What is Bible quizzing?
Bible quizzing is an organised, team-based way for children and teens to learn Scripture well. Many churches, denominations and independent ministries run quizzing programs, and they all share a simple idea: a team studies an assigned book of the Bible or an assigned question set over a season, then meets other teams in friendly matches where a quizmaster reads questions and quizzers race to answer them correctly.
One example many families have heard of is Junior Bible Quiz (JBQ), a children’s quizzing program associated with the Assemblies of God in the United States. Other churches and ministries run their own programs with their own names, age groups and materials. What a bible quizzer actually studies, and how a match is scored, depends entirely on the league a team belongs to.
How does a quizzing match usually work?
Formats vary, but many leagues share a similar shape. The descriptions below are general and hedged on purpose; treat them as a map of the common ideas, then fill in the details from your rulebook.
- Teams. A team often has three to five quizzers in the seats for a match, sometimes with substitutes waiting.
- Jumping or buzzing in. Some leagues use jump seats or pads that register when a quizzer stands up; others use buzzers, lights or a simple raised hand. The first quizzer recognised gets to answer.
- Toss-up questions. Many matches are built around toss-up questions that are open to every quizzer at once.
- Bonus or free questions. If a quizzer misses, the question or a related one is often offered to the other team, or a bonus question may follow a correct answer.
- Question types. Common types include finish-the-verse, quotation questions (“Who said…?”), “according to” questions that name a chapter or verse, and straightforward fact questions about people, places and numbers.
- Interruptions. In some formats a quizzer may jump before the question is fully read and must then complete or answer it, which rewards deep study but carries a risk.
- Timing. Quizzers are often given only a few seconds to begin answering once they are called on.
- Appeals or challenges. Many leagues let a coach or captain respectfully question a ruling, following a set procedure.
- Quiz-outs and errors. Some leagues reward a quizzer who answers a set number of questions correctly by “quizzing out”, and some remove a quizzer after too many errors.
If you are new to coaching, sit in on a match before your first season if you can. Watching a quizmaster in action will make the rulebook much easier to understand.
How to use these practice questions
The quiz below mixes the Old and New Testaments and covers stories junior quizzers often meet: creation, Abraham, Joseph, Moses, Samuel, David, Daniel, Jonah, the birth of Jesus, the disciples, parables, miracles, the resurrection and Paul. Each question is written in the “according to” style, so quizzers get used to linking a fact with its chapter. After each answer, read the explanation and the verse aloud together.
Use it as a warm-up, as a home study game, or as a gentle first taste of quizzing for children who are not yet on a team. When your quizzers are ready for more, try the Bible quiz for kids for younger ones or the Bible quiz for youth for older teens.
Play the quiz
Hi, I’m Pip. 20 questions, about 4 minutes. Every answer comes with its verse.
No sign-up. Prefer to read? See all questions and answers.
1 of 20 · Easy
All practice questions and answers
Use these as toss-ups: read the question without the options and let quizzers answer aloud, then open the answer to check the verse (Berean Standard Bible).
1. According to Genesis 1, on which day did God make the sun, moon and stars (the two great lights)?Medium
- The first day
- The second day
- The fourth day
- The sixth day
Show answer
Answer: C. The fourth day
God made the greater light to rule the day and the lesser light to rule the night, and the stars too. Then there was evening and morning, the fourth day.
“God made two great lights: the greater light to rule the day and the lesser light to rule the night. And He made the stars as well. God set these lights in the expanse of the sky to shine upon the earth, to preside over the day and the night, and to separate the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the fourth day.”
2. In Genesis 15, what did the LORD tell Abram to look up and count?Easy
- The stars
- The grains of sand
- His sheep
- The trees
Show answer
Answer: A. The stars
The LORD took Abram outside and told him to count the stars if he could, and said his offspring would be like that.
“And the LORD took him outside and said, “Now look to the heavens and count the stars, if you are able.” Then He told him, “So shall your offspring be.””
3. According to Genesis 41, what did Pharaoh take from his own finger and put on Joseph’s finger?Medium
- A gold chain
- His signet ring
- A royal crown
- A silver cup
Show answer
Answer: B. His signet ring
Pharaoh gave Joseph his signet ring, dressed him in fine linen and put a gold chain around his neck.
“Then Pharaoh removed the signet ring from his finger, put it on Joseph’s finger, clothed him in garments of fine linen, and placed a gold chain around his neck.”
4. According to Genesis 42, where did ten of Joseph’s brothers go to buy grain?Easy
- Canaan
- Babylon
- Nineveh
- Egypt
Show answer
Answer: D. Egypt
During the famine, ten of Joseph’s brothers went down to Egypt to buy grain.
“So ten of Joseph’s brothers went down to buy grain from Egypt.”
5. According to Exodus 2, where did Moses’ mother set the papyrus basket with her baby inside?Easy
- On a hill by the road
- Among the reeds along the Nile
- Inside a cave
- At the palace gate
Show answer
Answer: B. Among the reeds along the Nile
She coated the basket with tar and pitch, placed the child in it and set it among the reeds along the bank of the Nile.
“But when she could no longer hide him, she got him a papyrus basket and coated it with tar and pitch. Then she placed the child in the basket and set it among the reeds along the bank of the Nile.”
6. According to Exodus 16, what did the manna taste like?Easy
- Salted fish
- Fresh figs
- Wafers made with honey
- Warm milk
Show answer
Answer: C. Wafers made with honey
The Israelites called the bread manna. It was white like coriander seed and tasted like wafers made with honey.
“Now the house of Israel called the bread manna. It was white like coriander seed and tasted like wafers made with honey.”
7. In Exodus 17, which two men held up Moses’ hands when they grew heavy?Medium
- Aaron and Hur
- Joshua and Caleb
- Eli and Samuel
- Peter and John
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Answer: A. Aaron and Hur
Moses sat on a stone, and Aaron and Hur held his hands up, one on each side, until the sun went down.
“When Moses’ hands grew heavy, they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it. Then Aaron and Hur held his hands up, one on each side, so that his hands remained steady until the sun went down.”
8. According to 1 Samuel 2, what did Hannah make for young Samuel and bring to him each year?Medium
- A pair of sandals
- A little robe
- A wooden lamp
- A shepherd’s staff
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Answer: B. A little robe
Each year Samuel’s mother made him a little robe and brought it when she came with her husband for the annual sacrifice.
“Each year his mother would make him a little robe and bring it to him when she went with her husband to offer the annual sacrifice.”
9. In 1 Samuel 24, what did David secretly cut off when he was close to King Saul in the cave?Medium
- A lock of Saul’s hair
- Saul’s belt
- A corner of Saul’s robe
- The strap of Saul’s spear
Show answer
Answer: C. A corner of Saul’s robe
David crept up secretly and cut off a corner of Saul’s robe instead of harming him.
“So David’s men said to him, “This is the day about which the LORD said to you, ‘Behold, I will deliver your enemy into your hand, that you may do with him as you wish.’” Then David crept up secretly and cut off a corner of Saul’s robe.”
10. According to Daniel 3, how many men did the king see walking around in the fire?Easy
- Two
- Three
- Seven
- Four
Show answer
Answer: D. Four
The king had thrown in three men, but he saw four men, unbound and unharmed, walking around in the fire.
““Look!” he exclaimed. “I see four men, unbound and unharmed, walking around in the fire—and the fourth looks like a son of the gods!””
11. According to Jonah 3, what did the people of Nineveh do when they believed God?Easy
- Proclaimed a fast and dressed in sackcloth
- Built a new temple
- Ran away to Tarshish
- Held a great feast
Show answer
Answer: A. Proclaimed a fast and dressed in sackcloth
The Ninevites believed God, proclaimed a fast and dressed in sackcloth, from the greatest to the least.
“And the Ninevites believed God. They proclaimed a fast and dressed in sackcloth, from the greatest of them to the least.”
12. In Jonah 4, what did the LORD God appoint to grow up and give shade over Jonah’s head?Medium
- A tent
- A vine
- A cloud
- A palm tree
Show answer
Answer: B. A vine
The LORD God appointed a vine that grew up to shade Jonah’s head, and Jonah was greatly pleased with the plant.
“So the LORD God appointed a vine, and it grew up to provide shade over Jonah’s head to ease his discomfort, and Jonah was greatly pleased with the plant.”
13. According to Luke 2, who suddenly appeared with the angel, praising God, after the news was given to the shepherds?Easy
- The wise men from the east
- King Herod’s soldiers
- A great multitude of the heavenly host
- The people of Bethlehem
Show answer
Answer: C. A great multitude of the heavenly host
A great multitude of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying glory to God in the highest.
“And suddenly there appeared with the angel a great multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom His favor rests!””
14. In Mark 3, what name did Jesus give to James and John, the sons of Zebedee?Hard
- Sons of Thunder
- Fishers of Men
- Sons of Light
- Rocks of Faith
Show answer
Answer: A. Sons of Thunder
Jesus named James and John Boanerges, which means “Sons of Thunder”.
“James son of Zebedee and his brother John (whom He named Boanerges, meaning “Sons of Thunder”),”
15. In Jesus’ parable in Luke 15, how many silver coins did the woman have before she lost one?Easy
- Three
- Seven
- One hundred
- Ten
Show answer
Answer: D. Ten
The woman had ten silver coins, lost one, lit a lamp, swept the house and searched carefully until she found it.
“Or what woman who has ten silver coins and loses one of them does not light a lamp, sweep her house, and search carefully until she finds it? And when she finds it, she calls together her friends and neighbors to say, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my lost coin.’”
16. According to John 21, on which side of the boat did Jesus tell the disciples to cast their net?Medium
- The left side
- The right side
- The back of the boat
- Close to the shore
Show answer
Answer: B. The right side
Jesus told them to cast the net on the right side of the boat, and they could not haul it in because of the great number of fish.
“Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not recognize that it was Jesus. So He called out to them, “Children, do you have any fish?” “No,” they answered. He told them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast it there, and they were unable to haul it in because of the great number of fish.”
17. According to Matthew 28, what did the angel of the Lord do after rolling away the stone from the tomb?Medium
- Sat on it
- Broke it in pieces
- Carried it away
- Wrote on it
Show answer
Answer: A. Sat on it
There was a great earthquake, and an angel of the Lord came down from heaven, rolled away the stone and sat on it.
“Suddenly there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, rolled away the stone, and sat on it.”
18. In Luke 24, to which village were two followers walking when Jesus came up and walked along with them?Easy
- Bethany
- Nazareth
- Emmaus
- Capernaum
Show answer
Answer: C. Emmaus
Two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, when Jesus Himself came and walked with them.
“That same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. And as they talked and deliberated, Jesus Himself came up and walked along with them.”
19. According to Acts 9, how did Saul’s disciples help him escape when people were watching the city gates?Medium
- They hid him in a cart of hay
- They lowered him in a basket through a window in the wall
- They sailed with him across the sea
- They dressed him as a soldier
Show answer
Answer: B. They lowered him in a basket through a window in the wall
One night his disciples lowered Saul in a basket through a window in the wall, because the gates were being watched day and night.
“After many days had passed, the Jews conspired to kill him, but Saul learned of their plot. Day and night they watched the city gates in order to kill him. One night, however, his disciples took him and lowered him in a basket through a window in the wall.”
20. In Acts 28, what fastened itself to Paul’s hand as he laid sticks on the fire?Easy
- A scorpion
- A spark of fire
- A crab
- A viper
Show answer
Answer: D. A viper
A viper, driven out by the heat, fastened itself to Paul’s hand, but he shook it off into the fire and suffered no ill effects.
“Paul gathered a bundle of sticks, and as he laid them on the fire, a viper, driven out by the heat, fastened itself to his hand. When the islanders saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, “Surely this man is a murderer. Although he was saved from the sea, Justice has not allowed him to live.” But Paul shook the creature off into the fire and suffered no ill effects.”
How to run a quizzing practice
A good practice is short, lively and repeatable. Forty-five minutes to an hour is plenty for most junior teams, and children learn more from many small rounds than from one long one. A simple plan that many coaches adapt:
- Warm-up (5 minutes). Recite the memory verses or key facts from last week together, out loud, as a group. Nobody is on the spot yet.
- Rapid-fire round (10 minutes). The coach reads short questions quickly and quizzers call out answers. The goal is speed of recall, not competition.
- Jump drills (10 minutes). Practise reacting to the start of a question using whatever your league uses: seats, buzzers or a raised hand. Read the first few words of a question and stop; ask quizzers what they think the question will be.
- Match simulation (15 minutes). Split the group into two teams and run a mini match with your league’s timing and question types.
- Review missed questions (5–10 minutes). Go back to every question that was missed, open the chapter and read the verse together. Write the missed questions on cards for next week.
For a change of pace at the end of a season, play a team round of Bible Jeopardy, or use the games from our Vacation Bible School ideas for a summer practice week.
How to study a book chapter by chapter
Most leagues assign a book, a set of chapters or a list of questions for the season. Break it into weekly pieces so nobody is overwhelmed. For each chapter, read it aloud together first, then retell the story in your own words, then list the people, places, numbers and objects that appear. Junior quizzers do well when they can picture the scene: who is standing where, what is said, and what happens next.
If your season covers a whole book, a short overview helps quizzers see the big picture before the details. The book guides for Genesis, 1 Samuel and Acts are a good place to start a team discussion, and the Genesis quiz gives extra practice on that book.
Memory tips for quizzers
- Learn a little every day rather than a lot once a week. Five minutes at breakfast beats an hour the night before a match.
- Say verses out loud, and add a hand motion for key words. Movement helps many children remember.
- Learn the reference with the verse every time, so “according to” questions feel natural.
- Use first-letter cards: write only the first letter of each word and try to recite from them.
- Teach it back. A quizzer who can explain a story to a younger sibling usually knows it well.
For more methods, see the step-by-step guide on how to memorize Scripture.
How to write your own practice questions
Official question sets are the priority, but coaches and parents often need extra practice material. Writing your own is easier than it sounds if you follow a few rules:
- Read the chapter slowly and ask who, what, where, when and why about each paragraph.
- Make sure each question has one clear answer that is stated in the text, not guessed from it.
- Cite the verse next to every question so quizzers can check the answer for themselves.
- Keep the wording short. Put the chapter at the start (“According to Exodus 16…”) so quizzers learn to link facts with places in the book.
- For multiple choice, make the wrong options believable but clearly wrong: a different number, a nearby place, another person from the same story.
- Check every question in the translation your league uses, because small wording differences matter in quizzing.
If you would rather print ready-made sets for a class or a car journey, try the printable Bible quizzes and the printable quiz packs for leaders. For lighter practice nights, the Bible games collection has word searches and crosswords.
Keep it kind: sportsmanship on a quizzing team
Quizzing can be competitive, and that is fine, but the point is for children to love God’s Word and remember it. Celebrate effort and faithfulness in study, not only correct answers. Make sure every child plays and gets a real chance to answer, including the quiet ones and the beginners. Teach quizzers to shake hands with the other team, to thank the quizmaster, and to accept rulings graciously even when they disagree.
Coaches and parents set the tone. If adults stay calm and encouraging after a missed question, children will too. A team that leaves a match smiling, whatever the score, has had a good day.