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Creative Teaching Ideas, Game Ideas

Coin Toss – Dangers of Temptations and How to Deal with Them

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INTRODUCTION TO THE OBJECT LESSON ON TEMPTATION

This simple game serves as a Creative Teaching Idea and discussion starter and Object Lesson on the topic of temptation. Youth will learn how to handle the temptations that are a normal part of life.

A. TRIVIA

The is a variation of a game commonly known as “Pitching Pennies.” In the traditional version of the game, players take turns to throw a coin at a wall. The coin which lands closest to the wall is the winner. The winner collects all the losing players’ tossed coins. Ancient Greek children played a similar game using bronze coins. In modern Israel a version of the game is played with Apricot kernels, and called “Gogoim”. This game is also known by other names: Pigeon Toss, Britain Pap, Penny Up, Keeley, Pitch and Toss, Chucks, Tinks or Jingies.

B. WHAT YOU NEED

  • Coins for each youth
  • Prize for the winner.
  • Tape to mark the boundaries.

C. GAME PLAY

  1. Put a line across the floor on each side of the room.
  2. Give each youth a coin and ask them to line them up on one side of the room.
  3. Demonstrate from a specific distance a toss of a coin toward the goal. Do not give them any strategy. Do not tell them how to play. Only demonstrate the game.
  4. Hype up the prize for the person who can toss the coin closest to the line without going over it.
  5. Then let everyone have an opportunity to try. If there is time, you can let them try more than once.
  6. Award the prize to the winner

D. SAFETY PRECAUTIONS

If playing with younger children, there is a danger of children swallowing a coin. For safety reasons, you play the game with a golf ball, a tennis ball or another object. Older youth can play with marbles, checkers, washers, buttons or any other objects available.

TAKE IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL

DEBRIEF

As you were playing this game,

  1. What was your goal or objective?
  2. What was your strategy?
  3. What are the possible risks with your strategy?
  4. Did you follow your own strategy or learn from others?
  5. What is the best way to guarantee you will not cross over the line (i.e. the boundary)?

MAKE IT SPIRITUAL

  1. Starting in Genesis 1 and continuing throughout Scripture, God gave us boundaries for what we should and should not do. What are some of those boundaries?
    – Related to our thoughts
    – Related to our feelings
    – Related to our bodies
    – Related to our words
    – Related to our decisions
    – Related to our actions
  2. What is temptation?
  3. What are some things that tempt youth today?
  4. In this game, the objective was to get as close to the line as possible without crossing over? Sometimes, youth, adults, and even children have a similar mindset when dealing with temptations. We want to get as close to the boundary as possible without crossing over. Why is this strategy dangerous?

MAKE IT PRACTICAL

How do we manage our boundaries and temptations and avoid crossing the line into sin?

THREE PRINCIPLES (I CORINTHIANS 6)

  1. The Help Principle (6:12a). Some things, even if they are within the boundaries of the law of God, are to be avoided simply because they do not build up the individual toward spiritual maturity or because they do not help others.
  2. The Habit Principle (6:12b). Some things are wrong because they are habit-forming. They take control over a person’s life. [II PETER 2:19 – “a man is a slave to whatever has mastered him”] ROMANS 6:16 – “Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone to obey him as slaves, you are slaves to the one whom you obey–whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness?”
  3. The Holiness Principle (6:15-20). – Some things are wrong for the believer simply because they do not honor or please God.

SEVEN QUESTIONS

  1. Would Jesus put his name on this for a stamp of approval? (Colossians 3:17)
  2. Does this fall into the classification of good thinking? (Philippians 4:8)
  3. Will this degrade or defile the temple of the Holy Spirit? (I Corinthians 6:19) Does this have the “smell” of evil on it? (1 Thessalonians 5:22)
  4. Will this sooner or later make a slave out of me? (I Corinthians 9:27)
  5. Is it spiritually beneficial or does it have the potential to control me? (1 Corinthians 6:12)
  6. Does it benefit others? (Romans 15:1-2; Philippians 2:3)
  7. Will my indulgence in this prevent someone from accepting Christ as Savior or tend to weaken someone’s faith? (I Cor. 8:9-13)

Remember what Paul says in Romans 14:22 “Happy is he that condemns not himself in that thing that he allows.”

MAKE IT PERSONAL

  1. Of those temptations of youth we mentioned previously, which are most difficult for you?
  2. What steps can you learn from this lesson to avoid crossing the line from temptation into sin?
  3. Say a prayer for God to show you a) ways to FLEE from your personal temptations, b) show you holy things on which you can FOCUS your thoughts, energy and time in pursuit, and c) to give you good Christian friends who are also seeking purity in their relationship with God.

TOUCH POINTS

  1. We often imitate what we see others do rather than seek guidance from God and God’s Word.
  2. If we don’t set our own goals, someone will set our goals for us. Satan’s goal for us is self-destruction.
  3. In temptation we often want to clearly know the boundaries so that we can get as close to the boundary as possible. God’s goal in setting boundaries is not so that we can get as close to those boundaries as possible, but so that we know where they are and can keep a safe distance.
  4. Sometimes things do not turn out as we planned. When we are trying to get so close to the boundaries the chances of us crossing over are very high. (e.g. In this game sometimes the coin lands on the edge and rolls, sometimes we underestimate distance, strength, or how slippery the floor is.)
  5. To get as close to the boundary as possible is the wrong objective. We should seek to stay as far from temptation as possible to avoid crossing over into sin.
  6. The hype of temptation may be greater than what we actually receive. It may be enjoyable but it is fleeting and the more we get of it, the less satisfying it becomes.
  7. No one said you had to toss the coin. You just followed an example. The way to ensure we do not cross the boundary is to remain in control and set our own boundaries a safe distance away from sin.
  8. We need to recognize that we are drawn toward sin. (James 1:14)
  9. A key to handling temptation is mention by Paul to Timothy in 2 Timothy 2:22:
    A) Flee – Flee the evil desires of youth
    B) Focus – pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace and
    C) Fellowship – along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

ILLUSTRATIONS

  1. In the comic strip “Cathy”, Cathy loves candy. In one story line, Cathy is trying to avoid the temptation of eating candy:

Cathy goes for a drive to get her mind off the temptation of eating candy.
She thinks, “I’ll go for a drive, but I won’t stop at the grocery store.
Next frame, “I’ll drive past, but I won’t stop.”
Next frame, “I’ll stop, but I won’t go inside.”
Then, “I’ll go inside, but I won’t go down the candy aisle.”
“I’ll go down the candy aisle, but I’ll just look. I won’t pick up any candy.”
“I’ll pick up the candy, but I won’t buy it.”
“I’ll buy it but I won’t open it.”
“I’ll open it, but I won’t smell it.”
“I’ll smell it but not taste it.”
“I’ll taste it but not eat it.”
Then in the last frame “EAT EAT EAT EAT”
So much for avoiding temptation.

Too often, we deal with temptation in the same way as Cathy… getting closer and closer until we can no longer resist and yield to the temptation.

a. If you were to design a similar comic strip with one of those temptations we mentioned that youth of today face, what might be some of the steps in the process of a youth being lured to indulging in the temptation?
b. In each of these real-life scenarios that youth of today face, what could be done differently? How could we break the cycle at different stages in the temptation?

  1. The boy was standing near an open box of peanut butter cookies.
    “Now then, young man,” said the grocer as he approached the young boy.
    “What are you up to?”
    “Nothing,” replied the boy: “Nothing.”
    “Well it looks to me like you were trying to take a cookie.”
    “Oh you’re so wrong, mister, …. I’m trying not to!”

SCRIPTURE

  • 2 Timothy 2:22 – “Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lordd out of a pure heart.”
  • 1 Corinthians 6:12 – “I have the right to do anything,” you say–but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”–but I will not be mastered by anything.”
  • 1 Corinthians 8:9-13 – “Be careful, however, that the exercise of your rights does not become a stumbling block to the weak. For if someone with a weak conscience sees you, with all your knowledge, eating in an idol’s temple, won’t that person be emboldened to eat what is sacrificed to idols? So this weak brother or sister, for whom Christ died, is destroyed by your knowledge. When you sin against them in this way and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. Therefore, if what I eat causes my brother or sister to fall into sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause them to fall.””
  • 1 Corinthians 9:27 – “No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.”
  • 1 Corinthians 10:13 – “No temptation[a] has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted,[c] he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.”
  • 1 Thessalonians 5:22 – “reject every kind of evil.”
  • Colossians 3:17 – “And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”
  • Galatians 5:1 – “Stand fast therefore in the liberty with which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.
  • James 1:13-16 – “When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters.”
  • James 4:7 – “Therefore, submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.”
  • James 4:17 – “If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.”
  • Philippians 2:3 – “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.”
  • Philippians 4:8 – “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”
  • Proverbs 17:27 – “The one who has knowledge uses words with restraint, and whoever has understanding is even-tempered.”
  • Romans 6:12-14, 22 – “Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey its lusts. And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.” “But now having been set free from sin, and having become servants to God, you have your fruit of holiness, and the end, everlasting life.”
  • Romans 13:14 – “Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.”
  • Romans 14:22-23 – “So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who does not condemn himself by what he approves. But whoever has doubts is condemned if they eat, because their eating is not from faith; and everything that does not come from faith is sin.”
  • Romans 15:1-2 – “We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. Each of us should please our neighbors for their good, to build them up.”

INTERESTING QUOTES RELATED TO TEMPTATION

  • “If thou wouldst conquer thy weakness, thou must never gratify it. No man is compelled to evil: his consent only makes it his. It is no sin to be tempted, but to be overcome.” – William Penn
  • “Our minds are mental greenhouses where unlawful thoughts, once planted, are nurtured and watered before being transplanted into the real world of unlawful actions… These actions are savored in the mind long before they are enjoyed in reality. The thought life, then, is our first line of defense in the battle of self-control.” – Jerry Bridges
  • “Every time I say ‘no’ to a small temptation, I strengthen my will to say ‘no’ to a greater one.” – Mother Angelica
  • “He who chooses the beginning of the road chooses the place it leads to. It is the means that determines the end.” – Harry Emerson Fosdick
  • “He who chooses the beginning of the road chooses the place it leads to. It is the means that determines the end.” – Harry Emerson Fosdick
  • “In the last analysis it is not the temptations that meet us on the streets that determine our conduct; it is the heart of the man who faces them. Two men may face the same conditions; one falls, the other stands. The difference is not in the temptation but in the heart of the man.” – Martyn Lloyd-Jones
  • “The first degree [of temptation] relates to the mind – it is dragged away from its duties by the deceit of sin. The second aims at the affections – they are enticed and entangled. The third overcomes the will – the consent of the will is the conception of actual sin. The fourth degree disrupts our way of life as sin is born into it. The fifth is the flesh’s goal, a hardened life of sin, which leads to eternal death (James 1:14-15).” – Kris Lundgaard
  • “Temptations, of course, cannot be avoided, but because we cannot prevent the birds from flying over our heads, there is no need that we should let them nest in our hair.” – Martin Luther
  • “It’s easier to avoid temptation then to resist it.” – Bill Shannon
  • “It’s easier to resist temptation at a distance than when it is near.” – Unknown

MORE IDEAS? See “Creative Object Lessons”

A 200-page e-book that explains everything you need to know when planning your very own object lessons. It contains 90 fully developed object lesson ideas and another 200 object lesson starter ideas based on Biblical idioms and Names / Descriptions of God.

Learn More…

Game Ideas

Virtual Scavenger Hunts

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Virtual Scavenger Hunts
(aka a Video Conferencing Scavenger Hunt)

CreativeYouthIdeas.com focuses on youth and those who work with youth. But scavenger hunts have been popular with youth, adults, and children for decades. They became more popular with “The Amazing Race” and reality TV shows a few years ago. And today scavenger hunts are as popular as they have ever been. So it doesn’t matter whether you are a youth leader in a church, a leader of a team, or manager of a group of employees. This is something you can use.

Scavenger Hunts take a variety of forms. They have a variety of rules, and you can adjust them for different themes, locations, and age groups. They are great for building community and fostering teamwork. They also allow everyone to exercise a little bit of creativity. They are proven to generate lots of fun and excitement.

Video Conference Scavenger Hunt

I’ve adapted this for the current Covid-19 quarantine conditions present in countries. Play it on a Zoom Call or using any other video conference facility. It works as long as you can see individual participants on the call. You’ll also want to take screenshots so you can share the pictures of this fun activity for later. If you don’t have a video conferencing tool, you can play it using other tools. Simply have everyone take a selfie fulfilling the criteria for each item on the list and send it to you.

CONSIDERATIONS

How do you play the video conference scavenger hunt?

  1. Individual or Team? Everyone on the call can play as individuals with individual scores. Or you can choose to divide everyone into teams and use an accumulated team score instead.
  2. All items at Once or One item at a Time?
    a. All at Once – Give everyone the entire “numbered” list and have them report back within the allocated time. Fulfilled items on the list contribute to the score. Number the list so you can know which item on the list they are trying to fulfill.
    b. One Item at a Time – Give everyone ONE item at a time and have them report back within the allocated time.
  3. Timed?
    a. How long? – Is 1 minute enough time to scavenge for the items? 5 minutes? Impose penalty points for each second/minute they are late appearing on camera.
    b. Early Bonus? – One variation is to provide bonuses for whoever is back on camera early or for the first person back. This speeds up the game.
  4. Unique to Score?
    This is a variation in how you score the scavenger hunt when you encourage multiple items. If anyone else has the same item, then that item does not contribute to the score. In other words, the items displayed must be unique and not shown by anyone else to get the points. For example, imagine if they must collect as many colors of socks as possible. If more than one team has “Black” socks, then no team gets a point for black socks. If only one participant or team has red socks then that scores the point.
  5. Substitutions Allowed?
    I usually do not allow a picture, written words, drawing, or model, of an item as a replacement for the actual item. Can they substitute a photograph of an object for the actual object at 50% of the point value? Can a map wadded up into a ball of paper serve as a creative substitute for a globe and get full credit?

SCORING
How will you Calculating the Score for the Video Scavenger Hunt?

  1. Known or Unknown? Set a specific point value for each item on the list. The score may be known to participants or unknown. You can set a specific point value for simply fulfilling each item on the list. More difficult items could be worth more points than simple items.
  2. One Item, One score? – For most options, each item on the list counts only once for its point value. For example, if the item is a baby picture. Three pictures of you as a baby do not get you extra points. Some items may specify multiples such as “The most buttons.” Then you need to decide, if two buttons are exactly the same, are they counted. Or is it 1 point for each unique type of button?
  3. Bonuses? – Are there bonus points for creativity and quality? You can give Bonus points to the most creative / best entry per item.
  4. Judges – All decisions of judges and facilitators are final.
  5. Tie Breaker? – In the case of a tie, the person or team which was back on camera first is declared the winner.

RULES
What are the Rules for the Video Conference Scavenger Hunt?

  1. One picture, object, situation per item on the list. You don’t get points for duplicates of the same thing.
  2. Get permission if you need an item that belongs to someone else. You don’t want to get in trouble for rummaging through someone else’s possessions. Be sure to return anything borrowed!
  3. Always number your submissions. This helps the judges know which item on the list you are trying to fulfill.
  4. Crude language, inappropriate behavior, and offensive actions are not allowed.

CREATIVE IDEAS FOR THE
VIDEO CONFERENCE SCAVENGER HUNT LIST

Here are some suggested Ideas for the Video Conference Scavenger Hunt. (Be Creative and adjust as needed or create your own ideas)

1. Acting on Camera

  1. Dance Moves – 15 Seconds of Best Dance moves – Best dancer scores the most points
  2. Impersonation – famous or imaginary
  3. Best Standup Comedian Joke
  4. Karaoke Song
  5. Machine sounds with your mouth
  6. Best animal Impersonation

2. Alphabet

  1. One item collected from around the house beginning with each letter of the alphabet. How many can you get in 60 seconds?

3. Animals (Stuffed or Pets)

  1. Display as many animals as possible. Each type of animal is one point.
  2. Biggest stuffed animal
  3. Most unusual animal

4. Buttons

  1. Who has the most loose buttons?
  2. Most buttons of a specific color
  3. Most unusual buttons
  4. Biggest Button

5. Dress Up

  1. As a child, we all dreamed of what we would be when we grow up. Some examples are astronauts, doctors, a chef, a policeman or policewoman, a prince or princess, a movie star. You have 5 minutes to gather your props and appear on camera as the person you wanted to be when you grow up. Creativity counts.
  2. Best Beach outfit
  3. Best Sports Attire
  4. Dress as a Biblical Person
  5. Dress as someone else on this call
  6. Dress up as your favorite superhero
  7. Best Disney Character
  8. Best Traditional costume
  9. Best Halloween costume

6. Books

  1. One point for each book by a specific author
    (Example: Books by Dr. Seuss)
  2. Oldest book
    (According to copyright)
  3. Most books’s in a series

7. Coins

  1. Most coins from other countries. Each country gets one point
  2. Oldest coin
  3. Coin with the year of your birth

8. Colors

  1. How many items can you display of a specific color.
    – Something Lime Green
    – Something turquoise
    – Something Neon Pink
    – Etc

9. Deck of Cards

  1. Who can build the tallest house of cards in 1 minute?
  2. Most decks of Cards – 1 point for each deck
  3. Most unusual deck of cards
  4. Fastest to put them in numerical order and by suit
  5. Fastest to sort them into stacks by number (4 cards of each)

10. Entertainment

  1. Official merchandise of favorite superheroes. 1 point for each superhero represented
  2. Each item from a Disney movie or story counts as one point.
  3. 1 Point for each Disney Cartoon on DVD
  4. 1 point for each DVD with a specific actor in the movie
    (E.g. DVDs with Tom Hanks or DVDs with Robin Williams)
  5. The oldest movie on DVD
  6. Most DVD’s in a series

11. Faces

  1. Happiest Face
  2. Saddest face
  3. Strangest Face
  4. Funniest Face
  5. Most face masks – 1 point for each unique color/ style

12. Food

  1. Most Fast food containers from local take out orders
  2. Most fruits. 1 Point for each type of fruit.
  3. Chips – 1 Point for each brand of chips
  4. Breakfast Cereal. Most types of breakfast cereal. Must be shown in the original boxes.
  5. Candy Crazy – Who has the most candy lying around? 1 Point for each brand or type of candy.
  6. Canned Food – Most unique items of canned food – 1 point for each unique item no one else displays
  7. Longest Expiration Date
  8. Most Unusual Food
  9. Most types of drinks

13. Hats

  1. Wildest Hat
  2. Most hats
  3. Oldest Hat
  4. Ugliest Hat

14. Holiday Decorations

  1. How many types of Holiday Decorations can you round up? Easter. Christmas, etc. 1 Point for each holiday represented.
  2. Christmas Decorations – How many different types of Christmas decorations can you show.
  3. Best dressed up for Christmas
  4. Birthday Party Favors

15. Home

  1. Most house plants
  2. Prettiest house plant
  3. Most unusual house plant
  4. Neatest storeroom
  5. Biggest Sofa
  6. Biggest TV
  7. Cleanest bedroom
  8. Most interesting piece of furniture
  9. Most unusual coffee cup or tea cup
  10. Most Useless Item
  11. Funniest Sign, Poster or Painting

16. Measurements

  1. Most items used to measure something (i.e. ruler, etc)
  2. Something of a specific length
    1. Something that is 1 meter long
    1. Something that is 1 cm thick
    1. Something that holds 1 liter
    1. Something that weighs 1 kilogram

17. Music

  1. Most CD’s by a Specific musical group or artist
  2. Most Musical Instruments. 1 point for each type of musical instrument
  3. Extra points if you can play a song
  4. Biggest speaker system

18. Oldest

  1. Oldest Antique
  2. Oldest Newspaper
  3. Oldest Coin
  4. Oldest Book
  5. Oldest Photo

19. Photographs

  1. Cheesiest Photo of you with someone else
  2. Earliest Photo of you as a baby
  3. Old Photo with the most people in it who are on this call. Cannot be taken today.
  4. Oldest Family Photo

20. Random Items

  1. Beach – Each Item found or used at a beach counts as 1 point
  2. How many inflated balloons can you display in 1 minute?
  3. Baby Items – Each type of item used by a baby is counted as one point
  4. Biblical Items – Most items found in the Bible.

21. Shoes

  1. Most Shoes
  2. Most unusual shoes
  3. Biggest sized shoe
  4. Most worn out shoe

22. Shopping

  1. Largest Shopping bag
  2. Most name brand shopping bags
  3. Highest Priced item – Must clearly show the original price tag
  4. Most shopping receipts
  5. Who has the largest Cardboard Box?
  6. Strangest shaped box
  7. Highest stack of boxes
  8. Highest receipt Amount

23. Shirts

  1. Ugliest Shirt
  2. Funniest slogan on a shirt
  3. Most worn out shirt
  4. Most outdated fashion

24. Socks

  1. Most colors – 1 Point for each color
  2. Most Unusual socks
  3. Ugliest socks

25. Souvenirs

  1. Most souvenirs from places you have travelled with the name of the location printed on it
  2. Most unusual souvenir
  3. Cheesiest souvenir

26. Time

  1. How many clocks do you have? 1 point for each clock.
  2. Most Unusual clock
  3. Oldest clock
  4. Biggest clock

27. Umbrellas

  1. Most umbrellas
  2. Biggest Umbrella
  3. Worst Umbrella
  4. Most Unusual Umbrella

I adapted this idea from my ebook, Creative Scavenger Hunts

Game Ideas

Video Charades

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Charades is a popular party game for a reason. It’s fun. It gives participants a chance to be creative. Everyone loves solving a mystery. And it gives you a chance to be a little crazy. Fortunately, with a few little tweaks, it is also easy to play on a video conference.

Charades can be played, simply for fun, but it can also be used as a teaching tool. When you combine actions with a phrase or keyword, you make it more memorable. You can create categories based on key objects, key characters in a story, important places, or key events.

Introduction
The essence of Charades is pantomimes: you must act out a word or phrase without speaking or making sound effects. This is usually done in person, but it can also be done in an online video meeting.

Adapting for Online Video

Video
The first requirement is a video platform which allows everyone to connect by video. Each participant will need a camera and will need to connect by video. They can connect using a computer, a mobile phone, or even a tablet. Ideally, they will need to have a hands-free video setup. This can be accomplished with a tripod, or by propping the video camera up against a book.

Chat
The second requirement is the ability to group chat via text. Most video platforms will have a text chat option built-in. You can give group instructions via group chat and give the secret phrases to the mime using private chat.

Game Description
In this version, participants all can compete as individuals or as teams.

Game Materials
A numbered list of keywords or phrases. These can be created simply for fun, or they can be extracted from a lesson.

Game Preparation
You will need to create a list of items relating to your lesson. Number the list so that participants can randomly choose one using numbers. You can privately text them the clue so that only they know the next phrase.

Game Play

  1. Divide players into two teams or have them play as individuals.
  2. Choose who will mime first.
  3. In teams, or as individuals, the other players must guess what is being acted out. The mime must rotate so that everyone is required to mime a clue before someone can go again.
  4. Each time a new mime begins, he must choose a number for the next phrase to act out.
  5. A timer can be used or simply set an alarm on your phone or watch. It must be something everyone can hear. You can also simply ring a bell or bang a pan to let people know time is up.
  6. As one person mimes his teammates watch and try to guess the word. In the case of team play, his teammates start shouting out what they think is being portrayed. Players can guess as many times as they want. Guessing is NOT done in turn!
  7. The mime usually starts by indicating through motions (no words allowed) some indication of what they want to mime
  8. They will indicate how many words are in the phrase by holding up the same number of fingers as words. They might also indicate which word they are miming first by holding up a finger for that word. Usually, they will put the number of fingers flat against their arm to indicate the number of syllables in a word.
  9. They can also use other clues along the way to guide the answers:
    • “sounds like”: cup your hand around your ear
    • “little word”: bring your thumb and index fingers closely together.
    • “Longer version of the word”: pretend to stretch an elastic band.
    • “Shorter version of the word”: chop with your hand.
    • “close, keep guessing!”: frantically wave hands to keep the guesses coming.
    • “Knows”: Point to your nose to indicate that someone “knows” the word and is correct.
  10. Continue until all the words in the phrase are correct.
  11. If the Mime’s team guesses correctly before the timer is emptied, the Mime’s team gets one point and post the score in the group chat. It is now the opposing team’s turn to mime and guess a new name or phrase from a new slip of paper.
  12. If the Mime’s team does not guess correctly before the timer is emptied, they do not win the point. The opposing team then gets ten seconds to make one guess to win the point. If the opposing team guesses correctly, they win the point. It is then their turn to mime and guess a new name or phrase. If the opposing team does not guess correctly, no one wins the point. It is now the opposing team’s turn to mime and guess a new name or phrase.
  13. Play then alternates between teams with each phrase to be mimed.
  14. In the case of individual play, everyone else tries to guess and the first person to get the complete correct phrase wins a point. If time runs out no one gets a point.
  15. At the end of gameplay or the end of your clues, the team with the most correct guesses wins!
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Game Ideas

Christmas – So you think you can dance

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This is probably more appropriate for children rather than youth, but I have included it on the website anyway as we have a lot of children’s workers who visit.

GAME DESCRIPTION

  • In this Christmas Party Game, participants must dance to the Christmas Holiday Music until it stops. When the Christmas Music stops, everyone must freeze in place.

GAME MATERIALS

  • A good selection of Christmas Music that is upbeat and suitable for dancing.
    Optional: A good camera to take photos of the dancers in various fun poses after the music stops.

GAME PREPARATION

  • – Set up a CD player or stereo system to play the music.

GAME PLAY

  • Everyone must dance as long as the Christmas music is playing.
  • As soon as the music stops, everyone must freeze.
  • Anyone who moves after the music stops is eliminated.
  • The last player left wins!

 

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Game Ideas

Superbowl Challenge – A Football themed game for Church Youth

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A Christian Superbowl Challenge
Use this Superbowl themed game with youth as an introduction to the idea of the game of football as a metaphor for living the victorious Christian life.

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Superbowl / Football Games

What You Need

  • Newsprint or long strip of paper – Classified ads work great
  • A marker for writing on the paper
  • Football themed decorations

Preparation

Create a miniature football field in the center of the room.

  • Cut some newsprint into 11 long strips 3 or four inches wide (small print classified ads work best. Cut from a double newspaper spread so that you get the longest strips possible.)
  • Masking tape can be used to replace the paper strips, but be sure to check it first to make sure it does no damage on carpet or floor tiles.
  • In the center of each strip of paper or stretch of masking tape, label the yard lines. You should have one strip for each of the following:

—– GOAL —–
—– 10 —–
—– 20 —–
—– 30 —–
—– 40 —–
—– 50 —–
—– 40 —–
—– 30 —–
—– 20 —–
—– 10 —–
—– GOAL —–

  • Lay the strips of paper out on the floor to create a miniature football field as shown above.

Create a football

  • Cut a brown paper bag, or piece of brown cardboard into the shape of a football. Use a marker to draw the laces onto the football shape so it looks more like a football.
  • You can also use a small football easily found in a toy store. They are usually about the size of a large orange.

What to do

Bible Quiz

  1. Choose a quiz of at least 50 questions. It can be questions from recent Bible lessons or simply Bible Trivia.
  2. Split the youth into two different teams and sit them on opposite at opposite ends of the football field.
  3. Flip a coin to see which team plays first
  4. Start off on the 50 yard line
  5. Each “Play” involves asking a youth from the team a question to be answered. You may wish to limit each youth on the team to answering only one question to insure that all youth participate.
  6. A correct answer advances the team 10 yards. An incorrect answer causes the team to lose 5 yards. If the student is unsure of the answer they may “pass” to another player on the team that has not answered a question yet. One pass per question is allowed.
  7. The winner is the first team to reach the opponent’s endzone (A touchdown). If the game is taking too long, the team closest to the endzone wins.
  8. For more fun, decorate the room with football logos and come dresses as the referee with a whistle.

VARIATIONS

Instead of a quiz you could use the following ideas:

  • Football Charades

Place a bunch of football related words on folded slips of paper and put them in a bowl. Divide into two teams. A player from the team pics a slip from the bowl, takes a peak at it, then must act out the word for his or her team. If the team hasn’t guessed the word in one minute, the opposing team can make one guess and try to steal the ball. When a charade is correctly guessed the team advances 5 yards. There is an attached list of Superbowl / Football related words you can use for the Charades. Get more details on how to play charades here

You can also play charades using the names of various football teams. You can find some of the football teams here

  • Forbidden Word

Divide into two teams and Every time someone from the opposing team says the word football the ball is advanced for your team.

Football / Superbowl terms (for Charades)

AFL, announcer, arm guard, arm pad, artificial turf, assistant coach, astroturf, audible, back, backfield, ball boy, ballcarrier, bench, blitz, block, bomb, bowl game, carries, center, cheerleader, chest protector, cleats, clipping, clock, clothesline, coach, coin toss, completion, conferences, cornerback, count, cup, dead ball, defense, defensive back, defensive end, defensive halfback, defensive holding, defensive line, defensive lineman, defensive tackle, delay of game, dime back, double team, down, draft, draw, drive, drop kick, elbow pad, eleven, eligible receiver, end, end zone, extra point, face guard, face mask, fair catch, fake, false start, fan, field, field goal, field of play, field position, first and ten, first down, flag, flanker, football, football helmet, football player, football tee, formation, forward pass, foul, four-point stance, free kick, free safety, freeze, fullback, fumble, goal line, goalpost, gridiron, grounding, guard, hail mary, half time, halfback, handoff, hang time, hash marks, head coach, Heisman trophy, hike, hip pad, holding, home-field advantage, huddle, i formation, illegal motion, incomplete pass, instant replay, intentional grounding, interception, interference, jersey, kick, kick return, kicker, kickoff, knee pad, laces, lateral pass, line, line judge, line of scrimmage, linebacker, lineman, live ball, lob, loose ball, man-to-man coverage, mascot, middle guard, midfield, NFL, nickel back, nose guard, nose tackle, off sides, off-season, offense, offensive backfield, offensive holding, offensive line, officials, offside, onside kick, open receiver, overtime, pass, pass defender, pass interference, pass pattern, pass protection, passing game, penalty, personal foul, pick, pigskin, piling on, pistol formation, placekick, placekicker, play, play clock, playbook, playoffs, point spread, possession, post-season, preseason, punt, punt return, punter, quarter, quarterback, quarterback sneak, receiver, reception, red flag, redshirt, referee, regular season, return, reverse, roll, rookie, roster, roughing the kicker, roughing the passer, running back, running game, running into the kicker, rush, rushing, sack, safety, score, scramble, screen, screen pass, scrimmage, scrimmage line, season, set, shotgun, shoulder pad, sideline, snap, special teams, spike, spiral, split end, spot, stadium, stance, starter, steal, stiff arm, straight arm, strong safety, substitution, super bowl, superbowl, sweep, t-formation, tackle, tailback, take a knee, TD, team, thigh pad, three-point conversion, three-point stance, tie, tight end, time out, too many men on the field, touchback, touchdown, trap, trick play, turnover, umpire, uniforms, unnecessary roughness, unsportsmanlike conduct, uprights, wide receiver, wing back, wishbone, formation, wrist pad, yard line, yellow flag

TAKE IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL

DISCUSSION

  • How much do you know about football? Whos the football expert?
  • Do you have to know everything about the game to enjoy the football game?
  • Are there people who don’t really care about football but get caught up in the excitement of the event? Why?
  • Do you need to know everything about the team players to enjoy the game?
  • What is it about the superbowl that gets people excited?
  • Are you as excited about God as you are about the Superbowl? Why or why not?

MAKE IT SPIRITUAL

  • Equipment – Ephesians 6:10-18 – In football terms, Paul, the team coach gives his team a pre-game pep talk, reminding them to put on their gear – the hip pads of truth, shoulder pads of righteousness, cleats of preparation, the face mask of faith, the helmet of salvation, and play according to the rules of the Playbook.” Then they have a team huddle to seek perseverance and strength to achieve victory over their opponent.
  • Fans – Some people are in the game and others are simply watching. Some are wearing the uniform, merely to be seen by others, but not on the field. They are watching, yet not doing. (James 1:22; Matthew 23:1-25)
  • Rules – We must compete according to the rules so that we are not disqualified for the prize (2 Tim. 2:5; 1 John 2:3-4; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 1 Corinthians 10:23)
  • Goals – Philippians 3:14 – Press on toward the Goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward.
  • Perseverance – James 1:2-4 – You’ll go up against many tests and when you persevere through these tests you will emerge victorious. (Ephesians 6:13; Hebrews 10:36)
  • Cheering – We must cheer one another on. (I Thessalonians 5:11; Hebrews 10:23-25; Hebrews 12:1-2)
  • The Clock is ticking down – Are you ready? Make the most of your time. (Ephesians 5:15-16; Colossians 4:5-6; 1 Corinthians 9:26-27; 1 Peter 3:15; 2 Timothy 4:2)

For more in depth scriptural applications check out last year’s superbowl lesson here:

MAKE IT PRACTICAL

  • In what ways is the church (or this group) similar to a football team?

(We are united as a team, we have a goal (the great commission), we work together to achieve a goal, there is opposition, sometimes unexpected things happen, sometimes we fumble in our tasks, sometimes we gain ground, while other times we lose ground, We have a coach (God), sometimes we have to defend against the opposition, time is short, there are people watching us (spectators), not everyone plays fair, there are penalties for mistakes, we must wear protective gear (armor of God), we have different positions on the team, there are people who are playing and there are people on the sidelines, we need a game plan, etc.)

MAKE IT PERSONAL

  • Are you part of the team (A Christian?) Why or why not?
  • If you are, what is your position(role) in the team?
  • Are you on the sidelines or playing the game?
  • Do you consider yourself a team player? Why or why not?
  • Are you focused on the goal?
  • What can you begin doing to help the team more effectively overcome the opposition and achieve the goals ahead?

SCRIPTURE

1 Corinthians 1:25-27

“Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.”

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Game Ideas, Object Lessons

Chopsticks Christian Living – An Object Lesson

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Chopsticks Christian Living
We just celebrated Chinese New Year here in Asia, which gave me the idea of games using chopsticks. Chopsticks always come in pairs and work together to pick up items. It reminds me of the Helper, the Holy spirit, who always works along side us to accomplish God’s purpose in our lives and the world.

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Games Using Chopsticks

NOTE: For these games you will need Chinese chopsticks (kebab sticks or even a couple of pencils could be used if you have a hard time finding chopsticks). You could also try your local Chinese takeout to grab some chopsticks. As awards you can use martial arts designations like “Blackbelt in Chopsticks.” (Yellow Belt, Orange Belt, Green Belt, Brown Belt, Black Belt)

  • Chopsticks & ping pong ball relay – give every team member a pair of chopsticks and line them up in a row. With one hand behind their backs, team members must pass a ping pong ball down the line. The first team to pass the ball to the end of the line wins.
  • Chopstick Transfer – For this game you will need a pair of Chopsticks, a bowl & Plate for each team. You will also need some items to pick up with chopsticks. Marshmallows or cotton balls are easy, but you can also use peanuts, uncooked rice grains, peas, beans, jelly means, M&ms, ice cubes, small candies, popcorn, peanuts, and even marbles. Set a timer or stopwatch for 1 Minute. See how many Items can be transferred from the Bowl to the plate in 1 Minute using the chopsticks in one hand only. Who ever can transfer the most in that time Wins. Alternatively put different items in the bowl with more difficult items being with more points.
  • On the Hook – In this game, contestants must hold a chopstick in their mouth, attached to a piece of string and an open paper clip. The contestant has to fish 4 keys off a stand (or stool) within 60 seconds. Alternatively, the Team to get all four in the fastest time wins.
  • Chopstick Pickup Dash – Played like “chopstick transfer”, place the bowl and plate about eight feet apart. Some objects are easier to carry than others. Each youth’s bowl should contain the same number of items. Using only their chopsticks, the participants carry the items from the bowl to the plate. Each team member takes a turn carrying an item before handing the chopsticks off to the next player.
  • Chopstick in the Hole – You need at least two youth to play this game. Give each player a single chopstick. Tie a string around the end of the chopstick. For youth, tie the other end of the string around the waist. Younger children can play with the string tied to their wrist. The object of this game is to get the chopstick into a glass bottle (or any other object with a small hole at the top) without using hands. Have the participants lean over the bottle and try to lower the chopstick through the hole. The first one to get it in wins. This game works as a relay as well. Choose teams. Time the rounds instead of stopping when the first player succeeds. The team with the most chopsticks in the hole wins.
  • Chicken Wok – Youth line up in two teams with the first person from each team standing
    on a starting line. Give the first youth in line two chopsticks. On the signal to begin, the first student will pick up the rubber chicken from inside a hula hoop using only chopsticks. (They may not use hands or stick the chopstick inside the chicken). If you can’t get rubber chickens you can also use bean bags, or a blown up rubber glove. They will have to bring the chicken down to their wok or stir fry pan, then give the sticks to the next youth in line, who then repeats the process. The process continues until everyone has had a turn. First team to have every person go wins.
  • Chopstick M&m Sort – For each team, put a bag of m&m’s in a bowl. Team members must hold one hand behind their backs and use chopsticks to seperate the colors into different bowls. The team to correctly separate the most M&ms in 1 minute wins.
  • Balance Pasta With Chopstick – For each team, you will need 7-8 Mezze Penne uncooked pasta pieces and a pair of chopsticks. As the time starts, the participants have to grab the chopstick and place it into their mouth. Once the chopstick is placed in their mouth, the participants are not allowed to use their hands. They have to keep them behind their backs. The participants must pick up the pennes one by one using the chopstick in their mouth. The participants should be careful while picking up the pennes so that the pennes already on the chopstick do not fall off. If they fall on the ground they can not be picked up, but if they fall on the table they can pick them up again. Penne can touch a participant’s lips, but they should not enter their mouth. The participant who is able to hold the maximum penne pasta on his/her chopstick in one minute wins.
  • Chocolate and chopsticks – Place a chocolate block in the center of the table. The candy should stay in its wrapper and, to make the game last longer, you could wrap the chocolate block in layers of gift-wrapping paper as well. Each person sitting around the table takes a turn at rolling the dice. The 1st person who rolls a six gets to start eating the chocolate block — but only with one hand behind his or her back and using only a pair of chopsticks. While they are getting ready to eat the chocolate block, the group keeps taking turns rolling the dice. If someone rolls a six, then the person who rolled the six before him relinquishes his right to the chocolate block, and the 2nd person must try to eat the chocolate before someone else rolls six. The game is over when the block of chocolate is finished. This can also be played with packages of M&ms.
  • “Pick-up Sticks” with wooden chopsticks – Split a class into small groups. One youth on each team starts the game by dropping a handful of chopsticks on a table or floor. The chopsticks will end up in a pile. Each participant on the team must remove a chopstick from the pile without touching or moving any of the other sticks. If a youth fails, he or she loses their turn. The student(s) with the most chopsticks at the end of the game is the winner. To add an interesting twist, Roll a slip of paper with a scripture verse around some of them. A piece of tape or glue will help hold the paper in place.
  • Tallest Tower – Have students work in teams to construct towers out of wooden chopsticks. You can add rubber bands or only permit participants to use the plastic or paper wrapper that pairs of chopsticks usually come with to tie their towers together. The team that builds the tallest tower in a designated amount of time wins.
  • Lemon Roll – You will need a pair of chopsticks, One lemon and a timer. The objective is to get the lemon from you to the next person on your team, and eventually all the way to the end of the line. participants may only use the chopsticks to manipulate the lemon.
  • Pass the Object – Arrange the youth in a circle and give them each a pair of chopsticks. Choose an object such as a marshmallow, a peanut, a walnut, a gummy bear or a marble. Give the item to one youth to start the game. The youth should pass the item around the circle using their chopsticks. If someone drops the item, he is out. Move the circle in and continue the game until there is only one player left standing.
  • Chop Stack – In one minute or less, use a standard pair of chopsticks to grab and stack four tubes of lip balm, creating a vertical tower. Place the chopsticks on the table, as well as the four tubes of lip balm. The lip balms should be resting horizontally (on their sides) rather than standing up. The contestant starts off by standing in front of the table, facing the laid-out supplies. Start the timer. The player can now pick up the chopsticks and arrange them in one hand, using them in the traditional manner. Then, he or she picks up the tubes of lip balm, one at a time, and stacks them. The tubes must stand straight up (with the lid facing upwards), and the completed tower of four lip balm tubes must be free-standing. The tower of tubes must remain standing, without any support, for three seconds to qualify. Complete this task in one minute or less and you win the game. As a team competition you can do the fastest time or the the team member who gets the most in one minute.
  • Chopsticks On A Jar – You will need one wide-mouthed container, such as a peanut butter jar and several pairs of chopsticks. The group’s goal is to have all of the chopsticks successfully balanced on top of the jar simultaneously. Each youth takes a turn placing one of the chopsticks on the mouth of the container. The youth attempts to place his/her chopsticks without spilling any of the previously placed chopsticks. At the end of one minute, the team with the most chopsticks balanced on the jar wins.
  • Jacks – Divide the youth into groups of three. Give each group a rubber ball or tennis ball and ten chopsticks. Each youth in the group will have a turn. The first youth in the group will take the bundle of 10 chopsticks and spread them on the ground. Sitting down in front of the group of sticks, throw the ball up (not too high). Quickly pick up one chopstick and then catch the ball, allowing the ball to bounce just once. Continue the game until all the sticks are retrieved one at a time. If the person cannot pick up the chopstick or misses the ball, his/her turn is ended. If the person successfully picks up the ten sticks he/she goes on to the next step. The next step is picking up chopsticks by two’s. Then picking up chopsticks by three’s, then by four’s, five’s, sixes, seven’s, eight’s nine’s, and all ten. After all these steps have been completed, the player will hold all ten chopsticks in one hand and tap them on the ground three times while the ball bounces once. The first player to complete all these steps wins the game!
  • Jelly Feast – Most jelly eaten with chopsticks in one minute wins.
  • Crossed or uncrossed – Take a couple of chopsticks.. sit in a circle and explain to the Youth that they have to figure out the secret to this game. Key a few youth in before you start. Pass the chopsticks to your right asking, “Are they crossed or uncrossed?” The key to this game has nothing to do with the chopsticks being passed. The answer depends on the legs of the person doing the passing, if the legs, ankles, feet of the passer are crossed, the answer is “Crossed”, if they are uncrossed, the answer is “uncrossed.” Again, as the game goes on, make the crossing of the legs more obvious. These games are fun when you exaggerate the motion or positioning of the objects they are trying to figure out because the key has nothing to do with the object.
  • Jolly Javelin – Use individual chopsticks as a javelin. The youth who tosses it the furthest wins.
  • Nut Job – Arrange 8 iron nuts in a row at the end of a table and provide the contestant with a chopstick. The contestant has to string the nuts into the chopsticks without using his hands. All 8 nuts have to be on the chopstick at the end of the minute.

TAKE IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL

MAKE IT SPIRITUAL

Lessons from Chopsticks

  • Chopsticks Only Work in Pairs – Since chopsticks must be used in pairs, in Chinese culture, it stands for “close cooperation”.
  • Patience – It takes patience and care. Sometimes instead of rushing we need to wait on God and His timing.
  • Only pick up one thing at a time – We often try to do too much at once, but sometimes we need to fully focus on only one task at a time and seek God’s direction for what he wants us to focus on at the time.
  • Don’t hold on too tight – Sometimes God chooses a delicate and gentle touch, a quiet whisper, to accomplish mighty things.
  • No matter how careful you are, sometimes you’ll drop something. God chooses to use us even though he knows we will fail him. But he is always merciful and redemptive and will pick us back up and use in might ways for His glory.

After Jesus announced to His disciples that He would be leaving them soon, He encouraged them: “And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Counselor to be with you forever – the Spirit of Truth” (John 14:16=17). The Greek word translated “Comforter” or “Counselor” or “advocate” (as found in John 14:16, 26; 15:26; and 16:7) is parakletos. It is made up of the preposition para, “beside,” and the adjective kle-tos, “called.” It means “to come alongside to help”, “one called to the side of another,” with the secondary idea of counseling or supporting him or her. A paraklete is someone who can do something for you that you cannot by yourself.

MAKE IT PRACTICAL

  • In John 14, how does Jesus say the Holy Spirit will help the disciples?
  • What does it mean that the Holy Spirit is our Paraklete? Our Helper?
  • What are the benefits of having the Holy Spirit as a helper alongside us?
  • What roles does the Holy Spirit have in our lives and in the world? What does he help us with?

MAKE IT PERSONAL

  • What choices do you have to make this week that you need the Holy Spirit’s help with?
  • What thing do you need to do this week that you need the Holy Spirit’s help with?

SCRIPTURES RELATED TO THE ROLES OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

  • Conviction – John 16:8 “And when he comes, he will convict the world of its sin, and of God’s righteousness, and of the coming judgment.”
  • Baptism – Matthew 3:11 – “I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” Mark 1:8 – “I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
  • Regeneration – Titus 3:5 – “he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit,” John 3:5-8 – “Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”
  • Indwelling – John 14:17 – “the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.” I Corinthians 3:16 – “Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst?” (See also 6:19)
  • Sealing – Ephesians 4:30 – “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.” II Corinthians 1:22 – “set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.”
  • Filling – Ephesians 5:18 – “Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit,”
  • Guiding – Galatians 5:25 – “Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.” Galatians 5:16 – “So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.” Romans 8:14 – “For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.”
  • Development of Christian fruit – Galatians 5:22-23 – “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”
  • Teaching – Jesus promised that when the Spirit came he would lead believers into truth. The Spirit illuminates the mind of the believer to the revelation of God’s will through his Word. – John 14:26 – “But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” John 16:13 – “But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.” 2 Tim 3:16-17 “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” 1 John 2:27 – “As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit – just as it has taught you, remain in him.”
  • Gives us spiritual gifts – I Corinthians 12, Romans 12:3-8, and 1 Peter 4:10-11 reveal the names of many gifts God’s Spirit provides to believers. Each believer has at least one (1 Corinthians 12:7), and each person is specifically gifted for the acts of service God has prepared for him or her (Ephesians 2:10).
  • Assists in evangelism – Acts 1:8 – “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 4:31 – “After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.”
  • Prayer – Romans 8:26 – “In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words”
  • Empowers us for all aspects of the Christian Life and transformation – Ephesians 3:14-19 – “For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge – that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.”

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Game Ideas, Object Lessons

Reflecting Christ’s Image – Object Lesson Using Foil

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Reflecting Christ’s Image

Aluminum foil is one of those things we often take for granted. It has so many uses. But this week’s lesson uses foil to remind us that as Christians we are destined to be conformed to the image of Christ, reflecting Him in all that we do. It’s not just being seen as Christlike, but God moulding us and shaping us into the image of His Perfect Son.

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Aluminum Foil Games

  • Mirror Maze – Make a maze on the floor using masking tape. Make mirrors for teams by wrapping a piece of aluminum foil, shiny side out, around a small square of cardboard. Youth must walk through the maze by looking into the foil mirror held straight out from their eyebrows so that the mirror reflects the ground at their feet. Youth are only allowed to look in their mirror to navigate. The youth who completes the maze in the quickest time wins. To make it a little more difficult, assign time penalties for each time a person steps on a line or touches an obstacle. Variation: Everyone must walk backwards from one side of the area to the other using only foil mirrors to see.
  • Mirror Scavenger Hunt – Place a variety of items inside a designated area that youth must collect and deliver to their team. They must look toward the ceiling, holding a foil mirror above their head so that it reflects the ground at the feet to navigate and retrieve the objects. if they look down at any time they are disqualified. The team that picks up all the items the fastest wins. Variations: Youth must pick up the items according to size or place some items that incur penalties when touched.
  • Walk the Line – Make a zig-zag and single maze like line of masking tape or using chalk that winds around the room and ends on the opposite side of the room. While looking into a foil mirror placed above their heads youth are to walk the line to the end of the room then return. If they miss stepping on the line they must return to the start. Using a stop watch, time the team in getting all members to walk the line (relay style). Team with the quickest time wins.
  • Mirror Dodge Ball – Make balls of foil from discarded aluminum foil. Place a line or divider down the center of the room. While looking AWAY from the supposing team and into a mirror so they can see the team behind them, youth must toss the balls of foil and try to hit people in the other team. if someone is hit they are out of the game. Team with the most remaining members after a given time period is declared the winner.
  • Capture the Flag – Divide your youth group in two teams and the room into two territories so that each team has one territory. Give each team a flag they can place anywhere in their territory. (It must be visible when you are next to it and the other team must be able to directly access it) Teams can place tables, chairs, or other “defense objects” in their territory. Supply each team with as many aluminum foil balls as possible. The object is to get the other team’s flag to your side without getting hit by an aluminum foil ball thrown from the other team. If a person is hit with a foil ball, he/she must sit out until the next round. When the team members begin to dwindle, raids can be made on the other team’s flag. The first team to capture the other team’s flag is declared the winner. Everyone re-supplies with the aluminum foil balls and another round can be played.
  • Foil wars – For this game you’ll need a dark room, a strobe light, and several rolls of aluminum foil. Make as many balls of aluminum foil as possible. Divide the room in half and have a line down the middle of the room. Place an equal number of foil balls on each side of the room, shut off the lights and start the strobe light. When the lights come back on the team with the fewest number of foul balls on their side wins the game. If you want to reduce the amount of foil used you can also cover ping pong balls with foil.
  • Aluminum Foil Sculptures – Give each youth small sheet of aluminum foil. When the clock starts, they will have one minute to create an aluminum sculpture. When finished, display the Sculptures on a table in the front of the room and have the youth group vote on winners for various categories.
  • Tallest Tower – Give each team a roll of aluminum foil and using only the foil teams must create the tallest free-standing tower possible in 10 minutes. For an extra challenge, give all the teams less time.
  • Spot the Difference – Find some “spot the difference puzzles” – Two images that are mirror reflections of each other but with changes. Award points to teams of youth for correctly identifying the differences in the two mirror images.

NOTE: You can also replace the ping pong ball in many games with a ball of aluminum foil or use the wrapping paper ideas I sent at Christmas and use foil instead.

Final Game for Key Application

  • Foil Faces – Give each youth a piece of aluminum foil big enough to cover his/ her face. Have each find a partner who will make an image of his/her face by placing the foil up to the person’s face and carefully molding the foil sheet to the face. If they wear glasses, a hat, earrings or other peculiar identifiable items ask them to leave them on during the mold making process. With a marker put the owners name on the inside of each. If you have a very large group you can reduce the time required by recruiting several representatives in advance. Place the masks in random order in front of the volunteers. The youth have to try to match the face with the mask. The player with the most correct wins.

TAKE IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL

KEY TRUTHS

  • We are created in the image of God – We are created in God’s image to reflect his light in our lives. Image – “a physical likeness or representation of a person, animal, or thing, photographed, painted, sculptured, or otherwise made visible.” Our lives are moulded to him and we reflect him in our actions and thoughts.
  • Sin corrupted God’s image in us – However when man fell he became a distorted, corrupted image of God. Like a piece of foil, wadded up and then used as a mirror, the reflection is shattered. When we sin, we choose to be moulded not into the image of God, but into the image of other things. We replace God with those things and they shape our lives, corrupting it and destroying the image of God in us.
  • God redeems us – You’ve made an impression of your face in foil, but the foil isn’t really you. It looks a little like you, but It’s not you. It’s just an impression of who you are. In the same way, we are created in the “image of God.” We are NOT God, but created to be like Him and reflect what He is like. After our fall, God sent His perfect image, Jesus Christ, to restore God’s image in us as we accept Him as our Savior and Lord. Each of us was created, shaped, loved, redeemed, and called by God to be transformed into His Perfect You, reflecting the best of God in everything.
  • God wants to Mould us into the image of His Son – God’s also want to leave His impression on us, specifically the impression of Christ – to be Christlike. We still look like ourselves, but God wants us to look like him in the ways we live and think. It’s not the reflection of our face, but the reflection of our heart God wants to change.
  • Moulding requires pressure – It take pressure to mould the foil to your face. In the same way God may use pressure to mould us into the image of His Son. It may be through health, trials, temptations, challenges, tests of our faith. Whatever circumstances God allows in our lives are for the purpose of making us more Christlike. [Quite a personal application for me as I continue my chemotherapy]

MAKE IT SPIRITUAL

  • What is an image? What is a mould?
  • When you look at your reflection in a mirror, how does the quality of the mirror affect how you see yourself?

MAKE IT PRACTICAL

  • Is it possible to not see a problem in yourself, even if the mirror is in front of you?
  • What are some ways that a Christian begins to look like Christ in his or her actions, deeds, values, thoughts, habits, and words?
  • What are some examples of Christlike characteristics?
  • In what ways does a Christian mirror Jesus?

MAKE IT PERSONAL

  • Do you spend most of your time looking into physical mirror or the mirror of God’s Word? What does this say about you?
  • Does your life reflect Christ? Actions? Thoughts? Habits? Your Heart?
  • In what ways is God moulding you into the image of His Son?
  • In what ways is God still conforming you to his image?
  • What Christlike characteristics would others describe in your life?
  • What’s one thing that would change in your life if you were more Christlike?

SCRIPTURES

  • Genesis 1:27 – “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.”
  • 1 Peter 1:13-16 – “Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.”
  • Psalm 139:13-16 – “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.”
  • Galatians 3: 26-29 – “You are all sons (and daughters) of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.”
  • Peter 3:3-4 – “You should be known for the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God.”
  • Romans 12:1-2 – “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”
  • 1 Corinthians 13:12 – “Now we see a dim reflection, as if we were looking into a mirror, but then we shall see clearly. Now I know only a part, but then I will know fully, as God has known me”
  • James 1:22-25 – “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it – not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it – they will be blessed in what they do.”

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Game Ideas, Object Lessons

Chewing on God’s Word – A bubble gum object lesson

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Chewing on God's Word
NOTE: As I write this week’s idea of the week, I’m sitting in the hospital while they do the preparation for chemotherapy for lymphoma. It’s been an eventful past couple of weeks since I was diagnosed and I missed last week’s idea of the week.

This week’s lesson is centered around bubble gum. When I think of bubble gum there are a couple of things that come to mind. First, when you unwrap it and first place it in your mouth, it’s kind of hard and not very flexible. But when you chew on it a while it becomes not only flexible, but you can then fill it with air and expand it to make huge bubbles. Chewing the bubble gum for me is a lot like meditation on God’s Word. I’ve had a lot of time to do that in the hospital as they run all the tests to decide the chemo regiment and make sure I will be able to tolerate it. Like bubble gum, you have to chew on God’s Word a while to get the full flavor and experience it more fully. At first it may seem kind of HARD to understand but you just need to chew on it awhile. God’s Word, unlike Bubble Gum, never loses it flavor. And once we’ve meditated or chewed on it a while, we become more flexible and useful to God. He can stretch us and fill us and use us.

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Bubble Gum Games

Bubble Gum Blowing Contest – You can play this game as individuals, or with representatives from multiple teams. Give each youth 2 pieces of gum. On your signal, they must unwrap the bubble gum, chew it, and blow a large bubble. The largest bubble wins. Give the youth 60 seconds to blow their best bubble. The easiest way to time the game is to play some upbeat energetic music and then stop the music after 60 seconds as a timer. (NOTES: You might want to have a ruler for measurement. Also, if you add a little peanut butter to bubble gum you can blow even bigger bubbles. Peanut butter also works wonders for getting bubble gum out of hair.)

Bubble Gum Blow-Out – Tape a piece of paper to the wall at an easily reached height for your youth. You’ll need one for each team. On “go”, each player has to race to a table on the other side of the room to get a piece of bubble gum. They must then. They then unwrap it and start chewing it to get it flexible enough to blow a bubble. A once they blow the bubble they must stick it to the paper on the wall for their team, using only their mouth. No hands are allowed. The first team to have every member stick a bubble to the paper wins. (Note: Some brands of bubble gum are easier to stick to the paper than others)

Bubble Gum Matchup – You will want to buy several different flavors or colors of bubble gum. Give everyone about 5-10 pieces of different bubble gum flavors or different colored individually wrapped bubblegum balls. (Be sure to tell them not to eat it yet.) Tell them they have about 1 to 2 minutes to get all the same color of Bubble Gum. To do so they need to trade with other youth. The first person to trade and get all of one color wins.

Bubble Gum Swing – Youth pair up for this game, and it can be played with the entire group or a representative from each team. For each pair, tie a piece of bubble gum to a string so that when the end of the string is placed in a person’s mouth, the bubble gum is about 6 inches from the floor. One youth in each pair holds the string in his or her mouth and swings the bubble gum to their partner. The partner must catch the piece of bubble gum into their mouth while standing up straight and at no time can either person use hands. They must then chew the bubble gum as quickly as possible and blow a bubble. The first pair to do so wins, but you might want to continue the game until several more are successful.

Bubble Gum Art – Give each youth one or more pieces of bubble gum to chew, a toothpick and an index card. Allow them a few minutes to chew the bubble gum, place it on the index card and then create a sculpture of something on the index card using only the toothpick as a tool – no hands. You can either give them a specific object to sculpt or you can let them come up with their own sculpture. If you allow them free reign with their creations, give each person an opportunity to show off their creation. You can also give other youth an opportunity to guess what the scultpture is. The person with the best and most creative design, as determined by the peer group is the winner. You can have several categories of winners, like “Most ingenious,” “Most Creative,” etc.

Bubble Blow Up – Give a representative from each team a Blow Pop sucker. The first one to unwrap it, and bite into it, to the gum, and blow a bubble wins.

Bubble Gum Treasure Hunt – Young Life Twist: Bury a piece of bubble gum in plate of flour. Without using their hands, youth have to find the gum and blow a bubble. First to do so wins.

Bubble Race – First person in a pair to blow and pop ten bubbles in a row wins. Face your opponent (this is important, it means you can cheat by making your rival laugh and they won’t be able to blow a bubble) and on the count of three start blowing. Bubbles have to make a pop or they don’t count and you can’t make your bubble pop by sucking it backwards. It has to pop while it’s being blown outwards. The first one to ten wins.

TAKE IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL

Discussion:

  • What is your favorite kind of bubble gum? Why?
  • Why do you choose to chew bubble gum? The flavor, to blow bubbles, or simple to have something to chew on or pass the time?
  • What does it mean to chew on something?
  • What is the benefit of chewing something for a long time?

MAKE IT SPIRITUAL

* In what way is meditation in God’s Word similar to chewing gum?

In many of these games, we rushed to chew the gum quickly so that we could simply blow a bubble. We didn’t take it slowly or take time to enjoy it and fully experience the flavor, but we simply chewed it just enough to get something done. Unfortunately this is the same way many of us treat our Bible reading. We read just enough to get the job done, but we don’t really meditate on it or or take time to really enjoy it. In the Bible, we are often commanded to meditate on scripture. We are also told to taste and see that God is good.

* When given a piece of gum, do you quickly chew it and swallow it, or do you chew it for a while and enjoy it?
What is your favorite food? Have you ever chewed your favorite food very slowly so that you can taste every nuance of the flavor and truly enjoy it? This is a lot like meditation.

MAKE IT PRACTICAL

Meditate means to take your time to think long and hard about something, to focus on something or someone in order to get the most out of it.
What are some ways we can meditate on scripture?

Here three of my favorites:
Look up key words in the verse in an English Dictionary. How does the full meaning of the words expand your understanding of the scripture?
Read a verse emphasizing a different word each time. For example, John 3:16
FOR God so loved the World….
For GOD so loved the world….
For God SO loved the world…
For God so LOVED the world….
ETC… How does each emphasis bring more depth to the meaning of the verse?
3. Read it in various translations.

MAKE IT PERSONAL

  • Make sure you have a personal bible reading plan or devotional book you use to mediate on scriptures.
  • Set aside some time each day to meditate on Scripture.
  • Keep a journal of your insights as you meditate on God’s Word each day.

SCRIPTURES

1 Corinthians 3:1-3 – “And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual men, but as to men of flesh, as to infants in Christ. I gave you milk to drink, not solid food; for you were not yet able to receive it. Indeed, even now you are not yet able, for you are still fleshly. For since there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not fleshly, and are you not walking like mere men?”

John 16:12 – “I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear.”

Hebrews 5:12 – “In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food!”

1 Peter 2:2 – “Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation,”

Joshua 1:8 – “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.”

Psalm 1:1-6 – “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous; ”

Psalm 119:9-11 – “How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word. With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments! I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.”
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Game Ideas, Object Lessons

Stretched by God – Games and an Object Lesson

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Stretched by God

There is going to be a tug-of-war in our spiritual life because God is always in the process of transforming us. Change causes tension and we are stretched. This week’s lesson uses rubber bands for games and as an object lesson on the topic of being stretched by God.

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Rubber Band Games

  • Rubber Band Face – Youth compete by stretching a rubber band over their heads and open their mouths so that the rubber band is stretched between their teeth and below their ears. Without using their hands, they must move the rubber band down their faces so that it ends up around their neck. They will need to use their tongue, lips and teeth and lots of chin wriggling to make this happen. be sure to have a camera because the distorted faces are hilarious. (You can also place the rubber band on the upper lip just below the nose for a different variation)
  • Rubber Band Face – Youth compete by stretching a rubber band over their heads and open their mouths so that the rubber band is stretched between their teeth and below their ears. Without using their hands, they must move the rubber band down their faces so that it ends up around their neck. They will need to use their tongue, lips and teeth and lots of chin wriggling to make this happen. be sure to have a camera because the distorted faces are hilarious. (You can also place the rubber band on the upper lip just below the nose for a different variation)
  • Rubber Band War – Set up two fortresses in a classroom using folding tables turned on their sides about 8-10 feet apart. Put a line of masking tape down the middle of the playing field between the two tables. Give two teams tons of rubber bands (you can buy them by the bag at office supply stores). Teams try to hide behind the fortress, but can jump out and run around as long as they stay on their side of the dividing line. If anyone gets shot by a rubber band, even from their own team, they are out of the game. The last team standing (or crawling around the floor) wins. Rubber bands must be shot directly in order to get a person out. Simply tossing them over the table doesn’t count. Stress the importance of honesty. Try different configurations with your tables to keep it interesting. Use thin rubber bands so they don’t hurt too much or cause injuries.
  • Rubber Band Targets – Hang aluminum pie tins from string across one end of the room. Use a marker to label them with different point values. When hit with a rubber band they will make a definite sound. Give each youth 5 to 10 rubber bands to shoot from the other side of the room. Highest score wins.
  • Rubber Band Pass – The objective of this youth group game is to pass the most rubber bands to the end of your team’s line as possible in a given amount of time. Divide into teams and give every team member a plastic drinking straw to place in his or her mouth. (You can also use dried spaghetti in place of a straw) Once the straw is in the mouth you cannot adjust it or touch it with your hands. The first person on each team places a rubber band on his or her straw, then using the straws only must pass it to the second person in line, and continue until it reaches the end of the line. Only one rubber band can be on a straw at a time.
  • Rubber Band Man – You’ll need a lot of rubber bands for each team. Give each team 1 minute to place as many rubber bands as possible on their rubber band man (or woman). A rubber band on the rubber band man’s hands or arms is worth 1 point. The feet and legs are two points. Face is 3 points. Hanging it on the ears doesn’t count. The neck is not allowed. The team with the most points wins. Use different size rubber bands to make the game more interesting. Be prepared for some outrageous photos.
  • Rubber Band Rope Jumping – Loop a number of rubber bands together tightly until you have a larger one (You can select the length you want). Teams then compete to see who can make the most jumps using the rubber band.
  • Loop Groups – Tie a number of rubber bands together to form a big loop about the size of a hula hoop. Ask the youth to stand in a circle and hold hands. Then have one pair of youth release their hands and reach through the loop circle and then re-connect hands. The ring of rubber bands must travel in a clockwise direction and return to the initial starting position without anyone letting go of the hands on either side of them. The youth must stay in one location while the rubber band loop moves around the circle. Fastest time wins.
  • Rubber Band Limbo – This game, is like the traditional game of limbo, except that the string of rubber bands replaces the pole. The rubber bands are stretched at progressively lower levels and the youth try to pass under it.
  • Rubber band wrestling – This game is played between pairs of youths. They must sit at a table facing each other, and resting their right hands on the table. They then hook their fingers together with their thumbs raised up in the air. A rubber band is then placed around the two thumbs. On “go” they each try to capture the rubber band without dropping it by wiggling their thumbs. The side with the most winners can be the winning team or you can have successive play off until you have a single winner.
  • Elastic Bull’s Eye – You will need loop of rubber bands tied together into a circle and one “target” (non-elastic string loop) for each group. The group must release the stretched out rubber band in such a way that the elastic falls inside the target (inside the bulls eye). Divide the youth group into teams of 4-8 and supply each group with one loop of rubber bands and one “target” (non-elastic string). Each person in the group holds onto the elastic with two fingers and then the group backs up so the elastic is stretched out in a big circle (people are spaced evenly from each other). Place the target in the center of the circle. The group must now release the elastic simultaneously and in such a way that the elastic falls into the target. Most number of success in a given time wins. Rules: The group must keep the loop stretched just before the release. The group must release the loop simultaneously. The stretched loop must be kept parallel to the ground. The target must stay in the center of the circle. The loop can only land inside the target as a result of the simultaneous release of the loop by the group (example: the elastic cannot be thrown by one person)
  • Focus Ring – You’ll need a large thick rubber band that is a bit smaller than a tennis ball for each team. Each team will also need two empty plastic soda bottles. Finally you will need about 3 ft or 1 meter of string for each team member. Tie the strings to the rubber band in a radiating pattern so that the rubber band is in the center of all the strings. Place the tennis ball on top of one of the empty soda bottles as a pedestal. The objective it to pull on the strings and use the rubber band to move the tennis ball on top of the other. Each person in the group holds on to at least one string (depending on the size of the group, some will have more than one string). The participants spread out like spokes of a wheel, holding on to the end of their string. Rules: Each participant gets to operate at least one string. Participants must hold onto the end of the string and no other place. Participants must stay at a distance of at least the length of a stretched out string (very important). If the ball falls the group must start again. If the pedestal falls over the group must start again. The group is successful when the ball is balanced on the pedestal.

TAKE IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL

One of the key characteristics of a rubber band is that it is stretched. In fact, a rubber band isn’t much use unless it is stretched.

  • What are some things that we use rubber bands for?
  • Why are the rubber bands ideal for such tasks?
  • What happens to a rubber band after it is stretched many times?

MAKE IT SPIRITUAL

Just as a rubber band becomes more useful when stretched, God also stretches us to make us more effective and use us more fully for his glory. When stretched you expand your usefulness to God. See the scripture section below for verses that talk about us being stretched in the Christian walk. Stretching means trusting God in moments of stress, tension, pressure, and discomfort. Sometimes it is painful and sometimes merely uncomfortable.

MAKE IT PRACTICAL

There is going to be a tug-of-war in our spiritual life because God is always in the process of transforming us. Change causes tension and we are stretched. But in these times God is moving us forward into the likeness of Christ. When God stretches us, He is not making us somebody we do not want to be. He is actually stretching us to be the person He created us to be.

  • When a muscle is regularly stretched it becomes more flexible, versatile, efficient, strong, and growing. What difference would it make in your Christian walk if these characteristics were also true of you spiritual life?
  • Consider also the opposites of those qualities. How would your spiritual life be different if it was characterized by inflexible, limited, ineffective, atrophied, weak and brittle?
  • When a muscle is not regularly stretched it atrophies or shrinks. How does this relate to spiritually exercising our faith?
  • There is always a purpose to being stretched. How do we cooperate with God and grow in the stretch?

MAKE IT PERSONAL

  • How is God growing and stretching you right now?
  • Do you tend to cooperate and hear what God is doing, or pull away when you are being stretched
  • How can you personally cooperate with God when he is stretching you?

SCRIPTURES

  • Philippians 3:14 – “I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”
  • Isaiah 54:2 – “Enlarge the place of your tent, And let them stretch out the curtains of your dwellings; Do not spare; Lengthen your cords, and strengthen your stakes.”
  • Philippians 3:13 and 14 – “forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”
  • Matthew 12:13 – “Then He said to the man, “Stretch out your hand!” He stretched it out, and it was restored to normal, like the other.”
  • James 1:2-4 – “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials; knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”
  • 1 Corinthians 10:13 – “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.”
  • Philippians 4:13 – “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me”

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Game Ideas, Object Lessons

Babies in Christ – An Object Lesson for the New Year

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Babies in Christ
The new year is often represented by a new born baby because a baby represents a fresh beginning. Jesus described Salvation to Nicodemus in John 3 as being “born” again. Both physically and spiritually, we begin as babies. But we don’t stay as babies – we must grow. The Bible tells us to “grow in grace in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ” (II Peter 3:18).

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Baby Games

  • Baby Bottle Guzzlers – The first to drain a baby bottle filled with soda and then burp wins. (You might want to enlarge the hole in the nipples.)
  • Baby Bottle Knockover – Get a pair of old pantie hose and put a potato in the stocking and let it slide to the foot of one of the legs. Tie the other leg around the youth’s head. You’ll need one for each team. Place a baby bottle on the floor for each team. First person to knock the baby bottle over with the potato in the stocking wins.
  • Baby Food Roulette – Label several gross baby food flavors with numbers stuck on with a piece of tape then play a game of hot potato with a plastic spoon. When the music stops, the person holding the spoon picks a number and must eat a big spoon of baby food from the jar of baby food with that number on it and the person is out of the game. Rearrange the numbers so youth don’t know what they are getting for the next round and repeat. Continue until there is only one person left in the game.
  • Baby Items in the Bag – Put at least ten common baby items inside a diaper bag: a bib, cotton buds, cotton balls, baby powder, teething ring, rattle, bottle, baby brish, baby lotion, baby shampoo, diaper, wet wipes, diaper pin, sock, onesie, and baby blanket are just a few ideas that are also fairly inexpensive. Give each youth a pen and paper before passing the diaper bag around. Without looking, each youth should stick a hand inside the diaper bag and try to identify as many items as possible. Give each youth 60 seconds to make their guesses before moving the bag to the next person. Once everyone has had a turn, whoever has the most correct answers wins. (Variation: put them on a tray and cover it. Uncover it for 60 seconds then cover it back up before they youth are allowed to write down the contents of the tray.)
  • Baby Relay – A person from each team must put on the diaper, tuck the bib in the shirt, place their thumb in their mouth, and waddle to the other end of the room (or if outside, a designated place) where they will get on their hands and knees (like a crawling baby) and have a fellow team member squirt a bit of water from the baby bottle into the mouth of the baby. The baby then returns and the next person repeats the same tasks. First team to have all members go through the tasks wins.
  • Baby Sketch Artists – Each youth is given a paper plate and a marker. With the paper plate no top of her or his head, each person draws a picture of a baby. Best sketch wins.
  • Baby Stroller F1 Race – You need at least one baby stroller and a doll to put inside. You might also want a stopwatch. Use cones, flags, are anything else to mark out a race course. Representatives from each team will have a turn at racing the stroller through the race course as fast as possible. Add penalty seconds for hitting any object, for the baby falling out of the stroller,or other infractions of your rules. Fastest time wins.
  • Blind Diaper Relay – Give each team a baby doll, and a blindfold. First person in line dons the blindfold, takes off the current disposable diaper, and replaces it with another diaper. when finished, the baby, extra diaper, and blindfold is passed to the next person on the team. First team to all complete the task wins.
  • Bowling Baby Bottles – Arrange 10 baby bottles in a triangle shape, and have each youth “bowl” with a small ball. Highest score wins.
  • Diaper Danger – Blindfold a representative from each team who must diaper a blown up balloon with a good amount of baby powder added inside. First person to diaper the balloon to the best of their ability and without popping the balloon with the safety pins wins.
  • Diaper Derby – Split the youth into teams and provide each team with a roll of toilet paper. They have five minutes to wrap a team member up in a diaper made of toilet paper. The team with the most creatively diapered ‘baby’ wins.
  • Diapers in the Dark – You’ll need several safety pins, a blindfold, and a large doll for each team. You also nned a cloth diaper that fits on the doll. Blindfolded representatives from each team must put the diaper on the “baby.” Quickest and best diapered ‘baby’ wins a prize.
  • Dirty Diapers – (Gross game warning) – Place a different types of chocolate candy bar in several newborn-sized diapers (or folded napkins) then microwave each a few seconds until melted. You will want those that are creamy, nutty, caramel-filled, milky, chunky, etc. Pass the diapers around and have each person smell (or taste) the ‘poo’ in the diapers to try and guess which brand of candy bar is in each diaper. The person with the most correct guesses wins.
  • Feed The Baby – Give everyone a large bib and a small spoon. In teams of two, the pairs must feed a jar of applesauce to one another at the same time. The fastest pair to finish their applesauce wins. (Messier Variation: Do it with blindfolds)
  • Guess the Baby Food – Buy several unique flavors of baby food in jars and number each lid and tear off the labels. Ask each youth to sample each and write down the flavor. The most correct guesses wins.
  • Pacifier Pass – Give each youth a straw to place in his or her mouth. Using only the straws to touch it, each team must pass a pacifier to end of the line. First team to the end without dropping it wins. If it is dropped the team must start over.
  • Pin Drop – Youth compete to hold diaper pins at nose level and drop them into a baby bottle. The most diaper pins in the bottle after 60 seconds wins.
  • Ring Toss – Spread a series of bottle nipples on a flat surface, with several inches between each and labeled with a score based on distance. Youth must stand behind a throw line and try to toss the bottle rings that hold the nipple on a bottle onto a nipple. Highest score wins.
  • Siamese Diaper Relay – In teams of two, each pair stands side by side with the center hands behind their backs and quickly and neatly puts a cloth diaper on a baby doll with safety pins. Each person in the pair can only use the outside hand. Quickest and best diapered baby wins.
  • Spit the Pacifier – Youth line up and are each given one pacifier to put in his or her mouth. The youth that spits out the pacifier so it lands the farthest away wins.

TAKE IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL

MAKE IT SPIRITUAL

New Christians and new babies have a lot in common. One of the first things a baby learns to do is to drink from a bottle. Soon a baby will learn to feed him/herself. Yet the parent is very careful about what a baby eats. As a matter of fact, a baby will stick almost anything it can find in its mouth thinking it is food. A parent is careful that a baby does live on junk food or place anything in his mouth that might harm him. As Christians, especially as babes in Christ, we need to learn to feed ourselves on God’s Word and avoid those things that are unhealthy or even harmful to us.

  • What are some habits and actions you often see in babies and children that would not be acceptable in adults?
  • What are some of the marks of maturity as a baby grows into an adult?

MAKE IT PRACTICAL

  • Read Hebrews 5:11-6:1. In verse 11, the phrase “slow to learn” could be translated “too lazy to learn.” What are some ways that we are too lazy to learn?
  • What might “milk” and “solid food” represent? (See 6:1)
  • What differentiates a mature Christian from a spiritual baby (vs 14)?
  • What attitudes actions and behavior would you expect from a mature Christian?

MAKE IT PERSONAL

  • In what areas have you grown a lot? In what areas is your spiritual growth been stagnant? How would you describe yourself as a Babe in Christ / Child of God?

One way to discover what you eat is to look at the way you spend your time, especially your free time. On another piece of paper, make a list of all the things that you spend your time doing, all your hobbies, all your favorite pastimes? After you have made the list circle any items that are spiritually healthy- health food. Cross out any items that are spiritually harmful or unhealthy – junk food. Leave blank any items which are neutral.

  • What does this tell you about your spiritual diet?
  • In what ways would you like to grow in the coming year?
  • What do you need to have more of in your spiritual diet to grow more mature as a Christian for the next year?

SCRIPTURES

  • Psalm 139:15-16 – God planned all your days, all your life, before you were ever even born. He had a plan for you before you even existed.
  • Hebrews 5:11-6:1
  • II Peter 3:18

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Game Ideas, Object Lessons

Step up in the New Year

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Step up in the New Year
A person’s feet tell us two very important facts about someone: where one’s standing and which way someone is going. A firm stand and a consistent walk are both traits we admire in others. During the New Year we often look back at the journey that has brought us to where we are now as well as make decisions about where we want to go in the upcoming year.

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Games using Feet

  • Identify the Footprint – As the youth arrive, collect their footprints. My personal preference is to have sheets of colored paper – the type that does not leave a stain when wet. (Test it first so you don’t have permanent footprints across your carpet!). Have the participants remove their shooes and socks, then step on a damp towel and then finally step on the paper. A wet footprint will be left behind. Quickly trace it with a dark colored marker and let it dry! You might also want to number the prints and have a numbered name list so that you can correctly identify the prints later. Go through the numbered prints and have youth match the print with the person who made it. Can you even identify your own footprint? Award the person who correctly identifies the most feet! With the Incredible FEAT award!
  • Foot Tag – Two players hold hands with both hands. On “go” both players try and tap the top of their opponents foot with their own foot. First to do so wins. Winners then play winners until there is a top winner.
  • Whose feet – 5-8 members of the group sit behind a curtain. Only the bare feet are peeking out from under the curtain. Can a player (or the rest of the group) work out whose feet they are?
  • Fewest feet – Each team tries to stand on as few feet as possible. For example, 5 players have 10 feet and try to only have 3-4 feet on the ground.
  • Coaster discus – A coaster or plastic lid is clamped between the toes and is thrown like a Frisbee as far as possible. Farthest throw wins.
  • Foot relay – Divide your group into teams of 6-8. Each team then lines up and sits on the floor. The object of the game is to pass a lemon along the line and back again using only their feet. If the lemon touches the floor the team have to start again at the beginning.
  • Footsies – This game is similar to twister but without the game props. Begin the game with all players standing in a circle about a shoulder-width apart. Select one youth to be the first striker and have him or her start the game by moving one of his or her feet (this foot is called the striking foot) to touch one of the feet of the person to the left of them. Once the striker decides which foot he or she wants to move while striking foot the other foot becomes the pivot foot. The pivot foot cannot be lifted off the ground. Once the first striker has made his or her move, he or she has to freeze both feet in the position in which he or she came in contact with the other person and must remain frozen until his or her next turn. The foot of the person who was struck becomes the next person’s striking foot for his or her turn. The game progresses by going around the circle in a clockwise motion (to the left), having each player take his or her striking foot and striking the next player. As the game progresses, players will begin to find themselves in positions that make it hard to remain balanced so people will begin to be eliminated. Players are eliminated if they touch the ground with anything other than their feet, if they lose their balance, if they try to catch their balance by grabbing another person, if it is their turn and by mistake move the foot that was not touched by the previous striker’s foot or if they move their feet out of turn. If someone is eliminated, the next person in the circle continues on with the game choosing which ever foot he or she wishes to use as the striking foot. As youth are eliminated, there will be gaps in the circle making it harder for strikers to reach the foot of the person next in the circle. If while attempting to reach the foot of the person next in the circle the strikers loses his or her balance or breaks any of the other rules, he or she is eliminated. Note that strikers don’t necessarily have to lift their striking foot when striking, but also can scoot a foot across the ground in order to remain balanced; once contact is made with the other person’s foot, the striker’s feet must freeze. As the game goes on, players will find they are getting very close to each other and it becomes harder to remain balanced. Players are allowed to touch each other, but they cannot grab, push, bump or brace other players to try and make them loose their balance.
  • Foot Pictionary – This is like standard pictionary but the artist instead of drawing with their hands will draw with their feet, by having the marker tied to one of their feet with the bandana. On “Go” the player will try their best to draw the assigned picture, while the rest of their team tries to guess the picture. Keep the assigned pictures simple, as it will be difficult to even draw the simplest things and make them recognizable. Maybe even purchase and use “Junior Pictionary” for suggested words and categories.
  • Banana Foot Peel – Bring up about 4 students, have them take off their shoes and socks, and hand each of them a banana. When the leader says go, the contestants are supposed to peel the banana with their feet as quickly as they can. They can use both feet to do so. Judge the winner by speed and final condition of the banana.
  • Foot Signing Contest – Have 5 students come to the front of the room and remove their shoes and socks. Give each a felt-tipped or ball point pen. On the signal, they run out into the crowd and see who can get the most signatures on the bottom of their feet in the time limit. No one person can sign more than three feet. Can use both feet. Signatures must be legible.
  • Balancing foot balloons – Only using the feet, one or more balloons must be kept up in the air without the balloon touching the ground. This can also be timed.
  • Spell My Feet – Take 5 people and have them take off their shoes and socks. Take a marker and write a large letter on the bottom of each of their feet so if they sit facing you and hold their feet in the air, you can read the letters. On the first person put an A and an N (one letter on each foot), on the next an E and a T, then GR, OM, and SP. You will call out different words for them to spell and they have to cross legs, stretch, and situate themselves in a position so that the bottom of their feet spell the word you called. You can do this with two teams of five if you want and see who spells the word first. Use these words: master, roast, smear, togas, snore, ten proms, get spam, great son

TAKE IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL

Today’s games all involved feet. A lot of our English idioms and common sayings refer to “feet”. Share a few appropriate idioms or the entire list of idoms with the group. Which of these idioms best describes you? Why?

  • Idioms referring to feet
  • back on your feet again
  • dip your toes in the water
  • drag one’s feet
  • fall at his feet
  • find your feet
  • fleet of foot
  • foot the bill
  • get a foot in the door
  • get cold feet
  • get off on the wrong foot
  • get to one’s feet
  • get your feet wet
  • has two left feet
  • have a foot in both camps
  • have feet of clay
  • have one foot in the grave
  • have your feet on the ground
  • hold someone’s feet to the fire
  • hot foot out of here
  • land on your feet
  • make an about face
  • My foot!
  • on foot
  • on your back foot
  • pussyfoot around
  • put a foot wrong
  • put your best foot forward
  • put your feet up
  • put your foot down
  • put your foot in it
  • put your foot in your mouth
  • shoot yourself in the foot
  • sit at the foot of a teacher
  • stand on your own two feet
  • step on another person’s foot
  • step on the gas
  • stop dead in your tracks
  • sweep someone off his/her feet
  • take a load off your feet
  • take a stand
  • take steps toward something
  • the ball is at your feet
  • thinking on your feet
  • throw yourself at someone’s feet
  • tiptoe through it
  • to get under foot
  • vote with your feet
  • watch your step
  • world’s at your feet

MAKE IT SPIRITUAL

  1. Sure footed – Many of the proverbs talk about making our paths straight, about stumbling, about watching our step, about our walk with God. Proverbs 4:26 – “Watch the path of your feet And all your ways will be established.”
  2. God’s Protection – “. . . unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy” (Jude 24, KJV).
    Hab 3:19; 2 Sam 22:34; Ps 18:33 – “The Lord God [is] my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds’ feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places.”
  3. Evangelism – Romans 10:15 – “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”
    Ephesians 6:15 – “And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace”
  4. Servanthood – John 13 – Jesus washing the disciples’ feet.

MAKE IT PRACTICAL

  • What is something that you have taken a stand for in the past year? What are some things that you need to take a stronger stand on in the upcoming year?
  • What are some steps that you have taken in the right direction with your life? The wrong direction?
  • What are some areas in which you have stumbled along the way in your journey?
  • What are some ways that we can make our walk sure? How can you get back on your feet and take a new step in the right direction with your life? In what areas do you need to watch your step?
  • Taking a stand and finding your footing in life isn’t always easy – especially when you might need to step on a few toes to do so. How can you find the balance between taking a stand on things that are important to you without stepping on too many toes? Should you worry about stepping on toes? Why or why not?

MAKE IT PERSONAL

  • As a footnote to this lesson, identify at least one area of your life where you need to get back on your feet! How can you take a new step in the right direction with your life beginning today? In what areas do you need to watch your step in the journey ahead?

(As a meaningful reminder, give the participants the piece of paper with their footprint on it to write the answer to the questions above. Encourage them to place it on the door of their room as a reminder that every day they step outside that door they need to also take a step in the right direction for their life in the New Year!)

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Game Ideas, Object Lessons

Christmas Bows

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Christmas Bows
Christmas gifts almost always come with a Christmas Bow. The wrapping paper, ribbons, and the bows are used to decorate and bring attention to the gift. It’s not the bow that is important, but the gift it adorns. It is sad that so many people are enjoying all the wrappings of Christmas and the decorations, but they have forgotten about the gift – God with us – Emmanuel – the birth of Christ.

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Games using Christmas Bows

  • Christmas Bow Pass – In this game, teams race to pass the Christmas bows from one end of the line to the other while holding hands. Divide the youth group into teams of 6 to 10 young people and have the teams line up side by side. At one end of the line place six Christmas bows and at the other end have a basket where they can drop the bows. Give them the following instruction: “With your left hand, grab the right wrist of the person on your right.” Teams must pass all the bows down to the end, and then back, without disconnecting to win. They may only touch the bows with their right hands. If a bow is dropped, the team must retrieve it while remaining connected. If the chain breaks all the bows currently being passed must move back to the beginning of the line.
  • Pass the Christmas Bow Gift Exchange – Played like “hot potato” Pass a bows around the circle while listening to Christmas Carols. When the music stops, whoever is holding the bow gets to pick a present from under the tree and places it in their lap or under their chair. The game continues until everyone gets a gift. If the music stops and someone is holding the bow who already has a gift it goes to the next person on the right who hasn’t had a gift yet.
  • Christmas Bow Hunt – This is just like an Easter egg hunt—only with Christmas Bows! Hide all the bows in a room, or all around the house and have everyone search for them.
  • Christmas Bow Fight – Place a long jumprope or string down the middle of the floor to divide the room into 2 equal halves with one team on each side. Each team starts with an equal number of bows. Set a timer for 2-3 minutes and when the game starts, participants pick up the bows and throw them to the other team’s side of the room! When the timer goes off, everyone drops all the bows and counts how many bows are on their team’s side. Whichever team has the least amount of bows wins.
  • Taboo Word – Everyone is given a Christmas bow to pin on their shirt at the beginning of the party or event. A word is chosen that everyone is not allowed to say. (e.g. Santa) If anyone says the taboo word to someone else during the event, they must give them their Christmas bow. They pin the bow on their shirt alongside any others they have collected. Everyone ends up trying to get others to say the forbidden word. At the end of the event, the person with the most Christmas bows pinned to them, wins.
  • Christmas Bow Tree Race – The youth divide into two teams of an equal number of players. One person on wach team is designated as a gift and stands on the opposite end of the room from his or her team. On go, one person at a time on each team must grab ONE bow from a basket and run to the “gift” and stick it on to his or her arms or head. Youth can only stick bows on the arms and head. The team that attaches the most bows to the gift in a given amount of time wins. Bows that fall off don’t count.
  • Christmas Bow Balance – Prepare two baskets of bows of various colors in each. The baskets should contain an equal number of bows of each color. As you call out a color, the next person on each team runs to his or her basket, and puts as many bows of the specified color on his or her head as they want and walks back to his or her team. If even one bow falls off, they have to try again. Call out the colors in random order. At some point call the game and the team with the most bows wins.
  • Christmas Bow Blow – Tape two lines on the floor at opposite ends of the room as goal lines. Teams blow the bows along the floor to the opposite goal and back. First team to complete the relay wins.
  • Christmas Bow Grab – Play like the regular game of Spoons, but substitute Christmas Bows for the spoons. In the middle of the table, place one less Bow than the number of players you have. Shuffle a standard 52-card deck and deal 4 cards to each person. Have everyone take one of their cards and discard it to their left simultaneously. The person to the right of the dealer, however, should put one of their cards down on the table to start the discard pile, while the dealer picks up a new card. Repeat this process of everyone passing to the left. Each round the dealer should pick up a new card and the person to their right should add to the discard pile, so as to have a continuous influx of new cards. The first person to have 4 of a kind (e.g. all 4 aces or all 4 nines) has to pick up a bow. Following this, all other players need to do the same, with the slowest person left without a bow and out of the game.
  • Pin the Bow on the present – In this Christmas version of the classic kids game of Pin the Tail on the Donkey, blindfolded kids try to pin the Bow where the ribbons cross on a gift wrapped box.
  • Christmas Bow Toss – Bows are tossed at wrapped Gifts boxes labeled with various point values. If it lands on top you the points. You can play with harder to hit targets which are worth more points.
  • Christmas Bow Fan – One Contestant from each team must stand behind a Christmas bow holding a gift box. When the clock starts, each contestant may start fanning the bow with the gift box. Contestants and the gift box may not touch the bow at any time or the game is over. To complete the game, contestant must get the bow in a designated end zone area (taped square on the floor) within the 60-second time limit. The bow must come to a complete stop without exiting the designated end zone.
  • Christmas Bow tennis – Youth split into two teams across from each other on opposite ends of a table. The objective is to blow the Bow off the opponent’s end for a point.
  • Christmas Bow Tag – With a glue gun or piece of adhesive tape, attach bow to a clothespin. You’ll need two for each participant. When you start the game, give every person two of the bows as they enter. When everyone has their Bows, tell them you’re giving them two minutes to get rid of their bows. The only way for participants to get rid of the bows is onto pin them to someone else. Award a prize to the person with the least number of bows. Icebreaker idea: After playing the game, each person must state one Fun Fact about themselves for each bow pinned to them. If they have no bows they only have to say ONE thing about themselves.
  • Christmas Bow Target Practice – Set up a series of rings (or wreaths) hanging from a string as targets. Have youth take turns trying to toss bows through the various size rings or hoops for points. The smaller the target the higher the points.
  • Christmas Bow Collector – Each youth is blindfolded, given a large wooded spoon, and placed in from of a large gift wrapped box with the lid off and filled with Christmas Bows. They must also hold a similar box on top of their head. In the time given the blindfolded youth compete by using the spoon to scoop bows into the box on their heads while everyone else watches. Many times, they will deliver empty spoons to their heads and many times they will miss the box. When time is up, the youth with the most bows in the box on their head wins.
  • Christmas Bow Nosedive – You’ll need small bows, Petroleum Jelly (Vaseline), and Bowls. Set up the bowls a foot apart, with the bows placed in 1 bowl. When the clock starts, each contestant may dip their nose in petroleum jelly and attempt to pick up a bow with their nose. Players may only apply petroleum jelly by dipping their nose in petroleum jelly. The player must deposit the Christmas bow into the end bowl directly from the nose without coming into contact with any other body part or object. To complete the game, a player must be the first to transport 5 bows from the start bowl to the end bowl, with all 5 Christmas bows in the bowl concurrently.
  • Christmas Bow Mind Meld – Put a Christmas Bow between two people’s foreheads and race to the finish line.
  • Christmas Bow Toothpick Relay – Each youth holds a toothpick in their teeth and they must pass a Christmas Bow down the row of youth to the end of the line. First team to pass the all the Bows to the end wins. No hands allowed.

TAKE IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL

  • Describe some of the Christmas Presents under your tree?
  • How are they wrapped? What colors are the Bows?
  • What are some of the things we need in order to wrap a Christmas Present?
  • The wrapping paper, ribbons, and the bows are used to decorate. How may of you would like to get a Bow for Christmas? Just a bow?

MAKE IT SPIRITUAL

  • What are some of the things we think about when we think about Christmas?

Christmas is not about the decorations. It is about the gift. With Christmas comes a lot of decorations – There are the Christmas trees; there are Christmas lights, Christmas carols, Candy Canes, Angels, Nativity Scenes, Christmas Cards, Christmas Bows, Wrapping paper, and even Santa Claus and elves. But these, like a Christmas bow are only the decorations. They aren’t the most important thing about Christmas. Christmas is about the greatest gift – It is about Jesus.

It is sad that so many people are enjoying all the wrappings of Christmas and the decorations, but they have forgotten about the gift.

Read the Christmas story from the Bible:
Matthew 1:18-25; Matthew 2:1-12; Luke 1:26-38; Luke 2:1-20.

MAKE IT PERSONAL

How many of you never open your gifts at Christmas? You just leave them with all the wrappings on them under the tree, never to find out what is inside. Many people enjoy all the wonderful things about Christmas, but they have missed the Christ in Christmas. The gift of Jesus, of peace with God, of salvation is never received and remains just something to look at or just another decoration.

Unless Jesus is received in our hearts the gift might as well remain like an unopened gift under the tree.

Let your light so shine that people will know the true gift of Christmas isn’t in all the decorations, but in Jesus.

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Game Ideas, Object Lessons

Christmas Ornament Gospel

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Christmas Ornament Gospel
The first Christmas ornaments were fruits and nuts that were placed on Christmas trees and later eaten from the branches as part of the Christmas feasting. Over time other ornaments were added that brightened up the tree and added additional meaning and significance such as a star or an angel. PLEASE CLICK HERE TO SHARE CHRISTMAS ORNAMENT GOSPEL ON FACEBOOK

Games using Christmas Ornaments

NOTE: For these games the term Christmas Ornament refers to the round ball type ornaments that are usually painted to look metallic and made of plastic. Originally they were made of blown glass but do not use the glass ones for these games as they will most definitely get broken.

  • Chopstick Christmas Tree – You’ll need ornaments and one pair of chopsticks per player. Players must use the chopsticks to pick up and place as many ornaments as they can on a tree in one minute.
  • Christmas Ball Conveyor – Each team chooses two people to compete in this challenge. They stand, facing each other, at a distance to be determined by how difficult you wish the challenge to be. A ribbon is wrapped around both players’ waists, creating a loop surrounding them both. The first player has a bowl with Christmas ornaments on hooks as well as a small Christmas tree beside him. To play the game, the first player hooks an ornament on the ribbon. The two players must then spin in tandem in order to move the ornament all the way around the ribbon, ending up back with the first player, who must then hang it on the tree.
  • Christmas In The Balance – (Adapted from Minute to Win It) When the clock starts, two youth from each team must first place a yardstick on a vertically standing wrapping paper tube. When the yardstick is balanced on the tube, the youth on each team may then start hanging 5 ornaments of equal size and weight, one at a time for each person, simultaneously on each end of the yardstick. Once a youth has placed the first ornament onto the yardstick and released hands from the ornament, neither person is allowed to touch the tube or yardstick or the game is over. To complete the game, the yardstick, tube and ornaments must be freestanding within the 60-second time limit and must remain that way for 3 seconds.
  • Christmas Ornament Count – Before you place your ornaments on a Christmas tree, count them. The person who correctly guesses the number of ornaments on the tree wins a prize.
  • Deck the Balls – (adapted from Minute to Win It) Two persons on each team are given a wrapping paper tube. When the clock starts, the first person with the tube on each team uses his or her tube to suck the first ornament from the start bowl and transfer it to his or her partner. That person then hangs it on a tree (or on a string that has been strung across the room between two ladders). If an ornament falls to the floor or is touched with anything other than the tube, that ornament is out of play. To complete the game, 3 ornaments must be successfully transferred and hung on the tree (or string) within the 60-second time limit. All 3 ornaments must remain hanging on the tree (or string) together for 3 seconds.
  • Find the Christmas Ornaments – Collect a variety of Christmas Tree ornaments. Before you place them on the tree, take a photo of each. Place the photos on separate cards. Players must draw a card, and run to the tree and collect the ornament on the card. First team to complete a certain number of cards wins. As a variation, have the next person on each team search for the SAME ornament. First to find it and retrieve it gets the points. First team to certain number of points wins.
  • Holiday Kiss – (Adapted from Minute to Win It) a string is hunh horizontally across the room on each end of the room. When the clock starts, each pair of contestants must use only their lips to pick up an ornament from the start string and transfer it to the second string. If an ornament falls, contestants may start with another from the start string. To complete the game, contestants must transfer 3 ornaments, using only their lips, and have them hanging together on the end string for at least 3 seconds. They have one minute to complete the task.
  • Hot Christmas Ornament – With everyone seated in a circle, pass around a Christmas ornament. When the music stops, whoever holds it is out of the game. Continue until there is only one winner.
  • Ornament Catch – You’ll need an 8-foot-high ladder, (next to a Christmas Tree makes nice photo opportunities), a Christmas stocking that has heavy wire in the top rim to keep it open and Round Christmas Ornaments (plastic). Set up the ladder in the middle of your meeting area and place the stocking on the floor in front of it. Line up the round Christmas ornaments on the top of the ladder. (Have some spotters to brace the ladder and make sure no one falls off.) Split the youth group into pairs. The first pair has one partner kneel facing the ladder and holding the stocking in his or her mouth. The other partner must climb the ladder so that his or her face is even with the top of the ladder where the five ornaments are lined up. Make sure they hold on firmly to the ladder. The person on the ladder blows the ornaments, one at a time, off the ladder. The partner with the stocking may freely move about to catch the balls but must remain kneeling and continue holding the stocking in his/her mouth. The use of hands is NOT allowed. The partners switch positions and repeat the process. Keep score. Give all the pairs a turn. The winning pair is the one who gets the most ornaments into the stocking. If there’s a tie, have your runners-up repeat the process.
  • Ornament Pass – This is a classic game that has been around for ages. In the original game, participants must pass an orange down a line of participants using only their chins. In our version we replace the orange with a round Christmas Ornament.
  • Ornament Race – Players race on hands and knees while pushing ornaments with their noses to the finish line.
  • Ornament Roll – One Contestant from each team must stand behind a tree ornament holding a gift box. When the clock starts, each contestant may start fanning the tree ornament with the gift box. Contestant and gift box may not touch the tree ornament at any time or the game is over. To complete the game, contestant must get the tree ornament in the designated end zone area within the 60-second time limit. The tree ornament must come to a complete stop without exiting the designated end zone.

TAKE IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL

  • What are your favorite ornaments on a Christmas Tree?
  • If you had to describe yourself as a a Christmas ornament, what would you choose and why?

MAKE IT SPIRITUAL Use this as a presentation of the plan of salvation for a Christmas Children’s sermon or as a Christmas Object Lesson. For the object lesson portion of this lesson you will need:

  • Christmas Tree
  • gold, red, white, and blue bulbs.
  • A string of Christmas lights
  • A star for the top of the tree

Place the items on the Christmas tree according to the following order and give the explanations for each as you go along. Gold Christmas Bulb The Gold Christmas bulb reminds us of Heaven which is filled with the glory of God. The Bible tells us that in Heaven, the streets of the city are pure, clear gold-like glass (Rev.21:21). God wants you to be with Him in Heaven someday. Have you ever seen a BLACK Christmas Bulb? THERE IS NO Black Christmas Bulb. Just like there is no black Christmas bulb, there is one thing that can never be in Heaven. That is sin. Doing, or saying, or thinking bad things is called sin. Sin is anything that displeases God. Sin has caused sorrow and sadness in our world. God tells us in the Bible that all have sinned (Romans 3:23). But just like there is no black Christmas bulb, God doesn’t allow sin in heaven. Red Christmas Bulb The Red Christmas Bulb shows the way God made for you to have your sins forgiven-taken away. God loves you. He sent His own Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, from Heaven to take the punishment for your sin (John 3:16). Jesus came into the world to save us from punishment for sin. He is called our Savior! “…the blood of Jesus Christ, God’s Son, cleanses us from all sin” (I John 1:7). White Christmas Bulb The white Christmas bulb reminds us that you can be made clean from sin. When we sin, we can tell god about our sin, and ask for rogiveness and when we do his blood washes away our sin and makes us white as snow! (I John 1:9). Christmas Tree The green Christmas tree reminds us of the new life, everlasting life, we can receive from God. The Bible tells us to “grow in grace in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ” (II Peter 3:18). The Blue Christmas Bulb The blue bulb is the same color as water. Jesus, to show he was giving his life to God was baptized in water. Christmas Lights Jesus was born as a light of the world. He came to bring us out of darkness and into the light. Do you want to walk in the light of Jesus this Christmas? A Silver or Gold Star You can add a star at the top of the Christmas tree as a reminder that the wisemen followed the star looking for Jesus. Will you seek Jesus this Christmas? PLEASE CLICK HERE TO SHARE CHRISTMAS ORNAMENT GOSPEL ON FACEBOOK

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Game Ideas, Object Lessons

Candy Cane Christmas

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Candy Cane Christmas
Candy Canes are everywhere. They are used as decorations on Christmas trees and are one of the most popular of all Christmas treats. I have heard several stories about the history and meaning of the candy cane. I don’t know if they are true, but I do think that the candy cane can teach us a few things about the true meaning of Christmas. And while we are at it, I’ve added a lot of Christmas Party game ideas you can play with Candy Canes as well.

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Games using Candy Canes

  • Candy Cane Connection – You’ll need miniature size candy canes broken in half. Use this game to break your group up into pairs as a mixer. Mix up the halves of the candy canes and hand them out to participants. When everyone has arrived, have participants try to find the other half of their candy canes!
  • Candy Cane Conveyor – (adapted from Minute-to_Win_It) You will need Christmas ribbon and Candy Canes. Tie 30 feet of ribbon into a loop and place each player inside of it at their waist to form a conveyor belt. One player must place one candy at a time on the conveyor belt and they must spin in unison to convey the candy cane towards the other player who then picks it up and places into into a basket or holding area. Once the candy cane is removed by the second player the first player starts the cycle again. The first team to successfully transfer 3 candy canes wins.
  • Candy Cane Face Off – Place a small candy cane on the forehead of each participant. Instruct the participants to move the candy cane down their face to their mouth using only their facial muscles and head movements. The first person to eat the candy cane wins.
  • Candy-Cane Fencing – Give each youth a wrapped candy cane; the thicker the candy cane, the better. One person from each team battles a dueling partner from the other team, fencing with the candy canes. The first person with a broken candy cane loses the battle; the winner goes on to another round. The winner is the one who makes it through the most rounds without breaking his or her cane. Encourage the youth to keep the blows limited to the canes, rather than hitting one another with the candy canes.
  • Candy Cane Handshake Relay – Line up a group of players into two straight lines. Give the first player three canes (Normal size, not the mini ones). Youth cannot hold the Candy Canes in the palms of their hands. They need to be stuck between their fingers – one between the index and middle finger, one between the middle finger and ring finger, and one between ring finger and the pinkie! The players must pass the candy canes into the next player’s hand, in the same position, without using their thumbs or any other hand. You’ll need some extra candy canes as there will be some which are dropped and broken.
  • Candy Cane Hockey – You’ll need miniature size candy canes, candy goal markers, and a candy hocky puck. Make a goal at each end of a table using markers attached to the table. These markers can be a piece of candy or even candy canes stuck to the table with some blue tack adhesive. Make the goal posts about 4 inches apart. Use a jelly bean for a hockey puck. (It moves but doesn’t roll off the table to easily) Using the candy canes as hockey sticks try to shoot the jelly bean through the net of the opponent. The opponent is allowed to block the shots, but only with the candy canes. If at any time a body part touches the bean or your opponent, it’s an instant disqualification. The first to a set number of points wins. You can also determine the winner by who has the most points after a predetermined amount of time.
  • Candy Cane Horseshoes – Candy canes and a stick. Be sure the candy canes are wrapped in plastic as they are almost guaranteed to break into a number of small pieces during game play. For indoor games you can either drive a nail into a flat piece of wood or turn a table or stool over and use one of the legs as the post. In the manner of playing horseshoes, the objective is to take turns to toss the candy cane at an upright stick. Place a stick vertically somewhere in the ground. Then participants take turns throwing candy canes (underhand) at it. A game is divided into rounds and each round constitutes the pitching of two candy canes by each contestant. In each round, the one with the highest score goes first.The objective of the game is to get your candy cane closest. A candy cane must be within six (6) inches of the stake to score. A candy cane that first strikes the ground outside the target area or rebounds from behind the stake cannot be scored, nor can any candy cane thrown from an invalid position. A “ringer” (3 points) is a candy cane that encircles the stake so that a straight edge could touch the two prongs without touching the stake. The closest cane from each pair scores 1 point. A leaning shoe has no value over one touching the stake. The points are scored according to the position of the shoes at the round’s end, that is, after the contestants have each thrown two candy canes. This means it is possible for the second player to knock the opponents candy canes either away or closer to the stake.
  • Candy Cane NutStacker Suite – You’ll need 7 larger sized nuts…as in nuts and bolts (Check the size to make sure a candy cane could fit through the hole) Hold the candy cane in one hand by the hook. Using ONLY the straight end of the candy cane, pick up the nuts and place them one on top of another as high as you can. The goal is to reach 7 nuts high.
  • Candy Cane Pass – This Christmas party game idea is played like the traditional game known as “Hot Potato”. A candy cane is passed from person to person around the circle while someone plays Christmas music. The candy cane is passed to the youth right next to you who then passes the candy cane to the youth next to him or her. You can choose to play clockwise or counter clockwise. When the Christmas music is paused, the youth holding the candy cane is eliminated from the game. Throwing the candy cane after the music stops does not count. But as a parting gift, the youth gets to keep the candy cane he or she was holding so that everyone is a winner in this Christmas game. The youth must then sit out of the game until everyone has a candy cane. Continue starting and stopping the Christmas music until all but two are “out.” Last youth to NOT be holding the candy cane when the music stops wins. You might want to have an additional Christmas prize for the last remaining youth. If you want to add a little more challenge to the game you can call out the word “CHANGE” from time to time and change the direction in which the candy cane is passed.
  • Candy Cane Pick Up – Place a pile of candy canes on a table and provide a tray or basket for each player. Give each player a candy cane to put in his mouth with the hook end down. The player must use the candy cane hook to pick up the other candy canes and move them to the basket. The player with the most candy canes in their basket after one minute wins!
  • Candy Cane Pick-Up-Sticks – You’ll need candy canes, wrapped or unwrapped, stacked into a pile. You can use some candy canes of a different color and give them a higher point value. Traditionally, there are Blue Sticks – 50 Points, Green Sticks – 40 Points, Red Sticks – 25 Points, Yellow Sticks – 10 Points. Change this according to the frequency of colors and rarity for your candy canes. Played like traditional pick-up-sticks, the objective is to remove one candy cane from the pile without disturbing the remaining candy canes. Use a small stick such as a kebab skewer or chopstick as a tool in picking up the candy canes. The first player picks up candy canes, one at a time, until he causes any other candy cane to move besides the one he is attempting to pick up. The other team then gets its chance to do the same.
  • Candy Cane Relay – Divide the youth into two teams and give everyone a chopstick. (The cheap, disposable wooden ones work fine.) Each team forms a line, and each player holds his or her chopstick in front of him or her. Place a candy cane on the chopstick of the first youth. On “go”, the youth must turn and pass the chopstick on to the next youth who in turn passes it on down the line. Youth may only touch the candy cane with their chopstick. If the candy cane falls to the ground, and the youth cannot retrieve it with their chopsticks, the player who was passing it may pick it up and put it back on his or her chopstick, but a ten-second penalty will be assessed. When the candy cane reaches the last player, the player must run to the front of the line with the candy cane on his or her chopstick. The first team to get the candy cane back to the front of its line wins.
  • Candy Cane Scavenger Hunt – Each youth is given a piece of paper and a pencil and asked to find X number of candy canes around the room. You’ll need to hide each candy cane around the room – some should be easy to find and some more difficult. The person to be the first to find them all and correctly list the locations wins.
  • Candy Cane Tree Toss – Divide the youth into several teams. Each team must have its own artificial Christmas tree and its own box of candy canes. Each team stands behind a line 8 to 10 feet away from its own Christmas tree and has a minute to toss candy canes at the tree. At the end of the minute, the team with the most candy canes hanging on its tree wins. If any team runs out of canes before the minute is up, one team member may retrieve canes from the ground to toss them from the starting line again.
  • Candy Cane Tug – Played in the manner of breaking the wishbone of a turkey, the objective is to connect the two candy canes at the curved end and pull. The first candy cane to break is eliminated. Continue challenges until only a couple winners remain. You can also do this with regular size candy canes or even have them place it in the mouth for the challenge.
  • Candy Cane Wrap – You’ll need the hooked type of candy canes, wrapping paper, safety scissors and tape. Give each youth a large candy cane, a 1-foot section of wrapping paper, tape and safety scissors. If you have a large group you can also choose a representative from each team. The first youth to wrap the candy cane completely (no cane can show) is the winner.
  • Sniffing for Candy Canes – Santa lost his candy canes in the snow and has asked his reindeer to sniff them out. Each team chooses a reindeer as a representative. Each reindeer is given a pie-tin or tray of whipped cream. In each, lie two hidden pieces of candy canes. The aim is to sniff for the candy canes without the use of hands. If you use a tray, two teams can compete on the same tray. First group to sniff out the candy canes and come up with it in their teeth is a winner.
  • Hung With Care – (from Minute-to_Win_It) Two strings are hung horizontally, using whatever distance between them that you want. Players must then hang three candy canes on the string by their tips – not on the actual hook, but the small area at the very end of the hook. All three candy canes must remain hanging, concurrently, for three seconds in order to win the game.
  • Kissing Candy Canes – Divide the participants into two teams. Give each team five small candy canes. On signal, the team members pass their canes to the end of the line (one at a time) and back again using toothpicks stuck in their mouths.
  • Merry Fishmas – (from Minute-to_Win_It) To play Merry Fishmas, first set up a “fishing rod” by using string to tie a candy cane as the hook onto a chopstick. Tie one end of a short length of string to the straight end of the candy cane and tie the other end of the string to the end of the chopstick. Then, place four small candy canes on a table with the rounded ends hanging off the edge, facing down. When the timer starts, the player puts the chopstick in his mouth and attempts to snag all four of the small candy canes, one at a time, on the end of the large candy cane.

TAKE IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL

MAKE IT SPIRITUAL

To many people, the candy cane is a meaningless decoration seen at Christmas time or just a piece of candy to be eaten and enjoyed. I hope that this year, every time you see a candy cane, you will be reminded of the true meaning of Christmas.

  • J – If you look at the candy cane it looks like the letter J. Jesus starts with the letter J, so that should remind us of Jesus and help us to remember that Christmas is Jesus’ birthday. (Luke 2:11, Isaiah 9:11)
  • Shepherd’s Crook – If you look at the candy cane like this it looks like a shepherd’s crook. The shepherd used his crook to keep the sheep from wandering away from the flock and getting lost or eaten by a wild animal. The Bible says, “The Lord is my shepherd.” (Psalm 23:1) The candy cane should remind us that Jesus is our shepherd and he will keep us from wandering away and getting lost or hurt. (John 10:11, Luke 2:8-10)
  • White – The candy cane is mostly white. White is a symbol of purity. That should remind us that Jesus was the spotless Lamb of God and that because he came to be the sacrifice for our sin, we can become as white as snow. (I John 1:7; Isaiah 1:18)
  • Red Stripes – As you know, the candy cane has three red stripes. The Bible tells us that before he was crucified, Jesus was beaten with a whip which made blood-red stripes across his back. The Bible says that we are healed by those stripes. The stripes on the candy cane should remind us that Jesus suffered and died, so that we can have everlasting life. (Mt 26:28) He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his stripes you have been healed. (1 Peter 2:24; Isaiah 53:5)
  • Sweet – The sweetness of the candy cane reminds us that God Loves us and wants us to enjoy the many gifts He has given us – especially the gift of His Son, who came into the world on the first Christmas to save us. (John 3:16)

MAKE IT SPIRITUAL

  • What is the Significant of Jesus coming as a child?
  • What is the Significance of God as a Shepherd in the Bible? Why do you think the angel appeared to the Shepherds?
  • What is the relationship between Christ and purity?
  • Why was Christ sent? Why did he have to suffer? How do the lashes or Stripes Christ received relate to our forgiveness and healing as Christians?
  • How does John 3:16 relate to Christmas?

MAKE IT PERSONAL

  • What is the meaning of Christmas for you?
  • How can you use a Candy Cane to tell the story of Christmas to others?
  • It is said that Christmas isn’t really Christmas till it happens in your heart. Christ cam to save the world, but is he Savior for you? Have you accepted his gift of forgiveness?
  • Jesus was born as a Savior to all people, what responsibility have you committed to so that all people might have an opportunity to Choose Christ as Savior?
  • How does Christ’s birth and his sacrifice affect how you live your day to day life?

SCRIPTURES

  • Luke 2:11 – “For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”
  • Isaiah 9:6 – “For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”
  • Psalm 23:1 – “The Lord is my Shepherd”
  • John 10:11 – “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.”
  • I John 1:7 – “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.”
  • Isaiah 1:18 – “Come now, let us settle the matter,” says the Lord. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.”
  • Mt 26:28 – “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.
  • 1 Peter 2:24 – “who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness – by whose stripes you were healed.”
  • Isaiah 53:5 – “He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.”
  • John 3:16 – “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

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Get Creative Youth Ideas: "Christmas Collection" ebook Creative Youth Ideas Christmas Collection
Games and Activities helping youth discover the Reason for the Season.

Get more than 200 creative ideas for planning a Youth Christmas celebration or Christmas Party party. You can immediately download my best Christmas Icebreakers, games, illustrations, Christmas activity ideas AND MUCH MORE in a useful ebook!

=> Tell me more about the Christmas Collection

Game Ideas, Object Lessons

Gift Wrapped Christmas

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Gift Wrapped Christmas
We are attracted by extravagantly wrapped gifts with red bows and colorful paper. But its not the wrapper we treasure but the gift. Sometimes the wrapper might give clues as to what is inside but sometimes the gift inside is a complete surprise and totally unexpected. The gift of the first Christmas was not wrapped the way the world expected either. The Jews wanted a mighty warrior with a sword in one hand and King’s crown in the other. But instead, God sent his greatest gift – an innocent, defenceless, vulnerable baby, wrapped in cloths, not wrapping paper.

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Games using Wrapping Paper

  • All Wrapped Up – Tear up various types of Christmas wrapping paper and place it inside a large sheet. More is better. There are two rounds to this game. In the first round, each group wraps one of its members in masking tape (STICKY SIDE OUT) from ankles to just below their arms. Arms should NOT be wrapped. Be sure to emphasize STICKY SIDE OUT. The first team to completely wrap up their teammate in making tape with no cracks whatsoever wins. In Round two, first, throw all the torn up wrapping paper on the floor of the playing area and then teams work to roll the wrapped player in as much wrapping paper as possible. After a couple of minutes, tell teams to stop. Award the team with the most wrapping player stuck to their teammate. Be sure to take group photos!
  • Christmas dice gift exchange – Have everyone sit in a circle and start with a gift. Play a Christmas carol while 1-3 dice are being passed around (space them out). Each person rolls and passes the dice. If they roll a six, they can trade gift wrapped packages with whomever they want. At the end of the song, everyone keeps the package in front of him or her.
  • Christmas Unwrap – Wrap a gift with several layers of paper and heavy duty tape to make it difficult to unwrap. Youth line up and then must roll doubles six on a pair of dice, run to a baseball bat, spin 5 times around the bat, then go to the gift and put on a woolhat, snow / ski gloves and then begin to unwrap the present – first to do so wins the prize. As soon as they get to the present the next person can start rolling the dice to start the process again. When someone new gets to the present, they first person must stop, remove the clothing items and then run back to the end of the line. The youth who successfully unwraps the gift gets to keep it.
  • Christmas Wrap Up – You’ll need a lot of wrapping paper, some tape, and a bow for each team. The objective is to be the first team to completely wrap someone up and place a bow on their head like a giant Christmas present. Be sure that your students do not forget to make a gift tag written to whom the present is for and from. You can have an award for the most completely wrapped as well as the most creative and best wrapped. Be sure to take some photos along the way.
  • Christmas Wrapping Paper Match – Cut out squares from several different patters of Christmas wrapping paper. You want to have one square for each person in your group. Place them all in box with a small hole cut in the top. You’ll also want two of the squares to be identical in design and pattern but make all the others different. Fold each square and place it inside the box. Let each youth pick one square. Once everyone has a square announce, that the first two people to find matching squares will win a prize.
  • Gift Ball – Save used wrapping paper, bubble wrap, cardboard, plastic, and packaging bits to create a ball. To create the gift ball, begin by wrapping a small prize or even money in a piece of used gift wrap. Layer on additional wrap and packaging bits to create a ball, securing it tightly. If you are short of gift wrap you can also use magazines, plastic bags, newspaper, and other things you have around the house. Add a few layers of these between the layers of wrapping paper. You can secure the layers with any kind of tape, yarn, string, and leftover ribbon bits, etc. You can add candy and small gifts to the ball in a bonus layers as you go along. The more the merrier so that everyone has a chance to get something. The bigger the ball, the better, especially if you have a large group. To play, have the youth group members sit in a circle with the gift ball and a pair of dice. One youth begins unwrapping the ball as fast as he can while the player to his left rolls the dice repeatedly until he gets a 7. When he does, the ball is passed to him to unwrap, and the dice are passed to the next player. Tearing off layers and dice-rolling continues until someone finally reaches the prize and claims it as the winner. You can make it more challenging by making the player wear winter gloves.
  • Gift Guess – Gift wrap a variety of common objects and place tags on them with numbers (socks, ornaments, a candy cane, holly, pinecones, bells, an angel, Jesus in a manger, a can of egg nog, a Santa hat, a reindeer, a cookie, and any other common Christmas items you can find. Pass the gifts around and give each person a small amount of time to feel the gifts and make their guesses as to what•s inside each. Give them a peice of paper to number and write down thier guesses. The youth that make the most correct guesses are the winners.
  • Gift wrap Relay – Cut up the front pictures of several old Christmas Greeting cards and hide each piece in a separate box. Gift Wrap the boxes. Divide the youth into two or more teams and put the pile of wrapped boxes on a table at the other end of the room. You’ll need to have one set of boxes and one picture for each team. The first player in each team runs to the table, unwraps a present, grabs his picture piece and sprints back to his next teammate. The rest of the team has a turn until all the pieces of the picture have been unwrapped. The teams then need to race to assemble and correctly identify their picture. The first team to do this wins!
  • Gift Wrap Snowball Fight – Take a bunch of used wrapping paper and wad it up into balls.  Divide the room in half or quarters so that you have a team in each section. Dump the wadded up wrapping paper in the middle of the room. On go, youth toss the balls of wrapping paper at each other and into other sections as quickly as they can. When time is up the team with the least amount of wrapping paper in their section wins.
  • Penguin Gift Race – Divide the youth into two teams. Have players at the start of the line put a gift wrapped box between their knees and waddle to a designated spot and back. The next in line does the same until all youth have had their turn. If the gift is dropped, they must return to start and begin waddling again. The team that finishes first wins.
  • Siamese Twin gift-wrapping race – For this Christmas game you•ll need to have a box, wrapping paper, scissors and tape for each team. Divide your youth group into pairs who will stand side by side with one hand free and the other around the waist of their team member (as if they were one person with two hands- a left hand and a right hand). The object of the game is to see which Siamese Twin team can gift wrap their present (correctly) in the smallest amount of time.

TAKE IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL

MAKE IT SPIRITUAL

Unfortunately, because God came to us wrapped in a human body and not in his majesty and glory a lot of people at the first Christmas missed Him. The gift wasn’t wrapped as they expected. There was no special welcome, no special preparations, no grand entrance and in fact there wasn’t even room for him in the inn nor a real bed to sleep in. The son of God was wrapped in rags and lying in a manger, a feed trough.

Just imagine focusing on the wrapping paper from a Christmas gift and treasuring the wrapper and missing and throwing away the gift.

Unfortunately, today, too many people in the world are so focused on all the wrappings of Christmas – the gifts, the cheer, the celebrations, the wishes of peace – that they forget the real gift – that God sent his Son to save the world.

What matters is not the outside wrapping, but rather the gift inside and what we do with it.

We don’t have to earn a gift, work for it, or do anything other than receive it. Read Romans 2:8: “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith–and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God–”

Read Luke 2:1-20

The people God first told about the birth were shepherds. In general, the shepherds were the poor, the jobless, the powerless, the less educated, the uncultured, maybe even the outcasts. Often when we buy gifts for others, we reserve the best gifts for the special people, the ones who will surely give us something in return, the ones who are our favorites. But the gift of Jesus was first announced to the shepherds, those without titles, those who could return little.

God had given the world a gift it didn’t think it wanted or needed, and certainly not as expected, and he presented the gift to a group of people who weren’t the powerful, the rulers, or those most looked up to. It was a seemingly ordinary gift, in an ordinary wrapper, given to ordinary people.

MAKE IT PRACTICAL

The Shepherds
Read Luke 2:1-20
* Why do you think the angels appeared to the shepherds and not someone else?
* Could the shepherds have chosen to accept or decline the angels invitation? What did they choose to do?
* How long do you think it took them to decide?
* Why do you think it was important to them to see the Baby Jesus first hand?
* Why did the shepherds drop everything to go find out about some baby? Why were they so excited?
* What does this baby mean to them?
* What does this baby mean to us?
* Why was the birth of Christ Good News?
* What are some lessons, truths, attitudes, and responses can we learn from the shepherds?

MAKE IT PERSONAL

* Do you still find a sense of wonder when you consider God’s gift to the world, or has it lost its luster? Are you more focused on the wrappings of Christmas or the Gift God Sent?
* What are you hoping for this Christmas?
* How can you have a deeper first hand experience with Christ this Christmas?
* What can you do to help others see through all the wrappings of the holiday and clearly see the true gift of Christmas?
* The gift is not really ours until we choose to receive it. It is of no use to us unless we take it for ourselves, unwrap it, and make it our own. Have you received the gift of Christ in your life?

SCRIPTURES

Luke 2:11-12 (NIV) – “Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

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Game Ideas, Object Lessons

Thanksgiving Object Lesson – 5 Kernels of Corn

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The cornucopia, also known in English as the Horn of Plenty, is a symbol of prosperity and affluence, dating back to the 5th century BC. It was often filled with the fruits of the harvest which included corn, fruits, and other vegetables. Corn itself was one of the staple foods of the Pilgrims and early settlers. The native Americans taught them how to bury a fish with the kernel of corn to act as fertilizer and speed its growth. After the first year of the Plymouth colony, only half of the 102 settlers were still alive. Times were hard. At a later harvest, after a particularly tough winter it was said that each person had only 5 kernels of corn to live on each day.  Yet they still gave God thanks in spite of the difficult circumstances. Here are a variety of games using corn kernels.

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What You Need

  • Dried Corn Kernels or popcorn – you can get dried feed corn like that sold for bird feeders or unpopped popcorn will also work.

Games using Corn

  • Chopsticks and corn – Using a pair of chopsticks and a couple shallow bowls or saucers, each youth is given one minute to move corn from one bowl to the other using only the chopsticks. Only one hand can be used to hold the chopsticks. The youth to transfer the most corn wins.
  • Corn and Straws Relay – Divide the youth into teams and give every person on a team a plastic straw and a paper cup. Place a piece of corn in the first team member’s cup. The youth must create a vacuum in the straw to pick up the corn and place it into the next person’s cup. First team to get the corn into the last person’s cup wins. If the corn is dropped on the floor, the team must start completely over at the beginning.
  • Corn Bocce – On a smooth surface like a table, one youth acts as the referee, sliding out the first piece of corn. He then marks this piece with a toothpick. Contestants take turns sliding 4 different pieces as close to the referee’s mark as they can. The referee determines which piece is the closest, awarding that youth or team a point. Play until someone gets ten points
  • Corn Catch – You’ll need one cornucopia or basket for each team, one bag of corn per team, and a belt or length of rope for each team. Use the rope or belt to secure the cornucopia around the waist of one player per team. Have the team member who is wearing the cornucopia stand about 7 to 10 feet away from the players who will be throwing the corn. The player wearing the cornucopia may move around to try and catch the corn as it is thrown without using their hands to deflect the corn in any way. Once everyone has thrown the corn, take the cornucopia and count the corn inside. The youth with the most corn wins.
  • Corn Foosball – Have two youth stand at either end of a large table. One youth throws corn (or a plastic bag of it) to the other end of the table, and the other youth must block it from going through and making a goal. Use a dry sponge for blocking making sure it is one that will not scratch your table.
  • Corn Pitching – Players takes turns pitching ten corn kernels, one at a time, into a bowl from a set distance. You might choose to have various bowls of different sizes and at different distances. Display the points based upon difficulty. Keep score of how many kernels end up in the various bowls. The winner is the one with the highest score after three rounds.
  • Corn Race – Using a drinking straw, the youth must blow a kernel of corn across a table. First to blow it from one end to the other wins.
  • Corn Straw Relay – Race to see who could move the most corn from the table into a bowl in sixty seconds using only a single straw.
  • Kernel Relay – Mark a starting line and a finish line with masking tape on the floor roughly 15 feet apart. Set an empty bowl for each player at the finish line and a bag of corn and a spoon at the starting line. Have each player stand at a bag of corn and take the spoon in hand, placing a single kernel on the spoon. The youth will then carefully race a piece of corn to an empty bowl at the finish line, trying not to let the corn fall off the spoon. Each player will continue to race from the bag of corn to the bowl to see how many pieces of corn she or he can get into the bowl within the allotted time of one minute. If a player drops a kernel from the spoon, that youth must then run back to the bag of corn and get another piece to start over again.
  • Odds or Evens – Each player starts out with the same number of corn kernels. Players rotate about the room pairing up with others. When they find a partner, one player hides a few kernels of corn in his hand. The other player must guess if the number of corn kernels is odd or even. If guessed correctly, the player can add the kernels to his own collection. Players take turns hiding and guessing, until one player has all the corn or until a specified time limit!
  • Turkey Feed – Mix a few pieces of candy corn in with a bowl of corn kernels. Blindfold players and have them retrieve the candy corn from the bowl within a designate amount of time. (As a gross out variation, have them retrieve it with their bare feet then eat it.) The player that retrieves the most candy corn in the designated time limit wins.
  • Where’s the Corn? – Line up three plastic cups out on a tabletop in front of a youth. Place a single piece of corn under one of the cups, allowing the player to see which cup the corn is under. Begin to change the cups’ formation around for five to ten seconds. The youth then must try to remember which cup is hiding the corn and will continue to play and collect corn until he or she chooses the wrong cup. Give the earned corn to that player, and continue on with the next player until every youth has won pieces of corn.

TAKE IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL

  • In these games are you someone who plays it safe or shoots for the moon?
  • Was the voyage to the new world by the pilgrims a safe bet or a big risk?
  • What were some of the potential risks? Potential rewards?
  • What were some of your strategies in these games?

MAKE IT SPIRITUAL

Some people play it safe in life. Others take risks. Most of the time we evaluate if the potential reward is worth the risk. For the Pilgrims, coming to America was a great risk. But the lure of religious freedom was worth the risk. Many of them lost their lives in pursuit of the opportunity to freely worship God as their conscience dictated. After the first year of the Plymouth colony, only half of the 102 settlers were still alive. Times were hard. Later during a particularly tough winter is was said that each person had only 5 kernels of corn to live on each day.

Yet in spite of their hardships, they gave thanks to God. Eternal blessings outweighed the physical ones. There may be times when we do not have much, but to have a relationship with God is worth any cost and any hardship! They made a choice, a decision to pursue God at any cost.

MAKE IT PRACTICAL

  • What risks are worth the reward of knowing Jesus as Lord and living for him?
  • Is Christianity a risk? Why or why not?

MAKE IT PERSONAL

  • Has God called you to do something out of the ordinary?
  • To what has God called you?
  • What are you willing to risk for religious freedom?

CLOSING ACTIVITY

Just as a single grain of corn has the potential for an abundant harvest, even one decision for God can lead to a harvest of blessings in your life. What choice is God calling you to make today? Take a kernel of corn home as a reminder of a decision God has called you to make for him regardless of the risk.

SCRIPTURES

  • 1 Thessalonians 5:18 – “give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
  • Ephesians 5:20 – “always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
  • Philippians 4:6 – “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”

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Game Ideas, Object Lessons

Turkey Feathers of Thanksgiving

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Turkey Feathers of Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving Day was first celebrated in the American Plymouth colony in 1621, when Governor William Bradford proclaimed a day of thanksgiving and prayer. Before that, a Native American named Squanto taught the pilgrims how to plant corn and how to survive in the new land. When the harvest came, it was celebrated by all the colonists and neighboring Native Americans who had helped them. Gradually it became a common annual custom to celebrate thanksgiving after the harvest. While turkeys were known to the colonists and Indians, we don’t have any proof they were served at the first thanksgiving. But they were added later as part of the celebration that continues until today. Long before that, the Isrealites has a similar feast day to Thank God for what he had done for them. It was called the Feast of Tabernacles and can be found in Leviticus 23:33-44; Numbers 29:12-39; Deuteronomy 16:13. The games in this lesson use feathers, not only because they are associated with Thanksgiving, but also because there are places in the Bible where God is compared to a protective bird who covers us with his wings.

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What You Need

Lots of feathers – Most of these games work best with feathers that are light and fluffy and not the heavy quill-like feathers. You can buy them at any craft store or pluck them from a cheap feather boa.

Games using Feathers

  • Falling Turkey Feathers – The youth on one or more teams must all hold hands in a circle. Throw a feather up into the air inside each circle and then each team must keep the feather from touching the ground only by blowing it upward. They are not allowed to release their their hands to keep the feather up. Have a competition to see which group can keep the feather in the air the longest, or which group in the matter of three minutes drops the feather the least, etc.
  • Feather Blow Floor Race – Tape two lines on the floor at opposite ends of the room as goal lines. Teams blow the feather along the floor to the opposite goal and back. First team to complete the relay wins. Team members should cheer their teams on with the loudest gobble-gobble sounds as possible.
  • Feathers – Play the regular game of Spoons, but substitute feathers for the spoons. In the middle of the table, place one less feather than the number of players you have. Shuffle a standard 52-card deck and deal 4 cards to each person. Have everyone take one of their cards and discard it to their left simultaneously. The person to the right of the dealer, however, should put one of their cards down on the table to start the discard pile, while the dealer picks up a new card. Repeat this process of everyone passing to the left. Each round the dealer should pick up a new card and the person to their right should add to the discard pile, so as to have a continuous influx of new cards. The first person to have 4 of a kind (e.g. all 4 aces or all 4 nines) has to pick up a feather. Following this, all other players need to do the same, with the slowest person left without a feather and out of the game.
  • Fluffy Turkey Feathers Matre d: Youth must carry feathers on a plate or plastic spoon to a target and back. The players must pick up any feathers that drop. First team team to have every member complete the relay wins. You can also designate a body part the feather must rest on such as the back of a hand, on the shoulder, on an elbow, etc.
  • Highest Feather Blow – Award a prize for the person who can blow a feather up to the greatest height.
  • Pin the feather on the Turkey – In this thanksgiving version of the classic kids game of Pin the Tail on the Donkey, blindfolded kids try to pin the Tail Feather on the Turkey.
  • Turkey Feather Circle Relay – Youth form a circle. The first person blows a feather to the next person who catches it in his or her cupped hands. Each person blows the feather to the next person. First team to have the feather travel around the circle wins. If the feather is dropped on the floor the team must start over.
  • Turkey Feather Darts – Attach a small weight to the tip of some feathers. These can then be tossed like a dart at cups or targets. You can play with harder to hit targets which are worth more points or have a bullseye like in darts where the closest toss wins.
  • Turkey Feather Float – Give a light fluffy feather to each youth. On “GO” each youth starts blowing to keep their feather in the air. The youth that keeps their feather in the air the longest is the winner.
  • Turkey Feather Juggling – In this minute to Win It Game, keep your head up, eyes open, and a steady stream of air coming through your mouth as you attempt to keep two feathers in the air for a full sixty seconds while staying within set boundaries. Prior to the game create a circle in the middle of the floor that will be the playing area. Make the boundaries large enough to allow some moving room but small enough to keep things challenging.
  • Turkey Feather Relay – Designate a start line and a finish line. At the start signal, the first person on each team tosses the turkey tail feather into the air and tries to blow it up into the air and across the finish line. Anytime a turkey tail feather touches the floor, the person must make loud gobble gobble sounds and take three large steps backward toward the start line. They can then toss the turkey tail feather up again and start moving forward. When a player makes it back to the team the next person starts and the person who just completed the dash, goes to the back of the line and sits down. Team members should cheer their teams on with the loudest gobble-gobble sounds as possible.
  • Turkey Feather Soccer – Play a game where the youth must blow a feather into a cup, bucket or small box that is lying on its side. It is not as easy as it seems. This can also be a great minute to win it game.
  • Turkey Feather Table Tennis – Youth split into two teams across from each other on opposite ends of a table. The objective is to blow the feather off the opponent’s end for a point.
  • Turkey Feather Toss Race – First youth in each team is given a feather. On ‘GO’, he or she throws the feather towards the finish line. From where it lands, it is thrown again, repeating until it lands past the finish line. The participamt can then pick up the feather and run it back to the next person on the team. First team to complete the relay wins.
  • Turkey Feather Volleyball – Tie a string across the room as a net. Each team tries to blow a feather over the string rather than hitting a ball. Rules are similar to volleyball, but they have to blow the feather. The feather can be blown as many times as necessary to get it over the net. You can also play with four teams and the room divided into quarters. Add more than one feather for more fun!
  • Turkey Feathers and Gobblers – All the players sit in a circle. The leader stands on a chair and releases a light fluffy feather. As it flies through the air, everyone must make the gobbling sounds of a turkey. The moment it lands they must become completely quiet. Anyone who makes a noice after it lands is out. The objective is to be wild and crazy so that others can’t help but laugh and make noise.
  • Turkey Feathers in the Wind – The youth kneel around the four sides of a sheet or blanket and then grab the edge. They must then pull the sheet taut and hold it just beneath their chins. Place a light fluffy feather on the middle of the sheet. Each side of the sheet is one team. The youth try to blow the feather away from their side. If a feather touches someone, get’s blown off the edge, or gets blown over the head of someone then that side gets a penalty point. The lowest points wins. You can also play this like musical chairs and the person the feather is closest to when the music stops is out.
  • Turkey Tail-feathers – With a glue gun or piece of adhesive tape, attach feathers to both legs of each clothespin. Give every person two clothespins (Turkey Feathers) as they enter. When everyone has their turkey feathers, tell them you’re giving them two minutes to get rid of their feathers. The only way for participants to get rid of the feathers is onto pin them to someone else. Award a prize to the person with the least number of feathers. The person with the MOST feathers is the official TURKEY! Icebreaker idea: After playing the game, each person must state one Fun Fact about themselves for each feather they are wearing. If they have no feathers they only have to say ONE thing about themselves.

TAKE IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL

MAKE IT SPIRITUAL

  • The first Thanksgiving was a time to remember and thank God for what he had done. What do you think people do the most: complain or give thanks?

MAKE IT PRACTICAL

  • What are some of the things we should be thankful to God for?
  • Looking at some of the scripture verses, what does the Bible teach us about Giving thanks? (Share some of the scriptures included in the lesson plan)
  • What are some ways we can say, “Thank you” to God?
  • How many of us have said THANK YOU to someone today? . . .in the past day? . . . in the past week? . . . the past month? Why should we be thankful to other people?

MAKE IT PERSONAL

  • What do you do the most: complain or give thanks?
  • What are some things that you are thankful for?
  • Name 5 things that God has done for you that make you thankful?
  • What are some things you can do to show your thankfulness to God this week?

CLOSING ACTIVITY

  • In advance, make a large turkey body with no tail feathers. Give each youth a piece of paper cut in the shape of a turkey feather. Ask the youth to write at least 5 things they are thankful to God for on the tail-feather and attach it to the turkey.

SCRIPTURES

  • 1 Chronicles 16:34 – “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.”
  • 1 Thessalonians 5:18 – “give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
  • 1 Timothy 4:4 – “For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving,”
  • Colossians 3:17 – “And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”
  • Ephesians 5:20 – “always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
  • Matthew 23:37 – “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing.”
  • Philippians 4:6 – “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”
  • Psalm 100:4-5 – “Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.”
  • Psalm 105:1 – “O give thanks unto the LORD; call upon his name: make known His deeds among the people.”
  • Psalm 107:8 – “Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for men.”
  • Psalm 118:1 – “Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.”
  • Psalm 118:21 – “I will give you thanks, for you answered me; you have become my salvation.”
  • Psalm 136:1 – “Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.”
  • Psalm 17:8 – “Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings”
  • Psalm 28:7 – “The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song.”
  • Psalm 36:7 – “How priceless is your unfailing love, O God! People take refuge in the shadow of your wings.”
  • Psalm 91:4 – “He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.”
  • Psalm 95:2 – “Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song.”
  • Ruth 2:12 – “May the Lord repay you for what you have done. May you be richly rewarded by the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge.”

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Game Ideas, Object Lessons

Gummy Worm Discipleship

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Gummy Worm Discipleship
Although gummy bears were invented by German Candy maker Hans Reigel in 1922, the gummy worm is a relatively recent concept. The Gummy bear wasn’t shipped to America until around 1981 and then an American candy company extended the idea to gummy worms to give youth something fun to eat and to shock their parents. Gummy worms are one of the most popular gummy candies around. Use these games with gummy worms as an object lesson to talk about Jesus’ call to his disciples to become fishers of men.

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What You Need

Lots of Gummy Worms

Games using Gummy Worms

NOTE: The intention is for these youth games to be played with gummy worms, but if you can’t get gummy worms, you can use extra long Twizzlers, or string licorice.

  • Chicken Races – In this crazy youth game, everyone is a chicken. Place gummy worms in a shallow baking pan with crushed Oreos piled on top and place it at the opposite end of the room. You can use one pan for each team or have them all fight over the worms in a single pan. On “go”, the first team member from each team must flap their arms like wings and make clucking sounds while running to the pan to collect a worm using their mouth (beaks) only. No hands allowed. Once they retrieve a worm they can return to the team and the next youth repeats the task. Worms must still be whole to be counted. The first team to have everyone retrieve a worm wins. Variation: Instead of oreo cookies, use chocolate pudding sprinkled with oreo cookies.
  • Chicken Feed – This is similar to the chicken race, but have a deeper pan with more chocolate pudding and Oreos. Each team chooses one representative. The youth who retrieves the most worms from the pan in a designated time wins.
  • Worm Fishing – To play this game you fill a fishbowl with pretzels or goldfish crackers, and the youth use a fishing rod to get one out and eat it. The bait is gummy worms that are nice and sticky. If you don’t have a real fishing rod, use a stick and some string. You could even add a reel if you wanted to. If you don’t have a fishbowl handy, any clear, large bowl will do the trick. Use lukewarm water to wet down a gummy worm and then pat it dry so that it’s nice and sticky. Tie the worm to the end of the string on the fishing rod. Players have one minute to use the wishing rod to “hook” a pretzel/goldfish from the fishbowl by getting it to stick to the ooey-gooey gummy worm. No hands allowed. Then, once one is “caught,” it must be brought back to the player’s mouth and she must eat it before the timer runs out in order to win the game. To make it more difficult, increase the distance to the fishbowl. If a pretzel/goldfish falls off the gummy worm it must be abandoned and another one “caught” on the gummy worm. If a player touches the string or gummy worm while a pretzel is attached, that pretzel won’t count. String may not be wound around the finger during an attempt. The player(s) with the most pretzels at the end of the 60-seconds wins.
  • Worms between your toes – Fill 5 or 10-gallon buckets (or kiddie pools) about 1/4 of the way up with water and drop at least 20 gummy worms in each one. Everyone takes off their socks & shoes. The first person in line for each team will run to bucket and dip their foot in the water, pulling out a worm with their toes. They must then transfer the worm into a bowl located beside the bucket. Teams only get a point for worms dropped into the bowl. Whoever has the most worms at the end of a designated time limit wins! (If you•re indoors, have some towels on hand for participants to dry their feet. You may also want to lay tarps down to minimize the mess.) Variation: Instead of a bowl, guys lie down with their heads beside buckets. The girls feed them to the guys using only their feet. The girl and guy team who can eat the most gummy bears in 2 minutes wins.
  • Gummy Worm Rulers – Provide a list of measurements in gummy worms of various items around the youth room. Youth must find the item that matches the measurements. The team with the greatest number of correctly identified items wins. (Tip: Measure the length of a typical gummy worm and then just measure things in the room with a ruler like the length of a table, the width of a door, the height of a poster, etc. Divide the measurements by the length of a typical gummy worm to get the lengths in gummy worms – 3.5 gummy worms, etc)
  • Gummy Relay – Pair up the youth. One end of a gummy bear goes into each person’s mouth. The pairs must then navigate an obstacle course without break the gummy bear or allowing it to drop from their mouths. Fastest pair wins!
  • Gummy Worm Race – Placed a marshmallow, a pretzel, or even a donut in the middle of a gummy worm. On go, players must eat their way to be the one to finish off the marshmallow. Whoever eats the marshmallow wins the game. Variation – The team who eats the worm the fastest wins!
  • Gummy Worms Pictionary – Played like normal Pictionary where you have to draw the clues for your teams to guess the word or phrase, but in this variation, instead of drawing, lay out the gummy worms to create shapes. No numbers symbols or letters are allowed. You can do it on a cookie sheet, chopping board, or butcher paper.
  • Gummy Worm Stretch – In this game, the goal is for partners to have the most stretched-out gummy worm without breaking it. Check your results with a ruler.
  • Fishies – Take a couple fishing poles and stick gummy worms to them with string. Blindfold the youth and dangle the gummy worms around. The first person to find the gummy worm with their tongue and eat it, wins.
  • Make Dirt Cups as snacks – You’ll need 8-ounce clear plastic cups, chocolate pudding mix, milk (as specified on pudding box) chocolate sandwich cookies like Oreos (crushed) and gummy worms. Mix the pudding according to the package directions. Layer the pudding and the cookie crumbs in cups. Top the layers with more crumbs and gummy worms.
  • Gummy Worm Gulpers – Youth race against the clock to eat gummy worms hanging from the ceiling. You’ll need clothespins, strong string, and lots of gummy worms. Cut various lengths of string, attach one end to the ceiling or from a tree and one end to a clothespin, and clamp a gummy worm in each clothespin. Youth run from string to string and, using only their mouths, snatch and eat the gummy worms. The winner is whoever eats all the worms in the shortest amount of time.

TAKE IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL

  • How would you describe a gummy worm to someone who has never seen or eaten one before?
  • What are some of the characteristics of gummy worms?
  • Name some uses of real worms?
  • Has anyone ever fished with a worm?

MAKE IT SPIRITUAL

Read Matthew 4:17-22

  • Worms are attractive to fish. What are some things that are attractive to people?
  • What things does the world go fishing for?
  • What are we to fish for as Christians?
  • Is a person a fisherman if year after year he never goes fishing?
  • Is he a fisherman if he never catches a fish?
  • Is someone a true disciple of Jesus Christ if he never attempts to win a soul for Christ?

MAKE IT PRACTICAL

  • As a fisherman, do we cast our nets in our backyard or do we go to a place where fish can be found? (Jesus never suggests that the world should come to the church but commands the church to go into the world to witness. Jesus has given us the example – he goes to the people, he never waits for the people to come to Him.)
  • How is telling others about Jesus similar to fishing?
  • Lures are attractive to fish. How can you make the good news of Jesus attractive to your friends?

MAKE IT PERSONAL

  • What can you do this week to be more effective as a fisher of men?

KEY SCRIPTURE

Matthew 4:19: “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.”

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Game Ideas, Object Lessons

Paper Airplane Christians

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Paper Airplane Christians
It is impossible to know where and in what form the first paper airplanes were folded and flown. There is evidence to suggest it was Ancient China, or Japan. Paper was certainly available and common. Da Vinci, the Wright brothers and many others are known to have used them to understand the mysteries of flight. In this youth Bible Study, Paper airplanes are used to remind us that we also do not have to be weighed down, but can fly to great heights in our relationship with God.

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What You Need

Rubber bands, paper clips, paper, masking tape, a measuring tape

Games using Paper Airplanes

  • Air Show – Award prizes for the following: longest flight, shortest flight, smoothest takeoff, roughest landing, highest altitude, bumpiest route, biggest loop-the-loop, widest zigzag, and most creative flight pattern, most creative design. Encourage a lot of “oohs” and “aahs” during the performances. You may wish to allow two throws or best of three, depending on time constraints.
  • Target Practice – Set up a series of rings hanging from a strong as targets. Have youth take turns trying to launch their planes so that they pass through the various size rings or hoops for points. The smaller the target the higher the points.
  • Air Race – Stretch several strings across the room, making sure that each of them is tight and will not come loose. Make several small, light airplanes, one for each string and hang each by its nose or tail by means of a hole threaded through the string. The hole should be the size of a paper punch, so that the airplane will move easily along the string (race course) Line up your contestants and at the signal “Go,” each proceeds to blow his airplane across the string and see who can reach the goal line first. Anyone who touches his airplane or the string is automatically disqualified.
  • Pass The Plane – Just like hot potato, you sit the youth in a cirle and give them a paper plane and start the music. When the music stops who ever is holding the plane is out and the game will continue til there is only one youth left.
  • Flight Plan – Create an obstacle course in the room. Obstacles can be a small table that the plane must land on, a door or window it must fly through, chairs and obstacles it must fly around, targets it must hit, things it must fly over, under, or through. Fastest time in the obstacle race wins.
  • Airplane Blitz – Bring a stack of paper and have the youth write their names, and something significant on the paper, like a favorite verse, prayer request, or something they learned at a recent youth event. They can write another one on another piece of paper (or several). Then let them make paper airplanes out of these. Then you need some way to clearly divide the room in half. (The taller the divider the better.) Put half the youth on each side of the divider. Put half the paper airplanes on each side of the divider. Explain that they can only throw ONE plane at a time and they must stop when the leader says “Stop”. On “Go”, they throw the airplanes over the divider as fast as they can. Planes are flying in both directions. When you say “stop”, count the airplanes on each side of the divider. The team with the least number of planes wins. THEN: Have each person pick up an airplane and read the fun fact on each plane while everyone else tries to guess the identity of the person.
  • Largest Paper Airplane contest – Provide butcher paper or newsprint, scissors and masking tape, and one Bible per student. Have the group design a gigantic paper airplane. sharing their paper airplane construction techniques. Have them test out some of their ideas with a normal sheet paper. When the group has decided how to design the giant airplane. have youth fold their huge piece of paper accordingly. Award prizes for the best in various categories.
  • Fewest Throws – Count how many throws it takes to get their paper airplanes across a room and land on a table. Reward the youth with the least amount of throws their airplanes took.
  • Paper Airplane Dodgeball – Play a game of dodgeball using paper airplanes. If a player is hit with a plane, he hands over his plane and is out of the game. Here are some more rules: Airplanes must be thrown. Simply touching your opponent with your airplane is considered a self-destruct and you are out of the game, forfeiting your planes to your opponent. Airplanes cannot be picked up until they stop moving. (They can’t be stopped with your foot, either.)

TAKE IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL

  • Were you focused on trying to achieve a specific award or did you just create a general purpose plane? Why?
  • What were the key characteristics of your design? Why?
  • What were the keys to success for each award category?

MAKE IT SPIRITUAL

  • In what ways are the paper airplanes similar to people? Similar to Christians?

MAKE IT PRACTICAL

  • The Scriptures in Isaiah 40:31 promise us eagle wings as we wait on God. What does that mean?
  • What things keep us spiritually grounded / prevent us from soaring as high as we can as a Christian?
  • What things weigh us down spiritually?
  • How can we lighten our load?
  • What purpose do goals serve in helping us to reach a higher calling in the Christian life?
  • What goals did Paul have in life, what did he aspire to reach in life?
  • What were Christ’s goals?
  • What factors / keys to success make someone a winner in the Christian life?
  • What things can we people to be more successful?
  • When it comes to accuracy, the word “sin” means “to miss the mark” as we all have done. Romans 3:23 says “For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” Every one of us has sinned against God and missed the mark of God’s perfection. What are some things that cause us to miss our goal as Christians? How do we recover?

MAKE IT PERSONAL

  • What are your goals in life? As a Christian?
  • Do you have just one goal or many goals? Why?
  • Which goal is most important to you? Why?
  • How are you similar / different in your goals as compared to Paul / Christ?
  • What do you need to change to be more successful as a Christian?

SCRIPTURE

  • Exodus 19:4 – “Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles’ wings, and brought you unto myself.”
  • Isaiah 40:31 (NIV) – “but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”
  • 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 (NIV) – “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.”
  • Matthew 11:30 – “For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
  • John 8:31-36 (NIV) – “To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” They answered him, “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?” Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”
  • Ephesians 4:11-14 (NIV) – “So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming.”

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Game Ideas, Object Lessons

Masked?

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Masked

It’s not just Halloween that people wear masks. If we are honest with ourselves, most of us put on masks from time to time. We put on a mask any time we are not honest with others or don’t want to reveal some aspect of who we are. Anytime we try to make ourselves come across as something we are not, we are putting on a mask.

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Games using masks

  • Masked Games – You can play just about any favorite youth game but add masks to the game for a twist and to tie into the lesson. The mask limits your vision and adds an interesting twist to the favorite game.
  • Find the masks – Hide various masks around the youth room. Youth must search the room and note the locations of all the visible masks. First youth to get the correct answer and identify all the locations wins.
  • Masked Man Relay – Buy a variety of hats, wigs and masks or maybe some sunglasses or other fun eye wear … anything and everything your guests can use to decorate themselves. Use non-offensive costumes like superheroes, hobo, clown, farmer brown, a prince or princess, scarecrow, hippie, animals, disney characters etc. Clothes should be large enough to fit easily over what youth are already wearing. Have one set for each team. Place all the props on a table. One by one each team member must run to their team’s table, put on all the props, and then return team and remove them. The next player then puts them all on, runs to the table, removes them and places them back on the table then returns to the team. First team to complete the relay wins. (Note: be sure to take a photo as each one gets costumed up.)
  • Quick Change Artists – Get a veriety of costumes. Use non-offensive costumes like superheroes, hobo, clown, farmer brown, a prince or princess, hippie, scarecrow, animals, disney characters etc. Have one set for each team. In this relay each team must use all the costumes givem to them to dress up their team members. One costume is in each bag. First team to get all the costumes onto team members wins.
  • Create a Mummy Challenge – All you need to play this game is a roll of white crepe paper, toilet paper works in a pinch. Divide the youth into teams of two and have one person be the mummy and one person be the mummy wrapper. Time the kids and the first group to completely wrap up their mummy wins and receives a prize.
  • Masked Bobbing for apples – Put a large tub, baby bath, or small kiddie pool full of water on the floor – it will be very heavy when it is full, so either do this outside or have some method of emptying it. If you are doing this inside take care to cover the whole area with plastic otherwise the floor will get very wet. Float the apples in the water, pulling all the stalks off the apples makes the game harder. The size of the apples is important, if older youth are playing then you will need big apples, small ones fit into their mouth too easily. The contestants have to wear masks and kneel beside the tub and grab the apples with their teeth. The water must be deep enough or some people will cheat by pushing the apple against the base of the tub. It’s simple! The first person to get an apple out – WITHOUT USING THEIR HANDS – is the winner.
  • Masked apples on a string – You will need apples and string. Tie the string to the stalk of the apple. Tie the other end of the apple to something high; you could hang these from the banisters of your stairs (only above a flat surface, it’s not safe to play games on stairs), or pin the strings to beams. On the word “GO” the winner is the first person to take a big bite out of their apple without using their hands.
  • Monster Mash – Pick an area that free of obstacles and dangerous corners. You can do it in a room with leaders blocking off any dangerous areas. The monster wears a monster mask and monster hands. They also have a mask with the eye openings covered up placed over their eyes, they aren’t supposed to see. This is a hearing and touching game. All players have to stay within the game area while the monster wanders around with their arms reaching out to catch the players. When the “monster” moans or growls, all the players must moan or growl back and extend their arms. This is how the “monster” finds his/her victims. When a player gets tagged, they becomes the next “monster” and gets to wear the mask.
  • Guess the Ghost – This game is guaranteed to be great fun. Sit the youth in a circle, put some music on and get them to take it in turns to be blindfolded with a mask with the eyes covered over so they cannot see. The masked person walks around the circle touching the other youth on the head. When the music stops, the youth who is currently tapped on the head has to let out their scariest ghostly wail. The masked person then has to guess who they think it is. Hand out rewards to people who guess correctly.

TAKE IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL

  • If you could be any superhero who would you be?
  • What is it about this character that attracts you?
  • Why do most of the superheroes wear masks?

MAKE IT SPRITUAL

The word for an actor is the word ‘hypocrite’ in the Greek language. It means ‘the person who wears a mask’ (or covers on his face). In the original Greek plays, actors pretended to be someone else by putting on a mask.

Jesus used the word ‘hypocrite’ to describe the Pharisees and in a parable teaches us an important lesson about masks… (see Luke 18:9-14)

  • Why was the Pharisee called a hypocrite – one wearing a mask?
  • Why do you think the Pharisee ‘acted’ this way?
  • Have you met people like the Pharisee? How did they make you feel?
  • In what ways are you like a Pharisee? What are some of your masks?
  • Why is the Tax-collector unwilling to even look up to heaven? Have you ever been so ashamed that you wanted to hide your face from heaven? How is this similar to wearing a mask?
  • How is it different from the mask of the Pharisee?
  • What is Jesus’ main point in this story?

MAKE IT PRACTICAL 

  • What are examples of the different masks people put on?
  • What are some of the reasons people wear masks?
  • How do masks help or hinder us?
  • In what situations do people hide behind a mask, afraid to reveal who they really are and what they really feel?

MAKE IT PERSONAL

  1. Give each participant a piece of paper cut into a mask shape.
  2. On one side, ask them to write or draw characteristics of how they want people to see them.
  3. Then, on the other side, ask them to write down some true characteristics of who they really are and some of the things about their life that they don’t want other people to see.
  • Is there a difference between the two sides of the mask?
  • What are the risks of revealing what is hidden behind the mask?
  • Are there certain things about yourself that you prefer to hide?
  • What are the benefits of hiding behind a mask?
  • In what areas of your life do you need to be honest with God?
  • How would being honest with God make a difference in your life?
  • Is there a mask you would like to remove?

Action Point
Let participants crumple up their mask and toss it away. Name one truth about yourself that may be hidden, but that you would like people to know.

SCRIPTURE

  • Matthew 23:27
  • Luke 18:9-14

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Game Ideas, Object Lessons

Candy Corn Choices

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Candy Corn ChoicesCandy corn is the top-selling Halloween candy and the most talked about candy during Halloween, but it is also talked about as the worst candy for you. Candy Corn isn’t real corn. It is almost pure sugar – a sweet imitation of the real thing which isn’t good for us in any way. So it’s good, but it’s bad. How do we decide what things are good for us in our Christian life? The most difficult decisions are often not between what is good and bad, but between what is permissible and what is beneficial to us.

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Candy Corn Games

  • Candy Corn Cluckers – Fill a bowl with dried corn kernels or peanuts and add several pieces of candy corn. Blindfolded youth must retrieve the candy corn from the bowl within a designate amount of time without eating the dried corn kernels / nuts. The teen that retrieves the most candy corn in the designated time limit wins.
  • Candy Corn Pitching – Youth take turns pitching ten to twenty candy corn kernels, one at a time, into a bowl from a set distance. You might choose to have various bowls of different sizes and at different distances. Display the points based upon difficulty. Keep score of how many kernels end up in the various bowls. The winner is the youth with the highest score after three rounds.
  • Odds or Evens  – Each player starts out with the same number of candy corn kernels. Players rotate about the room pairing up with others. When they find a partner, one youth hides a few kernels of candy corn in his hand. The other youth must guess if the number of corn kernels is odd or even. If guessed correctly, the player can add the kernels to his own collection. Youth take turns hiding and guessing, until one player has all the corn or until a specified time limit! [With this game the candy corn can get a little messy 🙂 to avoid the mess use individually wrapped mints or other candy.]
  • Candy Corn Drop – Have the youth stand on a sturdy chair or other safe elevation and drop the pieces down into a person’s mouth who is lying on the floor. The youth who gets the most candy corn into the person’s mouth in a given time frame wins.
  • Candy Corn Toss – Place the pieces of candy corn into a small sealed sandwich bag or similar cellophane bag and have a “candy corn bag” toss. Number pails, bowls, or plastic pumpkins, placing them in a row perpendicular to A start line, pail number one being closest. youth stand behind the line and throw candy cord bags into each consecutive bucket. Keep score or issue prizes for hitting each target.
  • Candy Corn Bocce – On a smooth surface like a table, one youth acts as the referee, sliding out the first piece of candy corn. He then marks this piece with a toothpick. Contestants take turns sliding 4 different pieces as close to the referee’s mark as they can. The referee determines which piece is the closest, awarding that youth or team a point. Play until someone gets ten points.
  • Candy Corn Hunt – Fill small plastic bags with candy corn and hide them throughout the yard. Send players out into the yard to find the bags until every bag has been claimed. You may also divide the players up into groups and see which group can find the most bags. This game can also be played inside, or at night with flashlights.
  • Corny Scramble – Toss handfuls of candy corn onto a large table clear of obstacles. Give each youth a treat bag and make the scramblers wait until you say “Boo!” On the signal, the players must run forward and collect as many pieces of candy corn as possible. Once all the kernels have been picked up, see who has the most candy in his bag.
  • Guess the Kernels – Fill a decorated jar or Halloween treat pail with pieces of candy corn, making sure you count how many pieces you put into the container. Set the container up on a table supplied with slips of paper, pencils and a bucket to put the paper slips into. Each participant may take one guess at how many pieces of candy are inside the container. The player who guesses the closest to the actual amount wins all the candy corn.
  • Kernel Relay – Mark a starting line and a finish line with masking tape on the floor roughly 15 feet apart. Set an empty bowl for each player at the finish line and a bag of candy corn and a spoon at the starting line. Have each player stand at a bag of corn and take the spoon in hand, placing a single kernel on the spoon. The youth will then carefully race a piece of corn to an empty bowl at the finish line, trying not to let the candy fall off the spoon. Each player will continue to race from the bag of corn to the bowl to see how many pieces of candy she or he can get into the bowl within the allotted time of one minute. If a player drops a kernel from the spoon, that youth must then run back to the bag of candy corn and get another piece to start over again.
  • Candy Corn and Straws Relay – Divide the youth into teams and give every person on a team a plastic straw and a paper cup. Place a piece of candy corn in the first team member’s cup. The youth must create a vacuum in the straw to pick up the candy corn and place it into the next person’s cup. First team to get the candy corn into the last person’s cup wins. If the candy corn is dropped on the floor, the team must start completely over at the beginning.
  • Where’s the Corn? – Line up three plastic cups out on a tabletop in front of a youth. Place a single piece of candy corn under one of the cups, allowing the player to see which cup the corn is under. Begin to change the cups’ formation around for five to ten seconds. The youth then must try to remember which cup is hiding the candy and will continue to play and collect candy corn until he or she chooses the wrong cup. Give the earned candy corn to that player, and continue on with the next player until every youth has won pieces of candy.
  • Candy Corn and Spoons – Divide into teams, have each team to line up single file, and have a cup with one or more pieces of candy corn for each team. Give each player a spoon. The first player on each team picks up a piece of candy corn with the spoon, spins around in place 3 times, then passes the candy to the next person on the team. Candy Corn can only be touched with the spoon. If the candy is dropped the team must start over again from the beginning. First team to get all the marbles down the line wins.
  • Chopsticks and Candy Corn – Using a pair of chopsticks and a couple shallow bowls or saucers, each youth is given one minute to move candy corn from one bowl to the other using only the chopsticks. Only one hand can be used to hold the chopsticks. The youth to transfer the most candy corn wins.
  • Tick-Tack-Corn – Pair the youth up into groups of two and sit them down at a table across from each other. Give the pair a tick-tack-toe board, and one player a handful of regular candy corn pieces. The other youth will receive a handful of the chocolate variety of candy corn, making one player the yellow team and the other player the brown team. Have the players play tick-tack-toe using their corn until one player wins, or until there is a draw. This may continue for as many rounds as desired.
  • Musical Candy Corn – Fill treat bags with candy corn for as many youth as are playing, minus one. Set the bags up in a circle on a tabletop or floor. Have the players circle around the bags at a steady walking pace while some music plays. Stop the music at random, at which point each player tries to grab the bag closest to him. Whoever fails to grab a bag or candy corn in time is out of the game, and the players still in must set the bags back up in the circle. Remove one of the bags from the circle, then start the music up again. Continue this until the game is down between two players and one treat bag. Whoever snatches up the last bag is the game winner.
  • Candy Corn Foosball – Have two youth stand at either end of a large table. One youth throws candy corn (or a plastic bag of it) to the other end of the table, and the other youth must block it from going through and making a goal. Use a dry sponge for blocking making sure it is one that will not scratch your table.
  • Candy Corn Straw Relay – Race to see who could move the most candy corn from the table into a bowl in sixty seconds using only a single straw.
  • Candy Corn Catch – You’ll need one plastic pumpkin with a handle for each team, one bag of candy corn per team, and a belt or length of rope for each team. Use the rope or belt to secure the pumpkin around the waist of one player per team. Have the team member who is wearing the pumpkin stand about 7 to 10 feet away from the players who will be throwing the candy corn. The player wearing the pumpkin may move around to try and catch the candy corn as it is thrown without using their hands to deflect the candy corn in any way. Once everyone has thrown the candy corn, take the pumpkin and count the candy corn inside. The youth with the most candy corn wins.

TAKE IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL

MAKE IT SPIRITUAL

  • What are some of the differences between real corn and candy corn?
  • Which is good for you? Bad for you?
  • What other things in life are good for you? Bad for you?
  • How do you know the difference?

Candy corn may not kill you, but it most certainly is not the best for you. It may taste sweet, but the sugar rush doesn’t last and it really isn’t something that is good for you. Corn is healthy and good for us, but candy corn, is really just sugar. It’s a sweet imitation of something good. In life there are many things which may seem good, but are not good for us. BUT how can we decide what is good for us and what is not?

MAKE IT PRACTICAL

Some decisions are not simply a matter of right and wrong, but a choice between what is permissable, what is good, and what is best. These are often the toughest decisions.

Here are some guidelines:

  • Is this action Scripturally based–does Scripture support or condemn it (Matthew 4:4, 7, 10; I Timothy 3:16-17)?
  • How would this affect my witness for Christ if others knew about it (Matthew 5:13-16; I Thessalonians 5:21-22)?
  • Would Jesus put his name on this for a stamp of approval? (Colossians 3:17)
  • Does this fall into the classification of good thinking? (Philippians 4:8)
  • Will this degrade or defile my body (the temple of the Holy Spirit)? (I Corinthians 6:19)
  • Will this sooner or later make a slave out of me? (I Corinthians 9:27, 2 Peter 2:19)
  • Does this have the “smell” of evil on it? (1 Thessalonians 5:22)
  • Will my indulgence in this tend to weaken someone’s faith? (I Corinthians 8:13)
  • Does it benefit us or others? (I Corinthians 6:12a, 10:23)
  • Can you do it with a clear conscience? (Romans 14:22)
  • Does it bring Glory to God, meet his approval? (1 Corinthians 6:19-20; 10:31-33; 2 Corinthians 5:9)
  • Does it help lead others to Christ? (1 Corinthians 10:33)
  • Would I be ashamed to be doing this thing when Christ returns (Matthew 24:42-46)?
  • Does this action hurt others (Romans 14:20-21; Galatians 5:13-15)?

MAKE IT PERSONAL

  • What are some of the things I allow as substitutes in my life for the real things?
  • Which of the above considerations is new to me?
  • Which of the above considerations is most difficult for me?
  • What can I do this week to be more Christlike?
  • How can I allow Christ to have more influence in the daily decisions of my life?

SCRIPTURE

1 Corinthians 10:31-11:1 – “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God – even as I try to please everyone in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved. Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.”

ROMANS 12:2 – “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – His good, pleasing and perfect will.”

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Game Ideas, Object Lessons

Christian Pumpkins? – Games and an Object Lesson

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Christian PumpkinsPumpkins are closely associated with Halloween, Harvest, and Thanksgiving and are most likely native to the Americas. In this week’s lesson you’ll find a lot of game ideas using pumpkins, and also a reminder that God looks at the inside and not merely whats on the outside. He wants us to have a clean heart. Like a like shining from inside the pumpkin, he also wants us to shine out to the world.

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Pumpkin Games

  • Capture the Pumpkin – For this Pumpkin-themed version of capture the flag, divide the teens into two teams, each with a territory, a jail and a pumpkin. The teens can choose to place the pumpkin anywhere on their territory, but it must be visible. While teams can assign people to guard the pumpkin, you must set a perimeter around it that they cannot enter to give the other team a chance to capture it. The goal is to steal the other team’s pumpkin and make it back to your own territory without getting tagged. If anyone is tagged on another team’s territory, they are sent to jail. Other team members can free them if they can manage to tag them and both make it safely back to their territory. If no one has captured a pumpkin within a certain time frame, determine a winner by the number of prisoners a team has. This game is best played in a large park with plenty of hiding places.
  • Card Ninja – Players must throw playing cards at a pumpkin trying to get one card to stick in the pumpkin before one minute is up.
  • Connect The Pumpkin – This game is especially good around Halloween but can be played any time. Purchase some pumpkins and cut them up into pieces (make sure the pieces are not too small). Next to the pieces of pumpkin place a set of wooden toothpicks. Once everyone is ready instruct the group to put the pumpkin together using the toothpicks. Give the group a set time limit and ask them to begin. The team with the pumpkin that has been best put together wins.
  • Elephant March – Knock over plastic bottles filled with sand using a small pumpkin hanging from panty hose worn around the head.
  • Pass the Pumpkin – This game is a variation on “hot potato”. Seat the youth on the floor in a circle. Give them a small pumpkin to pass around. Play music as they pass the pumpkin, and periodically stop the music. Whoever is holding the pumpkin is out. The game continues until one person is left with the pumpkin.
  • Pass the Pumpkin – Youth tuck a small pumpkin under their chin and shoulder, race to their teammate, and pass the pumpkin to them without using their hands. If the pumpkin is dropped, it can be put back into place using hands.
  • Pin the Nose on the Pumpkin – Using a Black Marker, Draw a face on a pumpkin but leave off the nose. In turn, blindfold each youth and give them a black cutout shape of a nose with double-side tape on the back. Youth must pin the nose on the pumpkin. Closest wins. (You might want to have the nose draw as well. The one who pins the nose most accurately over the drawing wins.)
  • Pumpkin Bocce Ball – Place the big pumpkin several feet away. Give each player a small pumpkin. Each player rolls (No tossing or throwing) their pumpkin and tries to be the closest to the big pumpkin. The player closest wins …
  • Pumpkin Carving Contest – Working as teams, youth create the winning carvings for categories such as funniest, spookiest and most beautiful pumpkin. If you have young kids without adult participation, hold a pumpkin painting contest instead.
  • Pumpkin Golf – Played just like miniature golf where you use putters to hit the golf ball into the pumpkins mouth rather than a cup. To create a pumpkin golf pumpkin, you’ll need to cut off the bottom of the pumpkin and then clean out the inside of the pumpkin and then add the mouth to the pumpkin. The pumpkin’s mouth will also serve as the entry point for the golf ball so the mouth must be at the bottom of the pumpkin. Then create the eyes and nose just as you would a normal pumpkin.
  • Pumpkin Penny Toss – Carve out a large pumpkin, making a wide opening at the top. Give the youths a limited number of pennies. Have them stand an appropriate distance from the pumpkin and try to toss the pennies in, one at a time. Whoever gets the most inside wins.
  • Pumpkin Relay – Teams race to be the first to pass the miniature pumpkins to the end of the line without using their hands. If the pumpkin is dropped they must start over again.
  • Pumpkin Ring Toss – Toss rings over pumpkins with stems.
  • Pumpkin Roll – You need two large pumpkins and two sturdy sticks (or brooms). The racers, line up on the starting line with the pumpkins turned on their sides. On the signal, the racers use the stick to roll the pumpkins to the finish line. Since pumpkins are uneven, they rarely roll straight.
  • Pumpkin Roll Icebreaker – With a permanent marker, write some icebreaker questions on a pumpkin until the surface is covered. These can be simple things like your “favorite fall vegetable?” or more personal things like “the scariest moment in your life?”. Then sit the youth on the floor in a circle. Youth roll the pumpkin to each other, but they rarely roll in a straight line. The person closest to the pumpkin must catch it. When caught, the question your thumb lands on is yours. Answer the question then roll it on to someone else, so they can take a turn.
  • Pumpkin Seed Count – Divide the class into teams of two to four and cut the top off of a pumpkin for each team. Tell the teams that the first team to scoop out and count 50 pumpkin seeds is the winner.
  • Pumpkin Stackers – Stack five pumpkins on top of each other without them falling in the quickest time.
  • Pumpkin Toss – Ask the first player to stand 3 to 4 feet away from a deep wicker basket and give him or her 10 to 20 mini pumpkins. See how many can be tossed into the basket in 30 seconds. In the event of a tie, let the finalists compete for the win by determining which one can make 10 baskets in the shortest time.
  • Pumpkin Transport – Tie five to eight long cord/string pieces (4-6 feet long) to a large ring. Place the ring on the ground with the cords coming out from it like rays of sunshine. Place a small pumpkin on top of the washer. The challenge is for the youth to pick up the ring and pumpkin by hanging onto the strings only without the pumpkin falling off.

TAKE IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL

MAKE IT SPIRITUAL

  • How can pumpkins represent us as Christians?

Just like us, pumpkins are different. God picks you from the patch, brings you in, and washes all the dirt off of you. Then he cuts off the top and scoops out all the yucky stuff. He removes the seeds of doubt, hate, greed, etc., and then he carves you a new smiling face and puts His light inside of you to shine for all the world to see.

  • How do the following verses relate to Pumpkins and to our lives as Christians?
    • 1 Samuel 16:7 – “The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart”
    • Matthew 23:25-28 – “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean. Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean. In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.”
    • Jeremiah 17:10 – “I the Lord search the heart and examine the mind to reward according to conduct and deeds.”
    • Psalm 51:10 – “Create in me a pure heart, O God.”
    • Matthew 5:14-16 – “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”
    • John 8:12 – “When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
    • 2 Corinthians 4:6 – “For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.”
    • 2 Corinthians 5:17 – “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!”
    • 2 Corinthians 4:7-10 – “But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.”

MAKE IT PRACTICAL

  • How is the way we clean out A pumpkin like the way Jesus cleans us out when we confess our sins?
  • What happens when we hide our light so others can’t see it?
  • What lessons can we learn from Pumpkins?

MAKE IT PERSONAL

  • What can you do to maintain a clean heart?
  • What can you do this week to have your light shine brighter for Christ?

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Game Ideas, Object Lessons

Living Skeletons

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Living Skeletons
Even if you don’t want to be involved with Halloween, you’ll want to grab at least one of those plastic or paper Halloween skeletons for this object lesson and games.

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Skeleton Games

Preparation: Purchase one or more plastic skeletons commonly found during the Halloween holiday season. You can also use a paper skeleton that is already cut into parts or make your own. Separate the plastic skeleton parts into pieces or cut them out if they are on paper.

  • Build the Skeleton – Obtain one skeleton for each team. Place all the parts for each skeleton in its own sack and give one sack to each team. When you say ‘Go’, each team must take out the skeleton parts and correctly reconstruct the skeletons. Award prizes for the fastest times. You can also give additional prizes for weirdest skeleton, etc.
  • Skeleton Scavenger Hunt – Hide the skeleton bones before the lesson starts. Let the participants search for them and then reassemble the skeleton. For older youth, you can hide the bones and then write out clues for them to follow to find them. You can also get a few skeletons and break the kids into teams. You can have it as a free for all (i.e. hide all parts and award the first team to find one of each part and put the skeleton together), or you can add a spot of color or a colored ribbon to identify which skeletons belong to which team. Team members must first find a complete set of parts… then they must assemble it correctly.
  • Skeleton Hoop Toss – This game requires a plastic-molded skeleton, positioned upright, and three plastic hula-type hoops. Mark a place where youth teams must stand. Each youth attempts to toss the three hoops over the skeleton. The player who tosses the most hoops over the skeleton wins.
  • Blind Skeleton Assembly – Place all the parts for each skeleton in its own sack and give one sack to each team. Each team chooses one team member to be blindfolded. When you say ‘Go’, the blindfolded person must correctly reconstruct the skeleton according to directions given by his or her team. First team to finish wins.
  • Skeleton Posers – Hang a Skeleton up and then using poster tape, pose the skeletons in different positions and take a picture of each pose. Have fun by placing all the Skeleton’s hands in the air, holding hands, legs positioned like doing a split and so on. You’ll want 20 to 30 different skeleton poses for the game. Take the photos and print out the pictures to create your Skeleton posing cards. When a card is drawn, the first team to pose the skeleton in the correct position wins. Variation: The team chooses one person (who is not allowed to see the photo) to help pose the skeleton according to directions given by the team, so it matches the photo. Variation: Teams are given 3 minutes to see how many Skeleton Poses they can create, the team with the most Poses made in 3 minutes wins.

TAKE IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL

One of the scary things about Halloween is the skeletons. A lot of people are afraid of death. When they see bones it reminds them of death and they become afraid. But they are just bones and there is nothing to be scared about. They can’t come to life right? Or can they?

The prophet Ezekiel might have had the first Halloween scare! We don’t know what day it took place, but it probably wasn’t October 31st. Let’s look at Ezekiel 37 to find out more!

MAKE IT SPIRITUAL

Read the key verses from this vision. God’s question to Ezekiel, “Can these dry bones live?” (v3) might be a question a lot of youth ask on 31st of October.

God was talking about more than a skeleton in a closet. He was giving Ezekiel a glimpse into the future when Jesus would conquer death and bring life to us. Jesus did conquer death on a cross. He also resurrected Lazarus from the dead.

Yet God was giving Ezekiel a picture of something more.

The bones represented the house of Israel and their dryness and loss of hope. (v11) The spirit of God would enter their bodies and they would experience restoration and life.

MAKE IT PRACTICAL

There may situations in life when people feel like a pile of dry bones. A new life may seem impossible.

  • What are some of the seemingly impossible situations youth / people face in life?

Like Ezekiel’s response to God when asked “Can these bones live?”, we can answer “You alone know.” God knows all and with God all things are possible. God can breath life into any situation we are in. Not only can he bring you a new life, but he can also give you a new heart: “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. (Ezekiel 36:26-27).

  • We are all dead in our sin, like a pile of dry bones (Ephesians 2:1)
  • But God, because of his great love for us, makes us alive in Christ (Ephesians 2:4-5)
  • We experience new life through faith in Christ! Doing good things doesn’t get us eternal life, but we are made alive in Christ that we might do good things for Him. (Ephesians 2:8-10)

MAKE IT PERSONAL

  • Have there been times in your own life when you feel like a pile of dry bones?
  • How can knowing that God can bring even piles of bones back to life give you hope in hopeless situations?
  • How can Christ’s resurrection give you hope in hopeless situations?

SCRIPTURE VERSES

  • Ezekiel 37
  • Ezekiel 36:26-27
  • Ephesians 2:1
  • Ephesians 2:4-5
  • Ephesians 2:8-10

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Games and Activities in Celebration of common Holidays.

Creative Holiday Ideas has over 300 pages of ideas to help you plan not only your next Fall Festival or Halloween Alternative event, but also most of the other common holidays. If you’ve ever wondered what you’re going to do for the holidays and how you’re going to do it, this resource is for you.

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Game Ideas, Object Lessons

Clay in the Potter’s Hands

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Clay in the Potter’s Hands

A Lump of clay is chosen with a purpose in mind. The potter envisions a vessel that will be useful to its final owner and a credit to the potter’s craftsmanship and experience. The potter applies pressure to the clay in different ways shaping and forming it until the final product he imagined is realized. The Bible tells us Adam was made from clay. God describes his relationship to us as a Potter. We are the clay. Like clay we can be mouldable, or we can become hard. The choice is ours.

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Games Using Clay or Playdoh

Note: Playdoh, while generally easy to remove can get mashed into carpets and leave bihind residue on some objects. You’ll want to make sure you use it in a way so that cleanup presents no problems.

  • Best impressions – Give youth some playdoh and send them on a scavenger hunt to obtain impressions of various objects in the clay/ playdoh. You can put things on your list like 5 different size coins, comb, leaf, key, button, pen cap, bottle cap, can tab, fork, shell, dog-tag, chess piece, cross, earring, paper clip, tweesers, action figure, bug, small lightbulb, lego, marble, battery, chain, rope, pencil, pair of dice, monopoly piece, checkers, wrench, nail, screw, watch, belt buckle, thimble, safety pin, whistle, lifesaver, golf ball, a letter, word from an engraving, etc. Add your own.
  • Clay Bowling – Have youth make balls from the clay / playdoh. See which one can get their ball to roll the farthest, or the straightest…. Or get closest to a target.
  • Longest snake – Which team can roll our the longest snake given the same amount of clay.
  • Great Minds Think Alike – Provide each of the youth with a tub of play dough. Have all the youth sit in a circle with their backs to each other. Call out a theme; example Animal, Shape, Candy, Letter, Pastry, etc. Give the players 1 minute to create something with that theme. When the time is up everyone turns around to face the center of the circle and shows what they have made. Points are determined by how many youth thought of the same thing to make. So, for example if the theme was ANIMAL and four teens made cats, two made fish, six made dogs, and one made a penguin then all the youth who made cats would get 4 pts, all who made fish would get 2 pts, all that made a dog get six points.
  • Pass the Clay – Divide the youth into two or more teams, sit them in a circle, and then give one person on each team a large lump of clay/Playdoh. When you shout out an object, scene or word, the person holding the clay begins to shape it as fast as they can. After a few seconds blow a whistle or use some other loud noise to indicate a change and then the clay must be passed to the next person who picks up where the first person left off. Continue to change sculptors every few seconds. Shout a final “STOP” after which each team shows off their creation. You can award points for the most realistic, the funniest, etc. You can use Biblical objects, people, and ideas or everyday objects like a hotdog stand, a clown, a barn with animals, A plate of spagetti with meatballs, etc.
  • Pass the Clay Mystery Object – This is played just like pass the clay, but the first person must start making something without communicating to the rest of the group in any way what the object is. You can assign an item to the first person or let them choose the item on their own. Once you yell the final stop, have the first person express what they started to create and then compare this to the final object. It can make for lots of laughs.
  • Playdoh Pictionary – Divide the youth into 2 or more teams. Each team chooses one member to start the game as the sculptor. It’s played just like pictionary, but instead of drawing the word, the youth must shape it from the Playdoh/clay. The first team to correctly guess the word wins a point. After a word is shaped and guessed, the next person on the team becomes the sculptor. The team at the end of the game with the most points wins. The sculptors may only mould the clay to represent the word and cannot say anything, make noises, use actions and gestures or represent the word in any other way. They also are not allowed to shape any letters or numbers. The words can be people, animals, objects, concepts, Adjectives, etc. VARIATION: Instead of going through the whole bowl of words to win, you can set a timer. When the time is up, the team with the most words guessed, wins.
  • Playdoh Pictionary Race – Played the same as playdoh pictionary, but this one is a race. Each team sends one “sculpter” up to get the first word. They then run back to the team and sculpt the word. As soon as their teammates correctly guess the word, a new person from their group who has not gone yet runs up to the person with the list and they are given the next word. The team who successfully gets through the whole list first, wins.
  • PlayDoh Pong – Set up plastic cups at one end of the table in a row of five, a row of four, a row of three, a row of two, and then one to form a triangle of cups. In the bottom of each cup write a different point value – In some cups put 5, others put 10, and in others put 15. To play have each youth stand and the other side of the table. Provide them with a can of Playdoh and a plastic spoon. Give them two minutes to create as many Playdoh balls as they can and use the spoon to try and flick them into the cups. At the end of two minutes count up their points. Whoever has the most points at the end wins.
  • PlayDoh Treasure Hunt – Mix about 50-100 coins and pennies into a large amount of Playdoh and roll the Playdoh into a thick, flat mass on a table. At your signal, they can use plastic spoons to dig into the playdoh and collect as many pennies as they can in a given amount of time. The person with the most value coins wins.
  • Ring toss – Youth make coil hoops and do a ring toss over objects for various points.
  • Tallest tower – Give each team a lump of playdoh. The team that builds the tallest standing tower in the given time wins. Add some dried spaghetti for a little more excitement. The tower must be standing with no help from the group members or any other devices.

TAKE IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL

MAKE IT SPIRITUAL

  • What does it mean to sculpt, shape, or mould something into a particular shape?
  • What are things that might be molded, sculpted, or formed?
  • How does something that’s molded become changed from its original form?
  • How did you decide what your creation was going to look like?
  • Did you come up with a plan before you started or did you just start and make changes as you went? Was this a good or bad method? Why?
  • What can this activity tell us about God working in our lives?

MAKE IT PRACTICAL

  • Why do you think God wants to mold us?
  • Why is it better for us to be like clay?
  • What are some things in life that try to mould us and shape us?
  • What are some typical molds that students at your school get squeezed into?
  • Why do we give way to pressure to be shaped by things and people around us?
  • Is conformity good or bad? Explain? What makes the difference?
  • Why do we give in so easy to allow us things to force us to conform?
  • Why is it difficult for us to allow God to mould us?

MAKE IT PERSONAL

  • What are some of the things you are you being squeezed into?
  • What things are shaping your life?
  • How would you describe the work of the Divine Potter in your life?
  • What can you do to be more yielding to God’s hand to shape your life?

SCRIPTURE VERSES

  • Genesis 2:5-7 – “In the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens, when no plant of the field was yet in the earth and no herb of the field had yet sprung up—for the LORD God had not caused it to rain upon the earth, and there was no man to till the ground; but a mist went up from the earth and watered the whole face of the ground—then the LORD God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.”
  • Job 10:9 – “Remember that thou hast made me of clay; and wilt thou turn me to dust again?”
  • Jeremiah 18:3-6 – “Then I went down to the potter’s house, and there he was, making something at the wheel. And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter; so he made it again into another vessel, as it seemed good to the potter to make. Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying: ‘O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter?’ says the LORD. ‘Look, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel!’ “
  • Isaiah 45:9 – “Woe to those who quarrel with their Maker, those who are nothing but potsherds among the potsherds on the ground. Does the clay say to the potter,’What are you making?’ Does your work say,’The potter has no hands’?”
  • Isaiah 64:8 “Yet you, Lord, are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand.”
  • Romans 9:21 – “Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for special purposes and some for common use?”
  • Romans 12:1-2 – “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God – this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
  • II Timothy 2:20-26 – “In a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and earthenware, and some for noble use, some for ignoble. If any one purifies himself from what is ignoble [those practices which appear just before this in the context —wrongful attitudes, contentiousness, ungodliness, doctrinal aberrations, iniquity] then he will be a vessel for noble use, consecrated and useful to the master of the house, ready for any good work.”

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HOME MADE PLAYDOH RECIPE

You can find various alternative recipes for this on the internet

1 cup cold water
Food coloring of your choice
1 cup white flour
1/2 cup table salt
2 tsp cream of tartar
2 tsp cooking oil
Scented oil or extract (optional, just for scent)

Combine the ingredients in a heavy saucepan and stir to mix and review the color. The color will deepen when the playdough is cooked. To get really good purples and colors like black I bought gel food coloring. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly until the Playdoh pulls away from the sides of the pan. About 3 to 5 minutes, or until it has the consistency of mashed potatoes or well, Playdoh. Remove from the heat and allow it to cool for 1 minute before kneading the dough. Store, after cooling, in a plastic container or resealable plastic bags. If stored in an air tight container or bag it can be kept for months.

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200 page e-book that explains everything you need to know when planning your very own object lessons. It contains 90 fully developed object lesson ideas and another 200 object lesson starter ideas based on Biblical idioms and Names / Descriptions of God.

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Game Ideas, Object Lessons

Bruised Bananas – Object Lessons from a Banana

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Bruised Bananas

Bananas are enjoyed all around the world. They are full of goodness, but they are easily bruised and can quickly turn to mush. Like many fruits, they can be extremely sweet and a delight. But they can also be easily bruised and turn rotten. They make a great object lessons on how we look at the outside to judge the inside and also on how we treat one another, how we express the fruits of the spirit to others, or we cause hurt to others.

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Games using Bananas

Warning: Bananas are easily bruised and can quickly become a pile of mush and peel. These games have a tendency to be messy so you will want to play them in an area where it is easy to mop up the mess. You’ll also need a lot of bananas. You can also use plastic or toy bananas for some of the games as this will reduce the number of bananas and can tie in to the later discussion. But real bananas are so much more messy and fun! Green bananas will last a little longer and be a little less messy.

  • A Peeling Bananas – Youth must peel a banana and eat it with hands tied behind their backs.
  • Banana Bites – Give each youth a banana, or choose a representative from each team. The objective is to peel and eat the banana while holding one hand behind his/her back. In other words, the youth must peel the banana with his or her teeth, then eat it. The first to do so and whistle, is the winner.
  • Banana Circle Race – Everyone takes off their shoes and sits with their team in a circle on the floor. Youth must pass a banana around the circle from person to person using only their feet. Each successful pass to a person adds a point but teams lose a point if a hand is used or if the banana is dropped. Once the time is up, the team with the most points wins.
  • Banana Duel – Have everyone pair up and tie their left wrist together with a bandana. Give each a banana to hold in their left hand. When you say “go”, they peel the banana with only their right hand and try to push it in their partner’s face/mouth. You may want to do this blindfolded to add excitement. First to do so wins!
  • Banana Eating Contest – This is the typical peel the banana and eat it contest with a twist. Youth must put one leg of a pair of new nylons over their face. The first person to eat the entire banana through the nylon wins! It can be done but be prepared for a mushy mess!
  • Banana Footrace – Girls must peel a banana and feed it to their team mate using only their feet. You can break the stalk so that the start is easier.
  • Banana Grab – (Played like the game of spoons but with bananas) – Have everyone sit around a table and put one banana for each person in the middle of the table. Take one Banana out so there is one less banana than the number of people. Have one person deal four cards to each player. The goal with the cards is to get four of a kind (4 Aces, 4 Kings, etc.) To start the game the dealer will take one card from the remaining deck. They must decide if they want to swap the card out with one of theirs or pass it to the left. If they swap it out, they must pass one of their previous cards to the left, leaving them always with four cards. The person to the left does the same thing with the passed cards and the cards continuously go around the table. When someone has four of a kind they can grab a banana. Once one person has four of a kind everyone else can grab a banana at the same time. Shuffle and deal again, removing one spoon each time and eliminating a new player!
  • Banana Mascots – Each team is given a banana and a bag of random items (felt, foil, beads, etc… BE CREATIVE). They must create a personality and appearance for their banana with the items they get. One volunteer from each group gets up and introduces their banana mascot to the group. It’s better if each group gets different items for variety.
  • Banana Necking – Youth line up single file in teams. Without using hands, they must pass the banana down the line by trapping the banana under the chin.
  • Banana Olympics – Prepare a copy of the tasks for each team and place them in a bag in the middle of the room. The teams should sit at the side of the room. Allocate a bag to each team. Give each team four bananas. One player from each team runs one after the other to their bag and pulls out a piece of paper with a task written on it then runs back to their team. The player reads out the task and performs it. One leader per team should make sure that this is done correctly. The first team to complete the tasks has won. Sample tasks: Drop a banana under your clothes from collar to ankle, Hold two bananas like horns on your head and act like a bull, Tickle a players bare feet with a banana, Throw a banana to the ceiling and catch it again, Sit on a banana and squash it, Walk out of the room with a banana between your knees, Balance a banana on your finger for 5 seconds, Balance a banana on your face for 5 seconds, etc.
  • Banana On a String – Tie strings around several peeled bananas and hang them from the ceiling. Ask for volunteers to race to see who can eat the banana first without touching it with their hands. Increase the difficulty by using unpeeled bananas.
  • Banana Relays – There are a lot of different relay ideas you can do: Carry the banana under your armpit and hop on one foot, Hold the banana between your knees, two teammates toss the banana back and forth down the field and back (designate a minimum number of tosses), Leapfrog formation and first player hops over players while holding banana and then tosses banana to next player in line to do the same. Do them as individual races or combine them all together for each person in line to do something different
  • Banana Rugby – Teams of youth must score goals by throwing a banana into a bucket which is guarded by a goal keeper. Split the group into two equal sized teams who each choose a goal keeper. The keeper will be placed on a stool holding a bucket on the opposite side from his team. Players may not run with the banana. You cannot touch the player in possession of the banana. You can only pass the banana with your hands. A team loses possession of the banana if a member takes more than one step before passing it. Players have a 10 second count to throw or it is an automatic turnover. If a pass is intercepted, is batted to the ground, or goes out of bounds it changes possession. The opposing team starts their turn from where the banana comes to rest. More than one banana in the game means more action! You can also make sure the girls are included by requiring each pass from a guy to be made to a girl and vice versa or only allowing girls to score.
  • Banana Scavenger Hunt – Divide the youth into teams and give them a list of items that can be measured with bananas. Alternatively, you can provide the measurements and they have to find out what was measured in banana lengths. You’ll want to use bananas of the same size, but you can adjust a little by cutting the end of the stem. You can do it at the church, or with permission you may also be able to do something in a public park or shopping mall. You’ll need to get permission for management for shopping malls or places of business, but some will be happy to allow you to do so. (By the way, you can use a tape measure to measure all the items yourself and just divide it by the measurement of your standard banana to get the banana lengths.) Give extra point for the team that eats the mushed banana at the end. You can measure signs, streets, sidewalks, objects, people, places, buildings, etc.
  • Banana Shuffle – Divide your youth group into relay teams with 3 or for persons per team. the first person on each team must run to a designated location and back, holding the banana like a runner’s baton, then pass the banana off to the next team member. Continue until you have a winning team. Variation: Before each runner begins to run they must peel a section of the banana, break off that section and eat it. Enough banana must be left for the last member of the team. You can make it more difficult by turning the race into an obstacle course in which they have to go over, under and around various objects.
  • Banana Slap – Peel a bunch of bananas and hand out the strips of banana peels to everyone. Then you have them partner up and grab a hand of a partner. Play some music. When the music stops, the object is to slap someone in the face with the banana peel before someone slaps you. The winners move on and the losers are eliminated. Last standing wins!
  • Banana Split Bonanza – Create a giant Banana split using a rain gutter. be sure to clean it with soap and water or line it with plastic wrap first.
  • Bobbing for Bananas – Follow the same rules as you would in bobbing for apples, but use bananas instead.
  • Behind the Back Banana Peeling Contest – With hands tied behind their backs using a bandana, team members must race to a pile of unpeeled bananas, select a banana and peel it completely and drop it in a bowl. No hands are allowed. Youth then return to the line where the next member’s hands are tied and sent off to peel a banana. These peeled bananas can later be used in the banana splits-as long as they don’t touch the ground!
  • Doctor Banana – Each team peels and cuts up a banana into equal pieces. Then tell them they must put the banana back together using string, toothpicks, sticky tape, rubber bands, etc. The team that produces the best reconstructed banana wins.
  • Head over Peels – Teams must lie down on their backs in a long line (one persons head at the other persons feet). The person at the front starts with a banana in between their feet and must lift their legs up to pass it on to the next persons feet. The first team to get the banana all the way back to the end of their line wins!
  • Hidden Banana – The youth must stand in a circle with their hands behind their backs. One stands in the middle of the circle. While the person in the middle’s eyes are closed, walk around the outside of the circle and quietly place the banana into someone’s hand. The person in the middle is then allowed to open his or her eyes. The banana is secretly passed from person to person around the circle. The person in the center must study people’s faces and work out who has the banana. If caught with the banana, the person holding it must then replace the person in the center.
  • Instant Banana Splits – A girl from each team makes a banana split in in a teammate’s mouth (guy). Cut a hole in the garbage bag and put it over him so only his head is exposed. The guy lies on the on the floor. Girls stand above him and with hands straight out must drop a slice of banana, a bit of chocolate syrup, some whip cream, chopped nuts, and a cherry into the guys mouth. First guy to eat it and whistle wins. You’ll need some wet towels to clean up.
  • Quickdraw Bananas – Two teams face each other in parallel lines. The people have to put their banana in a pocket. When the signal is given, the people must draw their bananas like guns and instantly peel it and eat it as fast as they can. Whoever has their banana eaten first wins.
  • Steal the Banana – Divide the youth group into equal teams on opposite sides of the room. You can play with more teams so that one team is on each wall of the room. Within each team ask the youth to number off. Place a banana in the middle of the room, halfway between the two teams. Teams must start out touching the wall. Call out numbers and the youth on each team who has that number must run to the banana grab it and bring it back to their team. The first team to collect three banana’s wins.
  • Tallest Tower – Each team of youth sits in a circle with 6-10 bananas. Within a given time limit the team that builds the tallest tower using the bananas wins. You can make it more challenging by requiring that only one banana is allowed to touch the table.
  • Whole Bananas – Divide into teams and then members of each team pair up with a partner on the same team. Provide one banana for each pair who will peel it and then place opposite ends of the banana in each persons mouth. Then they run together around a chair placed about 10 feet away and back to their team. Then the next two people peel their banana and the relay continues. Each pair scores 3 points for the team for completing their run without breaking their banana and 1 point for making the run with a broken banana. The first team to have all its pairs complete their runs gets 5 extra points. Highest score wins!

TAKE IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL

For added spiritual application you can prepare one or more of the following props. These can each represent a possible spiritual condition as indicated in the parenthesis. Keep it simple for younger age groups, or expand it for those who are more mature.

  1. Place a banana in the fridge for a couple days, the skin will turn black, but it will still be fine inside. (Outside it looks a mess, but inside it is still wholesome.)
  2. Just before your meeting, carefully squeeze and bruise a banana so that the inside is bruised and mushy, but the outside skin is still whole and unbroken. (Outside looks fine but inside it has been bruised)
  3. Add a plastic or fake banana (It’s fake)
  4. Let one banana rot (Rotton both outside and inside)
  5. Green Banana (Fruit is not fully expressed yet… it is still growing)
  6. Ripe banana that is perfect for eating (Sweet and enjoyable)
  7. Banana that which was used in the games and is now quite a mess. (Abused, injured, bruised by others)
  8. Label from some other fruit on a banana (Labels, name calling, not true)
  9. Before the lesson, get a banana & a sewing needle. You insert the sewing needle into several spots through the banana skin and sort of “swish” it back & forth, so that you cut the banana into pieces inside its skin. (Looks fine on the outside, but is all cut up on the inside.)

MAKE IT SPIRITUAL

  • What was the key ingredient of the games?
  • What is a banana?
  • What are some characteristics of a banana?
  • In what ways could what happened to the bananas, be similar to what can happen to people?
  • Have you ever been hurt or injured by someone? Even if it was just a game, can people still be bruised and hurt?
  • What does this tell us about how we treat people?
  • Scripture says that Christians are known by their fruit. (Matthew 7:20) How do we evaluate whether fruit is good or bad?
  • How can these Banana’s (refer to props) represent spirit conditions of a person?

MAKE IT PRACTICAL

  • What are the first things that come to mind when you consider the question: “How is your spiritual life going these days?”
  • What are some of the things that people use to determine the quality of a person’s spiritual life?
  • How do you know if a person is a Christian or not?
  • What are some of the things that people use to evaluate if a person is a Christian? Of the things that you have listed, which are actions, words, thoughts, values?
  • Are the things in the list mostly internal or external things?
  • What are some of the fruits of a Christian’s life? (see Galatians 5:22-23)
  • Are these internal or external, or both? Explain.
  • Which traits of the fruit of the Spirit are easiest for you?
  • Which ones are the biggest areas of growth for you?
  • The list in Galatians was not meant to be the total list as other qualities are also mentioned in scripture like holiness, humility, compassion, generosity, contentment, thankfulness, mercy, grace, sincerity, and perseverance. Which trait(s) on this “expanded” list of the fruit of the Spirit come easiest and hardest for you?

MAKE IT PERSONAL

  • Take time to discuss ways youth have shown the fruits of the spirit or have experienced them. Also, discuss experiences that have bruised us and hurt us. How did each of these experiences make us feel? What can we learn from them? How does it affect you or others?
  • Which of fruits are lacking in your life? why?
  • What do you need to do to grow and become more fruitful?
  • What can you learn from this lesson in how you personally treat others?

SPIRITUAL LESSONS FROM BANANAS

Be Careful How We Treat Others
Bananas are really fragile fruits that need careful handling and preparation. You have to handle bananas gently so you don’t bruise them. The same holds true for the way we treat others. Our words and actions towards others can leave bruises upon their hearts just like bruises on a banana that has not been handled with care. Sometimes, a person who has been treated unkindly for a while can become angry and bitter inside. He starts to decay from the inside. But even if the fruit becomes rotton, the seeds can be planted in good soil and new and wonderful can grow out of it. God has the power to come into our lives, to give us new life, and the opportunity to abide in him and produce good fruit.

Don’t Judge by the External
Unfortunately there are also those who try to fake the fruit of the spirit in their lives. Fruit is a natural product of drawing from the source (John 15) You don’t force fruit. It is the outflow of abiding in Christ. Some people pretend that they are loving, kind people, but they are really angry bitter people on the inside. Some people try to pretend that they have joy because of material things, but really they are unhappy miserable people. You can’t always tell the quality of fruit by it’s outside. What you look like on the outside is not what is important to God. What your heart and life look like on the inside is what is important to God. How do we know if a banana is good? First we look at what we can see. Then we open it up and look at the inside. How do we know if a person is a Christian? We look at their lives that we can see, but that doesn’t always tell us accurately. As Christians we should not only have good outsides, but we should have good insides. People we are around look at what they can see so we need to be sure we are acting the way Jesus wants us to. God looks at the inside so we need to make sure that we are acting the way Jesus wants us to!

SCRIPTURE VERSES

  • Psalms 34:8 – “O taste and see that the Lord is good! How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him”
  • 1 Samuel 16:7 – “But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”
  • Galatians 5:22-23 – “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”
  • John 15

MORE IDEAS? See “Creative Object Lessons”

200 page e-book that explains everything you need to know when planning your very own object lessons. It contains 90 fully developed object lesson ideas and another 200 object lesson starter ideas based on Biblical idioms and Names / Descriptions of God.

Learn More…

Game Ideas, Object Lessons

Teddy Bear Faith

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Teddy Bear Faith

When you were younger did you have a teddy bear or another cherished possession? Did you hold it, talk to it, hug it close? Did it comfort you, give you courage? If you couldn’t find it, did you turn everything upside down looking for it? Teddy Bears remind us of a childlike faith. They remind us of the sense of security and comfort we gained simply by their presence. God loves us more than any beloved Child’s possession. And His constant companionship reminds us of the comfort, the security, and love that can only be found in Him.

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The Story of the Teddy Bear

In 1902, Theodore Roosevelt, the President of the United States, went hunting in the woods but didn’t kill anything. Before he left, one of his aides found a lost bear cub and offered it to him. But Roosevelt refused to shoot the bear, saying it would be unsporting. The next day a cartoon depicting the president having mercy on the cub appeared in newspapers across the US. A New York candy shop owner, Morris Mitchtom, saw the cartoon, asked his wife to make a toy bear to put in the shop window alongside the cartoon, and gave him a name: “Teddy’s Bear”. Mrs Mitchtom’s bear proved so popular that within a year she and her husband closed the candy shop and founded the Ideal Novelty and Toy Company, now one of the biggest in the world.

Games using Teddy Bears and Stuffed Animals

Note: Get teddy bears and stuffed animals cheaply at the nearest Goodwill or Salvation Army store. You can always donate them to a children’s charity or back to where you got them after your event. Giant stuffed animals and bears increase the level of fun!

  • Back to Back Bear Race – Split the youth up into partners however many as necessary. The players have to put a teddy bear between both of their backs and walk to the finish line and back to the team. First team to finish wins. You can make it more difficult by making it an obstacle course rather than a simple race. If the bear is dropped they must return to their team and begin again.
  • Hot Teddy Bear Attack – This is a variation on the old “Hot Potato” game. Give each youth one of the animals and have them stand in a circle. One or more Teddy Bears are the hot potato. Use more than one if you have a large group. While the music is playing, the youth must pass the stuffed animals in one direction around the circle as fast as they can. When the music stops, the people who are left holding the Teddy Bears are out. All of the rest of the people at that time get to attack the ones who are out with their animals by hurling them at high velocities. (Make sure the animals have no hard eyes etc so that no one get’s hurt) Once everyone who is still in picks up an animals, start over again. Make sure you include the Teddy Bears back in the game for each round.
  • Stuffed Animal Charades – Place a variety of stuffed animals in a box or king-sized pillow case. As each player takes their turn, in another room or away from all the other players, he or she blindly reaches into the box or pillow case and takes out a stuffed animal. The player acts out the animal while the other players try to guess what animal is being portrayed.
  • Stuffed Animal Personalities – Place a large collection of stuffed animals in the center of the youth group. Begin the conversation by asking your participants to share with you personality traits of each animal. During the discussion ask the participants to be thinking about which animal reflects some traits of their own personalities.
  • Teddy Bear Dodge Ball – Play a traditional game of dodge ball, but with Teddy Bears.
  • Teddy Bear Flag Football – In flag football, instead of tackling, you pull the flag from a person’s pocket. A flag can be a piece of cloth or a bandana. If your youth don’t have pockets, you can also attach a strip of cloth to a clothespin and it can easily be inned to a shirt tail. You’ll need a room large enough for running and passing. Place goal posts made from crepe paper on opposite walls. Field goals are awarded if the bear hits the wall inside the goal posts. You can use masking tape or crepe paper for goal line markers as well. You may want to include a girls-only quarter, follow boys-only quarter.
  • Teddy Bear Hat Trick – Position teddy bears or stuffed animals of various sizes and point values on the other side of a starting line. Teams toss a hat onto the targets. Team with the most points wins.
  • Teddy Bear Pass – Played just like Hot Potato, youth must pass a teddy bear around the circle when the music starts. When it stops whoever is holding it is eliminated.
  • Teddy Bear Pinata – Get a Pinata in the shape of a teddy bear and tie it to a rope that is hung between two trees. Youth are blindfolded, given a plastic baseball bat, and get three swings to break the pinata.
  • Teddy Bear Rescue – All youth stand around a blanket holding an edge. When you toss individual bears high into the air, the youth must try to catch the bear in the blanket.
  • Teddy Bear Targets – Position baskets or rings of various sizes and point values on the other side of a starting line. Teams toss stuffed animals or teddy bears into the targets for points. Team with the most points wins.
  • Teddy Bear Toss – Divide the youth into pairs. Each pair is a team. The winning team is the team who can throw and catch their bear over the greatest distance. Giant Bears make the game much more fun! Have participants start 10 metres apart. After each throw each member will move further apart. The team members alternate their throwing and catching roles after each throw. A bear catcher may not move from his/her starting position until the bear to be caught is in the air en route to that catcher. The pair that manages a successful toss of the greatest distance is judged to be the winner.
  • Teddy Bear Volleyball – Divide into teams of two, each person holding a towel at the corners. Teams stand on opposite sides of a volleyball net or some kind of divider. Each team must use the towel to toss a bear back and forth with another team. Continue playing until the bear is missed and a point is scored. You can play according to traditional volleyball rules on serving and scoring.
  • That’s My Teddy – Ask each youth to bring a teddy bear or stuffed animal to the party. (At the end you can even donate some of them to a needy children) At one point, put all of the stuffed animals into a pile and bring in each youth one-by-one and blindfolded to identify his/her stuffed animal from the pile, using only the way it feels as a guide.
  • Ultimate Bear – Play like this like Ultimate Frisbee but replace the frisbee with a bear. Form two teams. Players must move the bear by tossing it from one player to another until the bear can be passed and caught across the goal line. You cannot run with the bear and must plant one foot and pivot when you are holding it. If the teddy bear is intercepted or falls to the ground, the other team takes possession.
  • Warp Speed Teddy – Arrange participants in a circle, not too close, not too far from one another. Toss a teddy bear to someone else in the circle. If you receive it, toss it to someone else in the circle not immediately on either side of you. That person will toss it to another person who has not yet received it and again not immediately on either side of him or her. Once you have received the bear and passed it on to someone else, put your hands down to your side to indicate you have already received it. Throwing continues until the last person tosses the ball back to the first person. They must remember who they tossed to because they will try to recreate the pattern in the next run, only faster.

TAKE IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL

MAKE IT SPIRITUAL – Lessons from Teddy Bears

1. Love

God Loves you more than a Teddy Bear – When you were younger did you have a teddy bear or another cherished possession? Did you hold it, talk to it, hug it close? Did it comfort you, give you courage? If you couldn’t find it, did you turn everything upside down looking for it? You loved it in precious, innocent way that a five-year-old loves things? You always wanted it with you. God loves you far more than you ever loved your teddy bear. God has so much more love for us than we could ever imagine. In fact, he loved us so much he gave himself for us, to pay our debt of sin, by dying in our place that we might live with him in heaven. As we have grown out love has grown as well. But the truth is we can never love more than God.

MAKE IT PRACTICAL

  • In what ways do we underestimate God’s love for us? Why?
  • In what ways does God show his love for us?
  • How should we respond to God’s love for us?
  • Explain, “We love God, because he first loved us” 1 John 4:19
  • What lessons about love can we learn from 1 John 4:7-21?

2. Value

The Bear’s value wasn’t based on its cost. In fact, you probably had no idea of the cost of the bear. It may have cost very little, but in your eyes it had great value. It’s value was not based upon what it was made of, how nice it looked, or how what it cost to make it. It’s value was based on how much you as a child cherished it and loved it, how dear it was to you. You loved it because it was yours. In fact, in time the bear probably lost a lot of fur, became tattered, dirty, and maybe even started to fall apart. But you loved it all the same. The same is true of you. God loves you and your worth is found in how dear you are to him. He made you, he bought you, and he loves you. Sometimes your life may become a little tattered, dirty, and even seem to be falling apart. But God loves you even more than you loved your teddy bear. To the world you may seem insignificant, worthless, falling apart, but to God you are everything, you are cherished, you are loved, simply because you are his.

MAKE IT PRACTICAL

  • How do you decide if something is valuable?
  • What decides the value of something?
  • How valuable are you to God? What was he willing to pay for you?
  • How does knowing that God CHOSE you make you feel?
  • How can realising God’s value for you and the price he paid for you motivate your life?

3. Comfort and Security

As children, a Teddy Bear gives us comfort and security. It is a constant companion. We cling to it in times of fear. We cherish it, and give it a special place in our lives. But as we grow older, our simple faith matures and the comfort and security is found in parents. But soon we also must move beyond that and we realise we can only find true comfort and security in God. True security and comfort can only come from our relationship with Him.

MAKE IT PRACTICAL

  • When are times that Jesus can be a comfort to us?
  • How can we be a comfort to others?
  • What comforts you and gives you security?
  • Why are we safe in God’s hands?
  • How can knowing that God is always there for us help us to live a better life?

MAKE IT PERSONAL

  • How can you rest in God’s Love? His Comfort? His security?
  • Knowing that you are precious and valuable to God, what does this knowledge motivate you to do this week?

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SCRIPTURE VERSES

————————————————

  • 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 – “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.”
  • Psalm 62:1-2 – “My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken.”
  • Psalm 112:8 – “His heart is secure, he will have no fear.”
  • Psalm 16:5 – “LORD, you have assigned me my portion and my cup; You have made my lot secure.”
  • Isaiah 41:10 – “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
  • Romans 8:15-16 – “For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by Him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.”
  • Ephesians 1:4-8 – “For He chose us in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight. In love He predestined us to be adopted as His sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with His pleasure and will– to the praise of His glorious grace, which He has freely given us in the One He loves. In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that He lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding.”
  • Hebrews 13:5 – “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”
  • See also PSALM 91:1-16

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MORE IDEAS? See “Creative Object Lessons”

200 page e-book that explains everything you need to know when planning your very own object lessons. It contains 90 fully developed object lesson ideas and another 200 object lesson starter ideas based on Biblical idioms and Names / Descriptions of God.

Learn More…

Game Ideas, Object Lessons

Lego Instructions for the Christian Life

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LegoInstructions

LEGOs are one of those toys that are universally loved around the world by all ages. They are simple building blocks in a variety of shapes and colors, but with a little creativity and imagination they can be put together in unlimited combinations to create masterpieces. They are a great metaphor for each of us in the body of Christ. And if we follow God’s instruction we can be used to create and do incredible things.

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Games using LEGOs

  • Blind Builder – A player is blindfolded and must construct the item solely from verbal directions from the team. First to team to complete it wins.
  • Blind LEGO Construction – Blindfold each team and ask them to build a Lego sculpture using a pile of Lego pieces in front of them. Give awards for the most like a real object, funniest, tallest, longest, most creative, etc
  • Fast As You Can – In this game you call out a simple object that can be created from LEGO’s. Each team has three minutes to make one as fast as they can. At the end of the three minutes have a judge decide who sculpture most resembles the object. Play a couple of rounds so there are more chances for winners.
  • Guess How Many LEGO Bricks – Guess how many bricks in a lego jar? The winner could go home with the jar of LEGOS.
  • I Spy The LEGO Guy – Get several LEGO guys and hide them in various places around the room. The youth or team to locate the most wins.
  • LEGO Car Race – Divide the youth group into teams and provide each team with a duplicate pile of plastic LEGO building blocks and four LEGO wheels. Within a given time limit, the team must build a car, create a nickname for the car, a racing team name and choose a mascot. Allow each team to line up their racers on a starting line and race them down a makeshift ramp. Your ramp can be a long table propped up on one end, or even a wide board or two. Have challenges or race all at one go.
  • LEGO Chopsticks – Place two bowls in front of each team: one filled with LEGO blocks, and the other empty. Give the youth one minute to move as many LEGO blocks as they can from the full bowl to the empty bowl using only the chopsticks
  • LEGO Identity – Give each group an assortment of peices with the instructions to build something that represents them as a group.
  • LEGO Me – Have youth select a specific lego piece that represent them as an individual and explain it’s significance. Then have them use all the pieces to build one object.
  • LEGO Memory – Before the game, build a structure with Legos (the more complex the structure, the more difficult the activity). Then put the youth in small groups, each group with a bag of Legos (each bag contains the same size, color, and quantity of Legos and has identical stock as that of the structure you built). The group has to exactly replicate the structure you already built. But, the structure to replicate is located outside the room or behind a screen, only one person from each group may look at the structure at a time. They cannot draw or take a picture of the structure to communicate it – they have to use their memory. Each team can look at the structure as many times as they want, but only one person can look at it at a time. The first to replicate the structure – exactly with the same size and color Legos wins.
  • LEGO on a string – Have the youth form a circle, facing inward, with one youth in the middle. String a LEGO piece with a hole in it on a long piece of string and then tie the ends of the string together. Place the string inside the circle and have each youth hold it with both hands . The idea is to pass the LEGO around the circle from hand to hand, unnoticed by the youth in the middle . He tries to guess where it is by pointing to the hand he thinks is holding the LEGO. If he is correct, the LEGO holder goes to the middle and the guesser takes his place in the circle . The youth in the middle must keep guessing until he locates the LEGO.
  • LEGO Scavenger Hunt – Hide an assortment of LEGO bricks and the youth search for them. You can award point values to the different brick colors and have them compete for a high score.
  • LEGO snapshots – Take pictures of simple LEGO structures, and have the youth try to duplicate it from the picture only. You might need a photo from more than one angle to get all the pieces.
  • LEGO Tongue Tower – To win this game, the a youth must first put a tongue depressor (or plastic spoon) in their mouth then build a tower of five loose Legos on the tongue depressor (still in their mouth) and then keep the LEGOS balanced for ten seconds.
  • Lose the LEGOS – Tape an empty tissue box the rear of each player with the opening facing away from the player. You can do this with team representatives or individually if you have enough tissue boxes. You can also have timed trials to determine the fastest. Once the tissue box is taped on, the time will start and the player must shake their rear to be the quickest to get all of the LEGOS to come out of the tissue box.
  • Quickest LEGO Builders – Get a brand new small box of legos, with a picture on the front of the completed set, for each team. Pass it out to the teams and on go they must build the set. Quickest to do so wins. You can also find blueprints for a variety of lego projects at www.letsbuilditagain.com
  • Strongest LEGO Bridge – Give each team of youth a set amount of time to build the strongest bridge. Then line up and test them. You can use ziplock bags filled with rice (250grams), soft wrist weights or anything which will not damage your floor when in falls. Amazingly they have been known to hold 5kg (11.02 pounds) so make sure you have enough weight to test them.
  • Tallest LEGO Tower – See which team can build the tallest tower in a predetermined time limit without the tower falling over.
  • What am I? – Divide the youth into teams and supply each team a pile of Lego parts that include pieces to make cars, trucks and people. Have everyone write down a name of a person, place or thing on a small slip of paper (tell them not to show anyone else). Ask each youth to fold his or her slip of paper and place it in a hat. Mix the slips of paper and ask one member from each team to randomly select one slip of paper. Tell the team member not to show the paper to his or her teammates. Set a kitchen timer for 10 minutes and tell the team member who chose the slip of paper to build whatever was on that slip of paper. It is up to his or her teammates to guess what he or she is building based on his or her creation. No talking or gestures are allowed. The first team to correctly guess the right answer wins that round.

TAKE IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL

Debrief

  • What do we need that will help us turn a pile of pieces into a specific shape?
  • Do you have to build exactly what is on the LEGO box or in the instructions?
  • Can we use the pieces to build other good things as well?
  • (If it has step by step instruction) Do you have to follow the instructions?
  • What is the advantage of instructions?
  • How does a photo, an example or instructions help?
  • What could have happened if we didn’t follow the manual?
  • How did the groups go about assembling their Lego project? How did each person participate?
  • What was frustrating about this activity?
  • Why was it difficult/easy to communicate instructions?
  • What are other situations that happen in your life where you have to rely on others to communicate information or instructions to you?
  • How do you make sure that you understand them completely? What can you do as the person with the information to get your message across to others?
  • How do you know where a brick belongs and how it fits into the overall plan?
  • Is it sometimes possible for more that one brick to fit in the same?

MAKE IT SPIRITUAL

  • What spiritual lessons can we learn from LEGOS?
  • What could happen if you don’t follow the instructions?
  • How is this like the choices we have in life?
  • Were you created with a purpose?
  • What other projects or things have you done that require an instruction manual?
  • Are there instructions for us to follow in life? As a Christian?
  • What are some of the world’s instructions? Those from the Bible?
  • How is a lego set like the body of Christ?
  • How is the Bible like an instruction manual?
  • How is Christ a model for us to follow? (1 Corinthians 11:1)

MAKE IT PRACTICAL

A LEGO manual shows how each piece fits together to form the completed shape and the order or sequence.

How is a lego set like the body of Christ? the youth group?

  1. made up of many parts.
  2. Christ is the cornerstone
  3. The parts fit together to make a whole
  4. if one part is missing, the whole suffers – to be complete they need each other
  5. no piece, is more important that the others.
  6. some relationships are closer than others
  7. together they form a picture / object
  8. they didn’t have the instructions or a picture on a box so it was sometimes difficult to know what they were forming
  9. different people acted as leaders to help them form the picture
  10. The pieces support each other
  11. there are different connections – shapes – that connect each
  12. each piece is different / unique
  13. Each piece is identified by where it fits into the whole
  14. Some pieces are easily identified but not more important

MAKE IT PERSONAL

  • How can we learn where we belong in the church and the role we each should fill?
  • After this activity, ask each youth to take back their LEGO piece as a reminder of the lessons.

SCRIPTURE

  • 1 Corinthians 3:11-15 – “For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames.”
  • 1 Peter 2:4 – “As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him— 5you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual housea to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.”
  • Ephesians 2:19-22 “Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.”

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Game Ideas, Object Lessons

Spiritually Measuring Up

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Spiritually_Measuring_Up

It’s back to school time. Time to get all your school supplies and meet new friends. These games all have a ruler as the central prop and serve as a discussion start for measuring up to God’s standards. I remember the days of using a ruler to create a growth chart on the door frame. But how do we measure our growth as Christians?

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Games using a Ruler

  • Back Flip Rulers – Back flip rulers is a variation of the minute-to-win-it game “Back Flip” The objective is simple – palms down, rest several rulers on the back of your hand. Now flip them up and catch them all in the same hand. Person who can catch the most rulers at once wins.
  • Dice it Up – Another Minute-to-win-it game, youth must place a ruler into their mouth and stack a die on the end of the ruler. The die is not allowed to touch a youth’s nose or face. If the die falls off, the youth must choose another die to put on the ruler. Once the first die is in place, the player can pick up another die and put it on top of the first die. He has to continue adding a die until he’s stacked six die on top of one another. The dice have to be balanced for 3 seconds at least. First youth to be successful wins.
  • Feather Relay – Give individuals or teams a ruler with a feather, leaf or some other light object on it. The idea is to see who can go across the room and back again, keeping the elusive object on his or her ruler. If the object blows off, it must be replaced before the contestant can continue.
  • Herding Cats – Ever tried to herd a cat? They have a mind of their own. Give each team of youth one ruler and a cat (a lemon or raw egg.) Teams line up at the starting line, than at the signal, the first player pushes the cat to the goal and back using only the ruler. That player passes the ruler to the teammate who is next in line, and so on until all youth on a team have run. The team that finishes first wins. Other variations are to set up an obstacle course.
  • Longest Line – Give each group a ruler and a few school supplies if you have some. Then give the following instructions – “Using what you have, create the longest line possible.” The key to this game is they have more than the objects you have given to them. They can use a belt, a shoe lace, keys, coins, paper money, etc to create a long line of objects. We often look to God to give us resources to get things done, but we often have more than we realise if we expand our thinking.
  • Peas on a Ruler – Place a pile of peas (equal number of peas in each) for each team at one end of the room and an empty bowl for each at the opposite end. Give the first person in each line a ruler. Youth must run to their pea pile and scoop up as many peas on the ruler as they can, and bring them back and dump them into the empty bowl. They then give the rulers to the next person in line, who repeat the process. The first team to transfer its peas from the pile to the bowl is the winner. Any peas which fall along the way must also he picked up on the ruler and brought to the bowl. Players may have more than one run until all the peas are transfered, but must continue in the same order as they inititially began. They may not put the experts at the beginning of the line the second time through.
  • Ruler Catapult – Take a ruler and a square rubber pencil eraser. Place the ruler on the edge of a book or table. Place the eraser at one of the ruler and slam the other end of the ruler towards the floor. HARD. Whoever can get the eraser to fly the furthest wins!
  • Ruler Delivery – Choose a collection of objects of increasing size to be passed from the front of the line to the back of the line for each team using a ruler in each person’s mouth. First team to pass all the objects to the end of the line wins. Here are some ideas for objects: Cotton Balls, Ping Pong Balls, an egg (raw or hard boiled), marbles, lemon, apple, inflated balloon, ice cube.
  • Ruler Fencing – Players hold a ruler with a square rubber eraser on it in one hand. In the other hand the players hold an empty ruler. Then they try to knock the opponents’ eraser off the ruler without losing their own eraser.
  • Ruler of the world – roll a marble down a ruler and into a bowl. First team to do it successfully wins. Make it more difficult by using a yardstick or meter ruler.
  • Rulers – This is the game of spoons but played with rulers. Depending on the number of players, you need at least one deck of cards, and one ruler less than the number of players. Players sit in a circle with the rulers in the middle of the circle with their ends touching. To begin, each player is dealt 4 cards. The first player picks up a card from the top of the pile, and can choose to keep it, or pass it to the person on his or her left. Players can only hold a maximum of four cards. When someone gets four of a kind, he grabs a ruler. Once one person grabs a ruler, everyone else also grabs one until all the rulers are gone and 1 person is left without a ruler. Play resumes with one less player and one less ruler. Play continues until there is only one player left, the winner.
  • Standing Broad Grin – Measure everyone’s grin with a ruler to see who has the widest smile. Offer first, second, and third place prizes to the biggest smiles.
  • Tallest Tower – Bring in a variety of school supplies, including a ruler. Each team of students must create the tallest tower using the supplies you have provided. Then bring the school supplies back together and command the them to create the tallest tower. Of course the tools will simply lie where they are put. NOTE: These tools are very useful, but only when they are in someone’s hands. The same thing is true of us. We can be useful to God, and be used to teach others life changing truths, but only when we place ourselves in God’s hands.

Main Lesson Idea – Measuring Up

Measuring Up – Participants must scour the room and use a ruler find objects that match the measurements they are given… first to get them all correct gets a prize. You must first of course, make a list of measurements of various items found in the youth room or throughout the church.

Rules

  1. Teams must stay together as a group. You may not split up.
  2. Stay within the designated game area. Any group found outside the game area or in banned areas will be disqualified.
  3. No communicating or collaborating with other teams.
  4. Be respectful and courteous in everything you do. Crude language, inappropriate behavior, and offensive actions are not allowed. Respect other people’s property. Do not destroy things. When the hunt is over, there should be no sign that it took place.
  5. Respect each other. Do not cheat. Do not hinder other teams.

Scoring

  1. Only one submission for each item on the list. Multiple submissions are not allowed. Label submissions with corresponding numbers so the judges know which items are intended for which things on the list. You are not required to complete every item on the list.
  2. Teams can only qualify once for each item on the list.
  3. Stick to the Time Limit. A penalty will be imposed for each minute after the deadline that you are late. In case of a tie, the first team to finish wins.
  4. How to Win? Points will be assigned to these based on the difficulty to accomplish each, creativity and the fun factor. The team with the most points wins!

TAKE IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL

MAKE IT SPIRITUAL

  • What are some things people use to measure or evaluate living a good life?
  • What are some things people use to measure other people?
  • What are some things people use to measure themselves?
  • How do we measure a person as a success or failure?
  • What are some of the standards of measurement from God’s Word?

You might give them some helpful scriptures to write on their rulers:

  • Love – I Corinthians 13:4-7
  • Holiness – Hebrews 12.14; Revelation 21.27
  • Righteousness – 2 Corinthians 5:21, Romans 3:23
  • Christian Living – Romans 12:10-21
  • Maturity – Ephesians 4:1-13

Discussion: If your ruler had been marked wrongly, you would have found it difficult to find any of the objects. When our measurements of obedience, ourselves (pride), expectations (jealousy), comparisons with others, and timing (patience) are wrong it messes up our results. Our standards for measurement must be exact and based on God’s Word or every measurement we make will be wrong. God’s Word is to be the ruler for our life. When we use other things as rulers our measurements come out wrong.

MAKE IT PRACTICAL

In the Old Testament, the focus on godliness was living by God’s Laws and commandments. But as a Christian, the focus of the life is no longer the laws and standards, but instesd focused on a person – Christ. It’s not a set of rules but a relationship. We are to follow Christ and live for Him.

  • Romans 6:14 “For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace.”
  • Romans 8:1-17
  • What difference does it make in the way you live your life to know that you are no longer under the law, but under grace?
  • Under the law you are fearful of making a mistake, but under grace you are focused on pleasing God and acting out of gratitude. How does this make a difference in how you live life?

MAKE IT PERSONAL

  • How do you measure your life? How do you measure up?
  • What are some of the things you use to measure your spiritual growth? Your spiritual journey?
  • In what way does Grace give you freedom to live more effectively for Christ?

SCRIPTURE

Romans 3:23 – “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” – We don’t measure up to God’s standard.

Ephesians 2:8-10 – “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God — not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” – Because we don’t measure up, we cannot boast. This free us to advance in good works, not out of striving to be worthy.

Ephesians 4:11-12 – “So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.” – our goal is to measure up to the life of Christ.

Galatians 2:16 – “know that a person is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no one will be justified.”

Hebrews 12:1 – “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race MARKED OUT for us.” God still marks out a direction for us to strive toward as Christians.

2 Corinthians 5:21 – “God made him who had no sin to be sin[a] for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” – We don’t have to measure up to righteousness because we wear Christ’s righteousness.

Colossians 2:13-14 – “When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross.” – God wiped away the shortcoming so that before him we measure up in Christ.

2 Peter 1:3-9 – “His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.” – Now we are measure by growth in the our journey to becoming more and more Christlike.

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Game Ideas, Object Lessons

Spiritual Hoopla?

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Spiritual Hoopla

Is the excitement of serving God a whole lot of Hoopla – unnecessary excitement and fuss? These games using Hula Hoops are sure to create excitement but can also be used to create discussion on living as a Christian youth within God’s boundaries.

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Games using Hula Hoops

NOTE: If you can’t find hula hoops, plastic tubing can be shaped into a circle and secured with duct tape. For some of the games a circle of rope will also work.

  • Antigravity Hula Hoops – 5-10 youth form a circle, putting their hands out in front of them parallel to the floor – index finger extended (as in a kid making a gun). Tell them you will be placing a hula hoop on their fingers and everyone’s index fingers must stay in contact with the hula hoop. The task is to lower the hula hoop to the floor. It will inevitably go up immediately. The only way this works is if they remain calm and there is no blame.
  • Hula Hoop Hand Tag – Choose one player to be “It” and 4 additional players for each hoop. Have “It” stand in the center of the Hula-Hoop and the other players outside the circle. The players alternate holding the Hula-Hoop first with one hand and then the other while “It” tries to tap a hand. Those on the outside try to avoid being tapped. The game is over if players drop the hoop. Three rules: 1) the holders must each have one hand on the hoop at all times, 2)the person who is “It” cannot tag a hand that has been lifted from the hoop, and 3) whenever a person is tagged, he or she becomes “It.”
  • Hula Hoop Stuff – How many youth can get at least part of their bodies into a Hula Hoop? Count fingers, toes, ears-whatever. Better yet, how many youth can fit inside a Hula Hoop so that their bodies don’t touch the ground outside the hoop?
  • Hula Hoop Tag – Spread a few Hula hoops around the ground. The hoops are safe zones where youth cannot be tagged. The idea is to run between the safe havens without getting tagged. Set a time limit on how long people can stay in the safe zones, and make sure you have plenty of space between the hoops.
  • Hula Relay – Each youth on a team must take a Hula Hoop and hula while walking or running to a certain point 20 feet or so from the team and back. If the Hula Hoop drops, the player must stop, get the hoop going again, and continue. First team to finish wins.
  • Hula Slide Relay – Put the youth in groups of up to four and have each group step inside a Hula Hoop. The youth must move their hoop on the ground from one point to the other. If someone trips and steps out of the hoop, the team has to start over from the beginning.
  • Hula Tangled – Gather the participants in a circle and make them hold hands right at the center. Let one person wear the hula hoop on the arm. Without letting go, youth must pass the ring to one another, until it comes back to the person who first had it. Variation: do it without talking.
  • Keep the Hula Hoops Up – Every youth needs their own hula hoop. The goal is to keep the hula hoops spinning as possible using the traditional method of swinging it around the waist. A youth is out of the game when their hula hoop completely hits the floor. The last person with their hula hoop moving wins the game. This can also be played in teams.
  • Lava Flow – Scatter hula hoops around in a large open space. Everyone playing has found out that the floor has become covered in lava, but only when the leader calls out “lava flow.” In the meantime, the youth are supposed to wander around the room. When “lava flow, 3-2-1” is called, the players need to find shelter inside a hula hoop before the countdown ends. As time goes on, the leader removes hula hoops and the game gets more and more difficult as there are more people per hoop. Feet must touch the ground inside the hoops to be safe and everyone must be safe in order for anyone to win.
  • Lion tamer – Youth step through a hoop that get’s progressively higher off the ground – It is similar to limbo but keeps getting higher rather than lower.
  • Musical Hoops – This has the same basic rules as the traditional game of musical chairs except no one is ever out. Spread hula-hoops on the floor and play lively, fun music. As you remove the hoops, let the group know that no one is out. Let them figure out that they may share the hoops in order to remain playing. It’s fun to see how many people can share a hoop.
  • Sharks – Hula Hoops represent islands. Everyone mills around the sea until SHARKS is called out – then everyone has to get onto an island (in a hoop) to be safe, anyone not on the island is eaten by a shark and so out of the game. Remove islands at your pleasure forcing more and more people out of the game until you have a champ!
  • Simon Says – Play traditional Simon Says, but using the hula hoop as a prop. “Simon says• jump in/out of the hula hoop, lift it over your head, put your hand in the hoop, balance it on your foot, etc..”
  • Shoes in a Hula-Hoop – You’ll need 4 or more hula-hoops depending on the number of groups you want to have. Each group is given one Hula Hoop. The 4th hula-hoop is placed in the middle of the room and all of the participant’s shoes are placed inside of it. Announce: “The purpose of the game is to have ALL of the ping pong balls in your hula-hoop.” On “go” all the youth will scramble to collect as many shoes as possible. In the midst of the chaos, the leader will stop the game and send people back to their groups to deliberate on how to better capture all the shoes. Continue the game as before. After a while, stop the game again and mention teamwork, and the need to join forces in order to have all the shoes in one’s hoop. The answer to the game is that all of the teams put their hula-hoops together, on top of the Shoe filled hula hoop in the middle of the room.
  • Up, Down, Under, Over – This hula hoop game is also for a group of players. Have three or four youth stand inside a large hoop, holding it up at waist level without using their hands. Challenge them to lift the hoop up to their necks or down to their ankles – hands-free. Or, see if they can get the whole group from inside the hoop to outside, without grabbing the hoop or letting it touch the floor.

Main Game – Hula Hoop Circle

Ask the youth to stand in a big circle, slip a hula hoop onto one youth’s arm, and have them all join hands. They then must find a way to move the hula hoop all the way around the circle without letting go of each other’s hands.

Basic rules:

  1. The object of the game is to pass he hoop around the circle as quickly as possible.
  2. Youth may not let go of the hands they are holding at any time. If they lose their grip or let go, the hula Hoop must start back at the beginning again.
  3. Fingers cannot be used to grip or move the Hula Hoop
  4. The youth must remain in a circle. Players bend and twist their bodies through the hoop to get it around the circle.
  5. The fastest group wins.

Important Notes:

  1. Glasses may sometimes fall off and break so those youth wearing glasses need to remove them before the game starts.
  2. Make sure the hula hoop you use is big enough for everyone in the group to fit through so that there are no awkward moments for larger sized youth.
  3. Youth should be in generally good shape as some flexibility and balance will be needed to complete the task.

Youth may question whether this challenge is possible, but assure them that it can be done. Repeat the process until the team is satisfied with their time and their system. Generally, groups get it down to less than 2 minutes. The people directly involved work together to fit their body into the hoop and those waiting for the hoop to get to them, watch, give suggestions and encourage. Once it has made it around the circle, the task is complete.

Variations:

  1. Provide two Hoops for each team. Start the Hoops in the same location but ask the group to pass one in a clockwise direction and the other in a counterclockwise direction. When they get to the midway point there is usually some confusion.
  2. Time the group as they pass the hoop to see how long it takes them to get it all the way around. Allow another attempt to break the “record”.
  3. Try to do it as one big group.
  4. Ask players to stand with their back toward center of the circle.
  5. Ask the youth to complete the task without talking or while blindfolded.
  6. Do it sitting down
  7. They have to pass it 2 persons at a time, 3 at a time?

TAKE IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL

MAKE IT SPIRITUAL

Have you ever heard of the phrase “Jumping through Hoops”? Know what it means?
“Jumping though hoops” has typically meant “going to great lengths” or “much effort” in order to accomplish something.

People jump through hoops on a regular basis. Either to fulfill some kind of requirement to gain acceptance into a group, to meet some kind of standard to satisfy others, to follow some set of rules.

  1. What are some of the hoops in your life that you have had to jump through?
  2. Are there hoops we jump through as Christians? In the church? In the youth group?
  3. What are the expectations for each of these groups?
  4. Are these hoops good or bad? Explain.
  5. Do some people have more to deal with than others? If so, why?
  6. Are hoops necessary? What hoops would you add/remove from/to your life if you could?
  7. What is the purpose of rules and expectations? How are they useful / harmful?

MAKE IT PRACTICAL

In the Old Testament, the people of God went to great lengths to be accepted by God. To be accepted by God required jumping through a lot of hoops – following a long list of God given laws, and requirements in order to be accepted by God. To make matters worse, by human standards, it was impossible to be accepted by God, because the hoops were beyond the ability of the people. And on top of that, tradition added even more rules and expectations so that by the time Christ had his encounters with the Pharisees, it was an even more impossible burden.

“They tie up heavy, cumbersome loads and put them on other people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them.” (Matthew 23:4)

I wonder if any of these hoops sound familiar? Christians must not drink. They must not smoke. They must dress appropriately (according to a myriad of opinions of what is proper). They must be timid, and peaceful and submit when others want to walk over them. Youth cannot have tattoos, or earrings, or unnatural colors in their hair. You must be in church every time the doors are open. You must give to every cause. You must put on a smile even though you are deeply hurting and tired and weary. The list goes on… We sing about grace, yet are quick to condemn, proclaim the blood of Christ in forgiveness, yet hold grudges, preach of freedom in Christ, but add a plethora of rules and expectations. The Bible is full of imperfect people resting in the loving care of a perfect God, many of which would never be allowed in any kind of public position in the church of today. But is a list of rules what defines the Christian? What does define a person as a Christian?

A look at Ephesians 2:1-10 and Romans 5:6-8 makes it clear that Christ loved us and died for us even though we were ungodly, sinful, and dead in our trespasses. We were unworthy, yet God reached out to us.

“Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.” (Luke 9:23)

MAKE IT PERSONAL

  1. What are some of the things that you do simply for show?
  2. In what ways do you conform to expectations?
  3. How can you personally focus more on the relationships rather than the rules and expectations?

Most people would prefer to follow a bunch of rules, to “jump through hoops” as it were, than to actually give up their own lives and follow Christ. Yet Jesus did not call us to a set of rules, but to a relationship. He asked people to take up their cross and follow Him. But it’s so much easier to carry a hoop than a cross.

“Come to Me, all you who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30)

More Spiritual Lessons from Hula Hoops:

  • A circle is a symbol of eternity. It has no beginning and no end.
  • Staying in your hula hoop can represent minding your own business and protecting your boundaries.
  • We are only responsible for the things God places in our circle of influence.
  • When we are properly focused on our own lives, our energy is used to keep our hula-hoop spinning. When we drop it and step out to try to control someone else’s life, our life suffers.
  • Will you trust God to take care of the stuff that is outside of your hula-hoop?
  • God is inside with us at all times
  • In hula hoop you have to find a rhythm to keep it going. We must understand that God has a perfect rhythm set up for our lives. Pushing ahead too fast or lazily moving breaks that rhythm and things fall apart.
  • It takes energy to get started
  • Momentum helps it keep it going

SCRIPTURE

  • “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” – Matthew 11:28-30
  • “Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.”- Luke 9:2
  • “They tie up heavy, cumbersome loads and put them on other people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them.” – Matthew 23:4
  • “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”- Ephesians 2:8-10
  • “You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” – Romans 5:6-8

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MORE IDEAS? See “Creative Object Lessons”

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Game Ideas, Object Lessons

Spiritual Tag

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Spiritual Tag

Our spiritual walk is in many ways like a game of tag. There are three key components to any game of tag: 1) You chase or pursue 2) You flee or run away 3) People get tagged. Spiritually, because of our disobedience to God we are tagged as sinners. And like those in the game we are stuck in our current position and unable to break ourselves free. Only when Jesus frees us are we able to be truly free. Unfortunately, sin often touches our lives again and we find ourselves back in the same condition. Because of this the Bible gives us a number of things we should flee. But at the same time it gives us things we should chase after, things we must pursue. So are you ready for a game of tag?

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Games of Tag

  • Amoeba Tag – Begin with two youth who hold hands and chase the rest of the participants. Any person they catch joins the chain by linking hands to form a bigger circle. When another person is caught the whole group can stay together as one or split into two circles with 2 youth in each circle. Amoeba’s can only split on on even numbers and can link together back together any time. Play the game until no one is left or award the last person as the greatest survivor!
  • Back to Back Tag – Two youth hold join one set of hands and then try to tag any other player using only their free hands. When they tag someone, that person joins onto them by holding hands. You’ll eventually have a long line of youth holding hands with a person on each end with a free hand. Remember, they can only tag someone with the free hands on each end. Players can make themselves safe from being tagged by finding another youth and standing back to back with them. The maximum time they can stand back to back is 10 seconds and then they can be tagged again. The game continues until everyone is tagged.
  • Bandage Tag – When tagged you must cover your “wound” with one of your hands. When you get tagged a second time, you must cover your “wound with your remaining hand. The third time you are tagged, you are out. In another variation, whatever limb is tagged becomes numb and you cannot use it and must keep it straight. If you ran out of forearms, shoulders, and legs, you have to lie there, until someone tags you and then you are completely out of the game. Variation: Two other people come over to a person who is injured and “operate.” The two other people need to tag the frozen person at the same time and count to five and the other person is fully healed.
  • Bump Tag – Have each youth buddy up with a partner and spread out in pairs. One person is it and another is the runner. While being chased, the runner can go up to another pair of buddies, and “bump” one person by grabbing an arm on either side of the pair who is holding hands. The other buddy then is released from that pair, and becomes the new person being chased. If the person who is IT tags the RUNNER, they immediately switch roles, and the original runner now tries to catch the original “it.”
  • Bumper Tag – You can play any variation of tag, but instead of tagging other youth with your hands, you must tag with your hips. Only a small bump is allowed to avoid injuries.
  • Cooperation Tag – In this variation of tag, whoever is it, chases people and tries to tag them. But a person is safe from being tagged if they are holding a special object (one or more rubber chickens or some other unusual object works great!) if anyone is tagged and is not holding the special object they become it and the game continues.
  • Cyclops tag – Everyone has to play tag with one hand covering an eye.
  • Dead Ant – When someone is tagged, that youth must lay down with both hands and feet sticking straight up, like a dead ant. But the youth can bring a dead ant back to life by have four people each taggin one of the outstretched limbs. Once someone has been a dead ant 3 times they become “it”. It is possible to have multiple people become “it” which adds another dimension to the game because it becomes confusing who you need to run from.
  • Dragons Tail – Split the youth into teams of six to eight persons who will form a dragon by hanging on to the waist of the person in front of them. The object of the game is for the head on one dragon who has his.her hands free to tag the tail of another dragon. The rest of the people in the team try to protect the tail without letting go of the person’s waist in front of them. If a dragon breaks they are out. if a tail is tagged that team is out.
  • Everybody’s it – Proclaim, “everybody’s it!” in an open space and the participants begin trying to tag others, while avoiding getting tagged. If someone is tagged they must sit down where they are. Once sitting down, they can extend their arms and try to tag those left running around. If they manage to do so they can join back in the game. If two person’s tag another person at the same time, they both must sit down.
  • Freeze Tag – This common game of tag, forces a person to freeze in place, when tagged. Other people who are not frozen can unfreeze a person by tagging them.
  • Giants, Wizards and Elves – Split the youth group up into 2 teams. You will also need a safe area for each team with a no man’s zone in the middle. Each team huddles up and picks what they want to be as a team, a giant, a wizard or an elf. Giants put their hands up over their heads making them taller, wizards put their hands our straight in front of them wiggling their fingers, and elves make pointy ears on their head with their pointer fingers. One a team has decided, they line up face to face with the other team in the middle area, then on a count of 3, everyone does whatever action their team picked. Giants beat elves, elves beat wizards and wizards beat giants. The winning team chases the other and tries to tag as many members on the other team as possible before they reach the safety zone. Anyone who is tagged becomes a part of the other team until everyone is on one team.
  • Heads and Tails – Make a Giant coin from a frisbee, paper plane or garbage can lid. mark it so that it is clear which side is heads and which side is tails. This is played like Giants Wizards and Elves but one team is heads and the other is tails. Whoever wins the toss chases the other team to tag them.
  • Hug Tag – This is your classic tag game with one exception, people are only safe if they are hugging someone else. You can only remain in a hugged position for 5 seconds.
  • Loose Caboose – Split the class into teams of 3 or 4 youth. Select 1-3 players to each be a “Loose Caboose.” (these players will be playing as individuals and do not have a team at the start of the game). The teams of four form a train by placing their hands on the hips of the player in front of them. On the signal, each “Loose Caboose” will attempt to run and latch on the back of another train (the trains are trying to keep this from happening). If a “Loose Caboose” is successful in latching on to a train, the engine (front person) must leave the train and become the new “Loose Caboose” and attempt to join onto a new train. You can play this game for a given time period and not worry about winners.
  • Meltdown Tag – Whenever a youth is tagged, they must begin to “melt down” by slowly lowering themselves to the ground over the time period of ten seconds. If they are touched by another player before they reach the ground they are free. If they melt all the way to the ground then they become another “it”. Play continues until only one person is left.
  • Secret Tag – Call three youth to the front and whisper a position in the ear of each person. One person is “It”, another is “normal”, and another person is “the doctor” who can rescue those who are tagged to put them back into the game.
  • Slow Motion Tag – Ask each player in the group to find their own personal space within the boundary area. Make sure there is enough room so no one is able to take one step towards someone and tag them. Every time you call out “step” every player moves ONE of their feet in any direction they want. The objective here is to tag other players any where below the neck. When tagged, you must sit down right where you are to become an “ankle biter.” Ankle biters can only tag others below the knee. Play down to the last two players.
  • Toilet Tag – When someone is tagged, they must squat down to form the “toilet” and hold one hand out to the side, like the “handle”. To get back into the game, someone must “flush” the frozen person and make a loud “Woooooosh” sound.
  • Triangle Tag – Begin with groups of four to five people in small groups and one person alone who is “it.” Within each group one person is chosen to be in the center and the others hold hands and form a circle around the chosen one. When play begins, the person who is “it” will try to identify and tag the person inside a circle. The other players will twist and turn to try to protect the person in the middle from being tagged. The circle must always remain intact. If the protected person gets tagged, everyone changes groups and the tagged person becomes it.
  • Tunnel Tag – Whenever someone gets tagged, they become frozen until someone, who has not been tagged, crawls through their legs.
  • Watch-Your-Back – The object of the game is to tag as many people as you can without getting tagged yourself. When tagged drop one knee and freeze. But if the youth who tagged you gets tagged you can get up and start tagging again.

TAKE IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL

There are three key components to any game of tag:

  1. You chase or pursue
  2. You flee or run away
  3. People get tagged

MAKE IT SPIRITUAL

In life, we may sometimes be pursued or chased and at other times we may be doing the pursuing.

  • What are some things that we pursue in life?
  • What are some things we flee?
  • What are some things that we get tagged with?

Verses

  • In 2 Timothy 2:22 we read “Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.”
  • 1 Timothy 6:9-11 – “Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness.”

Tagged – In many tag games, once you are tagged you are either out of the game or stuck until someone frees you. As God’s creation we’ve also been tagged – not by a person, but by our actions. Because of our disobedience to God we are tagged as sinners. And like those in the game we are stuck in our current position and unable to break ourselves free from the oppressions in our lives. Only when Jesus frees us are we able to be truly free. Unfortunately, sin often touches our lives again and we find ourselves back in the same condition. Jesus says, “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” (John 8:31-36) True freedom comes from being set free by Jesus Christ. True freedom is freedom to be myself as God made me and meant me to be. This freedom comes only when we completely surrender ourselves to Jesus and invite Him to be our Lord and Master of our life.

  • I John 5:8 – “We know that no one who is born of God sins; but He who was born of God keeps him, and the evil one does not touch him.”

Flee – In tag games, you must flee. In these games we flee from someone who is “it”. James 4:7 says “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” So when we pursue God and resist the devil we need not flee. In fact he will flee from us. But the scriptures are also full of things we should flee from so we are not touched again by sin.

Here are some of the things the Bible says we should flee

  • Fornication (1 Corinthians 6:18)
  • Idolatry (1 Corinthians 10:14)
  • Love of money (Mammon) (1 Timothy 6:11)
  • Youthful lusts (2 Timothy 2:22)
  • All appearances of evil (I Thessalonians 5:22 TLB)

Pursue – Another aspect of tag, is that when you are chosen to be it, you must chase after others. Scripture also gives us some things we should pursue.

Here are some of the things the Bible says we should pursue.

  • Love – 1 Corinthians 14:1
  • Peace – 1 Peter 3:11; Psalms 34:14
  • Righteousness, piety, faith, love, endurance, meekness – 1 Timothy 6:11
  • Righteousness, faith, love, and peace – 2 Timothy 2:22
  • Peace, Holiness – Hebrews 12:14
  • Prize – Philippians 3:12-14
  • Righteousness – Proverbs 15:9; Romans 9:30-32; Isaiah 51:1
  • Peace, Things that build others up – Romans 14:19
  • To Know God – Hosea 6:3

MAKE IT PRACTICAL

  • Which of those things we are told to pursue do people find difficult? Why?
  • What stops people from pursuing these things of God?
  • When you think about your relationship with God – faith, endurance, righteousness, piety and holiness, how do you think you measure up?

MAKE IT PERSONAL

  • What are you currently pursuing?
  • How can you direct that pursuit in a way that is honoring to God?
  • In what areas does your life – thoughts, attitudes, actions – need improvement?

SCRIPTURE

  • “Pursue love, yet desire earnestly spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.” – 1 Corinthians 14:1 (NASB)
  • “They must turn from evil and do good; they must seek peace and pursue it.” – 1 Peter 3:11 (NIV)
  • “But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness.” – 1 Timothy 6:11 (NIV)
  • “Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.” – 2 Timothy 2:22
  • “Pursue peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord.” – Hebrews 12:14 (NASB)
  • “Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” – Philippians 3:12-14 (NIV)
  • “What then shall we say? That the Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have obtained it, a righteousness that is by faith; but the people of Israel, who pursued the law as the way of righteousness, have not attained their goal. Why not? Because they pursued it not by faith but as if it were by works. They stumbled over the stumbling stone.” – Romans 9:30-32 (NIV)
  • “So then we pursue the things which make for peace and the building up of one another.” – Romans 14:19 (NASB)
  • “Let us know, Let us pursue the knowledge of the Lord. His going forth is established as the morning; He will come to us like the rain, Like the latter and former rain to the earth.” – Hosea 6:3 (NKJV)

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Volleyball Christians

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Volleyball Christians

A common summer game is beach volley. But you don’t have to be at the beach to enjoy the sport. You don’t even have to be outside. Besides the official rules, there are also an infinite number of variations and other games that use the volleyball net, ball and court. And after you have played a game, there’s a lesson on what it means to be filled with the things of God so he can use you for the purpose he created you for.

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Volleyball variations

NOTE: If you want to make these games a little less intimidating and a bit easier, use a beach ball to replace the volleyball.

  • All Hit Volleyball – This game follows the rules of volleyball, except; every group member must hit the ball before it goes back over the net to the other team.
  • Ball Over – Divide the playing area in half with a line in the sand, a piece of string, or with markers on the side of the field. Teams are placed on each side and are not allowed to cross over to the other team’s side. Blindfold one youth and provide him with a whistle. When the whistle is blown play begins. The blindfolded youth can blow the whistle whenever he pleases. The object of the game is to keep the ball in the opposing team’s territory. One point is counted against the side that has the ball whenever the whistle is blown. The lowest score wins. For variation, have four or five players touch the ball before it can be returned to the other side. Or create a ‘no-man’s land’ along the dividing line. Teams, in getting the ball over, must bounce it into ‘no-man’s land’.
  • Double Dipped Volleyball – Start with two teams each on a side. These teams begin hitting the ball back and forth over the net. when they are ready to begin, they yell “start”. from that point on, when a player from one side hits the ball to the other, she must dash under the net to the other side. Every time a player hits the volleyball over the net they must dash under the net to the other team.
  • Battle Ships – This is like the board Game ‘Battle ships’ where you have to try and sink all the opposing team’s boats. First, you need a divider of sorts, about the height or a volleyball net or higher, so that each side cannot see the other (eg. a rope tied at each side of the hall and a large sheet draped over it or big boards put up in between). Next, have each side find a spot where they are not allowed to move from. When the game starts, each side is given a volleyball and then proceeds to try and hit the other team with the ‘bomb shells'(balls). If someone is hit with the ball, catches it or moves from their spot, then they sit to the side until the game is over. Note: each side needs people (runners) to fetch the ball once it has bounced and give it back to the Ships.
  • Bounce Volleyball – This is played just like normal volleyball, but the ball is allowed to bounce on the ground once before it is returned to the other side.
  • Chair Pass Ball – Divide the youth into two teams. A firm chair is placed at either end of the room or a designated outdoor playing area as a goal for each team. A person from each team stands on a chair as goalkeeper. The volleyball may only be passed from hand to hand. To score a goal, it must be thrown to the team member on the chair and caught by him. No running with the ball is allowed. Players are also not allowed to snatch the ball from other players. Change the goalkeeper after each goal is scored.
  • Challenge Volleyball – Allow the team who is serving to call a name of a person on the other team who would be out if the serving team won a point. Upon winning the point on a serve the person called is out. The team continues to call names and knock out players until the serve is lost. The other team upon gaining the serve may call back the lost players or knock out some of the other teams. This brings great intensity to a game, and a team may get down to one player and come back to win. We still play to 15. The players picked on are the athletic players and the less athletic can become the heroes. To play a quick game don’t allow knocked out players to be called back in.
  • Crazy Volleyball – Play Volleyball with four hits per side and a bounce on the ground considered a hit (it cannot hit the ground two times in a row). This makes it so anyone can have a chance of doing well with the added one bounce.
  • Island Volleyball – The objective of this game is to keep the ball in the air and off the ground for as long as possible. All players must have at least one foot inside a hoop at all times. Once a player has put a foot inside a hoop, he/she cannot change hoops until the next round. Any player within a hoop may hit the ball, but two players from the same hoop may not hit the ball consecutively. If players from the same hoop make consecutive hits, the score returns to zero. If a player steps out of a hoop during play, the score returns to zero. You may not hit the ball back to the hoop from which it came. Penalty – Score returns to zero. Scoring: Total number of consecutive hits before the ball hits the ground. If you don’t have a hoop, you can use circles of rope.
  • Maximum Score Volleyball – Instead of scoring a single point as with normal volleyball, the score is determined by the number of times the ball goes across the net to the other team. The normal rules of volleyball still apply.
  • No Jump Volleyball – Play a normal game of volleyball, but no one is allowed to jump before hitting the ball.
  • One Sided Volleyball – In this volleyball variation, all the youth start on one side of the volleyball net and no one is on the other side. The objective is to get everyone to the other side. Someone on the team hits the ball up to another player and then crosses under the net to the the other side. Every time someone hits the ball, they move to the other side. The last person hits the ball over the next and then the game begins again on the other side. Each time the team entirely crosses over they get a point. Anytime the ball hits the ground, play must start over, with people who haven’t touched the ball yet going first.
  • Sitting Volleyball – Using the rules and set up for volleyball along with a net set up inside. Place chairs in volleyball layout on each side of net. Have people sit in the chairs and using belts or some rope tie each person into the chair (going under the chair and over the persons lap). Then play volleyball.
  • Switch Sides Volleyball – This game follows the same rules as volleyball except that players rotate to the other team rather than to their same team. People become much less concerned about the score and more concerned about having fun, which is the entire point anyway.
  • Walleyball – In this indoor version of volleyball, set up volleyball net or a rope across the room so the top of the net is about 5 feet above the floor. (Choose a room with nothing breakable. Teams should be 20-25 youth per team as they must sit on the floor with their legs crossed in front of them. Because they cant’t move, you need to fill the play area with as many people as possible. Don’t worry about how many hits per side. For safety you may wish to use a beach ball instead of a volleyball. Variation: Hang a sheet so they cannot see what is happening on the other side of the net.
  • Watch the Net – Don’t have a a volleyball net to play this version of volleyball. Instead of two teams, split your youth into 3 equal teams, at least 4 per team. Choose 2 of the teams to play against one another just as you would in normal volleyball. With one team left, you add the twist. Have the last team stand within arm length of each other representing the net. The “nets” can only take 1 step forward or backward. The “net” can hit the ball anywhere on the court. If the “net” hits the ball out of bounds, re-serve. Now, when it comes down to game point and the ball is in motion, watch the net!

TAKE IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL

Flat Volleyball – This should be the last game or the last round of one of the above games. Play the game with a volleyball that is flat – only partially inflated.

  • When this ball was created what was it’s purpose?
  • What was the ball expected to do?
  • What was it created to contain?
  • Why can’t can’t this ball fulfil that purpose at this time?
  • How could the ball get in such a situation?
  • What needs to happen for this ball to fulfil it’s purpose?
  • Could a volleyball be filled with water? Is water a bad thing? But would it then fulfil its purpose?

MAKE IT SPIRITUAL

  • As Christians we are also created with a purpose. For what purpose are we created?
  • What things do we fill the emptiness in our lives with?
  • When we were created, what did God intend for us?
  • What needs to be in our life for that purpose to be fulfilled?
  • What happens when we fill our lives with the wrong things (not necessarily bad things)?
  • Just like the volleyball, we may be empty, or we may fill our lives with other things, but this prevents us from being used to our full capacity for which we were created.

Blaise Pascal said that we have all been created with a God-shaped vacuum that only he can fill. We will only find true meaning and purpose when we let God fill our lives to accomplish his will here on earth.

MAKE IT PRACTICAL

  • What are some of the purposes that God has for Christians?
  • How can we be filled with the things of God?
  • How do we get God in our Lives?

MAKE IT PERSONAL

  • The easiest way to find that purpose, is to yield to God. What is an area of your life that God has been speaking to you about yielding to him?
  • Ask God to use you this week in a way that glorifies him and gives you a clearer understanding of his purpose for your life.

ADDITIONAL LESSONS

  • When we think of volleyball there are a few keys to scoring: set, dig, block, serve, and rotation. When you think of each of these terms, how do they apply to us spiritually?

When the ball is hit over the net, three shots are expected for a team to score a point. The first is called the dig. Digging is grunt work. It usually involves getting on your knees and absorbing a spike from the other team.

DIG – I compare digging to the unpleasant, often painful, formation of a person’s character. A good dig puts the ball in play and allows a team to go on the offensive. So it is with a godly character. The youth who is sincere, honest, loving, and faithful puts himself in a position to influence others for Christ.

SET – The second shot is called the set. Setting is a strategic move, requiring precision and finesse, and it sets the stage for the spike. Time spent in God’s word is like this strategic set. We must train and discipline ourselves in the way of godliness.

SPIKE – After the dig and set and only then are we ready for the spike. The spike is an aggressive, powerful play to score for your team. It drives home our purpose with unmistakable certainty. A score could be victory over a habit, the start of a new habit, winning someone for Christ, or simply being God’s salt and light in the world.

SCRIPTURE

PURPOSE

  • Ephesians 2:8-10 – “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith, and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
  • Romans 12:1-6 – “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God•this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is•his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
  • Philippians 4:13 – “I can do all this through him who gives me strength.”
  • Colossians 1:27 – “To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.”
  • Philippians 2:13 – “for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.”
  • 1 Peter 3:15 (NIV)- “But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,”

FILLED

  • Ephesians 3:16-20 – I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us,”
  • Ephesians 5:18 “Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit,”
  • Philippians 1:11 “filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ to the glory and praise of God.”

SET

  • Galatians 5:1 – “For freedom Christ has SET us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.”
  • Colossians 3:1 “Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, SET your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.”
  • 1 Peter 1:13 – “Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, SET your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming.”
  • Galatians 5:1 – “It is for freedom that Christ has SET us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.”

SERVE

  • Matthew 20:25-28 – “Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave – just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
  • Hebrews 6:10 – “God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them.”
  • 1 Peter 4:10-11 – “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.”

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Game Ideas, Object Lessons

Beach Ball Goals

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Beach Ball Goals

Beach balls are great for the beach, but you don’t need to be at the beach to play these games. The final game explores both personal spiritual goals and goals for the church youth group.

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Games Using Beach Balls

  • Beach Ball Balloon Basketball – Use laundry baskets or large waste baskets as the “goal”. Divide into teams and play like regular basketball. Balloons must stay in the container for points to be scored.
  • Beach Ball Dodge ball – Use one or more beach balls to play a game of dodge ball. Whoever is hit is out. The Goal of this game is to be the last person standing.
  • Beach Ball Icebreaker – A beach ball with icebreaker questions written on the ball. In a large circle, someone tosses the ball to another person to catch. The person that catches the ball calls out the question closest to their right thumb. The youth then answers the question and throws the ball to another participant. Continue until everyone has had a chance to answer a question.
  • Beach Ball Relay – Create a relay course with start and finish lines indicated by tape or chalk. Players must remove their shoes and then stand at the starting line in teams. One member of each team must wear a pair of sunglasses and hold a beach ball between his/her knees. Team members race to the goal line and back without dropping the beach ball. The players then pass both items to the next team member, and the team to finish the relay first wins the game.
  • Dragon Dodgeball – Have the entire group make a circle. Pick four to five people for each team. The first team goes into the center of the circle and forms a line by attaching their hands to the waist of the person in front of them. The people who make up the circle throw the beach ball at the “dragon”, trying to hit the last person below the waist. Once hit, the last person returns to the outside circle and players continue to hit the new person at the end of the dragon until there in only one person left and they too are hit. A new team then goes into the middle. Time each team. The Goal is to see which team can last the longest.
  • Hunter Ball – A hunter tries to shoot other players by tossing a beach ball at them. The player who is shot is out if hit. If the player catches it or if the beach ball hits the ground first there is no kill. He may then throw the ball wherever he wishes. Goal is to be the last person standing.
  • Moonball – Teams compete with the goal to hit a beach ball up in the air as many times as possible before it hits the ground with the following rule: a player may not hit the ball twice in succession. Count 1 point for each hit. To make it more difficult you can add additional rules: 1) a group’s score does not count until everyone has hit the ball once 2) Players can only hit the ball with their hands or head and 3) players cannot “punch” the ball.
  • Rabbit and hunter – A player (rabbit) is in the middle of the circle. The hunter on the outside of the player must try to hit the rabbit with a ball. The time is recorded how long it takes before a rabbit is hit. The goal is to be the rabbit who held out the longest.
  • Scatterball – In this version of dodgeball no one ever really gets out. Throw the ball in the air, and someone grabs it. They have 5 seconds and can take 3 steps before throwing the ball. If you get hit, you sit down. If you are sitting down and a ball comes near you, you can pick it up and throw it at someone standing up. If they get hit, they sit down, and you are back in.
  • Speed Ball – Divide the group into 2 equal circles. Give each group 3 beach balls. The object is to pass the balls around the circle at the highest speed possible. Whenever someone drops a ball, they leave the circle. At the allotted time, the team with the most players left wins.
  • Steal the Bacon – Divide the youth in half and line them up on either side of the room. Have them number themselves off starting at one and going up. Each side will have one of each number. Put the beach ball in the middle. Call out a number, for instance, 3. The number three from team one and the number three from team 2 go toward the beach ball. Points are awarded in 3 ways. They can either pick up the beach ball and run it back to their team for one point. They can tag the other person as they try to run it back, one point. If they pick it up and drop the beach ball, one point goes to the other team.
  • Tunnel ball – The team makes a tunnel with their legs spread apart. A beach ball must be rolled through the tunnel. The last player collects the beach ball and runs to the front to roll the ball through the tunnel again. You can either have 3-4 rounds where the fastest team wins or the teams must complete a certain distance. The first group to reach the goal line has won.
  • Ultimate Ball – divide the youth group into two teams. Find something you can use on either side of your room for a goal. This can be basketball goals, chairs, a spot on the walls, or the walls themselves. The goal for each team is to pass the ball to their team mates and work the ball down the room until someone can throw it and hit the goal. Play just like ultimate frisbee. A player cannot dribble, or run with the ball, they must pass it to their team mates. If the ball hits the ground, the other team takes possession and try for their goal.

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If you are limited on time, just use this game…
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Life-Size Foosball – This game can be played in any open space and some indication or marking of a goal at each end. You can use stakes and string to mark any field. Indoors you can use masking tape to tape the string to the floor. If you are at the beach, just draw your lines in the sand!

Played like foosball (also known as table soccer) this game is a less strenuous form of soccer that almost anyone can play.

Preparation
If the field is not marked off into lines do so in such a way that there is one goalie for each team and the other players are evenly distributed across the field. Players must stay within their marked off boundary. The more narrow the field, the less they will have to run from side to side. If you have a small space, you can even play sitting down.

How to Play

  1. Divide the group into two teams.
  2. Allocate the area between lines on the field so that the players are evenly distributed across the field with 2 or three players inside each area. Alternate areas between teams.
  3. All of the members of one team face toward the opposing team’s goal. Rows can be very close or several feet apart, depending on the size of the chosen field area.
  4. Players may move freely to the right or to the left, but they may not move forward or backward at any time. Players must remain inside their designated area between the two lines.
  5. Play and score the game just like regular foosball. A point is scored for each time the beach ball goes over the opposing team’s goal-line or hits the opposite wall.
  6. If the beach ball is kicked out of bounds, it is tossed back into the game by any player.
  7. A coin toss decides the 1st serve.
  8. The goalie on the serving team tosses the ball into play with his hands.
  9. Other players try to kick the ball into the opponents goal.
  10. If a player steps out of his boundary box, the ball goes to the opposing team.
  11. If a goal is scored, the team last scored upon gets the serve.
  12. The opposing team also gets to serve after a ball is out of play, or after a neutral dead ball.
  13. You can decide whether the goalie can use hands or not to block goals. Use of hands makes it much easier to block.
  14. The first team to score 10 goals wins.

TAKE IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL

MAKE IT SPIRITUAL

What is our goal as a church (or youth group / cell group)

In our group, each of us has areas of responsibility. Sometimes these areas are shared. Our area of responsibility will be based on God’s calling, his gifts, and even our personal interests. Whenever something falls into our area, we are responsible for handling it.

What is the result of someone not handling their area in this game? How does it affect others on the team? How is this similar or different to the body of Christ?

In our own group, do we ever step into other people’s areas of responsibility? Why do we do so? What are some of the possible consequences of stepping into other people’s areas of responsibility?

(They don’t have the opportunities to develop their own gifts and skills for ministry, we may neglect our own area, we burn out, we lose focus)

MAKE IT PRACTICAL

What are some of the areas we need to cover in order to achieve our goal or goals as a group?

MAKE IT PERSONAL

What do you see as an area you can take responsibility for in our group? Why do you see yourself in this area? How will serving in this area help you to grow and develop your own gifts?

Action Point
Find your area and commit to covering that so that as a group we can achieve our goals!

SCRIPTURE

I Corinthians 12 – The Body of Christ

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Flying Disc-iples

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Flying Disc-Iples

These games are all played with a flying disc which also goes by the brand name ‘Frisbee.” Supposedly the name was derived from the Frisbie Pie Company whose round metal pie tins were used as toys by Yale University students. Over time the metal edges would become sharp so plastic versions were created in the 1940’s. Fred Headrick is credited with creating the modern day frisbee in 1967.

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Games Using Flying Discs (Commonly known as Frisbees)

[NOTE: For some games, to avoid injury, you may wish to use a soft nerf style flying disc rather than a hard plastic one.]

  • Bocce Frisbee – The object is to get the Frisbee as close to a designated object as possible without touching it. Make it more difficult by increasing the throwing distance.
  • Bottles – Two teams of six face each other in a line, with each player having an empty soda bottle in front of them. Each player starts with three lives and each time a players bottle is knocked over they lose a life. Each team gets three discs. Discs must be thrown from behind the bottle, and players may only throw a disc when their bottle is upright. When a player loses all three lives, they are out of the game and must sit down. Any player may retrieve a disc from the area between the teams, but cannot go behind enemy lines. You cannot block a disc and cannot touch a moving disc until it passes beyond the the line of bottles.
  • Call it – Any group size forms a circle. One person throws the disc straight into the air, ideally flat and with spin. The goal is to catch the disc using one-hand. If the disc is caught everyone who made any move to try and catch the disc must leave the circle. Whoever caught the disc is now the server, they are not allowed to catch their own serve. The game continues until only on person remains. In the event that it becomes a duel between two people a outside person will become the server. In the event that one player simply refuses to make an attempt at catching the disc a rule can be invoked such that the player will forfeit if they do not make no attempt X times in a row.
  • Disc Dodge Circle – Make a circle of players with one player in the middle. Circle is wide enough so there is at least 10feet to the person in the center. Person in the middle tries to dodge the throws coming at them. People in the circle can either throw at the center or toss to someone else in an attempt to flank them. If you hit the person in the middle you are in the middle. Play goes on as long as your willing to get hit with a disc. Use a soft nerf disc to avoid injuries.
  • Disc Dodge – There is one thrower and the rest of the team is in a box of cones, size of the box depending on the size of the group. When the disc is in the air each person must decide if they can catch it. If you move for the disc than you HAVE to catch it. Each catch is a point and you need 3 points to become the thrower. If you move or if the disc hits you and do not catch it then you are out. Once you are out you go to the Mac line. From here you can go for a disc after someone in the game moves or you can hit the disc into the box to hit other players. If you mac the disc into someone then you are in and they are out. We also allowed Bidding for discs to get back in, but not everyone does.
  • Disc Dodge Ball – Same basic game play as dodge ball, but with frisbees. Of course, head shots put the tosser out on the sidelines.
  • Disc Golf – Disc golf is played much like traditional golf but instead of a ball and clubs, players use a flying disc or “Frisbee”. In disc golf targets or holes can be almost anything – a tree, a rubbish bin, a lamp post, a bucket, a flower pot, a net, or even a patch of the sidewalk. Each shot must be made from behind where the disc lands. Like golf you want to get to the target using the least possible number of throws. You include special conditions like requiring the disc to go around a tree or through a fork in a tree before hitting the target. If a tree is designated as the hole, the target is typically assigned as hitting the tree trunk below the first tree branch so that leaves and low branches do not count. You can have a marked out course or after each hole someone new can choose the next target and the conditions.
  • Discathalon – A trail is marked out through a park or open area, around natural obstacles and to a finish line. All the youth, each with a disc, begin behind the start line and race to the finish line, following the designated course. Each successive throw must be taken from behind where the disc last stopped. The winner is the player whose disc first crosses the finish line.
  • Five Hundred – Groups are separated by a distance of about 20m. One group throws a high disc above the other group. If someone catches it, that person scores 100 points. That group then throws another high, throw back and the other team gets to try to score points. The winner is the first person to score 500 points. The game is non-contact; no pushing or holding is allowed.
  • Frisbee bowling – For this game you need a plastic bottle. Turn it upside down and push the neck into the sand. See if you can knock it over with your frisbee! Challenge yourself by putting more bottles in the sand and seeing how many you can knock over.
  • Frisbee Relay – This relay type race is best for 8-12 people, divided into two teams. Two Frisbees are needed, one for each team. Each team should spread out in a line about 50 ft. (or more) apart from each other. On “GO!” the first person in the line of each team throws the Frisbee to the second person. That person allows the Frisbee to land, goes to where it landed, then throws it to the next person in their line, and so on. The object of the frisbee game is to see which team can throw the Frisbee the furthest in the fastest time (to the last person in their line).
  • Gritz – Gritz is played on a regular volleyball court and scores similar to volleyball (score on serve, 3 touches max, rotation) Players cannot touch the ground and the disc and the same time. The disc must not be travelling downwards at the point of release. No serves are allowed where the disk is thrown overhand and perpendicular to the ground.
  • Monkeys in the Middle – Form a 20m square with the 4 cones. The aim of the game is to retain possession of the disc by passing to teammates for as long as possible. As in ultimate, players may not run with the disc and cannot hold it for more than 10 seconds.
  • Passing Relay – Divide the youth into teams. Each team lines up in a straight line, at least arms length apart. Place a disc halfway down the line and about 5 meters to the side of the line. On “go” the last player in the line runs out to the disc and tosses it the to the 1st player in the line, who passes it back. Then he tosses it to the 2nd player and so on until the end of the line is reached. When the last player catches the disc, they run out the front to become the person tossing the frisbee and the previous captain runs to the front to become the first receiver. If a player has to retrieve a disc, they must return to their place before throwing the return pass. Continue until the original captain runs out the front again and the whole team sits down to finish.
  • Rounders (Disc Baseball) – Set up a diamond, similar to baseball. The rules are similar to baseball and the position are also the same except there is no pitcher. All players must be at least 5 meters from the batter. In each play, the batter tosses the disc from home base keeping it in bounds. It must travel at least 5 meteres or it is considered a foul. The batter is out on the third foul or if their toss is caught. Runners are out if the disc reaches the base they are running towards before they do. Only one runner can be on a base at a time. Only the basemen may run with the disc and everyone else must throw the disc to other players. The batting team earns a run each time a runner runs around the bases and reaches home base. When the batting team gets 3 outs the teams switch positions.
  • Sidewalk Seven – This is frisbee game that is played on a sidewalk, usually on the way to somewhere. It is best with two to three players. Each player throws a frisbee, trying to land it inside a sidewalk square and as far away as possible. For each square away from the player that it is thrown, the player earns one point. The frisbee is considered in the square if it is more than 50% in. If it lands off of the sidewalk, the player earns zero points for that round and the next round begins. If the frisbee lands seven squares away, the player earns zero points for that round.
  • Statue Frisbee – Pair up in teams of two. See how many times you can consecutively catch the Frisbee without moving your feet. Advanced rules: Set a time clock and go for points. Each valid catch equals one point. Catches under a leg or on the tip of a finger earn two points. When the buzzer rings, the team with the most points wins. Variation: If the partner catches it without moving, then they both take a step back. If a person drops the Frisbee or has to move their feet, they are out of the game. After each successful round, each team must take a step back. Whoever lasts the longest in the game, wins.
  • Throwing Race – Split the youth up into pairs. All pairs are competing against all other pairs. Pairs line up across from their partners so that all the youth are in two rows. During a set amount of time, the youth in a pair must complete as many passes as possile. If a disc is missed and must be retrieved, the pairs must get back into their original positions before they can toss the disc again. If you want to increase the difficulty, then add a rule that the receiver may not move their feet to catch the disc.
  • Touch it – Line of players with a thrower/receiver at each end, a few metres off. Disc is thrown down the line, players need to touch it without catching it, then the receiver has to catch it one-handed. If you successfully touch it and then it’s caught, you get through the round; if you knock it enough that the receiver can’t catch it, you’re knocked out. Repeat rounds knocking out the last X people each time. You can also just do it by points.

MOST OF THE LESSONS ARE APPLIED TO THIS GAME

Ultimate – The Field is rectangular shape with endzones at each end. A regulation field is 64m by 37m, with endzones 18m deep. Each point begins with teams lined up in the front of their own end zone. The defence then throws the disc to the offense. A point is scored each time the offense completes a pass in the defences’ endzone. The disc can be passed to a teammate in any direction who must catch it. Players may not run with the disc. The person with the disc has ten seconds to throw the disc. The defender guarding the thrower counts out the 10 seconds. When a pass in not completed (e.g. goes out of bounds, touches the ground, is blocked, or intercepted), the defence immediately takes possession of the disc and becomes the offense at that location on the field. No physical contact of any kind is allowed between players, regardless of whether you have the disc or not. When anyone makes physical contact a foul occurs and if it results in a turnover to the other team, the team gets the disc back. Players call their own fouls.

TAKE IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL

* What comparisons can you make between this game and and living as a Christian?

When we look at Ultimate, here are some of the things that are similar to spiritual truths:

(Running, Standing Firm, a Goal, winning and losing, Struggle, Opposition, Spectators, teamwork, passing it along, fouls and rules.)

  • We pass it along – When we pass along faith or the gospel, we must deliver it in a way that it can be easily received, and the person must be ready to receive it.
  • Field – Our field is the world (Mat. 13:38), and our goal is to win it for Jesus Christ. Everyone is called onto the field to play and we have to do it together. You must rely on your team mates to move things forward on the field together with you in order to reach the goal.
  • Rules – The rules keep us focused and set the standards for how we act on the field. There are also boundaries. When we break the rules or step out of bounds, there are penalties. Yet when we compete according to the rules, and are victorious in our efforts, we will receive a prize (1 Corinthians 9:24-27).
  • Time – In most games of ultimate, like life, we don’t know how much time we have on the field. This makes it even more important for us to make the most of it. The Bible commands us to redeem the time, to make the most of every opportunity (Ephesians 5:16) rather than waste it.
  • Goal – It is not enough to simply be in the game. It is not enough to simply overcome the opposition. Our goal is to score one for the team. And another one. And another one. “Press on toward the Goal.” – Philippians 3:14.
  • Team – We don’t play alone, but play as part of a TEAM. In Ultimate, once you receive the disc, you have to stand firm with it and pass it on to someone else. You can’t do it alone. Every believer has a part to play as we pursue the goal (1 Cor 12:4-6; 12-20)
  • Offense and Defence – Sometimes in the game we must be on the offence and at other times we must defend.
  • Our actions affect others – When you drop the disc during a game, the possession turns over to the other team and you and your teammates suffer the consequences alongside you. They must now run the length of the field again, this time on defense.
  • Getting fouled – Sometimes in the game, bad things happen to you of no fault of your own. It is your responsibility to call the truth of what happened but the game still continues.
  • Taking risks – Sometimes you have to take risks to reach the goal. Push yourself a little harder, stretch for the goal, pass the task to someone else on your team completely out of your control. The same is true of our walk and also of evangelism. It is said that it usually takes 20 interactions before a person accepts Christ. And while some skills may be clumsy and awkward at first, with practice we can be much more effective.

Make it Practical

  • What are some of the difficulties in faced in this game that remind of us of difficulties in the Christian’s life? In evangelism?
  • How is the teamwork in this game similar to the body of Christ?
  • Read 1 Corinthians 3:4-9. How does this relate to the game?

Make it Personal

Are you in the game?
No one in the crowd ever makes progress on the field. No one in the crowd ever adds a single point to the score. The game is played and won by the players on the field, and not by anyone else. Are you in the game or a spectator? Just being a Christian isn’t enough. You are called to be on the playing field, not in the stands or on the sidelines. Are you on the field playing the game and gaining ground for Jesus Christ or are you merely watching the game? The clock is ticking away, and time is running out. Get in the game before you lose your chance forever!

SCRIPTURE

  • 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 – “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.”
  • Hebrews 12:1-2 – “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
  • Philippians 3:12-14 “Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”
  • 2 Timothy 2:5 “Similarly, if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not receive the victor’s crown unless he competes according to the rules.”
  • 2 Timothy 4:7-8 – “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.”
  • 1 Corinthians 3:4-9 (NIV) – ‘For when one says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” are you not mere human beings? What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe as the Lord has assigned to each his task. I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor. For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building.”
  • 1 Corinthians 12:12-20 (NIV) – “Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body, whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free, and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. 14 Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many. Now if the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body.”
  • 2 Timothy 2:2 (NIV) – “And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others.”
  • Philippians 4:9 (NIV) – “Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.”

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Broken Water Balloons

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Broken Water Balloons

You can’t have summer without at least one water balloon fight. Water Balloons have a purpose – to be filled with water. As God’s creation each of us also has a purpose. Pascal said that all men were created with a God shaped vacuum – an emptiness in our lives only GOD can fill. When we try to fill that emptiness with things other than the Living Water, we will always feel empty. We will always be thirsty.

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Games Using Water Balloons

  • Back to Back – Split the youth up into partners however many as necessary. Then put them next to a bucket of water balloons. This is a relay race so have another bucket abouy 15 feet away. The players have to put the water balloon between both of their backs and walk to the other bucket. If your balloon breaks you must go back and get another balloon. Set a time limit and when the times run out see which team has the most water balloons in their bucket.
  • Beach Towel Toss – Divide into teams of two, each person holding a towel at the corners. Standing six feet apart, each team must use the towel to toss a balloon back and forth with another team. After a successful toss, have the teams move farther apart. Continue playing until the balloon breaks.
  • Blanket Water Balloon Toss – All youth stand around a blanket holding an edge. When you toss individual water balloons high into the air, the youth must try to catch each water balloon in the blanket.
  • Hot Potato, Water Balloon Style – Played just like Hot Potato, youth must pass a water balloon around the circle when the music starts. When it stops whoever is holding it has the bust the water balloon on their own head.
  • Soaker – one person throws a water balloon high in the air and calls out another player’s name or number. The player so called must catch the balloon. If the player succeeds at catching it unbroken, she gets a free shot at the thrower who called her name and gets her turn at throwing a water balloon up and calling another’s name.
  • Water Balloon Pinata – Fill regular sized round balloons up with water, and tie them to a rope that is hung between two trees. You are blindfolded, given a plastic baseball bat, and get three swings to break a balloon.
  • Water Balloon Shot Put – see who can toss a water balloon the farthest. For added incentive, have a leader stand just out of reach of the players for a target.
  • Water Balloon Squat – Relay. Run to the line. Sit on a water balloon. Return to the team.
  • Water Balloon Stuff – Get two sets of those long johns and a bunch of water balloons. Get two volunteers and assign them a team whose job is to stuff water balloons in the long johns. When the designated time is up you count the balloons and the one with the most balloons wins. The winner and his stuffers get to throw all the balloons at the loser.
  • Water Balloon Toss – Form two lines of paired players, facing each other. Have each pair toss a water balloon back and forth, taking a step backwards after every two tosses. The further back you step, the further the toss and the more likely the water balloon will burst. The last pair to have their water balloon intact wins.
  • Water Balloon Toss Relay – Form 2 or more even teams. As in any relay race, have a starting line and a finishing line. Spread each member of the team about 3-5 feet apart. Each member must toss the water balloon to the next team member. If the water balloon breaks or falls onto the floor they have to start from the very beginning. The object of the game is to send 3 water balloon successfully down the line and into their team bucket.
  • Water balloon volleyball – Set up a volleyball net or string a rope between two posts, and then split the youth into groups of two. Give each group a towel or sheet and instruct the teams to hold it between them to create a landing mat for water balloons. With one team on each side of the net, the players use their towel or sheet to toss the balloon over the net to the other side. Every time a team drops a balloon, the balloon breaks or the balloon doesn’t cross over the net, the opposite team earns a point. Play to eight points before switching out teams.
  • WATER BALLOON FIGHT – have a classic water Balloon war between two teams.

TAKE IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL

At the end of your water balloon games, take a hose and squirt a leader or volunteer down.

  • Compare a water balloon and a hose? In what what ways are they similar? Different?
  • Describe a time when you were really thirsty?

MAKE IT SPIRITUAL

During the time of Jeremiah much of Israel had turned away from God. They had turned away from the Fountain of living water and were looking to other things (broken cisterns) to satisfy their spiritual thirst. A cistern was basically just a hole in the ground with some kind of lining meant to hold stagnant rainwater. They were broken from the very day they were built. Only God Himself can quench our spiritual thirst. (See Isaiah 55:1-2, John 4:10-14, John 6:35 and John 7:37-38.) Imagine yourself as a very thirsty person in a parched land, turning away from a bubbling spring of cool water to shovel out a cistern in the dirt, under the parched sun, in the hopes of collecting some rain water! Many people today are also busy digging cisterns. We are not so different from the people of Jeremiah’s day. The one thing that is different is that we have more things available to us with which we try to satisfy the deep longings and thirsts of our lives.

  • Discuss as a group how cisterns were constructed and the constant effort it took to maintain them vs. get refreshed from a natural spring of water.
  • Digging cisterns is like going our own way in life. How do our own plans take constant effort to maintain?
  • What are some of the things people seek for pleasure, happiness, to fill the emptiness of our days?
  • Why do people insist on building broken cisterns rather than drinking from the spring of living water that will never run dry?
  • Why do people look for other sources? Why aren’t people happy with the Living Water?
  • Why do we run from one thing to another, never finding satisfaction, but never running to God?

MAKE IT PRACTICAL

  • How do we know if we are seeking the things of God or broken cisterns?
  • What is it in us that makes us prefer to do things our way rather than accept God’s way?
  • Is it possible for us to be so busy doing things that don’t really matter that you never became involved in the things of God? Can we do good things and yet still neglect God? Spiritual things?

MAKE IT PERSONAL

  • Describe a time when you sought God to fill a void in your life that seemed impossible to face?
  • What do I not have in my life that, if I only had, I believe would make me happy?
  • What do I now have, that, if taken away, would leave me unhappy or devastated?
  • What do I have now that I spend a lot of time maintaining and would struggle to keep?
  • What is it that I now have in my life that I can’t live without?
  • Are you so busy repairing and refilling your broken cistern that you never took advantage of the fountain of life God offers?
  • God is asking you to see what you have been doing with your life. How are you spending your time, your money, your abilities, your resources?
  • Are you wasting your life and ignoring the many opportunities to be used by God?
  • Where are you going to drink today, this week this month, the rest of your life—for all of eternity? The spring of living waters or the cisterns of this world?
  • Ask God to show you the broken cisterns you have in your life. Surrender them and ask Him to satisfy your soul with Himself alone.
  • What are you consuming that masks your inner thirst? What deeper needs do you sense in yourself? Ask God would to show you how He can meet that need.

SCRIPTURE

  • Jeremiah 2:13 – “My people have committed two sins: They have forsaken me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water.”
  • John 7:37 – “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink”
  • John 10:10 – He said, “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full”

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Game Ideas, Object Lessons

Frozen Chosen?

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Youth Ideas - Frozen

Beat the hot days of summer with a frozen T-shirt contest for your youth. The objective is simple – Unfold a frozen t-shirt and wear it. But it’s not quite as easy as it sounds. It can be played as a team effort or you can have one frozen tee for each youth. Add a few additional ice games to get things moving before you have the final T-shirt thaw.

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Games Using Ice

  • Back to Back Ice Relay – Split the youth into two teams. Freeze a water balloon for each team and just before the game starts, remove the balloon so you are left with a ball of ice. The first two people in line on each team have to put the ball of ice between both of their backs and walk to a designated finish line and then back to the team. If they drop it, they must go back to the beginning and start over again. First team to complete the relay wins.
  • Build with Ice – Freeze and pop out a bunch of ice cubes. Use hot water to make clearer ice. Shake a little salt on the ice to act as glue as the salt melts the ice a little to help the cold cubes stick to one another. Construct creations by salting and adding cubes to create ice people, igloos, and other shapes.
  • Cold Head – Place one ice cube on your head and the other on a competitors head. No hands allowed. First youth to drop the ice cube is eliminated. Continue until you have one champion. Variation – place the ice cube on the back of their necks.
  • Ice Cube Melt – In this game, the objective is for the youth to fill a glass with water to the top using only the dropping water from melted ice. They may only use their hands to melt the ice. Only one ice cube can be melted at a time.
  • Ice Cube Melt Relay – One Large ice cube per team (the ice cubes should be the same size). Divide the youth into two equal teams. Give each team an ice cube. The first player on each team holds and rubs the ice cube until their hands get too cold. Then they pass it to the next person on their team, and so on, until the ice cube is completely melted. The first team to completely melt their ice cube wins the game.
  • Ice Cube Melting Race – Give each child an ice cube and see who can get it to melt the fastest in their hands. Working in pairs or teams is best, so when a child’s hands get too cold, they can pass the ice cube off to a teammate.
  • Ice Cube Melting Race – Give each youth an ice cube and see who can get it to melt the fastest in their hands. Working in pairs or teams is best, so when someone’s hands get too cold, they can pass the ice cube off to a teammate.
  • Ice Cube Transfers – Fill a bucket with water and lots of ice cubes. Teams try to remove ice cubes from the bucket using only their feet. Make it more challenging by putting on a blind fold.
  • Ice Puzzles – Get some small lego sets with the instructions to create the object. Freeze all the pieces individually in ice cubes (It’s ok if longer pieces stick out of the ice cube). First team to thaw the pieces and follow the instruction to create the lego set wins.
  • Marbles in Ice – Place a marble into each one of your ice cube trays’ sections. Fill with water as usual and freeze. Repeat this process until you have anywhere between 30 and 100 marbles. The more marbles you have, the longer the game will last and the more fun it will be. Give each youth an equal-sized cup and tell them that whomever fills their cup full of marbles first wins the game. Alternately, you can deem the youth with the highest number of marbles the winner. Then, let the youth decide how to melt the ice cubes and retrieve the frozen marble.
  • Musical Ice Pass – This is a variation of musical chairs, with players passing an ice cube to music. When the music stops whoever is holding the ice cube is eliminated. Make it more fun by freezing a giant water balloon to replace the ice cubes. As a variation, give those eliminated a small ice cube. If any youth who was eliminated can use their hands to get the ice to melt before the game finishes they can join back into the game.
  • Pick up ice cubes – Fill a paddling pool up with water and add ice cubes. Each person has to try and remove the ice cubes using their feet. Count out how many ice cubes each team/person is able to remove.
  • Thaw it – Freeze a coin or any other small item in a block of ice. First team to unthaw the item without putting it in their mouth or hitting it with another object is the winner.
  • Thread the Spoon – The day before the game, cut some yarn or string into long segments, allowing about 4 feet of yarn per team member. If in doubt, always make your yarn longer than necessary. Tie one end of one piece of yarn to the end of one spoon. Do this for each team. Put the spoons (with the yarn attached) in the FREEZER to freeze. For even more fun, run the string through one or more ice cube trays so that there are ice cubes froozen along the string as well. You may want to dip the spoons in water a few times to add a little ice build-up. When you’re ready to play, divide the youth into equal size teams. Hand the spoon to the first player and instruct them to put the spoon down their shirt, through pants legs (or skirts) and out by their feet. The fact that the spoons are cold will be apparent very quickly. The first person should also be instructed to hold the end of the yarn while the rest of the team repeats the threading process. NOTE: the spoon does not, and should not, go in undergarments; only inside of shirts, slacks, etc. The object of the game is to see which team can “thread the spoon” from the first person to the last. When done, the entire team will be stitched together!

Main Teaching Game – Frozen T-shirts

RESOURCES

  • Gallon Freezer Bags
  • You’ll need one t-shirt for each team or participant. Larger shirts are best and if possible you want them all to be the same size. Sometimes t-Shirts can be torn or stretched in the process.
  • Water
  • Freezer

PREPARATION

  • Soak each t-shirt in about 2 cups of water then wring it out. If there is too much water it will take too long to thaw.
  • Once the shirt has been wrung out, nicely fold each one into a square that will fit inside the freezer bag. Once you have folded it flat, press it down again to try to remove even more water.
  • Seal each bag, and place each t-shirt in the freezer so that each lies flat.
  • Let them freeze for a couple of days for best results.
  • If you need to transport the shirts to another venue, place them in a cooler filled with ice so they stay frozen.

WHAT TO DO

  • Tell the youth you are going to have a real icebreaker game.
  • If you play by teams, don’t tell the youth what you are going to do and instead ask for a volunteer from each team. (You don’t want more than 4 or 5 on a team or it gets too crowded and some youth end up sitting on the sideline and watching.)
  • Give each youth (or team) a frozen tee.
  • The objective is to use whatever means possible to thaw the t-shirt enough so that it they can put it on. (They’ll sit on them like hatching an egg, throw them on the ground, rub them with hands, roll them, stick them on bare arms and legs to use their body heat to warm them up enough to unfold them and put them on.) They’ll be worn out trying to get them unfolded enough to wear.
  • The first person to get the t-shirt on wins! Heads and arms must be completely in the t-shirt for normal wear to be declared the winner.

RULES OF THE GAME

  • You might want to set some rules such as:
  • You cannot place the t-shirt in water or any other liquids
  • You cannot microwave it or use any appliance or machinery to heat it up.
  • You cannot leave the game area
  • You are not allowed to use any sharp object on the t-shirt

TAKE IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL

Like many things in life, this game takes a lot of effort. It’s the same with building relationships. If you want to have relationships that aren’t so cold and are more warm and friendly, it takes work. “Cold hearted” and “Hard – hearted” are terms we commonly use to describe how youth relate to others. We also often talk about the warmth of friendship.

  • What happened during the game?
  • What were the difficulties encountered?
  • What made these tasks difficult?
  • How difficult was it to melt the ice?
  • What did you try that didn’t work so well?
  • Did you get frustrated? Why or why not?
  • What was the most effective strategy?
  • What could you do differently to be more successful if you played again?
  • Did you ever feel like giving up? What are some things that you have tried to do that ended up being so difficult that you gave up?
  • What is something that was difficult but you kept at it until you got it done?
  • What happened as a result?
  • What lesson did you learn?

MAKE IT SPIRITUAL

  • How is following God like playing this game?
  • When we become Christians, are we able to put on holiness right away?
  • Do you ever get frustrated thinking God isn’t working fast enough for you?
  • How do you respond to God when He isn’t working fast enough?
  • Have you ever gotten so frustrated with God, and impatient that you tried to rush things in your own way? What happened?

In the Bible, Cold and Hot are used to describe the relationship of a person with God. But God’s greatest criticism is not to a person is either hot or cold, but to someone that is lukewarm. In Revelation, God refers to the church of Laodicia in the same terms.
“I know your works; you are neither cold nor hot”. “Would that you were cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, neither cold nor hot, I will spew you out of my mouth” (Revelation 3:15-16).

MAKE IT PRACTICAL

Laodicia had no water supply of its own, so an aqueduct was built to bring water to the city from hot springs. By the time the water reached Laodicia is was neither therapeutically hot nor refreshingly cold. And because of it, one of the strongest words in Revelation is used, emesai, meaning to vomit.

  • What actions of a Christian might be described as Hot? Cold? Lukewarm?
  • How does a lukewarm Christian behave?
  • Why is lukewarm worse than being either hot or cold?
  • What is an area of your devotion to God that could be described as Lukewarm?
  • If we are cold or lukewarm, how can we become “On Fire” in our devotion for God?

MAKE IT PERSONAL

  • What can you do this week to become more fired up about your relationship with God?
  • What can you do this week to share the warmth of Christ with someone?

SCRIPTURE

  • Revelation 3:15-16 – “I know your works; you are neither cold nor hot”. “Would that you were cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, neither cold nor hot, I will spew you out of my mouth”
  • 2 Peter 3:9 (NIV) – “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”

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MORE IDEAS? See “Creative Object Lessons”

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Game Ideas, Object Lessons

An Overflowing Cup

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overflowing_cup

“My cup runs over.” A cup is used quite often in the Bible to represent a person’s fate, a person’s destiny. The cup could be one of blessing or of judgement. Is your cup empty? Half full? Overflowing? In a place where water was scarce an overflowing cup implied abundance. This weeks lesson is great for summer in that the youth will get a little wet while learning about what is means to be filled to overflowing with the blessings of God.

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Games Using Water and Cups

  • Filler Up – Divide the youth into pairs. Partners stand six feet apart. One person gets a cup with a ping-pong ball in it and the other a water gun. At you signal, those with the water pistol must race to squirt enough water into the cup to make the pin-pong ball float. Keep a bucket of water nearby for easy refills.
  • Bottle Fill Relay – Each team appoints one member to lie face up with head toward the starting line, holding an empty pop bottle on his or her head. One member from each team fills a cup (made of nonbendable material) with water, runs to the bottle, and pours in water until it is gone. He or she then runs back, and the next contestant runs out with a cup of water as soon as the first player crosses the starting line.
  • Water Cup Derby – Divide into teams. Each team member will fill a cup with water from a shared water bucket, put it over their head and run to a team soda bottle (or bucket) and poor it in. The team that finishes first gets 5 points, but the team that has the most water in the bucket gets 10.
  • Leaky Cup Relay – Give each team a plastic cup or sturdy paper cup with holes punched in it. The first person on a team fills it up and passes the leaking cup over his or her head. The person who receives it must pass it under his or her legs to the next person – Over, under, over, under and it reaches the end of the line. At the end of the line, the last youth must run and dump any water that is left in the cup into a 5 gallon bucket and then run to the front of the line. After a given time, whomever has the most water in their 5 gallon bucket wins.
  • Jumping Water Splash – Give each youth a plastic or paper cup full of water. While two players twirl a large jump rope, jumpers one by one are to attempt three consecutive jumps. They are to do this while holding onto their cup of water and trying to do let any water spill. The youth that has the most water left is the winner. You can keep playing until only one person has water left in their cup.
  • Gargling Charades – This is kind of like charades, but each youth is given a cup of water and must use the water to gargle a given Christian Song while their teammates try to guess the title of the song.

TAKE IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL

MAKE IT SPIRITUAL

  • What is the purpose of a cup?
  • When the Bible talks bout filling our Cup, what does the cup represent?
  • With what does God fill our cup?
  • Did you trust your team mates to try to aim only for the cup, or were you worried they’d “accidentally” miss? What role does trust play when we come to God asking our cup to be filled?
  • Was there a trade-off between trying to be quick vs trying to be accurate? How might this apply spiritually?
  • What happened when your cup was emptied?
  • What is the meaning of the phrase “My cup runs over”?
  • Why is a clean cup important?

MAKE IT PRACTICAL

  • What are some things youth try to fill the emptiness in their lives with?
  • What are some things that youth try to quench their thirsts with in life?
  • Are there some things dirty a person’s cup?
  • What is the solution for a leaky cup?
  • Why does God fill our cup to overflowing?

MAKE IT PERSONAL

  • What is it that fills your cup?
  • What things are most important to you?
  • How do you spend all your time?
  • What activities fill your day?
  • Are you a clean vessel waiting to be filled?
  • What changes do you need to make so that your life overflows with the blessings of God?

SCRIPTURE

  • Romans 15:13 – “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
  • Acts 14:17 – “Yet he has not left himself without testimony: He has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons; he provides you with plenty of food and fills your hearts with joy.”
  • Ephesians 5:18 – “Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit”
  • Psalm 42:1-2 – “As the deer pants for the water brooks, So my soul pants for Thee, O God. 2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God; When shall I come and appear before God?”
  • Matthew 5:6 – “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.”
  • John 4:13-14 – “Jesus answered and said to her, ‘Everyone who drinks of this water shall thirst again; 14 but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life.'”
  • Revelation 7:16-17 – “They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore; neither shall the sun beat down on them, nor any heat; 17 for the Lamb in the center of the throne shall be their shepherd, and shall guide them to springs of the water of life; and God shall wipe every tear from their eyes.”
  • Psalm 63:1 – “O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water.
  • Psalm 116:13 – “I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the Lord.”
  • Luke 1:53 – “He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty.”
  • Psalm 23 – “The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”

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Game Ideas, Object Lessons

Spiritual Sponges

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Spiritual Sponges

The main purpose of a sponge is to soak things up. When you squeeze a sponge, whatever is inside comes out. Both of these characteristics of a sponge provide metaphors for our hearts. Some of us have hard hearts and unlike a sponge, things just stay on the surface and never affect us while other have receptive hearts to God. When we are under pressure, we truly get to see what is in a person’s heart. These games are great for a little wet time during the hot summer and provide a nice illustration for the condition of our hearts.

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Games Using Sponges

  • Back to Back Sponge Relay – Fill two new large large trash cans or clean buckets with water and place sponges in each. Pairs run to a trash can, grab a soaked sponge, place it between their backs, and run back to the team. If the sponge is dropped they must go back and get another one. First team to have all members complete the relay wins.
  • Bottle Fill Relay – Each team appoints one youth to lie face up on the ground with his or her head toward the starting line and hold an empty plastic soda bottle on his or her forehead. A team member from each team soaks a sponge with water, runs to the bottle, and with arms stretched straight out in front of them tries to squeeze the water into the bottle. He or she then runs back to the team and the next person goes. First team to fill the bottle wins.
  • Shaving Cream Sponge Off – Each team of youth must have one large bucket of water and one team member willing to get wet. Make a beard of shaving cream on one person from each team. Each member of the team will get one toss of a wet sponge to try and remove all the shaving cream. You will rotate the team line until all the shaving cream is removed. The first team to remove the cream is the winner.
  • Sponge Dodge Ball – Get 4-6 water buckets and arrange them in a square or circle. Get a sponge for each bucket – Car wash sponges work great and can be cut into smaller pieces. They youth leader stands outside the circle, soaks a sponge and tosses it a someone inside the circle. Anyone who gets hit joins the youth leader outside the circle. A sponge that lands inside the circle can be retrieved by anyone, but must be dipped in the water again before it can be tossed at someone. Last person inside the circle wins.
  • Sponge Shot Put – See who can toss a wet sponge the farthest. For added incentive, have a leader stand just out of reach of the players for a target.
  • Sponge Standoff – Arrange the youth in a circle and have them number themselves off. Place a sponge in a bucket of water in the center of the circle. When the leader calls out two numbers, those two youth must jump up, run around the circle back to their own place, then run through the gap where they were sitting to get the sponge. Whoever gets the sponge gets to throw it as the other person.
  • Toss up – A youth is given a wet sponge and tosses it high into the air while calling out a person’s name. Whoever is called must catch the sponge. If success he or she gets a free toss at the person who tossed the sponge.
  • Wet Sponge Hot Potato – Everyone sits in a circle. Play music or sing a song. Pass the wet sponge around the circle. When the music has ended (just play a short segment) or the song is over, the person left with the wet sponge can squeeze it over their head. They can also choose to squeeze it over another child•s head. Refill the wet sponge and play again.
  • Wet Sponge Over and Under Relay – Place a bucket in front of the first player on each team and a jar or soda bottle behind the last player. The first player fills the sponge and with two hands lifts it over his/her head to the next player. The next player takes the sponge and hands it back under their legs. Continue to hand it back over and under until you reach the last player, who squeezes it in the jar or soda bottle. Then he/she runs towards the front of the line to fill the sponge again and pass it. The first team to fill the jar or soda bottle to overflowing wins.

TAKE IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL

MAKE IT SPIRITUAL

  • What is the purpose of a sponge?
  • What are some things sponges are used for?
  • What comes out of a sponge when it’s squeezed?
  • How is a sponge different from a rock?

MAKE IT PRACTICAL

  • Do we ever get “squeezed” in life? If so, how?
  • In what ways are our minds and hearts like a sponge?
  • What are some negative things / positive things we may be soaking up?
  • When you get “squeezed”, what comes out?
  • How can we soak up what is good and so that we are full good things and less likely to soak up what’s bad?
  • In what ways can our minds and hearts be like a rock, what the Bible calls a hardened heart?
  • If we have a hardened heart, how can we become more receptive to God?

MAKE IT PERSONAL

  • What comes out of me when the “squeeze” is on – clean, pure thoughts & actions that please God or something not so clean & pure?
  • How can I soften my heart toward God this week?
  • How can I fill my heart with the things of God this week so when the pressure comes, I spill good things over into the lives of others?

Finish the lesson by giving each youth a sponge to take with them and to place somewhere they will see it so that it will remind them of the need to not have a hardened heart, but to allow God’s Word to fill them.

SCRIPTURE

  • Romans 5:1-5 (NIV) – “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.”
  • Psalm 119:11 – “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.”
  • Philippians 1:9-11 – “And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ–to the glory and praise of God.”

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Creative Teaching Ideas, Game Ideas, Object Lessons

Watermelon Seed Christians

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Watermelon Seed Christians

Watermelons are almost synonymous with summer – cool, refreshing, and great on a hot summer day. Watermelons can also be used for a variety of fun, and sometimes messy games, though the cost could be a bit prohibitive for some youth groups. Here are a variety of games using watermelons as well as some ideas for spiritual lessons using this popular summer treat.

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Games Using Watermelons

  • Greased Watermelon – Grease two watermelons down with butter and jelly, then divide the youth into two teams and have them line up across from each other. Ask players to wear disposable gloves to make the game more challenging. The youth must pass the watermelon to each other in the lineup without dropping it. If dropped, it must begin again at the beginning. The team that passes the watermelon all the way to the end of the line first wins.
  • Seed Teams – To split into team, set aside an equal number of watermelon seeds and pumpkin seeds and pass them out, 1 seed per person. Everyone with a pumpkin seed forms team one. Everyone with a watermelon seed forms another team. Add more types of seeds for more teams.
  • Steal the Watermelon – (like Steal the Bacon) Grease a watermelon an place it in the center of a tarp. Each team lines up facing each other while you number them off on each team. When you call a number and that person has to grab the watermelon and get it back to their side of the tarp.
  • Ultimate Watermelon – This is just like Ultimate Frisbee . . . but with a small watermelon. Each team tries to get to the opposite end zone. Instead of a kick-off, just have one team start on their side of the field. When a player catches the Watermelon, they can take only 3 steps. Then they must throw/toss it. Each team works their way down the field, passing to each other until a team scores. If the team’s melon hits the ground, it’s the other teams turn. If one team busts the watermelon, the other team automatically scores. (Have extra watermelons available or seal the watermelon in a heavy duty plastic bag first.) The watermelon goes to the opposite team of the last person to touch it before it hits the ground. Defensive players must give any person already holding a watermelon at least 3 feet clearance.
  • Watermelon Artists – Cut watermelons into slices and give each youth a slice. Slices can be small or large, depending upon the object you plan to carve. If you want many objects carved, you may want to make them all small, such as turtles, suns or birds. Write down the object each youth will carve on separate slips of paper and give each player their slip to read silently. Instruct each youth to begin carving, but not to reveal the object. Non-carvers can guess what each object is to earn prizes for themselves and the carver.
  • Watermelon Carving Contest – Carve funny faces in the watermelons as you would a pumpkin and award prizes for the funniest face, best carving, most creative, met unusual, etc. You might want to have some plastic utensils rather than knives or assign an adult to handle the knives under the directions of the youth.
  • Watermelon Eating Contest – Ask the youth from each team to hold their hands behind their backs, using only their mouths to eat a large piece of watermelon. First to do so wins points for their team.
  • Watermelon Head – Youth must roll a watermelon down a plastic tarp with their heads. First team that has each member complete the task wins. To make it more fun coat it in shaving cream or whipped cream.
  • Watermelon Horseshoes Contest – For this contest you need watermelon rind cut across the width of the watermelon to form rings. These rinds can be made from wounded watermelons, injured in earlier games. All you need are rind rings, not the fruit. The object of the game is to toss watermelon rind rings onto a stationary post. Score the game as you would score horseshoes.
  • Watermelon Jigsaw Puzzle – Cut several watermelons into slices and pieces and mix them up in a bowl. Have one watermelon for each team. The objective of this game is for youth to eat the watermelon (red part), then using toothpicks, be the first team to correctly piece the watermelon back together again into a whole watermelon. To put it back correctly, youth will need to pay attention to the pattern on the outside. Variation: Instead of toothpicks, you can also use duct tape.
  • Watermelon Pass – The first youth in line takes the watermelon and passes it between their legs to the person behind them. The next youth then takes the melon and lifts it backwards, over their head to the next person. It is really a game of over/under, over/under. This is repeated until the watermelon reaches the end. At this point, the watermelon is then passed back up to the front in like fashion (with everyone continuing to face forward). The first team to return the melon to the front with their team sitting down in single file fashion is the winner!
  • Watermelon Race – Set a Start Line and a half way point where each team must roll their watermelon, circle and then turn around and roll the watermelon back to the starting point. Once the youth rolling the watermelon returns to the starting Line, they tag the next youth in line and they take their turn roll the watermelon. The first team to have all players rolls their watermelons around the course is the Winner.
  • Watermelon Rolling Contest – Players must roll small watermelons toward specific soft objects. Once the object is touched by a watermelon, players can roll watermelons toward the next soft object, until the last goal is reached. First one to the end with a watermelon that still rolls, wins. Some youth would rather take out another player, than hit the soft object next in line.
  • Watermelon Seed Flinging Contest – The youth must snap the seeds off the finger, using only one hand. This is done much like you were playing marbles. The nail of the thumb flips the seed off the back of a curled index finger.
  • Watermelon Seed Spitting Contest – In this contest, you draw your line and give game players their slice of watermelon. They will eat their way to the seeds they spit. Spitting needs to happen over an area where you will be able to see where the seeds fall. The player who spits the farthest seed within certain amount of time is the winner.
  • Watermelon Seed Spitting Target Competition – Players focus on hitting a target rather than going for distance. Use a cup, bucket or create a bullseye target, then as the youth find seeds in their watermelon they can step to the start line, aim and try to spit the watermelon seed into or onto the target. They receive 1 point for each time they land on or in the target. Add up the scores and the youth with the most points is the winner. If there is a tie, do a sudden death round until someone hits the target and can be declared the winner.
  • Watermelon Smash (Suikawari) – This is a party game often played on beaches in Japan where someone is blindfolded, given a large stick, spun around to disorient them and then directed to smash/crack a watermelon. While the aim is for the blindfolded participant to find and crack the watermelon on their own, spectators may shout advice or distractions.
  • Watermelon Water Polo – This is played in a swimming pool which is not too deep, but a watermelon is used instead of a ball. It can also be coated in Vaseline to make it more difficult.

WaterMelon Games with a Message

  • Watermelon Puzzle Relay – Cut off the end of some watermelons and remove the seeds and flesh so that they have been cleaned out. (Be sure to set it aside for eating later.) Cut a different face in each watermelon, but save the pieces that you remove and set them aside. Collect all the pieces you removed from the watermelons and mix them up and place them on a trap or trash bag on the ground at one end of a field. At the other end of the field place the watermelon for each team. Youth from each team must run across the field grab one piece that looks like it might fit the holes in that team’s watermelon and return to his team with the piece. If the piece fits in the watermelon, the next person can run to get a new piece. If the piece doesn’t fit, the next person on the team must return it to the table at the end of the room and collect another piece to try. First team to complete it’s watermelon wins the relay! Variation: Play the game with the relay runners blind-folded and the team shouting directions.

Teaching Point: Talk about how we all have holes in our our lives (an emptiness) we are trying to fill. Some people may try to fill it with money, with relationships, with various types of pleasures, etc. But the only thing that can fill the emptiness we have in our lives is a relationship with God. Blaise Pascal says we were all created with a God-shaped vacuum that only he can fill. Just as you had to align the pieces with the various holes in the watermelon, we have to align the various areas of our lives with the will of God. Only those things of God which are aligned with his plan for our individual lives, will fit correctly and make us whole.

  • Watermelon Seed Targets – Cut different size holes in the top of a watermelon and place it on the ground at some distance from the youth. Youth must toss watermelon seeds into the holes in the top of the watermelon for points depending on the hole they get it in. You’ll want to cut the holes deep enough to catch a seed, but not deep enough to expose the inner red flesh of the watermelon so that you can cut it open and eat it later.
    • Why did you choose your target?
    • Some people chose the smaller holes because they were worth more. Others chose the larger holes because they were an easier target.
    • When it comes down to real life, do you choose your targets based on value or upon which is easier?
    • What are your targets in the Christian life? Are they easy? Why do you value these targets?

TAKE IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL

MAKE IT SPIRITUAL

The Bible says in Galatians 6:7-9 that we will reap what we sow. So if we plant good things then that is what we will reap. But if we plant bad things then that is what we will reap. What things are you planting in your life? Those are the things that you will reap. I hope that you all reap many good things in your life because you choose to plant the right things. Inside a single watermelon are hundreds of seeds, each with the potential to grow a watermelon plant which can produce several more watermelons each containing hundreds of seeds.

MAKE IT PRACTICAL

Read Matthew 13:3-23

  • What are the four types of soil mentioned and the results of seeds sown?
  • Again list the four types of soil, but this time explain what each represents.
  • Why do some people choose not to listen?
  • Why do some people not want to see?
  • What is the main problem with the rocky soil?
  • What happens when trouble or persecution comes? What are some of the troubles and persecutions that youth may face?
  • Of the troubles and persecutions you listed, which ones do you have the most difficult time dealing with?
  • In what ways can a person sink roots deeper in order to be better able to withstand trouble and persecutions?
  • What are some of the worries of life?
  • How can worries and the pursuit of wealth and materialism choke out the spiritual life?
  • Of the worries listed, which ones cause you to lose focus in your relationship with God?
  • What are the priorities in your life at the moment?
  • Are you prepared to hear what God wants to teach you? What are some things he might want you to hear during these studies?
  • Are you really trying to understand what God’s Word is saying and how it affects your daily life? What are some things God might want you to understand this week?
  • Are you willing to act, to make changes, to live a life of obedience to God’s Word that will be fruitful? In what areas of your life might God be calling you to obedience? In what areas are you not living as a Christian should?
  • What can be done to make the first three soils good soil?

MAKE IT PERSONAL

  • What soil are you and what do you need to do to become good soil?
  • What heart changes do you need to make to allow God to plant his Word in your life?
  • Are there some areas of your life that have become hardened like the path soil? Ask God to help you break through that hardness and to soften your heart.
  • Are your spiritual roots too shallow to withstand the persecutions and troubles? Make a commitment to sink your roots deeper by spending time with God.
  • Are the worries and daily activities of your life taking away from God as your first priority? Ask God to give you the faith and commitment to keep him first.
  • Ask God to make you good soil. If you’ve never accepted Christ, ask him into your heart. He wants you to have a life that is vibrant and fruitful. If God is already in your heart, ask him to make you more fruitful. Pray for a specific area of your life where you would like to be more fruitful, more obedient.

SCRIPTURE

  • Matthew 13:3-8 – “Then he told them many things in parables, saying: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop•a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”
  • Matthew 3:18-23 – “Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path. The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful. But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”
  • Matthew 9:36-37 – “When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.’ “

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Game Ideas, Object Lessons

Shoe Shuffle – Walking with Christ

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We often talk about a person’s walk with Christ. That’s because the feet tell us two very important facts about someone: where one is standing and which way someone is going. A firm stand and a consistent walk are both traits we admire in other Christians. This Object Lesson uses shoes as a reminder of the need for youth to walk daily with Christ.

Shoe Shuffle - Walking with Christ
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Games Using Shoes

  • Big Foot – Organise all the youth into a straight line and blindfold everyone or simply ask them to close their eyes and keep them shut. The youth must then re-organize themselves according to shoe size without stating their shoe size to each other.
  • Do You Like Your Neighbors? – Youth must stand in a circle with one person in the center. Everyone in the circle takes off their shoes and places them behind where they are standing to mark their spot. Someone standing around the circle asks, “Do you like your neighbors?” The participant in the middle of the circle must reply, “No I don’t, but I like people who ______” and fills in the blank with a characteristic. (e.g have a pet, skipped breakfast, etc) All the youth that fit the description must quickly find a new spot in the circle (not next to the one they left, at least five people away) to stand. Last person without a spot stands in the middle. Those who don’t fit the description stay in their spot while others run for a new spot.
  • Horseshoe Toss – Play a classic game of horseshoes but use shoes instead. Each team of youth tries to toss one each of their shoes closest to the wall from across the room. Closest shoe gets 5 points. Any shoe leaning against the wall gets 10 points. Team with highest score wins.
  • Minefield – Divide into two teams and mark of an area to be the minefield. Everyone removes their shoes and randomly tosses them into the minefield area. Teams line up on opposite sides of the minefield and using words only must guide a blindfolded member of their team from one side of the mine field to the opposite side faster than the opposing team. One the person makes the trip, the blindfold is removed and another team member can wear the blindfold and cross the minefield. First team to get everyone successfully across wins. Only one blindfolded person is allowed in the field at any time. If the blindfolded player touches a land mine, a 10-second penalty is assessed to that team.
  • Musical Shoes – Sit the youth in a circle and ask everyone to take off hos/her left shoe. As the music plays, the youth must pass the shoe to the right while taking the shoe being passed from the left. When the music stops, each youth must find the owner of the show he or she is holding and return the shoe to them. For an icebreaker, ask them to learn the persons name and one other fun fact about them or answer to specific icebreaker question you have chosen.
  • Shoe Bucket – Divide kids into teams of four. The kids lie on their backs in a circle with their feet raised in the middle in order to balance a bucket of water or ice. Each team member must remove one of his shoes without spilling the bucket of water. The first team to complete this wins.
  • Shoe Detectives – Divide the youth into two teams. Have each team line up on opposite sides of the room and remove their shoes. Take all the shoes outside room and put them in one large pile outside room. The first person on each team is the “detective.” The second person on each team describes his or her shoes to the detective, who runs to find them in the shoe pile and bring them back. If the detective brings back the wrong shoes, he or she gathers more clues and searches again. If the detective brings back the right shoes, the owner puts them on and becomes the detective. Repeat the process until one team finds all its shoes.
  • Shoe Identity – Everyone takes off their shoes, ties them together and places them in the center of the circle. Someone comes forward, chooses a pair of shoes and makes a statement about the shoes’ owner based on the condition and/or characteristics of the shoes. (For example, “This person loves fashion.”) The owner of the shoes then introduces him/herself and picks out the next pair. Variation: Have each youth retrieve a pair of shoes that represent him or her and once everyone has a pair, youth explain what they have in common with the shoes they have chosen.
  • Shoe Match – Each youth takes off one shoe and tosses it into a pile. On your signal, each youth then grabs a shoe from the pile and find the owner who is wearing the other shoe. They must learn the name (if they don’t already know each other) and three things about the other person they didn’t already know. One everyone has found a match, sit in a circle where each youth shares what they learned about the person they matched.
  • Shoe Prints – As each person enters the room, have them create a dirty footprint on a white sheet of paper. Mix up the footprints and then pass them out. Each person must find the shoe that matches the footprints. (This works best when people are coming into the room from outside. Once they have walked across a carpet or clean floor, the dust is often left behind and it is difficult to get footprints.) Variation: Take a digital photo of part of the bottom of each person’s shoe and print and use these instead of the footprints.
  • Shoe Shucking – Everyone takes their shoe half off and flings it into the air. See who can get their shoe the furthest.
  • Shoe Snake – All youth place their shoes behind one another to create a long snake. The group with the largest snake shoes wins.
  • Shoe Towers – Teams of Youth must build the tallest tower in a given time using only their shoes.
  • Shoe Twister – Each youth takes off one shoe and puts it in the centre of the circle. Everyone joins hands. On your signal everyone gets a shoe from centre of the circle and finds the person who owns it, and puts it back on that person without letting go of hands of people beside them.

TAKE IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL

MAKE IT SPIRITUAL

Pile everyone’s shoes in the middle of a circle of youth.

  • Ask the youth to share as many features as possible that the shoes in the middle of the circle have in common.
  • Ask the youth to share as many features as possible make each pair of shoes unique.
  • What are some of the things that we have in common as part of the body of Christ?
  • What are some of the things that make us unique?
  • What do our shoes tell us about ourselves? To what extent is there a relationship between our personality and the way we walk?
  • How is describing your shoes to a friend similar to sharing the gospel? What might happen if we don’t present the gospel clearly? How can we become more effective at sharing Christ with others this week?
  • When it comes to running the race of life, what lessons can we learn from the games we played with shoes?

In I Cor. 9:24-27, Paul compares the Christian life to a race. Any runner will tell you that the most important piece of equipment for the runner is his shoes. Shoes are very personal things. You can’t run the race in someone else’s shoes. In the same way, in the body of Christ we each must run the race. Everyone needs his own set of running shoes. And while we all need shoes, our shoes will be different as we run the race ahead.

MAKE IT PRACTICAL

We often talk about a person’s walk with Christ. That’s because the feet tell us two very important facts about someone: where one’s standing and which way someone is going. A firm stand and a consistent walk are both traits we admire in others. When we talk about our journey in life we often talk about those times we slip and stumble as well as those times when we took a step in the right direction.

  • What is something that you have taken a stand for in your life? What are some things that you need to take a stronger stand on?
  • What are some steps that you have taken in the right direction with your life? The wrong direction?
  • What are some areas in which you have stumbled along the way in your journey?
  • What are some ways that we can make our walk sure? How can you get back on your feet and take a new step in the right direction with your life? In what areas do you need to watch your step?
  • Taking a stand and finding your footing in life isn’t always easy – especially when you might need to step on a few toes to do so.
  • How can you find the balance between taking a stand on things that are important to you without stepping on too many toes? Should you worry about stepping on toes? Why or why not?

MAKE IT PERSONAL

  • As a footnote to this lesson, identify at least one area of your life where you need to get back on your feet!
  • How can you take a new step in the right direction with your life beginning today?
  • In what areas do you need to watch your step in the journey ahead?

SCRIPTURE

  • Colossians 2:6-7 (NKJV) – “As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it[a] with thanksgiving.”
  • Ephesians 2:10 – “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”
  • 1 John 1:7 – “But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.”
  • 1 John 2:6 (NKJV) – “He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.”
  • Romans 8:4 (NKJV) – “that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.”
  • 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 (NIV) – “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.”
  • Ephesians 4:1-6 (NKJV) – “I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with long-suffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.”
  • Ephesians 5:1-2 (NIV) – “Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children 2 and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”
  • Deuteronomy 8:6 – “Observe the commands of the Lord your God, walking in obedience to him and revering him.”
  • Deuteronomy 10:12 – “And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God ask of you but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to him, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul,”

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Game Ideas, Object Lessons

String Connections

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Almost everyone has some string lying around the house. Most often, string is used to connect things. As such, the string games below can be used to introduce a great object lesson on being connected to Christ and others.

String Connections

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What You Need

  • Lots of string

Games Using String

  • All Inside – Lay a circle of string on the ground and ask a team of youth (6-15 people) to stand inside the circle. Everyone must be touching the ground inside the string circle in some way. They must stay inside the circle for the amount of time it takes them to sing the chorus of a song familiar to the youth. No one can touch the ground outside the shoestring circle. Then tie an 8 inch loop in the string and try again. Team to fit inside the smallest circle of string wins.
  • Loop Groups – Create a loop of string about the size of a hula hoop. Ask the youth to stand in a circle and hold hands. Then have one pair of youth release their hands reach through the string circle and then re-connect hands. The shoestring circle must travel in a clockwise direction and return to the initial starting position without anyone letting go of hands. The youth must stay in one location while the shoestring circle moves around the circle. Fastest time wins.
  • Polygon – Tie a long piece of string together at the ends to form a circle. All the youth hold onto the circle with both hands and then asked to form a specific shape without letting go. (e.g.: Perfect circle, square, equilateral triangle, Letter C, etc). Stage 1: No talking. Stage two – Can talk but eyes closed.
  • String Introductions – Take a pair of scissors and cut pieces of string or yarn into various lengths. (12-30 inches in length) Then bunch them all up in one pile. Each youth pulls on one piece of string to separate it from the others then introduces him or herself as he or she slowly winds the piece of string around an index finger. Some of the strings are extremely long, so sometimes a person must keep talking for a very long time!
  • String spelling – Played like charades, youth must guess a series of words or items from a list, but instead of miming them, they try to spell them out with the piece of string.
  • Tennis Ball Transport – You’ll need some large washers (or a curtain ring), some string, and some tennis balls. Tie five to eight long cord pieces (4-6 feet long) to a washer (or curtain ring). Place the washer on the ground with the cords coming out from it like rays of sunshine. Place a tennis ball on top of the washer. The challenge is for the youth to pick up the washer and tennis ball by hanging onto the strings only without the tennis ball falling off. Need more of a challenge? Switch strings with another group without dropping a tennis ball.

A String Game and a Lesson

  1. Sit the group on the floor in a circle with everyone facing inward toward the center of the circle.
  2. Tell everyone your name and one characteristic about yourself.
  3. Holding firmly to the end of the string, toss the ball of string to someone in the circle who has not yet received the string.
  4. The youth receiving the string gives his/her name and one characteristic.
  5. Then, holding firmly onto the string, he or she tosses the ball on to another person.
  6. The string should be held tightly and above the ground at all times.
  7. Continue until everyone has received the string at least once and has told the group their name and shared one characteristic.

TAKE IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL

GENERAL DISCUSSION

  • Have someone in the group pull the string – What happens?
  • Have everyone pull the string tight then cut the string in the middle. What happens?
  • In what ways does the string represent various relationships in the youth group?

(Sample answers: Our relationships are intertwined and connected. If a single person pulls the string it affects everyone in the group to varying degrees, depending on how closely they are connected. If one persons string is cut the relationship is broken, it affects all. We need to support each other and not let others down)

MAKE IT SPIRITUAL
John 15 speaks of the Vine and the branches and the connectedness we must maintain with Christ! The Bible says we have a friend that sticks closer than a brother – Jesus. Scripture tells us that like this string, Jesus connects us all together. He is the head of the body and we are all connected though him. (Colossians 1:15-20, 1 Corinthians 12)

Next, tie the string to an object with some weight and start to spin it. When spinning the object, ask the audience what will happen when you let go. Will the object continue in the path that it is currently traveling? Let go. The object will travel in a straight line away from where the center used to be. The same thing happens in our walk with God when we discontinue our devotional and our personal time with Him. We grow farther apart from Him. We need to be connected to God to grow spiritually or we will fall away.

MAKE IT PRACTICAL

  • What are some ways that a person can stay closer connected to Christ?
  • What are the benefits a person gets in staying close to Christ?
  • What are some ways that Christians can draw closer to others in the church?
  • Why are relationships, connections in the church so important?
  • What things ties us together as Christians?

MAKE IT PERSONAL

  • What do you need to do to be closer connected to Christ?
  • What are some ways you can be closer connected to other Christians?
  • How can you draw those who have fallen away or strayed from God to be closer to him?

SCRIPTURE

Colossians 1:15-20 – “The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.”

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Creative Teaching Ideas, Game Ideas, Object Lessons

Card Sharks – Playing the hand you are dealt in life

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Decks of cards are easy to find. And everyone knows a card game or two. With this icebreaker, cards are used to sort people into different groups as well as discover a little about each other! They can also be used to explore integrity, doubts, honesty, and personal character.

Card Sharks

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What You Need

Deck of normal playing cards. Add additional decks for larger groups. I have found boxes of enormously sized cards at novelty shops that add even more fun to the games. I’ve even found them as large as an 8-1/2 x 11 sheet of paper.

Using Playing cards to Breaking into Groups

Shuffle cards and let each youth choose one. (You can reduce the size of a deck to your group side by removing some of the numbers of each suit. Once youth have chosen cards, you can force specific combinations of youth by telling them to group themselves in the following ways:

* Red vs Black – Two Teams according to the color of the cards
* Odds & Evens – Two teams according to the value of cards (Face cards have the values Jack-11, Queen – 12, and King – 13)
* Suits – Four teams (Spades, Hearts, Diamonds, Clubs)
* Call out any number and they must form groups that add up to that number.
* BlackJack – Add up to 21
* Poker Hands – Groups of 5 cards (Which group has the highest hand?)
– Four of a Kind – All four cards of each number (groups of four)
– Straight Flush – 5 Cards Grouped by Colors and lined up according to number.
– Full House – 3 of one card and two of another
– 3 of a kind – 3 cards of same number, 2 additional cards
– 4 of a kind – 4 cards of same number, 1 additional card
– Straight – 5 cards in order
– Flush – 5 cards of the same color
– Two Pairs – 2 sets of two plus another card

Games using Playing Cards

  • Build a Tower – Give groups of youth a deck or two of playing cards, inside a box, and ask them to build the tallest tower in a given period of time. Do not say it is a competition between groups. Just that in X minutes the tallest tower wins. The tallest tower could actually be built when they put all their resources together. What lessons can we learn from this?
  • Card elimination – When you call out specific groupings of cards (or poker hands), The youth must scramble to form them. If groups do not meet the specified criteria or are the last group to form, they are eliminated from the game. The last remaining group is the winner.
  • Card Identity – Ask students to pick cards from the deck that represent something about themselves. These representations can be as shallow or deep as the students’ imaginations. Have youth mingle and share with one another their names and the cards they have chosen and why. One might choose a two because they have “2 parents” or “two feet” etc. Another student might choose an ace because they strive to “be an ‘ace’ at everything they do… The opportunities are limitless.
  • Card Mixer – Before the activity, write a question on each card to be shared when the youth are mixing together. (e.g. what is your favorite ice cream, most embarrassing moment, favorite musician, favorite scripture, etc.) Match these questions to a future discussion!
  • Go Fish! – 5 cards are dealt to each player. In turn, players ask another player for his/her cards of a specific rank. (Example: “Ken, do you have threes?”) A player may only ask for a card of which he already holds at least 1 card.The person asked must hand over all cards of that rank. If the call was successful, the player has another turn. But if the player asked has no cards of that rank, he says “Go fish”, and the asking player draws the top card from the deck and it’s the next player’s turn. When a player has all 4 cards of a rank they are placed face up on the table. The game ends when all sets are formed, and the player with the most cards wins.
  • Playing Card LIne-up – Instruct the youth to not peek at their cards, then pass out one playing card to each member of the group (you may need a few decks …). On your signal, each youth places the card on their forehead so that others can see the card. Without talking, all youth then group by suit, and then in numerical order (Is Ace high or low? ) Instead of placing them on their forehead where they can fall off, you can also punch a hole in each card and hand them on a strong around the youth’s necks so that it hangs in the back where they cannot see it but others can. What worked or didn’t? Who were the leaders? What are some lessons?
  • Stratego – Play a variation of “stratego” between two teams. Remove cards from the deck so that there is 1-ace, 2-two’s, 3 three’s, etc. Designate jokers as bombs. Leave only one king. The king can be captured by any card. Use the jack with the sword to his head as the spy. Play the game just as you would “stratego”, but have teams send representatives to a person on the opposing team to do battle. Do not reveal the card numbers to teams, but merely who is the victor of the battle. Those who lose battle cannot reveal the victors total to their teams and are removed to a graveyard area. First team to kill the king wins.
  • Team Sit – Give each team a suit of cards, shuffled and one chair. On your signal, players look at their cards and without talking the ace takes the chair. 2 sits on their knees. 3 sits on the next person’s knees. First team to sit in a line wins.
  • Ten – Remove 10s and all face cards. Have students choose a partner whose card added to theirs will result in a sum of 10… the combinations are numerous (1-9, 2-8, 3-7, 4-6, 5-5) Last cuple to pair up is eliminated. Blindly exchange cards with at least 3 people then have then go again , repeating until you have a winner.

A Card Game and a Lesson

Play a game of “I Doubt It” it with the cards.

  1. Divide into 2 to 4 teams.
  2. In this game the objective is to be the first team to discard all of their cards. The team who goes first must discard their aces face down, the second two’s, third, three’s… through King’s. Each time play comes back to the team, a new player must place the cards down, rotating through team members.
  3. As the team places the cards down they must announce the quantity of cards being played (i.e. 2 aces, 1 two, 3 threes, 1 jack, 4 queens, etc.) If a team doesn’t have a card of the value they are supposed to play, then they must bluff.
  4. A team may also bluff at any time by including additional cards of another value in with the cards of the correct value they are playing. For example a person may only have two aces, but includes a six and calls out “three aces.”
  5. At any time another team may shout “I doubt it.” The team that just played cards must turn them over and reveal them. If the revealed cards were a bluff and not 100% what they were claimed to be, the team picks up the entire discard pile. If they were telling the truth, then the team who yelled “I doubt it” must pick up the entire discard pile.
  6. The game continues until one team runs out of cards.

TAKE IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL

Discussion

  • What is the primary objective of the card game “I doubt it”? What are some of our objectives in life? What does winning mean to you?
  • What type of person is best at this game? Did anyone in this game get a reputation for dishonesty or for integrity? What reputation do you have with others? How did you get that reputation?
  • What elements of this game caused you to lie, misrepresent the truth, or stretch the truth? What things tempt you to be less than honest in real life? What things tempt you to act against your normal character?
  • Are you known for your honesty, for your integrity? What actions in life build / destroy a person’s character / reputation? Why is a good reputation important? How does our reputation affect how others respond to us?
  • Is TRUTH flexible? Why or why not? Is there such a thing as absolute truth? Why or why not?

MAKE IT SPIRITUAL

INTEGRITY: How often in life do we try to gain – benefit by either stretching the truth or by an outright lie? How many times do we sacrifice honesty and integrity to get ahead of others in the game of life? While in this game we might get away with it do people get away with it in life? Is integrity really important? Honesty?

Why is integrity important to God? (1 Kings 9:4, 1 Chronicles 29:17, Job 2:2-4, Titus 2:7, Proverbs 10:9)
Instances of integrity in the Bible:

  • Jacob, in the care of Laban’s property (Genesis 31:39)
  • Joseph, in resisting Potiphar’s wife (Genesis 39:8-12, 40:15)
  • Moses, took nothing from the Israelites for his services (Numbers 16:15)
  • Samuel, in took nothing from the people for his services (1 Samuel 12:4)
  • David, in self-reproach for the cutting of Saul’s robe (1 Samuel 24:5)
  • Daniel, in staying pure and upright (Daniel 1:8-20; Daniel 6:4)
  • Nathanael, in whom was no guile (John 1:47)
  • Peter, when offered money by Simon Magus (Acts 8:18-23)

DOUBTS: All of us have doubts at one time or another, but that doesn’t mean we give up. We make choices the best we can not knowing what the next card in life holds for us.

What are some of your doubts related to the Bible and your faith?
Divided the youth into groups to write a short monologues of doubts that the following Biblical characters might have had:

  • The disciples when caught on the sea in storm (Mark 4:26-40)
  • Noah when he was asked to build the ark (Genesis 6,7)
  • Abraham when asked to sacrifice Isaac (Genesis 22:1-10)
  • Moses when God asked him to go to Pharoah (Ex. 4:1-13)
  • David when he faced Goliath (I Samuel 17,18)
  • Daniel when he was thrown to the lion’s den (Daniel 6)
  1. What options did the above people have in responding to their doubts? Why do you think they acted as they did?
  2. How could you rewrite the above passages as modern situations which might create similar doubts.
  3. What was the time of greatest doubt in your life, and why? Was it similar to any of the characters above?
  4. How are your doubts different or similar? Explain.

MAKE IT PERSONAL

Make a commitment to live a life of integrity, to face your doubts and keep playing the game regardless of the cards you have been dealt in life!

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Creative Teaching Ideas, Game Ideas, Object Lessons

Bubbly Christians

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Everyone loves soap bubbles – Preschoolers, Children, Youth and Adults. They gleam and sparkle in all the colors of the rainbow. They float along and drift in delightful and unexpected ways. They come in all sizes and shapes, and can be caught or set free, alone or connected. But one thing is true of all bubbles. There will come a time when each bursts and is forever lost. Bubbles do not last forever. They remind us to focus on this things that last forever.

Bubbly Christians

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What You Need

1. Soap Bubbles

You can buy ready-made soap bubble solutions with wands inside, but it is so much cheaper to make your own by simply mixing together the following ingredients in a container:

  • 1/4 cup glycerin – You can find it at drugstores
  • 1/2 cup dish soap – Various dish washing detergents will have different characteristics so experiment a little to get the best solution.
  • 2 cups warm water – Distilled water is recommended by some.

2. Bubble Wands

For bubble wands you can use pipe cleaners, plastic lids with a hole cut in the center, a can or round plastic container with the bottom cut out, fly swatters, a slotted spoon, a wire whisk, cookie cutters, strainers, cheese graters, or a clothes hanger wrapped tightly with cotton string.

Games using Soap Bubbles

  • Biggest Bubble – Using a bubble wand, see which team can blow the biggest bubble without popping it.
  • Biggest Bubble using only your hands – Put your fingers together so they form an opening, dip your hands in a bowl of bubble solution to get a bubble film, and if you blow gently, you can make bubbles up to two feet in diameter.
  • Bubble Archery – Place a bullseye target at the end of the room. Youth must blow a bubble from behind the line and then use their breath to blow it into the target to get points.
  • Bubble Baseball – Divide the youth into teams and have them stand in line one behind the other. Set up a turn around point at some distance from the starting line. One at a time the someone from each team will blow a bubble and catch it on their wand. They must then run to the turn around point and back to their team with out losing or popping their bubble. When they return to the start then the next person in line goes. If a bubble pops or they lose their bubble from their wand they must run back to the start and begin again. The team with all their players to finish first wins.
  • Bubble Blast – With just one breath, see who can blow the most bubbles. If you get a good deep breath, you’ll be amazed just how many bubbles you can blow!
  • Bubble Catch – Blow a limited number of bubbles then youth run after them and try to catch them on their wand. If they pop the bubble or don’t manage to catch one they are out.
  • Bubble Count – One youth blows bubbles while you call out a number. The first person to pop that many bubbles wins.
  • Bubble Dodgeball – Youth each get a bubble wand and bubbles and staying in a designated area they try to blow bubbles at each other. If a bubble pops on you, you are out. Players must be stationary in one spot and can only pivot on one foot, but can duck and twist to avoid the bubbles. They can even blow them away.
  • Bubble Float – Who can float one bubble in the air the longest before it pops. Youth can keep their bubble floating in the air the longest by blowing gently underneath it. Variation, give the team 30 seconds to blow the bubbles. After the 30 seconds is finished, time them until the last bubble pops.
  • Bubble Freeze – Youth blow bubbles on a paper plate and then, before the bubbles pop, put them in the freezer. Biggest frozen bubble wins.
  • Bubble Pop – Form pairs or teams. One person (or more) blows the bubbles while another person pops them. The pair / team who pops the most bubbles in 1 minute wins. Make it more difficult by not allowing them to use their hands. Change it up by requiring the bubbles to be popped with different body parts – nose, ear, elbows, foot, etc.
  • Bubble Race – Divide the youth into teams. Teams line up in single file lines. Mark off a finish line at least ten feet away. The person at the front of the line must blow a bubble and he or she must then guide that bubble across the finish line. He or she then runs back to the team and sends the next person to do the same thing. If anyone’s bubble pops or floats away, they must go back and start all over. This continues until every member of one team gets a bubble over the line and makes it back to her team.
  • Bubble Race – Youth must blow their bubble along the race track and across the finish line!
  • Bubble Stack – One person blows a bubble while another catches it on the bubble wand. Another team member blows another bubble, which also must be caught and placed on top of the first bubble. The team with the highest stack at the end of sixty seconds wins.
  • Highest Bubble – Who can blow a bubble the highest into the air?
  • Mega Bubble – This game from Minute to Win iIt requires the youth to first blow a bubble from behind a starting line, then use their own hot air to move it across the play area and through a waiting hoop that is hung from the ceiling. The smaller the hoop, the more difficult the challenge. You can also increase the distance to the hoop to increase the challenge. Rules: You cannot touch the bubbles. If a bubble bursts while traveling through the hoop it does not count – it must actually go through the hoop and be seen on the other side. You may not touch the hoop itself. If a player must return to the beginning and start again, he or she must be standing behind the foul line to blow the next set of bubbles.
  • Nested Bubbles – Blow bubbles inside of bubbles. Using straws, who can get the most bubbles inside of a bubble without it popping.

TAKE IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL

Use the games as a discussion starter about the things in life that are temporary vs. eternal.

MAKE IT SPIRITUAL

  • What do all bubbles have in common? – Eventually they all burst!
  • What are some things that last forever?
  • What are some things that we strive for in life that are only temporary?
  • Why is it so much easier to focus on the temporary things?

Some bubble last longer than others, but in the end the bubble bursts. The same is often true of life’s attractions.

  • What are some things in life that may at first seem long lasting but in reality are only temporary?

Explain that each bubble is filled with air. While you cannot see the air you know its there because it gives the bubble its shape. In life sometimes we must believe in what we cannot see and this is called faith.

  • How is faith related to the desire to live for things that are eternal rather than temporary?

Bubbles grab our attention. So do the things of the world. In fact the bubble is like a small little world.

  • What are some of the things in life that grab our attention?

MAKE IT PRACTICAL

  • What are the characteristics of a person that is living for eternal things?
  • What things do they live for? Focus on? Strive for?
  • How can a reminder that so many things are temporary change the way a person thinks and lives life?
  • How can having an eternal perspective on things affect a person’s focus? Dreams? Aspirations? Actions? Priorities?

MAKE IT PERSONAL

  • What are some of the priorities in your life right now?
  • Are these things more beneficial for the here and now or for the eternal?
  • Are you focused on things that will last?
  • What would change if you had a more eternal perspective on life?

SCRIPTURE VERSES

  • James 4:13-14 – “Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.”
  • Matthew 6:19-21 – “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
  • Luke 12:15-21 – “Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.” And he told them this parable: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest. He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’ “Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain. And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.”‘ “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’ “This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.”
  • Colossians 3:1 – “Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.”
  • 1 John 2:15-17 – “Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.”
  • Mark 8:34-36 – “Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?”
  • Matthew 6:31-33 – “So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”

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Game Ideas

Bandana Games

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Bandana’s are one of those multipurpose items that should be in every youth minister’s tool kit. They can be used as blindfolds, to replace a short length of rope, as flags and to identify teams. They can be bought in bulk relatively cheaply or if you have someone in your church with a sewing machine and a little time they can be made from a few yards of cloth or even cheap sheets. If you can’t find bandanas, you can always substitute cloth handkerchiefs, washcloths, or cloth napkins. Get enough for your entire youth group to have one each, and in different colors so they can easily be used to identify different teams.

Youth Bandana Games

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Games using Bandanas

  • Dragon’s Tail – Split the youth into several teams of approximate equal number. Each team links together into a chain by lining up one behind the other and placing their hands on the waist of the person in front of them. You can also simply have them link hands or elbows. The last person on each team is given a bandana to hang from his or her pocket as the dragon’s tail. Teams must work together to chase and capture the tails from other dragons. Only the person at the front of the chain can grab a bandana from another team. They team can twist around to try to protect their own dragon’s tail but they are not allowed to disconnect. Once a team’s bandana has been taken or they disconnect, their dragon is dead and the team is out. The last team standing or the team with the most bandanas wins. If you are adverse to the idea of a dragon, you can also call it lizard’s tail.
  • Capture the flag – Divide the youth into two teams, each with its own territory. Each team will have a bandana – a flag, which must be guarded by some team members while others try to grab the opponent’s flag. If an opponent is in your territory, you can tag them and send them to jail – a designated area where prisoners are kept. Players must stay in jail until one of their own team can run in and tag them to free them. (Only one prisoner can be rescued at a time.) A team wins the game by capturing the other flag and bearing it back to their home territory.
  • Barnyard – Divide the youth into two or more teams and assign an animal to each team (ie: pig, cat, cow, dog, duck, horse, monkey, owl, rooster, sheep, snake, etc.) Blindfold one youth from each team and have them stand in the center of the room. Send each team into a different corner or area of the room. On your signal each team makes the sound of its animal and the youth in the center must find their team. First to do so wins. Or, give everyone a blindfold and a pice of paper with an animal. On your signal they must group themselves together by team using only the sounds of their animals. DEBRIEF: How did you recognise your group? In what ways do others recognise us as Christians?
  • Foxtails – Each youth is given a bandana (a foxtail) that must be put in his or her back pocket (or sticking out of their pants). At least 2/3 of the bandana must be sticking out and no knots can be tied in the bandana. The play area can be marked off or can simply be a room and when someone is eliminated that must stay touching the wall of the room at all times. Each player’s goal is to grab as many other foxtails from other youth as possible without losing his or her own foxtail. You aren’t allowed to guard your foxtail or otherwise use your hands to keep people from grabbing your foxtail. Turning and twisting your body is allowed and of course running away. If a player’s foxtail is taken, that player must then go to the sidelines. S/he may stand on the sidelines and grab foxtails as players run by, but may not step back into the game. The last person still standing in with their foxtail intact is the winner. Variation: Instead of going to the sidelines, players must immediately stop and place the foxtail on the ground and place a foot on it. They can keep playing, but must keep their foot on the foxtail at all times – only pivoting in a circle.
  • Bandana Relay – For this game you’ll not only need a bandana for each team (4-10 persons on a team), but also a marble and paper cup for each team as well. Each person on the team must hold onto the bandana with both hands. The bandana must be held out straight and flat forming a makeshift tabletop. The paper cup is then balanced upside down on the bandana and a marble is perched on top of the cup. Most paper cups will have a small rim around the bottom so the marble won’t simply roll off. The objective is for a team to work together to move the marble from one point to another, navigating any obstacles along the way, without dropping the marble. If marble rolls off the cup, the team must start over. First team to the goal line wins. Variations: Place obstacles in the path of the groups such as a tables or chairs, force them to go through doorways, up stairs, or under a table.
  • Blind Lineup – Give each youth a bandana to use as a blindfold, and then ask the group to put order themselves from the the shortest to the tallest in order fo height.
  • Sherpa Walk – In this game, youth are paired up and one person is blindfolded and led to a previously designated location. The focus is not on speed but on trust and safety. The guide cannot touch the blindfolded person but must lead them using only verbal commands. As a variation you can also require three tasks along the way such as to smell something, to touch something, to identify an object, to eat something, etc. DEBRIEF: What spiritual truths are illustrated by the way we have to watch what each person is doing so that we can warn them about things in their path or compensate for them as they go through their journey. Sometimes they may not even see what lies before them? How can we help them navigate life?
  • Knots with bandanas – In the normal game of knots, people simply hold hands, but in this variation they will hold on to a bandana between each person. The easiest way to set up this game is to use a series of instructions: 1. Everyone stand in a circle holding hands. Drop your hands and then extend your right hand into the circle holding your bandana. Reach into the circle with your left hand and grab the bandana of another person. You may not grab the bandana of someone who is already holding your bandana nor can it be the person on your left or right. Now get untangled without letting go of the Bandanas you are holding. It’s Ok if some end up facing outward and sometimes you may end up with more than one circle. Variation: Complete the task without talking. DEBRIEF: Sometimes in life things get a little tangled, a little confused. Sometimes we need to straighten things out before we can move forward. What are some lessons we can learn from this game when we find life a and circumstances a bit complicated?
  • Flag Football – Play a game of flag football using bandanas as the flags. The same rules of football apply, however there is no tackling allowed. To stop the ball moving forward a player removes another players bandana from their back pocket.
  • Blindfold Challenge: Challenge the youth to compete a difficult task while blindfolded. This could be to wrap a gift, build the tallest tower, or to put a small puzzle together. Allow the team to help the blindfolded person with verbal instructions only.

A Game with a Lesson
This game is similar to foxtails, but with a twist. If you use this game, you may not want to use the foxtails game. The only difference is that instead of calling it a foxtail, you say only the following: “This bandana represents everything you need to live in the world (Food, shelter, love, safety, etc.) If your bandana is taken away, you die instantly and are out of the game.” Without any further explanation, the leader says, “On your marks, get set, go.” Usually, the youth will all run around and take each others bandanas. When only one person is left alive, ask what happened, repeat the rules, and start another round. Keep the rounds going. Someone will pick up on the idea that they don’t need to die and that they cannot use more than what they already have. Soon the idea catches on. Some participants may even form alliances to protect one another. Follow-up discussion can center on themes of greed, persecution, wise use of what we are given, social justice, God’s provision, evil in the world, the garden of Eden, etc.

A Game with a Lesson
This game is basically the same as the Bandana Relay but with an added twist. If you use this game, you may not want to use the Bandana Relay game. The main difference is that you now inform the youth that the marble is a vary valuable but very toxic substance that can cure many of the world’s diseases when processed correctly. But in its raw form it will kill anyone who touches it. People are dying and if you can deliver this successfully you will save millions. You set up the bandanas on a table in advance with the cup and marble on top. Ready to Go. You can also replace the marble with a cup full of water or one full of beans. Everyone must hold the platform with both hands. The platform must remain flat and stretched tight at all times. Follow up discussion can be about sin and the cost to Christ to save the world, bringing the gospel to the world, obstacles to the gospel, helping those in need, and communication. DEBRIEF: What could the cup full of vaccine be a symbol of? It makes a nice picture of the gospel. What could the obstacles be? What things cause us to not get the gospel to the people who are dying without it? What kinds of things do we need to communicate as a body of believers so that the gospel isn’t hindered?

TAKE IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL

MAKE IT SPIRITUAL

Regardless of the games you use, you can talk about faith, trust, communication, and working together.

Here are some General Debrief Questions

  • LEARNING FROM OTHERS – Some of you observed what other groups were doing and learned from them. What advantage do you have in learning from others that go before you? Spiritually who has gone before us? How can we learn from them?
  • TEAMWORK – In many of these games, you had to work together to accomplish the given task. How does this related to the church, the youth group and to spiritual issues?
  • COMMUNICATION – Communication was an essential ingredient. Sometimes communication was limited which hindered you in accomplishing the task. How does communication or lack of it affect our efforts in spiritual matters and in helping others? Why is it important to communicate our needs and also listen to the communication of others?
  • BALANCE – Some of the games involved balance. What made moving and balancing difficult? How is that like life?
  • PERSEVERANCE – When you faced challenges, how did your group persevere and solve the problem? Are perseverance and patience essential skills in solving the problems in our youth group, the church, and in the world today?
  • RULES – There were rules we needed to follow. What is the purpose of the rules? What is the result of not listening or learning the rules, or of breaking the rules? How does this relate to the Word of God?

MAKE IT PRACTICAL

  • What are some lessons and truths we learned from today’s games?

MAKE IT PERSONAL

  • How can you apply these lessons and truths in your walk with Christ and in serving others this week?

ADDITIONAL SCRIPTURE VERSES

  • 2 Timothy 2:2 – “And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others.” (See Also Hebrews 12:1-13)
  • Ephesians 5:15 – “Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise,”
  • 2 Timothy 1:7 – “For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.”
  • Colossians 3:16-17 – “Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. 17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”
  • Philippians 1:6 – “And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.
  • 1 Timothy 4:16 – “Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers.”
  • Romans 5:3-8 – “Not only so, but we[c] also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
  • Philippians 4:13 – “I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me.”
  • 2 Timothy 2:15 – “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

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Game Ideas, Object Lessons

Spiritual Lifesavers

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In 1912, Clarence Crane, a chocolate manufacturer in Cleveland Ohio, USA invented Lifesaver’s as a summer candy that could withstand heat better than chocolate. The candy’s name is derived from its similarity to the shape of the rings used for saving people who have fallen off of ships. But this candy, with the empty hole in the middle, can also be used as an illustration of the emptiness we experience inside without God as the center of a person’s life.

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What You Need

Lifesavers, lifesaver Gummies, or any round candy with a hole in the middle can be used for this game. For some of the games that don’t involve colors you can also substitute polo mints or any candy or or donut shaped breakfast cereal (e.g. Fruit Loops) with a hole in it.

Games using Lifesavers

  • Blind chicken – Each team is assigned a specific color of lifesavers. While blindfolded, a member of each team must pick up a lifesaver from a table and bring it back to the team in his or her mouth. If the sweet is the wrong colour, the player has to start again. The team is allowed to shout instructions to their team member.
  • Candy Introductions – Get enough lifesavers for each person to be able to have at least five pieces. Pass around the candy and tell each participant to choose anywhere from 1 to 5 lifesavers of a color that they want. Instruct them not to eat it yet, though. After they have chosen their candy, you tell them what each candy type/color represents. (Example: Red = Favorite hobbies, Green = Favorite place on earth, Blue = Favorite memory, Yellow = Dream job, Orange = Wildcard – tell us anything about yourself!)
  • Cutting it Close – Fill a teacup with flour, packing it firmly, then flip it over onto a plate and place a Lifesaver candy on the top of it. Each youth takes a turn cutting the flour with a knife. Whoever makes the lifesaver FALL, has to fish it out with their mouth! No hands are allowed!
  • Guess the Color – Divide into groups of 8-10 with the same number of youth on each team. Teams line up for a relay race with the first member of each team blindfolded. With directions from their team, the blindfolded person must find their way to a hanging bag full of individually wrapped lifesavers candy or lifesaver gummies, open one and put it in his or her mouth. Then they must shout the color to a judge with their mouth open so he or she can identify if the color is correct. If it is correct they return to their team and sit down. If it is incorrect they get back to the end of the line on their team and must go again. First team to have everyone identify the correct color of the candy wins. or some extra fun place a super tart or sour candy among the lifesavers and watch the lucky person who gets it.
  • Lifesaver Distance Roll – The objective is to roll a LifeSavers candy along the ground the farthest. Conditions: The candy may not leave the ground and must roll on its edge.
  • Lifesaver Horseshoes – Construct two ring toss pegs by placing a toothpick vertically in a slice of bread for each team. Youth attempt to toss LifeSavers candies onto their team’s toothpick for points. Each player gets two tosses. The nearest lifesaver to the stake counts as one point. If both of a player’s lifesavers are closer than the opponent’s, that player scores two points. If the lifesaver lands on the peg (called a ringer) then three points are scored. In the case of one ringer and a closer lifesaver, both lifesavers are scored for a total of four points. If a player throws two ringers, that player scores six points. If each player throws a ringer, the ringers cancel and no points are scored.
  • Lifesaver Measles – Youth must stick licked lifesavers on someone’s face. If you want a more hygienic version, provide a saucer with some water to get the lifesavers wet. Any that fall off during the game, must be put back on. The first to get them all to sick to a team members face or to have the most stuck on the face after a given time limit wins.
  • Lifesaver on a String – Sit the youth in a circle and cut a piece of string long enough to reach around the entire group. Thread a Life Savers candy on the string and then tie the ends together. All players must place both hands on the string holding it so that each hands makes a fist around the strong. Select one youth to be “it” and have him stand in the middle of the circle. He must close his eyes while the players pass the candy ring from fist to fist around the circle. When he says, “Freeze,” the players must stop passing the lifesaver. The person in the center has three guesses to correctly identify who has the lifesaver hidden in his or her fist. If he guesses correctly, he selects the next player to be “it.”
  • Lifesaver Puzzles – Choose an equal number of lifesaver candies for each team. If you want to make it more difficult, use candies of the same color. Break the lifesavers into several pieces and place them on a saucer. Teams must reassemble the pieces. The first to correctly do so wins.
  • Lifesaver Race to the Middle – Two contestants face each other with a long piece of string between them and a lifesaver tied to the exact middle of the string. The string is placed with one end in each player’s mouth. At your signal they must pull the string into their mouth and move toward the candy in the center of the string. No hands are allowed. The person who gets the candy in their mouth the first is the winner. Beware – there might be some accidental kissing involved.
  • Lifesaver Relay – Give each player a toothpick to hold in their teeth. The leader places a Lifesaver on the toothpick of the player at the head of each line. It is then passed from toothpick to toothpick until it reaches the end of the line. If the candy is dropped, it must be quickly sent back by hand to the beginning of the line and be started down the line again. Have a few extras in case they break when dropped. The winning team is the one whose Lifesaver reaches the end of the line first. Instead of toothpicks, you can also use hard, uncooked spaghetti or coffee stirrers. Drinking straws are usually too big to fit into the lifesaver.
  • Lifesaver Ring Toss – Place an apple on a table so that it does not roll and then place one or more toothpicks in the top of the apple. From a designated distance, the youth must toss lifesavers onto the toothpicks for points. Highest score in a given time limit wins.
  • Lifesaver Scavenger Hunt – Each group of youth has 1 minutes to collect their own colour of lifesavers which are spread out throughout the room. You can hang them on almost anything. Just beware those that are never found are great at attracting ants.
  • Lifesaver Seekers – Fill two pie tins or plates with flour. Drop several Lifesavers in each tin and mix them in so they are not visible. Smooth out the surface. Two youth must race to see who can retrieve the most Lifesavers, using mouths only, in one minute.
  • Lifesaver Team Colors – Give lifesavers candies to everyone as they enter the room so that there is an equal number of each color. Players can suck on the lifesavers candy or just place it on their tongue. Without speaking they must gather in teams according to the color of the lifesavers by sticking out their tongues so others can see the color.
  • Lifesaver Towers – Youth are given a pile of lifesavers and must stack them into the tallest tower possible in 60 seconds. Players can rebuild their tower if it falls within the time limit. When the time is up, the player or team with the tallest standing candy tower wins the game.
  • Lifesaver Toss Game – Place six teacups in a vertical row, one in front of the other. Mark a starting line about 4 feet from the first teacup. Give each player six LifeSavers to try to toss in the teacups. The players must make one candy in each one of the labeled buckets. Award a prize to the first team player who lands all his candies in the individual teacups. If you want to make it easier use bowls or saucers rather than teacups.

TAKE IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL

MAKE IT SPIRITUAL

Lifesaver’s Candy is known for the hole in the middle. At it’s center is emptiness. Unfortunately, this also describes a lot of youth. Outside everything seems sweet, but inside there is an emptiness.

In the Bible, Solomon had the opportunity to try everything that is supposed to make us happy and bring pleasure in life. But everything he tried left him empty inside. (Ecclesiastes 2:1-11)

  • What was Solomon’s goal in this passage?
  • What are some of the things Solomon mentions in his pursuit of happiness?

MAKE IT PRACTICAL

Inside everyone of us is a God-shaped hole that only God can fill. If God is not the center of your life, everything in life will leave you feeling empty.

  • What are some of the foolish things youth and adults do to find pleasure and happiness?
  • Why should our meaning, our happiness, be centered in Christ?
  • What things can a person do to make God central to everything in life? To their goals? To their happiness? In their pursuits?
  • What makes life meaningful?

MAKE IT PERSONAL

  • What are some of the accomplishments you are most proud of? Why?
  • What are some things in life you find meaningful? Why? Are they things that will stick with you as having meaning for a long time to come? For an eternity? Why or why not?
  • What things do you sometimes find meaningless in life? How can you find meaning in them?
  • How can you make Christ more central to your life this week?

ADDITIONAL SCRIPTURE VERSES

  • Mark 8:36 – “What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?”
  • Galatians 2:20 – “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”
  • Philippians 3:7-9 – “But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in[a] Christthe righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith.”
  • 2 Corinthians 5:17 – “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!”
  • Romans 14:8 – “For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord’s.”
  • Paul says, “For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” (Romans 8:18) That tells me that being crucified with Christ, having our meaning from Him makes time irrelevant for we are in Him the timeless one.
  • Matthew 22:37-40 – “Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with thy entire mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.”

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Spoon Fed Christians

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We often use the term “spoon fed” to refer to babies. It is also used for people who have been given so much by others that they never learn how to think for themselves or take care of themselves. Scripture uses a similar term to describe some Christians. Like a spoon fed baby, some Christians have never grown up in their faith.

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Games using Spoons

  • Cotton Ball Spooner – Each youth is blindfolded, given a metal spoon, and placed in front of a large bowl of cotton balls. They must also hold a bowl or cup on top of their head. In the time given they youth compete by using the spoon to scoop the cotton balls into the cups on their heads while everyone else watches. Many times, they will deliver empty spoons to their heads and many times they will miss the cup. When time is up, the youth with the most cotton balls in the cup wins.
  • Fastest Spoon – Get two volunteer victims from each team. Both youths will need to put on a big garbage bag with arm / head holes so they don’t get messy! The first youth sits on a chair. The second person is given a bowl of chocolate pudding with a spoon and stands behind them whilst blindfolded. The idea is that the person who is blindfolded has to feed the other person by following their verbal instructions. Alternatively you could get other members of the team to hold to bowl or give instructions. First team to finish wins.
  • Hang it on your beak – The first youth to hang a spoon on his or her nose for mmore than 30 seconds wins. Variation: how many spoons can they hang from their face? Variation: See who can get the spoon off the nose and into his or her mouth using only his or her tongue. BTW, there is a world record for the most spoons hanging on a person’s face. It is 31 and was achieved by Dalibor Jablanovic (Serbia), in Stubica, Serbia, on 28 September 2013. Can you break it?
  • Musical Spoons – While the music is playing, a spoon is passed from person to person. When the music stops, the person holding the spoon must eat something gross like babyfood and is eliminated from the game play.
  • Potato Fencing – Players hold a spoon with a potato on it in one hand. In the other hand the players hold an empty spoon. Then they try to knock the opponents potato off the spoon without losing their own potato.
  • Pudding Slurp – A new pair of stockings per contestant, a small bowl of pudding, some newspaper to play on and some damp towels for cleaning up. Contestants pull the stocking over their face and must race to eat all their pudding through the stocking.
  • Spoon clumps – Clang two metal spoons together. If they clang 5 times then the youth must clump together in groups of 5 persons. If anyone is not in a group of five they are eliminated from play. Continue with different numbers of clangs until there is one small group of winners.
  • Spoon Delivery – Choose a collection of objects of increasing size to be passed from the front of the line to the back of the line for each team. To avoid chipping teeth it might be best to use plastic or wooden spoons. First team to pass all the objects to the end of the line wins. Here are some ideas for objects: Cotton Balls, Ping Pong Balls, an egg (raw or hard boiled), marbles, lemon, apple, inflated balloon, ice cube.
  • Spoon Feeding – Divide into pairs. For each pair, tape a spoon to the end of a broomstick and place a bowl of food on the table. One person stands on one side of the table and attempts to feed his or her partner the food using the spoon. The pair that eats the most food in a minute wins. Chocolate pudding works great for this.
  • Spoon frog – Teams must launch teaspoons into plastic cups, using another spoon as a catapult. When the timer starts, the person must place a spoon in front of the cup with the spoon end facing him/her. Place the second spoon, facing the same way, so that the rounded end of the spoon is resting on the end of the first spoon. Then give the rounded end of the first spoon a good whack to send the second spoom flying. Keep sending spoons into the air and try to get one to land in a the cups. First to get one in, or the person who gets the most in the cup in one minute wins.
  • Spoon fulls – Using spoons in the mouth for each team member, each individual team member will scoop up dried beans or popcorn kernels from a bowl and then drop them into a 1 liter soda bottle. At the end of one minute, the team with the highest filled bottle wins.
  • Spoon Launch – One team member uses a spoon to launch food to the other. The youth that catches the most launched peanuts, M&Ms, or kernels of popcorn in their mouth wins.
  • Spoon Tunes – Place ten tall drinking glasses that are filled with different amounts of water in order so that, when you tap them in a row with a spoon, they play a simple but familiar tune like Mary Had a Little Lamb. There should be one set for each team. Set them up and then scramble them so they have to figure out the order. Get the song right in under a minute to win the game.
  • Spoons – Depending on the number of players, you need at least one deck of cards, and one spoon less than the number of players. Players sit in a circle with the spoons in the middle of the circle with their ends touching. To begin, each player is dealt 4 cards. The first player picks up a card from the top of the pile, and can choose to keep it, or pass it to the person on his or her left. Players can only hold a maximum of four cards. When someone gets four of a kind, he grabs a spoon. Once one person grabs a spoon, everyone else also grabs one until all the spoons are gone and 1 person is left without a spoon. Play resumes with one less player and one less spoon. Play continues until there is only one player left, the winner.
  • Thread the Spoon – Cut some yarn into long segments, allowing about 4 feet of yarn per team member. If in doubt, always make your yarn longer than necessary. Tie one end of one piece of yarn to the end of one metal spoon to create a needle and thread for each team. Put the spoons (with the yarn attached) in the FREEZER to chill for at least an hour. If you want to make it even more fun, feed the string through an ice-cube tray so that when the ice is removed it forms cubes spaced along the string. In teams, the first youth must put the spoon down their shirt, through pants legs (or skirts) and out by their feet and repeat it down the line until everyone on the team is connected. First to finish wins.
  • Wooden Spoons – Blindfolded, a youth must guess someone’s identity by feeling them with wooden spoons. Each person in the youth group in turn is guessed. Of course, any outburst of laughter when the spoons are going over a face would disclose the identity, so participants must keep perfect silence. When anyone’s identity is guessed, he/she has to be blindfolded and must take the spoons. Be careful when using the spoons to touch another person with them quite lightly, so as not to hurt anyone.

TAKE IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL

MAKE IT SPIRITUAL

Some of these games required us to feed others with a spoon. We often use the term spoon fed to refer to babies. It is also used for people who have been given so much by others that they never learn how to think for themselves or take care of themselves. Scripture uses a similar term to describe some Christians. Like a spoon fed baby, they have never grown up in their faith. What is normal for a baby is NOT normal behaviour for an adult.

  • What are some things that babies do, that adults normally do not do?
  • What are some immature, childlike habits and actions that might be ok for children, but are not acceptable for adults?

MAKE IT PRACTICAL

Read Hebrews 5:12-14 and 1 Corinthians 3:1-3.

  • What were some of the characteristics of the Christians referred to in the scriptures?
  • What are some of the signs of Christian immaturity?
  • What is it that spiritual babies need to know and do in order to mature?
  • What are some characteristics of spiritual maturity? What attitudes and actions would you expect to find in a mature Christian?

MAKE IT PERSONAL

  • How would you describe your current level of spiritual maturity? Why?
  • In what ways have you grown as a Christian?
  • What do you need to do to continue to grow and mature as a Christian?

ADDITIONAL SCRIPTURE VERSES

  • 1 Peter 2:2-3 “Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.”
  • 2 Peter 3:18 “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.”
  • Ephesians 4:11-15 “So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ.”
  • 2 Thessalonians 1:3 “We ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters,[a] and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love all of you have for one another is increasing.”
  • Philippians 3:12-14 “Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”

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Ping Pong Christians

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This lesson uses ping pong balls to remind us that as Christians we can be easily tossed around, unstable, blown off course if we lack faith. But through prayer and belief we can be strong enough to face and stand strong in any difficulties and circumstances we might face as Christians.

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Games using Ping Pong Balls

  • Balance – Who can balance a ping pong ball on a book (through an obstacle course?) without the ball falling off?
  • Bounce off – From a designated distance, bounce a ping pong ball at another ping pong ball to knock it off an open soda bottle. First to do so wins.
  • Bridge Run – Be the first to roll three ping pong balls into three different glasses set at varying distances, using a tape measure as a bridge. When the game begins, grab the tape measure and extend it towards the nearest glass. Pick up a ping pong ball and try to roll it across the tape measure and into the glass. Once you’ve found success with the first glass, move on to the next one. In order to win this game, all three glasses must contain ping ping balls and the tape measure must be retracted. The trick is getting the right angle – if the angle is too steep the ball will roll too quickly and right across the glass.
  • Double shot – Using 1 hand, toss 2 Ping balls at the same time so that they land in 2 separate glasses.
  • Fan Propulsion – Using a paper plate, be the first to fan a ping pong ball across a goal line.
  • Ping Pong Ball Catch – Holding a cup on top of your head, you try to be the first to catch a ping pong ball in the cup on top of your head as the ball is bounced off the floor and into the air. Harder than it seems.
  • Ping Pong in a cup – players stand at 10 – 20 feet apart in a room with a tile or concrete floor. One player bounces the ball toward the other who must catch the ball in a cup before it stops bouncing. The ball can only be touched with the cup.
  • Ping Pong Knock Out – everyone holds a plastic spoon in their mouth with a ping pong ball balanced on it. Using only blasts of air, each youth must blow the ping pong balls off the spoons of other youth. Last one with left with his or her ping pong ball on the spoon is the winner. (The difficult is sudden movements can drop the ball as quickly as a gust of air. And those gusts of air just might blow your own ping pong ball off the spoon) No physical contact is allowed.
  • Ping-Pong Ball Flick – Place a ping pong ball on top of an open soda bottle. Youth must quickly walk past with their arm straight out and try to flick the ball off without touching the bottle. Its more difficult than it seems.
  • Ropeway – Two team members hold a long loop of string taught with their hands and try to be the first to roll a ping pong ball to one end and back without dropping it.
  • Shake a box – Place 6 to 10 ping pong balls in an empty tissue box. (If needed, enlarge the hole in the top of the tissue box so it is big enough but not too big for a ping pong ball to fit through. Fill the box with 6 to 10 ping pong balls and attach it to the back of a youth using a piece of string or duct tape so that the bottom of the box is against the person’s waist / backside. Youth must dance around to shake the balls out of the box. First to do so wins.
  • Spoon & Ping Pong Ball Relay – A youth holds a spoon in his mouth and carries the ball through an obstacle course. Fast team to do so wins. (Variation – do it blindfolded with verbal instructions from your team)
  • Spoon Transport – A ping pong ball is passed player to player on a spoon. If the ball falls, the team must start over again at the beginning. (Variation – spoons are held in the mouth)
  • Straw Propulsion – Use a straw to blow a ping pong ball through an obstacle course on a table or the floor to a goal.
  • String Transport – Be the first to transport a ping pong ball sitting on top of an open soda bottle to another soda bottle that is several feet away using only a loop of string. (Use 36 inches / 1 meter of string with the ends tied together to create a loop. With your fingers inside of each end of the loop of string you can stretch it out to a long oval that can hold the ping pong ball in balance.) You cannot touch it with your hands. You drop it then you must start over.
  • Table Tennis Ball Goal Shoot – Set up goal markers on opposite sides of a table with team members alternating around it. Using only gusts of air, which team can shoot the ping pong ball into the most goals in a designated time limit.
  • Tic Tac Toe – Arrange 9 paper cups in a 3×3 grid for each team. The first team to bounce ping pong balls into the cups to get 3 in a row wins.
  • Wasted – Who can be the first to toss a ping pong ball against the wall so that it then bounces into a waste paper basket?
  • William Tell – From a designated distance, use a rubber band to shoot the ping pong ball off of an open soda bottle. First to do so wins.

TAKE IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL

MAKE IT SPIRITUAL

  • What were some of the difficulties that you faced in these games?
  • What were some of the strategies used to overcome the difficulties?
  • What are some of the characteristics of a ping pong ball that had an effect on these games?

The difficulty with Ping Pong Balls is that they bounce back and forth easily – Ping – Pong – Ping – Pong and they are easily blown off course.

The Bible describes a man who has these same qualities in James 1:5-8

“If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.”

When you don’t have faith in God, you’ll be double minded. That means, like a ping-pong ball, you’ll bounce back and forth. You won’t be strong in your faith. You’ll be tossed about by doubts and difficulties.

MAKE IT PRACTICAL

  • What are some of the difficulties we face as Christians? In school? In our homes? In life? In general?
  • What are some ways we can overcome the various difficulties?
  • How is faith and prayer an answer to facing life’s difficulties?
  • What are some of the doubts we face concerning God and prayer?
  • How do doubts affect a person’s prayer life? Our actions?
  • Are you easily influenced by circumstances and thing around you? Why or why not?
  • Are you able to stand strong in life’s difficulties? Why or why Not?
  • What solutions does this scripture give us?

MAKE IT PERSONAL

  • In what areas do you need God’s wisdom this week?
  • In what areas do you need to be more consistent, more stable?
  • How can faith and prayer help you in these things?

SCRIPTURE VERSES on Doubts / Lack of Faith

  • Matthew 14:31 – Peter walks on water and doubts
  • Mark 4:40 – Jesus calms the storm

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Easter – The Empty Tomb and Empty Eggs

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This object lesson for youth uses eggs to make the Easter message of the empty tomb memorable and fun while re-creating, the emotions felt by Christ’s disciples upon finding the empty tomb on Easter morning.

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Games using Easter Eggs

  • Armenian Egg Crush – Each youth must knock their hard boiled egg against another person’s hard boiled egg. The egg that doesn’t crack wins. Have the winners face off with other winners until only one person is left.
  • Broken Eggs – Raw Eggs are placed on the floor while all the youth look on. Ask them to carefully memorize the locations of the eggs. Then ask for a volunteer who will be blindfolded to walk through the eggs without stepping on any of them. Once blindfolded, the eggs are quickly swapped with peanuts or corn chips. The blindfolded person will think they are eggs when stepped upon. (Be sure to have a vacuum or broom to sweep up the mess)
  • Capture the Egg – Play a game of capture the flag with eggs. Divide into two teams and give each team 4 eggs. You’ll need a large open area with lots of obstacles and obstructions. Divide it into into three areas, one for each of the two teams separated by a neutral area. Each team must hide their 4 eggs somewhere in their area, making sure that nobody from the opposing team can see where it is. In order to win the game, you must capture the other team’s eggs and bring them back to your own territory. But if an enemy team member grabs you while you’re standing in their territory, they are allowed to take you straight to jail (which is a small area somewhere inside their territory). You can be freed from jail if one of your team members tags you, and join back in the game. When time is up whoever has captured the most eggs wins.
  • Don’t Drop The Egg – Two youth pair up and stand back to back. Place an egg between them. They objective is for the youth to lower the egg to the floor without breaking it. Best done with a hard boiled egg, but if you are feeling particularly playful you could use raw eggs.
  • Egg Blow – (Messy Game) Get a clear flexible tube from the hardware store, preferably of large enough diameter to hold a cracked egg inside. Youth compete against each other by placing their mouths on each side of the tube and blowing. The loser get’s a face full of egg. (Cautions: Let them place a garbage bag over clothes. You can also use an egg substitute (like Eggbeater’s) to avoid bacteria or chance of salmonella. Have moist washcloths and towels handy.)
  • Egg Drop – Give each team of youth 6ft of masking tape, 1 balloon, a handful of straws, and 1 raw egg. They have to build a protection “capsule” out of those materials that will protect the egg when dropped from various heights off a tall ladder until only one egg survives.
  • Egg Fan – Create a start and a finish line on a hard floor using masking tape. Each youth must use an empty medium sized 14″ pizza box to fan the egg to the finish line. They are not allowed to touch the egg and can only move the egg with gusts of air from waving their pizza box. This can be a team relay race or an individual race.
  • Egg Pass – Each youth has a spoon in his mouth. Teams must pass an egg to the end of the line as quickly as possible using only the spoons. First to finish wins. Do you dare use raw eggs?
  • Egg Roll – Create a start and a finish line on a hard floor using masking tape. Each youth must push the egg to the finish line using only his/her nose. This can be a team relay race or an individual race.
  • Egg Roulette – Choose 4-5 volunteers from among the youth. Place 4-5 eggs on a table. The volunteers are told that one of the eggs is raw, but the others are hardboiled. (In fact, all are hardboiled) Each player takes a turn, taking an egg from the table and tapping it on the other players foreheads until it breaks. The players are told whoever gets the raw egg is the bravest. Because all of the eggs are hardboiled, the last player gets the prize before an egg is tried on his forehead.
  • Egg Run – A youth is given a spoon to hold in his mouth while an egg is placed on the ground (hard boiled) in front of him. He must stoop down, get the egg onto his spoon without using his hands, stand up, travel to the other side of the arena, return to the starting place and return the egg to its starting position. This can be played as a relay or as individuals.
  • Egg Toss – Pairs form two lines facing off and toss an egg back and forth. Every time a catch is successful those who survived back up a little further and try again. The pair that catches the longest toss wins. Use hard boiled or raw eggs.
  • Egg Tower – Using 4 Easter eggs and 4 paper towel rolls be the first to build a tower using all the objects to create a single pillar. Be careful not to get the tower out of alignment or it will come crashing down! Play with raw or boiled eggs.
  • Hot Eggs – As music plays, youth must pass the “hot egg” around the circle from person to person. No one is skipped. The youth caught holding the egg when the music stops is out, and the game begins again.
  • Raw Egg Drop – (Messy Game) Choose 4-5 volunteers from among the youth. The volunteers lay down on their backs on the floor with a cup on their forehead. One teammate stands over them and cracks the egg with their hands attempting to drop the content of the egg into the cup as it spills out. Most of the egg will wind up on the participants face. It’s rather tricky. The team with the most egg in their cup wins. (Cautions: You might want to cover the floor with some newspaper or plastics bags first, and make sure the youth on the floor keeps eyes and mouth closed. Has some wet towels for cleanup)

An Object Lesson

A lot of the games using Easter Eggs have an element of surprise. The Eggs might not be as expected. They also tend to create a variety of other emotions as well – fear, excitement, hesitation, anger, disappointment, relief, doubt, disbelief. Many of the those same emotions are found in the resurrection accounts in the gospels. The following demonstration or object lesson helps to draw out more feelings as an empty egg reminds us of the empty tomb.

Preparation

  • Remove the contents of a raw egg. Some people create a hole in each end using a needle, then use a pipe cleaner or piece of wire to scramble the contents inside the egg. You can then carefully blow into the smaller hole so that the egg comes out a bigger hole on the other side. Some people use a syringe to suck the contents out. Once you have emptied the egg, and likely broken a couple trying, rinse it with a little water and then set it aside to dry. Later you can hold the egg with your thumb and finger to cover the holes on the top and bottom so they are not visible.
  • You also want to have a real raw egg. You can have a dozen raw eggs in a carton to add a little more credibility to the object lesson.

What to do

Holding up the real egg, ask youth what is inside an egg. After the games they should already have a good idea. Explain that unlike some of those used in the game, this one is a raw one. Inside you would find a raw yellow yolk and the clear runny white part of the egg. Break it into a glass so they can see.

Then ask for a brave volunteer to come in front of the group with you. Ask them to stand still and take out the emptied egg and proceed to crack it over the volunteer’s head. You’ll hear exclamations of surprise from both the volunteer and those watching then there will be sighs of relief or complaints from the more mischievous ones.

TAKE IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL

MAKE IT SPIRITUAL

  • Ask youth how they felt when they first broke an egg during one of the games or when you broke it during your demonstration? What feelings did they have?

Read the Resurrection story from the various accounts.

  • What were some of the reactions people had to the empty tomb in the Easter story? Mary? John? Peter? Roman Guards? High Priests? How do you think each person felt?

MAKE IT PRACTICAL

  • If you had been one of them at the empty tomb on that first easter morning, how do you think you might have reacted? What do you think you might have been feeling?
  • How did those who heard the story react? How do you typically react when you hear something unexpected?
  • Have you ever experienced anything in life that at first reaction shocked you, surprised you, or maybe even frightened you, but later turned out to be something good?
  • Was it a good thing or bad thing that the egg was empty? Was it a good thing or a bad thing that the tomb was empty? How do you think the people in the story might have answered this question?

MAKE IT PERSONAL

When Jesus’ followers found out the tomb was empty, they weren’t sure right away what to think, just like you didn’t know what to think about the empty egg. But the empty tomb was the best news of all: Jesus was alive! And because Jesus rose from the dead, we can be saved from sin and death and live with him forever in Heaven.

  • Who do you need to tell about the empty tomb of Christ this week? How do you think they might react? How does the easter story give you confidence to tell others about the Risen Saviour?
  • What personal lessons can you apply from the Easter story when you face unexpected surprises in life?

SCRIPTURE VERSES FOR THE EASTER STORY

  • Matthew 28:1-11
  • Mark 16:1-8
  • Luke 24:1-12
  • John 20:1-18

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Creative Teaching Ideas, Game Ideas, Object Lessons

All Wrapped up? – Sin Easily Entangles

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This idea centers around toilet paper. All you need to do is show a few rolls to youth and the giggles will start. But sin is no laughing matter. While at first it seems innocent and not a threat, it quickly binds us and hinders us, preventing us from doing and being all that God has planned for us.

What You Need

  • Lots of toilet paper

Games using Toilet Paper

  • Diaper Derby – Divide the youth into guys vs girls and give each group 1-2 rolls of toilet paper. Each group must then use all the toilet paper to create a mock diaper on someone on their team. First team to finish wins.
  • Marble Run – Using the left over toilet paper tubes, teams must connect them together and let a marble roll through the entire length without dropping it. (You can add rolls from wrapping paper, paper towels, etc to make it even longer.
  • Mummy Wrap – Create groups with three youth each in each group. Give each group two rolls of toilet paper. Two people wrap up (like a mummy) the third person in the group. The object of the game is to see who can wrap up their “mummy” the quickest with the entire rolls of toilet paper.
  • Over and Under – Relay teams must pass the end of a toilet roll between the first person’s legs and then over the next person’s shoulder. When they get to the end of the line they reverse direction to the opposite end of the line again until the toilet paper gets to the front. If the toilet paper breaks they must start over again from the beginning.
  • Roll drop – Be the first to hold an empty toilet paper tube six inches above a table and drop it so it lands upright and remains standing on one end. The secret: Hold the tube horizontally before you drop it.
  • Stuffed – Each team receives the same number of rolls of toilet paper. At your signal, the teams must completely unroll the toilet paper and stuff it into the shirt of someone on their team. First team to completely unroll and stuff the toilet paper wins.
  • Take What You Need – As youth arrive, offer a roll of toilet paper and ask each to take as much as they think they will need. If they ask, just say you are running a bit low on toilet paper and want to make sure everyone has what they need. Once everyone has arrive, sit everyone in a circle and ask them to share one fun fact about themselves for each sheet of toilet paper. Variation: Each youth must says one positive thing about themselves for each sheet of paper.
  • Toilet Paper Blow – Teams of youth compete to see how long they can keep one square of toilet paper in the air by blowing it.
  • Toilet Paper Dodge Ball – Take the core out of several rolls of toilet paper and then use them to play a game of dodgeball. If you get hit you must sit down and are out of the game. But if a roll of toilet paper happens to roll within reach, you can pick it up and join the game again.
  • Toilet Paper Fight – The objective of this game is to have the least toilet paper on your side at the end of the game. Give each team several rolls of toilet paper, count down, and then let the toilet paper fly for 30-60 seconds. Part Two: First team to have their side entirely cleaned up wins.
  • Toilet Paper Rollers – You need two broom sticks and 4-6 rolls of toilet paper. You will need 3-4 people to hold the poles. Pick two teams of 2-3 kids, usually boys against girls. Place rolls of toilet paper (ready to unroll) on broomsticks, (one per player) and on the command “go” they begin to unroll the toilet paper. First team to have all rolls completely empty wins.
  • Toilet Paper Tag – Each youth sticks a length of toilet paper in a back pocket or the waste of their pants. It should hang down at least to the person’s knee. On go, players try to yank the toilet paper from each other’s waste. Last person to lose the toilet paper wins.
  • Toilet Paper wrapper – Each team of youth (4-8 persons) is given two rolls of toilet paper and must stand in a circle next to each other and facing outwards (i.e. their backs are to each other). The person with the paper has to wrap the first roll around his or her waist a couple of times so that it stays in place. Then, without breaking the paper it must be passed to the next person on the right in the circle who does the same thing. If the toilet paper breaks, the youth must hold the broken ends against themselves and wrap the paper around his or her waste so that it covers this break and holds the wrapping in place, and then continue. There’s a good chance that at least one player will accidentally drop the roll of paper. It’s up to them how they decide to recover it, but they have to ensure that the wrapping of the whole team doesn’t break. The winning team is the first to hold up the two empty rolls with the paper wrapped around themselves.
  • Toilet Tissue Measurements – Measure various items in the youth room using sheets of toilet paper (i.e. 6 1/2 squares). Make a list of items along with their measurements. Later, give the youth a list of the measurements along with a roll of toilet paper. The youth must then, in a given time, identify as many objects as possible by their measurements in sheets of toilet paper.
  • Unrolled – Each player needs two assistants and a pole or broom. Place two rolls of toilet paper on each poll. Have the assistants hold each end of of the limbo pole. Using just their hands the players must unroll both rolls of toilet paper. The first player that is finished with both rolls wins!
  • Unroll and Re-roll Race – Teams compete to unroll a roll of toilet paper and then re-roll it again. They must not break the roll of paper. If a roll does break, they must use masking tape to reattach it. Variation: They must use their nose to unroll and roll the toilet paper.

TAKE IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL

Take a roll of toilet paper and roll it around a person’s two outstretched fingers of one hand. Use the whole roll of toilet paper. Then ask them to separate their fingers and break the toilet paper roll. For most youth, if you have wrapped them good and tight, they will not be able to do so.

MAKE IT SPIRITUAL

Explain that this is similar to what happens when we get tempted and sin. At first it seems very light and easy to break free from so we don’t think we’re in danger. But as we get wrapped up in it deeper over time it becomes increasingly more difficult to break free and becomes more and more of a hindrance. Other sins, like a piece of rope can bind us and hinder us almost immediately which prevents us from doing what God wants us to do. In either case, we are soon caught and can’t free ourselves.

Read Hebrews 12:1 – “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us”

MAKE IT PRACTICAL

  • What are some of the sins that easily entangle us?
  • How can we break free from the various sins and temptations mentioned?

1 Corinthians 10:13 – “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.”

Romans 10:9 – “If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.””

1 Thessalonians 5:23 – “Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it.”

MAKE IT PERSONAL

  • What are the temptations and sins that easily entangle you?
  • How can you break free from them?
  • How could God use you more effectively this week if you were less hindered by sin and temptation?

ADDITIONAL SCRIPTURE VERSES

James 1: 13-15 – “When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.”

MORE IDEAS? See “Creative Object Lessons”

200 page e-book that explains everything you need to know when planning your very own object lessons. It contains 90 fully developed object lesson ideas and another 200 object lesson starter ideas based on Biblical idioms and Names / Descriptions of God.

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Creative Teaching Ideas, Game Ideas

Newspaper Madness – United in Christ

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There are lots of games that can be played using only newspapers, but a few have been selected to illustrate the idea of unity and working together. In most of these games the players are designated as penguins and the newspaper is an iceberg.

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What You Need

  • Lots of newspapers

A Few Newspaper Games

  • Penguin Wacko – All the youth sit in a circle on chairs with one less chair than people in the group. Give a rolled up newspaper to one person in the middle of the circle who must call out a name. The person whose name is called must quickly call out another name before the person in the middle hits him or her with the rolled up newspaper. If someone gets hit with the newspaper they must take the place of the person in the center. Variation: no names are allowed to be repeated so that every name is called.
  • Penguin Iceberg Race – Each youth is a penguin. Each team has two icebergs (sheets of newspaper) Each group of penguins must race to a destination by stepping on one sheet of newspaper, placing the next one down in front and hopping onto the next sheet of paper. The person then picks up the previous sheet of paper and places it in front. Once a player reaches the finish line, he picks up both sheets of paper and races back to the team and the next penguin repeats the process.
  • Penguin Dance – 2 youth (Penguins) do a penguin dance with music on a sheet of newspaper (icebergs). When the music stops, the iceberg melts (The newspaper is folded in half). The music begins again and they dance again until the music stops. Each time the music stops, the the iceberg melts again (Is folded in half). The pair that dances on the iceberg the longest, without touching the floor wins.
  • Iceberg Melt – Which team can fold a newspaper the smallest?
  • Penguin Colony – How many penguins can stand on one iceberg (page of newspaper).
  • Penguin Shuffle – Divide the youth into pairs, give each pair one sheet of newspaper, and get them to stand in two circles, one circle inside the other. While you play music, the inner circle walks like a penguin counter-clockwise and the outer one walks clockwise. When the music stops, each pair must find their partner, place the sheet of newspaper on the floor and stand on it. The last pair to stand on their iceberg is removed from the game. The process is repeated but now every time the music stops the newspaper must be first be folded in half so it gets smaller and smaller each round. The last pair of penguins in the game is the winner.

FINAL GAME AND DEBRIEF

Ice Melt – Place sheets of newsprint on the floor with space between them. Explain that penguins love to go fishing in the ocean, but once in a while, when orca whales come near, they must hop on icebergs for safety. When the music is playing, the penguins need to swim in the ocean and look for fish to eat. But when the music stops it means an orca is near and the penguins have to hop on an iceberg for safety. But the icebergs are melting and every round one melts away. The goal is to work together to keep all the penguins alive. Repeat this process until only one sheet of newspaper remains for all the penguins to share.

TAKE IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL

DEBRIEF

  • Ask the youth what they did in order to save everyone.
  • What were the strategies they used to make sure everyone survived?

MAKE IT SPIRITUAL

In this game, everyone started out on their own, and over time they all joined together into one colony. In some ways this is like the journey we take as believers. We are all separated, both from God, and in some ways from others. But Christ’s sacrifice on the cross removed the distance between us and God. God brings us together into one family, one church, one body of Christ.

MAKE IT PRACTICAL

What do the following verse say about us coming together as one, about the unity God desires from us as Christians?

  • Ephesians 4:1-6
  • Romans 15:5-7
  • Romans 12:4-5
  • I Corinthians 8:6
  • Ephesians 4:11-16
  • Hebrews 2:6-11;17
  • 1 Timothy 2:5
  • I Corinthians 12:4-10
  • Philippians 1:27
  • Ephesians 4:2-6
  1. What are some ways we need to grow together?
  2. What are the benefits of unity?
  3. What are the things that separate us and how can we overcome them?
  4. How can we grow closer?

MAKE IT PERSONAL

  • How can you contribute to unity in the church? In the youth group?
  • In what are do you find unity most difficult? Why?
  • What is something you can personally do this week to being greater unity?

KEY SCRIPTURE VERSES

  • 1 Timothy 2:5 – “For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,”
  • Ephesians 4:1-6 – “I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, With all lowliness and meekness, with long-suffering, forbearing one another in love; Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.”

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Game Ideas, Object Lessons

Balloon Faith for Youth

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Balloons are enjoyed not only by children and youth, but by people of all ages. We see them at birthdays and celebrations throughout the year. And like many things we enjoy in the world around us, they can be metaphors for spiritual lessons as well.

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What You Need

  • Lots of balloons
  • The Object lesson at the end requires Additional Resources

Some of my favourite Balloon Games for Youth

  • Air Race – Be the first to get a balloon to the other side of the room by blowing it up and letting it go. Where ever the balloon lands, the youth can pick it up and repeat the process.
  • Balloon Bump – Divide youth into two teams and give each team a different colored balloon. The team must hit its balloon in the air and not allow it to touch the ground. If a team’s balloon touches the ground the other team gets a point. To add to the excitement, add more balloons. Vary the game by choosing the body part that they must use to bump the balloon – elbows, knees, head, etc.
  • Balloon Capture the Flag – Give each team a color. Randomly hide balloons of the various team colors throughout the building. Teams start from a central BASE and must explore the building rescuing balloons of their own color by bringing them back to the BASE. All balloons inside the base are safe. Teams can also pop opposing team member’s balloons by sitting on them. At the end of a designated time period the team which rescued the most balloons of their team color wins.
  • Balloon Caterpillar – Split the youth into teams of 3 to 6 and have them line up with their hands on the hips of the person in front of them. Attach a balloon to the backside of the last person in the line’s belt. If they don’t have a belt you can use a length of string around his or her waste. Teams must move around, keeping their hands on the waist of the person in front of them and try to pop the balloons at the end of the other teams. The only person that use his or her hands is the person at the fron of the caterpillar.
  • Balloon Duels – Split the youth into two teams. Line up each team from shortest to tallest. Then Ask them to count off so that each youth on a team has a number. Tie an inflated balloon with an arms length of string to the ankle of each youth. To play, call out a number. The two players with that number come to the center of the room and try to stomp each other’s balloons. If you pop your opponent’s balloon first, your team gets a point. Repeat this process until all have played. The team with the greatest number of points wins.
  • Balloon hacky sack – See how many taps or how long a team can keep a balloon in the air without it touching the ground.
  • Balloon Identity – Everyone must write one piece of information about themselves on a small strip of paper and place it in a balloon. They then blow up the balloon and throw the balloon in the center of the circle of youth. One by one, participants select a balloon, pop it, and try to guess which youth matches the piece of information.
  • Balloon Juggling – Inflate an equal number of balloons for each team and place them in a plastic trash bag. The team must keep all the balloons in the air. Start with one balloon and every few seconds add another balloon until one of them touches the floor. The team that is able to keep the most balloons in the air wins.
  • Balloon Shaving – Divide into teams and give each team a fully inflated balloon to be held in one team member’s mouth. Cover it with whip cream or shaving cream and give each team a disposable razor. First team to remove the shaving cream wins.
  • Balloon Smashdown – Each youth is given a balloon with her or her name on it and must keep it in the air by tapping it from below. But at the same time others can tap it from above and try to get it to touch the ground. Everyone begins standing up, but if a balloon touches the ground the own must then get on their knees. If it touches the floor again they must sit, then lie on the floor, then they are out.
  • Balloon Stomp – Using an arm’s length of string or a rubber band, tie a balloon to the ankle of each youth so that it drags on the floor a few inches behind their feet. Then they must run around the room and try to pop each other’s balloons by stepping on them while also trying to prevent their own balloon from being popped. Last person to have their balloon unpopped wins. Best played with shoes removed. You can even make it more fun by adding a freeze portion. When the music stops, everyone must stop.
  • Balloon to Chair Relay – In teams, each person on the team must inflate a balloon, tie ot off, then race to a chair at the opposite end of the room and pop it by sitting on it. This can be very funny as some balloons refuse to pop easily and the youth are hopping up and down on them to pop them. First team to complete the relay wins.
  • Balloon Volleyball – Set up a divider across the room and play a game of volleyball with balloons.
  • Hot Air Race – Have a competition to see who can be the first to blow up a balloon until it pops.
  • Human Foosball – Seat the youth in rows, either on chairs or on the floor so that every other row turns around and faces the opposite direction. Use a balloon to bat around like a volleyball. A point is scored when a team taps the balloon past all of the opposing team and hits the wall (indoors) or beyond a boundary (outdoors). Highest number of points wins.
  • Sumo Wrestling – Teams choose the smallest person to be a “Sumo Wrestler” who will put on an oversized sweatshirt and pants. Each team is given an equal number of balloons to blow up, tie them in a knot, and “stuff” them in the pants and shirt of the Sumo Wrestler. The first team to blow up all balloons and make a Sumo Wrestler wins. For a part 2, the first Sumo wrestler to pop all his or her balloons first wins.
  • Twins – Youth are divided into pairs and placed back to back with a balloon in between them. The first pair to pop the balloon using only their backs wins.
  • Two Man Balloon Run – A two man team must run through an obstacle course using only their stomachs or head to hold the balloon between them. Anyone holds the balloon in their hands or lets the balloon touch the ground must stop and go back to the start to begin again.

TAKE IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL

An Object Lesson using Balloons

What You Need

  • Two balloons – Add a little water into one before you inflate it and tie it off. The other should just have air.
  • A candle and something to light it with.
  • NOTE: Practice this yourself first before trying it with the youth.

What to do

  1. Begin by lighting the candle.
  2. Explain that the balloon (the one without water in it) represents a person’s life.
  3. Explain that there are some things we face in life that are painful or even destructive.
  4. Hold the stem of the balloon and touch it to the flame and it will pop.
  5. Some people’s lives are destroyed by the difficulties they face.

MAKE IT SPIRITUAL
Read James 1:2-4

  • What are some of the things youth experience in life that are painful?
  • Ask the youth to share some of the trials a typical youth may face?
  • What are some trials that Christians may face?
  1.  Take out the balloon with a bit of water in it without drawing attention to the water inside.
  2. Move the balloon with water in it toward the flame.
  3. while holding the stem of the balloon, move it in a very small circle on top of the flame so that it is directly over the flame, but so that the flame is not concentrated on one spot for two long. You can do this for quite a long time – at least 10 seconds without the balloon popping. This is because the little bit of the water in the balloon draws the heat away from the balloon and disperses it.
  4. Explain that the balloon has a bit of water inside it and this allows it to withstand the fiery trial.

MAKE IT PRACTICAL

  • In John 7:37-38 Jesus promises us that if we come to Him, he will give us living water.
  • Romans 8:28 tells us that when Christ is in our lives, all things work for good.
  • If we have Jesus, the living water, in our lives, we will be victorious over the circumstances of life and the fiery trials.
  • What are some of the circumstances, trials, or difficult situations you face in which you can you let Christ take the heat for you?
  • What difference does Christ make in a person’s life?

MAKE IT PERSONAL

  • What difference has Christ made in your life?
  • How can Christ help you to face the your own circumstances trials or difficult situations?
  • What can you do differently this week to trust Christ in the situations you will face?

KEY SCRIPTURE VERSE

James 1:2-4

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”

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Game Ideas, Object Lessons

Clinging to God – Object Lessons from a Clothespin

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A clothespin is used to attach clothes to a clothesline. It can also serve as a reminder that we need to cling to our lifeline – we need to cling to God (Deuteronomy 13:4). And clothes aren’t the only thing that needs washing. We need to be washed clean as well. And God washes us white as snow. (Isaiah 1:18) The scriptures lists a variety of things we should cling to, things we should hold on to, but in reality most of those other things listed have the same purpose – to help us to cling to God.

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What You Need

  • Lots of clothespins. You can easily buy them by the hundreds. You want the spring loaded ones.

Games using Clothespins

  • Blind Clothespin Pick-up – Clothespins are strewn throughout the room. While blindfolded, youths must pick up as many clothespins as possible within 60 seconds. The youth with the most clothespins wins.
  • Clothespin Grab – Each youth pins 5 clothespins to his or her clothing. The objective is to grab a clothespin from another youth’s clothing while protecting your own, all the while staying within a designated play area. If you lose all of your clothespins you are out of the game, but as long as you still have at least one you can continue to play. Any clothespins you grab must be attached to your won clothing before you can grab another one. At the end of a designated time, the youth with the most clothespins wins.
  • Clothespin Jiggle – Attach several clothespins to everyone’s sleeves, pant legs, and shirts. Youth must jiggle jiggle themselves around and try to get rid of the clothespins. They may not touch them to remove them. The person who has been able to get rid of the most clothespins after a given time has passed wins.
  • Clothespin Knockoff – Pin a clothespin to the clothing in the center of each youth’s back. Youth must knock off the clothespins from other youth, without getting theirs kocked off. Players cannot pick up clothespins that have been knocked off and they cannot touch the clothespins on their own backs. They also cannot GRAB the clothespins but can only swipe at them.
  • Clothespin Puller – Pin 50 clothespins each all over the clothes of a team representatives. The youth must then pull off all 50 clothes pins. First to do so, wins.
  • Clothespin Relay – The first person in line for each team must pin the clothespin to the next person in line. Only then can that person unpin it and pin it to the next person in line. Continue to the end of the line. The first team to get to the end wins. Make it more difficult by forcing them to hold hands in a chain and by not allowing them to use their hands to pass the clothespins. Add more clothespins for more fun.
  • Clothespin Sorting – Place words to a scripture verse on sheets of paper and attache them to a clothesline. First team to place them in order wins. Variation: Instead of words from a scripture verse, place key events in a Bible narrative on the pieces of paper. First team to put them in the right order wins.
  • Clothespin Tag – This wild game is the opposite of clothespin Grab. Give every person 5 clothespins as they enter. When everyone has their clothespins, tell them you’re giving them two minutes to get rid of their clothespins. The only way to get rid of them is to pin them to someone else. Chaos results as everyone tries to get rid of their clothespins!! At the end of the designated time, the person with the least clothespins wins. Turn this into a “get to know you” icebreaker by requiring each person must state one “Fun Fact” about themselves for each clothespin they are wearing.
  • Clothespins Face-off – In this game, students pin as many clothespins to the face of someone on their team as possible. They cannot pin them to hair, but only to the face. The team with the most clothespins attached to the chosen team members face at the end of the designated time is the winner.
  • Clothespins Pick-up – Using one or two clothes pins, the youth must pic up various objects using only the clothespins and place them in a box or container. The clothespins are the only thing that can touch the objects to move them.
  • Hair Clips – The objective is to be the team with the most clothespins pinned to the hair of one of the team members. One at a time, team members run to a box, grab one clothespin, and run back to their team and pin it to the hair of the chosen team member. The game is over when time runs out or there are no more clothespins.
  • Hanging the Clothes – Give each team of youth a sack of clothes with the same type and number of items in each sack. Hang a clothesline across the room or use a real one outdoors. The first team member must run to the clothesline and pin all the clothes on the line then run back to the team. The next person in line rins to the clothesline and puts on all the clothes and returns to the team where he or she removes them and places them back in the sack. Repeat the process until all team members have gone. The first team to finish wins.
  • Lizard’s Tail – Youth pair up and one person behind the other with his or her hands on the hips of the person in front of them. The person at the rear has a clothespin attached to the middle back of his or her shirt. Players try to eliminate other teams by pulling off the tail of other teams. Only the person in the front can use hands to pull off the clothespins. The person in the back must keep his or her hands on the hips of the person in front at all times. If their hands lose contact, the pair is eliminated. If you lose your tail you are eliminated. Last team remaining wins.
  • Pinned Together – Youth pair off and each pair uses 5 to 10 clothespins to attach themselves together. They must them complete a series of actions without losing the connections between them. The pair with the most clothespins still in place wins. Actions could include racing to an object, climbing over or under obstacles, doing a dance move, etc.

TAKE IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL

MAKE IT SPIRITUAL

  • What is the purpose of a clothespin?
  • What are some of the ways we use clothespins?
  • What are the characteristics of a good clothespin?

The Main purpose of a clothespin is to hold on to the line so that the clothes do not get blown away. Their main purpose is to attach the clothes to the line. When the spring in a clothespin loses its strength, they become weak and re easily detached.

Looking at the verses below, what are some things we need to hold on to?

  • Deuteronomy 10:20 – “You shall fear the LORD your God; you shall serve Him and cling to Him, and you shall swear by His name.”
  • Deuteronomy 11:22 “For if you carefully keep all these commandments which I command you to do; to love the LORD your God, to walk in all His ways, and to hold fast to Him;
  • Deuteronomy 13:4 – “You shall walk after the Lord your God and fear Him, and keep His commandments and obey His voice; you shall serve Him and hold fast to Him.”
  • Joshua 22:5 “But take diligent heed to do the commandment and the law which Moses the servant of the LORD commanded you, to love the LORD your God, to walk in all His ways, to keep His commandments, to hold fast to Him, and to serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul.”
  • Job 27:6 “My righteousness I hold fast, and will not let it go; my heart shall not reproach me as long as I live.”
  • Psalm 63:8 – “I cling to you; your right hand upholds me.”
  • Proverbs 4:4 – “Then he taught me, and he said to me, “Take hold of my words with all your heart; keep my commands, and you will live.”
  • Proverbs 4:13 – “Take firm hold of instruction, do not let go; keep her, for she is your life.”
  • Hebrews 4:14 – “Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.”
  • Hebrews 10:23 – “Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.”
  • Romans 12:9 – “Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.”
  • Philippians 3:12 – “Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.”
  • 1 Thessalonians 5:21 – “Test all things; hold fast what is good.”
  • 1 Timothy 6:12 – “Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.”
  • Timothy 1:13 – “Hold fast the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me, in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. that word which I preached to you; unless you believed in vain.”
  • Titus 1:9 “holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict.”
  • Revelation 2:13 “I know your works, and where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is. And you hold fast to My name, and did not deny My faith even in the days in which Antipas was My faithful martyr, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells.”
  • Revelation 3:11 – “I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.”

MAKE IT PRACTICAL

  • How do we hold fast to God?
  • What thoughts come to mind when you consider CLINGING to God?
  • How do you feel when you are close to God? How does it affect how you live and how you treat others?
  • When have you felt separated from God? How do we restore the closeness?
  • How do we hold fast to God when our grip weakens?
  • Of the various things mentioned in scripture, what do you find it most difficult to hold on to in your spiritual walk?

MAKE IT PERSONAL

  • From scripture, what is missing in your life right now of those things you are told to hold on to, to cling to?
  • To take hold of God you must let go of the world. What things are you holding on to instead of God? What do you need to let go of?
  • What can you do to draw closer and cling more tightly to God this week?

KEY SCRIPTURE VERSE

Deuteronomy 13:4 – “You shall walk after the Lord your God and fear Him, and keep His commandments and obey His voice; you shall serve Him and hold fast to Him.”

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Creative Teaching Ideas, Game Ideas

Valentine’s Day – Candy Hearts

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Candy Conversation Hearts, commonly available near to Valentine’s Day, have been around for close to 150 years. In this youth idea, you’ll get several games to play using the candy hearts as well as ideas to use the messages written on the hearts to tell about God’s Love.

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What You Need

  • A lot of candy hearts

A Brief History

An american named Oliver Chase invented a candy machine that cut candy lozenges in 1847 and 3 years later a machine to pulverise sugar to make the candy. Then in 1866 his brother, Daniel Chase invented a machine to press food dye letters onto the hearts and other shapes to create short messages. They were first shared at weddings, birthday parties, and other celebrations, but over the years became synonymous with Valentine’s Day.

Games using Candy Conversation Hearts

  • Valentine’s Candy Hearts Toss: Place some saucers on top of cups to elevate them at different heights. You may also designate different saucers as having higher point values than others. The youth are given 5 heart candies, and from a designated distance, must toss the candy hearts onto the saucer. Highest score wins.
  • Candy Hearts Pick Up: The youth or who transfers the most hearts from the saucer to a bowl in one minute, using only chopsticks wins the game. Variation: Instead of chopsticks youth must create suction through a straw to transfer the hearts.
  • Conversational Hearts Story Game: Youth are given 10-12 candy hearts with various messages and must use them to create a story of God’s love for us. Variation: allow any story and award prizes for the most serious, the most mushy, the grossest, the funniest and the silliest stories.
  • Candy Hearts Icebreaker: Fill a bowl with Candy hearts and pass it around the group. Each youth takes as much or as little candy as they want. Make sure that no one eats their candy right away. For each candy heart they take, they have to share one fact about themselves. To make it a little more interesting, assign something specific for each color: favorite hobby, food, song, place to visit, most embarrassing moment, greatest fear, etc.
  • Heart Match: Separate several boxes of conversation hearts into pairs of identical words / colors. Give each youth one as he/she arrives. They must mingle and pair up with the person who has the same phrase, but cannot speak any of the words on the heart in the search to find their partner.
  • Candy Heart Charades: Play a game of charades using candy conversation hearts as the messages.
  • Valentine Heart Tower: Have a competition to see who can make the tallest tower of candy hearts, by stacking them one on top of the other. When the time runs out, the team with the tallest standing tower is awarded a prize.

Candy Heart Messages
Over the years, the hearts have contained a variety of creative and touching ways to say “I love you.” They rotate the saying from year to year as well as add new ones.

Some of the more well known ones are:
I Love You, Be Mine, Call Me, Cupid, Dream, Flirt, Friend 4Ever, Heart Throb, I Do, Love Me, Miss You, Soul Mate, Too Cool

They’ve also used:
All Mine, Amore, Angel, Ask Me, Awesome, Be Good, Be My Hero, Be My Icon, Be True, Cool, Cutie Pie, Dear, Dear One, Dig Me, Dream On, Email Me, Fax Me, First Kiss, For You, Get Real, Girl Power, Go Girl, Go Home, Got Love, Heart Of Gold, Hello, Love, Home Sick, Honey Bun, How Sweet, Hug Me, I Heart You, I Hope, I Will, I Wish, I’m Sure, I’m Yours, It’s Love, It’s True, Kiss Me, Let’s Kiss, LOL, Love, Love Ya, Love You, Lover Boy, Marry Me, Miss Me, Moon Beam, My Baby, My Girl, My Hero, My Love, My Man, My Pal, Neat, New Love, Nice Girl, Oh Boy, One I Love, Only You, Page Me, Real Love, Rising Star, Sexy Baby, Smile, So Fine, Sure Dear, Sure Love, Sweet Talk, Thank You, TLC, Too Hot, Too Sweet, True Love, Ura Star, Ura10, Venus, What Ever, Why Not, Yes Dear, You + Me?, You Bet, You Rule, You’re Tops

TAKE IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL

Discussion

  • What 1 to 3 word message would you put on candy hearts if you had a chance?

MAKE IT SPIRITUAL

“This is the covenant I will make with the people of Israel after that time,” declares the Lord. “I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.” – Jeremiah 31:33

  • BE MINE – God wants us to accept His love; God calls us to be His. James 1:18; Isaiah 43:1; John 3:16; John 10:27-30; Exodus 19:5-6; Deuteronomy 7:6; Romans 8:38-39; Romans 8:28
  • TRUE LOVE – God loves us with true love – unconditional love. Jeremiah 31:3; 1 John 3:1; 1 John 3:16; Romans 5:8; Lamentations 3:22-25
  • LOVE ME – God wants us to love Him. Luke 10:27; 1 John 4:7-12
  • SWEET TALK – God’s Word is His love letter to us. Psalm 119:103
  • CALL ME – God wants us to communicate with Him. Jeremiah 33:3

MAKE IT PRACTICAL

  • What words are written on people’s hearts? How do words get written on our hearts?
  • What 1 to 3 word messages do you believe God would want to write on a person’s heart?
  • If a person had the words of God written on their hearts, how would it change them? How would it change their thoughts, attitudes, words, and actions?

MAKE IT PERSONAL

  • If you were to describe your own heart in 1 to 3 words what words would characterise your heart?
  • What will the keywords will you choose to be on your heart this week as you reveal your heart to God? to others? In your family? In school?

OTHER SCRIPTURE VERSES

  • James 1:18 (NLT)  – “He chose to give birth to us by giving us his true word. And we, out of all creation, became his prized possession.”
  • 2 Chronicles 17:4 (NIV) – “if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”
  • Jeremiah 31:3 (NIV) – “I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.”
  • Jeremiah 31:33 (NIV) – “This is the covenant I will make with the people of Israel after that time, declares the Lord. “I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.”
  • Proverbs 3:3 – “Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.”

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Game Ideas

Valentine’s Day – If you love me?

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This popular icebreaker game is a great discussion starter for Valentines Day and introducing the concept of God’s unmerited love for us.

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What You Need

  • You need a chair for each youth
  • You’ll need enough open space to arrange the chairs in a circle.

Preparation

  1. Place the chairs in a circle facing inward. There should be one chair for each youth you expect to play the game.
  2. Ask the youth to each sit in a chair.
  3. Once all the youth have taken a seat, remove any extra chairs and close up the circle so there are no gaps.
  4. Then randomly select one youth to stand in the center of the circle and remove his or her chair from the circle as well.

What to do

  1. All the youth should be sitting in chairs except one who is standing in the center of the circle of chairs.
  2. His or her objective is to take the seat of someone sitting in the circle and force them into the center.
  3. This is done by getting someone in the circle to smile. The youth in the center of the circle must go up to someone sitting opposite sex and saying the following exact words in whatever manner desired to get a smile: “Honey, if you love me would you please, please, smile.”
  4. The youth who is chosen must keep eye contact and say the exact words, “Honey, I love you, but I just can’t smile” without cracking even the slightest smile and keeping a straight face the entire time.
  5. If he/she smiles, then he/she gives up the chair to the person in the middle and now must stand in the middle for another round of the game.
  6. If the chosen youth fails to smile, whoever is in the center must choose a different person and try again. This continues until someone smiles and is forced to give up a seat.
  7. Continue for several rounds – long enough for it to be exciting and fun, but not too long or it will get boring.
  8. The youth will quickly discover who is an easy target and can’t keep a straight face. To make the person smile, they can make funny faces, speak in strange voices, and make gestures and move around. The only rule is they cannot touch the person they are trying to make smile.

TAKE IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL

MAKE IT SPIRITUAL

As people, we often place conditions on our love. “I will love you if” “If you love me you will” “I love you because..” We usually love people because of who they are or what they do. But God’s love for you completely transcends who you are and what you do. He, who knows you best, in all of your sinful actions, unclean thoughts, and hurtful words, loves you most.

But doesn’t scripture place conditions on God’s love?

  • John 14:21 “Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.”
  • Exodus 20:5-6 “You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.”
  • John 16:27 “No, the Father himself loves you because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God.”
  • 1 John 4:15-16 “If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God. And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.”
  • If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God. And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. (1 John 4:15-16)

God loved us first. His love is freely given. It is not based on who you are or what you’ve done, but it is instead based on WHO HE IS and what HE HAS DONE. His love is unchanging as he is unchanging. It will not be taken away. But there is one condition. WE MUST ACCEPT IT OR RECEIVE IT!

AN ILLUSTRATION
Someone once explained it this way. Imagine yourself carrying a large box filled with everything you value most in life. It take both arms and all your strength just to carry it. And God walks in will another box filled with all his love, his blessing, his riches, the best of everything. It is offered to you completely free, unconditional, everything is yours for the taking. From God’s perspective it is given to you regardless of who your are or what you have done. It is an unconditional gift, unmerited favor, grace. But from your perspective there is a condition. You must first put down the box you are holding before you can receive the box God is offering. The condition is not on God’s side but on yours. Are you willing to receive it? To do so, you must give up what you are holding and hold on to what he has offered.

THE NATURE OF GOD’S LOVE

1. God loved you before you chose him.

  • Romans 5:6-8 “You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
  • Ephesians 1:4-6 “For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the Beloved.
  • Ephesians 2:4-5 “But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions — it is by grace you have been saved.”
  • John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

2. God’s love is not based on who you are, but who he is. God loves you, not because you deserve it, but because he CHOSE to love you. There is nothing you can do, say, or be, to deserve God’s love.

  • Ephesians 2:8-9 “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith — and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God not by works, so that no one can boast.”
  • 1 John 4:8-10 “This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.”
  • Romans 3:23-24 “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified FREELY by his GRACE through the redemption that came through Christ Jesus.”
  • Ephesians 3:16-21 “I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.
  • 1 John 3:1 “How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.”

3. God’s love for you is unchanging

  • Romans 11:29 “For God’s gifts and his call are irrevocable.”
  • Romans 8:38-39 “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither heighth nor depth,nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
  • Psalm 48:9 “Within your temple, O God, we meditate on your unfailing love.”
  • Jeremiah 31:3 “The LORD appeared to us in the past, saying: I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness.”
  • Psalm 136:26 “Give thanks to the God of heaven. His love endures forever.”
  • Lamentations 3:22 25 “Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, “The LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.” The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him.”

MAKE IT PRACTICAL

  • Do you ever feel that God loves you and cares for you us more when you have pleased Him? Explain.
  • Do you feel that He loves you less when you sin? Explain.
  • Do you believe that your performance makes God love you more? Explain.
  • What encouragement do these verses on God’s love offer to those who feel God loves them less when they fail?

MAKE IT PERSONAL

  • Is there anything in your life that you are holding on to that prevents you from freely accepting God’s love and all that he offers to you? What’s holding you back?
  • Which of these verses is most meaningful to you and how can knowledge of the truths contained in that verse enable you to live a fuller, more abundant Christian life, embraced in the love of God?

KEY SCRIPTURE

Romans 5:6-8 “You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

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Game Ideas

Christmas: An Unexpected Gift

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We are attracted by extravagantly wrapped gifts with red bows and colorful paper. In this game, participants will try to guess the objects that have been wrapped up as Christmas gifts. But the gifts are probably not what they will expect – they are simply things that are very ordinary. The gift of the first Christmas was not wrapped the way the world expected either. The Jews wanted a mighty warrior with a sword in one hand and King’s crown in the other. But instead, God sent an innocent, defenceless, vulnerable baby – just a seemingly ordinary baby boy.

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What You Need

  • Wrap up several Christmas gifts that are ordinary objects. Some ideas are toilet paper roll, box of tissue, toothpaste, a pencil, a comb, a bar of soap, an ordinary drinking glass, an ice cube tray, a battery, a can of food, etc.)

Preparation

  1. Get the gifts and wrap them up nicely. Wrap them well, maybe in more than one layer of paper so that they are not easily opened and so that the youth cannot easily take a peak.
  2. Place a tag with a number on each gift.

What to Do

  1. Give everyone a piece of paper and pass the gifts around.
  2. Have them write down what they thing each gift is according the numbers on each one.
  3. The youth who correctly guesses the most objects is the winner.
  4. You might choose to award the gifts to the winner.

TAKE IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL

MAKE IT SPIRITUAL

Unfortunately, because of the world’s expectations, the gift of God was unnoticed by most! There was no special welcome, no special preparations, no grand entrance and in fact there wasn’t even room for him in the inn nor a real bed to sleep in.

This is still true today. We welcome the excitement, the expectation of wonderful gifts, the idea of Christmas cheer and celebrations, but most people are unwilling to welcome the Christ Child into their hearts. He’s not really what most people are looking for during the Christmas season.

The people God first told about the birth were shepherds. In general, the shepherds were the poor, the jobless, the powerless, the less educated, the uncultured, maybe even the outcasts. Often when we buy gifts for others, we reserve the best gifts for the special people, the ones who will surely give us something in return, the ones who are our favorites. But the gift of Jesus was first announced to the shepherds, those without titles, those who could return little.

God had given the world a gift it didn’t think it wanted or needed, and certainly not as expected, and he presented the gift to a group of people who weren’t the powerful, the rulers, or those most looked up to. It was a seemingly ordinary gift, in an ordinary wrapper, given to ordinary people.

MAKE IT PRACTICAL

The Shepherds
Read Luke 2:1-20

  • Why do you think the angels appeared to the shepherds and not someone else?
  • Could the shepherds have chosen to accept or decline the angels invitation? What did they choose to do?
  • How long do you think it took them to decide?
  • Why do you think it was important to them to see the Baby Jesus first hand?
  • Why did the shepherds drop everything to go find out about some baby? Why were they so excited?
  • What does this baby mean to them?
  • What does this baby mean to us?
  • Why was the birth of Christ Good News?
  • What are some lessons, truths, attitudes, and responses can we learn from the shepherds?

MAKE IT PERSONAL

  • Do you still find a sense of wonder when you consider God’s gift to the world, or has it lost its luster?
  • What are you hoping for this Christmas?
  • How can you have a deeper first hand experience with Christ this Christmas?
  • What can you do to help others see the true gift of Christmas this year?

SCRIPTURES

  • Luke 2:1-20

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Game Ideas

Thanksgiving: Looking Back

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Thanksgiving is an American Holiday where people set aside a day to remember what God has done for them over the past one year and praise Him and give Him thanks for the works He has done in heir lives. This game plays on the idea of looking forward yet being able to recognise and picture what is behind. It serves as a metaphor for us, also looking forward to the future, but taking some time to picture and recognise what God has done in the past.

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What You Need

  • A variety of simple images related to the Thanksgiving. Some possibilities include a turkey, a pumpkin, a pie, an Indian, fall leaves, the Mayflower ship, pilgrims, etc. You can also use simple greeting cards for the design or images from a Children’s coloring book.
  • Paper and something for youth to write with.

What to do – Game

  1. Form teams of six people.
  2. Instruct each team to sit in a line, one person behind another, and take a vow of silence for the duration of the game.
  3. Give the first person in each line a pencil and a piece of paper.
  4. Then show the last person in each line a simple image of a Thanksgiving outline or drawing
  5. That person must use his or her finger to draw the object on the back of the person in front of him or her.
  6. This continues until the drawing reaches the first person in line. He or she must draw it on the piece of paper.
  7. Have judges determine which team’s picture closest resembles the original picture.
  8. If time permits, play more rounds, letting team members change positions if they wish.

TAKE IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL

MAKE IT SPIRITUAL

In this game, we looked forward but had to recognise things that were behind us. Sometimes it is difficult to look back and recognise God’s handiwork when we are focused only on what is in front of us. Thanksgiving is an opportunity to look back, and recognise what God has done for us and praise Him and Thank Him for his work in our lives.

In Deuteronomy 8: 10-18 the Israelites were also reminded to look back at what God had done for them.

“When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the Lord your God for the good land he has given you. Be careful that you do not forget the Lord your God, failing to observe his commands, his laws and his decrees that I am giving you this day. Otherwise, when you eat and are satisfied, when you build fine houses and settle down, and when your herds and flocks grow large and your silver and gold increase and all you have is multiplied, then your heart will become proud and you will forget the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. He led you through the vast and dreadful wilderness, that thirsty and waterless land, with its venomous snakes and scorpions. He brought you water out of hard rock. He gave you manna to eat in the wilderness, something your ancestors had never known, to humble and test you so that in the end it might go well with you. You may say to yourself, “My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.” But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your ancestors, as it is today.”

  • List some of the things mentioned in the passage that the Israelites were to praise God for? Were they all pleasant things?
  • What lessons can we learn from this passage?

What to do – An optional Illustration

  1. Ask the youth to look around the room and take notice of everything in the room that is red. (You can use any color here as long as there are things in the room of that color)
  2. Then ask the youths to close their eyes and name something in the room that is yellow. (Again pick any color that can be found in the room)
  3. Most will be unable to name something unless they are wearing that color.
  4. It doesn’t mean that the color did not exist when they were looking around, but the way our minds work, when we focus on something specific, we have a hard time recognising anything else.

The lesson is that if we are always looking at all the negative things in our lives and all of our problems (the red color) we will probably miss all the things to be thankful for (the yellow color).

MAKE IT PRACTICAL

  • Why is it important to Thank God and Praise Him for what he has done for us in the past?
  • What does the passage in Deuteronomy 8 says about why it is important?

MAKE IT PERSONAL

  • Ask God to help you to examine your life – help you to see all the times He’s worked in your life.
  • What has God done in your life today and then what has He done this week? This month? Write down a list of everything God’s done in your life during the past year.
  • Ask the youth to share some things they have received from God or that God has done for them during the past year?
  • What event(s) in your life do you look back on as special evidence of God•s love and care for you?
  • Spend some moments in prayer, praising and thanking God for working in your life.
  • Ask the youth to keep the list of blessings made during the lesson, take it home, and place it in a drawer or on a mirror where it will be seen often and add to it from time to time.

ADDITIONAL SCRIPTURE

“Give praise to the LORD, proclaim his name; make known among the nations what he has done. Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts. Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice. Look to the LORD and his strength; seek his face always. Remember the wonders he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he pronounced”

– 1 Chronicles 16:8-12

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Game Ideas

Flee Sin, Pursue God – Rock, Scissors, Paper – Tag

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Most youth have played the game “Rock, Scissors, Paper”. This well known game serves as an introduction to 2 Timothy 2:22 and what the Bible teaches about fleeing from sin and pursuing godliness.

What You Need

This activity requires a large empty room or two well defined boundary lines. It is idea for a gym, an outdoor basketball court, or even a large field.

What to Do

In the standard version of “rock, paper, scissors”, two youth face each other, count to three and then put their hand into one of three positions:

  • A clenched fist represents a rock.
  • A flat hand represents paper.
  • The index and middle finger outstretched and separated like a pair of scissors represents scissors.

The winner is determined by the following system:

  • Rock smashes scissors.
  • Scissors cover paper.
  • Paper covers rock.

How to play

  1. For this activity the same rules apply but instead of two youth facing each other, it is two teams.
  2. Each team chooses a leader who will choose rock, paper, or scissors for the entire team.
  3. Once chosen, the teams face off across the center of the room, field or court.
  4. Count one, two three and everyone shows their hands according to the leader’s choice.
  5. The winning team chases the other team back to the wall, or boundary line, attempting to tag as many members as possible.
  6. Any youth tagged before reach the safety zone or before touching the wall, becomes a member of the winning team.
  7. If the two teams make the same choice, both teams retreat to the wall and no one is tagged.
  8. The process is then repeated, with leaders making a choice, lining up along the center, then everyone revealing the choice made by their leader.
  9. Usually, you can play several round or for a certain amount of time.

Take it to the Next Level

DEBRIEF

In this game, there are times you need to flee and time you need to pursue.

  • What are some things in life that people flee from? Why?
  • What are some things in life that people pursue? Why?

MAKE IT SPIRITUAL

  • Read 2 Timothy 2:22; 1 Timothy 6:6-11; Matthew 6:1; 2 Peter 1:3; Eph. 5:15-17

MAKE IT PRACTICAL

  • What was Timothy encouraged to flee from?
  • What was Timothy encouraged to pursue?
  • What are some of the evil desires of youth?
  • How do our pursuits affect us for good or bad?

MAKE IT PERSONAL

  • What are some things you need be more determined to flee this week?
  • What are some godly characteristics you need to pursue this week?

Scriptures

“Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.” – 2 Timothy 2:22

“Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil. So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is” – Ephesians 5:15-17

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Game Ideas

Whose Father?

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Description

In this crowdbreaker game, youth are given a list of statements and must find another youth whose dad fits each statement.

Materials

You can print this as a simple list or make a grid of squares and include one statement in each square. If possible think about the father’s of youth in your group and use that as a guideline for characteristics.

Preparation

Be sure to prepare the list in advance.

What to do

  1. Youth mingle about the room trying to must find someone whose dad fulfills each characteristic and have them sign next to the characteristic. Each person can only sign your list once.
  2. First person to get all their squares signed wins.

Some possibilities for characteristics are:

  • Hair color isn’t black
  • Wears specs
  • Travels on business
  • Works as (name a job)
  • Drives a car
  • Wears tennis shoes
  • Favorite hobby is (Name of a hobby)
  • Likes (a specific food)
  • Is tall/short
  • Is on the church council
  • Wears a ring
  • Is between 30-40 yrs old
  • Wears (name an item)
  • Has a brother
  • Has a sister
  • Lives (location)
  • Has been to (place)
  • Wears a gold colored watch
  • Watches soccer on TV
  • Exercizes
  • Drinks Coffee
  • Plays an instrument
  • Plays a sport
  • Likes to fish
  • Has a pet
  • Has a mustache or beard
  • Is bald

Take it to the Next Level

Make it Spiritual
We each know our Father best. We know what he likes, what he does, and common characteristics about him. But we should also know our heavenly Father.

  • What are the things God likes?
  • What are the things that God does?
  • What are some characteristics of God?

Here are some Scriptures that Describe God as a Father. What can you learn about God as Father from each verse?

God as Father
“But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship. Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.” So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir. – Galatians 4:4-7

“Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God” – John 1:12

Protector
“Father of the fatherless and protector of widows is God in his holy habitation.” – Psalm 10:14
“When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take me up.” – Psalm 27:10

Loving
“How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” – 1 John 3:1

Compassionate
“As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him.” – Psalm 103:13
“The Father of compassion and the God of all comfort” – 2 Corinthians 1:3

Cares for us
“The LORD your God carried you, as a father carries his son, all the way you went until you reached this place.” – Deuteronomy 1:31

Gives us gifts
“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father, who does not change like shifting shadows.” – James 1:17

“If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!” – Matthew 7:11

Disciplines us
“Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good.” Hebrews 12:7,10

Make it Personal

  • What characteristics of God is most meaningful to you? Why?
  • What is the first step in becoming a child of the Father?
  • If you become a child of the Father, then how should you live your life?

 


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Game Ideas, Object Lessons

Valentine’s Day: Held Together

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It’s going to be Valentine’s Day in a couple days, when everyone gets all romantic. While chocolates, flowers and candlelight dinners have their place, it is also a great opportunity to discuss the topic of love. Love isn’t just for romantic relationships, but for our relationships in the family, among fellow Christians, and in our relationship with God. So this week we have a memory game which serves as an object lesson on the topic of love. God so loved the world that he sent his Son (John 3:16) God is love. They shall know that we are Christians by our love. Have a great weekend! Love God with all your heart. Love your neighbour as yourself. So here’s to Love!

Resources

  • A cookie sheet or tray
  • 20 to 25 small objects from the list below.
  • A cloth that will cover the tray
  • Paper and pencil for each player

Objects List

  1. Tape
  2. Glue
  3. Stapler
  4. A bolt
  5. Paper clip
  6. Clothes Pin
  7. Button
  8. Piece of rope or strong
  9. Shoelace
  10. Spiral from a notebook
  11. Skewer
  12. Rubber band
  13. Key ring
  14. Blue tack
  15. Bandage
  16. Padlock
  17. Watch band
  18. Zipper
  19. Velcro
  20. Screw
  21. Thumb Tack
  22. Hinge
  23. Nail
  24. Safety Pin
  25. Straight Pin
  26. Sewing Thread
  27. Snap
  28. Zip Tie or cable tie
  29. Wooden Dowel
  30. Refrigerator magnet

Preparation

Place all the objects on the tray and cover with a cloth to begin.

What to Do

  1. Have the youth sit in a circle where they can all see the tray.
  2. Remove the cloth for 60 seconds, then replace it.
  3. The youth then write down everything they remember seeing on the tray.
  4. The player who remembered the most items wins.

Take It to the Next Level

Make it Spiritual

What do all the objects have in common?

All of the objects are used to hold various things together. We often use tape and glue with paper. Staplers and paper clips also hold pieces of paper together. Bolts come in various sizes and are often used to hold two pieces of metal together. A bandage holds the sides of a cut together to stop bleeding. Even a refrigerator magnet holds paper to the refrigerator.

There is something else that needs to be held together as well and that is people. We need to be close to people. If we are not, life becomes very sad and lonely. We need to be close to our family, to our friends, and to our fellow church people-plus many others. Love holds people together better than anything else: ! Love is the best tape, the best glue, the best staple, the best bolt that you can find to keep you close to people.

There are other things that we sometimes think keep us close to others but they don’t work as well as love. You may think that it’s because you live on the same street that you are friends with a certain person, but if that is all that makes you friends it will be over with the first time you have a serious fight. Sometimes we think we are close friends with someone because we like the same sport or the same games but this usually doesn’t last either. Even living in the same house with your family will not automatically make you close to them. In every case what we really need is love for that person. No matter what you like doing with someone close to you, just remember that to love that person is the most important thing of all. Love will be the tape, the glue, the staple, the bolt that holds us together in unity.

Make it Practical

How can you show love to others this week? For your parents, your valentine, your siblings, your friends. All love finds its source in God. God is love. How can you love more like God loves others this week?

Scripture References

Matthew 22
Luke 10

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.”
– John 13:34

“He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.”
– Colossians 1:17

 


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Games and Activities in Celebration of common Holidays.

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Creative Teaching Ideas, Game Ideas

God Says

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This learning game is a great way to introduce the concept of obedience to God. It can also be used for famous Biblical personalities (See the list at the end) that practiced hearing God and obedience to Him.

What to Do

  1. Tell the youth that they must only obey you if you first say the words “Simon says.”
  2. If they follow an order that doesn’t begin with “Simon says,” or if they fail to do what Simon SAYS to do they will be eliminated from the game. Remember, they have to do what “Simon” says, NOT what “Simon” does.
  3. Start with something simple like, “Simon says, put your hands on your head.” Put your hands on your head to demonstrate what you are asking them to do. Once you have given the instruction, take note of those who who did not follow the instruction and eliminate them from the game.
  4. Continue to give instructions, prefacing them with “Simon says” and eliminating those who fail to follow the instructions. “Thumbs Up” “Thumbs down” Shout out a phrase. Be sure to include a lot of funny and silly things to get everyone laughing.
  5. Mix things up by also saying things like, “Raise your right hand,” without the preface “Simon says.” Eliminate the youth who raise their hands.
  6. Continue to play, randomly choosing to give instructions with and without prefacing them with “Simon Says” and eliminating players until only one person is left. This is the winner.

You can play a second, more challenging round by:

  1. Giving the instructions quickly and keep the pace moving fast.
  2. Giving instructions in a quick series.
  3. Use phrases like “Do this” while making the motions you want copied. Other examples include “And This”, “Put it down”, “Put it back”, etc. Many of the youth will simply copy your gestures and be eliminated from the game.
  4. Relax and give simple instructions once in a while that seem as if they are not commands but instructions for how to play the game: “Relax”, “Straighten up your line”, “If you are having fun in this game, raise your hand”, etc. Some of the youth will let down their guard and be eliminated from the game.
  5. You can also call players by name and ask them to do simple tasks like “Move back a step”, “Get me a pencil” etc. You can point to a youth and tell them to tell you their name again, and other similar phrases.
  6. Or, you can simply follow this script:
    • “Ok everyone stand up. I thought you said you knew how to play Simon Says! I thought you were ready! Ok I’ll give you one more chance.
    • Simon says Stand up. That was slow! Sit back down.
    • Simon says touch your nose. Simon says rub your belly.
    • Simon says spin around in a circle. Ok you can stop.
    • Simon says stop.
    • Simon says touch your head, Simon says touch your mouth, Simon says touch your shoulders, Simon says touch your ears, Simon says touch your hips, touch your knees.
    • Simon says touch your knees (while touching head), Simon says touch your hips (while touching ears), Simon says touch your nose (while touching knees), Simon says touch your ears (while touching shoulders), Simon says touch your hips, touch your head.
    • Ok all those who are still in the game, give yourselves a big hand!”

Take It to the Next Level

Discussion

How many of you found this simple game to be an unexpected challenge?
What was it that made it hard to follow instructions?
To those who were eliminated early:

  • Was the game as easy as you thought it would be?
  • Did you have trouble understanding the rules?
  • Did you think the game was fair?

To the last remaining few:

  • Did all of you get so far by REALLY following the instructions? (Some may have actually been eliminated but didn’t own up to their mistakes)
  • Were you called out by others on the mistakes you made but didn’t own up to?
  • How did it feel to be so close to winning, but failing in the end?

To the winner:

  • What did you do to stay on till the end?
  • What was your winning strategy?
  • What’s your advice to everyone else?

Make it Spiritual

Many times, we find it a struggle to listen to instructions. Or we misunderstand what instructions are given to us. There are times when we’re distracted by things going on around us, we see what other people around us are doing and blindly followed along. Some times we don’t follow the instructions exactly but pretend to. We think no one’s going to notice.

Ultimately, when instructions aren’t followed exactly, we end up getting eliminated. To follow instructions only once or at the beginning is not enough. You have to keep following the instructions. To not follow God’s instructions can also eliminate us from Him being able to use us. To obey Him only once is not enough. We must be in a constant state of obedience. We can fool everyone around us, but we can’t fool God.

In the New Testament, obedience is not used with commands, laws, or decrees, but in reference to a person. Obedience is to God, to Moses, to prophets, to Paul, to parents, etc.

Make it Practical

  • What areas do youth find it most difficult to obey?
  • What areas of obedience do youth question most often?
  • Why is obedience often difficult?
  • Why are some things easy to obey yet others are so difficult?
  • What can a person do if they have disobeyed to make things right?

Make it Personal

  • What are some areas where you find it easy to obey God? Difficult?
  • What types of commands do you tend to question?
  • What things do you hesitate to obey?
  • What areas of disobedience do you often make excuses for?
  • What is one area of your life you can submit to God and live in greater obedience to Him? The solution is not to focus on the law, the rule, the commandment, but to focus on the person. Obedience is always to a person. What truths do you know about God that will make it easier for you to obey him in the area of your life you have chosen to submit to him?

Scripture References

  • Deuteronomy 11:13 – “if you listen obediently to MY commandments”
  • I Samuel 15:22 – “to obey is better than sacrifice”
  • Hebrews 5:9 – “He became to all who obey Him the source of salvation”
  • I Peter 1:2 – “that you may obey Jesus Christ”
  • I Peter 1:14 – “As obedient children…be holy”
  • I Peter 1:22 – “you have in obedience to the truth purified your souls”

Other references to obedience:

  • Acts 5:29
  • 1 Samuel 15:22
  • Romans 6:16
  • 2 Corinthians 10:5

Biblical Personalities who were are known for their obedience

  • Abraham – Genesis 12:4 22:2,3
  • Abram (Abraham)- Genesis 12:1-4; Hebrews 11:8; Genesis 22:3,12
  • Asa – 1 Kings 15:11
  • Bezaleel – Exodus 36:1; Numbers 9:23
  • Caleb – Numbers 32:12
  • Christ – Hebrews 5:8, 10:9; Philippians 2:8, Romans 5:19, John 14:31; 15:10; 15:20; Matthew 3:15
  • Daniel – Daniel 1-6
  • David – Psalm 119:106, 1 Samuel 17
  • Elijah – 1 Kings 17:5
  • Hezekiah – 2 Kings 18:6; Ezra 7:23; Psalm 27:8
  • Israelites – Exodus 12:28; 24:7
  • Joseph and Mary – Luke 1:26-38; 2:39; Acts 16:10; Matthew 1:24
  • Joshua – A man known for his military strategy was asked by God to to march around Jericho for seven days beating on pots and blowing horns rather that use his miliatry might. – Joshua 11:15
  • Josiah – 2 Kings 22:2
  • Moses – A desert nomad who could not speak was asked by God to appear before Pharaoh, a leader of powerful civilization and to demand that the Israelites be set free.
  • Naaman – 2 Kings 5
  • Nehemiah – Was sked by God to supplies to rebuild Jerusalem from a pagan Babylonian king.
  • Noah – Asked by God to build a huge boat and was ridiculed by men for doing so. – Genesis 6:22
  • Paul – Acts 26:19; Romans 16:19
  • Saints of Rome – Romans 16:19
  • Wise men – Matthew 2:12
  • Zacharias – Luke 1:6
  • Zerubbabel – Haggai 1:12

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This 170 page resource not only provides 52 of the world’s most popular group icebreaker activities and games, but also includes lesson ideas and discussion questions to smoothly transition into conversations about the issues common to most groups.

Click here to find out how to get your hands on this incredible resource!

Evangelism Ideas, Game Ideas

Our Christian Testimony: Earth! Water! Air! Fire!

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Using the game of “Earth!” “Water!” “Air!” or “Fire!” youth will discuss how our actions affect our testimony for Christ.

Preparation

  1. Position the youth in a circle of chairs facing inward.
  2. Take a handkerchief and knot it at one end so it can be easily thrown back and forth between people.

What to do

  1. Give the handkerchief to one of the youth instructing him/ her to throw it into the lap of another youth else in the circle. As he/she throws it he/she must call out “Earth!” “Water!” “Air!” or “Fire!”
  2. If “Earth!”, “Water!” or “Air!” is called, the one into whose lap the handkerchief has been thrown must name some bird or animal that lives or moves about in that environment. For example, if “earth” is shouted then the one into whose lap the handkerchief falls might answer: “Worms!” It would be just as correct however for him to name any beast which lives upon the earth. The same animal cannot be used again.
  3. As soon as a handkerchief lands in someone’s lap the one who threw it begins to count rapidly to 10. If the animal is not given to for “Earth”, “water”, or “air”, then that person must answer a question before passing the handkerchief on to the next person.
  4. However, if the handkerchief is thrown, and the one who throws it calls out “fire!” then the one into whose lap it falls must remain perfectly silent. If he/ she does not remain silent he/she must answer one of the questions before passing the handkerchief on to another player.

Questions

The questions are related to the topic of “personal testimony.” The questions that youth must answer all involve whether the action, attitude, characteristic stated:

  • harms one’s testimony or
  • benefits one’s personal testimony or
  • has no effect on a person’s testimony.

A reason must be given for the answer. Then continue the game. You may do the questions in order or have youth pick a number between (1-66). Mark off numbers as they are used! Some of the choices involve things that happened to Paul. Others involve things to which a typical teen might be exposed.

  1. Dancing
  2. Cheating
  3. Responsible
  4. Integrity
  5. Trust
  6. Going to church
  7. Trials
  8. Being a follower of the Way
  9. Envy
  10. Belief in an afterlife
  11. Lust
  12. A clear conscience
  13. Going to a party
  14. Loving one’s enemies.
  15. Having fun!
  16. Having to appear in court
  17. Having a consistent devotional life
  18. Making good grades
  19. Having personal problems
  20. Wealth
  21. Drinking
  22. Being falsely accused of a crime
  23. Sharing your belief with someone else
  24. Athletic
  25. Serving others
  26. Speaking to a leader with great authority
  27. Taking responsibility for your actions
  28. Insisting on your rights
  29. Giving gifts to the poor
  30. Being ceremonially clean
  31. Listening to country music
  32. Listening to Rock music
  33. Theft
  34. Reading one’s Bible to the class
  35. Telling Jokes
  36. Pointing out the sins of others
  37. Hanging with the wrong crowd
  38. Obeying parents
  39. Going to an RA movie
  40. Smoking
  41. Being shy
  42. Being serious about life
  43. Being in Jail
  44. Losing your temper
  45. Listening to ONLY Christian music
  46. Praying daily
  47. Saying table grace
  48. Rudeness
  49. Anger
  50. Thinking about your sexuality
  51. Taking a stand for what you believe
  52. Showing your answers on a test to someone
  53. Being challenged to fight someone
  54. Sneaking out of the house to go to church
  55. Causing a public disturbance
  56. Telling the truth, even if it hurts someone
  57. Gossip
  58. Preaching
  59. Kissing someone in public
  60. Dating
  61. Good looks
  62. Memorizing your testimony
  63. Singing all the time
  64. The clothes you wear
  65. Your nationality
  66. Helping those in need

Take it to the Next Level

Make it Spiritual

Paul present his testimony in Acts 24:10-21.  In fact, some of the statements in the list are references to parts of Paul’s testimony as presented in this passage.  Paul shares more insight on his motives, and his actions as related to being a testimony to the gospel of Christ in 1 Corinthians 9:1-23 and 1 Corinthians 10:23-33.  Two key principles are evident.

  • While all things are permissible, Paul holds himself to a stricter standard so that he might be better witness for the Gospel, that is testimony might reach more people.
  • Paul gives up some of his rights so that others might be saved.

Make it Practical

Discuss some of the issues regarding Christian freedom, God’s forgiveness, and our our actions, words and attitudes affect our testimony as Christians.

Make it Personal

In what ways might you personally be a better testimony for the Gospel for your family, friends, and those who know you?

Game Ideas

Pass the Wreath

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Description

In this Christmas team building game for youth, each team of youth will form a circle holding hands with each person on the left and right and then pass a wreath around the circle as quickly as possible without letting go. The fastest group wins.

Materials

  • Hula Hoop for each team. If you can’t find hula hoops, plastic tubing that can be shaped into a circle and secured with duct tape. Warning: Hula Hoops tend to get stretched or may be damaged.
  • Green garland, red ribbon and other Christmas decorations as needed
  • Stopwatch

Preparation

  1. Obtain a Hula Hoop for each team. Wrap each hoop with a green garland and tie a red ribbon on each so they look like large Christmas wreaths.
  2. Divide the youth into teams of an even number participants and ask each team to stand in a circle by clasping hands with the person on either side of them. With a smaller groups, form only one circle and have them compete against the clock instead of against each other. The ideal group size for one circle is 5-10 youth.
  3. After the group(s) form a circle holding hands, separate the hands any single spot in the circle and have the two youth whose hands you have separated to reach through the wreath to reconnect their hands.

What to Do

  1. The object of the game is to pass a wreath around the circle as quickly as possible.
  2. The wreath must move around the circle in a clockwise direction.
  3. Youth may not let go of the hands they are holding at any time. If they lose their grip or let go, the wreath must start back at the beginning again.
  4. Fingers cannot be used to grip or move the wreath
  5. The youth must remain in a circle. Players bend and twist their bodies through the wreath to get it around the circle.
  6. The fastest group wins.

Important Notes

  1. Glasses may sometimes fall off and break so those youth wearing glasses need to remove them before the game starts.
  2. Make sure the hula hoop you use is big enough for everyone in the group to fit through so that there are no awkward moments for larger sized youth.
  3. Youth should be in generally good shape as some flexibility and balance will be needed to complete the task.

Youth may question whether this challenge is possible, but assure them that it can be done. Repeat the process until the team is satisfied with their time and their system. Generally, groups get it down to less than 2 minutes. The people directly involved work together to fit their body into the hoop and those waiting for the hoop to get to them, watch, give suggestions and encourage. Once it has made it around the circle, the task is complete.

Variations

  1. Provide two wreaths for each team. Start the wreaths in the same location but ask the group to pass one wreath in a clockwise direction and the other wreath in a counterclockwise direction. When they get to the midway point there is usually some confusion.
  2. Time the group as they pass the wreath to see how long it takes them to get it all the way around. Allow another attempt to break the “record”.
  3. Ask players to stand with their back toward center of the circle.
  4. Ask the youth to complete the task without talking or while blindfolded.

Take it to the Next Level

Make it Practical

Have you ever heard of the phrase “Jumping through Hoops”? Know what it means?
“Jumping though hoops” has typically meant “going to great lengths” or “much effort” in order to accomplish something.

People jump through hoops on a regular basis. Either to fulfill some kind of requirement to gain acceptance into a group, to meet some kind of standard to satisfy others, to follow some set of rules.

  1. What are some of the hoops in your life that you have had to jump through?
  2. Are there hoops we jump through as Christians? In the church? In the youth group?
  3. What are the expectations for each of these groups?
  4. Are these hoops good or bad? Explain.
  5. Do some people have more to deal with than others? If so, why?
  6. Are hoops necessary? What hoops would you add/remove from/to your life if you could?
  7. What is the purpose of rules and expectations? How are they useful / harmful?

Take It Spiritual

In the Old Testament, the people of God went to great lengths to be accepted by God. To be accepted by God required jumping through a lot of hoops – following a long list of God given laws, and requirements in order to be accepted by God. To make matters worse, by human standards, it was impossible to be accepted by God, because the hoops were beyond the ability of the people. And on top of that, tradition added even more rules and expectations so that by the time Christ had his encounters with the Pharisees, it was an even more impossible burden.

“They tie up heavy, cumbersome loads and put them on other people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them.” (Matthew 23:4)

I wonder if any of these hoops sound familiar? Christians must not drink. They must not smoke. They must dress appropriately (according to a myriad of opinions of what is proper). They must be timid, and peaceful and submit when others want to walk over them. Youth cannot have tattoos, or earrings, or unnatural colors in their hair. You must be in church every time the doors are open. You must give to every cause. You must put on a smile even though you are deeply hurting and tired and weary. The list goes on… We sing about grace, yet are quick to condemn, proclaim the blood of Christ in forgiveness, yet hold grudges, preach of freedom in Christ, but add a plethora of rules and expectations. The Bible is full of imperfect people resting in the loving care of a perfect God, many of which would never be allowed in any kind of public position in the church of today. But is a list of rules what defines the Christian? What does define a person as a Christian?

A look at Ephesians 2:1-10 and Romans 5:6-8 makes it clear that Christ loved us and died for us even though we were ungodly, sinful, and dead in our trespasses. We were unworthy, yet God reached out to us.

“Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.” (Luke 9:23)

Make It Personal

  1. What are some of the things that you do simply for show?
  2. In what ways do you conform to expectations?
  3. How can you personally focus more on the relationships rather than the rules and expectations?

Most people would prefer to follow a bunch of rules, to “jump through hoops” as it were, than to actually give up their own lives and follow Christ. Yet Jesus did not call us to a set of rules, but to a relationship. He asked people to take up their cross and follow Him. But it’s so much easier to carry a hoop than a cross.

“Come to Me, all you who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30)

Scripture References

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
– Matthew 11:28-30

“Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.”
– Luke 9:23

“They tie up heavy, cumbersome loads and put them on other people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them.”
– Matthew 23:4

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God — not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
– Ephesians 2:8-10

“You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
– Romans 5:6-8

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Game Ideas

Cat and Mouse

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Description

One of the biggest challenges right now is the “Back to School” blues. Summer is over and the reality of school has set back in again. Everyone’s back to pursuing something. Popularity, grades, sports, maybe even aspiring to music careers on YouTube, everyone faces the pressure to perform.

This game is great to blow off some steam and burn off a little energy in the youth group. As typical in any game of tag, it is a game of pursuit. This lends itself to a discussion of the things we pursue in life and what the Bible says we should pursue.

Resources
None Needed

What to Do

  1. Choose someone to be the “cat” and another person to be the “mouse” then ask the rest of the youth to hold hands and form a circle around the “mouse”.
  2. Have every two persons in the circle to drop hands so that they are in pairs. These partners must continue holding hands and cannot let go.
  3. The cat can cut through the circle in between pairs, but the mouse must run around the outside of the circle.
  4. The objective is for the cat to tag the mouse, but there is a small twist that balances out the cat’s ability to cut through the circle. The mouse can grab any free hand (or arm) of the partners forming the circle. (The partners will be holding hands or locking arms, but the outside arm of each person will be free.) If the mouse grabs one of these outside arms/ hands, the mouse forms a new partner with the person the mouse has attached to, and the person who was not grabbed now becomes the new mouse.
  5. If the cat manages to tag the mouse, they reverse roles and the cat becomes the mouse and the mouse becomes the cat.
  6. This game can usually go on for quite a while before the youth become bored. Usually I will set a time limit and a forfeit for the person who is the cat when the time is up.

Variations

  • For Christmas you could have the Grinch chasing the Puppy, or Herod Chasing Baby Jesus.
  • For Thanksgiving have the Farmer Chasing the Turkey.
  • For Easter you could have the Pharisees Chasing the Disciples.
  • For a lesson on King David, you could have Saul chasing David.
  • For a lesson on Moses, Have Pharaoh Chasing Moses.
  • There are a lot of places in the Old Testament where People are being pursued.

Take It to the Next Level

Take it Spiritual
In life, we may sometimes be pursued and other times we may be doing the pursuing. What are some things that we pursue in life?

Here are some of the things the Bible says we should pursue.

  • Love – 1 Corinthians 14:1 (NAS)
  • Peace -1 Peter 3:11 (ASV NAS RSV NIV); Psalms 34:14 (KJV ASV NAS RSV NIV)
  • Righteousness, piety, faith, love, endurance, meekness – 1 Timothy 6:11 (NAS NIV)
  • Righteousness, faith, love, and peace – 2 Timothy 2:22 (NAS NIV)
  • Peace, Holiness – Hebrews 12:14 (NAS)
  • Prize – Philippians 3:12-14
  • Righteousness – Proverbs 15:9 (NAS RSV NIV); Romans 9:30-32 (NAS RSV NIV); Isaiah 51:1 (NAS RSV NIV)
  • Peace, Things that build others up – Romans 14:19 (NAS RSV)
  • To Know God – Hosea 6:3 (NKJV)

As you look over the things the Bible says to pursue, you’ll see they fall into the same two areas of the great commandment – To love the Lord your God with all your heart soul mind and strength, and to Love your neighbor as yourself – A right relationship with God and a right relationship with others.

Take it Personal

  • Which of these do people find difficult to pursue?
  • What stops people from pursuing these things of God?
  • When you think about your relationship with God – faith, endurance, righteousness, piety and holiness, how do you think you measure up?
  • What are you currently pursuing?
  • How can you direct that pursuit in a way that is honoring to God?
  • In what areas does your life – thoughts, attitudes, actions – need improvement?

Closing

  • What is one thing you can pursue this week in your relationship with God?
  • What is one thing you can pursue this week in your relationship with others?

Scripture References

“Pursue love, yet desire earnestly spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.”
1 Corinthians 14:1 (NASB)

“They must turn from evil and do good; they must seek peace and pursue it.”
1 Peter 3:11 (NIV)

“But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness.”
1 Timothy 6:11 (NIV)

“Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.”
2 Timothy 2:22

“Pursue peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord.”
Hebrews 12:14 (NASB)

“Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 3:12-14 (NIV)

“What then shall we say? That the Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have obtained it, a righteousness that is by faith; but the people of Israel, who pursued the law as the way of righteousness, have not attained their goal. Why not? Because they pursued it not by faith but as if it were by works. They stumbled over the stumbling stone.”
Romans 9:30-32 (NIV)

“So then we pursue the things which make for peace and the building up of one another.”
Romans 14:19 (NASB)

“Let us know, Let us pursue the knowledge of the Lord. His going forth is established as the morning; He will come to us like the rain, Like the latter and former rain to the earth.”
Hosea 6:3 (NKJV)

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Game Ideas, Icebreakers

Knock Down, or Build Up

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Description

There are times when we have fun, draw closer to one another, talk about all kinds of things, and experience the joy of being together. Other times though it seems that the things we say, or things that are said to us seem to hurt even more when it involves our families.

We often hear it said that the people we hurt the most are often the ones that are closest to us. There are times I wish I could have taken back the words the moment I’ve said them, but it’s often too late; damage done.

In all our relationships the things we do can say can either build up or tear down. This wacky youth group game presents the same choice to teams of youth.

 

STACKERS

 

Resources

  1. Plates and cups – You want an even number of plates and cups so they can be stacked. Don’t use breakables ones as they will be knocked over and dropped. Plastic works great, but you can also use disposable ones. Be warned that if they are too light, they can be easily blown over.
  2. Balls – Tennis balls work well but you can use a smaller ball to make the game more difficult or a bigger one to make it easier.
  3. Instead of cups and saucers you can use other objects but must take into account the weight of objects and the ball used. A light ball won’t be able to knock down heavy objects. Other options include using just cups, jenga blocks, shoe boxes, empty food cans (beware of sharp edges), Pringles cans, cereal boxes, wooden blocks, etc. The only requirement is that the objects must be easily stackable by the youth.

Preparation

  • Create an open space in the middle of a room or of an outdoor area.
  • Place the cups and saucers in a pile for each team.
  • Set up teams an equal distance from the piles in the center. The further away, the more difficult the game becomes.
  • Give each team a ball.

What to Do

  1. The first person on each team must run to the pile in the center for his or her team in the play area and stack all the plates and cups. The cups and saucers must be stacked so that each cup rests on a saucer, then the next cup and saucer is placed on top, continuing until a tower of cups and saucers is built.
  2. After the tower is built, the youth runs back to his or her team and tags the next person.
  3. The next person has a choice. EITHER run straight to their own team’s tower in the center and unstack and re-stack the cups and saucers OR
  4. Toss the ball to knock down another team’s tower. If the ball is tossed, the next person in line must retrieve the ball and bring it back to the group before the person who tossed it can run to their tower in the center and unstack and re-stack the plates and saucers.
  5. If a team’s tower is knocked down by another team, the person who originally stacked that particular tower must run to the center and stack them again before the next person can go to the center and unstack and re-stack the plates and saucers.
  6. The first team to have everyone on the team finish unstacking and re-stacking their tower wins.
  7. Strategically, a team has a choice to focus on building their own towers or taking time to knock down other towers so that they slow others down. Bear in mind that they could knock down more than one tower with one throw – including their own!

 

Take It to the Next Level

 

In all our relationships the things we do and say can either build up or tear down. It always seems easier to tear someone down rather than build them up. It takes a long time to build someone up with positive words, words of life, words of blessing, but only a moment to tear them down. And often, all the positive that was done before is wiped out in an instant.

We can all remember occassions when we have personally been torn down by someone’s hurtful words. Most of us have been intentionally, or unintentionally torn someone down with our words or actions.

  • Paul tells the Christians to let no “unwholesome talk” come out of their mouths. What are some things that might be called “unwholesome talk”? Words that tear down?
  • Why do people speak to others with hurtful words?
  • What are some examples of words that build up?
  • Before we do or say things to others, we need to ask ourselves, will this build up or tear down? Will it benefit, or harm?
  • How should we respond when we have been hurt by words?
  • How should we respond if we have hurt others? What can we do to make it right?
  • How can we build up others who have been hurt?

Closing

Give each youth some adhesive address labels and a something to write with. They must write down encouraging remarks on the stickers and place them on the backs of other youth with a personal comment to encourage them. Be sure to let the youth know this is a time to be serious and if they can not do it in a meaningful, caring way you’d rather them not participate. You might want to have some soft music playing while they do this. Tell them to go build each other up.

Then ask for volunteers to come to the front and read the words on their back. Let the youth keep them and ask them to place them some place at home where they will be reminded of the encouraging words.

Action Point

Issue the youth a challenge to speak positive words to at least 2 persons everyday for the next week and then in the next meeting ask them to share their experiences.

Scripture References

“Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there be any virtue, and if there is anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things” (Philippians 4:8)

“Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.” (Ephesians 4:29)

 

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This 170 page resource not only provides 52 of the world’s most popular group icebreaker activities and games, but also includes lesson ideas and discussion questions to smoothly transition into conversations about the issues common to most groups.

Click here to find out how to get your hands on this incredible resource!

Game Ideas

Messy Games – Whipped Cream Bubble Relay

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Description

This is a simple messy game for youth and children with the mess coming from a whipped cream.

Resources

  • Pie tins (or paper plates) for each team
  • Bubble Gum for each team
  • Whipped Cream
  • Damp towels for clean up

Preparation

  • Set up a table for the pie tins
  • Set up the pie tins along the tables, side by side
  • Place an unwrapped piece of bubble gum in each pie tin and cover with whipped cream
  • Have additional bubblegum and whipped cream as replacements between each player

How to Play

  1. Divide the youth into teams.
  2. Line each team up across the room from the table with the pie tins.
  3. When the relay begins, the first player on each team will rush to the table. They must keep their hands behind their backs and without using their hands must use their mouth to fish around in the pie tin of whipped cream to find the unwrapped peice of bubble gum.
  4. Once the youth finds the bubble gum, he or she must chew it and blow a bubble.
  5. They then run back to their teams. While they are running back to their teams, someone must replace the bubble gum in the whipped cream and a little whipped cream for good measure.
  6. The first team on which all the players on the team complete the task wins.

Get Icebreakers ebookIcebreakers Ahead: Take It To the Next Level

 

This 170 page resource not only provides 52 of the world’s most popular group icebreaker activities and games, but also includes lesson ideas and discussion questions to smoothly transition into conversations about the issues common to most groups.

Click here to find out how to get your hands on this incredible resource!

Game Ideas

Bible Lessons from the Olympics: Victorious in the Challenges of Life

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When you think about the Olympics, you can’t help but think about the challenges the athletes face in pursuit of the gold, bronze, and silver medals. Many of the athletes have faced tremendous personal challenges simple to be at the Olympic games. They will be challenged by the best athletes in the world. They will be challenged by world records. They will be challenged by their own limitations. As Dorothy Stuart Hamill, an American figure skater and the 1976 Olympic champion once said, “I wouldn’t say that there’s ever been an Olympic champion that didn’t deserve to win an Olympic Gold Medal.”

Wacky Challenges

  • Bubble blowing contest – who can blow the biggest soap bubbleCoin toss – toss the coin closest to the wall
  • Thumb wrestling
  • Finger wrap – Give youth a length of string and have them race to wrap the strong around their finger.
  • Toilet Paper Roll – They must race to roll a roll of toilet paper along the ground until all the toilet paper is off the roll.
  • Marshmallow balance: see who can balance the highest number of marshmallows or candy pieces on his/her nose.
  • Porcupine Relay
  • Balloon Popping – Whose the fastest at blowing up a balloon until it pops
  • Peel an orange – Who can peel an orange the fastes

Make up your own wacky challenges
Also check out Tiny Olympics

Take It to the Next Level

  1. Have the youth make a list of challenges that today’s teens face. What are the struggles, the difficulties, the tests that today’s teens face?
  2. After youth have listed their challenges on a large sheet of paper, ask:
    * What makes these things challenging?
    * How have you been able to overcome such challenges in the past?
    * How does experience with God change the way a person faces challenges from day to day?
    * How could your relationship with God help you deal with the challenges you listed?

Scriptures Verses for Youth Bible Study

Isaiah 40:29-31
“He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. 30 Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; 31 but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”

Philippians 3:12-14
“Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”

Applying Scripture to Life

What promises do these verses hold for us when we face life’s challenges?

Ask volunteers to share personal testimonies of how God has given them strength along the way to get to this point in their lives. As a group, discuss how God can help youth face challenges during the year ahead. Close with a time of personal prayer and recommitment for youth to follow God as they begin a new phase in their lives.

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Need an evangelistic Youth Camp/ Bible Study Series with an Olympic Theme?

What is salvation all about? What does it mean to be saved? This sports themed Bible Study / Camp Curriculum uses the Olympic Flag to introduce the concepts of sin (black circle), forgiveness (red circle), purity (white background), spiritual growth (green circle), heaven (Yellow Circle) and (Baptism) blue circle.
-> Tell me about “Go for the Gold”

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Need a Youth Camp/ Bible Study Series on “Running the Christian Race”?

The race as a metaphor for the Christian life is used in several places in the Bible. This series is a great follow up for new Christians or to re-emphasize the basics of our spiritual Journey in the Faith. This Bible Study / Camp Curriculum has a sports theme and is great for athletes as well as a tie in to the youth Olympic Games.
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Game Ideas

Night Before Christmas Mad Lib

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Description
Just for fun. In this mad lib, you replace some of the words of the “Night Before Christmas” with words written by youth and chosen at random.

What you need

  • Slips of paper and something for youth to write with.
  • A print out of the modified “Night Before Christmas”
  • Create and label a box for each of the following categories. I have placed the number of items used from each box behind the category. This game uses 13 names. If you don’t have enough in any given category, just reuse those in the box more than once. Not all the pieces of paper will be used in the poem.

 

Word Categories

  • PLACE IN HOUSE – 2
  • ANIMAL – 4
  • THINGS – 6
  • FURNITURE – 4
  • NAME – 13
  • item of CLOTHING – 5
  • ACTION VERB – 5
  • SOUND – 6
  • VEHICLE – 2
  • BODY PART – 11
  • ADJECTIVE – 10

 

What to do

  1. Give each youth pieces of paper and a pen or pencil.
  2. Have eah youth write ONE WORD for each category and place it in corresponding box.
  3. Once all the youth have contributed, Begin to read the “Night Before Christmas.” Whenever you get to one of CATEGORIES in ALL CAPS, draw a slip of paper from that category and fill in the word on the piece of paper into the poem. You will need to use the correct feminine or masculine pronoun for each name used. I like to ask each youth to stand up when their name is called until the next name is called to make it easier to remember who is being talked about.

 

Notes:

  • If anything is inappropriate you can simply censor it by drawing out another piece of paper.
  • You can also censor the word if it would be particularly embarassing to a specific youth. Use your own wisdom.

 

Variation
Each youth must stand up when their name is called until a new name is called and if any actions are called out they must act out those actions.

THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS 
Modified with apologies to Clement Clarke Moore

‘Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the PLACE IN HOUSE
Not a creature was stirring, not even a ANIMAL;
The THINGS were hung by the FURNITURE with care,
In hopes that NAME soon would be there;
The youth were all nestled all snug in a FURNITURE
While visions of THINGS danced in their heads;

And NAME in a CLOTHING, and NAME in a CLOTHING,
Had just settled down for a long winter’s ACTION VERB,
When out on the PLACE IN A HOUSE there arose such a SOUND,
NAME sprang from the PLACE IN HOUSE to see what was the matter.

When, what to my ADJECTIVE, BODY PART should appear,
But a miniature VEHICLE, and eight tiny ANIMALs,
With a little ADJECTIVE driver, so ADJECTIVE and ADJECTIVE,
I knew in a moment it must be NAME.

More rapid than ANIMALs his/her coursers they came,
And s/he SOUND-ed, and SOUND-ed, and called them by name;
“Now, NAME! now, NAME! now, NAME and Vixen!
On, NAME! on, NAME! on, NAME and Blitzen!

As I drew in my BODY PART and was ACTION-VERBed around,
Down the FURNITURE NAME came with a bound.
S/He was dressed all in CLOTHING, from his/her BODY-PART to his/her BODY-PART,
And his/her CLOTHING was all tarnished with THINGS and soot;

A bundle of THINGS s/he had flung on his/her BODY PART,
And s/he looked like a peddler just opening his/her pack.
His/her BODY PART — how they ADJECTIVE! his/her BODY PART how ADJECTIVE!
His/her BODY PART were like THINGS, his/her BODY PART like a cherry!

s/He had a broad BODY PART and a little ADJECTIVE belly,
That shook, when s/he ACTION-VERB like a bowlful of THINGS.
S/He was ADJECTIVE and ADJECTIVE a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him/her, in spite of myself;

S/He spoke not a word, but went straight to his/her work,
And filled all the CLOTHING; then ACTION with a jerk,
And laying his/her BODYPART aside of his/her nose,
And giving a nod, up the FURNITURE s/he ACTION VERBed;

S/He sprang to his/her VEHICLE, to his/her TEAM gave a SOUND,
And away they all flew like the SOUND of an ANIMAL.
But I heard him/her SOUND, ere s/he ACTION VERB out of sight,
“ADJECTIVE Christmas to all, and to all a good-night.”

 

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Games and Activities helping youth discover the Reason for the Season.

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Game Ideas

Unwrap the Birthday Gift

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Description

The “Unwrap the Gift” game is similar to the Pass the Parcel Game with the difference being that this one gives you a phrase that determines which youth gets the gift next. While you can use this for Christmas, it can also be used for birthdays. Why should the birthday teen be the only one who gets a gift? Want to make it even more inclusive? — Then use a gift like snacks or party favors that everyone can enjoy!

Preparation

To play this Unwrap the Gift game, you’ll need to wrap a gift in multiple layers of wrapping paper with a slip of paper per wrapped layer. You’ll need pieces of paper or sticker labels with the phrases written on them. Remember that the final phrase is below the first layer you wrap.

Note: When wrapping the gift use at least 2 different designs of wrapping paper so visually the guest will easily know when they have unwrap the topmost layer. If you use pink paper for one layer and
purple for the next you won’t have someone unwrapping 2 layers at the same time by accident.

The Phrases

You could use rhymes, bible verses, accessories, clothing color, riddles, trivia questions, favorite foods, pets, hobbies, anything you can imagine. Some examples of phrases to use:

  • The next one to get it all, is someone who is very tall.
  • Who’s up next? The gift goes where? To the one with the longest hair.
  • Mark 9:3 “His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them.”
  • Someone who loves ice-cream.
  • Someone who has a pet dog.
  • Someone wearing a bracelet.
  • Someone who knows the number of books in the Old Testament.
  • Someone who can finish the verse,”The Lord is my shepherd…”

Please add a few phrases of your own by posting a comment to this entry with your own ideas.

 

The phrases should get progressively complex and go from general to specific. You’ll want to start by seeing people wanting to avoid receiving the gift early, then clamoring to get it later in the game.

What to Do

  1. Grab your wrapped gift and invite everyone in the room and have them sit in a circle facing each other.
  2. Announce that you are going to play Unwrap the Gift game.
  3. Explain that when you receive the gift, you’ll need to Unwrap 1 layer of wrapping paper and read the next phrase to determine who gets the gift next. The last person to unwrap the last layer of wrapping paper wins the gift and once you have had your turn unwrapping, you cannot receive the gift again. There’s no telling how many layers there are so, the next one to completely unwrap the gift gets to keep it!
  4. We suggest the Party Host save a spot in the circle and start the game off so everyone understands how it is played. The birthday teen could even be the first one to start the game.

Take it to the Next Level

Here are some possible lessons:

  • Surprises: Life is often full of surprises. Some are ours to keep and others are meant to be passed on.
  • Grace: While in this game, you have to do something or possess a certain characteristic to get the gift, the grace is different. Grace is unmerited favor.
  • Salvation: The gift of salvation is not the result of someone being born on a certain day, but because someone died on a certain day. Jesus gave his life, so that we might live. It was an unmerited gift, not based on who we are or what we do, but who God is and what he did for you! For God so loved he gave.
  • Gifts: A lot of gifts come to us in life. Some are ours to keep, but most are ours to share and pass on to others.
  • Evangelism: Evangelism is receiving the gift of God and passing it on so that someone else can be blessed.

 

Just for Fun

Of course, you can just play this as a fun game at a Birthday Party, Christmas Party or any other celebration with friends.

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MORE IDEAS? See “Creative Object Lessons”
200 page e-book that explains everything you need to know when planning your very own object lessons. It contains 90 fully developed object lesson ideas and another 200 object lesson starter ideas based on Biblical idioms and Names / Descriptions of God.
Learn More…

Game Ideas

Balloon Gauntlet

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Introduction
Hit a balloon toward a goal and it doesn’t always go where intended. The same is often true in our pursuit of goals in life. But with teamwork and concerted effort we can make progress toward the goals God has laid out for us.

Game Description
Hit the Balloon through the gauntlet to the other team’s goal.

Game Materials

  • Inflated balloons. You might want to have several extras in case one busts.
  • A chair for each youth participating.

Game Preparation

  1. Arrange the chairs in two rows facing each other.
  2. One youth is assigned to each chair.
  3. Each row numbers off, with those calling odd numbers being assigned to one team and the youth calling out even numbers assigned to the other.
  4. Odds are assigned an end of the gauntlet as their goal. Evens are assigned the opposed end as their goal.

Game Play

  1. A balloon is placed or tossed in the middle between the two lines of youth, an equal distance from each end.
  2. Each team (Odds or Evens) hits the balloon when it is within range. They can choose to hit it to another player, up, down, or across the rows.
  3. The balloon cannot be held or thrown but must be tapped or hit.
  4. When a goal is scored, the balloon is placed back in the centre of the two rows, an equal distance form the two ends and play starts again.
  5. If a balloon goes wide out of range it is tossed back in from where it went out.
  6. The winner is the team which has scored the most goals after a set period of time.

Take it to the next level

Discussion

  • What are some of the goals in life that people have?
  • Goals that youth have?
  • What are some of your goals?
  • Do you ever find things going a different direction than you planned when pursuing your goals?
  • How can other help you keep on track for your goals?
  • Is goal setting Biblical or should we simply trust in God for the future?
  • What are some of our goals for the Christian life?
  • How can we help each other stay on track for our goals?

Scriptural Application

  • Is God is goal-oriented? (John 5:17; Ephesians 1:10)
  • Were Jesus and other biblical leaders spiritually goal-oriented? (Luke 13:32; John 17:4; 1 Corinthians 9:26,27; Philippians 3:13,14; 2 Timothy 4:7,8)
  • What are some of the goals we should have as Christians? (1 Corinthians 9:24,25; 2 Peter 1:5-8; 1 Peter 3:15; Hebrews 10:24,25)
  • What role does the rest of the Body of Christ play in setting our goals? (1 Corinthians 3:4-9)

Food for Thought
“Attempt great things for God; expect great things from God.” ~William Carey, Missionairy

 

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Game Ideas

How to Blow out an egg to have just the hollow shell for Easter Activities

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Description
At Easter, instead of using decorated hard-boiled eggs for your Youth Easter Activities, you can sometimes use just the egg shells with the contents removed. Here is a simple way to empty the contents of an egg without creating too much of a mess — and it leaves most of the egg shell intact.

Resources

  • Fresh Eggs
  • One nail, Sewing needle, or a sharp tipped object
  • One bowl
  • Optional Sharp pointed scissors

 

What to do

  1. Set the bowl on the table and work above the bowl to avoid making a mess. The bowl not only catches any egg yolk or egg white that might spill, but it also allows you to save the egg contents to use for an omellete or for cooking. If you choose to save the egg whites/ yolk be sure to refrigerate or cook it the same day to avoid it going bad.
  2. Holding the egg above the bowl, scrape the end of the egg with the nail or needle until you wear away a little of the shell and create a small hole. Don’t apply to much pressure or you will break the egg.
  3. After you have broken through the shell, do the same thing again on the opposite end of the egg.
  4. Carefully enlarge the hole with a sharp pointed pair of scissors or using the nail / needle to break off small pieces of the edge of the opening until it is about 1/8 of an inch in diameter or slightly larger.
  5. Hold one end of the egg up to your mouth and blow hard but steadily into the hole so that the contents exit from the other end of the egg and are caught in the bowl. If it is too difficult to blow the contents out you might need to increase the size of the exit hole a little bit.
  6. CAUTION: Sometimes if the egg is weak or the pressure inside is too great it could simply explode. Don’t worry, that is what the bowl is for and it adds a little eggcitement to the activity. 🙂
  7. You may have to do this more than once before the egg is empty. Then run some hot water into the opening of the egg, covering the other end and getting as much hot water inside the empty egg shell as possible. Empty it, and repeat this several times until the water from inside the egg runs clear.
  8. Put a paper towel or tissue into the egg carton the and set the egg back into it, one hole down, to drain the egg.
  9. Once it dries you can decorate the egg just as you would a normal hard-boiled egg. You can use a little white toothpaste or plaster to cover the holes if you wish.

 

You now have hollowed eggs that you can use to decorate and save or use as slightly more fragile replacements for hard boiled eggs.

Check out the Creative Youth Ideas Easter Collection for ideas using Eggs during your Easter Activities for Youth, Children, and even adults.

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Games and Activities in celebration of Easter.

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Game Ideas

Tangled Easter

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Description
Youth will find the Easter basket by following the string.

Resources

  • String
  • Easter basket

 

Preparation
Run and Loop strings throughout the playing area with the Easter basket on the end of the string. Go under chairs, cross over other strings, etc. Have one string and basket for each youth or groups of youth working as a team..

What to do

  1. From the youth into two or more groups.
  2. Tell the group to follow the tangled strings until they reach the Easter basket.
  3. The first group to do so will win.

Variation

  • You can place treats along the way to make it more fun.

 

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Games and Activities in celebration of Easter.

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Game Ideas

Easter Egg Guessing Game

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Description
The youth that correctly guess the number of Easter eggs in the Easter basket wins a prize.

Resources
Easter eggs of various types and a large Easter basket

Preparation
Fill the big Easter basket with eggs of different colors and sizes. Use real eggs as well as chocolate eggs, etc.

What to do

  • Youth will guess the number of Easter eggs in the Easter Basket and write it on a piece of paper along with their name.
  • Read out the guesses at the end of your Easter Party and the person who gets the closest gets to take home the Easter Basket filled with Easter goodies.

 

Variation
You can also give the youth a piece of paper and a pen as they arrive at your Easter Party. As the game starts, you can ask everybody to write their names on the piece of paper and their answer to the question, “How many Easter eggs are there in the basket?” Collect all the pieces of paper and announce the names of the youth and the answers. Slowly remove all the eggs from the Easter basket and count them as you empty it to create more suspense than simply calling out the answer.

 

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Games and Activities in celebration of Easter.

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Game Ideas

Easter Egg Treasure Hunt

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Description
This Easter Games in a combination of a classic treasure hunt with a traditional Easter Egg hunt.

Resources

  • Easter Eggs
  • Treasure Maps

Preparation
Make a treasure map for your egg hunt. It doesn’t have to be to scale and it doesn’t have to be perfect. Add important details like flowers, bushes, tress, etc to indicate hiding spots.

What to do

  1. Group the youth into teams and give each team a treasure map.
  2. Be sure that all teams have the same copy of the treasure map.
  3. The team of youth that finds the most eggs wins a prize.

Variation
You can also add special Easter eggs, like a gold egg with a special prize inside.

 

Use it with Easter symbols for more meaning.

BONUS: How to make a more realistic Treasure Map.

Resources

  • white paper
  • Tea bags or strong tea
  • flat pan
  • matches or a lighter

 

What to do

  1. Tear the edges of the paper in an irregular pattern
  2. Make strong tea and pour into your flat pan
  3. Place the paper into the tea for about 5 minutes.
  4. Flip it over and leave it in the tea for another minute
  5. Let it dry.
  6. Lightly burn the edges with a match or lighter.

 

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Games and Activities in celebration of Easter.

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Game Ideas

Easter Basket Hunt

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Description
The Easter Basket will be discovered after all the Easter Eggs have been collected.

Resources

  • Plastic Easter eggs with clues inside that lead to other Hidden Easter Eggs
  • The last Easter Egg Clue reveals the location of the Easter Basket.
  • Easter basket

 

Preparation
Hide all the plastic Easter eggs with clues inside.

What to do

  1. Tell the group to search for the Easter basket through the clues placed inside the plastic Easter eggs. (of course they have to find the eggs first)
  2. The first egg will have the clue that will lead them to the next egg. And the next plastic egg will have the clue that will lead them to the next egg until they’ll find the Easter basket.
  3. You can have dozen of eggs per group with the corresponding color per group.
  4. The first team to collect the dozens of eggs and finds the basket wins.

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Games and Activities in celebration of Easter.

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Game Ideas

Easter Bunny in a Basket

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Description
This classic high energy game for youth has been adapted for an Easter Party and given an added message of evangelism for the lost.

Resources
No resources are needed except for an open space large enough to accommodate your group of kids or youth and some room to run around.

Preparation
Form youth into groups of three. Two of the youth must hold hands and stand apart so that there is an open space in the middle between them. Together they form an Easter Basket. The remaining participants stand in the center between the arms and is the “Easter Bunny”

Game Play
There are three options that participants must respond to in this Easter party game:

1. If Bunny Hop is called, all the “Easter Baskets” remain where they are and all the “Easter bunnies” must run and hide in another “Easter basket.” The “Easter Bunnies” may not stay in the same “Easter basket” and only one “Easter bunny” is allowed in each Basket. The last “Bunny” to find a new basket to hide in is removed from the game along with the two youth that form that “Easter Basket”.

2. If EGG HUNT is called, all the Easter Bunnies remain in their positions but the youth forming the baskets must change to new locations and form a circle by holding hands with a new partner around one of the stationary bunnies. Youth forming a basket cannot stand in the same place and they cannot connect with the same partner as before. The last two youth to position themselves holding hands to form a new basket around one of the stationary bunnies is eliminated along with the last remaining Easter Bunny.

3. If EASTER BASKET TURNOVER is called, everyone, both Easter baskets and bunnies, must change to new positions and find new partners. Youth forming Easter baskets are allowed to change roles to become bunnies and vice-versa as long as there are new groups of three. As with the other options that are called out, the last group to form is eliminated from the game

Continue the game until there is only one one group of three remaining and give them a prize.

Take it to the Next Level

Christ upset a lot of people’s lives. The gap between the established status of the high priests and the common man was removed. Christ focused on a person’s heart, not his position. Religious leaders like Nicodemus and tax collectors like Zaccheus were of equal standing. Thoughts were given the same importance as actions. Outcasts were embraced. The sick were healed.

And Christ’s arrest and crucifixion served to upset things even more. The disciples were scattered and running to new hiding places. But Christ’s death and resurrection brought about the most profound change of all. The relationship between God and man was redefined. With Christ’s death and resurrection, man was redeemed and his relationship with God was restored. We no longer had to run in fear and hide. We could embrace God as Father and see ourselves as sons and daughters. Indeed, a new beginning came to the world.

Easter reminds us of spring, of the vibrancy of life, of new beginnings. Its not about rabbits and eggs but about a Risen Savior who died for the world. It’s not about what you have in your Easter Basket, but what you have in your heart. With Christ in your heart you can have a new beginning. You don’t need to run in fear, but can be embraced in the love of God. God came not to eliminate you from the game of life, but to include you and give you a safe place to rest.

  • Many of you may feel like you have been running around without purpose – God want’s to give you purpose!
  • Many of you maybe hiding in fear – God wants to give you his forgiveness and hold you in his loving embrace.
  • Many of you have been looking for a place where you can be safe and secure – God wants to give you rest and security in Him.

This Easter choose to give your heart to Christ. He wants to give you a new beginning and an abundant and blessed life. You don’t need to run anymore. Do it today!

 

 

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Games and Activities in celebration of Easter.

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Game Ideas

Math Easter Egg Hunt

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Description
The youth will find Easter eggs with numbers written on them. After a designated period of time, the youth will add the numbers written on the Easter eggs they have found and the youth or team with the highest score wins.

Resources
Easter eggs with numbers written on them and a special prize for the winner.

Preparation
Boil and dye Easter eggs and put a number on each one and hide them. You might choose to hide the higher numbered Easter eggs in the more difficult locations to find.

What to do

  1. Group the youth into 2 or more groups or let them play as individuals
  2. Instruct the youth to search for the eggs with numbers on them.
  3. Remind the youth to limit the searching of eggs. (Like 10 eggs per group or only during a specified length of time)
  4. Youth then search for the Easter eggs
  5. Add all the numbers on the Easter Eggs to get a score.
  6. The group or individual youth with the highest score wins a special prize.

Variation
None

Take it to the Next Level
Place numbers on the eggs that have significance to the Easter Story in the Bible and after the hunt ask youth to explain the significance of the numbers:

  • 12 Disciples
  • 3 days in the tomb
  • 30 pieces of silver
  • 2 women
  • Chapter where the Easter Story is found
  • 1 God
  • ETC

 

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Games and Activities in celebration of Easter.

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Game Ideas

Hidden Treasure Easter Egg Hunt

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Description
In this Easter Egg Hunt, Bible references are used as clues for youth to find the Easter Eggs.

Materials

  • Colored, blown out eggs
  • Rolled up paper notes with Bible references as clues – one in each egg. Bible reference ideas can be found below:

 

The following clues could be used to reference common things or places around the house.

1 Kings 6:7 – hammer, chisel, iron tool = tool box; 2 Chronicles 24:10 – Chest; 2 Kings 2:20 – Bowl of salt; Genesis 47:31 – Head of Bed; Ezekiel 12:7 – Backpack or suitcase; Mark 4:38 – Cushion; 2 Samuel 12:3 – Cup; Ecclesiastes 12:12 – Books, study; 2 Kings 23:24 – book; Acts 13:25 or Exodus 3:5 – Sandals = shoes; John 13:5 – Towel and Basin; Jeremiah 48:12 – pitcher; Acts 9:25 – Baskets; Daniel 5:5 – Hand, Plaster Wall, Lampstand; Deuteronomy 25:13 – Bag; Deuteronomy 8:3 – Bread; Dueteronomy 11:15 – grass; Ecclesiastes 12:3 – Window; Exodus 12:7 – doorframes; Exodus 2:3 – Basket; Exodus 26:2 – Curtains; Exodus 32:32 – Book; Exodus 9:8 – Ashes = fireplace; Ezekiel 16:9 – Bath; Genesis 14:23 – Thread = sewing kit or sewing machine; Genesis 24:17 – Jar; Genesis 37:3 – Robe; Genesis 44:12 – Cup; Isaiah 14:23 – Broom; Isaiah 40:13 – Bucket, Scale; Jeremiah 2:22 – Soap; Jeremiah 23:29 – Hammer; Job 19:23 – Book; Job 6:6 – Salt; John 13:4 – Towel; Judges 5:25 – Bowl; Leviticus 6:20 – flour; Luke 14:27 – cross; Luke 4:4 – Bread; Luke 5:24 – couch; Mark 14:4 – Perfume; Mark 15:36 – Sponge; Mark 6:39 – Grass; Matthew 10:38 – Cross; Matthew 15:27 – Table; Matthew 16:18 – Rock; Matthew 16:19 – Keys; Matthew 19:24 – Needle; Matthew 22:19 – Coin, portrait, inscription; Matthew 23:25 – Platter; Matthew 26:7 – Perfume; Matthew 5:13 – Salt; Matthew 6:6 – Closet, door; Proverbs 1:14 – Purse; Proverbs 17:22 – Medicine = medicine cabinet; Proverbs 24:13 – Honey; Psalm 90:4 – time = clock or calendar; Psalm 119:105 – Lamp; Psalm 139:18 – Sand; Psalm 144:1 – Rock; Psalm 23:15 – Table; Psalm 52:2 – Razor = bathroom; Psalm 60:8 – Shoe; Ruth 2:14 – Bread; Ruth 4:8 – Shoes; Zechariah 6:1 – Chariot = car?; James 1:23-25 – Mirror

Variations
Instead of blown out hollow eggs, write the Bible reference on the egg or use plastic eggs.

What to do
Hide the eggs out of sight in the locations indicated by the clues.
Give the youth one clue to start that leads to one of the hidden eggs.
Each egg then reveals the clue to the next egg. You can also use teams of youth and color the eggs by team or have completely different sets of clues and locations. You can add additional slips of paper as vouchers for a prize or mark some of the eggs as special prizes for youth.

Take it to the Next Level
In many ways the Bible is like a treasure hunt. Found within its verses are many clues to live life to its greatest potential both in our relationship with God and with others. Unlike this hunt, youth need to read the verses in context to get a better understand of what it is talking about.

Scripture
The Bible, God’s Wisdom or righteous living is often referred to as treasure
Proverbs 2:4; Proverbs 10:2; Proverbs 15:6; Matthew 6:20-22; Matthew 13:43-45; Matthew 13:52; 2 Corinthians 4:7; Colossians 2:3

 

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Games and Activities in celebration of Easter.

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Game Ideas

Easter Egg Bowling

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Description
Easter Egg Bowling is an Easter themed variation of “Lawn Bowling” but on a smaller scale. It’s suitable for youth, children and adults of all ages.

History of Lawn Bowling
Lawn bowling is very similar to an Italian game known as bocce. Because of this, many historians believed it started with Roman Soldiers throwing small stones at a target stone. It is traced back to the 13th or 12th century at its earliest, so it is unlikely that Roman soldiers played the game during the time of Christ. As the game developed over the course of history, weights were added inside a ball to cause it to travel a curved path when rolling along the ground. Today, lawn bowling is typically played on a level grass surface. Instead of placing weights inside the ball, the ball is flattened a little on one side to cause it to travel in the curved path.

Game Objective
The objective of lawn bowling is to roll a ball, closest to a target ball. In the traditional game this is a small white ball called a “jack” or a “kitty”. In this Easter variation of the game, hard boiled eggs are used instead of a an irregular shaped ball. The Easter Eggs, like the balls used in the traditional sport, are also of an irregular shape and so also roll in a curved path. The target can either be a specially colored Easter egg or another small object. You will want to limit the size of the playing area and insure the eggs are ROLLED rather than tossed otherwise you are likely to have egg mush instead of intact eggs.

Game Resources

  • A basket of Easter Eggs – Typically the traditional game is played with two teams of 1 to 4 players though larger teams of youth are possible. Because of this it is suggested that there be a different color for each team’s eggs. If you have a very large group of youth you might have more than one playing area with two teams at each area or play it in stages (two teams at a time) so that the winning teams advance to the championship. Instead of real Easter eggs, you could use plastic eggs filled with rice or sand and taped shut.
  • a jack (specially colored Easter egg)
  • a starting mat or piece of paper for the base (A piece of cardboard works well and newsprint can be used if cardboard is unavailable)
  • a playing area – soft grass or soft carpet.
  • a ball of twine or string

 

Preparation

  • Set aside Easter Eggs for each team of youth, preferably one color for each team.
  • Create boundaries for the game. The traditional games takes place in a large field known as the “bowling green”, but reduce the size to limit damage to the eggs. An easy way to mark the boundaries is to use a piece of string. You can poke a small twig or plastic fork in the ground at each corner then tie the strong between the forks to mark the playing area. If you are doing this indoors with a carpeted area, simply use a piece of tape to adhere the string at each corner. If all you have is a hard surface to play the game (like a gym floor), you can get old newspapers and lay them down on the floor, overlapping them to create a softer surface. The edge of the mat of newspapers then becomes the boundary.
  • Flip a coin to see which team of youth gets to set up the mat and the target. The winner of the coin toss gets to place the mat at the edge of the bowling green and toss the target Easter egg, “jack”, into the center as the target. If the target Easter egg is too close to the edges of the playing area it can be centered (between the left and right side) but maintaining the same distance it was tossed.

 

How to Play

  1. Youth take turns tossing their Easter Eggs toward the target.
  2. After each team of youth has rolled all of their eggs, the score is calculated. You should choose in advance how many rounds will be played or a specific score to be reached in order to win. The team of youth which loses a round gets to set the mat and target for next round.

 

Rules for Game Play

  • Youth must keep ONE foot on the mat when releasing the Easter egg toward the target.
  • An Easter egg may temporarily roll outside the boundary, but must stop inside the boundary to be a valid toss. Once it has come to a stop, if it rests outside the boundary it is not considered in scoring UNLESS it touched the target Easter egg before it rolled out of the boundaries.
  • There is no penalty for hitting the target Easter egg, and in fact moving the target egg with a hit might be a viable strategy. If the target egg is knocked out of the boundaries the round can be replayed or re-centered between the left and right boundary but maintaining the distance from where it went out of bounds.
  • There is no penalty for hitting an opponent’s Easter egg and knocking it out of position or completely out of bounds.
  • It is perfectly legal to roll an Easter egg into a position which blocks opponents.

 

Scoring
The team of youth which has the Easter egg closest to the target receives a point. A piece of string is a great way to measure the distance. Each Easter egg belonging to the same team of youth that is closer than any of the competitor’s Easter eggs adds an additional point. Play continues until a specific score is achieved or a set number of rounds is completed.

Taking it to the Next Level
One of the key ideas in this game is that there is a target and we try to get as close to that target as possible while avoiding obstacles, getting knocked aside sometimes, dealing with a natural curve or bias, and striving to stay within boundaries. Some of the possible targets that could be discussed are love, evangelism, becoming Christlike, and pleasing God. (see the scriptures below for more detail)

Discussion Questions for Youth

  • What is the target of life as a Christian youth?
  • Do other youth ever try to block us from that target or even try to knock us away from it? How? Why?
  • What are some of the reasons youth fall short of this target?
  • What are some of the biases or tendencies youth have to overcome?
  • What are some of the strategies youth can use to become closer to the target?
  • What lessons can we learn from this game that apply to the Christian walk of youth?
  • What is something you will personally do as a result of what you have learned from this game?

 

Scriptures

  • 1 Timothy 1:5 – Our goal is love
  • Matthew 28:16-20; 2 Peter 3:9 – Our goal is making disciples (evangelism)
  • 1 Corinthians 10:31; Ephesians 1:11-12; 1 Peter 2:9; Jeremiah 9:23-24 – Our goal is to please God
  • Romans 8:29; Ephesians 4:13; 2 Corinthians 3:18 – Our goal is to be transformed into the likeness of Christ
  • Ephesians 4:22-24 – Our goal is to be like God in Righteousness

 

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Game Ideas

Personal Easter Egg Hunt

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Description
In this variation of the common Easter Egg hunt, each youth will find an Easter egg with his or own name on it.

Resources
Easter eggs with each person’s name on one. You’ll want to have one egg for each person and maybe a couple extra prize eggs.

Preparation
This works best when you know who will be attending or when combined with other activities so that once everyone arrives you can label and hide the eggs.

  • One way to handle a party where you don’t know who will attend is to to have an Easter Basket at the door when people arrive filled with eggs. As the youth arrive they put their names on one of the colored eggs with a permanent marker. Have someone hide the eggs while the youth are involved in other activities.
  • Another alternative would be to number the eggs and give each youth a number. Youth must only find their OWN egg and any of the specially marked prize eggs. They should leave any eggs they find in place if it is not theirs.

What to do

  1. Gather all the youth.
  2. Tell the youth to search for their eggs with their names on it. Also they can search for specially marked prize eggs.
  3. Youth are not allowed to take or move any eggs except their own or the special prize eggs.
  4. The first youth to find his/her Easter egg will have a bonus prize

Take it to the Next Level
Add some spiritual significance to the traditional Easter Egg hunt using Traditional Easter Symbols or Easter verses

 

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Games and Activities in celebration of Easter.

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Game Ideas

No Stress Thanksgiving Party Games for the Whole Family

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No Stress Thanksgiving Party Games for the Whole Family to play as they are sitting around the dinner table

Thanksgiving A to Z
– Use this Thanksgiving Activity along with ABC’s of Thanksgiving to encourage family and friends to consider the things they should be thankful for.

Mayflower Memory
– This Thanksgiving Activity for youth and adults tests the memory of those who participate.

Count Your Blessings
– Too often, when families and friends get together we try to outdo each other with a long list of complaints and things we are unhappy about. With this Thanksgiving game, youth and adults are challenged to outdo each other in listing all the blessing they have to be thankful for.

Tearable Turkey – In this simple Thanksgiving Party Game, youth, adults, and children are challenged to rip a sheet of construction paper into the shape of a turkey — behind their back.

Top Turkey Artist
– How well can you draw a turkey when you can’s see what you are drawing?

Thanksgiving Quiz
– Take the thanksgiving quiz and see how much you know about this American Holiday!

Thanksgiving Memory Game
– This Thanksgiving Party game can be used with small or large groups. The key objective is to remember a long and growing list of Thanksgiving related items.

Thanksgiving Boggle
– How many words can you make from the letters in the word “Thanksgiving”

Thanksgiving Trivia Quiz
– How much do you know about the history of Thanksgiving, the pilgrims, The foods we eat at Thanksgiving Dinner, and other things related to the Thanksgiving Holiday Celebration?


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Games and Activities in Celebration of common Holidays.

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Game Ideas

Pass the Candy Cane

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Christmas Game Description: This Christmas party game idea is played like the traditional game known as “Hot Potato”. A candy cane is passed from person to person around the circle while someone plays Christmas music. The candy cane is passed to the youth right next to you who then passes the candy cane to the youth next to him or her. You can choose to play clockwise or counter clockwise. If you want to add a little more challenge to the game you can call out the word “CHANGE” from time to time and change the direction in which the candy cane is passed.

Things You’ll Need:

  • Christmas music as well as someone to control the music
  • Two or more adults, youth, children – kids of all ages
  • One Christmas candy cane for each youth playing the game

 

How to Play

  1. Gather all the youth in a circle, standing or sitting cross-legged. The youth should be arranged facing toward the center of the circle.
  2. Explain the game rules to make sure all the youth understand. If you are playing with very young children, you might need to go over the rules several times to make sure they all understand. Have a practice round of the game with the children if that is necessary.
  3. For younger children, you might want to ask them to name some things that are hot. Hand one of the children the candy cane, encouraging him or her to pretend that it is HOT and to catch and pass it on to the next child as quickly as they can.
  4. To get the Christmas game started, say “Go!” and play the Christmas music. Youth begin to toss the candy cane around the circle to the youth next to them as quickly as possible.
  5. When the Christmas music is paused, the youth holding the candy cane is eliminated from the game. Throwing the candy cane after the music stops does not count. But as a parting gift, the youth gets to keep the candy cane he or she was holding so that everyone is a winner in this Christmas game. The youth must then sit out of the game until everyone has a candy cane.
  6. Continue starting and stopping the Christmas music until all but two are “out.” Last youth to NOT be holding the candy cane when the music stops wins. You might want to have an additional Christmas prize for the last remaining youth.

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Game Ideas

High Energy Thanksgiving Party Games for Youth, Children, and Adults

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Here’s a collection of party games for the Thanksgiving Holiday that can be used for family gatherings, youth groups, and other Thanksgiving celebrations

Pumpkin Bowling
– Use small pumpkins for this wild and potentially messy variation of bowling as one of your Thanksgiving Party Games.

Pumpkin Seed Toss
– Need a carnival game for Thanksgiving? Participants toss a Bean Bag into the opening of a pumpkin to win prizes in this Thanksgiving themed game. It also includes a small devotional on either “Goals” or “Wholesome speech”

Thanksgiving: Back to Back
– This party game tests the youth on how effectively they can you draw famous Thanksgiving pictures on the back of a team mate with a finger.

Can you pin the missing tail-feather on the turkey?
– This is a Thanksgiving variation of the classic “Pin the Tail on the Donkey” game.

Thanksgiving Bingo
– In this Thanksgiving themed variation of “Bingo”, the first person to get all of a row horizontally, vertically, or diagonally yells out “Gobble, Gobble, Gobble”

Thanksgiving Twister
– Play a classic game of twister replacing the colored dots with Thanksgiving symbols.

Turkey in a Tree
– Use this high energy outdoor game for Thanksgiving fun involving the whole family.

Turkey Hunt
– Play a classic game of “Hide and Seek,” but call it a turkey hunt to go along with a Thanksgiving Theme.

Pumpkin Puzzles
– While initially intended as a Fall Festival or Halloween game, this messy game can also be used for Thanksgiving as well. Youth will cut up pumpkins and then try to put a cut up pumpkin back together again.

Cluck, Cluck, Gobble
– This Thanksgiving party game is played similar to the classic children’s game “Duck, Duck, Goose” but with some variations to make it a little more sophisticated for youth and adapt it to the Thanksgiving theme.

Kernel Cornucopia
– A variety of games using corn kernels and a concluding lesson on being thankful! The games make an effective object lesson or Children’s Sermon on the topic of gratitude and thanksgiving.

Turkey Feather Relay
– Which team can move their Turkey tail the fastest?

Turkey Toss
– In this game, participants will see how much corn they can feed the turkey to fatten it up for Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving Tailfeathers Icebreaker
In this wild and wacky game, youth will try to get rid of their tail-feathers by pinning them on someone else.

 

Get Creative Youth Ideas: "Holiday Collection" ebook Holiday Collection
Games and Activities in Celebration of common Holidays.

Creative Holiday Ideas has over 300 pages of ideas to help you plan not only your next Thanksgiving event, but also plan for familiar holidays. If you’ve ever wondered what you’re going to do for a variety of common holidays and how you’re going to do it, this resource is for you.

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Game Ideas

Scavenger Hunts for Youth, Children, and Adults

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Scavenger hunts are a wonderful way to spend time with your family. They are not only fun, but they can also be great opportunities for children, youth and adults to learn important life lessons and life-skills. They are great as a stand alone event or as part of the entertainment for a party or holiday celebration. Depending on the rules, they can be highly competitive or encourage cooperation and teamwork toward a common goal. Scavenger hunts can help youth learn or test their common knowledge on subjects, improve navigation skills, enhance their problem solving ability, and provide a great many other benefits and educational opportunities.

Types of Family Scavenger Hunts

When deciding what you want to do for a youth scavenger hunt the first thing you want to decide is what type of scavenger hunt you want. Scavenger hunts can involve looking for items or clues and can contain props and equipment like a compass and maps. There are also photo scavenger hunts, sound scavenger hunts, video hunts, “amazing race” type hunts, and many more variations.

Treasure Hunts for the Family

One of the most popular types of scavenger hunts for youth happens to be those which use detailed maps and in which simple clues are used to find special locations. Sometimes the clues will lead you to items at the location that either are clues themselves or have clues stuck to them. Sometimes challenges will be included at some of those locations before they can receive the clue leading to the next location. Prizes can also be awarded in scavenger hunts in order to keep the interest of the participants, and keep them motivated. Prizes can include: Gift Cards, Movie Tickets, and themed gift baskets.

Setting up a “Pirate Treasure Hunt” for your Family

Here’s a simplified example of a treasure hunt using a “Pirate’s Treasure Hunt” theme. Start with a pirate map letting everyone know the boundaries of the hunt. In this example, the youth’s house is the primary location for the scavenger hunt. You will need a compass for each team of youth because compasses are what pirates used. Use descriptive language and a little creativity to bring your maps alive. The bathtub and mirror becomes a “mirrored lake” or “mirrored sea.” The hall becomes the “middle passage”. A door or window is described as a “portal.” Any place with plants becomes a “garden.” The closet becomes the “stores.” A shoe closet becomes the “foot locker.” You can also include the “North room”, a “central chamber,” “the Den”, “Next to the Sleeping Princess” and others.

Clues for a “Pirate Treasure Hunt”

First Clue: Fill your bath tub with a little water, and put a toy boat floating in the water. If you have a shower curtain, pull the shower curtain shut so that the boat is concealed. Place a clue on the wall behind the shower curtain which will be concealed unless someone opens the shower curtain to find the next clue. The hint leading to this ship should be: Find a pirate ship sailing in water or in more descriptive and thematic terms “Find the pirate ship sailing upon the mirrored sea.”

Second clue: On the wall behind the shower curtain you will to put something like: “Head west 6 feet then make your way north to the rocky road.” (This would lead the youth outside the home) “Then continue to the Green Parrot’s waterfall.”

Third Clue: The waterfall would be near a rock by a fountain outside, which is also used as a bird bath. The next clue would be something like “travel 6 feet west and through the portal to find the sea.” “When you find the sea, walk north until you hit the dead end.” This would then lead the hunters back into my home to a picture which has dolphins on my wall. When you head north you will walk directly into a broom closet.

Putting It All Together

Of course there could be many more clues and the clues could be much more difficult. Sometimes riddles are also used to make the scavenger hunt even more difficult. But in this simple example, you can imagine how much fun the youth can have as they are forced to work together and decipher the meaning of the clues.

With a little imagination, creating scavenger hunts for youth can be almost as much fun as playing them. If you are interested in creating one of these scavenger hunts cheek out my eBook below for a variety of ideas, themes and even riddles to help you get started.


scavenger_hunts_ebook_sm.jpg

Creative Scavenger Hunts: Once Lost, Now Found

is a 160 page e-book that explains everything you need to know to easily plan your very own scavenger hunt: Item Lists, Rules, Riddles, Safety Tips, Guidelines, Scoring, Tips for Facilitators and MORE! There are more than 50 complete ideas (scavenger hunts, photo hunts, video hunts, amazing race, etc.) to use at home, around the neighborhood, at the mall, in the park, on the beach, at church, and around town!

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Game Ideas

Easter Egg – Follow the Leader

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egg.jpgIntroduction to this Easter Game

  • Can you follow all the actions of the leader without dropping your Easter Egg?

Description of this Easter Game

  • Youth must follow a leader while keeping an Easter egg balanced on a spoon the entire time.

Materials

  • One boiled and dyed Easter egg for each youth. (Prepare a few Easter eggs as spares in case some are dropped and mutilated beyond use.)
  • One tablespoon for each youth.

Preparation

  • Boil and dye Easter eggs the night before the Easter event.

Easter Egg Game / Activity Instructions

  1. Form all the youth into a single line.
  2. Each youth holds his or her spoon from the handle and carefully balances an Easter egg in the spoon.
  3. Youth may not use another hand or body part to balance the Easter egg.
  4. The youth at the front of the line is the leader.
  5. The leader moves into a location where everyone can see and then can move around, hop, or do any other crazy movements as long as he or she doesn’t drop the Easter egg.
  6. The rest of the youth must follow the leader’s actions while continuing to balance the Easter egg on the spoon.
  7. If one of the youth in line drops the Easter egg or is unable to perform the action she or she must go to the end of the line.
  8. If the Leader drops the Easter egg they also move to the end of the line and the next youth in line becomes the leader.
  9. Whichever youth is the leader at the end of a designated time, wins the game.

Discussion and Applications
Use this game along with these other Easter Egg activities for a meaningful Bible Lesson:

  • Use plastic Eggs with Easter Symbols inside to Tell the Easter Story
  • Have a traditional Easter Egg Hunt with a twist that tells the Biblical Easter Story
  • Use Egg Tragedy and discuss how the Easter events may have seemed like a tragedy to the Followers of Christ at the time, but after they faced the heat they become much stronger and were used by God to change the world afterward.
  • Replace the Colored Jelly Beans in Jelly Bean Salvation with colored Easter Eggs for an evangelistic lesson

 

Get Creative Youth Ideas: "Easter Collection" ebook

Easter Collection

 

Games and Activities in celebration of Easter.

Get more than 80 creative ideas for planning a Youth Easter celebration or Easter Party. You can immediately download my best Easter Icebreakers, games, illustrations, Easter activity ideas AND MUCH MORE in a useful ebook!

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Game Ideas

Valentine’s Day Treasure Hunt

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Description
In this Valentine’s Day Scavenger Hunt, youth must find a series of valentine’s by following a set of clues. When they reach the final Valentine the youth will also find a very special Valentine Gift.

Resources
Buy a packet of inexpensive Valentines. These usually include a variety of simple valentines for youth and children to share with their school friends. If you want to have more than one hunt, you can different Valentine’s day cards in different themes or different colored envelopes and hide more than one set of cards. (i.e. great for more than one youth or teams of youth)

Preparation

  1. If you have more than one set of Valentine’s cards be sure the different themes are easily distinguishable from each other or indicate different teams with a different colored envelopes.
  2. Write a different love note on each valentine card (ten to 15 cards). You can also write one word per card and number them to form a single message of love.
  3. Hide the Valentine cards throughout the house or in other suitable places. As you hide each card, write a clue on the outside of the card to direct the youth to the next hidden card. These can be simple clues or riddles.
  4. Along with the last Valentine, include a small love gift like a box of chocolates, etc.

 

An important Rule
If you are hiding more than one set of Valentine’s day card, be sure to tell the youth that they may only touch their own cards. They may not take cards that belong to another team if they happen to find them.

What to do

  1. Divide everyone into two or more groups and give them a time limit with which to find the Valentine’s Day cards.
  2. Give the kids the clue to the first valentine and let them search until they have found all of them. Remember to tell them there is something special hidden with the last Valentine.
  3. The first group that returns with the all the cards AND the final gift within the limited time wins.

 


Get Creative Youth Ideas: "Holiday Collection" ebook Holiday Collection
Games and Activities in Celebration of common Holidays.

Creative Holiday Ideas has over 300 pages of ideas to help you plan your next Valentine’s Day, as well as other familiar holidays. If you’ve ever wondered what you’re going to do for various familiar holidays and how you’re going to do it, this resource is for you.

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Game Ideas

Halloween Bowling Party

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Description
Take the youth to the local Bowling Alley for a little dress-up fun! Use Halloween costumes or if you are adverse to the idea of doing something related to Halloween, have Biblical costumes or wacky clothing items available.

What to do

  1. Come up with silly bowling stances and place them on pieces of paper for the youth to draw from a hat.
    Here are some ideas:

    • bowling backward
    • Fred-Flintstone-style
    • bowling with your weak arm
    • Ballerina Bowling (tip toes)
    • Dizzy bowl (spin around 3 times first)
    • cross your legs
    • Blindfolded
    • One step
    • Bunny bowling (2 hops) then bowl
  2. Decide the number of pins that should be knocked down for each frame. If a youth doesn’t knock down the number of required pins, he or she has to select a silly costume piece (for example, a tutu, a sombrero, or a wig) to wear for the next frame. These costume pieces can be cumulative or just for the next frame.

Get Creative Youth Ideas: "Holiday Collection" ebook Holiday Collection
Games and Activities in Celebration of common Holidays.

Creative Holiday Ideas has over 300 pages of ideas to help you plan your next Halloween or Fall Festival, as well as a lot of other familiar holiday celebrations. If you’ve ever wondered what you’re going to do for all the various common holidays and how you’re going to do it, this resource is for you.

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Game Ideas

Christmas Movies: Who am I?

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Materials
A list of Christmas movies printed on name-tags or address labels. (One title per name-tag)

Icebreaker Description
In this icebreaker / crowdbreaker game, youth will have the name of a Christmas Movie pasted to their back and will wonder the room asking yes or no questions to other youth in an attempt to discover the title of the Christmas movie they have on their back.

Preparation
Create a list of Christmas Movies/ TV Shows: Here are some of the more common ones: A Charlie Brown Christmas, A Christmas Carol, A Christmas Story, All I Want for Christmas, An American Christmas Carol, Babes in Toyland, Best Christmas Pageant Ever, Christmas Vacation, Elf, Frosty the Snowman, Heidi, Home Alone, Home for Christmas, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, I’ll Be Home for Christmas, It’s a Wonderful Life, Joyeux Noel, Miracle on 34th Street, Nutcracker, Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town, Santa Clause: The Movie, Scrooged, The Little Drummer Boy, The Long-Eared Christmas Donkey Nestor, The Muppet Christmas Carol, The Night Before Christmas, The Nightmare Before Christmas, The Polar Express, The Santa Clause, The Year Without a Santa Claus, We’re No Angels, White Christmas

Icebreaker Activity

  1. Place one of the nametags containing a movie title on the back of every youth as they enter the room.
  2. Each youth must now try to guess what is on their back by going around the room asking other youth “yes” or “no” questions about the nametage on their back.
  3. These questions must be yes-no questions (ex. Q. “Am I a recent movie?” A. “Yes”)
  4. Depending on the size of the youth group, only one question can be asked to each youth in the room (to get everyone talking to everyone else). For small groups you may allow 2 questions per youth.
  5. The first youth to guess the name of the movie on their back is the winner.

Variation
Instead of “yes” or “no” questions, as the youth move around moving from person to person they must name one fact about the movie or one character / person that starred in the movie. As soon as a youth is successful in guessing the title of the movie, he goes and sits down. The youth who is giving information to the person with the nametag tries to keep it somewhat vague so that other youth will not be able to sit down before he does. All information must be factual and honest.

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Games and Activities helping youth discover the Reason for the Season.

Get more than 200 creative ideas for planning a Youth Christmas celebration or Christmas Party party. You can immediately download my best Christmas Icebreakers, games, illustrations, Christmas activity ideas AND MUCH MORE in a useful ebook!

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Game Ideas

Bobbing for Apples

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Description
Halloween Party Game: Bobbing for apples is a common Halloween tradition in which youth try to take a bite out of an apple floating in a tub of water.

Resources

  • Large tub of water
  • Towels
  • Apples with all stems and leaves removed

What to Do

  • Fill a large tub with clean water and put washed apples into the water. Apples are less dense than water, so they will float on the surface.
  • Instruct the youth to try to remove an apple from the tub by biting into it with their teeth. No use of hands is allowed.
  • Traditionally, the winner was the first person to retrieve an apple, but you can also award prizes to everyone who is successful or those who retrieve specially marked apples.

Variations

  • Smaller apples makes this game easier, larger apples make it more difficult.
  • Larger and deeper tubs are more difficult.
  • Fewer the apples in the tub makes it more difficult to bite into one.
  • Harder apples are more difficult to bite than softer dessert varieties.
  • Forcing a youth to go after a particular apple also makes it more difficult.
  • Make it a team relay with one person from each team trying to bite into an apple at the same time.
  • Add some ice before the game to wake everyone up!

Alternative method
If you are concerned about hygiene, an alternative of this game has everyone trying to bite out of an assigned apple on a string. You’ll need one apple (with the stem still attached) and one length of string for each participant. Tie the strings to the stems of the apples and then tie the other ends to something solid so that they can hang freely. You can use a open door frame, a tree branch, or even a pole fixed between two ladders. One advantage is that everyone can go at the same time. The objective remains the same, to retrieve the apple using only your mouth – or at least take a bite out of it!

Take it to the Next Level
The original tradition of bobbing for apples stated that whoever bit the apple first would be the first to get married. In fact, instead of throwing rice at weddings they used to throw apples. DUCK! Whoever succeeded in getting an apple first was supposed to be the lucky person to be the first person to enter into a marriage relationship.

But the apple is also commonly associated with a broken relationship. While the apple is never mentioned in the story of Adam and Eve in Genesis, the apple is commonly associated with the forbidden fruit offered by Eve to Adam. If you cut an apple in half horizontally, it is supposed to look like a pentagram, an occult symbol.

Regardless of whether it was an apple or not, Adam took a bite of the fruit, in disobedience to God, and through that disobedience damaged his relationship with God. The Bible says that Adam “sinned.” Sin is an archery term which means to miss the mark, to fall short of the target. Because God is perfect and just, he cannot allow disobedience to go unpunished.

Because we all fall short but disobedience to God, He in his infinite love, sent Jesus to pay that penalty for us, to suffer the consequences of sin which is death. All we need to do is accept him and our relationship with God is restored.

We each have weaknesses and we all sin. What sin or temptation does the apple represent in your life?

Halloween is a time when people try to scare each other. But one of the greatest fears we all have is that of death. But when you trust Jesus as Savior, you don’t need to fear anymore. Your relationship with him is restored and he will give you eternal life.

At this point, present the gospel plan of salvation. If you need an example use Jelly Bean Salvation which focuses on the colors of Jelly beans. You could also use different colors of Halloween Candy for the same presentation.

Closing
Have youth exchange their apple (representing sin) for a cross (Representing Christ) or to place the apple at the foot of a cross to represent their giving up of sin and living for Christ. Take some time for prayer and quiet meditation

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Holiday Collection


Games and Activities in Celebration of common Holidays.

Creative Holiday Ideas has over 300 pages of ideas to help you plan your next Halloween event or Fall Festival, as well as a variety of other familiar holidays. If you’ve ever wondered what you’re going to do for all the minor, but common holidays and how you’re going to do it, this resource is for you.

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Game Ideas

Water-fall

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Game Description
In this outdoor water game, youth must perform a task while precariously balancing a bucket of water over their heads.

Game Materials
One bucket of water for each team of youth. You also might want to have a tarp or beach towels upon which youth can lie down.

Optimal Group Size for Game
This game can be played with only two youth on a team. The larger the team the easier the game becomes.

Game Venue
Best played outdoors.

CAUTION
You will want to exclude girls in skirts or dresses from this game as well as those wearing clothes that might become semi-transparent when wet. Youth should be prepared to get wet. If in normal clothes, before playing have youth remove anything that could be damaged by water from their pockets.

Game Preparation
None

Game Play

  1. Split the group into teams.
  2. Instruct each team to form a circle and then lie on their backs with their legs raised together in the center of the circle.
  3. With everyone in place, balance a bucket of water on the feet of each team of youth, stabilizing it until they can keep it stable on their own.
  4. Once the bucket is stable, inform the teams that they have 3 minutes to take their shoes off without spilling the water or dropping the bucket.
  5. Start the clock and the first team to successfully take all their shoes off without spilling the water or dropping the bucket wins.

Take it to the Next Level

  • What strategies did you have for stabilizing the bucket of water?
  • How were you able to free team members up to perform the necessary tasks while still supporting the bucket of water?
  • In what ways is the bucket like the objectives or goals of an organization or group?
  • What are some of the objectives and goals that you must support in a church, youth group, or organization?
  • How can working as a team support the goals and objectives yet also free people up to perform necessary individual tasks and responsibilities?
  • What are the potential consequences when there is too little manpower to support the goals and objectives of an organization?

Get Icebreakers ebookIcebreakers Ahead: Take It To the Next Level

This 170 page resource not only provides 52 of the world’s most popular group icebreaker activities and games, but also includes lesson ideas and discussion questions to smoothly transition into conversations about the issues common to most groups.

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Game Ideas

Copycat

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Youth Game Description
In this youth game idea, a person in the center of a group of youth must identify the leader who begins an action that everyone else in the youth group imitates.

Game Materials
None

Optimal Youth Group Size for Game
10-20 people but it can be played with less or more. For very large groups you may wish to split the youth group up into multiple circles.

Game Venue
This youth game can be played in any open area, indoors or outdoors

Game Preparation
Set up the game by getting everyone in the youth group to stand in a circle facing inwards.

Game Play

    1. Ask one of the youth to leave the room for a minute. This youth will be “it” or the person who will try to identify the leader.
    2. While he or she is out of the room, the rest of the group decides who will be the “leader.” The leader will be the youth who initiates the movements for that round of the game.
    3. When the leader has been chosen, invite the youth who left the room back to stand in the center of the circle.
    4. Each round begins with all the youth in the circle swinging their arms up and down.
    5. The leader will initiate other movements, which the rest of the youth must copy. They must be careful to copy the leader without revealing who the leader is. They should not stare at the leader or identify the leader in any way.
    6. The leader can do just about anything he or she wants. The more crazy the action, the more fun!
    7. Here are some basic ideas: clapping, making a funny face, doing a karate kick, stamping a foot, act like a monkey, jump up and down, spin in place, pat his or her head, rub his or her belly, do a dance dance move, cross arms, pick his or her nose, etc.
    8. The person in the center of the circle is allowed to make up to three guesses. If a guess is incorrect, the round continues. If the guess is correct, the leader takes the center position for the next round and must leave the room while a new leader is chosen from among the remaining youth. If all three guesses are used up and the leader is not correctly guessed, you can have the person in the center do a forfeit then select a new leader. Follow this link for some forfeit ideas

Take it to the Next Level
Leaders set the example for followers.

Game Debrief

  • In what ways do the actions of leaders set examples for others to follow?
  • What are some of the actions a leader should do to set an example for followers?
  • What are some of the characteristics that identify a person as a leader?
  • What are the qualities that are essential to leadership?
  • Who are some of the leaders in your life? What characteristics made them stand out as leaders?
  • What are some of the qualities of bad leaders? How can we avoid them?
  • Should we always blindly follow a person as a leader?
  • What are some different types of leaders?
  • Do leaders in different positions need to have different qualities? Explain.

Game Application
We are all called to be leaders. There will always be someone who looks up to us, who follows our example. As leaders, how can we set better examples for others? What is an area where you need to rise to the challenge of being a leader?

Get Icebreakers ebookIcebreakers Ahead: Take It To the Next Level

This 170 page resource not only provides 52 of the world’s most popular group icebreaker activities and games, but also includes lesson ideas and discussion questions to smoothly transition into conversations about the issues common to most groups.

Click here to find out how to get your hands on this incredible resource!

Game Ideas

Caterpillar Race

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Game Description
Teams of youth move toward the finish line in small hops, connected like a caterpillar with many legs.

Game Materials
No additional game supplies are needed.

Optimal Group Size for Game
Any number of youth

Game Venue
You’ll need some space for youth to line up as teams as well as to move a good distance. This game can be played indoors or outdoors.

Game Preparation

  1. You will need to designate the start and finish line in some way.
  2. Divide the youth into teams of equal size, with at least 2 youth on each team.
  3. Youth must choose a one-syllable name for each team.

Game Play

  1. Line the teams of youth up next to each other behind a starting line.
  2. Youth must place their hands on the shoulders of the team members in front of them. They are not allowed to lose contact with the person’s shoulder at any time. If a person loses contact with the person in front of them the entire team must move back to the start.
  3. The first person in each line hops one step forward. The next person in line then also takes a hop. Continue down the line until the last person in line hops one step forward. Players may move forward only by hopping one step forward with both feet at once.
  4. After the last person in line hops, he or she must shout out the name of the team.
  5. Then the whole team may hop one step forward at the same time.
  6. The whole process then begins again with the first person taking a single hop. The next, etc.
  7. If a team member breaks any of the above rules, it must return to the starting line and begin again.
  8. First team to completely cross the finish line wins.

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Go for the Gold
Need an evangelistic Youth Camp/ Bible Study Series with an Olympic Theme?

What is salvation all about? What does it mean to be saved? This sports themed Bible Study / Camp Curriculum uses the Olympic Flag to introduce the concepts of sin (black circle), forgiveness (red circle), purity (white background), spiritual growth (green circle), heaven (Yellow Circle) and (Baptism) blue circle.
-> Tell me about “Go for the Gold”

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Destined to Win
Need a Youth Camp/ Bible Study Series on “Running the Christian Race”?

The race as a metaphor for the Christian life is used in several places in the Bible. This series is a great follow up for new Christians or to re-emphasize the basics of our spiritual Journey in the Faith. This Bible Study / Camp Curriculum has a sports theme and is great for athletes as well as a tie in to the youth Olympic Games.
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Game Ideas

Clothes Line Relay

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Number of Players: two equal teams of any number
Location: open area able to accommodate the entire group
Materials: clothesline, clothes

The players are divided into 2 teams. Each team is given a sack of clothes. Place an equal number of clothes in each sack and of the same type. You could choose a shirt, a cap, a pair of socks and trousers. At the command the first player of each team runs with the sack to the clothes line and pins all items on the clothesline and returns to his team. The next person must run to the clothes line, put on all the clothes and return to his team where he removes them and places them in the sack. Repeat until all team members have gone with the first team to do so being declared the victors!

Can be used for a lesson about putting on the armor of God, putting on the new self in Christ, etc.

Get Icebreakers ebookIcebreakers Ahead: Take It To the Next Level

This 170 page resource not only provides 52 of the world’s most popular group icebreaker activities and games, but also includes lesson ideas and discussion questions to smoothly transition into conversations about the issues common to most groups.

Click here to find out how to get your hands on this incredible resource!

Game Ideas

Dog Biscuit Relay

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Number of Players: equal teams of any number
Location: open area able to accommodate the entire group
Materials: clothespins and dog biscuits

Give group members each a pinch-type clothespin to put in their mouth so the clothespin can be opened and closed with their teeth. Have each team form a straight line, with each team member down on all fours (like a dog) facing in the same direction so that they are side by side. Put dogfood or regular bowls with 10 to 12 dog biscuits in each on the floor in front of each team’s line. The first person in each team’s line must take the dog biscuits out of the bowl, one at a time, using the clothespin in his or her: mouth. The biscuits are then passed on to the next person and so on down the line. If a biscuit is dropped, the person who dropped it must pick it up with the clothespin. No hands are allowed at any time. Teams must stay in a straight line and remain on hands and knees throughout the relay. The first team to put all its biscuits in the bowl at the end of the line wins.

Get Icebreakers ebookIcebreakers Ahead: Take It To the Next Level

This 170 page resource not only provides 52 of the world’s most popular group icebreaker activities and games, but also includes lesson ideas and discussion questions to smoothly transition into conversations about the issues common to most groups.

Click here to find out how to get your hands on this incredible resource!

Game Ideas

Covered

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Game Description
Use this Active Game as a discussion starter for youth on the topic of “forgiveness”. What does it mean to forgive? It can also be used as an Easter related activity to introduce youth to the resurrection of Christ and the forgiveness we receive as a result of His death on the cross.

Game Materials
For each group:

  • a Chair
  • Three of 4 rolls of toilet paper (The cheap rough kind is just fine!)
  • Upbeat, active music to create an upbeat game atmosphere for the youth.
  • Optionally, you can also use a stop watch to create a sense of urgency and emphasize the issue of time and speed.

Game Preparation
You can divide the youth into teams by sex, by school, by age group, or by randomly assigning numbers. Each team of youth should have a minimum of 3 participants. A nice number is 4 youth per team. You can also call for 4 representatives from each group and have the rest of the group as spectators to cheer them on.

Game Play

  1. Ask the teams or team representatives to come to the front of the room.
  2. Explain that one member of each team should sit in the chair while the other three youth will attempt to completely wrap him/her with the toilet paper.
  3. The goal of this game is to cover the youth that is seated in the chair completely so that no part of the body or clothing is showing.
  4. The team to finish in the quickest time the winner. The Youth being wrapped must remain in place until all teams are finished and judges can verify the results.
  5. If there are spectators, encourage them to cheer for their respective teams.

After the Game

  1. Tell the seated youth to remain in place.
  2. Examine each youth very carefully in front of the whole group. You will likely find part of an ear sticking out, or a nose, or foot, a shirt collar or something not covered.
  3. Point out to all the youth what is not covered.

Game Discussion: Take it to the Next Level

In the Old Testament, one of the words we translate “forgive” (kaphar) actually means “to cover.” Just as we covered someone with the toilet paper, we are supposed to cover up whatever it is they did against us when we forgive them. We are to cover it up and put it out of sight and out of thought.

Unfortunately, many times our covering is only partial. We don’t cover up everything. There are a few little parts that we have a difficult time totally covering up. But like a wound that is not completely covered can become infected and fester, there are sometimes uncovered woulds of others which also can fester and cause decay in our relationships. It may only a small part that is uncovered, but it is just enough to remind us of the wrong they did. It is just enough to keep us from completely forgetting whatever it is they did to hurt us. It can turn into something that you might drag up later, further jeopardizing the relationship. When we cannot completely forget, we cannot completely forgive.

A friend of mind in youth ministry reminded me that in our human forgiveness we can cover the wounds, but only God can bring about true healing. And sometimes, healing takes time. But in the meantime we must still move on in life in spite of the pain and still act with forgiveness, all the while trusting God to bring about the healing we so desperately need.

When it is time to forgive someone, be sure to forgive that person completely. Cover up all of the transgression so that you can completely forgive. Matthew 6:14-15 reminds us that when we forgive others, God forgives us. Our own sins are also covered. (See also Romans 4:7-8, 1 Peter 1:18-19, I John 1:7, Psalm 85:2; Romans 4:7; I Peter 5:20) But the incredible part is that God not only covers over our sin completely, but he cleanses us from all sin and unrighteousness. He covers us in the blood of Christ and cleanses and heals us.

Take a moment to examine the relationships in your own life. Are there any relationships where you have been hurt and you have not yet forgiven the person? Are there relationships where you need to seek or grant forgiveness? Take a moment of prayer to lift these relationships and the events up to God. Place it in God’s hands for his healing and then start living as if the transgression did not occur. Start living a life of true forgiveness in your relationship with this person. Let God;s love and forgiveness cover over the transgression. Ask Him to help you to show love and forgiveness in this relationship just as he has shown love and forgiveness to us.

Easter Discussion

After playing the game, leave the pile of wrappings on the floor from all the participants. Then explain:

When Christ was in the tomb he was also wrapped up. He was covered in burial wrappings. On the cross His blood was shed that all our sins might be covered in the Blood of Christ. Forgiveness was complete.

When the women went to the tomb all they saw was a pile of wrapping, much as we see here. (Point to the pile of wrappings on the floor) But in the time of Christ the wrappings were cloth instead of paper and may have included as much as 75 pounds of spices. And interestingly, the cloth that was used to wrap his head was folded up. Jesus had not been in a rush to leave. If the body had been stolen, as some might believe, why would the wrappings be left behind. Why would the thief take the time to fold the cloth covering Christ’s head?

But the most incredible thing about the resurrection story was not the wrappings that were left behind, but instead was the fact that God’s forgiveness of us was now complete. The blood of bulls and sacrifices was never able to truly cover our sin. Only the blood of Christ, God’s only Son could do that. And the most incredible thing about it is we are not only covered, we are cleansed and we are healed. Forgiveness is complete. And because of this complete forgiveness we must also forgive others in the same way.

If you have not sought the forgiveness of Christ, Now is the time to do so. You can find complete forgiveness for all of the sin in your life.

“God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8

“If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” Romans 10:9

Jesus said, “…he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life. John 5:24

“Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” 2 Corinthians 5:20-21

“Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it.” 1 Thessalonians 5:23

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Game Ideas, Parents Ministry

Family Portrait

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Description
An icebreaker game for your next family focused youth event.

Resources
None

Preparation
None

What to do

  1. Organize the youth into a circle facing outward with siblings standing together.
  2. Organize the parents into a larger circle around the youth with spouses standing together. Parents should be facing their children in the inner circle. If some of the parents of the youth are not at the meeting designate sponsors as temporary parents.
  3. On “Go” parents will rotate their circle by walking clockwise whereas the youth will rotate their circle walking counter clockwise.
  4. When you yell out “Family Portrait” youth and parents must find each other as quickly as possible and line up together cheek to cheek grinning. (You might want to have some photographers around to take a few fun photos.)
  5. The last family to line up cheek to cheek is eliminated from the circle and the game continues.
  6. Continue to play until there is only one family left. Declare them the winners!

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Game Ideas

Valentines Wink’em

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Game Description
This is a classic Valentine’s Day game where the objective is for the girls to catch a guy or vice versa!

Materials
Chairs for everyone

What to do

  1. Seat all the guys in a circle.
  2. Leave one chair empty.
  3. A girl stands behind each chair (including the empty one) with her hands behind her back.
  4. The objective is for the girl standing behind the empty chair to get a guy into her chair. She does this by winking at one of the guys.
  5. The guy winked at tries to run and sit in the empty chair without being tagged by the girl behind his chair.
  6. If successful the guy takes his new seat and become her Valentine and the game continues with the girl who just lost her guy.
  7. At some point, you may switch and put the girls in the chairs and let the guys do the winking. (But make sure they are gentle when they tag the girls)


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Game Ideas

Toothless Valentine

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Materials
Love songs to play while the youth are enjoying this game.

Game Objective
Don’t Laugh!

Game Play

  1. Everyone sits in a circle.
  2. From this point forward, you may not show your teeth.
  3. To speak, you must pull your lips inward around your teeth to hide them.
  4. A question is started, related to Valentine’s Day. For example, “Would you like a rose for Valentines day?”
  5. The person asked then replies “I don’t know I’ll have to ask my neighbor.” He then asks the neighbor the same question without showing his teeth.
  6. This keeps going around the circle.
  7. When someone’s teeth show due to laughter, he or she is out. Once it goes all the way around the circle, the next person gets to change the question. Smiling is permitted provided the teeth don’t show.
  8. The choice of questions can be a source of laughter so question choice is important.
  9. When asking or answering, contorting the facial muscles may be used to try to make the person next to you laugh.
  10. If a question is vulgar or suggestive, the person is removed from the game.

Variation
Add a few lines of Solomon and have youth repeat them all the way around the circle. Can you quote them without showing your teeth? When everyone has quoted it go around again with a different verse. Here are some classics from the 4th chapter of Song of Solomon.

verse 1
How beautiful you are, my darling! Oh, how beautiful!
Your eyes behind your veil are doves.
Your hair is like a flock of goats
descending from Mount Gilead.

verse 2
Your teeth are like a flock of sheep just shorn,
coming up from the washing.
Each has its twin;
not one of them is alone.

verse 3
Your lips are like a scarlet ribbon;
your mouth is lovely.
Your temples behind your veil
are like the halves of a pomegranate.

verse 4
Your neck is like the tower of David,
built with elegance;
on it hang a thousand shields,
all of them shields of warriors.


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Game Ideas

Christmas Gift Exchange with a twist

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Introduction
Use this Christmas Gift Exchange Game with more mature youth as a serious time of affirmation and thanks for the various members of the youth group. Include the adult sponsors as well.

Game Description
In this Christmas Gift exchange, it is affirmations that are exchanged and not actual physical gifts. It’s a very powerful way to bring your teens closer together and remind them that everyone in the group is a gift and that the greatest present you can give all year round, is to give of yourself as a blessing to others.

Game Materials

  • Nicely wrap an empty box with paper, bow, and the works. (You might want to add some newspaper to the box to give it a little weight.)
  • Chairs for everyone, arranged in a circle facing inward.

Game Preparation
Wrap an empty box with paper, bow, and the works.

Game Play

  1. Start the game by holding up your beautifully wrapped gift. Explain that the box is filled not with a physical gift but with affirmations, encouragement, and a heart of thanks. “Tonight we are going to have a gift exchange. But as this wrapped gift is passed around, I want you to imagine it is filled with with appreciation, thankfulness and encouragement for each other. The greatest gift is not giving something from a store, but the giving of yourself. God gave himself to the world that we all might be part of His family. And We want to appreciate each person here who has given of himself as part of our own family of God. So with that said, I will begin. I would like to give this gift to John, because of his dedication and spirit of servanthood for others. Whenever there is one of us in need, John will always be there to serve us. Thanks for your gift to all of us, all year around. John, this gift is for you. Who do you want to pass this gift to and why?”
  2. John accepts the gift and then names another youth that he wishes to present the gift to, along with his reasons. That person, in turn, names another youth, and so on.
  3. In advance, let some of your student leaders and adult youth workers know what you have planned. They should be prepared to have some affirmations for some of the youth which may not be in the spotlight so often to make sure that everyone is included and NO ONE is left out. Youth can also thank the adult youth workers as well. It is OK if some teens get more than one affirmation, but encourage the youth to be thankful for EVERYONE in the group. For everyone is a gift to us from God!

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Game Ideas

Christmas Snowball Tag

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Introduction
In this Christmas variation of a game of dodge-ball, you can still play even if you have been eliminated.

Game Description
In typical dodge-ball fashion, players try to eliminate others by hitting them with a dodge-ball.

Game Materials
Depending on the size of the group you may want to use one snowball or several. The larger the group the more snowballs you will need. For the snowballs you can use soft white kick-balls, wadded up newspapers, or even toilet paper rolls (remove the cardboard tube). “WHITE” soccer balls also work, but can be a little painful if fully inflated. (Let out some of the air first.)

Game Preparation
Find some balls which won’t hurt you too much if you get hit in the head with them.

Game Play

  • Let the youth scatter about a large open area with clearly defined boundaries. If you are inside, use a room as your play area.
  • To start a game of Christmas Snowball tag, just throw one of the snowballs against any old wall or roll it to the center of the play area.
  • The first person to get the snowball must plant a foot and pivot around on that foot (like in basketball) looking for someone to hit. They may not walk or run around once they have possession of the snowball. The thrower, once he tosses the snowball at someone can move freely again since he or she is no longer in possession of the snowball.
  • If a person has been hit with the snowball, that person sits down on the ground at the spot where they were hit. The person that has been hit is not out of the game completely though. As long as they remain seated in their spot, they may grab any snowball that is rolling by and hit someone who is still in the game.
  • If any person catches a snoqball that has been tossed, the thrower of the snowball is eliminated and must sit down. If an attempt to catch the snowball is unsuccessful, but the snowball is touched, it is considered a hit so the person who touched the snowball in an attempt to catch it is eliminated and must sit down at that spot.
  • Dead players may roll the snowball to other active or eliminated players.
  • The ground will eventually be covered with sitting youth.
  • The winner is the last person standing.
  • This is a typical dodgeball game with a twist: instead of being completely eliminated from the game and unable to participate, you can still eliminate others.

Variations

  • If a sitting person successfully eliminates someone in play, they may stand up and get back into the game.
  • When the person that got you out gets hit then you are able to get back up again.
  • Play with partners, but holding hands. Partners are out if they break their grip. Both partners must be hit before they are frozen and must sit down together. Yet while there is still one of the pair unfrozen, the frozen partner can act as a shield, deflecting the ball.

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Game Ideas

Progressive Santa

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Introduction
Everyone knows how Santa Claus looks right? The red hat, the black belt, rosy cheeks… But how well can you draw him?

Game Description
The objective of this Christmas Party game is to draw the BEST Santa Claus. The catch is that you draw it together with the rest of the team and cannot see what they have already drawn.

Game Materials
Paper and pencil for each team. Add a little color by giving each team a basic box of crayons as well. It is best to use thick opaque paper so that when folded over, you cannot see any of the drawing underneath.

Game Preparation
None

Game Play

  1. The objective of this Christmas Party game is to draw Santa Claus, one stage at a time.
  2. Divide the group into teams and place them in a straight line so that people are facing AWAY from the person at the front of the line. This is to prevent them from looking over their shoulder and seeing what someone else is drawing.
  3. Give each team a piece of paper and drawing supplies.
  4. Ask the person at the front of the line to draw Santa’s Hat. Give them 2 minutes to drawing Santa’s hat with all the details, then ask them to fold the paper down so that only the bottom edge of his hat can be seen.
  5. The paper is then passed to the next person on the team. Ask this person to draw Santa’s face. Give them 2 minutes to draw Santa’s face with all the details, then ask them to fold the paper down so that only the bottom edge of his face with the beard can be seen.
  6. The paper is then passed to the next person on the team. Ask this person to draw Santa down to his waist. Give them 2 minutes to draw, then ask them to fold the paper down so that only the bottom edge can be seen.
  7. The paper is then passed to the next person on the team. Ask this person to draw Santa’s down to his ankles. Give them 2 minutes to draw, then ask them to fold the paper down so that only the bottom edge can be seen.
  8. The paper is then passed to the next person on the team. Ask this person to draw Santa’s feet. Give them 2 minutes to drawing Santa’s feet.
  9. Unfold the papers for the rest of the team to see and then award a prize to the team with the best Santa. The results can be quite hilarious.

Variation
Add points based on the following criteria:

  • red suit with White trim
  • Red cap with white trim,
  • thick black belt
  • sooty black boots
  • rosy cheeks
  • twinkling eyes
  • brighter-than-white teeth
  • whiskers
  • merry dimples
  • nose like a cherry;
  • droll little mouth, drawn up like a bow
  • beard on his chin was as white as the snow
  • he had a broad face
  • a little round belly
  • He was chubby and plump
  • a right jolly elf
  • A sack full of toys

The group with the most points wins!

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Game Ideas

Christmas Gift Exchange #2

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christmasgiftgrey.jpgMaterials
A gift from each participant

There are many different variations of the gift exchange at Christmas. This is merely one of them.

How gifts are exchanged:

A. Multiply the number of players by 2 or 3 depending on how large the group is and how many opportunities each person will be able to choose a gift. (Example: 10 players X 2 chances each = 20 numbers) Numbers 1 through 20 are placed in a bowl and each player takes two numbers from the bowl.

B. This determines each person’s turn to choose a gift. First #1, then #2, then #3 and so on. A player may get consecutive numbers(10, 11) or inconsecutive numbers(2, 35). All players take one turn for each number, and all players go in the order of the numbers they have picked.

C. #1 picks a present from the pile. Players choose a gift based only on the look, feel, and sound of the package. None of the gifts are opened until the game is over.

D. #2 has a choice of taking what #1 has or picking a present from the pile. Every person has to choose between taking a present from the pile or from someone else. A person can take a present from anyone that has a present, but may not take the last present from someone that has no more numbers.

E. At various times people may have several presents at the same time. That is OK. As the game continues, other people will take all of those presents away except for the last one.

F. If someone takes a present, the person who lost the present must wait until his next number comes up to get another present.

Typically, there will be lots of plotting and scheming for what people think are the best presents.

It is OK for the person that bought the present to warn a player, one time, if they think that that person really would not like the present they are taking out of the pile. Don’t tell them what it is, just warn them that they may not like it.

Wrap up? Unwrapping
None of the presents are opened until the entire game is over. Only after all of the present swapping is over, and everyone has had their turn, are any presents opened. Every player must have one present at the end of the

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