Bible Study Builders

Launch Guide

Equipping you with practical steps and spiritual encouragement to lead with joy and purpose.

---

FOUNDATION – FOCUS – FRAMEWORK – FLOW – FRUITFULNESS

---

---

Bible Study Roll Out

Before you launch, these “roll out” resources cover the practical steps to get your Bible study off the ground.

---

– FOUNDATION –

At the heart of these studies is the desire for children to experience the true joy of knowing Jesus. Every lesson is designed to capture their attention in fun, memorable ways—while keeping the focus on His love, His truth, and His presence in their lives.

---

Scripture

John 17:15-18 *Jesus is praying, asking God to protect his followers from evil and to keep them united in truth.

15 My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. 17 Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world.

---

A Prayer For You

Dear Heavenly Father,
We are so excited for the work You are beginning through these leaders. Thank You for giving us the privilege of guiding children to know You, love You, and walk in Your truth. We ask for Your wisdom as we prepare to plant seeds of faith in the lives of these little ones. May Your Word come alive in their hearts and shape them into strong followers of Jesus. Give us creativity to teach, patience to listen, and joy to serve. We pray for every child who will use these studies, that you will protect their hearts, open their ears to Your Word, and help them see that Your ways are good. May these Bible studies bear Your life-giving fruit.
Amen

---

– FOCUS –

Each piece plays its part, leading kids to discover Jesus with joy – the kind that changes everything.

---

Making Jesus Fun

• Interactive Learning: Engaging object lessons paired with hands-on crafts – Built on the bible, shared with joy.

John 15:10-11  10 If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. 11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.

---

Community

• Friendship Focus: Cultivating Christian friendships through shared experiences with the people they cross paths with on a day-to-day basis.

1 John 4:11  Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

---

Age-Appropriate

• Tailored Content: Age-and gender-specific lessons with vibrant illustrations, designed to feel less like a classroom and more like real life.

Genesis 1:27  So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.

---

Skill-Building

• Bible Basics: Exposure to reading of Scripture.
• Practical Tools: Learning how to use a Bible and participate in discussions around God’s word.

Romans 15:4  For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.

---

Prayer

• Together & For Each Other: Building habits of praying with and for peers.

Jeremiah 29:12-13 12 Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

---

Relatability

• Life Application: Connecting biblical truth to the student’s daily experiences.

John 8:12 When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

---

Digging In A Little Deeper

Making Jesus Fun These studies are designed to help children experience God’s Word in ways that are memorable, meaningful, and exciting, while never losing sight of who He is and what He stands for. Each lesson pairs a creative object lesson with a hands-on craft, ensuring kids engage both their hearts and their imaginations.
At its core, the studies emphasize community, creating space for children to build lasting Christian friendships as they learn and grow together with the people that they cross paths with in their day-to-day lives…hence “In the Wild” and “Trailblazers.” Lessons are crafted to be age-appropriate and relatable, with content tailored to the specific needs of boys and girls. Vibrant illustrations and activities keep the experience fresh, fun, and far from a traditional classroom setting.
Along the way, children develop practical skills for their spiritual journey, learning how to open and read the Bible, explore Scripture for themselves, and confidently participate in group discussions. Prayer also takes center stage, as kids discover the power of talking with God and the joy of praying both with and for one another. Most importantly, the “story & study” format focuses on relating God’s truth to everyday life. Each lesson connects biblical truths to the challenges and opportunities children face, helping them understand how faith shapes their choices, friendships, and daily experiences.

---

– FRAMEWORK–

The structure – the “nuts & bolts” – the ways you can mimic or tweak for your own use…Choose your own adventure!

---

These guidelines are geared toward large groups – adjust to fit your needs.

---

Host: The volunteer who opens up their home – also a guaranteed set of extra hands.
Snack: The volunteer who provides snack/drink for the meeting – keep it easy and mess free!

* The hosting and snack roles can go hand in hand if that better suits your group.

Lead: The volunteer who leads the whole group discussion – this can be a solo role or a rotating role.
Group Leaders: The volunteers who will stay the whole time to guide small groups and be extra hands.
Floater: I make one of the volunteers a floater. This person has the master list of groups to direct kids as they arrive, can help answer questions, can show kids where the bathroom is, sometimes ends up filling in as a small group leader if there is a last minute cancellation, and I usually ask this person to take pictures. You never know what might come up, so this is your point person!

* If you plan on posting pictures on social media, be sure to ask for photo permissions from parents.

The Study: Purchase the study that is the best fit for your group. Find out all you need to know here:
Girls and Boys Study Options

Bags: I prepare a “bag of tricks” for each volunteer leader. In each reusable bag is a zipper pouch of extra pens (these work best on the printed pages), permanent markers, highlighters, sticky notes, name tags, a list of the names of kids who are in the group, and a small blurb with instructions (see below) for the small group leader in case I don’t get to explain the plan in person. Also in the reusable bag are all the necessary supplies for the lesson activity as well as any other items that may be needed during the your time together.

*Example Volunteer Note
Volunteer Note:
-Chat with your group as they get settled and eat their snack
TO DO:
1. Give them a name tag to wear.
2. Explain craft activity and ask them how their day is going.
3. Work on praying hand craft. Have them write name on back of hand.
4. I’ll let you know when to grab the sticky notes.
-You have a pouch with extra supplies you may need as well as a list of your group names.

Lesson Prep: Always have a completed example of your craft that just kind of floats around the groups or is on display for kids/small group leaders to refer to. Sort your kids into however many groups you need. This allows for meeting new people and an easy way to separate individuals if you find some combinations disruptive. Print atleast three copies of the master list of groups (one for the floater, one for back-up, and one to cut and add to each leader’s bag).

* Have a cup of popsicle sticks with each child’s name. Use this for asking questions. Let them know that they have the option to answer or pass, no pressure. Keep the “used” names out, then add all the names back in once everyone has had a turn over the course of the lesson(s).

** Blankets have worked well to delineate small group spaces when meeting outdoors as a large group. Other groups have sat in a circle, some gather around tables indoors, it really depends on where you are meeting and how large your group is.

Timeline: Deisgned for 45 minutes. Always be there early to get set-up and encourage your volunteers to arrive as early as they can. Allow a 10-15 minute drop-off window. Having a staggered arrival is helpful for getting kids situated as well as for parents, because we all know life is full of competing logistics!

*Example: If your group starts at 4:15pm, drop off is 4-4:15pm.

---

– FLOW –

The steady rhythm that keeps lessons moving with joy and ease – pointing young hearts to a faith that is real and relevant.

---

Example Lesson Plan

4-4:25 Arrival/Lesson Activity
Find what you need here – Activity Collections

-Floater: Help get snacks and move the kids to their groups using the master group list.
-Group Leaders: Welcome kids to their group, give them a name tag, explain the lesson activity, and then encourage conversation amongst them as they work.

4:25/30 Move to Story Reading

-Lead: Announce a finish-up warning to prepare for transition. Have kids pause the lesson activity and set it aside (they can come back to it at the end of the lesson to work on it until parents pick-up).

-Opening Prayer: Short and sweet to get everyone’s hearts and minds ready to dive into God’s Word.

*Example Prayer:

Dear God,
Thank you for each of these girls/boys and moms/dads that are here. Fill our hearts with joy and our minds with your Truth. Teach us today and help us carry your love wherever we go.
Amen

-Story Reading: Have the kids follow along as the “lead” reads aloud the story portion for the day.

– The Story Reading Stairstep –

• Lesson 1: Read lesson 1
• Lesson 2: RE-read lesson 1, then roll right into reading the story for lesson 2
• Lesson 3: RE-read lessons 1 & 2, then roll right into reading the story for lesson 3
• Lesson 4: RE-read lessons 1, 2, & 3, then roll right into reading the story for lesson 4
• Lesson 5: RE-read lessons 1, 2, 3, & 4, then roll right into reading the story for lesson 5

*Depending on the age group, I announce page turns. Engage the kids by inviting them to read aloud speech bubbles with you, ask them if they spot details in illustrations, catch the humor, etc. Small group leaders are there to make sure kids are following along.
**Older kids can read the story section individually or in pairs. If your group has mixed ages, you can pair younger children with older children.

4:35/40 Move to Object Lesson
Find what you need here – Object Lesson Collections

-Lead: Pause when finished reading the story portion, but before starting the two study pages. If space allows, have kids lay their study books down with their pen on top and walk to the area pre-designated for the object lesson. This is a time for kids to stretch their legs and get some pent up wiggles out, while maintaining minimal movement. Have them sit, stand in a circle, however your space allows. Generally, this is the most exciting time of the lesson and kids are eager to follow the instructions so they can see what is about to happen!

*Sometimes I will give them a sneak peek at the object lesson supplies before reading the story to build the excitement and anticipation!

-Object Lesson: Invite volunteers to participate when needed (popsicle sticks are helpful here), have kids predict what might happen, giggle, build suspense, and just have fun with it!

-Have everyone carefully move back to their spots and have their pens ready to complete the study pages.

4:45-5 Complete Study Pages

-Lead: The study pages can be rolled out in so many ways. Small group leaders can take over this part or older kids can complete them on their own or with a buddy and then come together for a share time. You can also get the study pages printed poster size and lead as a large group while drawing sticks to call on individuals for answers. Choose what works best for your size and age group.

-Closing Prayer: The prayer at the end of the lesson is how you will wrap up your study. Wait until everyone is quiet, hands folded, heads bowed, and say the prayer aloud. Don’t rush it! You are modeling speaking to God with reverence, love, and all the time in the world. Let them soak up the moment with you.

-Clean-Up: Have kids organize their own supplies as well as the supplies for their small group leader. Throw snack trash away and, if time remains, they can continue working on their lesson activity from earlier.

*Kids can always go back to previous lessons to complete parts that they missed or did not fully complete.

---

Worth Noting

1. Routine is key! Keeping the same structure and rhythm during your time together will minimize confusion and chaos. This plan is designed for just enough movement, just enough fun, and just enough effort for Jesus to shine the whole time. The joy of Jesus should be front and center – otherwise we’re missing it!
2. Looking up Bible verses is a skill that takes time and practice…make sure to wear your “patience pants.” For the youngest kids, maybe choose one verse to practice looking up in their Bibles. You can also have the small group leaders read the verses aloud. If you have a wide age range, an older child can help the younger child look up the verse. You can choose to have them highlight the verse or not. The larger, and esepcially the younger, the group, the more “helping hands” you will need to find those verses. It may feel like a tortoise pace, but slow and steady wins the race. You are teaching them one of the most important skills they will ever learn, so it is worth the time you put into this part.
   *Tabbing Bibles with big font tabs is very helpful!
3. There will be lessons that speed by and lessons that go overtime due to questions asked, unforeseen detours, etc. So, there will be incomplete lessons as well as times when everything is finished before the end of the lesson timeframe. Here to help! Have small pieces of colorful paper cut out in a bag as well as a jar of some sort that you always bring to Bible study. Kids can use their own pens to write down/draw their prayer requests and put them into your jar. Let them know that the leaders will divide them up and pray for them. It is a special way to continue the “connectedness” over the weeks you are not together and then be able to check in about those requests when you see them again.
   *Another option is to go back through and highlight any Bible verses from the study in their Bible that they may have missed.

---

– FRUITFULNESS –

The overflow of a heart transformed—where seeds of truth blossom into real-life faith, shaping character, choices, and everyday joy.

---