Today’s teaching tip involves your smartphone or tablet, a few bucks, and some creativity on your part. Trust me, it’s worth it.

Go to the App Store or Google Play and locate an app that generates crossword puzzles based upon words you enter. Download it to your device, and become familiar with how to use it. This may cost you a few bucks. I bought one for $2.

Use the app to create a crossword puzzle that features key words from your upcoming Bible study: people, places, key words, etc.

Print out your crossword puzzle and use it as:

1. A pre-test – See how much your people know about the Bible study you’re about to undertake.
2. A post-test – Test your people to see how much they remember about the people, places, and key ideas from your Bible study.
3. A learning readiness activity – This is a hybrid of #1 above. Have the puzzle on people’s chairs as they arrive and ask them to complete the puzzle individually – then give them permission to work in groups of 2, then 4, then 6 if necessary to get all the answers. You’re not concerned about their pre-study knowledge as much as you are wanting to “prime the pump” and get them thinking about the things you’re going to study.