Treasure Hunt
BIBLE
This Bible belongs to
Treasure Hunt
BIBLE
Holy Bible, New International Reader’s Version®, NIrV® (Anglicised) Copyright © 1996, 1998, 2014 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. The NIrV® text may be quoted in any form (written, visual, electronic or audio), up to and inclusive of five hundred (500) verses, without express written permission, providing the verses quoted do not amount to a complete book of the Bible, nor do the verses quoted account for twenty-five (25) percent or more of the total text of the work in which they are quoted. Permission requests that exceed the above guidelines must be directed to, and approved in writing by, Biblica, Inc.® Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, New International Reader’s Version® NIrV® (Anglicised). Copyright © 1996, 1998, 2014 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission of Biblica, Inc.® All rights reserved worldwide. “NIrV” and “New International Reader’s Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.®
Concept: Ewald van Rensburg, Nico Simpson Contributors: Ewald van Rensburg (team manager), Chris de Wet, Faani Engelbrecht, Gielie Loubser, Siegfried Louw, Douglas Stanley, Brenda Visser Editorial: Noeline N Neumann (managing editor), Thea Brink (editor), Anna Herrington (proofing) Advisors: Prof Yvonne van Ee, Dr Vic Brink, Prof Stephan Joubert, Janet Hardie Design & Set Work: Luke Flowers (illustrator), Trinity Loubser (design), Pieter Traut (layout) ISBN: 9781623372125 ukNIrV ISBN: 9781928436027 ukNIrV CMB
Notes to parents The traditional approach to learning focuses on mastering content. This book, however, is about engaging the child’s whole being − heart, soul and mind (Mark 12:30). It is about discovering the Bible’s message by doing and experiencing. We believe that learning starts with an experience. This leads to reflection, incorporating new ideas, evaluation and/or application. Different people go about this process in different ways. • Some like to gather information and solve problems through discussions. They like working in groups. • Others like a logical approach. They like to work with ideas, and demand clear explanations and straight answers. They like to do research and to analyse. • Some like to solve problems, apply theories, and find and test solutions to practical problems. • And some rely on intuition rather than logic. They like a practical, hands-on approach as well as new challenges and experiences. In addition, children have preferred ways of learning. Visual learners prefer learning through concrete shapes, pictures and words on paper. Kinesthetic learners learn best by using movement and working with real objects. Auditory learners rely on their listening and rhythmic skills when they learn. This book gives each child the opportunity to select those hunts that appeal to him/her at this time of their life. Later they may choose others. In this book we have selected nine common ways that children use to learn. Logical reasoning, visualising, discussing and debating, learning with others and using interpersonal skills, reflection or intrapersonal skills, emotional engagement, experimenting and doing, kinesthetics (using movement), and using nature. Various learning activities called treasure hunts are incorporated in this Bible in the form of short entries, interwoven with the Bible text. The reader is joined by the friendly Wayees on their hunts. Wayees are nine animal characters, each designed to utilise one of the nine different ways of learning. They help children walk The Way – an early name for Christianity (see Acts 9:2). A description of each Wayee and their particular hunt is given on page 15. We use the NIrV [New International Reader’s Version], a very accessible Bible.
Contents A guide to the books of the Holy Bible Starting your treasure hunt … Base Camp Living the Script Say Hello to the Wayees The Wayee Bible Code
8 10 12 14 15 22
THE OLD TESTAMENT Israel’s covenant history Genesis Exodus Leviticus Numbers Deuteronomy Joshua Judges Ruth 1 Samuel 2 Samuel 1 Kings 2 Kings 1 Chronicles 2 Chronicles Ezra Nehemiah Esther
24 88 138 176 230 276 310 342 350 394 430 472 512 558 602 620 644
Israel’s wisdom and songs Job Psalms Proverbs Ecclesiastes Song of songs
658 712 848 900 918
Israel’s prophets Isaiah Jeremiah Lamentations Ezekiel Daniel Hosea Joel Amos Obadiah Jonah Micah Nahum Habakkuk Zephaniah Haggai Zechariah Malachi
932 1044 1140 1156 1222 1244 1266 1276 1294 1300 1306 1320 1328 1338 1346 1352 1368
THE NEW TESTAMENT Stories about Jesus Gospel of Matthew Gospel of Mark Gospel of Luke Gospel of John The acts of the apostles
1374 1420 1450 1498 1536
Letters from Paul Paul’s letter to the Romans Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians Paul’s letter to the Galatians Paul’s letter to the Ephesians Paul’s letter to the Philippians Paul’s letter to the Colossians Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonians Paul’s second letter to the Thessalonians Paul’s first letter to Timothy Paul’s second letter to Timothy Paul’s letter to Titus Paul’s letter to Philemon
1580 1604 1626 1642 1652 1664 1674 1682 1690 1696 1706 1714 1720
Messages on staying faithful The letter to the Hebrews
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Wisdom teachings James’ letter
1742
Letters from other leaders Peter’s first letter Peter’s second letter John’s first letter John’s second letter John’s third letter Jude’s letter
1752 1762 1770 1778 1782 1786
An apocalypse The book of Revelation
1792
Maps Exodus Paul Jesus
1818 1820 1822
Some of the important Bible stories
1823
The books of the
Old Testa m ent ISRAEL’S COVENANT HISTORY GENESIS EXODUS LEVITICUS NUMBERS DEUTERONOMY JOSHUA JUDGES RUTH
1 SAMUEL 2 SAMUEL 1 KINGS 2 KINGS 1 CHRONICLES 2 CHRONICLES EZRA NEHEMIAH ESTHER
ISRAEL’S WISDOM AND SONGS JOB PSALMS PROVERBS
ECCLESIASTES SONG OF SONGS
ISRAEL’S PROPHETS
ISAIAH JEREMIAH LAMENTATIONS EZEKIEL DANIEL HOSE A JOEL AMOS OBADIAH 8
JONAH MICAH NAHUM HABAKKUK ZEPHANIAH HAGGAI ZECHARIAH MAL ACHI
The books of the
New Testa m ent STORIES AB OU T JESUS MATTHEW MARK LUKE
JOHN ACTS
LETTERS FROM PAUL ROMANS 1 CORINTHIANS 2 CORINTHIANS GALATIANS EPHESIANS PHILIPPIANS COLOSSIANS
1 THESSALONIANS 2 THESSALONIANS 1 TIMOTHY 2 TIMOTHY TITUS PHILEMON
MES SAGES ON STAYING FAITHFU L
WISDOM TE ACHING S
HEBREWS
JAMES
LETTERS FROM OTHER LEADERS 1 PETER 2 PETER 1 JOHN
2 JOHN 3 JOHN JUDE
AN APOC ALYPSE REVEL ATION
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Starting your treasure hunt … Reading the Bible is a great adventure. It is filled with treasure just waiting for you to discover!
Usually there is only one chest of treasure on a treasure hunt. Whoever gets to the treasure first takes it all. The Bible is not like that. It contains enough treasure for everyone. You will find new treasures on every page waiting to be discovered. You will never be bored on your treasure hunt. Everyday you will find new ways to enjoy the things that God wants to teach you.
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In preparation for your journey you need to spend some time in the treasure hunt training camp. There you will meet the Wayees. Their names are Talky, Thinky, Arty, Crafty, Hummy, Inny, Joinme, Greeny and Hearty. They will be your companions on your adventure. The Wayees are going to help in your search. They will help you to find and then use the many treasures that you will discover. But before you meet the Wayees, you need to take part in some training camp exercises. The first exercise is a quick tour of the terrain that you will be exploring. On this tour you will see how all the different parts of the Bible fit together. As you read the Bible, you will understand what has gone before. You will learn about what is happening now and what lies ahead. With a map in your head, you will find all the treasures waiting for you. I am sure you already know that the Bible is divided into two sections. The Old and the New Testament. The treasures in the Bible are found in many different formats. Letters, poems, stories, prophetic speech, wisdom writings and many other kinds of writings. These are not random or unrelated. They all fit together to form part of the treasure map for us to follow. What you probably don’t know is that the Bible can be divided into a further six parts. These six parts show us God’s plan for us. His map leads us, his children, to the treasure he has for us.
Your treasure hunt training camp begins … As you set out from base camp, a short walk will bring you into a clearing where you will find site 1.
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Philemon
1 I, Paul, am writing this letter. I am a prisoner because of Christ Jesus. Our brother Timothy joins me in writing.
Philemon, we are sending you this letter. You are our dear friend. You work together with us. 2 We are also sending it to our sister Apphia and to Archippus. He is a soldier of Christ together with us. And we are sending it to the church that meets in your home. 3 May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace.
Paul Prays and Gives Thanks 4 I always thank my God when I remember you in my prayers. 5 That’s because I hear about your love for all God’s people. I also hear about your faith in the Lord Jesus. 6 I pray that what we share by believing will help you understand even more. Then you will completely understand every good thing we share by believing in Christ. 7 Your love has given me great joy. It has encouraged me. My brother, you have renewed the hearts of the Lord’s people.
Philemon Paul often wrote about slaves and slave owners. He explained how Christian slaves and their owners had to behave towards each other. Slaves had to work as if they were working for Jesus. Owners had to remember that their slaves were their brothers and treat them with respect. Many centuries later, Christians realised that slavery was wrong and put a stop to it. Today there are still many countries where slavery exists. Children are bought and sold! They are forced to work as slaves. We must do what we can to stop this!
Paul Makes an Appeal for Onesimus 8 Because of the authority Christ has given me, I could be bold. I could order you to do what you should do anyway. 9 But we love each other. And I would rather appeal to you on the basis of that love. I, Paul, am an old man. I am now also a prisoner because of Christ Jesus. 10 I am an old man, and I’m in prison. This is how I make my appeal to you for my son Onesimus. He became a son to me while I was being held in chains. 11 Before that, he was useless to you. But now he has become useful to you and to me. 12 I’m sending Onesimus back to you. All my love for him goes with him. 13 I’m being held in chains because of the good news. So I would have liked to keep Onesimus with me. And he could take your place in helping me. 14 But I didn’t want to do anything unless you agreed. Any favour you do must be done because you want to do it, not because
Philemon 4–5 The good things Paul had heard about Philemon made him very happy. Inny wonders how you feel when you hear good news. What kind of news makes you happy? Think about good news you heard this past week that made you happy. Maybe someone said they loved you. Write that news down and keep it in a safe place. Then look at it on days when things aren’t going well. 1722 | PHILEMON 1
Philemon 14 Paul doesn’t want Philemon to take Onesimus back because he feels that he must. Paul wants Philemon to do it because he wants to. Sometimes we do things for other people because we must and sometimes because we want to. Talky wonders if you know the difference between the two. Talk with some friends about this. Discuss why it may be important to do something even though we don’t want to do it.
you have to. 15 Onesimus was separated from you for a little while. Maybe that was so you could have him back for ever. 16 You could have him back not as a slave. Instead, he would be better than a slave. He would be a dear brother. He is very dear to me but even more dear to you. He is dear to you not only as another human being. He is also dear to you as a brother in the Lord. 17 Do you think of me as a believer who works together with you? Then welcome Onesimus as you would welcome me. 18 Has he done anything wrong to you? Does he owe you anything? Then charge it to me. 19 I’ll pay it back. I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand. I won’t even mention that you owe me your life. 20 My brother, we both belong to the Lord. So I wish I could receive some benefit from you. Renew my heart. We know that Christ is the one who really renews it. 21 I’m sure you will obey. So I’m writing to you. I know you will do even more than I ask. 22 There is one more thing. Have a guest room ready for me. I hope I can return to all of you in answer to your prayers. 23 Epaphras sends you greetings. Together with me, he is a prisoner because of Christ Jesus. 24 Mark, Aristarchus, Demas and Luke work together with me. They also send you greetings. 25
May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.
Philemon 17 Philemon may have been angry with his runaway slave. But Paul still asks him to forgive Onesimus. And Paul feels certain that Philemon will do this for him because they are friends. Find reasons why Paul and Philemon were such good friends in verses 4–9. Joinme says talk with your group about being friends. Talk about the reasons why Paul and Philemon were good friends. Then name three things all of you think make good friendships. Is your list similar to Paul’s? Then ask yourself whether your friends can see those things in you. PHILEMON 25 | 1723
Messages on staying faithful
The letter to the Hebrews Getting to know this letter
• We don’t know who wrote the letter to the Hebrews. • The letter is like one long sermon. • There are many quotations and examples from the Old Testament in the letter.
Why was Hebrews written?
• The letter was written to people whose lives were hard because they believed in Jesus.
• They had become discouraged and wanted to stop following Jesus. • The writer reminds them of everything that Jesus did for them. • The writer says that Jesus is more important than angels, Abraham, Moses and the high priest.
• Jesus gave people the perfect gift. It was the gift of salvation! • Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross saves us forever. Important teachings in Hebrews
• God’s Son is over all things. Read Hebrews 1. • Because Jesus died there can be peace between God and people. Read Hebrews 4–8.
• Jesus’ sacrifice is the best gift ever. Read Hebrews 9:23–28. • Jesus offered one sacrifice for sin for all time. Read Hebrews 10:11–18. • Because of Jesus’ sacrifice, believers can come to God and be part of his family. Read Hebrews 10:19–25.
• Faith produces action. Read Hebrews 11. • Keep looking to Jesus. Read Hebrews 12:1–3. • Live a godly life. Read Hebrews 13:1–9.
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