Youth Bible Study

 Back                             

Composed of the following:

I. Bible Facts            

About the Bible
About God
About Jesus Christ

II. Some Old Testament Stories

Creation
The Fall of Mankind
Cain and Able
The Tower of Babel
Noah and the Flood
Abraham and Isaac
Jacob
Joseph
Moses
The Walls of Jericho
Samson
David and Goliath
Elijah
Jonah

III. Some New Testament Stories

Announcement of Jesus’ birth
The birth of Jesus Christ
John baptizes Jesus
The Temptation of Jesus
The Sermon on the Mount
Jesus walks on water
Jesus feeds five thousand
Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead
Jesus’ arrest – death – burial – resurrection

The number one way that God speaks to us is by His written word the Holy Bible. God can speak to us in other ways if He wants to and if He does, it will always be in agreement with His Bible.
 

I. Bible Facts

About the Bible

1.  Name the books of the Old Testament.  ( 39 books )

  
2.  Name the books of the New Testament.  ( 27 books )

3.  Where is this scripture found?      “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for      
     reproof,  for correction, for instruction in righteousness,”  a.  Matthew 28:20    b. Hebrews 13:5    c.  2 Timothy 3:16 

4.  Where is this scripture found?     “for prophecy never came by the will of man, but  holy men of God spoke as they  
     were  moved by the Holy Spirit.”  a.  John 1:14    b. 2 Peter 1:21    c. 1 John 5:13

 5.  Which of the following scriptures tells us that the scriptures will make us wise about   God’s salvation?     a.  Genesis 
     2:7   b.  Matthew 26:28   c. 2 Timothy 3:15

 6.  Complete this scripture.     Psalms 119:9   How can a young man cleanse his way? by  taking _________________
     __________________________________________________________________________________________

 7.  Fill in the blank.  Psalms 119:11   Thy ________________________________________________________     
     _________________________________that I might not ________________ against thee.       

8.  Fill in the blanks.   Psalms 119:98   You, __________________________________ make me wiser than my
     enemies; For they are ever with me.

9.  Psalms 119:99   I have more _____________________ than all my teachers, For your testimonies are my meditation.

10.  Circle the best answer.   The above scriptures teach us that God’s Word will make  us:     a.  Wise    c.  Kind    c. 
      Richer

11.  Which of the following Scriptures tells us that: “God’s Word will last forever?”  Underline all the right answers.   a. 
      Matthew 24:35   b.  John 20:31    c. 1 Peter 1:25

12.  Hebrews 4:12   Says that “the Word of God is sharper than__________________________________________
      ________________________________________________________________________________________

13.  Which of the following scriptures says that “these things were written that we may know that we have eternal life?”  a. 
      John 1:1   b. John 10:11   c. 1 John 5:13

14.  Fill in the Blank.    Romans 1:16   For I am not ashamed of___________________________________________
      ________________________________________________________________________________________
     ________________________________________________________________________________________

About God

1.  How many things can you find, in Genesis Chapters 1and 2 that God created?   ___________________________
      _______________________________________________________________________________________
      _______________________________________________________________________________________
      _______________________________________________________________________________________
      _______________________________________________________________________________________     
     _______________________________________________________________________________________

2.  Psalms 90:2  Before the mountains were brought forth, Or ever You had formed the earth and the world, Even from 
     everlasting to everlasting, You are God.  From this scripture we could say that God is eternal.    True or False

3.  Mark 10:27   says that “all things is possible with God.”   True or False

4.  From reading Psalms 139:7-10   What could you say about God?   ___________________________________
     _____________________________________________________________________________________
    ______________________________________________________________________________________

5.  What does Psalms 99:3 and 99:9 have in common?   a. God loves us   b.  God is holy

6.  Hebrews 13:8 says that Jesus Christ is the same__________________________________________________
     ______________________________________________________________________________________

7.  Revelation 4:11   God created all things for   a. His pleasure   b. To see if He could

8.  Revelation 1:8  God says that He is the beginning and the end.  True or False  

9.  John 4:24  Says that God is a:    a. Spirit   b. old man   c.  powerful being

10. 1 John 4:8 says that God is:   a. mean   b. love   c. angry

11.  What does Psalms 119:68 say about God? _____________________________________________________
        ______________________________________________________________________________________

12.  Psalms 86:5   Says that God shows no mercy.   True or False

13. John 4:24  Tells us that we must worship in ________________________________
 

From the book of Genesis we find out that God created the universe, the earth and all living things, including man. Man was the pinnacle of God’s creation, created in the image of God.

 Read - Genesis Chapters 1-2

1.  In the beginning God created the heaven and the____________________________

2.  What happened when God said “let there be light”___________________________

3.  God created everything after it’s own    a. kind   b. way   c. place

4.  And God said “let us make man in our   a. time   b. image 

5.  Genesis 1:27   God created man, male and     a. female    b. male

6.  God created everything in how many days?    a. 3    b. 5    c. 6

7.  Genesis 2:7   God formed man out of the _____________________of the ground.

 8.  Why did God cause Adam to fall into a deep sleep? __________________________________________        
      _________________________________________________________________________________
      _________________________________________________________________________________

9.  God made a woman out of    a. Dust    b. Adam’s rib   c. Water

10.  Genesis 2:24    A man shall leave his father and mother and shall________________ his wife.     a. Love   b. Cleave
       to ( be joined to )

11.  Matthew 19:4  and Jesus said “at the beginning God made them male and ________

12.  The name of Adam’s wife was_________________________________________

13.  In Genesis 3:20 Why did Adam call his wife’s name Eve? ______________________________________
      _________________________________________________________________________________

14.  Adam was very smart; he gave names to all the_________________________________________________

 15.  Adam was forbidden to eat of what tree? ____________________________________________________

 16.  What would happen to Adam if he ate of the forbidden tree? _______________________________________
        ____________________________________________________________________________________

The Fall of Mankind

Read - Genesis Chapters 3-4


1.  The serpent ( the devil ) was very cunning; from the following list, choose all the ways  that he tricked Eve.     a. He lied
     to her.   b. He caused her to doubt God’s  word   c. He told her if she ate,  then she would be as gods.  d. He said he 
     would be  her friend
          
2.  After Eve ate the fruit of the forbidden tree, she gave some to__________________

 3.  When God came walking in the garden, Adam and Eve hid themselves. True or False

4.  What curse did God put on the serpent? ________________________________________________________   
       ______________________________________________________________________________________

5.  To whom did God say "I will greatly multiply your sorrow and your conception?     a. serpent    b. Adam    c. Eve
 
6.  To whom did God say  “In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it was
     thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.”  a. Adam    b. Eve    c. serpent

7.  Why did God make Adam and Eve leave the Garden? ____________________________________________
      _____________________________________________________________________________________

8.  To keep Adam and Eve out of the garden, what did God place east of the garden?________________________
      ____________________________________________________________________________________           

Cain and Able

After Adam and Eve disobeyed God, people began to be bad ( sinful )

This story presents the first murder recorded in the Bible. Cain allows anger and jealousy to control him to the point, that he kills his brother Able.

Read - Genesis Chapter 4

1.  What was the occupation of Able? _______________________________________

2.  What was the occupation of Cain? _______________________________________

3.  Why was Cain jealous and angry at Able? _______________________________________________________
     _______________________________________________________________________________________    
     _______________________________________________________________________________________

5.  What cried from the ground to God? ______________________________________

6   God put a special mark on Cain.  True or False

7.  Why did God put the mark on Cain? ______________________________________

 8.  Cain went out from the presence of the Lord and dwelled in the land of: ___________
 

When Adam and Eve sinned, sin passed on to their descendants, the human race. That is why people do all the bad things that we do. Also that is why we need Jesus Christ as our Savior.

 Let us see what God says in the Bible about mankind.

 Fill in the blanks of the following scriptures.

Romans 3:10  As it is written, There is none _________________________, no, not one

Romans 3:23  For all have ____________________, and come short of the glory of God;

 Romans 6:23  For the wages of sin is _________________ but the ____________ of God is __________________ _________________________________ through ____________________our Lord.

 Isaiah 64:6  But we are all as an unclean thing, and all _______________________are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.
 

Even though God says we all have sinned, He loves us so much that He did something very special to help mankind.

 John 3:16 says: ____________________________________________________________________________
    _______________________________________________________________________________________
    _______________________________________________________________________________________
    ________________________________________________________________________________________
    ________________________________________________________________________________________

The Tower of Babel

In the beginning of civilization, people all spoke the same language and attempted to build a tower up to the sky. In their pride they were seeking independence from God, so God dispersed them and caused them to all speak in different languages so they could not understand each other.

Read - Genesis Chapter 11
 

1.  The whole earth was of one language.  True or False 

2.  The people also wanted to build a city.  True or False

3.  After God confounded their languages, the people still tried to build the tower. True or  False

    
Noah and the Flood

Read - Genesis Chapters 6-9

1.  Why did God decide to destroy mankind? _____________________________________________________
     _____________________________________________________________________________________

 2. God repented ( was sorry ) that he had made mankind.  True or False

3.  Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.  True or False

 4.  Name the three sons of Noah______________________________________________________________

 5.  God was going to destroy all the people by    a. Flood   b. Fire   c. Earthquake

6.  Besides his family, what else was Noah suppose to put on the Ark? __________________________________   
     _____________________________________________________________________________________

 7.  How old was Noah, when the flood was upon the earth?   a.  100 yr.  b. 600 yr. 

 8.  It rained ________________days and ________________nights. 

 9.  After the waters subsided, where did the Ark land?   a. Mt. Sinai   b. Mt. Ararat

10.  What kind of birds did Noah send out? __________________________________

11.  Which bird brought back an olive leaf? _________________________________
 

12.  Genesis 9:1   And God blessed Noah and his sons, and said unto them________________________________
     ______________________________________________________________________________________

 13.  What is a rainbow a sign of?    
      a.   The earth would be repopulated  
      b.   That God would help Noah  
      c.   God’s promise that He would never again destroy all flesh with a flood.

Abraham and Isaac

Although Abraham and Sarah were very old, God promised them that they would have a son. After Isaac was born, God tested Abraham’s faith and obedience by telling him to offer Isaac as a sacrifice, on Mount Moriah. Abraham told Isaac that God would provide the lamb for the sacrifice.

When they reached the mountain, Abraham tied up his son and placed him on the altar he had built. Abraham pulled out his knife and just as he was about to kill Isaac, an angel stopped Abraham and said, "Don’t kill your son." When Abraham looked up he saw a ram caught in a bush.

Read - Genesis Chapters 18:1-15,     21:1-8,    22:1-18

1.   When Sarah heard that she was going to have a son she: 1. Cried  2. Laughed  3. Died

2.   How old was Abraham when Isaac was born?   1. 60 yrs.  2. 100 yrs.  3. 140 yrs.

3.   Why didn’t Hagar and her son die in the desert? _________________________________________________
      _____________________________________________________________________________________
     ______________________________________________________________________________________
     ___________________________________________________________________

 4.   Who stopped Abraham from sacrificing his son Isaac?  1. Angel of the Lord  2. Sarah   3. Hagar

5.   Because Abraham obeyed God, what promise did God make to Abraham in Genesis 22:18?  _______________ 
      _____________________________________________________________________________________
      _____________________________________________________________________________________
 

Jacob

Jacob was the twin brother of Esau whose name was later changed to Israel when he wrestles with a mysterious person. After tricking Esau out of his birthright Jacob leaves and dwells with his uncle Laban. He served Laban for 14 years to gain Rachel for his wife.

 
Read - Genesis Ch.25-33

1. Which of the brothers was the oldest? ____________________________________

 2.  What was Esau willing to exchange his birthright for? _________________________

3.  In your estimation do you think that Esau valued his birthright? __________________

 4.  In the following space describe how Jacob tricked his Father Isaac into believing that he was Esau.
       ______________________________________________________________________________________
      ______________________________________________________________________________________
      ______________________________________________________________________________________
      _______________________________________________________________________________________
      _______________________________________________________________________________________

5.  Jacob also stole Esau’s blessing from their Father.  True or False

6.  Jacob has a dream about:  1. Angels on a ladder    2. A large fish    3. The devil

7.  Jacob loved Leah more then he did Rachel.  True or False

8.  Jacob leaves with his wives, children and processions to go back to the land of his Father.  True or False

9.  Jacob would not let go of the person he wrestles with, until the person:   1. Prayed       2.   gave up    3. Blessed him 

10. Esau greeted Jacob with:  1. Anger    2. Hugs and tears

11. All together Jacob had 12 sons; can you name the two sons that were born by his  wife Rachel?   ___________
     ______________________________________________________________________________________
 

Joseph
 

In the story of Joseph we find jealousy, envy, hatred, betrayal and forgiveness. Out of jealousy, Joseph's brothers sell him to Egyptian merchants for twenty pieces of silver. As a slave he ends up in an Egyptian prison for a crime he did not commit. Through it all God is with Joseph and gets him out of prison and puts him next to Pharaoh, as a governor over all of Egypt. After many years, Joseph finally meets up with his brothers again.

Read - Genesis Ch.37, 39-50

1.  What kind of coat did Jacob make for Joseph? _____________________________

2.  Joseph’s brothers loved Joseph very much.  True or False

3.  Reuben saved Joseph’s life by recommending that they put him in a Pit?  True or False

4.  The brothers sold Joseph for 10 pieces of silver.  True or False

5.  What did they do to Joseph’s coat to make Jacob think that Joseph was dead? __________________________
    _______________________________________________________________________________________      
    _______________________________________________________________________________________

6.  What was the name of the man in Egypt that bought Joseph? ___________________

7.  Joseph was falsely accused of attacking his master’s wife and thrown in prison. True  or False 

8.  God gives Joseph the interpretation of dreams.  True or False

9.  Joseph interprets Pharaoh’s dream accurately.  True or False

10.  Which brother stayed home with Jacob, when all the brothers went to Egypt to buy grain? ____________________ 
        ____________________________________________________________

11.  Joseph’s brothers never knew that it was Joseph until he told them.  True or False

12.  Joseph doesn’t forgive his brothers.  True or False

13.  According to Genesis 50:20   God can turn bad things that happen to people, around  for the good.   True or False

Memory Scripture:   Romans 8:28  And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

Moses

The story of Moses can be divided up into three parts. Part one is the 40 years that he lived in Egypt in Pharaoh’s house although he was born a Hebrew slave. Part two is the 40 years that he lived in Midian and worked as a shepherd. Part three is the last 40 years of his life as God’s servant to Israel. Through out Moses life we find an extraordinary man of God who experienced the mighty miracle working power of God.

Read - Exodus Chapters 1-2

1.   Why was Moses put in a basket? ____________________________________________________________
      _____________________________________________________________________________________
     _____________________________________________________________________________________

2.  Who found Moses in the river? ______________________________________________________________

3.   Why did Pharaoh want to kill the baby boys? ___________________________________________________
      _____________________________________________________________________________________

4.   What was the name of Moses’ wife?  1. Hannah   2. Zipporah   3. Mary
 

Read – Chapters 3-14

5.   The Lord speaks to Moses from a burning ____________________________________________________

6.   Why did God tell Moses to take off his shoes? __________________________________________________
       ____________________________________________________________________________________

7.   When Moses wanted to know God’s name, what did the Lord say? ___________________________________     
      ______________________________________________________________________________________

8.   As a sign, God turned Moses’ stick into a    1. Frog   2. Snake   3. Bird

9.   What 10 Plagues did God send on Egypt?

Back to Top
 

The Walls of Jericho

Read - Joshua Chapters 2 - 6

1.   Joshua sent five men in the land to spy on the land and Jericho.   True or False

2.   The name of the woman that hid the spies was.   1. Rahab   2. Sarah   3. Rachel

3.   The woman wanted the spies to promise?  1. To save her family   2. Give her gold

4.   What was the woman to hang out her window? __________________________________________________

5.   On the 7^th day how many times were they to march around the walls of Jericho?__________________________

6.   What happened to the walls when the people gave a great shout? _____________________________________
       ______________________________________________________________________________________

7.   Rahab and her family were killed.  True or False  

Samson

Samson was one of 13 judges of Israel. A judge was someone that God raised up to rule in Israel. Most often they brought about deliverance from foreign armies and spiritual renewal to God.

Read - Judges 13 -16

1.  The angel of the Lord promised the parents of Samson that he would be born and that 
     he was to be raised as a:   1. King   2. Nazarite   3. Priest

2.  Samson’s hair was to never be cut:   True or False

3.  The Spirit of the Lord moved upon Samson.  True or False

4.  Samson killed a lion with:    1. His hands     2. A rock    3. A stick

5.  Samson killed 1000 men with:  1. A knife   2. A spear   3. Jawbone of an ass (donkey)

6.  God gave Samson a drink of water from:   1. The jaw   2. A lake   3. A river

7.  The name of the woman that tricked Samson and cut his hair was____________________________________

8.  What happened to Samson when he lost his hair? ________________________________________________
      _____________________________________________________________________________________

9.   Why did Samson want to lean on the pillars? ___________________________________________________
     _____________________________________________________________________________________

God ordained David to be king of Israel when he was just a young man possibly 14 years old. After Samuel poured oil over his head the Spirit of God came upon David and God begin to move him into place to replace king Saul as king of Israel. Until his death, king Saul constantly persecuted David, in hopes of killing him. David became king over all of Israel at the age of thirty.

David and Goliath

Read -1 Samuel Chapters 16-18


1.  David was the last of Jesse’s sons to come before Samuel.  True or False

2.  David’s complexion was:    1. Fair   2. Ruddy  

3.  Why did David play his harp for king Saul? _____________________________________________________      
      _____________________________________________________________________________________

4.  What was the name of the Giant that David fought?   1. Agag   2. Goliath   3. Gomer 

5.  What did David hit the giant in the forehead with? ___________________________

6.  The name of Saul’s son that loved David was: ______________________________
 

Elijah

Elijah was a prophet of God who was taken to heaven by a fiery chariot, without seeing death. Elijah experienced many miracles from God during his earthly ministry.

Elijah fed by ravens - 1 Kings 17:1-6

1.  What brook did Elijah go and hide by?  ________________________________________________________

2.  How many times did the ravens feed Elijah each day? _____________________________________________

The widow woman  - 1 Kings 17:7-14

3.  The widow woman gave her last food to Elijah.  True or False

4.  God blessed the widow with much oil and meal.  True or False

5.  Elijah prayed for the widow’s dead son and God brought him back to life. True or False

Elijah’s challenge to false prophets - 1 Kings 18:16-45

6.  One way that Elijah mocked the false prophets of Baal, was by saying that their god  was asleep.   True or  False

Chariot of Fire - 2 Kings Ch.2

7.  Who wanted a double portion of the spirit that was on Elijah?    1. Moses   2. Elisha

8.  What did Elijah smite the water with to make it part?   1. His mantle   2. A rock 
 

Jonah

Jonah was a servant of God who disobeyed when God told him to go to Nineveh. Jonah did not want to preach to these people because that had done a lot of bad things to his people. Jonah tried to get away from God by sailing away on a ship but in a violent storm the sailors throw him overboard. God sends a large fish to swallow Jonah alive. Jonah was in the belly of the fish for three days until the fish threw up Jonah on a beach. Jonah finally obeyed God and preached to the people at Nineveh.

Read - Jonah Chapters 1-4

1.  Jonah told the sailors that he was running from God.  True or False

2.  Did the violent storm cease when they threw Jonah overboard?  Yes or No

3.  Jonah was in the belly of the fish for two days and nights.  True or False

4.  Did Jonah pray while in the fish’s belly?   Yes or No

5.  When Jonah preached to the people of Nineveh they listen to him.  Yes or No

6.  God spared the people of Nineveh.   True or False

___________________________________________

III. Some New Testament Stories

Announcement of Jesus’ birth

Read - Matthew 1:18-25  ~  Luke 1:26-38

1.  What was the name of the Angel that told Mary she would have a baby? _________________________________

 2.  Mary was a Virgin.  True or False
|
3.  The name of the baby would be:   1. Jesus   2. Peter   3. Paul

4.  Whose throne would God give to Jesus? ________________________________________________________

5.  What name was Elizabeth supposed to name her baby? _____________________________________________

6.  Jesus would save the people from their sins.   True or False

7.  Emmanuel means: _________________________________________________________________________

8.  Jesus was the firstborn child of Mary.  True or False


The birth of Jesus Christ
 

Read – Matthew 2:1-23  ~  Luke 2:1-7
 

1.  Joseph and Mary had to go to Bethlehem to be taxed.  True or False 

2.  Joseph was of the lineage (ancestry) of David.  True or False

3.  Jesus was born in Jerusalem.  True or False

4.  What led the wise men to Bethlehem? __________________________________________________________

5.  What gifts did the wise men offer to Jesus? ______________________________________________________
     ________________________________________________________________________________________

6.  Who appeared to Joseph in a dream? ___________________________________________________________

 7.  Why did Joseph take Mary and Baby Jesus to Egypt? _______________________________________________
      ________________________________________________________________________________________

8.  King Herod had all the children of Bethlehem killed.  True or False

9.  Why was Jesus called a Nazarene? _____________________________________________________________
     ________________________________________________________________________________________

 10. What were the good tidings of great joy that the angel told the shepherds? _______________________________
       _______________________________________________________________________________________
       _______________________________________________________________________________________

John baptizes Jesus

Read - Matthew 3:1-17  ~  Luke 3:2-22  ~  John 1:19-34

1.  What kind of food did John the Baptist eat? ______________________________________________________

2.  Who wore a garment of camel’s hair?    1. John   2. Jesus   3. Soldiers

 3.  Who did John call a generation of vipers? _______________________________________________________

4.  What came down on Jesus when John baptized him?  1.  Fire    2. Water    3. The Spirit of God like a dove

5.  What did the voice from heaven say concerning Jesus? _____________________________________________
     _______________________________________________________________________________________

6.  John said that he was the voice of one crying in the __________________________________________________

7.  Who did John the Baptist say  “Behold the Lamb of God, which takes away the sin of the world.” _____________ _______________________________________________________________________________________

The Temptation of Jesus

Read - Matthew 4:1-11  ~  Luke 4:1-14

 
1.  Jesus fasted ___________days and _______________ nights.

 2.  Jesus said man does not live by bread alone but by __________________________________________________
      ________________________________________________________________________________________

3.  The devil quotes scriptures to Jesus.  True or False

 4.  What did the devil offer to Jesus if He would fall down and worship him? ________________________________
       _______________________________________________________________________________________

 5.  Jesus defeated the devil’s temptations by:  1. Hiding from him   2. By yelling at him  3. By speaking God’s word it is   
      written

6.  The devil left Jesus for a season.  True or False

You and I can also resist the devil’s temptations by speaking God’s word.

Hebrews 4:12   For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword....
 

The Sermon on the Mount
 

Read - Matthew Chapters 5-7

1.  Jesus said, “Ye are the salt of the _______________________________________”

2.  Jesus said, “Ye are the light of the _______________________________________”

3.  Jesus said let your communication (talk) be  Yea, yea; ________________________

4.  Jesus taught us to turn the other cheek.  True or False

5.  Fill in the blanks - Matthew 5:44   But I say unto you, Love your________________, bless them that curse you, do good to them__________________________, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

6.  Fill in the blank - Matthew 6:7   But when ye pray, __________________________,____________________
     ____________________________as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.

7.  Where your heart is, there will be your heart also.   True or False

8.  Fill in the blanks - Matthew 6:33  But seek ye first_________________________________________________      _________________________, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

9.  Jesus said judge not lest ye be:   1. Hated   2. Judged   3. Rejected

10. Seek and ye shall:  1. Find   2. Get lost   3. Help someone

Jesus walks on water

Read - Matthew 14:23-33  ~  Mark 6:47-51

1.  Jesus walked on the water.   True or False

2.  What did the disciples think that Jesus was, when they first seen Him? ____________

3.  Fill in the blank  –  Matthew 14:28  And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.
Vs.29   And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he___________________________ __________________________________  water, to go to Jesus.

4.  Peter never walked on the water.  True or False

5.  Who did Jesus say “O thou of little faith” to?  1. James   2. Peter   3. All of them

6.  Why did Peter get afraid? ___________________________________________________________________

7.  When Jesus got in the boat, what happened to the wind? ___________________________________________
 

___________________________________________