Less Verses for 2012

Though this may not be a long-running chat topic, I'd like to know how fellow Bible Bee participators feel about the change from 800, 500, and 250 verses per category to the 100 verses per category? Do you like the fact that you can now meditate more on the verses, or would you rather have the large amount that was given last year?

Personally, I'm very excited about only learning 100 verses. I'll have more time to meditate on the passages I memorize; whereas last year, I couldn't do that as much as I would have liked to, because learning 13 verses a day was challenging at times.

I was reviewing 2011 Bible Bee passages these last few weeks, and I think about the time/place where I learned them, and what the Lord was teaching me through them, and I'm glad that last year we had to learn a lot.

What do you think about 600, 400 and 300 new verses for Nationals contestants? Do you wish it were more or less? Well, kind of soon to tell, since we don't if we're going to qualify…. :)

I both like and dislike the new changes.

1. I like them a LOT because this should be able to attract a lot more people to the Bible Bee. People won't be as overwhelmed by it, so I'm really hoping that a lot of newcomers do it.
2. It's still largely, if not more than ever, seemingly a homeschool-only contest at Nationals. I mean, 600 verses from August to November? As much as I understand that rationale, I'm really hoping that the Bible Bee will be able to grow by grabbing more participants in a lot of areas, and this seems only to enhance the homeschooler-public schooler gap of participants in the Bible Bee.

At first, I wasn't too happy about the changes. "Why change it when this year worked so well?" After thinking about it for a while, though, I'm glad for it. It makes more sense to have the 'top competition' harder than the locals. We won't be as pushed for time, so we will have more opportunity to actually understand what we are leaning, put it in our hearts and not just our heads. I haven't even understood what some of the verses meant till I was reviewing the here! It doesn't scare people off as much to hear that they'll only have to memorize two cards a week…instead of the eight verses a day Seniors memorized. But yes, it will be even harder for public schooled children to participate now. Home schoolers can just ask to do school throughout the time of locals and take "Summer vacation" during the National study time if they qualify.

I know I've pretty much been quoiting everyone else…but that's because I agree with you all! :)

Is registration going slow this year, or not…compared to last year? It seems like it's going really slow, but maybe that's how it was last year also.

We signed up May 31st in 2011, so we didn't know how the registration went, and we didn't have to wait 2 months for our box…since we got it a couple days after we signed up :)

I am so glad they took out the enormous amount of verses…
If you could look at my progress page you see the verses spike up to ~250. Then it all drops out and goes to about zero because I deleted a lot of verses because it was just to much. Now I can memorize with a lot less stress because its now more like 7 verses a week (and not 7 a day!)

I am not sure actually (Bethany)… I was wondering the same thing. How many contestants in all were signed up last year? I can't wait till June 1st!!!!!!! I love getting Bible Bee boxes:) I am trying to imagine what to expect with so little memory verses… I wonder if they will have a longer book of the Bible or something…?

I like how the lesser load will draw in more families in, at least initially, but I agree that those who make it to Nationals will almost have to need the flexibility of a homeschool schedule and lifestyle in order to remotely compete in any meaningful manner.

What will be very interesting to see is just how much parity this new format evokes. Logic says that for anyone to make Nationals now, the written portion will have even greater weight than ever before. There's a good chance that many of the people who have qualified for Nationals in the past 3 years may not make it this year, because of their results on the written portion.

Should be quite interesting.

As for registration, I think things will really pick up in the next 6 weeks. We're helping to co-host this year, and we're having our first planning meeting tonight with other volunteers. We're only now getting the flyers and other materials to hand out. I think they'll have record registration this year. Let's pray to that end, too.

I'm glad about the lowered amount of verses… especially because I'm a Senior this year (for the first time!) and Seniors will have the amount Juniors had last year! I like the Summer schedule… I think it will bring more families to do the BB…which is a good thing !!

What Bible Book do you think we'll be studying this year? I hope it's James or one of the Epistles.

I'm glad the # of verses is less this year. It's my first year and it will be nice to sort of "ease into it" a little. @Rachel, It would be great if it was James, because that's what my brother and I are currently studying in our Sunday School class!

I hope they choose the book of James too. James is my favorite book of the Bible!
I'm kind of glad that we have less verses because then it might be easier to remember them all well.
But I would still be fine either way.

What is the Bible Bee? (I'm new to Memverse)

Juliana

How can 2 cards a week and 20 minutes a day deepen your family's relationship with Christ?

Our desire is to help your family move closer to God and closer to one another as you learn, live out, and celebrate His Word. Register your children ages 7-18 years for the 2012 Bible Bee and learn how we can equip and encourage a lifestyle of investing in and living out your relationship with Christ.

In return for the $30 Registration Fee, each contestant receives, on June 1st:

25 Bible Memory Cards. That works out to just over 2 cards per week during the summer, a "do-able" goal for your whole family!

A Bible in one of five translations

A "Sword Study" in-depth study on one book of the Bible leveled for three age groups, enabling the whole family to study the same book at the same pace. Sword Studies don't just teach the Bible, they teach a lifelong skill of how to study and apply the Bible, in just 20 minutes a day.

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A Parent Guidebook that gives a solid overview of the study and includes a Family Bonfire Guide, so that you can easily lead your family in fun times of learning and sharing what the Lord has taught you throughout the week.

Other resources, such as custom Musical Scripture CD's (word perfect verses in any of five translations), several computer software games and programs and an iPod/iPhone app, all help make Bible memorization an attainable goal for you and your family.

You can join with other Bible Bee families at fun summer events led by Local Hosts!

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Finally, the material you were looking for to help your whole family grow in your relationships with Christ, together!

Family Registration is open April 1- May 31st at www.BibleBee.org.

I'm personally not thrilled at having less verses, however the reason for many families not participating was too many verses. So, overall, I think that it is probably for the better.

Also, another reason that "public schoolers" would find it hard is that the dates for Nationals is during the school year and they would have to skip school to attend, which is not an ideal situation.

But … If you make it nationals…you will still be memorizing 13, 10, or 5 a day. But only for 2 1/2 months.

So yes and no, I'm glad about the new amount of verses.

So yes and no, I'm glad about the new amount of verses.

Hi guys,

Last year I was went to private school, so it was more challenging for me in the Bible Bee preparing for Nationals. I literally dropped out of school and did all schoolwork at home! (The principal let me.) This year I am planning on homeschooling, so it should be a lot easier.

Where did you get the information on 600, 400, and 200 verses for Nationals this year? It still won't be as hard as last year's Locals though, so that's good!

About the less verses, I like being able to meditate on the verses a lot longer, and really letting them sink in without having to rush through.

Hi Rionna,

First of all, Welcome to Memverse! It sure is a great site, isn't it? I got the information for the number of extra memory verses from Bethany Pentimone. As for it being easier than last year's Locals, well… that depends on if you're turning 11 or 15 this year. I am turning 15 and am therefore a Senior. The 600 verses will really be a challenge for me!

I like the part about being able to meditate, too. I really need to do that more often. I am only focused on the memorizing part so often. This year, since there are so fewer memory verses, I was planning on memorizing 2 Timothy and as many cross-references as I can. But I should still take a little time to meditate.

Welcome, Rionna! Great having you here on Memverse :)

"I like the part about being able to meditate, too. I really need to do that more often. I am only focused on the memorizing part so often. This year, since there are so fewer memory verses, I was planning on memorizing 2 Timothy and as many cross-references as I can. But I should still take a little time to meditate"

Exactly!

Oh, and I find out the info from the FAQ page of the Bible Bee site :) A friend had told me, so I went and checked that site. I guess that news travels fast between us Bible Bee contestats :)

Matthew - I am in the same boat about turning 15, thus, I'm a Senior this year. When is your birthday, if I may ask?

It's in November, 3 days before the deadline.

Oh wow. You barely made it into the Seniors :)

I need suggestions on how I should handle my new Bible Bee verses. How are you guys handling the new Bible Bee verses this year? Do you just add them to last years verses or do you do something else? Are you continuing to work on your old verses along with your new verses,or only working on your new verses?

Many people on Memverse have created a second account for the Bible Bee. I have just added my new verses to this account, where I have all my other verses. It is anyone's choice, however.