The fastest way to teach kids the books of the New Testament is to break the 27 books into small sections, practice one section at a time with a simple game (like tossing a ball back and forth while saying the names in order), and keep sessions short. Most kids can learn all 27 books this way in a couple weeks of five-minute practices.
Do you want your kids to learn the books of the New Testament, but you’re not sure where to start? Twenty-seven books is a lot, especially when many of the book names are completely unfamiliar words like Thessalonians and or Colossians.
The good news is that most kids are naturally good at memorizing. They just need the list broken down into bite-sized pieces and a fun way to practice. You don’t need a curriculum, a big time commitment, or any special supplies. Even just five minutes at a time is enough.
In this post, I’ll walk you through the exact step-by-step method I use: how to divide the books into learnable sections, a simple ball toss game your kids will ask to play again, and ways to use pictures, movement, worksheets, and crafts to make the books stick for good.
Key Takeaways
- Break the 27 New Testament books into 8 small sections and learn one section at a time. Kids master short lists quickly and stay encouraged.
- Practice with repetition, movement, and play (like a simple ball toss game) instead of straight recitation. Kids remember what they do far better than what they only hear.
- Keep practice sessions short and stop before frustration sets in. Seriously – this is super important! Five focused minutes beats twenty frustrated ones.
- Look for ways to connect each book with a picture, story, or idea so kids learn what’s inside the book, not just the book name.
- Once your kids are familiar with the Books of the Bible in order, help them review with worksheets, crafts, and games to move the knowledge from short-term to long-term memory.
Step 1: Break the Books into Small Sections
Nobody learns 27 books in one sitting. The secret is to divide the New Testament into small groups and master one group before adding the next.
Here’s the breakdown I recommend:
- The Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke, John
- The next four: Acts, Romans, 1 Corinthians, 2 Corinthians
- The four hard ones (three end in “shuns!”): Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians
- The three T’s, longest to shortest: 1 and 2 Thessalonians, 1 and 2 Timothy, Titus
- Three More: Philemon, Hebrews, James
- The familiar names: 1 and 2 Peter, then 1, 2, and 3 John
- Jude! (It gets a group all to itself. Kids love that.)
- Revelation (The big finish.)
Notice that these groups follow patterns kids can hear. The “shuns” sound alike. The T’s are grouped together and go from the longest name to shortest name. Peter and John are names kids already know. Those little hooks matter, because rhythm and pattern are how memory works.
What age can kids start learning the books of the New Testament? Most kids are ready around age 4 or 5, starting with just the Gospels. Elementary kids (ages 6 to 12) can learn all 27 books, and preschoolers can sing along and will pick up more than you’d expect.
Step 2: Practice with the Ball Toss Game
This is my favorite way to practice, because it turns recitation into play. All you need is a ball, a bean bag, or even a balloon.
Start with just the Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke, John. Toss the ball back and forth, saying one book name with each toss. Keep going until it feels easy. You can say the books together, then try alternating who says a book name with each toss. Eventually, see if your child can save every name by himself.
Then add the next group (Acts, Romans, 1 Corinthians, 2 Corinthians!) and practice those together. Once your kids have the second group down, start from the beginning and run through both groups.
Then stop!
Going too long, or trying to memorize too many books at once, leads to frustration. Give your kids a break and pick up where you left off another day. Over time, keep adding groups until your kids can say all 27 books of the New Testament in order.
How long does it take kids to memorize all 27 books? With short, regular daily practice, most elementary kids can learn all 27 books in about 1 to 3 weeks. Younger kids take longer, and that’s completely fine. Consistency matters far more than speed. If your kids are only practicing in Sunday School once a week, this will take longer. I would plan for 6-8 weeks.
Step 3: Help Kids Visualize Each Book
Saying the books in order is a great start. But the real goal is for kids to connect each book with the people, stories, and ideas inside it.
One simple way to do this is to pair each book name with a picture. This is exactly why I redesigned my New Testament Books of the Bible resources with hand-drawn illustrations. Each book of the New Testament has it’s own drawing that shows something important about that book. Galatians features the Fruit of the Spirit. James shows faith in action. Jude reminds kids to watch out for false teachers. And 1 Timothy shows Paul encouraging the young pastor Timothy.
A few more ways to make the books visual:
- Create a classroom mural. Give each child a books of the Bible coloring page to color, then hang them in order along a wall. The kids walk past the whole New Testament every week.
- Make mini card rings. Print the mini cards, punch a hole in the corner, and clip them on a binder ring. Kids flip through their own personal set, and can practice at home as well as in class.
- Hang posters where kids will see them. A set of New Testament posters on the classroom wall will help your kids learn the books of the Bible every time they come into the classroom.
Step 4: Get Them Moving
Kids remember what their bodies do. These movement activities take almost no prep:
- Build a floor puzzle. Write the books of the New Testament on pieces of paper. Working left to right, piece by piece, kids physically put the New Testament in order. Here’s an illustrated New Testament Floor Puzzle you can print, if desired.
- Hide and find. Write the book names on cards and hide them around the room. Kids find them and arrange them in order. Want to make it competitive? Print two sets on different colored paper and have one team find each color!
- Sticky note line-up. Put a sticky note with one book name on each child’s back. The kids have to work together to put themselves in New Testament order.
Step 5: Review with Worksheets
Once your kids can say the books in order, worksheets help move that knowledge into long-term memory. They’re also perfect for early finishers, quiet moments, or take-home review.
Two free ones to grab:
- New Testament Crossword Puzzle – kids write the books in order, then fit them into the crossword.
- Books of the New Testament Word Search – a fun way to review the book names and their spellings.
Step 6: Make It Stick with a Craft
A craft gives kids something to keep, and every time they use it, they review the books again without even trying.
- Books of the Bible Bookmarks – kids color their own bookmark and keep it in their Bible, so the book list is right there every time they read.
- Use the New Testament Spinner Craft – kids assemble it themselves and love quizzing each other with it afterward.
Step 7: Keep Sessions Short and Celebrate Progress
If you take just one thing from this post, let it be this: stop BEFORE your kids get bored or frustrated.
Five focused minutes, a few times a week, will get your kids to all 27 books faster than long drill sessions ever will. When a child masters a new section, celebrate it! Learning the books of the New Testament is a real accomplishment, and it’s one they’ll use for the rest of their lives every time they open a Bible.
Why I Teach the Books This Way
In my years of teaching kids the Bible and creating Bible resources, I’ve watched the same thing happen over and over: a child who feels lost flipping through the Bible becomes confident the moment they know where to look. That confidence changes everything. Suddenly they’re not waiting for an adult to find the passage for them. They’re opening God’s Word on their own.
That’s why I break the books into sections, keep practice short, and make it feel like play. It’s simple, but it works. And it’s why every resource I create for the books of the Bible is hand-drawn and designed to connect each book with what’s inside it, not just its name.
Grab Your Free New Testament Bookmarks!
Ready to get started? The easiest first step is a bookmark your kids can color and keep in their Bibles.
- A hand-drawn bookmark kids color themselves, so they’re proud to use it
- The New Testament books listed in order, right where kids will see them every time they read
- Just print and go. No prep needed!
Sign up below to get your free Books of the Bible Bookmarks, and let’s help your kids learn the books of the New Testament together!
May God bless you!
Break the 27 books into small sections and learn one section at a time, starting with the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John). Practice with a simple game, like tossing a ball back and forth while saying the books in order. Keep sessions to about five minutes and add a new section only when the last one feels easy.
Kids as young as 4 or 5 can start with the Gospels, especially through songs and games. Elementary-aged kids (6 to 12) can learn all 27 New Testament books. Even preschoolers benefit from hearing the books regularly, and they’ll surprise you with how much they pick up.
With short, consistent practice, most elementary kids learn all 27 books in 4 to 8 weeks. Practicing five minutes a day speeds things up, but even once a week in Sunday School gets there over a few months. Consistency matters more than session length.
Learn them in Bible order, starting with the Gospels and adding one small group at a time: Acts through 2 Corinthians, then Galatians through Colossians, the Thessalonians-Timothy-Titus group, Philemon through James, Peter and John’s letters, Jude, and Revelation.
Yes! Every activity in this post works in Sunday School, homeschool, children’s church, Christian school classrooms, or family Bible time. Team games like the sticky note line-up shine with a group, while the ball toss and floor puzzle work beautifully one-on-one at home.
Knowing the books in order gives kids confidence and independence in God’s Word. A child who knows where James is doesn’t lose the thread of a lesson while hunting through the table of contents. Memorizing the books also teaches the Bible’s structure, which helps kids understand how Scripture fits together.
Yes! You can grab the free New Testament Books of the Bible Bookmarks, a New Testament crossword puzzle, and a New Testament word search right here on Kids Bible Teacher. All of them are just print and go.
