Leader Guide

Bible Activity


  • Bibles
  • Whiteboard and marker or chalkboard and chalk
  • Eraser
  • Index cards—ten per pair of children. Optional: cut paper into 3x5-inch sheets
  • Plastic bowl or container
  • Chair or table
  • Pencils—one per pair of children
  • Timer, such as a stopwatch, clock or watch with a second hand, or timer app

At the top of the board, write: “Matthew chapters 5, 6, 7” and “Luke chapter 6.”
Underneath, write: “Matt 5:1, Matt 7:20, Luke 6:18.”
Place the container on a chair or table a few feet away from the children.
Make sure there is a clear path between the children and the container.
If you would prefer not to use cards or sheets of paper, have children raise their hands to answer.

There’s More! Race to find verses about the Sermon on the Mount.

Jesus taught about many important things in the Sermon on the Mount—so many that our video today couldn’t cover them all! In this activity, we will race to look up verses to discover even more of His important instructions. The verses you will look up are all in the New Testament in Matthew chapters 5 through 7 and Luke chapter 6, which are written on the board.

Have the children sit in pairs and assign a number to each pair (Pair #1, Pair #2, etc.). Try to pair an experienced Bible user with a child who isn’t as familiar with the Bible. Give each pair a Bible and a pencil. Have each pair write the number assigned to them on one corner of all their index cards. The experienced Bible user can quickly look up the verse while the other player writes the answer on the index card. The cards are then placed in the container near you. If both players are experienced Bible users, the players can alternate looking up a verse and writing down the answer. They do not need to close their Bibles in between verses.

All suggested answers are from the New Living Translation. If children are using different translations, their answers will vary.

I will read a fill-in-the-blank question. You may start to look it up from the four chapters listed on the board. Point to the board.

I will then read it again slowly. One player in each group will write the answer on the index card, including exactly where it can be found in the Bible—book, chapter, and verse. You do not need to close your Bibles in between verses.

Point to the board. I have written examples of how to correctly write a Bible book, chapter, and verse. You may abbreviate Matthew to “Matt” to save time. The writer will then walk quickly to the container and place the card in it. You have one minute to do all of that. The first team scores ten points for the correct answer; all other teams score five points for the correct answer placed in the container within the time limit. Every pair will have a chance to finish, so don’t give up!

The team with the most points wins. In some cases, the answer may be found in both Matthew and Luke. You can score one additional point if you write down both locations. If no team can answer a question, we will look it up together. I will read the full verse of the question after we have completed the scoring. Any questions?

If not, let’s get started! Allow spelling errors because of the fast pace of the game. Do as many verses as time allows. Be prepared to help any children with special needs. When saying the fill-in-the-blank question below, DO NOT say the Bible reference.

1. God blesses those who are persecuted for doing _____. (Right) Matthew 5:10

“God blesses those who are persecuted for doing right, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.”

2. What you say flows from what is in your _____. (Heart) Luke 6:45

“A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. What you say flows from what is in your heart.”

3. Those whose hearts are _____ will see God. (Pure) Matthew 5:8

“God blesses those whose hearts are pure, for they will see God.”

4. Your eye is like a _____ that provides light for your body. (Lamp) Matthew 6:22

“Your eye is like a lamp that provides light for your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is filled with light.”

5. A bad tree cannot produce _____ fruit. (Good) Luke 6:43; Matthew 7:18

“A good tree can’t produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can’t produce good fruit.”

6. Do not _____others and you will not be judged. (Judge) Luke 6:37

“Do not judge others, and you will not be judged.”

7. Jesus teaches us not to pray to be seen, but rather to pray to God in _____. (Private) Matthew 6:6

“But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private.”

8. Don’t worry about the speck in your friend’s eye when you have a _____ in your own. (Log) Luke 6:41

“And why worry about a speck in your friend’s eye when you have a log in your own?”

9. Jesus calls us the _____ of the earth. (Salt) Matthew 5:13

“You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless.”

10. We must be _____ just as our Father in heaven is. (Compassionate) Luke 6:36

“You must be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate.”
◄ Previous: Coloring Activity Next: Object Lesson ►