Congratulations! You have nearly come to the end of the Summer Study. Over the past several weeks, you have been unlocking truths found in the gospel of John. Hopefully, you have gained a more profound knowledge of God’s Word through your study of the Discovery Journal, exploration of cross-references, and memorization journey. What’s next, you might ask? Well, the next step is NBB Proclaim! Day.
What is NBB Proclaim! Day?
The National Bible Bee Proclaim! Day is the culmination of the Summer Study. Divided into a recitation and questions portion, NBB Proclaim! Day is planned by hosts or parents and allows participants to gather for a competition that spreads God’s Word and celebrates the completion of the Summer Study. This portion of the competition will take place on a day chosen by the host or parent during the timeframe of August 4-10, 2023. Participants must score 50% or higher on NBB Proclaim! Day to take the qualifying test.
Recitation Portion
For the recitation portion of NBB Proclaim! Day, a host or parent will choose one of the seven passages from the Navigate portion of the Summer Study passages. The participant will choose one of the seven passages from the Explore portion of the Summer Study passages. Score sheets and guidelines for the recitation of these two passages will be provided on each dashboard towards the end of July. Judged by a parent or host, these memory passages will each be worth 2,000 points and will be scored with a 250-point deduction for each error.
Questions Portion
Next is the questions portion of NBB Proclaim! Day. For this portion of the competition, participants will receive an 8-question multiple-choice quiz on Discovery Journal content. These questions will vary based on the participant’s division. Each question will be worth 1,000 points for a total possible score of 8,000 points. A document containing this quiz will be available only for host and parent eyes near the end of July.
Implementing NBB Proclaim! Day
The basics of this day will look the same for everyone. Although each participant will complete both the recitation portion and the questions portion, the way this competition is given will vary from family to family and host group to host group. Hosts/parents can administer the questions privately or publicly, written or verbally. Hannah Wright, a member of a large host group in Ohio during her years as a participant, revealed that participants would divide up by family into different rooms for the recitation portion of NBB Proclaim! Day. Then, the participants would gather by division to complete the questions. After completing the recitations and questions, all participants and their families would gather for an ice cream celebration while the judges calculated the scores. For senior participant Jordan Tabor, who was not part of a host group at the beginning of her NBB journey, NBB Proclaim! Day has looked different in various years. One year, she said, “My mom made me do all my verses, and I got them all right, and then she printed out the questions, and I got all those right, so that was that.” In a different year, she said, “Dad used a random generator to pick one Navigate passage, and I picked one Explore passage, and my mom tested me. Then, she printed the question sheet and I did those too, just on the floor somewhere in my house. It doesn’t have to be fancy, it’s just about reciting Scripture and looking back on everything you’ve learned throughout the study.” Hosts and families can decide what works best for them within the realms of the competition and make NBB Proclaim! Day a special end to the Summer study!
Why Proclaim the Word?
This summer, you have memorized and reviewed many passages of Scripture. Through these disciplines, we are all aware, to some extent, of the power of God’s Word. We know that “the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12). But, maybe you haven’t considered another vital aspect of knowing God’s Word – proclaiming Scripture. Well, why should we declare the Good News?
Glorifying God
Scripture is the primary means of learning about our omnipotent Maker. Several passages point us to the wonderful attributes of God and teach us how to worship Him for who He is. “The right hand of the Lord is exalted: the right hand of the Lord doeth valiantly. I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the Lord… I will praise thee: for thou hast heard me, and art become my salvation.” (Psalm 118:16-17, 21) With the psalmist, we can rejoice in the works of the Lord and share His goodness with others by proclaiming His Word. “O give thanks unto the Lord; call upon His name: make known His deeds among the people.” (Psalm 105:1)
Edifying of the Saints
Although there is a very personal aspect of Scripture, one we partake of during our devotional and study time, it should also be used to encourage, admonish, and edify other believers. The Bible is the tie that binds all followers of Christ together regardless of their circumstances. By reciting God’s Word publicly, we have to opportunity to speak words of life and encouragement to fellow believers. “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.” (Colossians 3:16)
Witnessing to Unbelievers
Aside from encouraging other believers, the Holy Scriptures also have the power to convict unbelievers of their sins. God uses His Word to show men the depth of their sins, point them to the only means of salvation, and give them the strength to live for Him. The apostle Paul expresses this power by stating, “I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth: to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.” (Romans 1:16)
The benefits that come with reciting Scripture to others do not come from ourselves, but rather God uses us as a vehicle for spreading His Word abroad. We have been given a lasting opportunity to memorize the Word of God and then proclaim this Word publicly. Not our words, nor man’s interpretation of Scripture, but the very Word of God! So, let us take this precious Holy Writ and continue to know God’s Word and make Him known.
Written by NBB Alumna: Rachel Sheppard
