Carol Perkins: Bible School

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By Carol Perkins

Bible schools are in full swing throughout our county. My sermon for the kids last Sunday was about the classic Bible school songs I grew up singing. Turns out, most had never heard them, so it was time they did.

I asked everyone to raise their hands if they had attended Bible school, and most did. Guy didn't raise his hand because he had told me that his church in Summer Shade didn't have Bible school. I felt sorry for him. I bet those kids couldn't believe we had Bible school in the old days. When they heard the congregation singing old-time Bible school songs, they were amazed.

I kicked things off with "The B-I-B-L-E." They didn't know this song but learned it.

Then I moved on to "I've got the Joy, Joy, Joy, Joy," and they knew this one, so we all (the congregation, too) sang and emphasized the "WHERE." Fun!

My favorite song to do with them was one that most of the congregation had never heard. "I'm in right, outright, upright, downright happy all the time." With the kids standing up front so the congregation could enjoy watching them act it out, I taught them the words. We started off slowly, picked up the pace, and then sang as fast as we could. The children laughed and had fun.

I read Psalm 100 about making a joyful noise unto the Lord and stressed that singing was one way to do that.

I love church songs when the congregation takes off the roof. Have you noticed that the older hymns with an upbeat rhythm get the congregation "going." Like, "Have a Little Talk With Jesus" or "When the Roll Is Called Up Yonder." I'm all for praise songs, but I'm clueless. (I am willing to learn.) I digress.

Our Bible school materials come in a kit, and the music is not traditional, which is okay, because the kids seem to love it. However, I wish the children could also learn songs like "I'm in the Lord's Army," or "Climb, Climb up Jacob's Ladder," or "Zacchaeus was a Wee Little Man."

I'm a dinosaur in the world of modern Christian music, but nothing replaces "This Little Light of Mine."

Oh, I forgot, "Deep and Wide," and "The Wise Man Built His House Upon a Rock." You will have these songs in your head for the rest of the day!

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This story was posted on 2026-06-11 08:43:11.
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