Decades in the making.
This curriculum began in an effort to fill a void. Since there was no Sunday School curriculum from a distinctly Reformed Baptist perspective at the time, we set out to create our own. Trekking Through the Testaments strives to teach the truth of the Bible to children in a way that builds a correct understanding of God and man. All are depraved with an inherited sin nature. The only hope is that God in His mercy will save all those who call upon Him. Man cannot come to God unless the Holy Spirit draws him. Christ Jesus sacrificed Himself to take on the sins of His people.
Trekking Through the Testaments was made with small churches in mind.
Small churches often have fewer students, fewer classrooms available, and fewer people able to teach. Each classroom must of necessity contain a large age span. Teachers often do not have several hours each week to research the history and theology behind the Bible lessons. Trekking Through the Testaments does that work. Each lesson has been checked for theological accuracy and correct application.
What each Lesson contains:
- Objectives: Objectives are to keep the teacher on track. They are not designed to be read to the students.
- Preparation: At the beginning of the lesson, any extra preparation (beyond studying the Scripture and the lesson.) is mentioned. Check the “Preparation” section a week prior to the day you plan to teach.
- Story: This is the Bible narrative in story form—Be familiar with the story, make it interesting, make it memorable, and be merciful—make it fit the age group you are teaching!
- What can we learn? This is the doctrinal teaching and application.
- Review Questions: These questions are at the end of the lesson to see how well the students listened. Announce before the lesson that you will be asking questions at the end—it is incentive to listen carefully.
- Bible Drills: Students are taught to locate scriptures in the Bible. Verses and passages from the Bible that relate to the lesson have been chosen to prepare and inform students before the lesson begins. Note: Bible drills are only helpful when students are able to read.
- Activity Sheets: An activity is included as a review for each lesson. It may be a crossword puzzle, a maze, a secret code, or a matching activity. These are included even in the lessons for the youngest students. Often small churches combine large age groups. Younger students prefer coloring pages, but older students often like a bigger challenge. You may choose to print the correct amount of each for the students in your class.
- Coloring pages: These portray a part of the lesson and the reference from which the Bible story was found. It helps the parents review the lesson with the student later. There are no pictures of God or Jesus.
- Scripts: Students love to re-enact Bible stories. The scripts are a recent addition. Not all lessons have scripts, nor are or all stories conducive to re-enactment, but it is a great way to review lessons. Teachers can collect inexpensive items that can be used as costumes to keep at the back of the classroom. This activity should not be attempted until you have trained your students to listen to you, keep their voices down while donning costumes, and to obey directions. It can easily become chaos if you have not trained your students to obey well.
Available Separately: Bible Memory Plan
Our Bible Memory Plan assists with memorizing Scriptures. It contains Bible verses, the Children’s Catechism by Joseph Engles (revised for Baptists), hymns, and Spurgeon's Short Catechism.
Each family in a church can be given a copy for home use. Parents and teachers should work together to firmly implant the Word of God in the minds of the children. The families are encouraged to memorize the verses at home; the teachers teach and review the verses at church.
When a child has perfected memorization of a section of verses or passages, the teacher initials the place in the booklet, and the students begin working on the next section. (More information on this program is located in the Bible Memory Plan itself found here!)
