Bible updates for Cores A-G (4.20.12)

This year we have added back the additional Bible study books as part of the Core package. We have also added a weekly note that covers the week's worth of scripture reading.

  • The Bible program has a new schedule and a weekly note that helps tie the program together
  • Some weeks the note is just about the scripture reading, other weeks it ties in bits from other books being studied.
  • Some weeks the note will give you a bit of insight from the memorization and tie that into the reading.
  • Example ... Week 2 note from Core C:

''Your reading in The Awesome Book of Bible Facts gives you a glimpse into life around Jerusalem and Jesus’ life as the son of a carpenter. We take a step back to look at a bigger picture. John the Baptist is making waves proclaiming the coming of the Messiah. People generally like Jesus, but the people who grew up in Jesus’ hometown aren’t that impressed with him. “He’s only a carpenter’s son.” Still, people flock to hear Jesus and He starts gathering the 12 men He will specifically train, His disciples. Memory work: In the Old Testament, a man named Joshua--who you’ll meet in a few weeks--said that his family would follow God. Jesus did, and His disciples followed Him when He called. Will you?''

Why no study guides for Bible? (8.11.09)

Although Sonlight is decidedly a Christian company, and we desire to encourage you as you raise your children in the fear of the Lord, we also believe that it is the parents' privilege to teach doctrinal issues. Therefore, we choose quality material for our Bible curriculum - and when you find that you are in disagreement with that material you can make your beliefs clear to your children. It is an opportunity to discuss what you believe and why, and how and why others may believe differently.

Heavens Declare text.doc

Adapting Bible section for secular use? (7.08)

I suggested that he use the Biblical parts as cultural literacy! So many times, whether in literature or in the popular culture, people allude to things from the Bible, and his children will be in a much better position to understand the culture if they have a biblical background.

Why is Bible not optional in the upper Cores? (6.25.08)

Please let me assure you that it was a much discussed decision that was prayed over frequently! We had received significant customer feedback that for children in the younger levels, attempting to add Bible to Sunday School, Awana and other church-oriented activities that required memorization and Bible study was becoming overwhelming. Thus, we chose to make the Bible portion of the Core optional for those younger levels.

When it came to the older levels, we felt that the Bible materials were integral to a well-rounded upper level study, and were important to enable parents to fulfill our top ten goals, especially the first! While we realize that not every Sonlight customer will share our goals, we desire to keep them in front of ourselves and our students all the time.
Dear Sonlight Forum post

Schedules for Bible (1.23.08)

The schedule for the Bible materials is included in the Core IG. For those using Core C - 2, this means they have to choose the readers to select the correct Core IG item number. The web team has added a drop down menu on the Bible package description page with the reader options so they can get the appropriate IG number. See the Bible 1 Program for an example.

If a customer desires a schedule for the Bible products, refer them to the Core IG. Also follow-up indicating the Bible products are fairly easy to schedule so the Core IG is probably not necessary. Do point out there is a Bible memory schedule in the Core IG that is found only in the IG, not in the Bible package.

Our Bible reading schedule does present a broad overview of scripture. In the case of Core Alt 7 there are some OT passages provided to give a sense of "history" ... then there are passages from the Gospels so students have an opportunity to "meet Jesus" in their daily Bible study. We tend to provide "snatches" from Psalms and Proverbs most years because they are so rich and are great for memorization passages.

Overall, if your student studies through all of our Core programs, they'll experience a walk through most of the entirety of Scripture at least twice.

What bible version does SL use?

In most instances bible verses are not quoted, chapter and verse location is provided.

Bible Memory CD's: The Harrow's (producers of the Bible tapes) don't particularly favor one version over another, but rather Steve does a great deal of research to be certain that whatever version he uses for a particular song most accurately portrays the "meaning" of the verse he is putting to music.

Bible is NOT included in Core in Core K - 5

The Bible package is an optional, additional purchase for Core K - 5, but Bible IS scheduled in the Core IG.

Bible is included in Core 6 on up

It is our feeling that the Bible materials we offer in the higher levels are important as a part of the programs in which they are included. [4.13.08]

Leading Little Ones to God

Core 1: Product Description

RGAA: Remembering God's Awesome Acts

Core 5: copy permission details

International Children's Bible Field Guide

Core 6: Product updated 2007

Bible Memorization

Core 7: Week 17 & 18: The Bridge

Youth Bible Study

Core 100: no longer available (since 2004)

Description of SL's bible reading program

Sarita & John's description of Sonlight's Bible reading program.

We DO have a plan and it runs pretty much from 1st through 6th. K covers "the whole" Bible in the form of Egermeier's Children's Bible. But from there . . .

  • Every year we read one of the Gospels. From Sarita's perspective, "Kids need to 'meet Jesus' and 'hear from Him' every year." And she feels the gospels do that well. So over the years you'll read all the gospels at least once.
  • The year we do Luke, we also do the Acts of the Apostles, since they flow together.
  • Starting in 1st grade, Sarita says, we begin with the book of Genesis and pretty much make sure we read through the Old Testament, moving forward through the OT as we keep reading each year.
  • We don't read EVERY passage in every book of the Old Testament. For example, we don't do most of the genealogies in Numbers and don't permit ourselves to get bogged down in Job's friends' monologs in Job (we only read the first and last few chapters in Job), and so forth. But we DO pretty much cover the Old Testament.
  • We don't have students read through the Psalms and Proverbs in sequence; we take them in more "bits and snatches" and have students memorize portions throughout their education.
  • We DO cover the entire New Testament except some portions of the Revelation.

John