Who is
Neil MacQueen? ...and why is he recommending these DVDs?
I'm a Presbyterian
minister specializing in Christian Education and resources. I've
been teaching Sunday School for over 30 years and have always
striven to incorporate the latest media to grab my student's
attention and make their lessons memorable. For the past 15 years I
have been leading seminars on the use of media in Christian
education and have written articles for numerous church-related
magazines.
I am also the owner and chief creative director of
Sunday
Software. We make interactive Bible software for kids.
Through my software work I'm in regular contact with teachers, pastors and
educators looking for help with their Sunday School lessons, and
thus, I'm
often asked for "Bible Video Recommendations." These webpages help
answer those questions.
This What's in the
Bible Series is brand new. I
started getting advanced copies of it last year and was really
excited by what I saw. In my estimation, they are better than the
VeggieTale videos because they are definitely more Biblical and have
an overt Christian message.
Many people know me
as one of the founders of the Workshop Rotation Model and the
Rotation.org Website at www.rotation.org. I spent many years traveling the US
introducing churches to the model and our software.
SundayResources.net is also
the home of my Ideas for Church Change and Church Tech Blog,
www.sundayresources.net/neil
MORE FAQs...
Who is
producing the What's in the Bible DVD series?
These are being produced
by Phil Vischer the creator of VeggieTales, and Tyndale House
Publishing, a company with whom I have a long acquaintance. My
Sunday Software company has
carried a number of their software titles over the years. This is
the first time we've ever carried DVD --and when you see them,
you'll know why we decided to carry them!
If you're ready to order
the What's in the
Bible? series of DVDs,
look for them at the END of our
Online Order Form.
Copyright Info
for the What's in the Bible? DVD series.
On
the opening screen of each DVD you see a warning that the DVD must only
be used for non-commercial purposes in the HOME.
However, this is not legally true for all situations. It is
only unfortunate "boilerplate" wording created by the publisher (and we
have asked them to change it)
Section 101 of the US Federal Copyright Law SPECIFICALLY GRANTS
PERMISSION TO USE ALL copyrighted materials in
"Face to Face teaching situations."
This "Face to Face" clause is straight out of the Federal
Copyright Law.
Sunday School is considered a "Face to Face teaching situation."
No publisher's copyright language can supersede Federal law. For
more details, and to read the law, go to
www.sundaysoftware.com/copyright.htm.
What you MAY NOT DO is "publicly perform" this copyrighted work.
"Public Performance" would be defined as showing the video in a
situation where people have PAID to be there or were there for
entertainment purposes (such as a movie night or on a retreat).
Worship is considered a "public performance" by the courts, and not
a face to face instructional setting.
Even though the audience may learn something from the DVD, if the
primary reason for gathering the audience is NOT for the purposes of
specifically instructing them, then your use of this DVD in a fellowship
night or during children's church, for example, would be considered
"public performance" and therefore be an illegal use. The publisher
could (and should in our estimation) grant this performance right to
churches. But to date, they have not.
A lending library may lend the DVD for home use or face to face
instructional use, provided that they are lending it for free and
do not charge a membership fee, but they should not lend it for public
performance. Furthermore, this DVD is not covered by the Motion Picture
Licensing Corporation license which some churches have purchased.
From the creator of
VeggieTales comes a brand new series
of
really fun teaching videos that take your kids through the Bible.
Fast-paced and humorous "shows" about
books of the Bible featuring "muppet quality" puppets, songs, and
lots of great animations and illustrations.
They are also infused with the
kind of
humor kids love
and pay attention to, ...and parents have come to expect from the creator of VeggieTales.
Many months ago I started getting advanced
copies of this new series and was very excited. It's great to see new
high-quality Bible media get the budget and support that these have
received. I was also very pleased that unlike VeggieTales, these DVDs
are OVERTLY CHRISTIAN and Biblical.
Currently,
there are 3 DVDS in the series available. More will be coming...
In
What's in the Bible #1,
In the Beginning,
kids are introduced to the Bible and Genesis by your host, Buck
Denver, and his cast of puppet friends. Kids will learn about the key
people in Genesis and the important lessons their stories teach.
See more details
In What's in the Bible #2,
Let My People Go,
kids are introduced to the book of Exodus: the oppression of the
Israelites and the birth and rise of God’s chosen leader, Moses. The DVD
also answers the question, who wrote the Bible? in a way kids can grasp.
In What’s In the Bible #3,
Wanderin’ in the Desert,
Buck Denver and his cast of
friends take us through the next three books of the Bible—Leviticus,
Numbers, and Deuteronomy—helping kids understand how these books fit
in with Genesis and Exodus to make up the Pentateuch and to set the
stage for the trials and victories of God’s people.
(Coming Fall 2010:
Judges)
Each DVD has two episodes.
Each episode is about 26 minutes each.
Each
episode is split into 5 chapters (that's 10 chapters per DVD). Each
chapter is from 4 to 7 minutes long. (Chapters can be skipped using your
DVD remote). Your students not only learn the stories, but learn about
the overall story of
"God's Rescue Plan" these books describe. Key concepts such as
"sin and redemption" and "rules" are creatively taught, as well as
information about each book's structure and place in the Bible. Our
exclusive outlines to each DVD list all the chapters and subjects in
each.
$17.99 each. More DVDs to be released! Ages 5 to 12.
(If you were a fan of the
Muppet Show, you're going to love these DVDs. When I lent copies to a
young family in my church, the mom told me "even
my husband watched!")
A Sunday Software exclusive! Our customers
receive our exclusive Free Outline of each DVD with teaching notes,
discussion questions and complementary activities.
Our guide
breaks down content in each of the 10 "chapters" found on each DVD
-including time marks so you can forward to them or skip around. Our
outline also points out the over-arching themes in each DVD and comments
on some sections you might want to skip if you don't have enough time,
or due to age concerns.
Pictured above: Sunday School lady and her "Magic Flannel
Graph", and Ian and Clive the dim-witted Bible explorers.
These characters are hilarious. Phil talks to them throughout each
presentation -acting as a "ringmaster" and master teacher.
Watch this video clip introduction
of Phil explaining why he created the
series, and introducing many of the characters and features of the DVD series.
MORE DETAILS:
Each DVD is
approximately 55 minutes long.
Each DVD has 2 "episodes" about 26 minutes each.
Each of the 2 episodes is broken into 5
chapters. Our
exclusive Teaching Outline for each DVD breaks it down for you.
This series will eventually have 12 DVDs
in all.
The
series' approach to understanding and explaining scripture is
traditional and age appropriate.
Each
DVD is filled with an entertaining cast of characters who bring powerful
Bible stories to life using
humor, creative
storytelling, animation,
Bible charts and graphics, and fun songs.
Buck Denver the
air-headed newscaster
Ian and Clive the
dim-witted explorers
Sunday School lady (who
reminds me of "Church lady") and her "Magic Flannel Graph"
The piano playing Pastor
Paul
Brother Louie the choir
director
Chuck Wagon the singing
cowboy
The Bentley Brothers
(two live actor comedian singers)
Marcy the Stage Manager
(who appears in DVD 3)
Pete the Pirate
Winifred and Agnes, the
two old gals who comment on the show (reminds me of the two old guys
in the Muppets Show)
...and Michael the
hilarious little boy in the car seat who introduces each DVD.
Great production
values and message.
Fast-paced, --but key
content is repeated in a number of different ways.
(this aspect of the writing really caught my attention)
Very ecumenical and age-appropriate content.
Clever
enough for older kids to enjoy, --and fun enough to keep the younger
kids' attention.
I'd easily use them from age 5 to 12, and as happened with VeggieTales,
teens will find the humor very engaging.
Phil Vischer
has done it again.
<>< Neil, Sunday Software
Price is $17.99 per DVD! ...includes our free teacher's
guide/outline.
"Matthew DVD"
the entire Gospel dramatically and joyfully portrayed.
Bruce Marciano's portrayal of Jesus is warm and friendly.
Have Questions?
Need to make sure a video matches your lesson or church's Biblical point
of view?
Email me at
neil@sundaysoftware.com or
see if I'm available via
Live Online Chat.
Who is
Neil MacQueen? ...and why is he recommending these DVDs?
On
the opening screen of each DVD you see a warning that the DVD must only
be used for non-commercial purposes in the HOME.
From the creator of
VeggieTales comes a brand new series
of
really fun teaching videos that take your kids through the Bible.
Currently,
there are 3 DVDS in the series available. More will be coming...
A Sunday Software exclusive!
Buck Denver the
air-headed newscaster
