resources for effective children's ministry

Bibles for very young children

    This is an excellent Baby's first Bible. The illustrations have lots of color and the stories are short and simple with an activity for young children to do to follow up on the lesson.

• Favorite Features
  • popular sturdy board book construction
  • colorful pictures
  • includes learning activities
  • Scripture reference for each story
  • sized for young children

    I recommend this as a great Baby's first Bible. Well done Robin and Chariot/Victor Publishing!

Baby's First Bible
Publisher - Standard Publishing
List Price - $10.99
recommended for ages Birth - Three

    This is a great resource for your youngest children. It will help teach our little ones that the Bible is a special Book and help to introduce them to a life long habit of reading God's Word.

• Favorite Features
  • Bible stories presented in a way that will capture the youngest child's attention
  • sturdy board book makes it durable
  • handle and built-in clasp
  • colorful illustrations
  • sized for young children
  • popular "window" book

    I highly recommend this as a baby's first Bible. Extremely well done Standard!

Bibles for early childhood age children

    This has to be the best young child's Bible story book I have seen! It has 14 familiar, colorful stories and after each story there are three pages of activities, snacks, games, crafts and songs to help children learn, remember and apply the lesson to their young lives!

• Favorite Features
  • colorful illustrations
  • 9X12 size makes it an excellent tool for classroom or family use
  • activity pages with lots of creative ways to help young children learn

The Preschoolers Bible
Author - V. Gilbert Beers
Publisher - Chariot House Publishers
List Price - $16.99
recommended for ages Three - Five

    This Bible includes colorful pictures that young children will like and stories that will help introduce these young ones to Bible truth.

• Favorite Features
  • colorful pictures
  • short Bible stories written with questions to help even these young children learn Bible truth
  • small size so little hands can carry it to church

    I recommend this Bible as a good resource for pre-school age children. Nicely done Gilbert and Chariot!

Read With Me Bible
available in NIV and NIRV versions
Publisher - Zondervan Publishing House
List Price - $16.99 - hardcover
recommended for ages Four - Eight

    It is never too early to help our children develop a love for God's Word. this is an excellent Bible for young children that is well suited to utilize to read to children as well as for beginning readers to read for themselves. It is available in the familiar NIV as well as the NIRV - which I recommend for young children as it is even easier for them to understand.

• Favorite Features
  • very appealing for young children
  • lots of color
  • interesting illustrations
  • available in NIV and NIRV
  • small size makes it ideal for young children to carry

    I highly recommend this Bible for young children. It is put together very well and is a great first Bible for young children. Well done Zondervan!

The Children's Discovery Bible
Publisher - Chariot House Publishers
List Price - $17.99
recommended for ages Four - Eight

    This book has 139 Bible stories especially for young children to have read to them or for beginning readers to begin reading for themselves.

• Favorite Features
  • simple text - easy to understand
  • short stories - for short attention spans
  • each story gives the Bible reference
  • each story has a memory verse
  • stylized still animation artwork - excellent illustrations
  • colorful illustrations

    I like the colorful illustrations that help make the Bible an inviting and appealing Book to young children. This can help create a love for the Bible in young hearts. This is an excellent Bible storybook and would make a fine addition to a class library or a home library. Very well done Chariot!

Bibles for elementary age children

    This Bible has the entire Bible in full color comic book format. It has the main Bible stories from Genesis to Revelation in an appealing, easy to read resource.

• Favorite Features
  • colorful illustrations
  • comic book format - may make it more inviting for mid and upper elementary kids to read

    I recommend this as a good resource for elementary age kids. Nicely done Chariot House.

The Kid Builder Bible - New Life Version
Publisher - Chariot House Publishing
List Price - $17.99
recommended for children grades 1 - 4
available in the New Life Version

    This is an interesting cross between a Bible story book and a Bible for new readers.

• Favorite Features
  • easy to understand New Life Version
  • colorful illustrations
  • Scripture references
  • Kid-Builder Facts
  • Kid-Builder Values help kids learn about faith, praise, joyfulness and other values
  • Kid-Builder questions help kids understand and apply Scripture
  • Kid-Builder prayers help kids learn how to pray based on Scripture

    I recommend this Bible as a good tool to help kids learn to read, understand and apply their Bibles. Nicely done Chariot!

The Treasure Study Bible
Publisher - Kirkbride Bible Company
Price not available
recommended for children ages Eight - Twelve
available in the NIV

    This Bible is exactly what it's name implies - the "Treasure" Study Bible. It is an excellent resource to help upper elementary age children discover the truths waiting for them in the Bible!

• Favorite Features
  • 500 treasure hunts with questions to help children choose a particular study topic
  • NIV - easy to understand and apply
  • treasure maps for each study to guide children through the Bible to learn about the topic - these lead to a treasure chest and Bible gem for that topic
  • Daily Treasures from God - daily Bible readings in an attractive monthly format
  • interactive Bible

    I highly recommend this as one of the absolute best children's first study Bibles! A child who uses this study Bible will learn how to study the Bible as well as learn about all the treasures in God's Word for them! Extremely well done Kirkbride Bible Company!

The Children's Daily Devotional Bible
Publisher - Thomas Nelson Bibles
List Price - $15.99
recommended for ages Five - Ten
available in the Contemporary English Version

    This is an excellent children's devotional Bible that can help children and families learn to develop a daily devotional time! It is available in the CEV which is easy to listen to, read and understand. this Bible has colorful illustrations and is laid out in an appealing way.

• Favorite Features
  • easy to understand CEV
  • 52 daily readings
  • each study includes prayer starters
  • each week includes a memory verse
  • subject list in the back
  • "People You'll Meet" listing to tell about Bible people
  • "Word for Parents" - helpful information
  • reading check off pages

    I highly recommend this Bible/Devotional for children and families. Well done Thomas Nelson.

New Explorers Study Bible for Kids
Publisher - Thomas Nelson Publishers
List Price - $24.99
recommended for ages Eight - Twelve
available in the New King James Version

    If you are looking for a Bible for an elementary age child, this is an excellent choice. this Bible has many unique features designed to help "make the Bible fun to read, entertaining to learn about and easy to understand."

• Favorite Features
  • "Digging in" - explains background of familiar Bible stories, meaning behind verses and passages, how Bible people lived and recent archaeological discoveries
  • "Word finders" - explains hard-to-understand Bible names and terms
  • "Cameos" - Bible people "tell" about their lives and how God used them
  • "News Stories" - newspaper headline format to tell about exciting events and major Bible happenings
  • "Questions" - 100 questions and answers
  • "Lessons" - see what Bible people learned
  • colorful pages
  • dictionary and concordance
  • illustrations, photos and maps

    I highly recommend this as an excellent Bible for elementary age kids! Well done Nelson!

Holy Bible NIRV
Publisher - Zondervan Publishing
List Price - $22.99 - hardcover, $17.99 - softcover
recommended for ages Nine - Adult

    This Bible is simplified to a 3rd grade reading level and would be an excellent resource for "people learning to read - no matter what their age; people who use English as a second language; and people who are reading the Bible for the first time."

• Favorite Features
  • easy to read and understand NIRV
  • five way reading plan
  • includes easy to understand plan of salvation
  • great verses to remember
  • life in New Testament times information
  • who's who in the Bible
  • book introductions
  • dictionary

    I highly recommend this Bible for anyone wanting an easy to understand Bible. Well done Zondervans!

Bibles for pre-teens and teens

The Youth Bible
Publishers - Word Publishing & Group Publishing
List Price - $24.99 - hardback; three copies or more $19.99 - hardback
$19.99 - softback; three copies or more $14.99 - softback
recommended for ages 11 - 19
available in the New Century Version

    This is an excellent pre-teen and teen Bible as it combines the easy to understand NCV with devotions that relate the Bible to everyday life. If you are not familiar with this version of the Bible, it was specifically designed to help teens find God's guidance in the day - in - day - out issues they face.

• Favorite Features
  • easy to understand NCV
  • devotions written especially for teens
  • introductions to each book of the Bible to help the reader understand the purpose of the book
  • sidelights with interesting and fun information about the Bible and life in Bible times
  • dictionary
  • colored Bible maps

    I gave this Bible to my 12 year old daughter and after a couple of days she told me that she loves her new Bible! She said that she never really was that interested in reading a Bible before, but now she can't wait to read it! This is the response we want from our children and for this reason I highly recommend this Bible as one of the absolute best youth Bible resources! Thank you Word and Group - extremely well done!

The Promise Bible for Students
Publisher - Thomas Nelson Publishers
List Price - $24.99 - hardback, $17.99 - softback
recommended for children ages 11 - 19
available in the Contemporary English Version

    This is yet another excellent resource for pre-teen and teen age kids as it combines the easy to understand CEV with studies written by Ron Luce. For those of you who are not familiar with the CEV, I strongly recommend that you take a look at it. "It is a 'user-friendly' version that is easy to understand and can be read aloud without stumbling over words or terminology and listened to with enjoyment."

• Favorite Features
  • easy to understand CEV
  • 10 challenges of world changer
  • 10 character traits of a world changer
  • youth studies throughout the Bible
  • Promises throughout the Bible

    This is an excellent Bible for pre-teens and teens as the study notes will encourage them to study and apply God's Word. I gave it to my 11 year old son and he says that he looks forward to reading it every day. I highly recommend this as one of the absolute best youth Bibles. Well done Ron & Thomas Nelson!

WOW 1998
Publisher - Zondervan Publishing
List Price - $19.99 - hardcover
recommended for children ages 11 - 19
available in the New International Version

    This Bible is an excellent resource for pre-teen and teen age kids as it combines the well-known and proven version - NIV - with the study notes of the Student Bible by Phillip Yancy and Tim Stafford and then makes the addition of devotional comments from 17 of the top Christian Music artists. These devotionals send a strong message to youth from musicians they look up to, that what really matters in life is found in the pages of the Bible - a life with Christ that glorifies Him!

• Favorite Features
  • easy to understand NIV
  • Student Bible study notes
  • musician devotions
  • section on God's Promises and God's plan for you
  • read through the Bible schedule

    I highly recommend this as an excellent Bible for pre-teens and teens as the study notes and devotions will encourage them to study and apply God's Word. Well done Phillip, Tim and Zondervan!

Bibles for Teachers and Parents

The Thompson Chain-Reference Study Bible
Publisher - Kirkbride Bible Company
Price not available
available in the KJV & the NIV

    This extremely popular study Bible is one of the most complete study Bibles as it has "more than 100,000 Bible verses referenced by name, place or topical theme. Each referenced verse topic is clearly identified in the margin to direct the user to related verses or similar topics. More than 8,000 topics are covered by referenced verses. Comphrensive helps are organized into 10 major sections and thoroughly indexed for easy use. More than 75 unique features offer help with basic Bible information, devotions and study aids and application of Bible teachings to personal and group settings."

• Favorite Features
  • you choose how and what to study
  • margins help send you to other verses
  • thousands of topics to study
  • maps and charts
  • NIV
  • facts and data on almost any topic
  • alphabetical and chain indexes
  • chapter analysis
  • margins loaded with information
  • analysis of each book
  • character studies on prominent people in the Bible

    I highly recommend this study Bible for teachers and parents who really want to study the Bible as it is one of the most thorough and complete study Bibles available. Very well done Kirkbride!

The Quest Study Bible
Publisher - Zondervan Publishing House
List Price - $37.99 - hardcover, $24.99 - softcover
available in the New International Version

    This is a unique Bible with answers to almost any question you could think of. There are 6500 questions answered by over 100 Bible scholars, pastors and writers.

• Favorite Features
  • easy to understand NIV
  • book introductions
  • timelines and maps
  • side column notes - most of the study notes are located right alongside the Bible text
  • articles
  • dictionary
  • subject index
  • concordance
  • reading plan

    My husband has been using this Bible and he has found it to be one of the best study Bibles he has utilized. He says that the questions in the margins really help him to think through the passages and what they mean. I highly recommend this Bible as an excellent resource for teachers and parents as they study God's Word and strive to apply it to their lives. Very well done Zondervan!

Inspirational Bible
General Editor - Max Lucado
Publisher - Word Bibles
List Price - $39.99
available in the New Century Version

    This excellent Bible includes study notes by Max Lucado and a team of other well-known authors. This Bible would be extremely effective for teachers, parents and for families to study together.

• Favorite Features
  • easy to understand NCV
  • devotions by Max Lucado, Billy Graham, Joni, Charles Swindoll and many others
  • "life Lessons" - consists of a situation, observation, inspiration, application and exploration - in the margin
  • full page devotions
  • dictionary
  • "The Bible's 100 Greatest Thoughts"
  • reading program
  • how to study the Bible by Max Lucado
  • "Life Lessons" topical reading plan

    I use this Bible for my devotions and have found it to be very understandable and very enjoyable to read and study! I highly recommend this Bible as an excellent resource for teachers, parents and families. Extremely well done Max and Word!

The Parenting Bible
Publisher - Zondervan Publishing House
List Price - $24.99 - hardcover, $19.99 - softcover
available in the New International Version

    This is an excellent resource for families and provides devotions and activities for families to do as they learn together.

• Favorite Features
  • easy to understand NIV
  • book introductions provide overviews from a parenting perspective
  • wise words - "sound nuggets of advice from well-known authors and parenting specialists"
  • help line - creative ways to handle difficult situations
  • family fun - activities for your family to do as you learn together
  • subject guide
  • articles - "longer essays dealing with general principles of parenting" devotional guides

    I recommend this as an effective parenting tool. Well done Zondervan!

Children's Ministry Resource Bible
Publisher - Thomas Nelson Publishing
List Price - $29.99 - hardcover, $54.99 - bonded leather
available in the New King James Version

    This unique Bible is an excellent resource for teachers as it is filled with resources designed by Child Evangelism Fellowship to help teachers teach children.

• Favorite Features
  • study aids - maps, charts, and articles
  • teacher development
  • child training
  • 104 Bible lesson outlines
  • wordless book included in front
  • pronunciation dictionary
  • sidebar information
  • Bible teaching aids
  • center column references and notes
  • subject index
  • concordance

    I recommend this Bible as a good resource for teachers. Nicely done CEF and Thomas Nelson!

Good News Bible
Publisher - Thomas Nelson Publishers
List Price - $14.99 - softcover, $17.99 - hardcover, $19.99 - bonded leatherflex
available in the Today's English Version

    This Bible is easy to understand as it uses present day language. This Bible has notes and maps throughout to aid in understanding and applying God's Word to your life.

• Favorite Features
  • easy to understand TEV
  • study guides
  • book introductions and outlines
  • dictionary
  • maps and chronology
  • teachings of Christ
  • prayers of the Bible

    I recommend this as an effective resource for teachers and parents. Nicely done Thomas Nelson!

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