The American Bible Challenge Passes the Test

By Hannah Goodwyn
CBN.com Senior Producer

CBN.com - Admittedly, The American Bible Challenge didn't strike me as a must-see new show on television at first. The idea of the Bible being featured on a primetime TV show was intriguing. Given the biblical illiteracy in our culture and our churches, it’s not a bad idea to shine a bit of light on this historic and living Word of God. Still, there were doubts as to if this type of game show could work.

After seeing a sneak peek of the pilot episode, which airs this Thursday (August 23) on GSN, this critic has converted from skeptic to believer. The American Bible Challenge, hosted by comedian Jeff Foxworthy, does work.

From the producers of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition and Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?, this new one-hour game show features contestants answering Bible questions to win money for their favorite charity. One team of three walks away with $20,000 at the end of the show and is invited back to the season finale, when they could win $100,000 for their charity.

The American Bible Challenge puts teams of three to the test, asking Bible questions in a relatable way. At one point in the pilot episode, a version of Facebook is even used to test contestants' knowledge of how some central figures in the Bible are related. The questions grow more difficult as the show progresses, keeping the contestants and viewers engaged. You'll find yourself trying to answer each one correctly. Getting one wrong even compels you to pick up your own Bible, a good side effect of watching this show.

The pilot episode features some exciting and energetic teams: Gospel Geezers, Minnie's Food Pantry and Suburban Saints. Each group shares their story at the beginning of the show. These featurettes are basically testimonies, putting their personal faith in the limelight. The show even has a Gospel choir (that's growing on me) that sings hymns as the show goes to and comes back from commercial breaks.

Foxworthy, who's known for hosting Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader?, brings a little bit of comedy and extra biblical insight to the show. A professed Christian, Foxworthy has said he's "excited to be hosting a show about the bestselling book of all time."

The American Bible Challenge is chock full of faith and fun for families. Check it out this Thursday, August 23, at 8 p.m. ET/PT on GSN.

Watch this sneak peek of The American Bible Challenge!

Hannah Goodwyn serves as the Entertainment producer for CBN.com. For more articles and information, visit Hannah's bio page.