Broken Down Car Race

Materials
A large open space

Activity
In the broken-car relay, each team runs several consecutive races.
1. In each race they will pretend that they're part of a car with a problem, such as a stuck horn that's blaring incessantly or windshield wipers that won't stop moving. The children run the race acting out what's broken. For example, if the car is stuck in reverse, the children will run backwards.
2. Before each race begins, tell the runners what problems their car will have.
3. Choose a starting point and a turnaround line that are about 20 feet apart and then divide the children into two teams, or have them pick which team they want to be in. Each team should line up single file behind the starting line.
4. At your signal, (dropping a checkered flag?) the race begins.
5. One by one the children run to the turnaround line and back while pretending to be the car with the first problem.
6. After all the children on one team have had the first problem, they run again, this time with the second problem and then the third, etc. The first team that completes all of the relays wins the race.

Hints
Young children may have a hard time figuring out what motions to use while they run. You can always give them ideas or help them to come up with their own.

Application
Paul compares the Christian life, not to a car race, but to a human race where the runners press toward the prize. But sometimes we have problems running the race God has given us. We don't live up to our potential.

Discussion
1. What are some of our problems that prevent us from running the Christian race at our best?
2. How can we get our lives tuned up for victory?
3. What do you need to change this week to become more victorious in your Christian life?