Youth Bible Bowl

The Bible Bowl provides an opportunity for our youth to be involved in Scripture study and thus to grow in knowledge of God’s Word as well as to grow in their faith.

Circuits are to hold Bible Bowls prior to the District Bible Bowl and send their top two teams to Springfield.

Why hold a Bible Bowl for junior and senior high school youth?

1. Because we believe the Bible is God's word (2 Tim. 3:16-17).
2. Because we believe in youth ministry (Eph. 6:4).
3. Because the primary ministry in the Bible is "the ministry of the word" (Acts 6:4).
4. Because youth ministry, therefore, starts with God's word (Ps. 119:9).
5. Because the "Bible Bowl" can be an effective way to get youth to study God's word.

How to hold a “Bible Bowl” in your Circuit

1. Find an adult volunteer to be the circuit coordinator, and send his name and address to Pastor Mark Eddy, 18225 134th Avenue West, Taylor Ridge, IL 61284 (phone 309-795-1063, e-mail zionlcms@juno.com). He edits the Bible Bowl questions, which will be sent later.
2. Have the coordinator contact all the youth groups in the circuit to set a date for the actual "Bible Bowl." You may try a date after basketball season is over, but before baseball (and track) season is in full swing, usually in late February or early-mid March, on a Sunday or Saturday afternoon or early evening.
3. In October we publish the topic on the CID web site or via e-mail (sent to all pastors and professional church workers) and in the monthly CID update available to all members through their church. Make sure all the youth groups in your circuit know the topic for the upcoming Bible Bowl, and remind them to study the chapters of the Bible which will be covered in the Bible Bowl. They can do this individually, at youth group meetings, or at youth Bible studies or Sunday School. Questions for the Bible Bowl will stick to the facts rather than going into possible applications or meanings for the passages being studied.
4. Find a church to host the Bible Bowl in your Circuit. The host church would need to provide a room big enough to hold all the groups involved plus an audience. A second room is helpful if more than 8 teams participate.  That way two matches can go on at a time. (A one-room Bible Bowl of 8 teams takes 2 - 2 1/2 hours.)  Each room needs a podium, 2 tables, 8 chairs, a chalkboard/whiteboard or overhead projector and screen, and seating for the audience (sanctuaries, parish halls, gyms, and even large classrooms work fine).  The host church might be asked to provide some sort of refreshments, such as something to drink and cookies, popcorn, veggies, munchies, etc.
5. Find someone to obtain a light and/or buzzer system.  Many school districts have such systems for scholastic bowls, and the principal or scholastic bowl coach may be willing to lend out the system over a weekend. Some denominations (such as the Assemblies of God) have had “Bible Quiz Bowls” for years, and they may be willing to loan their systems. Or you can make your own (as Immanuel, Altamont did).
6. The coordinator should determine the cost of registration (e.g. $5-? per team), keeping in mind the cost of refreshments provided by the host church (if any), the cost of a trophy or plaque for the winning team (if any), and the cost of publicity and postage (if any). Set a pre-registration date about one week before the date of the Circuit Bible Bowl. (Last minute registrations may be allowed, but they can confuse the drawing up of the tournament matches.)
7. The coordinator may enlist other adults a) to help draw up the tournament schedule and matches, b) to read questions for the matches, c) to be time- and score-keepers for the matches, and possibly d) to be judges for the matches (although the person who reads the questions can also be designated as the judge). It is strongly encouraged that a pastor or pastors in the circuit participate as judge. Thus two or three adults will be “on duty” during each match, not counting those in charge of refreshments. To be fair, it is advised that the adults in charge of each match not come from either of the churches whose youth are involved in that match. But this rule may be waived with the approval of all participants.
8. A complete set of questions will be sent to each circuit coordinator in late January or early February. Do not let any team see these questions or practice from them.
9. On the day of the Bible Bowl the coordinator or host church sets up the light/buzzer systems, registers the youth according to teams (collecting the appointed fees), and begins the Bible Bowl by reading the entire page of rules to all the contestants. The double elimination (or “round robin”) tournament follows the rule sheet.  You may wish to take a picture of the champions for the GatePost.
10. Send the names of the two top teams in your circuit (and phone # or e-mail of contact persons) to Pastor Eddy or Trip Rodgers at the District office, so your teams can participate in the district-wide championship.

 

2025 Central Illinois District Youth Bible Bowl Results

The Central Illinois District Youth Bible Bowl took place on Sunday afternoon, April 6, 2025 in the gym of Mount Calvary Lutheran Church, in Galesburg, Illinois. Teams from the Rock Island and Quincy circuits participated by answering questions about “The Life of David.” After a round robin style tournament, the champions were team “A” from Mount Calvary Lutheran Church, Galesburg, with a record of 5 wins and 2 losses. Nikki Cansino, Ezra Sommerer, Seeley Koch, and Calie Cansino were team members.

The second-place team was team “B” from Mt. Calvary, with a record of 4 and 2. Team members were Daniel Sommerer, Natalie Cansino, Oliver Koch, and Micah Sommerer. 

The third-place team came from Immanuel Lutheran Church, Macomb. Team members were Lonny, Manny, and Ty Hull. Pastor Mark Eddy from Zion Lutheran Church, Taylor Ridge, was the quizmaster. Pastor Steven & Melanie Sommerer from Mount Calvary served as scorekeepers. Pastor Christopher Hull from Immanuel served as time keeper (and fill-in quizmaster). The host church provided refreshments. Thanks to everyone who attended and/or helped in any way. The Bible Bowl is open to 6th-12th graders from any congregation in the CID. A new Bible topic is chosen for each year. Since this year’s topic came from the Old Testament, the 2026 Bible Bowl will be on part of the New Testament. More information will be announced in the fall of 2025.