Teams: Each team chooses a captain/spokesperson. Teams may quietly confer, but only the captain gives the final answer unless the host invites another team to answer.
Question selection: The matrix contains over 30 questions, but the 35-minute session should normally use 30 Main Game questions, 10 Lightning Round questions, and only as many bonus/tie-break questions as time permits. The host may preselect questions to ensure all lessons are represented.
Answer format: Every question has four choices: A, B, C, and D. The team must give one final letter/answer before time expires. Once declared by the captain, an answer cannot be changed.
Main Game timing: Teams have 30 seconds from the end of the question. The host may give a 10-second warning. A correct answer earns 10 points.
Steal rule: If the active team is wrong or time expires, the next team has 10 seconds to steal for 5 points. Only one steal is allowed. Rotate the first right of the steal so the same team is not always advantaged.
Lightning Round: Ten questions, 15 seconds each, worth 20 points. No steals. Each team writes or privately signals its answer simultaneously to prevent copying.
Bonus/Wager Round: For a designated bonus question, a team may wager 5, 10, or 20 points before hearing the options. Correct answers add the wager; incorrect answers subtract it. A team may not wager more points than it currently has. Use no more than five wager questions.
Bible Bonus: At the host’s discretion, a team that gives the correct answer and accurately identifies the principal Bible reference attached to the lesson point within 10 seconds earns an extra 5 points. This bonus should be announced before the question.
Challenge rule: A team may challenge a ruling once during the game. The host checks the Teacher’s Manual/answer key. If the challenge succeeds, the score is corrected. If it fails, play continues immediately. The host’s manual-based ruling is final.
No phones/manuals during active questions unless the host deliberately announces an Open Bible question. This keeps the competition fair. Bibles may be used only in an announced Bible-search bonus.
Conduct: No shouting over another team, coaching after time is called, mocking, or arguing. A first disruption receives a warning; repeated disruption may cost 5 points.
Late answers: If the timer has expired before the captain begins the answer, the response does not count. The host should apply this consistently.
Ambiguity safeguard: Because these are manual-based multiple-choice questions, the printed keyed answer controls. If wording could reasonably support more than one option, the host should cancel that question rather than penalise a team.
Tie-break: If teams are tied after the scheduled rounds, ask unused questions one at a time. Both teams write an answer simultaneously. The first team to answer one correctly while the other misses wins. Continue until the tie is broken.
Fairness: Rotate which team receives the first question. Keep roughly equal numbers of direct questions across teams. Do not reveal the answer until the active team and any permitted steal have finished.
Learning over competition: The host may take 10–15 seconds after selected questions to state the lesson’s biblical takeaway. The purpose is reinforcement of Scripture and application, not merely winning.
Please Note: There are tricky teasers embedded in the question matrix; please be smart and clever as you attempt them, as they are slightly mischievous
