Come Fill Your Cup

Equipping Women For Study and Service

Perk Up Kids’ Bible Class with Song Posters

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Music is a gift from the God who created our universe.  In our collective worship, He wants us to speak to one another in Psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. (Ephesians 5:19) Our Bible classes can also benefit from this gift because singing incorporates rhythm, repetition and rhyme. Those 3 elements can greatly enhance learning!

We already do this for many things like learning the books of the New Testament. We also sing the 12 Apostles song and the 12 Sons of Jacob song.

This article presents my all time favorite song resource, Sing A Story by Jewel Kendrick. She went through the entire Bible setting words of Bible stories to familiar folk tunes. She wrote an Old Testament book, a New Testament book and a book for Acts. They may be purchased here: https://store.bibleclassworkshop.com/products/560-sing-a-story/

Her songs are time tested and the kids really enjoy the songs. They retain facts and details because the songs are engaging and even fun. The song below is from Sing A Story by Jewel Kendrick.

This is sung to the tune of “I’ve God the Joy, Joy, Joy, Joy Down In My Heart”.
To save writing space on the page, I used the musical “repeat signs” since we repeat the phrase “Under an oak”. It turns out there was plenty of space to have written them out in full, but I thought this looked easier. Besides, it teaches a musical concept that is used in our hymn books.

My favorite way to include these in Bible classes is to display them on standard poster board which is 22” x 28″.  I display them on an easel so the whole class can sing together.

This is the story of Joseph set to the tune of “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer”.
Old flannelgraph is ideal to add visual interest.
Large spiral bound chart tablets are what I use to write the words on.
Lines are printed on the pages which keeps the finished product neat and clean.

I have noticed that in the past 10 – 15 years, there has been a marked decrease in the teaching of music in our public schools. Children are not learning to sing the traditional folk songs that have been around for so long. This means that children in Bible classes have become more reluctant to sing. Not only that, but they may not know many of the folk tunes. What a shame!! I don’t TALK about singing much if they are reluctant to sing. Instead, I merely sing these songs and others during class. These songs by Jewel Kendrick are so engaging that the children eventually join in and find they are enjoying singing. This is good for them now and good for the future of the church.

Work to incorporate singing in your classes. I believe you and the children will be blessed richly as a result.

Kathy Petrillo

Kathy Petrillo

When Kathy was a high schooler and only 17 years old, she begged the elders of her congregation to let her teach a Bible class. She absolutely loved it and was hooked for life. She is the wife of Denny Petrillo who has been the president of Bear Valley Bible Institute in Denver since 2003. They have been at working with the Institute and Bear Valley church of Christ for 33 years. They have been married 40 years. They have 3 children, 5 grandchildren and one active kitty cat. Kathy currently teaches two women’s classes at Bear Valley Bible Institute. One is a public speaking class. The other is teaching women how to teach children’s Bible classes.
Kathy Petrillo

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About Kathy Petrillo

When Kathy was a high schooler and only 17 years old, she begged the elders of her congregation to let her teach a Bible class. She absolutely loved it and was hooked for life. She is the wife of Denny Petrillo who has been the president of Bear Valley Bible Institute in Denver since 2003. They have been at working with the Institute and Bear Valley church of Christ for 33 years. They have been married 40 years. They have 3 children, 5 grandchildren and one active kitty cat. Kathy currently teaches two women’s classes at Bear Valley Bible Institute. One is a public speaking class. The other is teaching women how to teach children’s Bible classes.

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CFYC About Image Welcome! We are so glad you stopped by. Come Fill Your Cup is a group of Christian ladies dedicated to equipping women for study and service. We know you are busy and that life’s hectic pace pulls you in so many directions, but you can’t truly be the woman God desires unless you take time to fill your own cup…not with spa days (though we love a good spa!) or the latest novel…but with God’s Holy Word. We want to help you with that! Our goal is to reach you in the midst of your busy day and give you encouragement, education, and fellowship as you strive to live the life God has laid before you. Our prayer is that we can help fill your cup so that you, in turn, can overflow to all those around you. So, as we like to say…come fill your cup, and let it overflow!