Everyone loves a good story and, as a writer, I use them to help my readers understand the points I’m trying to make.

Jesus, too, used stories to illustrate the main points he was making, and he did it so successfully, these stories are well-known today, even by people who are not biblically literate. The Good Samaritan is such an example. These types of stories Jesus used are called parables.

Because parables are such an effective tool in studying biblical truths, people often use them in Bible studies, classes, and even personal devotions. It is vitally important, however, to understand what makes a story a parable and it is with this knowledge that you can rightly divide the word of truth. (2 Timothy 2:15)

In this download, you will receive an introduction to parables, what they are and what they aren’t, and an in-depth study of 5 parables of Jesus: The Sower, The Good Samaritan, The Rich Fool, The Rich Man & Lazarus and The Unmerciful Servant. After the filled in handouts, you will also receive blank copies so your Sunday school or Bible class, Bible study or small groups can fill them in as the lessons progress.

Here is a fun way to introduce a Bible unit to your students. My Biblical quotations quiz, “Haven't I Heard That Before?” is a fun way to begin any Bible study. Just pass out the 3-paged quiz and instruct your students to read the quotations and circle the "Yes" if they believe it originates with the Bible or "No" if they believe it doesn't. When everyone is finished, you can use the included answer sheets to go over the quizzes and see how everyone did. When I have used this in my Bible classes, there has been much speculation and some surprises when the answers are revealed. This activity would work on the high school aged students and older.

In this Bible study, you will receive background on the word, doubt; suggested introduction topic; and teaching notes. These include: two primary purposes of doubt and how to curb doubt in your life.

Check out my Bible study plan on this worthwhile topic.

This download includes:

Bible passages used with this topic.

A brief word study on the word, abandonment.

A suggested way to introduce this topic.

Definitions and teaching notes on topic.

Applications that are practical.

You can use these discussion questions in Sunday school, Bible study, or small groups.

I’m sure I’ve read hundreds of warning labels through the years and had many laughs, but there is one specific label I have not seen and this is a terrible oversight. I have seen no warning labels for our words. There is no single book at the elementary school where I teach that has a warning label cautioning the students to be careful with how they use their words.

There is great power in words; they can build up or tear down. Gossip leaves a path of annihilation behind it.

This short Bible study on the subject of gossip provides what God says about it and how to avoid it.

Here is a creative way to teach the book of Jonah.

I have included teaching notes, introductory ideas, illustrations and worksheets that are both completed and left blank for the class to fill in. I have used the New International Version (NIV) of the Bible in this unit but you can adapt the worksheets to other versions. This Bible unit would be ideal for upper elementary through adults