Bible Scavenger Hunt

Prep: Not all the clues may apply to your setting, so check to see if you need to create some new ones. Print off several copies of the clues, each copy on a different color of paper, one color for each team you're going to have to participate. Cut the clues out, and arrange each set of clues in a different order, though I suggest having the first clue lead everyone to the same place, as practice. For example, everyone gets the same first clue that leads to the Fellowship Hall, but then the Blue team is lead off to the Lectern next and the Yellow team goes to the Vestibule. Everyone's last clue is the same as well- I suggest making that the Kitchen, and have snacks ready.

Game Time: Break the group up into teams, each team gets one NRSV Bible (won't work with different translations!) and at least 1 adult. Explain they won't have to go outside to find any of the clues, and there's no running, safety, etc. They won't be able to follow other teams after the first clue because they'll all go in different directions, and they will have to look up the Bible verse on each clue in order to figure out where they're going next. Put the first clues face down on a table in front of each team, and when you say, "Go!" they flip them over and they're off! First team to get to the end gets bragging rights, everybody gets snacks.

Matthew 5:40

Your next clue is in one of the two places we store these.

Matthew is one of the four Gospels that tell the story of Jesus' life.  Matthew wrote his Gospel for a Jewish audience, and spends a lot of time connecting Jesus to the Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament) and Jewish tradition.

Luke 4:16-17

Your next clue is on the underside of the piece of furniture we do this at on Sundays.

Luke is one of the four Gospels that tell the story of Jesus' life.  Luke wrote his Gospel for a non-Jewish audience, so he tells more of the stories about Jesus talking to people who aren't Jewish than the other Gospels do.

Genesis 12:7

Your next clue is under the piece of furniture that Abraham builds in this verse.

Genesis is the first book of the Bible.  The first five books of the Old Testament, or Hebrew Scriptures, are the Torah (which means Law in the Hebrew language) and they are the scriptures the Jewish people value most.

Ezekiel 46:24

Your next clue is next to one of the doors in the room mentioned in this verse.

Ezekiel is one of the Major Prophets of the Bible, along with Isaiah, Jeremiah and Daniel.  They are the “Major” Prophets because their books in the Bible are so long. There are also a dozen Minor Prophets' books at the end of the Hebrew Scriptures, those books are much shorter.

Ecclesiastes 4:13

Your next clue is near the windows in the room we have set aside for people like the first person mentioned in this verse.

Ecclesiastes is an autobiography (a self-authored biography) of a teacher named Koheleth, who is passing on the wisdom he's learned over the years.  Some of his comments are so controversial many churches have not allowed children to read this book at all!

Mark 10:13

Your next clue is under a table in the room we have set aside for those like the people being brought to Jesus in this verse.

Mark is the shortest Gospel, and was the first to be written.  Because it's so short, it's also action-packed. Jesus and the disciples are constantly on the move in this Gospel; there isn't much talking or description.

Psalm 149:1

We have groups of people who enjoy doing this.  Your next clue is beneath where they sit on Sundays.

The Psalms are the prayer book of the Bible.  They are written by various people (we think many of them were written by King David) and are prayers about various things.  Some are happy, some sad, some angry, some confused.

2 Chronicles 8:12

Solomon built his altar in front of a place mentioned in this verse- our church has 2 of these places, your next clue is in the one further from the parking lot.

First and Second Chronicles re-tell the stories in the books of First and Second Kings.  The versions of the stories in Chronicles are the “cleaned up” versions. The good kings don't make mistakes in Chronicles- but in First and Second Kings, they do.

Esther 6:1

Your next clue is on a table where we keep what's brought to the king in this verse.

The Book of Esther is the story of a powerless teenager who goes on to not only become queen, but save thousands of lives by her bravery and determination.  Her adventures have inspired countless people to stand up for justice.

Acts 2:42

This verse talks about “the apostles' teaching and ____”- your next clue is in a cupboard in the room named after the blank!

The full name of the book of Acts is “Acts of the Apostles”.  It was written by the same author as the Gospel of Luke and tells the stories of the early church, and how the apostles went out and told the story of Easter with everyone they met.

USE WITH NRSV BIBLES!

Coat racks:  Matthew 5:40

Lectern:  Luke 4:16-17

Altar:  Genesis 12:7

Kitchen:  Ezekiel 46:24

Youth Room:  Ecclesiastes 4:13

Sunday School Room:  Mark 10:13

Choir: Psalm 149:1

Back Vestibule:  2 Chronicles 8:12

Library: Esther 6:1

Fellowship Hall:  Acts 2:42

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