughts, feelings, strengths and weaknesses?

Here's a game that will be sure to capture your children's attention as they learn more about Jesus' twelve friends. It's called "Name That Disciple"...

Here's what you do:

You will need to make 12 cards. Number the cards 1 through 12 on their fronts. On their backsides, list the information points found below for each disciple. You do not want the child to see the disciple's name, so you may want to discreetly label each card so that only you know which disciple the card refers to. I made my cards on my computer and added some nice color and images. My finished size for each card was 4in x 6in. Finally, laminate your cards for long-term use.

How to Play:

Divide your class or group into 2 teams. This game will be best played if you study each disciple beforehand. Have one child come up from the first team and have him pick a number. You, the teacher, will take the card off the board and explain that you are going to give a clue about one of the 12 disciples. The first clue that is read will be worth 500 points. After hearing the clue, the child may try and guess which disciple is being talked about. If they guess right, he will earn 500 points for his team.

If he guessed wrong, a player from the other team will get to hear the next clue, which will be worth 400 points. Again, a guess may be offered. Play goes back and forth like this between the teams until one team has given a correct answer. The number of points earned will be the amount listed by the clue. Obviously, the clues get easier and therefore each clue given is worth fewer points. If no one succeeds in guessing the correct disciple, a new card is picked. The team with the most points wins!

Peter: 500 Points: This disciple prayed for the crippled man at the gate Beautiful to be healed. (Acts 3:1-6) 400 Points: He miraculously escaped from prison. (Acts 12:1-19) 300 Points: He was a fisherman by trade. (Mat. 4:18) 200 Points: Jesus changed his name to "The Rock". (Mat. 16:18) 100 Points: He denied Jesus 3 times. (Mark 14: 67-72)

James: 500 Points: King Herod killed him with a sword. (Acts 12:2) 400 Points: He was the son of Zebedee. (Mat. 4:21) 300 Points: He was at the transfiguration of Jesus. (Mat. 17:1) 200 Points: He and his brother John were called the "Sons of Thunder". (Mark 3:17) 100 Points: His brother was John. (Acts 12:2)

John: 500 Points: This disciple traveled around with Peter preaching the Gospel. (Acts 8:14) 400 Points: Jesus told this disciple to take care of his mother after He died. (John 19:26) 300 Points: He was a fisherman with his brother James. (Mat. 4:21) 200 Points: He wrote the book of Revelation. (Rev. 1:12) 100 Points: He was Jesus' closest friend. (John 13:23 loosely)

Andrew: 500 Points: In the miracle of the "feeding of the 5,000", this disciple pointed out the young boy who had a lunch of 5 loaves and 2 fish. (John 6: 8-9) 400 Points: Before he was a disciple of Jesus, he was a disciple of John the Baptist. (John 1:35-40) 300 Points: He spent the day at Jesus' house. (John 1:39) 200 Points: He was Peter's brother. (Mat. 4:18) 100 Points: After meeting Jesus, he first went to tell his brother peter they had found the Messiah. (John 1:41)

Philip: 500 Points: To test him, Jesus asked this disciple where they would find bread enough to feed the multitude of 5,000. (John 6: 5-6) 400 Points: He was from Bethsaida in Galilee. (John 12:21) 300 Points: This disciple asked Jesus to show them the Father. (John 14:8) 200 Points: He told Nathanael about Jesus. (John 1:45) 100 Points: An angel told this disciple to tell the Ethiopian about Jesus. (Acts 8: 26-40)

Bartholomew: 500 Points: Jesus told this disciple that he would see great things like heaven open up and angel descending and ascending on the Son of God. (John 1: 50-51) 400 Points: Jesus first saw him sitting under a fig tree. (John 1:48) 300 Points: Jesus told this disciple that there was nothing false in Him. (John 1:47) 200 Points: Philip told him about Jesus. (John 1:45) 100 Points: He was also named Nathanael. (According to the book of John.)

Thomas: 500 Points: "Jesus saith unto him,...because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed." (John 20: 29 KJV) 400 Points: Jesus said to this disciple, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No man comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6) 300 Points: He was also called Didymus. (John 11:16) 200 Points: He said he would not believe Jesus was alive unless he saw the nail marks in His hands ant. (John 20:24) 100 Points: Jesus asked this disciple to put his finger into His side after His resurrection. (John 20:27)

Matthew: 500 Points: This disciple had a dinner party that Jesus attended along with many tax collectors and "sinners". (Mat. 9:10) 400 Points: At this dinner party, Jesus was asked by the Pharisees why he was eating with sinners. (Luke 5:30-31) 300 Points: He was also called Levi. (Luke 5:27) 200 Points: He was a tax collector. (Mat. 9:9) 100 Points: He wrote the first book of the New Testament.

James (the younger): 500 Points: Paul visited this disciple in Jerusalem and told him how many Jews were coming to know Jesus. (Acts 21:18) 400 Points: According to Scripture, Jesus appeared specifically to him after His resurrection. (I Cor. 15:7) 300 Points: He was a brother of Jesus. (Gal. 1:9) 200 Points: He was the son of Alpheus. (Acts 1:13) 100 Points: He possibly wrote the book after Hebrews in the New Testament.

Jude: 500 Points: This disciple asked Jesus why He was showing Himself to the disciples, but not to the world. (John 14:22) 400 Points: He was also called Thaddeus. 300 Points: He was the brother of James (the younger). 200 Points: He was the author of the second to last book in the New Testament. 100 Points: His name rhymes with "dude".

Simon: (Not as much is known of this disciple.) 500 Points: He was from Galilee. 400 Points: He was also called "The Zealot". (Mat. 10:4) 300 Points: Clue: He was not simple like the Mother Goose rhyme says.

Judas: 500 Points: He was a thief and helped himself to the money bags. (John 12:6) 400 Points: He was willing to take money for handing Jesus over to the authorities. (Mat. 26:14-16) 300 Points: He betrayed Jesus with a kiss. (Mat. 26:48) 200 Points: He hanged himself for betraying Jesus. (Mat. 27:5) 100 Points: His last name was Iscariot. (Mat. 10:4)

If you liked this Sunday School/Homeschooling idea, then sign up to receive Scripture Lady's Free Email Kid Tips packed full with creative ideas and receive 6 FREE BIBLE REVIEW GAMES to help get the kids you minister to excited about the Bible!

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Kathy Vincent is the director of a performing ministry for children called The Scripture Lady and has been traveling around Southern California for the past 14 years ministering to preschoolers and elementary aged children with the Word of God through musical, thematic presentations.

She is also a regular seminar speaker, author/creator of over 30 products for the Christian children's worker and a veteran homeschooling mom of two.

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Book Review - Trust in the Lord by Deen Kemsley

Refreshing Reflections on the Cross

"Trust in the Lord" is written for those hungry to contemplate and reflect on the sacrifice of Jesus and His great love, to see fullness replace emptiness and harmony replace loneliness. Deen Kemsley captures the heart of Christ's own thoughts as he reflects and shares intimate experiences of his own spiritual journey.

Deem invites the reader to become familiar with the Savior at the cross to receive a new vision of who Jesus is, to know Him. He writes from his own personal experiences as well as from the experiences of others to illustrate the a walk with Christ to the Cross. He explains underlying truths and foundation of the Christian faith. He reminds the reader of the undeserved but limitless miracle of God's love demonstrated on the Cross of Calvary. He explains how this love produces joy in times of difficulty, affliction, and frustration. These moving illustrations draw the reader into an eager search for a fresh encounter with the Lord Jesus.

I recognized a need for personal to revival, and recognized my own helplessness, without the redemption provided through Christ's death on the cross. I am eager to experience an enrichment of God's presence in my life as he works to reestablish wholeness in my life.

Deem Kemsley's writing resonates with uplifting encouragement, inspiring challenge, and amazing insight. The book challenges the readers to a fresh genuineness in for their search to fulfill their deepest, truest potential.

As reviewed for Midwest Book Review

Richard R. Blake, Christian Education Consultant, Book Store Owner

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A Cashless Society and the Mark of the Beast

It was recently announced that cash will no longer be accepted on the London Bus system and the use of plastic cards, which can be preloaded with credit, will be insisted upon. This follows on from a similar announcement in Kenya where public transport will also go cashless and switch to an electronic payment system.  

The move towards cashless transactions is very much an increasing trend and governments throughout the world are pushing the idea of a “cashless society” i.e. a world where all payments are made electronically. Obviously, proper records will have to be kept and these will have to be readily available to all those concerned. Important and powerful, global organizations including the UN are involved but developments along these lines could have massive implications for individual freedom and privacy.

Supporters point to an obvious reduction in overheads by removing the need to produce/secure physical cash along with possible reduction in tax evasion, armed robbery and black market fraud. Critics are wary of governments operating in a George Orwell inspired world and being able to monitor every item of economic activity.  The NSA snooping story adds weight to these claims  

The debate continues but  some governments e.g. UK and Kenya are already working hard to reduce  the reliance on cash. The end objective, which may be years down the line, can only be an eventual end to all cash transactions and a world economy based digital commerce.

It has been portrayed as a natural progression and an example was a CNN feature on 2/7/14 called “The Evolution of a Cashless Society,”  which described the progress made by various countries. The eventual introduction of a cashless society was presented as inevitable and apparently the United States is at a “tipping point” while Canada, Belgium, France, Sweden, and others are “almost cashless.” Other countries are either at the “inception” or “transitioning.” 

In reality, the “trends” are not happening naturally and big business is playing a major role. Governments are driving the cashless society developments with taxpayers money and well funded foundations are joining in to build support. For example, in September 2012 the Ford Foundation, launched the "Better Than Cash Alliance" which describes  itself as a partnership "to empower people by shifting from cash to electronic payments." The partners include big business representatives like Visa and Citibank as well as the UN 

Maybe the move towards a cashless society is a natural progresssion or part of evolution but the arguments against are not being heard. If the trend continues, it seems that all transactions will eventually take place electronically and the need for cash will be eliminated but will the technology always work? Will we need a card for the bus, a card for the train and one for each store or will a universal payment system be developed? What if the card is mislaid?

Various systems are in development and a system using a mobile phone to make payments has been used successfully. Again a mobile phone can be mislaid and what happens then?
Mobile phones are routinely used as tracking devices and an increase in their use can only make it more widespread

Some organisations have advocated the use of a human micro-chip with the eventual goal of each person having a device inserted under the skin and able to use it to provide identification and to make electronic payments. 

Maybe this is the path we'll follow but there is massive potential for making mischief. Do we really want to give the government the ability to track every move we make? In a cashless society, a political opponent could be removed from the economy and wouldn't be able to buy food. A power cut would cause absolute chaos

It might be a the fulfilment of prophesy because Revelations 13:17 reads 

“And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name,”

Paul M Williams

Financial Costs Related To Capital Punishment

Capital punishment is one of the most debated topics in the world. Human rights groups and several other opponents constantly question how another human being's life can be taken in the name of justice. Several of these also claim that capital punishment incurs a lot of expenses, which is borne by taxpayers. While the execution itself is not expensive, there are several other costs that are incurred by the administration when a convicted criminal is sitting on death row.

Trial Cost 
Due to the requirements laid down by the US Supreme Court, cases where the capital punishment is sought are often more expensive when compared to cases where the death penalty is not sought. All potential jury members have to be painstakingly questioned about their views on the death penalty. During the course of this questioning, which takes a few days, there are additional costs associated with paying the prosecutors, court staff defense lawyers and the presiding judge. Jury selection can be a long drawn process in capital punishment cases if the opposing lawyers are unhappy with the jury panel selection.

Furthermore, the defendant is allowed to bring in experts and character witnesses. The testimonies of these experts and witnesses are important, as it could help the defendant beat the death penalty and get a lesser sentence. So, this also adds burden to the trial cost.

Appealing 
If a person is sentenced to death, he/she can appeal the sentence. This means that more costs are incurred due to the long appealing process. The average length of a appeal process in case of capital punishment is around 15 to 20 years. The Urban Institute's study revealed that due to long appeal process, in the state of Maryland, state prosecutors spend $1.9 million more to get death penalty in a case compared to a case where the punishment is incarceration in prison.

Incarceration Costs 
During the time that a death row inmate is appealing his/her sentence, incarceration is mandatory. This increases the basic cost of housing the prisoner in a prison. Furthermore, prisoners on death row are more likely to harm themselves or others, and hence, they are housed in a separate prison compared to the general population in the prison. This also costs additional expenditure, which is borne by the state.

Conclusion 
Costs associated with capital punishment are immense and at times because of this, many state governments prefer abolishing death penalty, as incurring this expense could adversely affect other law enforcement measures. In fact, the money spent on capital punishment cases could be better utilized to improve the general law and order situation in a state.

Kum Martin is an online leading expert in laws. He also offers top quality articles like:
Capital Punishment Pros, 
Capital Punishment History

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