The Junior Bible Quizzing National Tournament will be held in Branson, Missouri from July 13 to July 18 and the Senior Bible Quizzing National Tournament will be held in St. Louis, Kentucky from July 18 to July 22. Photo courtesy of Higher Ground Apostolic Church

RIO LINDA, CA (MPG) - The Rio Linda Bible Quizzing teams have qualified for the National Bible Quizzing Tournament this month. 

Children from Higher Ground Apostolic Church, ranging in age from 5 years old to 18 years old competed in several district and regional tournaments beginning last January.

For the 2025 season, Rio Linda has more quizzers than before. There are currently five teams in four different divisions. Out of the five Rio Linda teams that competed this year, three have qualified for the national tournament. 

But what is Bible Quizzing? 

United Pentecostal Church (UPC) Bible Quizzing is a dynamic and impactful program that combines spiritual growth, mental discipline and friendly competition. It offers participants the opportunity to engage deeply with the Word of God, build camaraderie and develop important life skills. Bible quizzing fosters a love for Scripture while challenging quizzers to memorize and understand the Bible in ways that are both profound and fun.

For the 2025 season, Rio Linda currently has more quizzers than ever before, featuring five teams in four different divisions. Photo courtesy of Higher Ground Apostolic Church

At its core, Bible quizzing is a program designed to help young people (typically ages 5 to 18) memorize, study and apply the Scriptures. The program is based on competitive quizzes, where participants or quizzers are asked a series of questions related to a designated portion of the Bible.

Each year, Bible quizzers focus on a specific set of Scriptures. These could be entire books of the Bible, key chapters or significant passages. Some years focus on the New Testament, while others focus on the Old Testament. This year’s focus was the four gospels detailing the birth and life of Jesus. 

Children from Higher Ground Apostolic Church, ranging in age from 5 years old to 18 years old, competed in several district and regional tournaments beginning last January. Photo courtesy of Higher Ground Apostolic Church

Bible quizzing competitions are structured in a team format. Typically, teams consist of three to five quizzers, who are often grouped based on age or experience level. Teams are given questions based on the Bible passage they studied and the quizmaster reads questions aloud. Quizzers answer questions by "buzzing" in with their responses and the first quizzer to buzz can answer. Correct answers earn points, while incorrect answers can result in a deduction of points for the team. The goal is to accumulate as many points as possible by answering questions accurately and swiftly. 

United Pentecostal Church Bible Quizzing is much more than a competition. It is a powerful tool for spiritual growth, intellectual development, and community building. The program offers youth the opportunity to immerse themselves in Scripture, form lasting friendships and build skills that will benefit them throughout their lives. By participating in Bible quizzing, quizzers don’t just memorize Bible verses but they embrace a journey of spiritual transformation and lifelong learning.

The Junior Bible Quizzing National Tournament will be held in Branson, Missouri from July 13 to July 18 and the Senior Bible Quizzing National Tournament will be held in St. Louis, Kentucky from July 18 to July 22. 

If you would like to support the Bible Quizzing teams, send any donations via Venmo to Bible-Quizzing-HG.