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.

Go for the Gold

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”

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.
->Tell me about “Destined to Win”