Mix preteens, adults, and a whole bunch of
questions about Jesus, and what do you get? Chuckles, ah-has, and
insights -- about kids, their faith, and your ministry.
In the fun spirit of Fox's hit TV show Are You Smarter Than a
Fifth Grader? Children's Ministry Magazine organized virtual
teams of adults and preteens and then tested their basic Bible
knowledge. Teams of kids and adults from all over the place took
our faith quiz -- with interesting results!
Read on to see how everyone scored -- and then score by taking
kids and adults deeper into biblical understanding with our
thought-provoking questions.
The Preteens
Cally, 11, from University Heights Baptist Church in
Springfield, Missouri
Nash, 10, from Mission Fellowship in Kennedyville,
Maryland
Mayah, 10, from Immanuel Lutheran in Loveland,
Colorado
Parker, 11, from St. Bernadette Parish in Appleton,
Wisconsin
Jeremiah, 10, HighRidge Church in Weatherford,
Texas
Ben, 10, Redeemer Lutheran in Fort Collins,
Colorado
The Grown-Ups
Lori, 41, from University Heights Baptist Church in
Springfield, Missouri
Brenna, 39, from Mission Fellowship in Smyrna,
Delaware
Angel, 39, from Mission Fellowship in Kennedyville,
Maryland
Catherine, 20, from Redeemer Lutheran Church in Fort Collins,
Colorado
Dan, 26, from Hillsong Church in Sydney, New South Wales
Australia
In what town was Jesus born?
Preteens: 100%
Cally: Bethlehem
Nash: Bethlehem
Mayah: Bethlehem
Parker: Bethlehem
Jeremiah: Bethlehem
Ben: Bethlehem
Grownups: 100%
Lori: Bethlehem
Brenna: Bethlehem
Angel: Bethlehem
Catherine: Bethlehem
Dan: Bethlehem
Answer: Bethlehem
How can we help preteens understand why he was
born?
Why did Peter begin to sink as he walked toward Jesus on
the water?
Preteens: 83%
Cally: Because he couldn't walk on water -- only
Jesus could
Nash: He had no faith.
Mayah: He stopped believing and got scared.
Parker: He stopped believing.
Jeremiah: Because Peter wasn't fixed on
Jesus
Ben: Because he didn't believe
Grownups: 80%
Lori: He took his eyes off Jesus.
Brenna: He took his eyes off Jesus.
Angel: He took his eyes off Jesus (and lost his
faith).
Catherine: I don't know.
Dan: He saw the storm and started to doubt.
Answer: Peter became afraid and took his eyes off
Jesus.
How can you help kids keep their focus on Jesus this week?
How old was Jesus when he stayed at the temple to talk
with the teachers there?
Preteens: 33%
Cally: 10
Nash: 12
Mayah: 12
Parker: 15
Jeremiah: 10
Ben: 10
Grownups: 80%
Lori: 12
Brenna: 12
Angel: 12
Catherine: I don't know.
Dan: 12
Answer: 12
What ways can you help kids discover how important their faith is
right now as preteens?
Who was one of the men Jesus referred to as his
brother?
Preteens: 0%
Cally: I don't know.
Nash: I don't know.
Mayah: Jesus had brothers?
Parker: He didn't have any.
Jeremiah: I don't know.
Ben: I didn't know he had a brother.
Grownups: 100%
Lori: James
Brenna: James
Angel: James
Catherine: Judas
Dan: James
Answer: James, Joseph, Simon, or
Judas
How can you help kids understand what it means to become part of
Jesus' family by doing the will of God?
For how many years did Jesus preach to people?
Preteens: 16%
Cally: About 10
Nash: 3
Mayah: 14
Parker: His whole life
Jeremiah: I don't remember.
Ben: 7 years
Grownups: 60%
Lori: 3
Brenna: 3
Angel: 3
Catherine: Most of his life
Dan: 3.5
Answer: 3 years
How can you help kids understand the power these three years have
had on the following 2,000?
Who did Jesus say would be the greatest in heaven?
Preteens: 0%
Cally: God
Nash: I don't know.
Mayah: God
Parker: Mary
Jeremiah: I don't know.
Ben: God
Grownups: 80%
Lori: The least of these
Brenna: The least of these, the children
Angel: The least
Catherine: The humble
Dan: The least, the servants
Answer: The least
How can you help kids identify one person who's "the least" in
some way and bless that person this week?
When Jesus healed 10 men of leprosy, how many came back to
thank him?
Preteens: 83%
Cally: 1
Nash: 1
Mayah: 1
Parker: 5
Jeremiah: 1
Ben: 1
Grownups: 80%
Lori: 1
Brenna: 1
Angel: None or maybe 1
Catherine: All of them
Dan: 1 man
Answer: 1
How can you challenge kids to have thankful hearts this
week?
What's a disciple?
Preteens: 83%
Cally: A follower of Jesus
Nash: An apostle
Mayah: A follower of Christ
Parker: People who follow God
Jeremiah: A follower of Christ
Ben: A follower of Jesus
Grownups: 100%
Lori: A follower of Christ
Brenna: A follower, a learner
Angel: A follower of Jesus
Catherine: A follower of Jesus who traveled with
him to help spread the Word of God
Dan: Direct follower of Jesus
Answer: Someone who follows Jesus
How can you help kids define what it means to follow Jesus?
What's the shortest verse in the Bible?
Preteens: 0%
Cally: "Have faith."
Nash: I don't know.
Mayah: Psalm something
Parker: I don't know.
Jeremiah: Psalm 118
Ben: Exodus 20:13 and 20:15
Grownups: 60%
Lori: "Jesus wept."
Brenna: John 11:35 ("Jesus wept.")
Angel: I don't know.
Catherine: I don't know.
Dan: "Jesus wept."
Answer: "Jesus wept." (John 11:35)
What's the briefest way you can convey to kids that you care for
them?
Who tempted Jesus in the desert?
Preteens: 66%
Cally: Satan
Nash: I don't know
Mayah: The Devil
Parker: Moses
Jeremiah: Satan
Ben: The Devil
Grownups: 100%
Lori: Satan
Brenna: Satan tempted him.
Angel: Satan
Catherine: The Devil
Dan: Satan
Answer: The Devil; Satan
How can you equip kids to avoid temptation this week?
Before Jesus ascended into heaven, what did he promise to
do?
Preteens: 66%
Cally: Return to Earth
Nash: I don't know.
Mayah: Send a gift to the disciples
Parker: Rise again
Jeremiah: Come back again
Ben: He promised to come back to Earth.
Grownups: 100%
Lori: Send the Holy Spirit
Brenna: "Lo, I will be with you always…" -- send
the Spirit
Angel: Send the Holy Spirit
Catherine: Jesus promised to send the Holy Spirit
back to his people.
Dan: Send the Holy Spirit
Answer: To send the Holy Spirit; to
return
How can you help kids understand what this promise really
means?
What did Jesus use to feed the 5,000?
Preteens: 83%
Cally: Fish and bread
Nash: 2 fish, 5 loaves of bread
Mayah: Fish and bread
Parker: Fish, bread, and wine
Jeremiah: 5 loaves of bread and two fish
Ben: Five loaves of bread and two fish
Grownups: 60%
Lori: 2 loaves and a basket of fish
Brenna: 5 loaves of bread, 2 fish
Angel: Fish and bread
Catherine: Bread and fish (not sure how many, but
it wasn't a lot)
Dan: 5 loaves, 3 fish
Answer: Five loaves of bread and two
fish
How can you help kids see that the bigger message of Jesus' love
and grace is more important than the specific details?
What was Jesus' command to us?
Preteens: 83%
Cally: Pray.
Nash: I don't know.
Mayah: To serve him
Parker: Believe in him
Jeremiah: Follow him
Ben: To go out and make disciples of all
men
Grownups: 100%
Lori: "Go ye therefore, teach all nations" (The Great
Commission).
Brenna: Great commandment: Go and make
disciples.
Angel: Love God and love others.
Catherine: To follow the 10 Commandments
Dan: Go out into the world, preach the Gospel,
make disciples, and baptize them in the Holy Spirit.
Answer: (Almost) all of the above
How can you challenge kids to love one another this week?
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