“Memorizing & studying Scripture changes [us]- in a good way. It points [us] to Jesus! It transforms us and renews our minds. It blesses us and helps us to be a blessing to others. It strengthens us, comforts us, encourages us, and we can be better witnesses for the Lord.”
As captured in the words of National Bible Bee alumna Bronwyn Hagey, spending time in the Word of God is the very best thing you can do with your time. Countless young people have been transformed through a deeper understanding of Scripture as received from years of participating in the National Bible Bee. Each year, the alumni community grows as seniors age out of the competition. Recently, Rachael English and Bronwyn Hagey, 2022 alumni, were interviewed and willingly shared their experiences, tips for success, and encouraging words for those still participating in the NBB.
How did your years participating in the National Bible Bee Competition impact you?
Rachael shared, “Participating in the National Bible Bee has given me a greater appreciation for God’s Word. Before I began participating, I didn’t fully understand why it was important to memorize Scripture or do in-depth studies. I’ve come to understand that God’s Word is living and active and pierces the deepest parts of us and that it’s incredibly important to be filling my mind and heart with the things of the Lord.”
Bronwyn answered, “Intensely studying and memorizing the Bible has helped me to draw closer to the Lord. It has been SUCH a tremendous blessing the past several years being able to listen to so many kids recite God’s Word! It truly has been such an encouragement to me. The fact that a child as young as seven could walk out on the stage at Nationals and recite such a large portion of Scripture really touched my heart.”
What was your biggest takeaway from the studies you completed as a participant?
Through her years as a participant in the National Bible Bee, Rachael learned that “the greatest purpose of participating is not to meet a goal, to win, or even to make new friends (though all these things are wonderful!). The greatest goal anyone can have, both in the competition and in life, is to grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ and to seek His glory!” Keeping Christ as the central focus of all activities is the main facet of our spiritual growth. 1 Peter 1:24-25 teaches us that while things around us may fail, the word of God never will!
“For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth and the flower thereof falleth away: But the word of the Lord endureth forever.”
How did you prioritize your NBB studies as a participant?
As Bronwyn said, “spending time with the Lord should always be the number one priority in our lives!” During her first two years of participating, 2020 and 2021, she was busy during the summer and wasn’t trying to qualify. However, she completed her Discovery Journal both years and was blessed by what she learned through the study passage, Hebrew/Greek words, cross-references, and memory passages. In 2022, Bronwyn desired to “qualify if it was the Lord’s will.’ By God’s grace, she did qualify, so she took a step back from some of her other commitments to focus on her NBB studies. Whether you relate more to the first part of Bronwyn’s National Bible Bee journey or the latter, remember to always prioritize your time with the Lord.
How did you balance the different aspects of the study (cross-references, Greek/Hebrew words, memory passages, etc.)?
Balancing the various parts of the summer study may seem daunting. Each participant has to find what works best for them! What worked best for both Rachael and Bronwyn was dividing each aspect of the study into daily portions. Bronwyn’s day began with memorizing and reviewing passages. In the afternoon, she reviewed portions of the Discovery Journal like the Greek/Hebrew words, cross-references, and the study passage background/context. Evenings were reserved for review with her family – they quizzed her on random facts, CRs, Greek/Hebrew words, etc. Breaking up the components of the Summer Study in this fashion allows you to optimize your time with each portion.
What did your memorization technique look like?
When Rachael memorized as a participant, she relied on habitual repetition to learn her passages. “I’d take several verses and repeat them two to four times; once I felt I had a good idea of the section I would move to the next few verses, then combine them until the end of the passage.” Bronwyn memorized similarly. “For me, the easiest way for me to memorize was repetition. Repeat, repeat, and then repeat again! I would memorize phrase by phrase. For example, when I was memorizing Isaiah 40:1-5, I would memorize, “Comfort, yes, comfort My people!” says your God.” I would repeat that over and over several times before moving on to the next phrase. Then, I would learn the next phrase, “Speak comfort to Jerusalem, and cry out to her…” After repeating that phrase several times, I would add the two phrases together, “Comfort, yes, comfort My people!” says your God. Speak comfort to Jerusalem, and cry out to her…” And so on. That method really worked the best for me.”
If you could give one piece of advice to a participant, what would it be?
“Always stay close to the Lord and cling to Him. He will hold you fast!” advises Bronwyn. With similar counsel, Rachael reminds us to keep in sight the main reason for participating in the National Bible Bee, “The National Bible Bee isn’t just a competition; it’s an investment in your spiritual life. Even if you don’t like competition very much, I encourage you to invest time in the study. Take God’s Word; meditate on it and write it on your heart. Let it transform you! The Lord has said His Word will not return void, and no matter how much or how little you memorize or study His Word will bring fruit in your life.”
*All Junior and Senior participants are encouraged to join the National Bible Bee Social Community with their parent’s permission. This community is a great place to not only receive tips and encouragement from participants and alumni but to also form friendships with like-minded young people from around the nation*
Interview by NBB Alumna: Rachel Sheppard
