AY Honor Pathfinder Bible Experience Answer Key
Skill Level
2
Year
2025
Version
18.09.2025
Approval authority
Australian Union
1
1a
Pathfinder Bible Experience (PBE) Overview: The Pathfinder Bible Experience (PBE) is a team-based Bible study program and competition for Pathfinders. It is designed to encourage young people to study and understand the Bible, fostering a deeper relationship with God. Teams of Pathfinders study selected books of the Bible and then participate in a series of testing events to demonstrate their knowledge.
Purpose of PBE:
- Spiritual Growth: PBE aims to deepen participants’ understanding of the Bible and strengthen their faith.
- Teamwork: It promotes teamwork and collaboration as Pathfinders work together to study and prepare for the competition.
- Engagement: PBE makes Bible study engaging and fun, motivating young people to spend more time in God’s Word.
History of PBE:
- Origins: The PBE program was initiated by the North American Division (NAD) of the Seventh-day Adventist Church to provide a structured and competitive environment for Bible study.
- Growth: Since its inception, PBE has grown in popularity and participation, with teams from various conferences and unions taking part in the annual events.
- Impact: PBE has had a significant impact on the spiritual lives of many young people, helping them develop a lifelong love for the Bible.
Importance and Benefits of Memorisation of Large Sections of the Bible:
- Spiritual Enrichment: Memorising Scripture helps individuals internalise God’s Word, making it a part of their daily lives and spiritual practice.
- Mental Discipline: The process of memorisation enhances cognitive skills such as concentration, memory, and recall.
- Moral Guidance: Having Scripture memorised provides immediate access to God’s teachings and principles, offering guidance in times of need.
- Evangelism: Memorised verses can be easily shared with others, aiding in witnessing and evangelism efforts.
- Emotional Support: Scripture memorisation provides comfort and encouragement during challenging times, as individuals can recall God’s promises and assurances.
1b
Repetition:
- Description: This technique involves repeatedly reading or reciting the material until it is memorised. It can be done silently or out loud.
- How to Use: Break the passage into smaller sections. Read each section multiple times until you can recite it from memory. Gradually combine the sections until you can recite the entire passage.
- Benefits: Simple and effective for many people. Reinforces memory through continuous exposure.
Visualization:
- Description: This technique involves creating mental images or visual stories to represent the material being memorised. It helps to make abstract concepts more concrete and memorable.
- How to Use: Read the passage and imagine a vivid scene or story that represents the key points. Associate each part of the passage with a specific image or part of the story.
- Benefits: Engages the visual part of the brain, making it easier to recall information. Useful for visual learners.
Chunking:
- Description: This technique involves breaking the material into smaller, manageable chunks or groups. It helps to reduce cognitive load and makes it easier to remember larger amounts of information.
- How to Use: Divide the passage into smaller sections or chunks. Memorise each chunk separately before combining them to recite the entire passage.
- Benefits: Makes large amounts of information more manageable. Helps to organise and structure the material.
Association:
- Description: This technique involves linking new information to something you already know. By creating associations, you can make the new material more meaningful and easier to remember.
- How to Use: Identify key words or concepts in the passage and associate them with familiar images, words, or experiences. Create a mental “story” that links these associations together.
- Benefits: Helps to create strong mental connections, making it easier to recall the material. Useful for learners who benefit from contextual learning.
1c
1d
Allocation of passages, memorisation, and preparation will depend greatly on team strengths experience and commitment to memorisation. The websites listed under the additional resources have significant information to help understand, plan and prepare to compete. Talk with your Conference Youth Director to find other clubs in your Conference, Union or Division that may have competed and talk to them about their experience. Online resources can help you develop a study plan for your team to prepare.
1e
Suggest regular get together with the team to review progress. These could be Friday evening or Sabbath afternoon. Spend time one on one with pathfinders to understand progress, and to encourage them in their progression. There are online resources that have blanks and practice tests.
1f
See online practice tests that include timers to simulate the actual event.
1g
Importance of Teamwork:
- Collaboration: Teamwork is essential in the Pathfinder Bible Experience (PBE) as it allows participants to collaborate and share their knowledge. Each team member brings unique strengths and perspectives, which can enhance the overall understanding of the Bible passages.
- Support: Working as a team provides emotional and moral support. Team members can encourage and motivate each other, especially during challenging times.
- Efficiency: Dividing tasks among team members can make the study process more efficient. For example, different members can focus on different sections of the Bible, then share their insights with the group.
Importance of Strategy Development:
- Planning: Developing a strategy helps the team plan their study sessions effectively. It ensures that all necessary material is covered and that the team is well-prepared for the competition.
- Focus: A well-defined strategy helps the team stay focused on their goals. It provides a clear roadmap for what needs to be accomplished and how to achieve it.
- Adaptability: Having a strategy allows the team to adapt to unexpected challenges. If something isn’t working, the team can adjust their approach and continue progressing towards their goals.
Importance of Sportsmanship:
- Respect: Sportsmanship involves showing respect for other teams, judges, and the competition process. It fosters a positive and respectful environment for everyone involved.
- Integrity: Good sportsmanship means competing with honesty and integrity. It ensures that the competition is fair and that all participants can take pride in their efforts.
- Learning: Emphasising sportsmanship helps participants focus on the learning experience rather than just winning. It encourages them to appreciate the value of the journey and the lessons learned along the way.
Importance of a Positive Attitude:
- Motivation: A positive attitude keeps the team motivated and enthusiastic about their study sessions and the competition. It helps them stay committed to their goals.
- Resilience: Maintaining a positive attitude helps the team overcome setbacks and challenges. It encourages them to view obstacles as opportunities for growth and improvement.
- Enjoyment: A positive attitude makes the experience more enjoyable for everyone. It fosters a sense of camaraderie and makes the study sessions and competition more fun and engaging.
2
Contact your Youth Director at Conference Level to enquire about participating in a Pathfinder Bible Experience competition. Generally the competition schedule is:
- September/October – Team formation, allocation of passages to learn
- November - January – Area level testing
- February – Conference level testing
- March – Union level testing
- April – Division level/finals
3
Promote discussion amongst the team to answer the questions.
3a
3b
3c
3d
References
