Texas Bible Bowl offers a $1,000 scholarship based on participation in Texas Bible Bowl and essay entry. The scholarship is open to High School Seniors participating in Texas Bible Bowl. The essay should include participant's name, home congregation, and the number of years they have participated in Texas Bible Bowl.
The essay topic will be published soon. The essay should be 500 to no more than 1,000 words. The essay will be submitted to info@TexasBibleBowl.org no later than midnight, Saturday, March 12, 2022.
Enjoy excerpts from previous submissions!
The essay topic will be published soon. The essay should be 500 to no more than 1,000 words. The essay will be submitted to info@TexasBibleBowl.org no later than midnight, Saturday, March 12, 2022.
Enjoy excerpts from previous submissions!
Read Excerpts from Previous Essays:
"If we are faithful and serve God, no matter the situation on earth, then we may enter the city of our God (chapter Twenty-one verse twenty-seven) and neither will there be troubles, nor sorrows, and God will wipe away every tear from our eyes. (Chapter Seven verse eleven and chapter Twenty-one verse four.)" - Benjamin M. Johnson - 2021
"In the Bible there are at least 35 verses from 17 different books that talk about tears. I believe that almost every one of those verses relates to the same message that God is trying to convey to us: that He will wipe away ALL tears. I believe that we have forgotten that message in today’s world with the recent pandemic.
One of the things that we are all so good at is worrying. God tells us not to worry but at the same time I think we are given this trait to be challenged. This pandemic and the recent winter storm really brings out the best in us when it comes to showing how much we fret about the future. We worry about next year or will we get sick or how much water and toilet paper we have. Even though we still worry about what will happen in the near future with our countless struggles, we still need to remember the good news about God relieving us of our fear. Instead of dwelling on the present, we should wake up and realize that God will always be with us and comfort us." - Abby Garner - 2021
“I can’t often see how God’s plan will play out, but “this God, his way is perfect; the word of the Lord proves true” (2 Sam. 22:31). I have seen this verse exemplified in my life and those of others time and time again, in times. I continue to believe that God is the only true rock for us; solid and unchanging, yet caring for us in a way that no one else can. “He is a shield for all those who take refuge in him”(2 Sam 22:31). Whether hearing my prayers for healing and strength, providing me with wonderful brothers and sisters in Christ, or speaking through his Word to calm my doubts and fears, God has been my strong refuge for my whole life.“ - Mattie Drew - 2020
“The first year I moved to Texas, I was hesitant to compete for Bible Bowl, seeing it as only a stressful competition. But after competing last year, I realized there was a lot more to it. There were some things I would have never discovered if I hadn’t explored outside of the popular realms of the Bible. Digging into the Word the way I did, encouraged me to be more curious and open-minded. Throughout my life, Jesus has made me realize the importance of being patient with people and unfortunate events life throws at me. Most of the time, the unfortunate events turn out to be custom-made events that God gives me to grow and learn from. So altogether, he’s influenced me to appreciate the good times and to depend on him during the bad. I’ve found that I can always take comfort in prayer, which is something even Jesus did before being arrested. I cling to Him and know everything will be alright. Thanks to Him I do not doubt my future, and I know that He’ll always take care of me.” – Kennedy Lewis - 2019
“’I believe in the sun not because I can see it, but because by it I see all things.’ This quote by author C.S. Lewis reminds me of the theme of this year’s essay “How Jesus Influences Me.” Though I cannot see Jesus in the same way I can the sun, because I am a baptized believer I can see things through His eyes which influences my daily actions, thoughts, and heart.”
“ I cannot imagine a life that does not follow Jesus, any more than I can imagine the darkness of the earth without the sun. I will forever strive to live out the Bible verse I learned long ago “Even a child is known by his actions, by whether his conduct is pure and right.” (Proverbs 20:11)” - Casey Lay - 2019
“My teen years have been my best but also the hardest years of my life. I have grown in my knowledge of what love, trust, faith, patience, and perseverance are throughout these years. I came to my family through adoption. When I was taken from my dysfunctional biological family and placed into a loving, godly, caring family, I had to adapt to new rules. I had to listen and obey, and the way we did things was different from what I had experienced before. It was great being in a family that cared for and loved me, but it was hard to let go of the past. It was hard knowing I had been given up on, and I used to think that if I could change the past, I would. But, I don’t want to change the past. Jesus had me start my life like that for a reason. Growing in my knowledge of Christ has helped me realize that there will be good times, and there will be bad times. Jesus tells us in John 16 that there will be tribulation in the world, but He doesn’t leave it at that. He tells us that He has overcome the world. Jesus has influenced and continues to influence me to look on the bright side of life.” - Samuel Hamblett - 2019
“In 1 Samuel, we saw how Hannah and Samuel stood out. How can we learn from these stories and use that knowledge to stand out in our own life? From Hannah, we learned not to give in to anger and that when you put your trust in God and not in other people, all that you need will come. From Samuel, we learn that sometimes you can feel like the only one who trusts and follows God. But even when you seem like the only one, and you let your light shine, people will see it. They will come to you and will find comfort in the Lord. The world sees we are different and that He is the reason we Stand Out.” - Alyssa Sandefur - 2018
"If we are faithful and serve God, no matter the situation on earth, then we may enter the city of our God (chapter Twenty-one verse twenty-seven) and neither will there be troubles, nor sorrows, and God will wipe away every tear from our eyes. (Chapter Seven verse eleven and chapter Twenty-one verse four.)" - Benjamin M. Johnson - 2021
"In the Bible there are at least 35 verses from 17 different books that talk about tears. I believe that almost every one of those verses relates to the same message that God is trying to convey to us: that He will wipe away ALL tears. I believe that we have forgotten that message in today’s world with the recent pandemic.
One of the things that we are all so good at is worrying. God tells us not to worry but at the same time I think we are given this trait to be challenged. This pandemic and the recent winter storm really brings out the best in us when it comes to showing how much we fret about the future. We worry about next year or will we get sick or how much water and toilet paper we have. Even though we still worry about what will happen in the near future with our countless struggles, we still need to remember the good news about God relieving us of our fear. Instead of dwelling on the present, we should wake up and realize that God will always be with us and comfort us." - Abby Garner - 2021
“I can’t often see how God’s plan will play out, but “this God, his way is perfect; the word of the Lord proves true” (2 Sam. 22:31). I have seen this verse exemplified in my life and those of others time and time again, in times. I continue to believe that God is the only true rock for us; solid and unchanging, yet caring for us in a way that no one else can. “He is a shield for all those who take refuge in him”(2 Sam 22:31). Whether hearing my prayers for healing and strength, providing me with wonderful brothers and sisters in Christ, or speaking through his Word to calm my doubts and fears, God has been my strong refuge for my whole life.“ - Mattie Drew - 2020
“The first year I moved to Texas, I was hesitant to compete for Bible Bowl, seeing it as only a stressful competition. But after competing last year, I realized there was a lot more to it. There were some things I would have never discovered if I hadn’t explored outside of the popular realms of the Bible. Digging into the Word the way I did, encouraged me to be more curious and open-minded. Throughout my life, Jesus has made me realize the importance of being patient with people and unfortunate events life throws at me. Most of the time, the unfortunate events turn out to be custom-made events that God gives me to grow and learn from. So altogether, he’s influenced me to appreciate the good times and to depend on him during the bad. I’ve found that I can always take comfort in prayer, which is something even Jesus did before being arrested. I cling to Him and know everything will be alright. Thanks to Him I do not doubt my future, and I know that He’ll always take care of me.” – Kennedy Lewis - 2019
“’I believe in the sun not because I can see it, but because by it I see all things.’ This quote by author C.S. Lewis reminds me of the theme of this year’s essay “How Jesus Influences Me.” Though I cannot see Jesus in the same way I can the sun, because I am a baptized believer I can see things through His eyes which influences my daily actions, thoughts, and heart.”
“ I cannot imagine a life that does not follow Jesus, any more than I can imagine the darkness of the earth without the sun. I will forever strive to live out the Bible verse I learned long ago “Even a child is known by his actions, by whether his conduct is pure and right.” (Proverbs 20:11)” - Casey Lay - 2019
“My teen years have been my best but also the hardest years of my life. I have grown in my knowledge of what love, trust, faith, patience, and perseverance are throughout these years. I came to my family through adoption. When I was taken from my dysfunctional biological family and placed into a loving, godly, caring family, I had to adapt to new rules. I had to listen and obey, and the way we did things was different from what I had experienced before. It was great being in a family that cared for and loved me, but it was hard to let go of the past. It was hard knowing I had been given up on, and I used to think that if I could change the past, I would. But, I don’t want to change the past. Jesus had me start my life like that for a reason. Growing in my knowledge of Christ has helped me realize that there will be good times, and there will be bad times. Jesus tells us in John 16 that there will be tribulation in the world, but He doesn’t leave it at that. He tells us that He has overcome the world. Jesus has influenced and continues to influence me to look on the bright side of life.” - Samuel Hamblett - 2019
“In 1 Samuel, we saw how Hannah and Samuel stood out. How can we learn from these stories and use that knowledge to stand out in our own life? From Hannah, we learned not to give in to anger and that when you put your trust in God and not in other people, all that you need will come. From Samuel, we learn that sometimes you can feel like the only one who trusts and follows God. But even when you seem like the only one, and you let your light shine, people will see it. They will come to you and will find comfort in the Lord. The world sees we are different and that He is the reason we Stand Out.” - Alyssa Sandefur - 2018