Category Archives: Object Lessons

Object Lessons: Ken’s favorite word pictures to teach Biblical principles and stir the imagination of your youth. They also make great Children’s sermons. Christ often used them in his teaching, using common objects like a mustard seed, a fig tree, a grain of wheat, a drink of water, stony soil, and more.

Popcorn Christians

Popcorn Christians
Popcorn is a seed that is hard and tasteless, until placed in the fire. And then the white goodness on the inside comes out for us to not only smell the aroma, but also to taste. It’s a powerful object lesson and metaphor for Christ working in us and drawing others to himself through as as Christians.

What You Need

  • Lots of popped Popcorn
  • Some unpopped popcorn
  • There are several games below that may require additional materials such as drinking straws, cups, blindfolds, and a spoon.

Preparation

Pop some popcorn, preferably in the room in which you have the meeting, so the smell of popcorn permeates the room before the youth arrive.

Popcorn Games

  • Popcorn Race: Using a drinking straw, the youth must blow a popped kernel of popcorn across a table. First to blow it from one end to the other wins.
  • Popcorn Catcher: You must stand on a chair and dropped popped kernels of popcorn into a cup. The person with the most kernels in the cup when time is up wins.
  • Popcorn Toss: Each youth tries to throw a piece of popcorn as far as possible. The farthest throw wins.
  • Popcorn Collector: Each youth is blindfolded, given a metal spoon, and placed in from of a large bowl of popcorn. 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 popcorn 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 kernels of popcorn in the cup wins.
  • Popcorn on the fire: Play a game in which two teams simulate being popcorn in a pan. Explain that in the activity, everyone on a team sits on the floor and each is a piece of popcorn. The floor is a big pan on the fire. As the pan begins to heat, some kernels of corn begin to pop. A youth pops by jumping up, clapping their hands together, and saying “Pop”. Usually popcorn begins to gradually pop and builds up to become very active and loud and then eventually stops. The team that best demonstrates the making of popcorn gets a prize.

Enjoy some Popcorn

Finish off by sharing popcorn for all the youth to enjoy. First offer the un-popped kernels and then when the youth refuse, pass around the popped popcorn.

TAKE IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL

DEBRIEF

  • Ask the youth to tell you everything they know about popcorn.
  • Ask the youth to tell you the way they have experienced popcorn in the meeting

MAKE IT SPIRITUAL

  • How is a kernel of popcorn similar to a person’s heart?
  • What are some lessons and truths we can learn from a kernel of popcorn?
  • What are some of the things that heat up our situations and cause us to respond?

Touch Points

  • The seeds start as hard and tasteless, can’t be digested
  • When heated, some respond, but some do not.
  • At some point, a change occurs, and all the potential inside the kernel is released.
    • Some remain hard and tasteless and may even burn
    • Others, the sweet inside is exposed and can be enjoyed
    • We not only taste it, but there is also a pleasant aroma that attracts people
  • Everything comes from inside the kernel
  • Most people love the smell of popcorn. One small bag fills the room. with the smell. Another word for smell is aroma. God compares us to an aroma. We experience it from a distance. It attracts us. We want it. We want to taste it for ourselves. In the same way, We must live our lives in such a way that Christ in us, is noticed by others, and they want to experience Christ for themselves.
  • Human hearts can either be like a hard kernel or the soft, fluffy, fragrant popcorn.
  • God places us in the heat – circumstances so our hearts can open up (Visually express this by changing a clenched fist to an open hand)

MAKE IT PRACTICAL

  • How do circumstances change us? Why does God allow difficult circumstances? See James 1:2-4 and Romans 5:3-5
  • In what ways are Christians an aroma of Christ?
  • What are some actions, attitudes, mindsets, and other characteristics of Christians and their relationship with Christ that are attractive to the lost?

MAKE IT PERSONAL

  • Would you consider your heart hard and tightly closed up, or soft and open?
  • What are some of the circumstances God has used in your own life to bring about a pleasant change in your life?
  • If you were to do a self test on your life as a Christian, what would it reveal? Does your life express an aroma of Christ?
  • What can you personally do this week that will serve like a pleasant aroma to draw others to Christ and want to experience Christ for themselves?

Scriptures

  • Matthew 12:35 – “A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.”
  • Luke 6:45 – “A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.”
  • Matthew 15:11 – “What goes into someone’s mouth does not defile them, but what comes out of their mouth, that is what defiles them.”
  • Matthew 15:16-20 – “Are you still so dull?” Jesus asked them. “Don’t you see that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and then out of the body? But the things that come out of a person’s mouth come from the heart, and these defile them. For out of the heart come evil thoughts—murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. These are what defile a person; but eating with unwashed hands does not defile them.”
  • 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.”
  • Romans 5:3-5 – “Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.”
  • Romans 8:18 – “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.”
  • 2 Corinthians 2:14-16 – “But thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ’s triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere. For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one we are an aroma that brings death; to the other, an aroma that brings life. And who is equal to such a task?”

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…

Chopsticks Christian Living – An Object Lesson

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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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…

Reflecting Christ’s Image – Object Lesson Using Foil

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

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.”
MORE IDEAS? See “Creative Object Lessons”

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Stretched by God – Games and an Object Lesson

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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Babies in Christ – An Object Lesson for the New Year

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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Step up in the New Year

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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Christmas Bows

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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Christmas Ornament Gospel

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

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

Candy Cane Christmas

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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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

Gift Wrapped Christmas

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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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

Thanksgiving Object Lesson – 5 Kernels of Corn

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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Turkey Feathers of Thanksgiving

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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Gummy Worm Discipleship

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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Paper Airplane Christians

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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Masked?

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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Candy Corn Choices

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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Christian Pumpkins? – Games and an Object Lesson

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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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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Living Skeletons

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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Get Creative Youth Ideas: "Holiday Collection" ebook Creative Holiday Ideas
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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Clay in the Potter’s Hands

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.

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…

Bruised Bananas – Object Lessons from a Banana

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.

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Teddy Bear Faith

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?

————————————————

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”

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Lego Instructions for the Christian Life

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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Spiritually Measuring Up

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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Spiritual Hoopla?

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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Spiritual Tag

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

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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Beach Ball Goals

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.

———————————————
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

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

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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Frozen Chosen?

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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An Overflowing Cup

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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Spiritual Sponges

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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Watermelon Seed Christians

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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Shoe Shuffle – Walking with Christ

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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String Connections

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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Card Sharks – Playing the hand you are dealt in life

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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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…

Bubbly Christians

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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Spiritual Lifesavers

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

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

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

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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All Wrapped up? – Sin Easily Entangles

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”

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Grasping at Straws or Doing the Impossible?

This week’s idea of the week centers around the drinking straw. The main lesson reminds youth that what sometimes what we see as impossible is not always as impossible as it seems.

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What You Need

  • Lots of soda straws for games
  • Depending on the games chosen, various games may require additional resources
  • Apples or potatoes for the final object lesson

Games using Straws

  • Candy Pass – This game can be played with drinking straws and any candy that has a hole in it that is big enough to slide onto a straw. (Lifesavers or Polo mints usually work fine.) Each team stand in a line and with straws in their mouths they must thread the candy onto the straw then successfully pass it from straw to straw until it reaches the end of the line. First team to do so wins. To make the game last longer, give them a whole roll of candies to pass. (You can also use washers, paperclips or rubber bands to pass) (Make it more interesting by blindfolding one person in the middle of each team) If the diameter of the straws is a problem, use coffee straws for this game.
  • Jello Slurp – Give each team a bowl of Jello and using straws, the first team to slurp up the jello wins
  • Peas and Straws – Give each team a cup containing twenty peas and an empty cup as well. Each team selects a champion to compete on their behalf. At a signal, all the players must compete to be the first to transfer the peas from one cup to the other using only the straw. They may not touch the cup or peas with anything except the straw. (Note: there is nothing in the rules to stop players from bending the straw in half and using it like a pair of tweezers.) (Note: You can also use skittles or M&Ms)
  • Pick up Sticks – Using straws, play a classic game of pickup sticks. Divide the youth into two teams. Hold a fist full of straws upright and then remove your hand and let them drop into one big messy pile. Players from each team will take turns to carefully pull a straw from the pile without moving any other straws. If he or she is successful, the player keeps the straw and can go again. However, if any of the other straws move in the process of removing one the turn ends for that team. The team with the most straws at the end wins. You can find detailed directions here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pick-up_sticks
  • Pingpong ball Soccer – Clear a table (a ping pong table works great) and place pencils at either end as the goals. Give everyone a drinking straw and then divide the youth into two teams. Players must position themselves around the table so that no two teammates are standing next to each other. Place the ping pong ball in the center of the table and then the teams try to blow jets of air through the straws to move the ball so that it hits one of the pencil goals to score. If the ball flies off the table, simply replace it back on the table at the place where it went out. No shoving, pushing, or use of hands is allowed. First team to make it to a designated number of points wins.
  • Pipeline – Give all the youth straws and then divide them into teams of 8 to 20 persons. Each team designates a sipper at the far end. At signal they must join the straws together to create a pipeline and the sipper must drink all the coke from a cup. (It’s not as easy as it seems because air leaks from the connections between the straws)
  • Plastic straw Javelin – Youth stand behind a line and flip or throw the straw as far as possible. Farthest toss wins. (Note: Straws may not be torn, folded, bent or changes in anyway not can anything be placed inside the straw.)
  • Puzzler – Using a small jigsaw puzzle for each team (You can usually find some with less than 50 pieces), youth must put the puzzle together using only straws in their mouths. They may not touch the pieces with their hands. First to complete the puzzle wins. (Alternatively you can cut a photograph, postcard, or greeting card into pieces)
  • Q-Tip War – Divide the room in half for two teams or if you want four teams divide it into quarters. A piece of strong or masking tape on the floor can be a simple divider. Give everyone a straw and each team a package of q-tips. Youth will use the straw to wildly shoot the q-tips like poisoned darts across the room until time is up. When the time is up, the team who has the least number of q-tips in their area wins. Q-tips may not be thrown and players cannot leave their area.
  • Straw & Paper – Divide the youth into teams, with team members lines up single file, one behind the other, and give everyone on the team a plastic straw. The first player must place the straw in his or her mouth and use the straw to carry a piece of tissue to a finish line and then back to his or her team. No hands are allowed. If the tissue drops, they must get it back on the straw, by sucking in through the straw, before moving on. The first team to have everyone on the team complete the relay wins.
  • Straw Chomp – Each team chooses a champion to represent them who will be given a straw. The first person to get the entire straw in his or her mouth without using hands wins. It’s harder than you think.
  • Straws and Rubberband mixer – All the youth are given straws to hold in their mouth and half of them are given rubber bands to hang on the straws. The youth go around the room challenging each other to pass the rubber band using the straws. But if the rubber band is dropped, the straw has 1 cm (1/2 inch) cut off the end of the person who was supposed to pass the rubberband. The last person with the longest straw wins.
  • Swapping ends – Each youth puts one end of a straw in their mouth then using only their tongue and lips (no hands) they must turn it around so that the opposite end of the straw is in their mouth. First person to do it wins. (Have a camera ready for this as there will be a lot of funny faces)
  • Tallest Tower – Teams must create the tallest tower in a set time period using only the materials provided. You’ll want to have a lot of straws. For connectors use marshmallows.
  • Two straws, one cup – Each team chooses a champion to drink from a cup through a straw. The first one to finish the drink wins, but there is a catch. They each receive two straws, one which is in the cup and one which is not. Both straws must be in their mouth when drinking.
  • William Tell – Each team chooses one player to be the ‘King’ who will wear a paper cup on his head as a crown. Using the q-tips as poison darts, on your signal, other teams must shoot the crown off the opponent King’s head to win. (The king needs to keep still or he may just lose the crown himself.) Players cannot cross the divider lines, nor can they use their hands to protect the crown.

Final Challenge and Object Lesson

You’ll need a ripe potato or (ripe apple) for each team. You’ll want to try this yourself on a sample to make sure it is ok with the straws you have. If they are too flimsy it may not work. Also you don’t want one of the straws that bends. You want a straight plastic straw. Note: When you place your thumb over the end, the trapped air inside causes the straw to be more rigid.

Each group chooses a champion to represent them. Give each a straw and a potato. On your signal they must put the straw through the potato.

Let them try for a minute or two then ask the teams if they think this is an impossible challenge?

Then tell the teams how it can be done.

  1. Hold the potato in one hand at waist level so that your hands are on the sides of the potato and not the top or bottom.
  2. Hold the straw in your other hand so that your thumb is over the top end of the straw so and no air can escape.
  3. Looking directly at the potato (not your hand), jab the straw into it and it will go completely through.

“We just made the ‘impossible’ possible.” A weak straw suddenly became strong enough to do something powerful.

TAKE IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL

MAKE IT SPIRITUAL

The same thing happens when we place our lives in God’s hands. Like the straw we may be weak, but when we are in God’s hands, he can use us to do impossible things.

Quote Philippians 4:13 – I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

This does really mean all things. I can’t swim across the Atlantic Ocean or swallow a car. Those are absurd. What it means is that God can use me to do anything he wants me to do. I can do all things that God wants me to do. If God wants me to do it, He will give me strength to do it.

MAKE IT PRACTICAL

  • What are some of the things God wants us to do?
  • What are some of the things that prevent us from doing what God wants?
  • How can we overcome our doubts and fears when God wants us to do something that is difficult or even seems impossible?

MAKE IT PERSONAL

You might want to allow each youth to put the straw through the potato as a demonstration and reminder that God can do impossible things through everyone.

  • What is something that God wants you to do? Something he has laid on his your heart?

Whenever you are having a hard time with something God has asked you to do, I want you to remember putting a straw through a potato, and I want you to think about Philippians 4:13. ‘You can do all things through Christ who strengthens you.

SCRIPTURE VERSES

  • Matthew 19:26 – But Jesus beheld [them], and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.
  • Mark 9:23 – Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things [are] possible to him that believeth.
  • Mark 10:27 – And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men [it is] impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.
  • Luke 1:37 – For with God nothing shall be impossible.
  • Luke 18:27 – And he said, The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.
  • Matthew 17:20 – And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.
  • Philippians 4:13 – I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
  • Romans 8:31 – What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
  • Job 42:2 – I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted.
  • Jeremiah 32:17 – Ah, Lord God! It is you who have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm! Nothing is too hard for you.

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Marble Madness

Marbles have been around since ancient times. Whether made from glass, stone, or even clay, they have been used in games and as tokens. While not specifically mentioned in the Bible, our modern games of marbles most likely came from the ancient Romans. The oldest known marbles date back to about 3000 B.C. They can be found in many cultures around the world. Many of the games involve taking risks in order to win. In this idea of the week, we use glass marbles not only for games, but also as an object lesson on how we can see differently as Christians and to learn to take risks for God.

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What You Need

* Lots of marbles

A Few Games Using Marbles

  • Barefoot Marble Race – The youth must remove their socks and shoes. Divide them into teams and place two marbles on the starting line in front of each team. On your signal, the first player must pick up a a marble with the toes of each foot and walk to a finish line. They the player can pick up the marbles and race back to the next player in line you repeats the process. First team to finish wins.
  • Chopsticks and Marbles – Using a pair of chopsticks and a couple shallow bowls or saucers, each youth is given one minute to move marbles from bowl to the other using only the chopsticks. Only one hand can be used to hold the chopsticks. The youth to transfer the most marbles wins.
  • Drop the Marble – Line two teams up facing each other. Each youth is given 5 marbles. One youth stands with his or her heels together and toes spread apart in a V shape while the other player stands about 5 feet away and tries to toss a marble so it stays between the feet of the other player. If he fails he loses the marble. If he is successful, the play with his feet in a V shape drops one of his marbles from waist height and tries to hit the marble between his feet. If he hits it, he takes the marble, but if not he loses the marble. They swap for the next round. Continue for a set period of time and then each team adds up their marbles. Team with the most marbles wins.
  • Marble and Straws Relay – Divide the youth into teams and give every person on a team a plastic straw and a paper cup. Place a marble in the first team member’s cup. The youth must create a vacuum in the straw to pick up the marble and place it into the next persons cup. First team to get the marble into the last person’s cup wins. If the marble is dropped on the floor, the team must start completely over at the beginning.
  • Marble Roll – Draw a circle using chalk (about 1 metre in diameter) at one end of the room and a line several meters away for everyone to stand behind. Indoors you can some masking tape. Give each team an equal number of marbles. Each team can play in turn, or if they all play at the same time you will need different coloured marbles for each team. Within a given time teams compete to see who can gets the most marbles in the circle. One person one each team is allowed to return any marbles that miss or get knocked out of the circle back to his or her team.
  • Marble Search – Put some marbles and lots of ice into a roasting pan, tub or wading pool. Divide the youth into teams and have one person from each team must fish out a marble with their toes before the next person on the team can go. The first team to all fish out a marble wins. If it is cold outside, instead of ice, use warm oatmeal, warm pudding or even warm spaghetti noodles. Provide plenty towels for cleanup. Add a few golf balls just for fun. Variation: Team to fish out the most marbles with their toes in a given time limit wins. Variation: Assign each team a given colour of marbles and only those marbles of their given colour count.
  • Marbles and Spoons – Divide into teams, have each team to line up single file, and have a cup with one or more marbles for each team. Give each player a spoon. The first player on each team picks up a marble with the spoon, spins around in place 3 times, then passes the marble to the next person on the team. Marbles can only be touched with the spoon. If a marble is dropped the team must start over again from the beginning. First team to get all the marbles down the line wins.
  • No Know’s – Give everyone a set number of marbles and ask the group to mingle and talk to each other. Choose one or more icebreaker questions that they must ask each other. Whenever a youth says “no” or “know” that youth must give one of his marbles to the person he is talk to. The person who collects the most marbles during a given time period wins.
  • Odds or Evens? – Every youth starts out with the same number of marbles. They pair off with someone then one player hides at least one marble in his hand. The other youth must guess if the number of marbles is odd or even. If he guesses correctly he can add the marbles to his collection. The role of the hider and guesser is then switched. After each youth in a pair guesses, those without any marbles remaining must sit down and the remaining youth pair up with someone new. Continue until one player has all the marbles or a set time limit is reached and then the person with the most marbles wins.
  • Trade off – Using marbles of various colours, give each youth a marble of each colour. Ask the youth to mingle around the room ask each other to makes trades of one colour for another in order to get all their marbles to a single color. They can trade only one marble with each person in the room. First to finish wins.

TAKE IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL

DEBRIEF

  • What were some of the strategies used in these games?
  • In some of the games, you lost or gained marbles. How did you feel when you lost all your marbles? When you gained marbles?
  • Were your decisions in these games based upon logic or by how you were feeling?
  • How could you have gotten better results?
  • Do you prefer to take risks or play it safe?
  • Would your strategy change if you were using 1 dollar tokens? 5$? 10$
  • What risks are you willing to take in regards to your future? your career? Your family? in relationships? in other areas of life?
  • How do you balance the risks with the opportunities in life?
  • Choose an area of your spiritual life where, to see any results, you are going to have to take a risk? What can you do to moderate the risks? What will the payoff be if you do this? How important is this result for you? Is it worth the risk? If so, are you willing to take the risks in order to see the potential results?

MAKE IT SPIRITUAL

  • Do you prefer to play it safe or take risks in your spiritual walk?
  • Name some Bible characters that were risk takers? Why do you consider them risk takers?
  • Do you think Peter was a risk taker or played it safe? Explain. (See Peter Walking on Water – Matthew 14:22-33; Mark 6:47-52, John 6:16-21)
  • Did the disciples take a risk in following Christ? (See Matthew 4)

Sometimes what might at first look risky, when see through God’s perspective is really no risk at all. We have everything to gain. Give a clear marble to each student and ask them to look through it. The image of whatever they are looking at will be upside down. Our faith can cause us to turn the things of the world upside-down and the world can turn our faith upside-down too.

  • What are some ways that Christ turns our world upside down?
  • What are some events that cause people’s faith to be turned upside down?
  • Describe a time when your faith was turned upside down?
  • Many of Christ’s teachings were opposite of what people expected. What were some things that Christ taught that turned the world upside down for the early believers?
  • How is looking through the marble similar to looking at things through spiritual eyes?
  • What things affect the way we view life? Has your view on anything changed since you became a Christian? What things have changed?
  • How does seeing things through God’s perspective change things so that what seemed like risks, no longer seem to be risky?

MAKE IT PRACTICAL

  • What risks are worth the reward of knowing Jesus as Lord and living for him?
  • “Some want to live within the sound of church or chapel bell; I want to run a rescue shop within a yard of hell.” – C. T. Studd
  • Missionary William Carey said, “Expect great things of God, and attempt great things for God.”
  • Jim Eliot said “He is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose.”
  • Is Christianity a risk? Why or why not?
  • How does seeing things through Christ’s eyes change the risks?

MAKE IT PERSONAL

  • Has God called you to do something out of the ordinary?
  • To what has God called you?
  • Choose an area of your spiritual life where, to see any results, you are going to have to take a risk? What will the payoff be if you do this? How important is this result for you? Is it worth the risk? If so, are you willing to take the risks in order to see the potential results in your relationship with God and others?

CLOSING

  • Challenge the young people to carry a marble in their pockets or purses to remind them of one area of their spiritual lives where they need to learn to trust God and take risks to see Him work through them.

KEY SCRIPTURE VERSE

Romans 12:2 – “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”

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Balloon Faith for Youth

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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Clinging to God – Object Lessons from a Clothespin

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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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…

The Key to Heaven

A key is almost a universal symbol around the world. Keys promise access, freedom, transport, protection, and safety. A key is used to represent access to something of value just as a physical key opens up a door or something that was previously inaccessible. The key is also used in the Bible, both literally and symbolically.

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What You Need

  • A variety of old keys include a House Key. You’ll also need at least one key for each youth. Most people have a variety of old keys lying somewhere around the house. You can also visit a locksmith to get old keys that did not work or blank keys.

Games using Keys

  • Key Toss – Line up the youth a set distance from a wall with no obstructions between the youth and the wall. Youth take turns tossing their key toward the wall in an attempt to get as close to the wall as possible. The key closest to the wall or even leaning up against the wall is the winner. To add a little more difficulty, require the keys to hit the wall to be a valid toss.
  • Drown the Key – Fill a bowl or wide mouth glass, or glass jar with water until the water level is about 1 inch from the top. Cover the bowl or wide mouth glass jar with a paper napkin, being careful to not get it damp. Secure the napkin to the top of the jar with a rubber band and then lie the key across the top. Using a sharp pencil, each youth takes a turn poking a hole in the napkin. The game over when the key drops into the water. The objective is to not be the person who caused the key to fall. If you want the game to go faster, require that the pencil touch the water when it is poked through the napkin. This creates bigger holes and moves the game along faster.
  • Key Taps – Everyone sits around a table with a metal key in their hand. The rules are simple. One tap of the key on the table moves the game play to the next person on the right. Two taps of the key moves the plat to the person on the left. Choose someone to start. The first person taps the key on the table either once or twice. If it is tapped once, the person on the right gets to tap next. If it is tapped twice the person on the left gets to tap next. If someone taps out of turn or face to tap, they are eliminated from the game or given a forfeit.
  • Which key? – Have a variety of keys lined up on a table. Youth are to try to make a list what each key fits. The youth to get the most correct wins.

TAKE IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL

DISCUSSION

  • Have the youth take out any keys they have with them.
  • How many keys do you have?
  • Who has the most keys?
  • How old were you when you were given your first key? How did it mke you feel?
  • * What does each key open or give you access to? A house key, a car key, a bike key, an office key, a key to your church, a luggage key, a locker key?
  • What is the purpose of a key?
  • Why are keys important?
  • How does it feel to lose a key?
  • What are some things we know about keys?
  • If your keys could tell a story, what would they tell?
  • What do your keys say about you?

Keys are unique. There are wooden keys, iron keys, large keys, and small keys. They each have a purpose. Without the right key for the right lock, we are totally locked out. We cannot get in, to access what is beyond the lock. We have house keys, car keys, a mailbox key, an office key, a desk key, a key to a diary, a drawer, a locker, the garage. There are keys you have been given, keys you found, keys you no longer need, keys from relatives. Our keys could tell wonderful stories. There are keys who have lost their purpose. Keys to forgotten places. Keys to places that no longer exist. Keys to the past. Keys that open a magical place. Keys to treasures. Many people evaluate life by the keys they own – they key to a nice house, an expensive car. But we also use the same word when we talk about the keys to to success, or the keys to happiness. Keys may be small, but they can open up great things. The Bible also mentions keys.

MAKE IT SPIRITUAL

What do the following scriptures say about keys?

  • Deuteronomy 30:20 – “You can make this choice by loving the Lord your God, obeying Him, and committing yourself firmly to Him. This is the key to your life.”
  • Proverbs 4:13 – “Take hold of My instructions; don’t let them go. Guard them, for they are the key to life.”
  • Isaiah 22:22 – Eliakim was someone who had the power to control entry into the kingdom. As the king’s steward, he decided who could or could not have access to the king.
  • Revelation 3:7-10 – “To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open. I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. I will make those who are of the synagogue of Satan, who claim to be Jews though they are not, but are liarsI will make them come and fall down at your feet and acknowledge that I have loved you. Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come on the whole world to test the inhabitants of the earth.”
  • Matthew 16:13-20 – Peter’s confession opened the way to heaven.
  • John 14:5-14 – Jesus is the only way that gives you access to God. He not only opens the door, but he is the door. (John 10:7,9)

MAKE IT PRACTICAL

  • How does a person access God?
  • How do we move into the presence of God?
  • How do we gain access to the blessings of God?
  • What benefits does access to God give us as believers?

MAKE IT PERSONAL

  • Are you struggling with the key to life?
  • Are you feeling locked out and left alone?
  • Do you feel separated from God? Or from his blessings?

Let Jesus meet you at the door of your heart! He will let you in for Christ is your Key! He wants to open your way to God and all that God promises. He is the way to heaven, the access to forgiveness, the truth that will set you free from the bondage of sin, the key to life everlasting. Today is the day to open your heart. Eternity is a long time to be locked out.

KEY SCRIPTURE VERSE

John 14:6 – “Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through Me.”

 

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…

Marshmallow Olympics

Marshmallow Olympics
Use marshmallows as an object lesson and tie it in to a well known Harvard study on delayed gratification and success. Waiting on God is a Biblical concept and something all youth need to learn. Patience in relationships, in sexuality, in simply growing up.

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Make Marshmallow shooters

What You Need

  • 9 oz plastic cups
  • 12 inch balloons
  • LOTS OF marshmallows
  • scissors
  • Duct Tape

Preparation

  1. Place two plastic cups together, one inside of the other, and then use a piece of duct tape around the top opening to secure them together and fold over the edge. Cut off the bottom one third so that both ends are now open. You might want to use the tape to also fold over the bottom end and secure the cups together. (You can also use empty yogurt containers instead of plastic cups)
  2. Tie off one uninflated balloon and cut off a strip from the opposite end.
  3. Stretch the balloon over the bigger end of the cup.
  4. Place a marshmallow inside the cup on the knotted center, pull back on the outer knot, and the marshmallow flies out of the end in the direction you aim it.

Caution – Do this outdoors or in an uncluttered room where it is easy to locate all the marshmallows otherwise they can attract unwanted crawly critters.

What to do

With the marshmallow launcher you can:

  • See who can launch a marshmallow the farthest
  • Try to launch them into the mouth of a teammate across the room
  • Play target practice with a stack of marshmallows
  • Launch a marshmallow up in the air while a teammate runs around and tries to catch it in a bucket
  • launch marshmallows into a trash can or bonfire.
  • Play a game of dodgeball with marshmallow launchers

Other marshmallow games

  • Long-Distance Marshmallow Toss – Youth face a partner and then toss a marshmallow to the partner. With every successful catch they both take a step backwards and try again. If dropped the pair is removed. Continue until one pair survives the toss for the longest distance.
  • MarshmallowShotput – Who can toss a marshmallow the longest distance.
  • Marshmallow Juggle – See which youth can successfully juggle the most marshmallows
  • Marshmallow Lick – Each youth on a team licks a marshmallow, sticks it to their forehead, and run to the finish line and back, to tag the next person until everyone on the team has done it. If the marshmallow falls they must stop, lick it and stick it back on, before continuing.
  • Marshmallow Mind Meld – Put a marshmallow between two people’s foreheads and race to the finish line.
  • Marshmallow Porcupines – Each youth holds a toothpick in their teeth and they must stab a marshmallow with the toothpick and pass it down the row of youth leaving the toothpicks stuck in the marshmallow as it moves to the end of the line. First team to pass the marshmallow to the end wins. No hands allowed. Alternatively the marshmallow with the most toothpicks in it at the end wins.
  • Marshmallow Pyramid – Build the highest pyramid of marshmallows. Make it tougher by having them build it on a teen’s forehead. Who can balance the most marshmallows on nose?
  • Marshmallow Vacuum – Using straws teams of youth must suck up the most marshmallows and place them in cups. No hands allowed.
  • Marshmallow Walk – Youth balance a marshmallow on top of their head, tongue or nose, as they walk to a finish line and back. (If tongue have some replacements available in case they drop)
  • Tallest Marshmallow Tower – Marshmallows must be stacked one on top of the other – straight up without it falling over. Each marshmallow may rest on only one marshmallow below it.

TAKE IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL

 

More than fifty years ago, researchers at Stanford University conducted a study on preschoolers commonly known as the “Marshmallow test.” They were taken into a room and given a marshmallow and told that if they could wait 15 minutes, they would get a second marshmallow. If they ate the marshmallow, they would not get the second one. They then left the child alone in the room with a marshmallow and a hidden camera and waited. Only about 1/3 were willing to wait. In the following years they checked up on the kids as the became adults and progressed in life. Those that were able to wait, that were able to “delay gratification” were on a whole also able to be much more successful in life.

There are quite a few repeats of the experiment on youtube. Here is one of them:
Continue reading Marshmallow Olympics

Setting Priorities for the New Year

The beginning of the year is often the time when people set new goals and priorities for the year ahead. This lesson is adapted from an object lesson on priorities in our Creative Object Lessons ebook.

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You can find this as an illustration here.

An Object Lesson

What You Need

  • Marker than can write on plastic
  • Transparent plastic or glass jar
  • Ping pong balls (or golf balls)
  • Bag of rice
  • Two small plastic bags – You can use more but I prefer two.
  • Large sheet of paper, newspaper classified ads, or whiteboard

Advance Preparation

  1. Place as many ping pong balls in the jar as will fit
  2. Add as much rise as possible to fill the rest of the space
  3. Empty the jar and place the rice into the plastic bags
  4. Discard the ping balls that were not in the jar so that you only have those that fit.

What to Do

  1. Ask the youth to list goals people might have for this new year?
  2. List them on the newsprint or whiteboard so that all can see.
  3. Pass out the ping pong balls and ask the students to write one of the goals for the new year on each Ping Pong Ball
  4. Ask the students to choose three other things to write on the bags of rice.
  5. Pour the bags of rice into the jar, reading each goals as you pour its contents into the jar.
  6. Then do the same with each of the ping pong balls. These will not all fit.
  7. Explain that if you do the small things first, you won’t have time for the important things.
  8. Ask youth to decide which things on the ping pong balls are the most important and place them in the jar first. You might need to replace the labels on some of them or replace them with the leftover ping pong balls.
  9. Then when you put the items for the rice in they will all fall into place and everything will fit.

TAKE IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL

MAKE IT SPIRITUAL

When it comes to setting goals, I sometimes hear two different opinions. I’ve heard people say we should not plan but should be led by the spirit in everything we do. I’ve heard others say that God gave us brains and wisdom to plan in advance and we must make concrete plans. The truth lies somewhere in the middle. We must make plans and be wise with our time, but at the same time our plans must not be so fixed that there is no room for God to add, change, or interrupt those plans for his will to be done.

1. Men of God make plans based upon the wisdom they have

  • Proverbs 6 affirms wise planning and working toward those plans.
  • Proverbs 13:16 “A wise man thinks ahead; a fool doesn’t and even brags about it!”
  • Proverbs 15:22 “Plans go wrong with too few counselors; many counselors bring success.”
  • Proverbs 21:5 “The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty.”
  • Paul made plans (see Acts 15:36; Rom 1:13)
  • The disciples made plans (Acts 6:1-3)
  • Jesus made plans (Matt 10:5-15; 16:21; 26:17-19)
  • Jesus used plans as an illustration in his teachings (Luke 14:28-31)

2. God’s Word must be a guide for our plans (Psalm 119:9-16; Matthew 4:4; 2 Timothy 3:15-17; Matthew 6:33-34)

3. Our plans must be sensitive and allow room for God to change those plans. (See Acts 16:6-7) James 4:13-14 reminds us that our plans are secondary to God’s. “Instead, you ought to to say, ‘If the Lord wills, we shall live and also do this or that'” (v. 15). Proverbs 16:9, “In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps.”

MAKE IT PRACTICAL

Ultimately, God has one primary goal for each of our lives – to become more like Christ – Romans 8:29; 2 Corinthians 3:18; Galatians 4:19; Ephesians 4:13; 22-24

  • What are some of the goals we should have as Christians in this regard.
  • What goals can we set that will help us to become more and more Christlike?

MAKE IT PERSONAL

  • What are some of your personal goals?
  • If you accomplish each goal, how will Jesus Christ be glorified?
  • How does each goal help you and/or others become more like Jesus Christ?

ADDITIONAL SCRIPTURES

Matthew 6:33

“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”

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…

Autumn Leaves

In the autumn season, the leaves on the trees start changing colors. Depending on where you live you can see vibrant red, orange, yellow and brown leaves. And there still might be some green ones around as well. Soon they will detach themselves from the tree and fall to the ground. So we also call this season the Fall. But the leaves also serve as a spiritual object lesson.

What You Need

  • Collect a variety of autumn leaves, at least one for each youth, of different sizes, shapes, colors.

What to do

  1. Display the leaves.
  2. Have each youth select a leaf that represents him or herself in some way.
  3. Ask the youth to describe every detail about their leaves to a partner. Have a couple of volunteers share the description with the group as a whole. You could aso have them tell the life story of the leaf in a creative way. What things has it endured? What things did it get to see / enjoy from its perch on the tree, how it lived through the seasons, and finally how it fell and ended up here.
  4. Ask each youth to display the leaf and share one thing about the leaf that is also true of them.

Observations for discussion

Every leaf has a life story. Leaves are temporary, different shapes, scarred, different colors, alive, dead, attached, detached, dry, moist, light, heavy, different sizes, different leaf patterns and veins, different ages, they change, some are blown away, others cling to the tree, some are brittle, others are flexible, rough, smooth, piled up, alone, they bring shade, reach for the sun, draw from the root, etc.

TAKE IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL

MAKE IT SPIRITUAL

Psalm 1 teaches us some lessons about trees, and says we are like trees. Read Psalm 1 from the Bible.

  • How does God describe the wicked in Psalm 1 and how is similar to the Autumn leaves? (Like debris blown away by the wind, unable to stand, they will die.)
  • How does God describe the Righteous in Psalm 1 and how is this similar to a tree planted by the water? (Blessed, happy, delighted, like leaves that do not doesn’t wither)
  • What truths can we learn from Psalm 1?
  • What is the difference between them that leads to the different outcome?

MAKE IT PRACTICAL

  • What are the ways that youth draw closer to God, to be refreshed and strengthened by Him, to grow strong and fruitful, to not whither, but be full of life? Why is it important?

MAKE IT PERSONAL

  • What will you do this week to draw closer to God, to be refreshed and strengthened by Him, to grow strong and fruitful, to not whither, but be full of life?

SCRIPTURE

“Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. 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, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers. Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous. For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.” – Psalm 1

Get Creative Youth Ideas: "Holiday Collection" ebook Creative Holiday Ideas
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 Thanksgiving Celebration, 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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Trick or Treat? – Sharing the Gift of Salvation

This youth activity uses Halloween candy as a discussion starter for the topic of evangelism. The Gospel is often called the “Good News” and it is something we should be excited about sharing with others. But like the popular Halloween phrase “Trick or Treat?” we sometimes wonder if evangelism is a trick or a treat? Is it something that frightens us, that we are tricked into doing, or are so excited about the Good News that we can’t help but share it with others.

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What you need

  • A bag of candy (As Halloween is just around the corner, you can easily get a variety of candy in individually wrapped snack sizes.)
  • a Bible

What to do

  1. Play some games with the youth as an icebreaker, preferably sitting in a circle.
  2. Once you have played a few rounds of a popular icebreaker game, simply reward one of the youth with a big bag of candy, preferable one of those who did not win any of the games. Describe and show the contents of the bag of candy to the youth and then simply reward it to one of them.
  3. If youth ask why the particular youth got the candy, simply explain that it is yours and you just wanted to give it to someone – not because of anything they did, but simply because of who you are – a good person.
  4. After you have given the candy to one of the youth, join the circle and stare expectantly at the person with the candy with your hand held out to receive a piece. Without saying anything, encourage other youth to also stare in expectation to get some candy.
  5. When the youth offers to share the candy, affirm them and thank them. (If the youth never offers to share, tell them that now is the time to share the candy, as if it was planned and they had forgotten.)
  6. Once everyone has some candy, debrief.

TAKE IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL

Debrief

To the Youth receiving the candy

  • How did it feel to be given the big bag of candy, even though you were not a winner in any of the games?
  • How did it feel when everyone stared at you expecting you to share the candy?
  • What made you decide to share?

To the Rest of the Youth

  • What were you hoping would happen when you saw the big bag of candy?
  • How did it feel to see someone else get something good when you received nothing?
  • Once the candy was given to someone else, what did you then hope for?
  • How would you have felt if the candy had not been shared?

MAKE IT SPIRITUAL

Read Acts 4:18-20

  • How was Peter and John’s sharing Jesus similar to (person’s name) sharing the candy with the rest of the youth?
  • What was Peter and John’s motivation for sharing?
  • How is salvation a gift? (Romans 6:23, Ephesians 2:8-10)
  • How is does the experience with the candy, relate to us receiving the sweet gift of salvation?
  • How would keeping the candy to yourself be like not sharing Jesus with others?
  • How is the Gospel Sweet? Why does the popular hymn begin with “Amazing Grace how sweet the sound?”

One of the definitions of GRACE is

God’s
Riches
At
Christ’s
Expense

Jesus left the glory of heaven and suffererd through the agony of Calvary, dying on a cross to pay the penalty of sin in our place, so that God could give us the gift of eternal life. It is not something we deserved, but an undeserved gift. When we put our trust in him, we accept the gift and he calls us to share the same opportunity with others.

MAKE IT PRACTICAL

  • What are some of the gifts we receive as a child of God?
  • How can we share those gifts with others?
  • What is the greatest gift you could give to someone?
  • How can we share the gift of salvation with others in words?
  • How can we share the gift of salvation with others in actions?
  • Why do we need to share in both words and actions? (Romans 15:18)

MAKE IT PERSONAL

  • What is your favorite thing to talk about (share) with others?
  • Why do we find it easy to talk about things that we love, but difficult to talk about the Saviour we love?
  • What is something that you can do this week to share the gift of salvation both in words and action?

Additional Scriptures

Acts 4:18-20
“Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John replied, ‘Which is right in God’s eyes: to listen to you, or to him? You be the judges! As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.'”

2 Corinthians 2:14-17 (NASB)
“But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place. For we are a fragrance of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing; to the one an aroma from death to death, to the other an aroma from life to life. And who is adequate for these things? For we are not like many, peddling the word of God, but as from sincerity, but as from God, we speak in Christ in the sight of God.”

Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life
through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

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.”

Matthew 5:16
“In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”

1 Peter 2:12
“Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.”

Romans 15:18
“For I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me to bring the Gentiles to obedience•by word and deed,”

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…

The Helmet of Salvation

Today, helmets are more commonly associated with sports and motorbikes, but in the New Testament period they were primarily known as a critical piece of a soldier’s armor. The helmet protected the soldier’s head in battle. In Ephesians 6 when Paul talks about spiritual battle he mentions the helmet of salvation as a piece of our spiritual equipment. While a breastplate protects the heart, a helmet protects our brain, our thinking. The following activities and object lesson serve as a look at the helmet of Salvation and its meaning for youth today.

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What you need

Collect a variety of helmets:

  • Cycling Helmet
  • Motorcycle Helmet
  • Batting Helmet
  • Cricket Helmet
  • Climbing Helmet
  • Hard Hat
  • Fireman’s Helmet
  • Skateboarding Helmet
  • Hockey Goalie Helmet

If helmets are difficult to come by or you need bigger numbers, you can also add a collection of hats in addition to at least one real helmet. Around Halloween it is also quite easy to find a variety of interesting hats like those for a fireman, policeman, etc.

  • baseball hat
  • chef’s hat (toque)
  • winter hat
  • cowboy hat
  • birthday hat
  • sombrero
  • straw hat

You can also make paper hats from a sheet of newspaper. Simple instructions can be found here.

When I was young we used KFC Chicken Buckets as hats.

Icebreaker Games with Hats

Musical Hats

Similar in concept to musical chairs, place the youth in a circle and give them all hats except one. The person without a hat removes the hat from the person immediately in front of him/her in the circle and places it on his/her head. When your hat is removed you grab the next one. The game continues until the music stops and the person without a hat is removed from the game. Remove one hat from play, shrink the circle and keep playing until there are only a few winners left.

Alternatively, everyone except one is given a hat to wear. Play some upbeat music and when the music stops, everyone tosses their hats in the air and quickly grabs a new one and places it on their heads. The last youth to get a hat is removed from game and play continues until there is only one youth left.

Hat Towers

Place a large pile of hats in the center of the room. Divide into 2 or more teams. The teams choose one member and try to place as many hats on the person’s head as possible. The youth with the most hats on their head after a set period of time wins the game for his or her team.

An Object Lesson with a Helmet

  1. Get two small pumpkins, that can be strapped inside a bicycle or motorcycle helmet. (Small watermelons or cantaloupes also will work.)
  2. Set up a tall ladder on a hard surface covered with a tarp.
  3. Have the youth use permanent markers to draw faces on the pumpkins and give them names.
  4. Use the chin strap to secure one pumpkin inside the helmet. Leave the other one without any protection.
  5. Climb the ladder and talk read the armor of God from Ephesians 6:10-17.
  6. When you finish it drop both pumpkins at the same time.
  7. If your ladder is tall enough one will be smashed and the other will be fine.
  8. Then ask the youth explain how this relates to the “Helmet of Salvation”

TAKE IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL

Debrief

  • What happened?
  • Why?
  • What can we learn from this?
  • What are some activities that need helmets? Why?
  • What are some of the characteristics of helmets?
  • What does a helmet do?
  • What purpose did helmets serve in the Roman army?

Here are some common answer to characteristics of hats:

  • Different Hats have different purposes.
  • Protects head
  • Keeps hair out of the food
  • Identifies your team
  • Shade your eyes
  • Keeps your head warm
  • Some hats are ceremonial

Key point: A soldier’s helmet protected his head and gave him confidence that he was safe from the enemy’s attack.

MAKE IT SPIRITUAL

  • How is our hope of salvation like a helmet?
  • In what way does salvation protect our mind? Our thoughts?
  • How does salvation protect our thoughts?
  • 1 Thessalonians 5:8-11 is similar to Ephesians 6. How does it give more meaning to the helmet?

MAKE IT PRACTICAL

  • How is our hope of salvation a protection against, doubts, discouragements, despair, bad thoughts, and temptations?
  • How does the hope of salvation give us courage in our daily living?

MAKE IT PERSONAL

  • Have you put on salvation? If not, now is the time.
  • What are some of your personal doubts, discouragements, despair, bad thoughts, and temptation for which you need protection? Which one is biggest in your mind right now?
  • How can the hope of salvation give you courage to face these with confidence?
  • What will you do different this week, because of the hope of salvation?

Additional Scriptures

1 Thessalonians 5:8-11
“But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation. For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him. Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing.”

Ephesians 6:10-17
“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devils schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”

Romans 8:37-39
“No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height 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.”

Isaiah 12:2
“Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The Lord, the Lord himself, is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation.”

1 Peter 1:3-4
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you,”

Isaiah 59:17
“He put on righteousness as his breastplate, and the helmet of salvation on his head;
he put on the garments of vengeance and wrapped himself in zeal as in a cloak.”

Philippians 4:7
“And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

2 Corinthians 10:5
“We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”

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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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Salt of the Earth – An Object Lesson for Youth

Salt is necessary for life. It is made from sodium (Na) which is an unstable metal which easily bursts into flame and chloride (Cl) which is a deadly gas. Salt is used to preserve fruits and meats, to add flavor to food, and even to heal wounds. In Roman times it was difficult to obtain and so was considered very valuable. Soldiers were paid with salt which gives us the English word “Salary” and the phrase to be “worth his salt.” But Jesus used salt to describe the way the Disciples were to relate to the world. What’s the lesson for us?

What you need

  • Salted and unsalted peanuts
  • Salted and unsalted popcorn
  • Salted and unsalted snacks
  • Dried fruits / salt preserved fruits
  • Blindfolds

(If you want to add a more fun, buy a variety of jelly bean flavors. Jelly Belly has a lot of creative flavors but any Jelly Beans will work)

Preparation

  • Place the snacks into separate bags or bowls.

What to do

  1. Blindfold students and ask them to identify the various foods by taste.
  2. Ask youth to describe the various foods and the differences. Make a list.

TAKE IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL

Debrief

  • Which of the foods has the strongest taste and why?
  • Which of the foods do you think is the most salty?
  • What are some foods that taste better, that come to life, when a little salt is added  (Potato chips, French fries, peanuts, popcorn)
  • Make a list of anything that comes to mind when you hear the word “salt”.

MAKE IT SPIRITUAL

1. Read Matthew 5:13-16 (NIV)
“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.”

2. How can we influence the world in the same way as salt?

  • Christians like salt are of great value
  • Christians like salt are a preservative to the decay around us in the world
  • Christians like salt are to add zest, flavor, excitement to the world
  • Christians like salt are to make people thirsty for the Living Water
  • Christians like salt can help promote healing
  • Christians like salt can lose our influence and usefulness

Like salt we preserve, we help to offset the decay in morals around us. Like salt we add flavor, we make a difference that people can notice. Like salt, we make people thirsty for the water of life. Like salt we bring others into wholeness and healing through Christ. We make a difference not only by our presence and our actions, but also by our words. (Colossians 4:5-6)

MAKE IT PRACTICAL

Describe a time when you’ve seen a fellow Christian act as salt to make a difference?
How can we prevent ourselves from being diluted, of being mixed with other things so that we are no longer salty?

  • In what ways are Christians of great value in the world?
  • In what ways are Christians a preservative to prevent decay?
  • In what ways does the life of a Christian add flavor to the world?
  • In what ways do Christians make people hungry for the living water – Christ?
  • In what ways do Christians promote healing?
  • In what ways can Christians lose our influence and become useless to Christ?

MAKE IT PERSONAL

If we are not making a difference in the world, what use are we? The reason God doesn’t take us straight to heaven is because he wants us to make a difference here. As Christians, if we in the world, but there is no difference between us and the world around us, we have lost our saltiness. If people cannot see the difference God has made in our lives, we have lost our saltiness. If we have no positive influence, we don’t bring healing, and add something to those we come in contact with, we have lost our saltiness.

  • What one lesson can you take from this study and apply to your own life?
  • How can you, like salt, make a difference when you are at school, at home, among your friends, in your neighborhood?

Additional Scriptures

Colossians 4:5-6
“Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. Let your speech always be with grace, SEASONED WITH SALT, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.”

Mark 9:50
“Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again? Have salt among yourselves, and be at peace with each other.”

Luke 14:34
“Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? 35 It is fit neither for the soil nor for the manure pile; it is thrown out.”

Matthew 5:13-16
“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.”

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God Given Talents

Are you using the gifts, talents, and skills God’s given you for the benefit of others, to make the world a better place, to shine out for Christ? Or are you just using them to benefit yourself or not using them at all and letting them go to waste?

What you Need

  • Paper Money – Not plastic notes as used in some countries, but linen/cotton paper notes. The amount of money used is up to you. The greater the amount, the greater the impact, but a single dollar will make the point.
  • A 50-50 alcohol solution – If you are using isopropyl alcohol you can usually find it in a variety of percentages of alcohol. It doesn’t have to be exact but needs to be close. You can mix 50 ml of water with 50 ml of 95-100% alcohol. With 70% alcohol solution use 70ml of alcohol and add another 30ml of distilled water. With 91% alcohol solution use 55ml of alcohol and 45 ml of distilled water.
  • Lit Candle in a candle holder
  • Metal Tongs
  • Bowl of water (Just in case you need to douse the fire)
  • Matches to light the candle
  • Dash of salt (to make the flame burn yellow)

Preparation

  1. Prepare the 50/50 alcohol and water solution.
  2. Add a pinch salt to help produce a yellow flame as alcohol tends to burn blue and makes a barely visible flame.
  3. When you light the paper money, the alcohol will burn but the paper will not. You can try with some ordinary paper first. If it burns you need to add more distilled water.

What to Do

  1. Place the money in the solution until it is completely soaked.
  2. Keep the matches candle, and bowl hidden until you need them.
  3. Say, “I am considering giving [Amount of money i.e. $50] to the youth who will give it to the most worthwhile cause.”
  4. Take the money from the solution, and discretely let the excess liquid drip off and then hold it up with the tongs.
  5. Ask each youth what they would honestly do with the money if you were to give it to them.
  6. While they answer place it back in the solution so it does not dry out completely.
  7. After all youth have answered respond: “You’ve given me some very good ideas on how I could spend this money, but instead think I will burn it. It is my money and I will do with it what I want!”
  8. Take out the candle and light it. (Sometimes the youth will blow out the candle!) Persist.
  9. Holding the monem with the tongs, move the damp money away from the alcohol-water solution.
  10. Then light the bill in the candle and hold it over the bowl until it burns out.
  11. After the youth have calmed down, ask them what makes this piece of paper worth something. The answer is that others will give something to you for it.
  12. Explain. “I know many of you felt frustrated that I would waste something that is so valuable to you, but think about how God must feel when we waste our lives. Sure, they are our lives to do with as we please, but you are valuable, too. God gave his Son’s life for you!”

Alternative Variation

  1. If you are concerned about the safety of the object lesson, you can do something similar with a lump of modelling clay.
  2. Explain: “This clay is mine but loan it to you for a while. You can do anything with it until I tell you time is up. Go!”
  3. Be sure to have one lump of clay reserved for yourself. Don’t do anything with it.
  4. After a predetermined length of time, call “Time’s Up” and let the youth explain their various creations.
  5. Talk about the amazing things that were done. Then explain that you didn’t do anything with yours.
  6. This lump of clay is like your life. God gave you this live to do whatever you wanted with it. You can choose to do nothing, make your life something that benefits others, or even make it one that hurts others. The choice is yours. But you were created with a purpose.

TAKE IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL

 

MAKE IT SPIRITUAL

Read 1 Peter 4:10-11
“Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it 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.” (NIV)

MAKE IT PRACTICAL

  • God gives you talents and He expects you to use them. Use them to serve others and to bring glory to God.
  • On a piece of paper, make a list of various talents, skills, and abilities found in the youth group or amonf friends or that you appreciate – one per line.
  • Then on the right side write some ways that God might be able to use those talents and skills to serve others and for his glory. Include ways in church and also outside the church.

MAKE IT PERSONAL

  • From the list, or from your head, think of one talent YOU have and consider how you can use it to serve others and bring glory to God this week.

Additional Scriptures

  • Psalm 139:13-18
  • Psalm 24:1
  • Matthew 25:14-30
  • Colossians 3:23-25
  • Romans 12:3-8

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Clean Hands and Hearts

Here’s another summer outdoor activity that serves as a Bible Study. In the Bible, the phrase “clean hands and a pure heart” not only describes someone who is pure both inside and outside, but it also speaks of what we do (hands) and what we think (hearts).

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What You Need

  • Bible
  • towels
  • mud / dirt and water
  • bucket
  • water faucet

What to Do

  1. Mix dirt and water in a bucket to make thick mud
  2. Gather the youth around the bucket of mud and have them dip their hands in the mud.
  3. Have the youth sit down while you read Psalm 51. Fairly quickly, the mud will dry and become uncomfortable.

Take it to the Next Level

DEBRIEF

  • Ask the youth what David was feeling when he wrote this Psalm?
  • Ask them to share the circumstances of the Psalm (2 Samuel 11)?
  • Ask the youth to compare what the mud feels like to how David was feeling.
  • Ask the youth to join hands and then describe what it is like to hold a muddy hand.

MAKE IT SPIRITUAL

  • Ask youth to share ways that the mud similar to sin?
  • What would happen if we never washed our hands?

MAKE IT PRACTICAL

  • How does sin affect us when we come before God?
  • How does sin affect how God sees us?
  • How does it affect relationships with God and others around us?
  • Use some of the scriptures listed below to discuss sin and cleansing.

Closing Activity

Bring the youth to a water faucet and help them to wash their hands. Let them use towels to dry each others hands.

Ask the youth to share how they feel now, and how it feels to not only hold clean hands, but also to help others get their hands clean. How does this relate to confession, God’s cleansing, and our mission as Christians? How does clean hands affect how we live life?

Explain some people think going to church, being nice, doing good things is all you have to do to remove the sin in your life. Those things are good but they are seen on the outside we have to also clean ourselves on the inside. We can wash the dirt off our bodies, but what can we do about sin which is inside our hearts? Water cannot cannot remove sin. Only the blood of Jesus can wash away our sins. And once we are clean before God, we are given the ministry to reconcile others to God, to help them to find forgiveness in him and also be cleansed from sin.

MAKE IT PERSONAL

  • Ask each youth to have some quiet moments with God of confession, and contemplating what he has done for us and how they can help others find the cleansing of Christ.

Scriptures

Matthew 23:27-28
“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.”

Mark 7:14-15
“Again Jesus called the crowd to him and said, ‘Listen to me, everyone, and understand this. Nothing outside a person can defile them by going into them. Rather, it is what comes out of a person that defiles them.'”

Proverbs 20:9
“Who can say, ‘I have kept my heart pure; I am clean and without sin’?”

Romans 3:23
“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”

1 John 1:9
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”

Isaiah 1:18
“Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.”

Hebrews 10:22-23
“let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.”

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Christian Trailblazers

The Bible uses a lot of symbols and metaphors from nature to explain spiritual truths. In this outdoor Bible study, you’ll identify some objects along a nature trail and ask the youth to make a list of everything they spot along the trail. These lists will then be used to discuss various scripture passages. It’s great for any season, but especially for summer!

What You Need

  1. Bibles
  2. An outdoor location with some nature. It can be an actual trail through a park, wilderness or natural area or it can be any path designated path. It could be a path along a sidewalk, a bike trail, a biking trail, or even the area between two trees, two designated landmarks, or even flags planted in the ground. All you need is a predefine starting location and a predefined end point.

What to Do

  1. Guide the youth to walk along the trail route and to carefully write down everything that they see of interest.
  2. When you reach a predefined destination or stopping point along the trail, lay out a blanket or groundsheet and have the youth share the things they discovered along the trail.
  3. Ask youth what lessons they could learn about God from what they found, aside from the obvious of God being the Creator.

Scriptures

Here are some common items found along just about any trail

  • Animals, birds – Acts 10:9-16
  • Ant – Proverbs 6:6, 30:25
  • Bees – Deuteronomy 1:44
  • Birds – Matthew 6:25-34
  • Birds, foxes – Matthew 8:20
  • Branch – Psalm 4:2; Isaiah 11:1; John 15
  • Bush – Exodus 3:2
  • Chicks, Hen – Matthew 23:37
  • Coin – Luke 15:9
  • Deer, water – Psalm 42:1
  • Egg, scorpion – Luke 11:12
  • Feathers – Psalm 91:4
  • Flower, Grass, Dust – Psalm 103:14-16
  • Flowers – Matthew 6:27-29
  • Garbage – Philippians 3:8
  • Gnat – Matthew 23:44
  • Path, seeds, weeds, trees – Matthew 13:1-23, 24-29, 31-34
  • Rock – Psalm 18:2; Matthew 16:18
  • Rocks – Luke 19:40
  • Roots – Job 29:19
  • Sand – Matthew 7:24-27
  • Sparrows – Luke 12:6
  • Stone – Acts 4:11
  • Trees, Leaf – Psalm 1
  • Trees, stones – Luke 3:9
  • Vine – Jonah 4:6-11; John 15
  • Wild Flower – James 1:10

Take it to the Next Level

If any of the objects are mentioned, you can assign the person who mentioned it to look up the scripture verse. You can also simply share some of the things you noted along the trail and reference the read the scripture verses together.

Make it Spiritual

  • How are these objects used in the Bible? What do they mean?

Make it Practical

  • Why do you think God uses objects from nature in the Bible as symbols and metaphors for spiritual truths?

Make it Personal

  • Which symbol or object had the biggest impression on you? Why?
  • What lesson from this nature walk can you apply to your spiritual walk this week.

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scavenger_hunts_ebook_sm.jpgCreative 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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Jesus – The Source

During the summer, a lot of youth ministries have outdoor activities. If you are near a park or area with a lot of trees, why not add this outdoor Bible study to your outing to stimulate some spiritual discussions and point the youth to Christ!

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An Outdoor Object Lesson

This object lesson will guide youth to compare our relationship with Christ to that of a tree and it’s branches.

What you Need

  • A blanket or ground sheet for each group

Preparation

  1. Find a place outdoors where there are several trees. Fruit trees amke for a better illustration, but other trees can work just as well.
  2. Ask the youth to form groups of 3 to 5 persons. Give each group a blanket, and have each group choose a tree.
  3. Ask the groups to lay the ground sheet at the base of the tree, and lie down on the blanket, on their backs, looking up at the tree.

What to Say

1. Imagine the tree you are under represents Christ and his followers.

  • Which part of the tree you are looking at would represent Christ? Explain.
  • Which part of the tree would represent his followers? Explain.

2. Look at the branches of the tree. Are there any dead branches or branches that look like they are dying? Any branches that need to be cut off?

  • What causes branches to die?
  • How can a follower become spiritually dead, like one of the dead branches?

3. Are there any branches that look more alive than others? Move vibrant? More green? Have new growth?

  • What leads to new growth for us as Christians?

4. How can you tell if a tree like this is reproducing? Are there sprouts, flowers, seeds, or fruit?

  • In what ways do we reproduce spiritually?
  • In what ways are you growing and reproducing spiritually?

Take it to the Next Level

  1. Instruct the youth to find a branch that represents him or her in some way and bring it back to the group as a whole next to the biggest tree. Ask the youth to take a closer look at the branch, then have all youths to toss all the branches into one big pile.
  2. Ask the youth to pair up. In turn each youth will describe his or her branch, every little detail they can remember about it to his or her partner so that the partner, from th description will be able to identify the correct branch in the pile and bring it back. When the partner returns with the branch, if it is correct, they switch roles and now the other youth describes his or her branch. If the branch is incorrect it is returned to the pile to try again.
  3. One both youth have gotten the branch back they must each explain the ways they are similar to the branch in a spiritual sense. Responses may vary in depth and insight depending on how comfortable youth are with each other.
  4. Share from John 15, the vine and the branches then ask youth to share some ways that a person can be more spiritually alive.
  5. Ask the youth to share something each can do this week to be closer to Christ and to be more alive in the Christian walk.
  6. End by having the groups form one big circle around the biggest, most fruitful, most vibrant tree and pray that like the tree they will grown strong in Christ, drawing from the source, and producing abundant fruit that will last.

Scripture

Main Scripture Passage: John 15:1-17

Key Verse: John 15: 5
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”

 

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The Exchanged Life in Christ

There is a great exchange that takes place when we put our faith in Christ. Our old way of living, thinking, speaking, and acting is replaced – not all at once, but over time. When God looks at us, he sees us through the blood of Christ so our position before God changes immediately, but our thinking and our habits, change over time. As we grow more and more in purity and become more Christlike, we make room for the fruits of the spirits in our lives to develop and provode more opportunities for God to work through us to minister to others.

An Object Lesson

What you need

  • a clear glass pitcher filled with distilled water
  • a fish bowl that holds the same amount of water as the pitcher
  • a pile of smooth, egg-sized stones.
  • a permanent marker
  • a pair of ice tongs
  • 9 goldfish

What to do

1. Ask the youth to name some of the things we know hinder our spiritual growth and write their answers on each of the stones, with a permanent marker.

Some possible answers might be: addictions, anger, arrogance, backbiting, being unmerciful, bitterness, boasting, cheating, complaining, complacency, a critical spirit, cruel words, deceit, depression, discontent, dishonesty, disobedience, divisiveness, doubt, drunkenness, envy, fear, foolish talk, fornication, gluttony, gossip, greed, harmful habits, hatred, impatience, ingratitude, jealousy, laziness, lies, materialism, pornography, pride, profanity, quarreling, self-righteousness, selfish ambition, sexual lust, strife, theft, unholy thoughts, worry

2. Now place the stones in the fishbowl, filling it to the top. Pour as much of the water as you can into the fish bowl. It probably doesn’t take much. The old habits, the old thoughts, the old way we speak, limit God’s ability to use your life to share the living water with others.

3. One by one remove each of the stones with the ice tongs. After removing each stone, pour in a little more water. By the time every stone has been removed, much of the water can fit in the container.

4. Take out the nine goldfish and name them. The first one is “Love.” Put it in the fishbowl. The next one is “Joy.” The third one is “Peace.” See them swim happily in their new home? You know the rest of the names…Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness and Self-Control.

5. Conclude: As you remove the dead stones, the blockages, you make room for God to bring the fruits of the spirit into your life. Where once you were filled with dead stones, you are now filled with life.

Take it to the Next Level

Make it spiritual

“The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. 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.” – Galatians 6:19-23

Make it Practical

“You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” – Ephesians 4:22-24

Our old way of living, thinking, speaking, and acting is replaced which each decision that we make.  It is a process of becoming more and more like God / Christ.  What are some of the characteristics, actions, thoughts, attitudes, and speech that are Christlike?

“Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory” – Colossians 3:1-4

When God looks at us, he sees us through the blood of Christ so our position before God changes immediately, but our thinking and our habits, change over time.

Make it Personal

  • What are some actions, thoughts, attitudes, beliefs, and things you say that need to be exchanged for something more Christlike?
  • What can you work on this week?

 

 

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Visions of Christ

Refining our gifts, skills, talents and abilities, striving for excellence, is a very important and noble task, that gives Christ more to work with. But regardless of our level of ability, everything we have is to be used for His glory so that others see a vision of Christ when they look at us. This story and Object lesson reminds us that we must live a life that is so close to Christ, that like those in Antioch, we are called Christians – “little Christs”.

Object Lessons

Instead of displaying an object lesson for the youth to learn from, we will be providing a variety of objects for youth to use as object lessons. They will be creating the object lessons.

  1. Collect a variety of small items from your office or home. A pencil, a piece of paper, a sticky note, a stapler, a sugar packet, a thumb tack, an envelop, a letter opener, a coin, a key, a ring, a bottle cap, a ruler, a knife, a shoe lace, a breath mint, a piece of candy, a cup, a plate, a napkin, a nail file, a name card, a clothes pin, a screw, a nail, a paper clip, a magnet, a towel, a battery, a toothbrush, a comb, and just about anything else you can find. Use whatever you have available. Make sure you have enough items for the entire group to each have a different item with a few to spare.
  2. Ask the youth to each take one item that represents something about God. What truth about God or Christ does it bring to mind? What is something about God it could represent?
  3. Let the youth share what the item represents about God or what it reminds them of in relation to God.
  4. After all the youth have shared, tell the following story.

An Illustration

In the 18th century there was a German sculptor by the name of Johann Heinrich von Dannecker. Legend says that he could almost bring stone to life with his skills as a sculptor.

At the height of his career, he decided to do something very special with his gift. He dreamed of shaping a piece of lifeless stone into a statue of Christ that would come to life as a witness to his world.

He chiseled, scraped and polished the marble for almost 2 years. When he was convinced that his statue carried the likeness of his Lord, he wanted to test the statue on eyes that would not lie.

So he went out to the street, and brought in a young girl. He took her into his studio, and he set her down in front of the shrouded sculpture. Uncovering it, he asked her, “Do you know who this is?” “No, sir!” she replied. But he must be a very great man. And Dannecker knew that he’d failed. The statue was good enough for kings and nobles, but it wasn’t good enough to be a testimony of Christ.

He was discouraged. He was disheartened. He was depressed. But he knew that he had to try again. So he set his hand to the task. It took him six years this time, every day, painstakingly, shaping, carving and polishing. Finally, once again he felt he was done. And again, he brought in a child as his first critic.

He took off the shroud, and asked her gently, “Who is that?” Legend has it that tears came to her eyes as she recognised Jesus. It was enough. Dannecker had finished his task. He had created his masterpiece. He had given visible shape to his faith.

Later, to a friend, he told the secret of those last six years. It was as if, he said, Christ had joined him daily in his little room. He felt the nearness of his Lord. He sensed the glory of his Presence. All Dannecker had to do, really, was to transfer the vision of Christ that he received to the block of marble.

I am not sure if the story is true, but it is a powerful story with a profound message. And…

There’s more to the story.

Some years later, the French emperor Napoleon Bonaparte saw Dannecker’s work. He was so impressed, he sent for the sculptor and offered him a commission. “Make me a statue of the goddess Venus.” It was considered an incredible honor to be chosen as the creator of such a work of art! Who could refuse? But you know what? Dannecker did! He refused the commission. He gave up that honor.

And you know why?

His responded to Napoleon: “A man who has seen Christ can never employ his gifts in carving out a pagan goddess!”

Take it to the Next Level

Make it Spiritual

  • What are some of the gifts, talents, skills, and abilities that we have in our group?
  • How can these be used to teach others something about God? How can they be used to bring Glory to God?

Make it Personal

I think the true secret to making Christ come to life in my lifes, to be truly Christlike, is to spend lots of time in His presence and to project the very presence and nearness of Christ in my personal life.

Like Johann Heinrich von Dannecker many of us have failed at times, some of us decidedly more toward the disastrous rather than the masterful. But I truly believe that if we keep our hearts focused on Him, that like with Danneker, God can use our labours of love, our gifts, talents, skills, and abilities to touch the hearts of others all over the world and open doors to sharing the gospel.

Make it Practical

  1. List some of your talents, skills, abilities and gifts.
  2. How could these be used to bring Glory to God?
  3. What is something you can do this week to be more Christlike, to let others see a vision of Christ in you this week?
  4. If everything you did, was done for God’s benefit, was done to please Him, glorify Him, would your actions change? Would you do things differently?
    • Would you speak to people differently?
    • Would you treat others differently?
    • Would you do different things?
    • Would you do things differently?
    • If God were your employer, your teacher, your parent, your constant companion would anything change?

Scripture

“Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it 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.” – 1 Peter 4:10-11

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive and inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.” – Colossians 3:23-24

In the The Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14-28), 3 servants were given 5 talents, 2 talents and 1 talent respectively. In those days talents referred to money. But today when someone speaks of talents, we think of the great scientists, artists, musicians, actors and athletes. From the story we learn that God has given us each different talents and abilities that he expects us to use for his benefit.

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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Father’s Toolbox

Father’s Day is coming and we thought we’d pull out our “toolbox” of ideas you can use to demonstrate the many roles fathers play in the family. You could use this as a sermon illustration or object lesson for the Father’s Day weekend. We wish all our fathers out there a very blessed and fulfilling Father’s Day!

Resources

  • You may wish to bring a toolbox with all the items below as object lessons for this teaching idea.

What to Do

Many fathers have a toolbox. Inside the toolbox you will find many tools. And some of the tools in the toolbox make good metaphors for what a Father does.

In a tool box you find many different types of tools. Tools for:

  • Measuring: A measuring tape, a ruler – God’s Word, as taught by fathers become the standard by which we measure right and wrong.“Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. TEACH THEM TO YOUR CHILDREN, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates, so that your days and the days of your children may be many in the land the Lord swore to give your ancestors, as many as the days that the heavens are above the earth.” – Proverbs 11:18-21

    “Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live LONG in the land the Lord your God is giving you.” – Exodus 20:12

  • Aligning: Square, A level, A Plumbline – Commands and teaching of our parents guide us to living the straight and narrow way.“My son, keep your father’s command and do not forsake your mother’s teaching. Bind them always on your heart; fasten them around your neck. When you walk, they will GUIDE you; when you sleep, they will watch over you; when you awake, they will speak to you. For this command is a lamp, this teaching is a light, and correction and instruction are the way to life” – Proverbs 6:20-23
  • Connecting: Stapler, Hammer, Screwdriver, Duct tape – Fathers strive to connect us with God and to live right with others.“From one man He made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and He determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. God did this so that men would seek Him and perhaps reach out for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us.” – Acts 17:26-27
  • Cutting: Saw, Knife, Plyers – Fathers teach us the words of God“For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” – Hebrews 4:12
  • Tightening / turning: Wrench, a spanner, a clamp, Plyers – Fathers seek to turn our attention to God, just as our heavenly Father turns our attention to our Fathers.

    “He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers…” – Malachi 4:6 
  • Shaping: Chisel, Sandpaper, files – Father’s shape our character and our values through their examples, through discipline, and through training. 

    “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” – Proverbs 27:17 

    “Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father?” – Hebrews 12:7 

    “My son, do not despise the LORD’s discipline and do not resent his rebuke, because the LORD disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in.” – Proverbs 3:11-12

Summary

In summary, our fathers are like tools, building each of us into the person that God intended. They gives us examples and truths so that we can not only measure our lives, but we can align them to God’s purpose and truth. They connect us to God and others. As they instill the word of God in our lives and discipline us, the truth cuts, shapes and sharpens us to be more effective children of God.

There’s a great passage on the role of fathers in 1 Thessalonians 2:11-12
“For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory.”

ENCOURAGING, COMFORTING, AND URGING THEM TO LIVE LIVES WORTHY OF GOD, WHO CALLS THEM INTO HIS KINGDOM AND GLORY.

Scripture References

Here’s some more scriptures on Fathers:

“Listen, my sons, to a father’s instruction; pay attention and gain understanding.”
– Proverbs 4:1

“Listen to your father, who gave you life, and do not despise your mother when she is old. Buy the truth and do not sell it – wisdom, instruction and insight as well. The father of a righteous child has great joy; a man who fathers a wise son rejoices in him.”
– Proverbs 23:22-24

“Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. ‘Honor your father and mother’ – which is the first commandment with a promise – ‘so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth. Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.'”
– Ephesians 6:1-4

“Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.”
– Colossians 3:20

“A wise son heeds his father’s instruction…”
– Proverbs 13:1

“A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish man despises his mother.”
– Proverbs 15:20

“As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him.”
– Psalm 103:13

“But you, O God, do see trouble and grief; you consider it to take it in hand. The victim commits himself to you; you are the helper of the fatherless.”
– Psalm 10:14

“Yet, O LORD, you are our Father. We are the clay, You are the potter; we are all the work of Your hand.”
– Isaiah 64:8

“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 have received from God.”
– 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

Take It to the Next Level

Each one of us has different experiences with our father. Some of us have been blessed with a godly father and we need to thank Him for that gift. But the Bible is also full of fathers that were less than perfect. If your experience with your father has been difficult you can find peace and comfort from God the Father. As Christians we all celebrate Father’s Day knowing that we have become a child of the everlasting heavenly Father who is perfect in compassion, strength, and care in every way.


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God’s Word – A Mirror for Reflection

James tells us God’s Word is like a mirror (James 1:22-25). Mirrors allow us to see ourselves and to make changes based upon what we see. Unfortunately, many youth not only have a hard time seeing themselves in Scripture, but they also see themselves in a lot of other mirrors which may distort the image they see when they are already struggling to discover who they really are.

 

What to do

Discussion

  1. Ask: What are the characteristics of a mirror?
  2. You can divide the youth into groups and have a competition between teams to make the biggest list of charateristics and uses of mirrors, or simply ask the question and write all the answers on a whiteboard or newsprint/ flipcharts.
  3. Then read James 1:22-25 and ask the youth to highlight ways the Bible is like a mirror using the list they have already created.

Take it to the Next Level

 

Make it Spiritual

Here are some thoughts of characteristics and uses of a mirror applied….

  • We look into the mirror to see how we look and make changes – No one looks into a mirror, sees something he needs to change and then just forgets about it.
  • The better the mirror, the better the reflection. A poor quality mirror often introduces distortions. We must be aware of looking at ourselves through the eyes of others, what we have, or titles and positions, but must instead see ourselves as God sees us. Look into the perfect Word instead of the polluted world.
  • Reflective – God’s Word reflects his personality, reflects his attributes, attitudes, and desires. It also shows us how God sees us.
  • Introspective – Through reading God’s Word, we see Him and we see ourselves and the areas of our lives where we don’t measure up to God’s standards
  • The mirror isn’t the light, but only reflects it – We are not to worship God’s word, but the God that it reveals to us. God’s Word reveals the Light to us: a. Christ the light of the world; b. personal enlightenment
  • Shows the outside, not the inside – In contrast, God’s Word and commandments are not for the purpose of making external changes, but internal changes – heart changes.
  • Reflects the sun (son) or light – God’s Word reflects Christ the Son
  • Able to see yourself as others do – Through God’s Word, we discover what God sees in us and what others also see in us
  • If we focus too much we often lose sight of the overall picture – We need to look at the Bible as a whole, not pulling scriptures out of context, and not getting caught up in petty issues, but keeping a balanced Christian life
  • Can get dirty/ collect dust if not used – Many of our Bibles collect dust throughout the week and our knowledge of God’s Word is forgotten
  • A magnifying mirror is clear in the center and fuzzy and distorted on the edges. – We must have our lives centered upon God’s word. When we are away from it others won’t see us as clear reflections of Christ, but they will get a fuzzy image of Christianity.
  • Looking in carnival mirrors give you a distorted image of yourself. – Unless we are looking into the true mirror, God’s Word, we will get a distorted image of ourselves. Also beware of preachers who make you laugh, but never really give you God’s Word or have application to their sermons. They may just be carnival mirror preachers!
  • A mirror can break – Although a mirror can break, God’s word will stand forever.
  • The only thing you usually get from a shattered mirror is a cut hand! – Often, when we have shattered families, or other aspects of our lives are shattered, we get wounded because we use these things as our mirrors instead of God’s Word.
  • You can’t see much in a small mirror – In the same way, you can’t see yourself or God very much in a few Bible verses, but the more of God’s Word you look into, the better you see yourself and God
  • Usually when we look in the mirror, we only see the obvious things – Often when we read God’s word the things that are most obvious are what we realise. Later when we read these again, other things will be made evident to us by the Holy Spirit.
  • There are different types of mirrors for different purposes (Periscopes, Rearview mirrors, etc.) – Different verses in God’s word reveal mistakes that are already behind us, and those that are possible in the future
  • Obstacles in the way of a mirror block out parts of the picture – Obstacles in our lives prevent us from see the whole picture as God sees it.
  • The further you get from a mirror the less detail you see, the closer you get, the more detail you see. – This is the same effect as getting close or farther from God’s Word.
  • Quick glances into the mirror don’t help much. – To really see what needs work, you must spend time in God’s word, focusing and concentrating. A quick reading through the word rarely does us much good.
  • Sometimes it is necessary to look from a different angle to get a better perspective. It is the same with God’s Word. Try approaching scripture from a variety of vantage points.
  • No one ever looks in a mirror just to see the glass – We look into the Bible not to see the Bible, but to see God and ourselves

Have more ideas to share, please email me as I’d love to hear what your groups come up with!  Share in the comments.

Make it Practical
What are some of the things we learn about ourselves from the Bible?

Make it Personal
How should we respond based on the reflection we see?

Scripture

“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.” – James 1:22-25

Easter Treasure

One of the most common Easter activities is the easter Egg Hunt. This creative youth idea isn’t a treasure hunt, but an object lesson related to our pursuit of earthly treasures. Sometimes in the quest to grab all the things we want in life, we fail to remember that when we seek him first, all things will be added unto us.

Resources

  • A large number of coins, preferrable of the same denomination.
  • An opaque Jumbo-sized plastic Easter egg with the letters God written on it but stretched around the egg so that they don’t easily notice it unless it is pointed out to them.
  • A $20 bill placed inside the large plastic egg.
  • A stopwatch

NOTE: This game can also be played as a competition between two teams. Just double up the number of coins and add a second Jumbo-sized Easter egg with the $20 note inside.

What to Do

  1. Ask for a youth to volunteer to play the game.
  2. Scatter the coins across the top of the table.
  3. Tell the volunteer, or if you are doing this as a competition, the team repesentatives that they can keep all the money they are holding until the time ends. But there is a condition they must agree to before they can play the game.
  4. Explain the condition: They can only use ONE hand (Youth can choose to use their left or right hand but not both) All coins must be kept in the hand they start with and they cannot lay down any coins for any reason.
  5. Get the youth to agree to the condition and then add another catch. Since it is near to Easter, they must pick up the coins while holding a plastic Easter egg in in the same hand used to pick up the coins. If anyone asks about the plastic egg, just tell them it is to make it more of a challenge.
  6. Yell out “Go” and start the stopwatch. Don’t worry about the time, but as soon as the egg is dropped by all participants, call time.
  7. Reveal that the word “God” is written on the plastic then open it to reveal the $20 bill.
  8. Of course if they had just held on to God, they would have received more than the small coins collected from the table.

Take It to the Next Level

 

Make it Spiritual

  • Ask the youth what made the game difficult?
  • How is this game similar to life?
  • What are some of the things we try to grab and hold on to in life?
  • How does our pursuit and holding on to these things affect our relationship with God?
  • What are the consequences? What do we miss out on?
  • How does this relate to the words of Jesus “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Luke 12:34)

Make it Practical

Of course, most of the time we don’t consciously let our relationship with God drop. We simply fill our lives with too many other things. Sometimes we are trying to pursue things never realising that he has already promised them to us and they already belong to us.

  • What are some of the things that God promises us?
  • What are some things you have allowed to drop in your spiritual life? Why?
  • How can a person be focused on Christ?

Make it Personal

  • Where is your treasure? What are your treasures?
  • What are some of the things that crowd out Christ in your daily life? How can you make God more a priority?
  • If Jesus told you, “One thing you lack” (like he told the rich young ruler in Luke 18), what would he say to you?

Scripture References

Matthew 6:33 [See Matthew 6:19-34]
“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”

Luke 12:33-34
“Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will never fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

Haggai 1:9
“You expected much, but see, it turned out to be little. What you brought home, I blew away. Why?” declares the Lord Almighty. “Because of my house, which remains a ruin, while each of you is busy with your own house.

Luke 18:24-25
“Jesus looked at him and said, ‘How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God! Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.'”

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Tough Nuts to Crack

All of us face tough situations in our lives. We could be having the time of our lives but when bad things happen, the good times are forgotten, and all we can see ahead of us is despair. Christ passed through the gates of Jerusalem triumphantly, people waved palm leaves, cloaks were laid at the feet of the donkey He rode on, the crowds cheered and welcomed Him. Barely a week later, the cheers turned to jeers, it was His cloak that was ripped from Him and it was a whip that greeted Him. This Easter themed object lesson uses a walnut to teach the youth that even in the darkest hour and hopeless situations, something good awaits for those who know the plan of the Master.

Resources

  1. Walnuts, one for each youth
  2. Fine tipped markers, one for each youth
  3. Bibles

What to Do

  1. Give each youth a walnut and a fine tipped marker.
  2. Ask youth to think of some difficult situations Bible Characters faced that turned out for good. They can search their Bibles for more examples. (See Examples Below)
  3. Ask the youth to think of difficult times that could end up working out for good for people today? (e.g. Failing a test might lead a youth studying harder and passing a class)
  4. Then ask the youth to think a situation in their own life where something difficult turned into something good. Once they think of something, have them come up with a word, phrase or symbol that represents that situation.
  5. Ask the youth to write the word of phrase or symbol onto the shell of the walnut.
  6. Ask for volunteers to share the word or phrase with the rest of the youth and a little about what happened.
  7. After the sharing, ask the youth to take their walnuts outside and do whatever it takes to crack open the walnut. (You could also provide a hammer or nut cracker if you wish).
  8. When everyone has cracked the walnuts, ask the youth to collect all the pieces and return to the room. Encourage them to taste and eat the walnuts.

Biblical Examples:

  • Moses: Murder and ran away to desert – Exodus 2:11-22
  • Joseph: Sold into slavery – Genesis 37
  • Daniel: Carried off as a captive to Babylon – Daniel 1
  • Joseph: Accused by Potiphar’s wife – Genesis 39
  • Esther: Forced into a harem for a pagan king – Esther 4:14
  • Jonah: Swallowed by a whale – Jonah 1
  • Paul: Imprisoned in Rome – Philippians 1:12-14

 Take It to the Next Level


  • How did you feel as you crushed the walnut that represented the difficult situation?
  • How is breaking open the walnut and finding something good inside similar to the difficult situations in life – when something good comes out of a bad situation?

Make it Spiritual

  • How is Jesus’ death on the cross similar? (Acts 4:27-28)
  • What good came out of Christ’s death? Resurrection?
  • How is Jesus’ resurrection like tasting the good meat inside the walnut?

Make it Personal

  • What does Christ’s death and resurrection mean to you personally?
  • How has Christ’s death made a difference in your life for good?
  • Psalm 34:8 tells us to taste and see that the Lord is good. How does this relate to the object lesson?

Make it Practical

  • What are some tough situations you’re struggling with?
  • How does Romans 8:28 and the Easter story give you hope and strength to crush these situations in your life?

Scripture References

“Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.”
– Psalm 34:8 (NIV)

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”
– Rom 8:28 (NIV)

“‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'”
– Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)

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Valentine’s Day: Held Together

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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Gloves – The hand of God at Work Within Us

Finding one’s identity, purpose, and meaning in life are common struggles that every youth faces. They are seeking an answer to the question, “Why am I here?” In their search for purpose, they may try to find fulfillment in a variety of things, some good, some bad. But our purpose cannot be found in things. Our identity is found by filling the emptiness in our lives with Christ. When God’s Hand is at work in our lives, only then will we find true meaning and purpose. Gloves are a great object lesson to remind youth of this spiritual truth and a simplified version of this lesson makes a great Children’s Sermon.

GLOVES

Resources

Collect a variety of gloves. Here are some of the possible gloves you could choose from:

  • baseball glove
  • welder’s glove
  • leather gloves
  • Winter gloves or mittens
  • boxing gloves
  • work gloves
  • Surgical gloves
  • Food preparation gloves
  • Kitchen gloves
  • Gardening Gloves
  • Fingerless Gloves
  • White Gloves
  • Cycling Gloves
  • Fur gloves
  • Sequined gloves
  • Goal Keeper’s Gloves
  • Catcher’s Glove
  • Golf Glove
  • Driving Gloves
  • Scuba Gloves
  • Ski Gloves
  • Washing Mitt
  • Wheelchair Gloves

You might also have on hand a variety of items to fill the gloves with. Here are some possibilities: marbles, golf balls, M&Ms, skittles, coins, sand, water, salt, beans, paper clips, sticks, straws, pencils, ice, jello, baby powder, etc. The possibilities are endless. These can be symbolic or simply for fun. Marbles could represent gems, golf balls can represent sports, paper clips – work, M&M’s sweets or desires, coins – wealth, aspirin or beer – drugs, condoms – sex.

You can also add a wacky game to this object lesson by planning to divide the youth into teams and providing a rubber glove for each team.

Preparation

  • Display the gloves in a way that all the youth can see them.
  • Have the items to fill the gloves readily available but hidden from sight. Have them hidden in such a way that you only need to reveal one at a time. Suspense and curiosity are great tools for teaching as the youth will be trying to guess what you will fill the gloves with next.

Wacky Game – Optional

  • Divide the youth into teams and give each team a rubber kitchen glove.
  • The youth must select one team member to put the rubber glove on over his (or her) head and pull it down over their nose and inflate it using air from his nose. Once the glove is filled with air so that it is inflated and stands up on top of the youth’s head, they must run to you while crowing like a rooster.
  • It is not only hilarious, but it is also fun for the youth. If you want to make it last a little longer, have it as a relay race between the teams of youth.

What to Do

  1. Begin by showing the youth the various other types of gloves, and then ask the youth to identify the various types of gloves, the purpose for each, and who might use each of them?
  2. Explain that the empty gloves are like the lives of youth. Both youth and adults try to fill the emptiness in their lives with different things.
  3. Demonstrate by filling the gloves with various objects. As you go through each collection of items, ask the youth, “Is this what the glove is intended to be used for?”
  4. After you go through the items, ask the youth what the emptiness in the glove is supposed to be filled with? Of course the answer is someone’s hand.
  5. Ask the youth, what can the glove do by itself?  Of course the answer is nothing.

Take It to the Next Level

Make it Spiritual

(Note you might share some of the things you tried to fill your life with before you accepted Christ as you share the following information: Every person tries to fill their glove (or life) with different things: like money, sports, drugs, sex, work, food, money, friends, family, or even church to find meaning. While some things are obviously bad, others aren’t necessarily bad things, but simply not what the glove (life) was created for. In fact some of the things are good in the right context, but become bad when they become the primary goal for our existence.

Explain that those things don’t allow the glove to be used the way it was created to be used.

You can use the example of alcohol as something that may seem fulfilling for a while, but in the end leaves you even emptier than before. (You can fill up a specially prepared rubber glove that has been slit at the finger tips so that all the liquid drains out.)

At the very end of your examples, put your hand in the glove, and show how it is now useful and can fulfill its intended purpose. Explain that a glove can do all sorts of things – pick up a book, wave good-bye, scratch my head, play golf, work, pat someone on the back. By itself, it can do nothing. But if I put my hand in the glove… [put it on]… this glove can do almost anything I want.

Different gloves are created with a different intended purpose. But a glove can do nothing once the hand as been removed. It is the same with our lives, in an of ourselves we can do nothing of lasting significance, but with God in us all things become possible.

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 the hand of God work in our lives to accomplish his will here on earth.

Make it Personal

What are some of the purposes that God has for Christians?

Make it Practical

  • 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.

Scripture References

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.”

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.”

2 Corinthians 3:5
“Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God.”

Ephesians 3:19-20
“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,”

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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Drops of Influence

Our words can be words of life or words of destruction. This object Lesson for youth reminds us that the words we say have influence beyond just the moment. Also make a great Children’s sermon.

Materials

  • Two clear glasses as nearly alike as possible
  • A Bottle of red and a bottle of black food coloring

Preparation

  • The bottles of food coloring should be covered with white paper
  • On one print the words, “Good Influence”
  • On the other print the words, “Bad Influence”
  • Paste the label “Good Influence” on the bottle with red food coloring
  • Paste the label “Bad Influence” on the bottle with the black food coloring

What to Do

  1. Place the glasses in the center of the room or where the youth can clearly see them.
  2. Fill the glasses nearly full of water.
  3. Have the youth define “influence”
  4. Share the idea that every one has an influence for either good or bad; that we must guard ourselves every moment, for some thoughtless word or act might spoil another’s life.
  5. Share some personal examples of influence you have had for bad and good.
  6. Ask the youth to share some things that could be considered a good influence.
  7. Ask the youth to share some things that could be considered bad influence.
  8. Ask the youth to share some things they have personally done or said that influenced someone else.
  9. Ask “How much influence it takes to make a difference?”
  10. Put one drop of black ink into one of the glasses. The youth will notice with remarkable interest how quickly the color spreads’ and the pure water in the dish is spoiled.
  11. Emphasize how one drop will spread till it spoils the whole and how one little bad act may spread in the heart of another till a whole life is spoiled.
  12. Ask one of the youth to take that drop out of the water; they will tell you it cannot be done. And so with our influence, it cannot be undone.
  13. Put a drop of the red ink in the other glass and the bright color will grow and spread in the same way, and liken this to good influence.

Take it to the Next Level

Make it Spiritual

We can be a positive influence as Christians

  • Youth can be a positive influence on other believers (1 Timothy 4:12)
  • Believers can be a positive influence on youth (Titus 2:6-8)
  • A godly person can be a positive influence an a spouse (1 Peter 3:1-7)
  • A Christian can be a positive influence upon the ungodly (1 Peter 2:11-12, 1 Pet 3:1-2; 2:11-12; 1 Thessalonians 1:8-10)
  • A Christian can be a positive influence through encouragement (2 Corinthians 9:1-2; Hebrew 10:24-25)

We can be a negative influence as Christians

  • Our sin can negatively influence other Christians to also sin (Galations 2:11-13)
  • Our sin can negatively influence unbelievers to reject God (Romans 2:24; 1 Timothy 6:1; Titus 2:5)
  • False teaching can lead others to error (Galatians 5:7-9; 2 Timothy 2:14)
  • Other verses: 1 Corinthians 5:6-8; 8:10-13; 2 Timothy 2:16-18

Youth can be a positive influence by sharing the gospel with others (Romans 1:16; Colossians 1:3-6)

  • The gospel has the power to change the mind (Ephesians 4:20-23)
  • The gospel has the power to change our conduct (Ephesians 4:24; 5:8-10)
  • The gospel has the power to change spiritual condition – death to life (2 Timothy 1:10)
  • The gospel has the power to turn darkness into light (2 Corinthians 4:4)

Make it Personal

  • What difficulties do we face in trying to be a positive, Christ-like examples to others? In the home? Church? Workplace? Community, with non Christian friends?
  • If you were the only Christian someone knew, what picture of a Christian would they have? How would they define a Christian? What would they believe about Christians? What would they expect Christians to do and say?
  • How does the answer to these questions above differ from the Biblical idea of what a Christian is supposed to be?

Make it Practical

  • Are there parts of your life that you would not want others to imitate? explain?
  • What will you do to change? Who will you ask to help you?
  • How can you get started this week to be a more positive influence for Christ?

Close by brainstorming ways that youth can be a positive influence this week on their families, friends, and others.

Additional Scriptures

“Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.”
– 1 Timothy 4:12

“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.”
– 1 Corinthians 10:31-11:1

“For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one we are an aroma that brings death; to the other, an aroma that brings life. And who is equal to such a task?”
– 2 Corinthians 2:15-16

“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. 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.”
– Matthew 5:13-16

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…

Heaven’s Mail Room

 

An Illustration of Prayer

The angel Gabriel was giving a newly arrived Christian a tour of heaven.  The two of them were walking side by side inside a large mailroom filled with other angels.

Gabriel stopped in front of the first section and said, “This is the Receiving Section.  Here, all the petitions sent to God in prayer are received.”
The Christian saw that the section was a very busy one with so many angels sorting out petitions written on voluminous sheets of paper from all the people of the world.
They resumed walking until they reached the second section.  Gabriel told the Christian, “This is the Packaging and Delivery Section.  Here, the blessings of God in answer to prayers are packed and delivered to the those who are praying on earth.”
The Christian saw how busy it was.  There were a great many angels working in that room because countless blessings were being packed and delivered to earth.
Finally, at the farthest corner of the room, they stopped at the last section.  To the surprise of the Christian, only one angel was there and he was idle.
“This is the Acknowledging Section,” Gabriel told the Christian.
“How is it that no work is being done here?”
“That’s the sad thing,” Gabriel answered.
“After people on earth received the blessings they asked for, very few of them bother to send their acknowledgments.”
“How does one acknowledge God’s blessing?” 
“Simple,” Gabriel answered.  “Just say, ‘Thank you, Lord.'”

Variation – An object Lesson or Children’s Sermon on Prayer

This could easily be converted into a sermon for kids, or an object lesson for youth on “answered prayer.”   Collect a bunch of postcards and write prayers to God on them. “Dear God…  A Prayer… then sign it with a name.  Then in another box have deliveries that match the different requests.  (Note some of the deliveries might be different than the actual request because God provides what we truly need and not what we think we need.)  Finally, have an empty box for the messages of Thanks.  To create a more balanced perspective on prayer, have messages of Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, and Supplication (A.C.T.S.) Adoration is simply praise to God for who he is.  Confession is an acknowledgement of sin. Thanksgiving is of course a response to answered prayer and for the blessing of God in life.  Supplications are requests.  Many times we only see prayer as requests. The simplest definition of prayer is “Talking to God” so have lots of messages that are simply conversations with God.  Have only one or two of thanks.  Close by giving the children or youth postcards and asking them to write notes of thanks to God and fill up the last box.

Scriptures for For Famous prayers in the Bible

  • Abraham, for Sodom – Genesis 18:16-33
  • Daniel – Daniel 9:1-19
  • David – 2 Samuel 7:18-29; 1 Chronicles 17:16-27
  • David’s Confession – Psalms 51:1-17
  • David’s Thanks – 2 Samuel 7:18-29
  • Deborah – Judges 5:1-31
  • Elijah’s at Mount Carmel – I Kings 18:36-39
  • Ezra – Ezra 9:5-15
  • Habakkuk – Habakkuk 3:2-19
  • Hannah – 1 Samuel 1:9-20; 1 Samuel 2:1-10
  • Hezekiah – 2 Kings 19:14-20:3
  • Hezekiah when Sick – Isaiah 38:2-8
  • Hosea – Hosea 6:1-3
  • Jabez – 1 Chronicles 4:10
  • Jacob – Genesis 32:22-32
  • Jehoshophat – 2 Chronicles 20:1-30
  • Jeremiah – Lamentations 3: 21-26
  • Jesus – Matthew 6:5-15: Luke 11:1-13; John 17
  • Job – Job 1:20-21; 3; 42:2-6
  • Jonah – Jonah 2:1-9
  • Jude’s Praise – Jude 1:24-25
  • Moses – Exodus 15:1-18;  33: 12-23; Numbers 14:13-19
  • Nehemiah – Nehemiah 1:4-10
  • Paul – Romans 12:1-2; Ephesians 1:15-23; 3:14-21; Philippians 1:9-11; Collosians 1:9-14; 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12, 2:13-17
  • Paul, Knowing God’s Will – Colossians 1:9-12
  • Paul, Partners in Ministry – Philippians 1:3-11
  • Paul, Spiritual Growth – Ephesians 3:14-21
  • Paul, Spiritual Wisdom – Ephesians 1:15-23
  • Solomon, dedication – 1 Kings 3:5-15; 8:14-61
  • Stephen at His Stoning – Acts 7:59-60
  • Tax Collector’s Prayer – Luke 18:13

 

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…

Burdens and Rest

A speaker raises a glass of water and asks the audience “How heavy do you think this glass of water is?”

His answer: “It depends on how long you hold it”

  • “If I hold it for a minute, it is Ok.”
  • “If I hold it for an hour, I will have an ache in my right arm”
  • “If I hold it for a day, you will have to call an ambulance”

“It is the exact same weight, but the longer I hold it, the heavier it becomes”

If we carry our burdens all the time, sooner or later, we will not be able to carry on, the burden becoming increasingly heavier.

“What you have to do is to put the glass down, rest for a while holding it up again.”

We have to put down the burden periodically, so that we can be refreshed and are able to carry on.

When you return home from work, put the burden of work down. Don’t carry it home. You can pick it up
tomorrow. Rest and relax. Take one day at a time!!!!!

Take It to the Next Level

Although from a secular source, the principle behind it is biblical. Thats why Jesus told us to cast our burdens on Him, instructed us to pray Give us our daily bread And even in Psalms 23 though it is not clearly stated, the Shepherd leads His sheep besides green pastures and still waters day to day. We really ought to live one day at a time and really rely on nothing and no one else except on the Faithful Providence of God. He will give us the strength to carry on again.

Don’t borrow from tomorrow’s sunshine for its skies may turn to gray. Tomorrow is not our problem but God’s perfect plan. Therefore if any of us are yoked, are burdened, are held back by problems, dont hesitate to put it down and go to Jesus for
rest. He will give us the strength to carry on again.

Bible Scripture

  • “Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall.” (Psalm 55:22)
  • “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:7)
  • Jesus said: “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)

Optional Object Lesson, Creative learning Activity, or Sermon for kids (Children’s Sermon)

Bring in several items of equal weight.  Empty plastic milk jugs filled with water or empty 1 liter soft drink bottles work well.  Ask for volunteers among the children or youth to join you in a friendly competition.  Let them pick up the items and ask them if the item is heavy?  You could also ask them to guess the weight.  Most will say that they are not really that heavy.  Then line the students up in a line and tell them they must hold the items straight out from their body at a right angle or 90 degrees. There will be a prize for the teen who can hold it there the longest.  The teenagers may not have considered the items heavy, but the longer they hold them, the heavier the items get.  If you want to add a little discussion to the process, ask the youth to share some of the burdens that people carry in life or share some of the burdens you have experienced for yourself.  Some examples of burdens could be: a hurt you needed to forgive, personal failure, worries, responsibilities, doubts, struggles, lost dreams, mistakes, a poor sense of self worth, abuse, etc.  Burdens are those things that tire us out and that cause us to worry.  Then share the story and talk about the scripture references.

Discussion Questions

  • How can you know if something is a burden?
  • What are some of the burdens youth experience?
  • We do we often carry our burdens instead of setting them down?  Why do we hold on to these burdens?
  • How can we let go of burdens? What are some of the ways we can place these burdens in the care of Jesus?
  • What is the benefit of placing our burdens into the care of Jesus?
  • What is a burden you need to let go of this week? How can you do that? What this give you freedom to experience or do?

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…

Growing in Godliness – 2 Peter 1:1-11

matryoshka dollDescription

This Object Lesson for youth, uses a nested Russian doll to illustrate our growth as Christians.

Materials

A Matryoshka doll (ideally with at least 8 nested dolls)
A Russian Matryoshka doll is a set of hollow wooden dolls which split open into a top and bottom half to reveal additional dolls of decreasing size each placed one inside the other. The outer doll is traditionally a woman, as reflected in the name which means “little matron”. The inner dolls can be male or female. The innermost doll, made from a single piece of wood is typically a baby. While they are smooth rounded wooden carvings, the painting of each doll can be very intricate and often follows a theme.

Scriptural Background

  • Approximate Date: 63-68 A.D. – shortly after 1 Peter. Nero’s persecution began in 64 A.D., and Peter was martyred approximately 67 A.D.
  • Place of Writing: Babylon
  • Three-Fold Purpose: 1) Encourage growth, 2) To correct against false teaching, 3) Promote holy living.
  • Theme and Key Word: Knowledge.
  • Key verse: 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.

Chapter 1 has been labeled “The Bible’s Arithmetic Chapter”

  • Multiplication – “Grace and peace be multiplied to you … ” (1:2)
  • Addition – “Add to your faith … ” (1:5-7)
  • Subtraction – He has been cleansed from his past sins … ” (1:9)

Outline:

  • 2 Peter 1:2-3 God’s Provision – Describes God’s provision and the believer’s enablement
  • 2 Peter 1:5-7 Our Responsibility – Describes our human responsibility of seeing to it that the various Christian virtues are included in our lives.

“The divine nature works at its best efficiency when the believer cooperates with it in not only determining to live a life pleasing to God, but definitely stepping out in faith and living that life.” ~Kenneth Samuel Wuest

Key Lessons

1:5-7 – Peter begins with “for this very reason (because you are a partaker of the divine nature) make every effort (pareisphero)” – that is, “add or contribute on your own part” the necessary actions to confirm your profession of faith by godly living. The verb rendered “add” (epichoregeo – “to supply in copious measure”) is not simply to add one virtue to another. Rather, the meaning is to develop one virtue in the exercise of another, with each new grace springing out of and perfecting, or tempering the other.

  • In the exercise of faith, believers are to generously provide goodness.
  • In the exercise of goodness, believers are to copiously provide knowledge.
  • In the exercise of knowledge, believers are to lavishly provide selfcontrol.
  • In the exercise of self-control, believers are to plentifully provide perseverance.
  • In the exercise of perseverance, believers are to abundantly provide godliness.
  • In the exercise of godliness, believers are to bountifully provide brotherly kindness (philadelphia).
  • In the exercise of brotherly kindness, believers are to generously provide agape love.

1:8-9. Peter’s promise is that those who possess these virtues and build on them will grow spiritually and will not be idle in pressing toward a fuller knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. Those who do not are “spiritually nearsighted”, having forgotten his initial salvation experience.

1:10-11. Verse 10 is the key to this section. The believer will “make his calling and election sure”, that is, he will satisfy himself that he is saved, or confirm his salvation by his godly living. There is some debate of the security of the believer, which some say is objective and cannot be disturbed, and the subjective experience of knowing and feeling you are saved because you are “doing your part” in allowing the Holy Spirit to produce the kind of virtues characteristic of a Christian.

Icebreaker Questions to Stimulate Discussion

  • What did you want to be when you grew up?
  • What are your current dreams for the future? What kind of person do you want to be? How do you want your life to be remembered by others?
  • What are some of the qualities you admire in others? Other youth? Parents? Adults? Leaders? Famous people?
  • If you had a magic lamp with a genie and he could grant you three personal qualities, what would you wish for?

Scripture: 2 Peter 1:1-11

In 2 Peter 1 Chapter 1, Peter talks about our growth as Christians. This growth begins with faith and culminates in love. Like the innermost Matryoshka doll we begin as babes in Christ. We are spiritually born again through saving faith in Christ. But to live life forever as a baby would be a tragedy. Peter says that if we fail to grow, it is akin to being nearsighted and blind and forgetting that our sins have been forgiven.

This list of qualities are things that are added to our godly character as we grow in Christ. Each new quality does not replace the one before it, but adds to it. These are not things that we possess then give up, as a child outgrows old clothes. These qualities are not marks on a growth chart, but things that we hold inside our hearts and that we carry forward with us as we continue to mature in Christ.

Here’s the list:

  1. faith
  2. goodness
  3. knowledge
  4. self-control
  5. perseverance
  6. godliness
  7. brotherly kindness
  8. love

NOTE: As you mention each quality, add a new shell to the inner doll so that it continues to grow in size. “As we add each one, we become more effective and productive. ”

Take it to the Next Level

Questions for discussion

  • How do you define each quality/ characteristic?
  • How does each character quality relate to the one before it?
  • Why is each quality important to living a godly life as a youth?
  • For each of these qualities, what would the effect be if a Christian youth was missing that quality in his or her life?
  • What are some of the possible ways that each quality would be expressed in the way a youth lives his or her life? Are these qualities something we possess or something that we do?
  • For each quality, what are some things youth can do or practice the make that quality part of who they personally are?
  • As we grow in Christ, there is always a combined effort with God, to live the Christian life. We have to make decisions and choose to act, but God empowers us, guides us, and provides for us. What are the things that God does for us according to this passage?
    1. Gave us faith through Christ (2 Peter 1:1)
    2. Grace, Peace and Knowledge of God and Christ (2 Peter 1:2)
    3. Everything we need for life and godliness (through his divine power) (2 Peter 1:3)
    4. Called us (2 Peter 1:3)
    5. Knowledge of God (2 Peter 1:3)
    6. An example – God’s Glory and Goodness (2 Peter 1:3)
    7. Precious Promises (2 Peter 1:4)
  • What are some of the promises of God that might help youth to grow in each of these qualities?
  • How do the actions of God listed in this passage apply to each of these qualities that we grow into as Christians? How do they help us to live life as a youth to reflect these character traits?
  • Why has God given us all these things?
    1. To participate in the divine nature (becoming Christlike) (2 Peter 1:4)
    2. To Escape the corruption of the world caused by evil desires (2 Peter 1:4)
    3. To be effective and productive in our walk (2 Peter 1:8)
    4. To reinforce our faith (2 Peter 1:10) so that we are secure in faith – know that have been saved.
    5. So that we will not fail (2 Peter 1:10)
    6. To be richly welcomed into heaven (2 Peter 1:11)

Application to Youth

  1. What are some ways you can practice these as a youth?
  2. When you look at this list of qualities, which ones do you possess and practice most? Which are most lacking in your life? Which do you find most difficult?
  3. What are some ways you can express these qualities this week as you encounter others at school, at home, or in church?
  4. How do these qualities prevent us from being in effective and unproductive?
  5. How can those in the youth group support each other and encourage one another toward growth in these areas?
  6. What can the youth ministry and parents do to help you to grow?
  7. If you were to have all these godly qualities in increasing measure, how would it effect your life, your testimony, your actions?
  8. What are the benefits of pursuing godliness?

Closing Prayer
Go through each of the qualties in prayer with God. Ask him to reveal the truth about these qualities in your own life. Ask him to make clear opportunities to express your faith to through these qualities as a living testimony to Christ.

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…

St Patrick’s Day

Description
You may want to use this lesson guide in a Children’s sermon or for a youth activity for St. Patrick’s day. The significance of St Patrick’s day is not in the traditions associated with it today, but in its remembrance of a forgiving teenager who was sold into slavery and escaped only to return to the country where he had been a slave, in order to bring the people there to the love of Christ.

Resources

Bring in a large three leafed clover (Shamrock) or clover stickers for each of the youth or children. You might also wear something green, or even let the youth have a taste of some traditional Irish food like corned beef and cabbage.

NOTE: Cabbage was traditionally served with Irish bacon, instead of corned beef. Corned beef is apparently an Irish American tradition started at the turn of the century because families could not afford Irish Bacon.

Introduction

St Patrick’s Day is March 17, on the day of his death, and has been traditionally associated with all things Irish and a lucky clover. At some point Leprechaun’s and rainbows with a pot of gold at the end somehow were included in the mythology. Like many holidays, St. Patrick’s day began as a religious holiday to commemorate his death, but the original purpose and traditions have been replaced with something almost entirely unconnected to the original celebration. Many of the details of his life are disputed, but we can be certain that he did preach to the unsaved in Ireland and placed a major role in the evangelization of a very large number of people.

Background

St Patrick was the bishop to Ireland and he lived in a time just before Christianity became the mainstream religion in the Roman Empire, sometime around AD386 – AD460.

His faith journey wasn’t an easy one. Like Daniel and Joseph of the Bible, he was captured by pirates and sold into slavery when he was only teenager (16 years old). Life was difficult for slaves. Not only was life difficult, but he was dragged from his home and sent into slavery in another country without his family. Tradition says that as a slave in Ireland he was forced to be a shepherd, herding sheep and pigs. His father had been a church deacon, and his grandfather a clergyman, but by his account, he only turned to religion and prayed out to God when he was in captivity. Conditions were harsh and his only comfort was what he received through praying constantly. After six years as a slave he escaped by boat to Britain. He traveled the 200 miles to the ocean and according to some stories either stowed away or booked passage. The boat landed not far from where his parents lived, and one would expect a joyful reunion and for him to remain with his parents. Instead of staying though, he traveled to France to study and become a priest. Because of his captivity, he never received any formal education and lacked the eloquence the other students had.

While studying for ministry, he received a vision from God to return to Ireland as a missionary. He only took the name Patrick when he later became a Bishop. It was a great act of forgiveness that he returned to the people who enslaved him in order to share with them the love of Christ.

Unlike most Bible teachers and preachers of the time, Patrick didn’t speak very well nor deliver fine sermons. It wasn’t his rhetoric that won the people over. He had the rare ability to use common, everyday life experiences to explain difficult theological concepts – much like Jesus did and the apostle Paul after Him. That’s pretty much why St. Patrick’s Day is represented by a shamrock. According to legend, Patrick would take up a three-leaf clover and ask, “Does it have one leaf or three?” Those listening would respond, “both.” Patrick then explained, “And so it is with the Trinity – Father, Son, and Spirit are one God. Three persons in one.” However, that alone wasn’t enough to bring his people to faith in God either.

Ironically, what he lacked in school, he more than made up for by what he learned through his upbringing of trials and adversity. And that was a desperate dependance on God through prayer. This was more than any theological school could teach him and it was instrumental in his success as a minister of God. It was that and the demonstration of his faith through his actions and prayer life that convinced so many to believe in God.

St. Patrick wasn’t just a minister for God inside the 4 walls of the church. He was outspoken about the practice of slavery in his country as well. His repeated pleas to the Christian leadership in Britain were ignored but he persisted and like the widow in Jesus’ parable, was rewarded – with the decision to end the slave trade in Ireland.

Take It to the Next Level

There’s much we can learn from the life of St. Patrick.

If you were captured and put into slavery as a teenager, do you think you might feel called to return to those who enslaved you and work for the salvation of their souls? I’m sure we’ve had at some point harbored unforgiveness in our hearts for less! Is forgiveness easy or difficult? Why is forgiveness an important concept to Christians? Is there someone you need to forgive today?

Sometimes we’re so caught up with discussing God in church that it never results in DOING what Jesus really called us to do. Jesus never called us to go to church on Sundays, He never called us to play music in the worship team, He never called us to serve Him as ushers. First and foremost, Jesus called us to go and make disciples, to love God with all our hearts, and to love His people. When all is said and done, do we live out our faith in the world “out there”? Are we sharing about Christ to our friends and families who have yet to know Him? Are we speaking out against the social injustices that we see? Is there a school bully you need to confront – not with your fists – but with the love of God? Is there someone who feels lost, hurt, depressed and rejected that needs to hear about the love a Savior has for them?

Let’s commit to being real St. Patricks today. As we remember and honor the man that was truly a follower of Christ, let us celebrate by putting our feet to motion and our hands to action for a world that has yet to hear or know about the Living God.

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Christmas Connect-the-Dots

connectdots.jpg

Description
Throughout the Bible God gave more than 300 prophecies that foretold the coming of Christ and what he would do. Looking back now, it’s easy to tell how to connect all the references together to get a picture of the birth of Christ. Use this connect-the-dots object lesson as a discussion starter to discuss some of the primary prophecies related to the birth of Christ being fulfilled.

Materials

  • Find a connect-the-dots image with a Christmas Theme. You can find easily by searching Google. Click here to Find One.
  • You can print a copy for each youth or simply show it on a powerpoint slide or OHP transparency if you still use those. This way everyone can see what happens as you begin to connect the dots.

Activity

  • Show the Christmas connect-the-dots puzzle to the youth.
  • Ask the youth if they believe that once all the dots are connected if they believe a Christmas picture will appear?
  • If all the dots are connected what do you believe will appear?

Applications

Doing a connect-the-dots puzzle is a little like what happened with the birth of Christ.

As you’re explaining, start connecting the dots of the puzzle.

  • You begin by believing that something special will appear. You might have a general idea what will appear, but you don’t really know all the details until everything is completed. You believe that there is a designer to everything on the page and if you just connect the series of clues you will be rewarded.In many ways, this is similar to what happened in Israel before the birth of Christ. God had given over 300 prophecies of a series of events that would mark the appearance of the Messiah. Even thought the Messiah had not yet appeared, there were many who believed that God would reveal what he promised. People had connected some of the events like the magi, but everything was not yet clear.
  • If you don’t connect the dots correctly, or if you decide to stop connecting them, you’ll never see the full picture the artist has designed. There were some people, that even when the Messiah appeared, missed him. Some were connecting the dots in expectation that the Messiah would be a literal worldly king and Jesus did not fit the figure they expected.

The same thing happens to many people today

  • Many people miss the Birth of Christ at Christmas because they make the wrong connections. Christmas is not about Santa Claus, shopping malls, and wonderful food. These things are nice, but the true reason for the season is to celebrate the birth of a Saviour.
  • Many people believe that there is a greater power, a design to the universe – that there is a purpose to the things that happen. Blaise Pascal said that inside everyone of us there is a God-shaped vacuum that only God can fill. But they don’t know how to connect the dots. They need someone who knows the true picture to help them see the real picture. As Christians we have a responsibility to help others see Jesus in the Christmas Story.

Discussion

  1. Why can you trust that God has a picture perfect plan even if you can’t se it yet?
  2. What happens to the picture when someone makes the wrong connections in life?
  3. What things distract people in life and cause them to doubt God’s design? Seemingly missing numbers? Vague dots? Big gaps?
  4. What is the next dot in your life? What connection do you think God has planned next for you? How is the Christmas Story important to you? How can you help others connect the dots this Christmas so that they can see God and connect to Him as Savior?

Here are some of the dots of the puzzle and how they connected together in the birth of Christ.

  • Born of The Seed of The Woman – Genesis 3:15, Galatians 4:4
  • Born of A Virgin – Isaiah 7:14, Matthew 1:18,24,25
  • Son of God – Psalm 2:7, Matthew 3:17
  • Seed of Abraham – Genesis 22:18, Matthew 1:1
  • Son of Isaac – Genesis 21:12, Luke 3:23,34
  • Son of Jacob – Numbers 24:17, Luke 3:23,34
  • Tribe of Judah – Genesis 49:10, Luke 3:23,33
  • Family of Jesse – Isaiah 11:1, Luke 3:23,33
  • House of David – Jeremiah 23:5, Luke 3:23,31
  • Born In Bethlehem – Micah 5:2, Matthew 2:1
  • The Star – Numbers 24:17, Matthew 2: 2b
  • Presented With Gifts – Psalm 72:10, Matthew 2:1,11
  • Worshipped – Isaiah 60:3, Matthew 2:11
  • Children Killed – Jeremiah 31:15, Matthew 2:16
  • Travel to Egypt – Hosea 11:1; Matthew 2:14-15
  • His Pre-Existence – Isaiah 9:6,7, Colossians 1:17
  • Called Lord – Psalm 110:1, Luke 2:11
  • Shall Be Immanuel (God With Us) – Isaiah 7:14, Matthew 1:23

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Christmas Snowflakes

snowflake.pngDescription
There are a lot of spiritual truths we can relate to snowflakes. Use this Christmas themed object lesson with your youth or children.

Materials
Thin paper like tissue paper works best, but you can do this activity with newsprint, Christmas wrapping paper, origami paper, a napkin, or even an ordinary sheet of paper.

Preparation
Give each youth an identical sheet of paper.

What to do
Explain to the youth that you’re going to play a game and explain the the rules of the game:

  1. “You must follow instructions as they are given. Can I have your commitment to follow instructions?”
  2. “Hold the sheet of paper in your hand.”
  3. “Close your eyes and keep them closed until you are told to open them.”
  4. “No talking at all is allowed.”
  5. “Fold the paper exactly in half.”
  6. “Tear off the bottom right hand corner.”
  7. “Fold the paper in half again.”
  8. “Tear off the top right hand corner.”
  9. “Tear off a piece of paper along the middle of the left side of the paper.”
  10. “Fold the paper in half again.”
  11. “Tear off a piece along the middle of the right side.”
  12. “Tear of the lower left hand corner.”
  13. “Open your eyes”
  14. “Unfold your paper.”
  15. “Compare your paper to the paper of the other youth next to you.”

 

Take it to the Next Level

“What happened?”

  • “Did everyone receive the same instructions?
  • “Did everyone follow the instructions?”
  • “Why did you get different results?”
  • “Who did it the correct way?”

 

“Why?”

  • “Did everyone understand the instructions?”
  • “What does it mean to “Fold the paper in half?”
  • “How many of you had the same understanding of this instruction?”
  • “What made the snowflakes different?”

 

Possible reasons things turned out different

  • Youth could fold from corner to corner or side to side – There is more that one way to do it.
  • Youth do not fold the paper exactly in half – They are not perfect.
  • Youth tore off different amounts – The instructions are not clear.
  • Youth tore off the paper at different places along the side – Made different choices.

 

“So What?”

  • Sometimes in life there is more than one way to do something. Different doesn’t always mean wrong. Of course if I said tear the right corner and you tore the left corner you would have done it wrong. Sometimes we need to evaluate whether something is Wrong or merely just different.
  • Each snowflake was different. No two are alike. The same is true with us.
  • Each snowflake has six sides. We are all the same in some ways, but we are also all different in other ways.
  • Sometimes we are unclear when communication with others.
  • We are not perfect, but we can all pursue excellence. Don’t worry about mistakes, but simply do your best.

 

“Now What?”
Interesting truths and facts about snowflakes and related lessons. You may wish to get some photos of real life snowflakes to show the youth group as you discuss truths about snowflakes: http://www.its.caltech.edu/~atomic/snowcrystals/

Each Snowflake is shaped by its journey

Snowflakes are not perfectly symmetrical since pollution, temperature, the humidity, the speed they fall, and even encounters with other snowflakes along the journey affect the way they grow. In our life journey, there are times for all of us when we are blown around, out of control, at the mercy of the conditions around us – obstacles, deaths, unpleasant circumstances, troubles, and pain. God uses all the things we encounter in life to mould us and shape us into something beautiful – even the seemingly bad things. “God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.” [Romans 8:28] Even with the Christmas story, Mary finds out she is pregnant. Joseph is just as shocked to discover the news. They have to pay taxes. There is no room in the inn. Herod is intent on killing all newborns. But God used all these things to give us a Savior. In Jeremiah 1:5 and 29:11 we are told that God has plans for people before they are even born. God hasn’t forgotten you when bad things happen, he’s there right alongside you, and will use everything to make your life beautiful, even the dark specks of dirt. You are a combination of all of your life experiences. Remember this Christmas that everything that has happened to you along the way – Your education, your work, your skills, your talents, your choices, and even your mistakes – have all combined together to make you who you are today.

Each snowflake is Temporary

Though each snowflake is beautiful, they will all one day melt away, and will be gone, without leaving a trace of what they were behind. One cup of water can make 10 million snowflakes and combined together with others they can blanket the countryside in a beautiful white blanket of pristine white. But the very next day things could be a muddy mess. Yet, even from the muddy mess they may provide the water of life to others. This Christmas remember that life is short. Make the most of the opportunities to bring life to others.

Each snowflake is unique

No two snowflakes are alike. They all have six sides, but those six sides create something of unique beauty. They float up and drop down in the air currents until they become too heavy and finally fall to the ground. In the same way, there’s no one else in the world like you. There has never been anyone just like you. There will never be anyone else like you. God created you and formed you according to his perfect plan and purpose for your life. I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. (Psalms 139:14) “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.” (Jeremiah 1:5) God has chosen to lovingly make you exactly the way you are for a purpose that only you can fulfill. Then journey might seem unplanned and even chaotic, ups and downs, but when you finally reaches God chosen destination you will reflect God’s design for your life. You were fearfully and wonderfully made by God, for his purpose!

Each snowflake begins with Dirt

Every snowflake begins with a dirty speck of dust. As it collects moisture from the air, the speck of dust is covered and concealed. At it’s core it is still dirty but it has become something beautiful. With a little snow they whole landscape changes. Everything is white and pristine. All the dirt is covered and the world is transformed into something delightful. But under that snow, all the trash, and imperfections are still there and in a few hours of harsh sunlight, they will be revealed again. Scripture tells us that man was also formed from the dust. But God has made us into something beautiful. This Christmas season remember that, regardless of what lies in your past, through Christ you were made beautiful by God. When God cleanses us, he washes us whiter than snow. He doesn’t just cover up our dirty heart – he gives us a new heart. Our “dirty heart” of stone is replaced with a heart of new life in him, pure and blameless. “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow…” (Isaiah 1:18) This Christmas, let us pray like David prayed in Psalm 51:7, “…wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

MORE IDEAS? See “Creative Object Lessons”
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Shining for Jesus This Christmas

glowing_star.jpgLight is intrinsically linked with Christmas. The coming of the light was foretold in Prophecy and Christ came as the light of the world. The wise men followed the light of a star to Jesus. Jesus came as the light of men.

  • “the people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.”(Matthew 4:16)(Isaiah 9:2)
  • “In Him was life, and that life was the light of men” (John 1:4).
  • “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.
  • “This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil” (John 3:19).

During the Christmas season we need to be reminded: “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.” (Matthew 5:14) “Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16)

Description
But one look at ourselves and we realize that all to often we are not very good lights. How can we be better lights? Use this Christmas object lesson to help youth find out the secret of how they can be lights to the world this Christmas!

Materials needed

  • A meeting room that can be darkened.
  • Glow in the Dark plastic stars (Easily found at home decorating stores) If you want the youth to “take the lesson home” buy enough stars so that every youth or child can have one to take back with them.
  • A bag, wrapper or container that is completely light proof and allows in absolutely no light in which you can place one of the stars. (If nothing else you can wrap it in a couple layers of foil and roll up the edges.)

 

Preparation
Put on star away so that it receives absolutely NO LIGHT for a day. Place another star in direct light for the day and make sure it gets plenty of light up until the meeting.

What to Do

  1. Just before the meeting starts, take the star that has received light the entire day and place it someplace in the meeting room where it will get plenty of bright, direct light yet can easily be seen by the youth after the lights are turned off.
  2. You might was to begin by singing some of the Christmas hymns or carols that mention light. (We Three Kings, Angels From The Realm Of Glory, Do You Hear What I Hear, Go, Tell It On The Mountain, Hark! The Herald Angels Sing, O Holy Night, O Little Town of Bethlehem, Silent Night, etc.
  3. Discuss light and how Jesus is the light of the world and how we are also supposed to let our lights shine before men.
  4. Ask youth for examples of how we let our light shine.
  5. Ask for advice on how we can shine brighter for Jesus this Christmas.
  6. Ask youth if they would like to know the #1 secret to letting your light shine?
  7. When they all say yes, have someone shut out the lights.
  8. Point to the glowing star and state that like Jesus, we are to be lights in the darkness.
  9. Then while the lights are still off, take out the star that has been kept out of the light all day and tell the youth you are placing another star next to the one that is already shining. you can also take both stars and hold them up together. If the room is dark enough, most will not be able to see the new star at all.
  10. As the lights are turned on, youth will see you holding two stars.
  11. Explain the secret: One had been in the light all day and another had been in darkness. The biggest secret to shining out for Christ this Christmas is to spend plenty of time with the Jesus, plenty of time in the light. By spending time in the presence of Jesus, we will be able to make a difference in the darkness.
  12. End the meeting by giving each youth a glow in the dark star to take home as a reminder to spend time each day in the presence of Jesus so that they can shine forth for Christ this Christmas!

MORE IDEAS? See “Creative Object Lessons”
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Take It Away

Description
This Object Lesson for children and youth uses static electricity as a metaphor for Christ’s work of Salvation in the lives of Believers. Christ not only takes our sins upon himself, but also wants us to cast all our burdens upon him.

Resources
Salt, Pepper, and a nail + cloth. (See note below for variations)

NOTE: This object lesson uses static electricity and can be greatly affected by the humidity and temperature. Depending on how dry the air is, you may be able to rub a key or spoon on your clothing, rub a glass rod with silk, use a comb on your hair, or rub a piece of rubber like an inflated balloon on your hair. Each of these creates a static charge under the right conditions. HINT: Don’t use clothing or cloths that have been treated with a fabric softener as these help prevent the buildup of static electricity.

What to do

  1. Pour a small mound of pure white salt representing a pure life into the center of a dark colored plate.
  2. Sprinkle a dash of salt on top of the salt, representing sin.
  3. Get a large iron nail and rub it with a piece of cloth to create static electricity.
  4. When you place the statically charged object near the pepper. When you do this the pepper will be attracted to it and can be lifted away.
  5. Practice this a couple of times. If you put too much pepper there may not be enough static charge to attract all the pepper.

Take It to the Next Level

  • The significance of using a nail is obvious. Christ’s nail scarred sacrifice lifted away our sin and attached it to himself (1 Peter 2:24). Christ is also the key to eternal life. Our sin was taken off us and placed on Him that we might become pure and blameless before God.
  • Another option is to have the pepper represent hurts, bad habits, hurtful words or other things in our lives that we want God to remove. I Peter 5:7 
…casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. Cast your burden on the Lord Psalms 55:22.

MORE IDEAS? See “Creative Object Lessons”
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An Illustration of Eternity

Here’s an interesting Object Lesson for children, youth, and adults from Francis Chan illustrating the difference between living for the things of this world and living for eternity. The few short years you have on earth determine how you will live for eternity. What are you living for?

MORE IDEAS? See “Creative Object Lessons”
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Crushed – Isaiah 53:5

Description
Use this Easter Object Lesson to remind youth that Christ was crushed for our sins so that we might be made whole and begin a new life with him.

Resources

  • Several hollowed out Eggs

Click here to learn how to blow out an egg without breaking it.

What to do

    • Give each youth a clean, hollowed out, un-broken egg
    • Ask the youth to close their eyes, and imagine this white egg to represent the perfect and Holy Jesus.

Give youth some paints, crayons, markers, glue, glitter, etc to decorate their eggs with something symbolic of Christ.

  • Then ask the youth to hold the eggs in their hands and close their eyes.
  • Imagine this egg as the pure Holy Christ.
  • Then ask the youth to SQUEEZE the egg as hard as they can, breaking it into lots of pieces.
  • As they hold the shattered eggs in their hand, ask them to fix it back to the way it was before.
  • Finally, Ask them what emotions and thoughts this activity stirs in their hearts and minds.

Take it to the Next Level

  • Were you hesitant to crush the egg? Did you find it difficult to crush this symbol of God with your hands? Why or why not?
  • In what ways does the crushing of this egg represent our relationship with God?
  • In what ways do some of our actions destroy our relationship with God?
  • How did you feel when you tried to restore your egg back to its original state?
  • Think about a time in your life when you felt like this crushed egg? What happened?
  • Think about a time when you did something in a relationship and wished you could have set things back to the way they were before. What happened?
  • Why is it so difficult to repair damaged relationships?
  • Scripture says it is impossible for us to restore our relationship with God. Why?
  • What lessons does this simple object lesson hold for us when it comes to relationships in our own lives?
  • In what ways do people crush and damage relationships?
  • What can be done to put things back to the way they were?

Closing out the Lesson
It is impossible to completely restore the egg that has been crushed. Cracks and scars will remain. Forgiveness is often difficult, and even when we do forgive someone, it is not always easy to put the pieces of our broken lives back together again. Consequences may be much longer lasting. There are people who have suffered physical, sexual and emotional abuse and the results can last for a lifetime. Sometimes we wonder, “How can I ever forgive this person for what s/he did to me?” And we go on living life as shattered souls, trying to piece things back together.

But this is where the story of the Cross and Easter come into play. The sin in our lives destroys the perfect relationship we had with God. Nothing we can do can put it back together. But Jesus was crushed on the cross for our sin. (Isaiah 53:5) He put himself in our place and was crushed so that we might be whole again. He came not to put our broken lives back together but to give us a new life in Christ – To start a new relationship with him. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9) “I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more.” (Isaiah 43:25) Everything is new. A new beginning comes to our lives.

And in the same way God forgives us, we need to forgive others. “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ, God forgave you.” (Ephesians 4:32)

Give Each youth a new egg and let them decorate it with something representative of a new beginning in Christ. Today can be a new beginning for each of us if we trust the work of Christ on the Cross and believe in the resurrection and new life he brought to us on Easter Morning. Ask youth to pray a prayer of forgiveness and also to commit to a new beginning with those they have wronged or that have wronged them. Ask them to begin anew in their relationship with God. Maybe they can give this second egg to someone as an offering and reminder of forgiveness or simply keep it as a reminder of God’s forgiveness.

God wants to give us a new beginning in our relationship with Him as well in our relationship with others. Make this Easter a time of new life, of new beginnings in your life. Give God the broken pieces of your life and of relationships and trust him for a new sunrise tomorrow, for a resurrection morning filled with new life in Him!

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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How to Make a Piñata (Pinata)

Description of this Easter Object Lesson
While much of the religious symbolism has been forgotten, the Piñata is a great object lesson for youth or as a Children’s Sermon at Easter, Lent, or simply as a lesson on the blessings of God.

The History of Piñatas

Piñatas are favorites at Mexican fiestas (parties/ celebrations) although their true origin was likely in China. According to tradition, they used something similar to modern pinatas in China to celebrate the New Year and possibly for other occasions as well. They were often made in the shape of livestock (buffalo, oxen, or cows) and filled with seeds that spilled onto the ground when the piñatas were broken. Broken pieces of the pinata were then burned and villagers took some of the ashes home with them for good luck in the coming year.

According to historians, it was Marco Polo who brought back the Piñata to Europe and introduced it first to the Italians. The first European pinatas were were clay pots unlike the paper mache pinatas that we see today. In fact, the Italian word “pignatta” means “fragile pot” and the original piñatas resembled thin clay containers for carrying water.

In Europe, the tradition was adapted by the church sometime during the 14th century and was used as an object lesson during the celebration of Lent to teach spiritual truths. The first Sunday during Lent became known as “Pinata Sunday”. On this day, a pinata shaped like a star with seven points was used – each point supposedly representing one of the seven deadly sins; lust, gluttony, greed, sloth, envy, anger and pride. The blindfolded participant represented the conqueror of evil, or faith, which must be blind. People would gather around the player and spin him to disorient him. Sometimes they would spin the person around thirty three times in memory of the years Christ lived on earth and resisted temptation. The other participants would cry out directions (either to help or mislead) indicating to the player to hit higher, more to the right, straight ahead, etc. When someone broke through one of the seven points with the stick (which represented virtue, righteousness or faith) it brought to mind the symbolism of breaking the bad habits of the seven deadly sins and our personal triumph over temptation, resulting in a delightful shower of blessings from God. The pinatas were filled with small toys, fruits, seeds, and candy and said to represent hope – since it was always hung above the heads of the participants as a reminder that one had to look toward heaven in expectation of blessing and divine strength to triumph over temptation. The moral of the piñata: all are justified through faith and welcome to the blessings of God. This seven pointed star as a version of the pinata is still very common today though the symbolism has been forgotten by most.

When the custom spread to Spain, the first Sunday in Lent became a fiesta called the “Dance of the Piñata” and they used a clay container called “la olla”, the Spanish word for “pot”. When the tradition first started, the pot was undecorated, later, ribbons, tinsel and fringed paper were added and wrapped around the pot.

Tradition says it was the Spanish that brought the pinata to Mexico where a very similar tradition already existed. Supposedly the Aztec and Mayan Indians of Mexico filled clay pots with nuts, berries, fancy beads, and painted stones as a birthday celebration offering to their god of war – Huitzilopochtli. Priests then hung the filled pots on a pole near the god and during the birthday celebration, the pots adorned with colorful feathers would be hit with decorated sticks – breaking the pots and spilling the offerings at the feet of their god, thus insuring a prosperous year. Since the Spanish tradition was similar to the one that already existed in Mexico, Catholic priests introduced their version as a replacement to the worship of the local pagan gods and to instruct them about the one true God.

Pinatas today

While most common in Mexico, pinatas are enjoyed around the world where they are a great youth party activity for quite a number of celebrations and Holidays including birthdays, Christmas, Thanksgiving, Halloween and even New Year’s Eve. Today, the piñata has lost almost all of its religious symbolism and is simply a popular party game. Yet in Mexico they are very popular during “Las Posadas” (Christmas processions) and for birthday parties. Around Christmas, wrapped candies, peanuts, guavas, oranges, jicamas(a sweet root vegetable), sugar cane, and tejocotes (a kind of crab apple) fill the piñatas and some is also set aside for any child that ends up without a
treat when the pinata is broken.

How to Make your own Pinata

Making a piñata for a youth party or as a craft project for your kids is a great way to exercise their imagination as well as provide an outlet for excited energy. There’s always an uproar of excitement when youth break open these festive vessels to reveal an abundance of gifts and candy inside. Depending on what’s inside they are enjoyed by children, youth, and even adults.

What follows are some instructions on how to make piñata, a few ideas on how to decorate your completed pinata, instructions for the standard game with pinatas, and some possible applications for Bible Study lessons:

A piñata is basically a very fragile hollow container made of paper mache and decorated with bright crepe paper or painted. To make your own pinata you will need some basic supplies listed below and of course a little imagination doesn’t hurt either.

Materials Needed to make your Party Pinata

  • Paper Mache (See Recipe below)
  • Scissors
  • Candy and small toys (For adults you can substitute small useful items, gift cards, and a variety of other items
  • Paints and/or Colored Crepe Paper. Permanent Markers are also useful for details.
  • Balloons
  • Tape (masking tape)
  • String for hanging up your finished masterpiece
  • Scissors (optional)

Paper Mache Recipe for Making Your piñata(No Cooking Required)
There are many ways to make paper mache but the simplest is the traditional “no cooking needed” paper mache recipe. You will need the following:

  • Water
  • Flour
  • Large Bowl
  • Newspaper – because it is common but you can use any type of paper such as plain unlined paper
  • Wax paper to line your work area as paper mache can be messy

 

Directions

  1. Be sure and line your work area with the wax paper or plastic sheeting to make the area easy to clean.
  2. The flour and water are to be combined to make a paste. You can use a mix of about 2 and a half cups of water to 2 cups of flour. Stir the flour and water into the bowl and mix until it is smooth. (You can alse use 3/4 cup white glue to 1/4 cup water or pre-made liquid starch found at your supermarket)
  3. You will then need to tear your newspaper or paper into strips about six to eight inches long and an inch to two inches wide. Don’t try to be neat and cut the paper with scissors; the torn edges will adhere more closely and give a smoother overall surface to the finished pinata.
  4. Soak your strips in the water and flour mixture. The paper should be thoroughly saturated with the paste. (Note: Heavier paper will require a longer period in the mixture.)
  5. When your paper mache is ready you should blow up your balloon and tie it off securely. The balloon will be your cavity to fill with candy. (Note: You can use more than one balloon of various sizes and shapes to create more intricate designs. Cardboard tubes from toilet paper or paper towels are also useful to add arms and legs to your basic balloon body later. You can also tie loops of string on the balloons to shape them.
  6. Take the paper mache strips and place those evenly over the balloon in opposite directions from each other when possible. Use two layers of paper mache to completely cover the balloon except for a small hole at what will be the top of the container and through which you will remove the balloon after you pop it and also to insert the contents. (Note: Be sure to Place the second layer of newspaper diagonally in the opposite direction of the first layer to make the pinata stronger. Depending on how strong you want the piñata, let it dry then add a third layer. For small children, two layers will be
    enough.
  7. You might also want to include one or two loops of string around the balloon and between layers of paper mache with the ends loose at the top to make hanging it up easier. Alternatively, After the pinata dries, you can make 3 or 4 small holes around the opening of the piñata and lace it up with string to hang the pinata
  8. The piñata will require at least 48 hours of drying time.
  9. When it is dried pop the balloon through the
    small hole at the top and take the balloon out.
  10. Extra cardboard, Styrofoam, and paper rolls can be used to add arms legs and other features to the basic body.
  11. Decorate by gluing small strips of crepe paper that has had the ends feathered with scissors or by painting.
  12. Hang colored crepe paper streamers from the bottom of the pinata for the finishing touch.
  13. Fill with candy and toys or other party favors and gifts. Tie the ends of the exposed string at the top together firmly making a short string handle, and suspend the piñata with another length of longer string or a rope attached to the shorter handle.

 

Here are some simple ideas for Pinata Designs

    • Teddy Bear Pinata
      To make a teddy bear, follow the directions above and cut out two ears from cardboard. Paint them to the perfect teddy bear color and attach them to the balloon with a little paper mache or glue. Add facial details most easily by cutting out the face from heavy construction paper or painting on the face. You can also draw the face using permanent markers. The finished Pinata can be painted to traditional teddy Bear colors or can be as fantastically colored as imagination desires. With a little creativity you can create a Panda with this design as well.

 

  • Flower Pinata
    Make your basic piñata and then complete it by painting or covering with tissue or crepe paper. Then cut large craft paper petals to glue around the outside of your candy filled container. The beauty of this is the craft paper or construction paper petals are already brightly colored. Allow the glue to dry thoroughly on the paper petals, then hang, and enjoy!

 

Tips

  • A piñata is more appropriate for outdoor games or where there is ample space. You can also use a garage, auditorium or some other indoor facility of the right size.
  • When gluing the newspaper strips to the balloon it can be difficult to hold the balloon in position. To make it easier, rest the balloon in a bowl that is covered with plastic wrap.
  • Make the surface of the newspaper as even as possible so the pinata is easier to decorate and looks smoother. You will use crepe paper later to add texture and color.
  • Add the final layer using torn strips of white computer paper or paper towels to allow for easier painting and more vivid colors in decorations.
  • Use individually wrapped candy to fill the pinata. Bulk candy may be cheaper but when the pinata bursts all the candy will fall onto the floor. Other contents can be added suited to a specific theme or holiday as well. Add gospel tracks to the mix for an evangelistic event. Confetti is a little messy but can also add some fun.
  • Foam board, cardboard, paper roll tubes, and bits of Styrofoam can be used to add features to the basic balloon.
  • Be sure to leave yourself plenty of time in order for all of the layers of the pinata to dry. Usually it requires several days to make a pinata, so plan early in advance of your event.

 

With a little bit of time, some imagination and perhaps some help from the youth you can have a beautiful and specially made party game filled with fun and surprises. Hang this specially crafted party favor up in time for the party and watch the youth’s eyes light up and the laughter that ensues. Hint: if you have made your festive vessel
especially durable it is possible the younger children may require a little assistance to open it up, but don’t worry they won’t mind too much. Older kids and adults will have less trouble breaking open their piñata.

How to Play the Piñata Game

  1. Find a place to hang the piñata. You can easily hang it from a tree branch or a basketball hoop by simply tossing the string over the branch. After dangling the piñata with the string, lift it into the air by pulling the string tight and holding it in position. The pinata can be lowered or raised by pulling on the string.
  2. The youth will need a blindfold and a stick. A broom handle works great, but a walking cane or bamboo pole can also be used for youth to swing at the pinata.
  3. Organize the youth in a line with the youngest or the shortest one a the beginning of the line all the way to the tallest at the back. You can also put the girls first as well.
  4. Usually participants are blindfolded, spun around a couple of times and pointed in the general direction of the pinata. They are then handed the stick to swing at the pinata. They are usually given a limited number of swings, usually three swings per turn.
  5. BE VERY SAFETY conscious and keep other youth a safe distance from the pinata and the swinging stick. This is meant for the safety of the rest of the youth so that they do not get hit by the blindfolded participant.
  6. When the pinata breaks, the youth swinging the stick must place the stick on the ground and only when the stick is on the ground can everyone run in and get the goodies.

Taking it to the Next Level
In addition to the traditional symbolism associated with the pinata at Lent and Christmas. A pinata (piñata) could also be used to illustrate a variety of lessons concerning the blessings of God and of the free gift of Salvation. Here are a few simple truths that might apply depending on your theological perspective:

  1. We don’t always know what blessings we are going to receive, but we do know that they are chosen by God and will be something fantastic.
  2. They are a gift prepared by God in advance. We only need to receive them.
  3. We don’t know when they will be released. Sometimes we may work for a long time before they are
    released.
  4. Sometimes it is something that someone else does that releases the blessings and they are shared with us.
  5. When God releases Blessings in our lives we need to share them with those around us.

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…

Managing Priorities

A while back I was reading about an expert on the subject of time management. One day this expert was speaking to a group of business students and, to drive home a point, he used an illustration I’m sure those students will never forget:

As this man stood in front of the group of high-powered overachievers he said, “Okay, time for a quiz.” Then he pulled out a one-gallon, wide-mouthed mason jar and set it on a table in front of him. Next he produced about a dozen fist-sized rocks and carefully placed them, one at a time, into the jar. When the jar was filled to the top and no more rocks would fit inside, he asked, “Is this jar full?” Everyone in the class said, “Yes.” Then he said, “Really?”

He reached under the table and pulled out a bucket of gravel. Then he dumped some gravel in and shook the jar causing pieces of gravel to work themselves down into the spaces between the big rocks. Then he smiled and asked the group once more, “Is the jar full?” By this time the class was onto him. “Probably not,” one of them answered.

“Good!” he replied. And he reached under the table and brought out a bucket of sand. He started dumping the sand in and it went into all the spaces left between the rocks and the gravel. Once more he asked the question, “Is this jar full?” “No!” the class shouted.

Once again he said, “Good!” Then he grabbed a pitcher of water and began to pour it in until the jar was filled to the brim. Then he looked up at the class and asked, “What is the point of
this illustration?”

One eager beaver raised his hand and said, “The point is, no matter how full your schedule is, if you try really hard, you can always fit some more things into it!”

“No,” the speaker replied, “that’s not the point. The truth this illustration teaches us is: If you don’t put the big rocks in first, you’ll never get them in at all.”

What are the big rocks in your life? A project that YOU want to accomplish? Time with your loved ones? Your faith, your education, your finances? A cause? Teaching or mentoring others? Remember to put these BIG ROCKS in first or you’ll never get them in at all.

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…

Wind Up Toy Christianity

Description
Youth Bible study activity using wind-up toys. Works great as a discussion about free will or for discussing running in the Christian race. It could also be tied into Disney’s “Toy Story 3” in which Andy is all grown up now and ready to leave home for college. For the toys, the prospect of having no one who will Love them and spend time with them takes them down a path of despair and filled with dangers. Andy has to learn to put away childish things and the toys find purpose in bringing joy to another young person, filled with life, energy, love and childish delight. Sometime we also feel that God has set us aside and gone on to other things. But he hasn’t forgotten us. He will always be there for us. And like the toys, we may find our energy exhausted, and ourselves in less than pristine condition, but we find great joy in life when we are fulfilling the purpose for which we were created.

Resources Needed
Get a variety of kinds wind-up toys. These are often readily available at fast food chains as part of the kid’s meals. They can also be found in most toy stores. Some of the toys might be as cars, small figurines / action figures, cymbal clanking monkeys, or fanciful spinning tops etc. They come in a variety of forms and sizes. If you can get enough of the wind-up toys for everyone then it is a nice reminder of the lesson for the youth to take back home. Otherwise you can have one wind-up toy for every pair, trio, or small group of youth depending on the size of the youth group.

What to Do

  1. Stage a variety of toy relay races. Set a goal, let everyone wind up their toys, and let them go. You might want to have several heats to make the activity last longer. Race the wind-up toys a few at a time and then have winners of those races compete against each other until you have a final race between the top wind-up toys. To add a little variety, you can add some obstacles, traps like a strip of sticky tape, rubber balls, etc.
  2. Treat it like real race: On your mark, get set, go and a loud cap-gun. Gentleman start your engines, etc. Have prices for the winners as well as a victory celebration. You can also award additional prizes to various wind-up toys in addition to the winners:
    • Most helpless
    • Most lost
    • Most persistent
    • Strongest
    • Funniest finish
    • Best “crash and Burn”
    • Slowest
    • Fastest
    • Most direct route to the finish

Discussion

What are some of the things you observed in the races of the wind-up toys?
Possible answers will likely include some of the following points:

  • They need to be wound up
  • They sometimes change direction unexpectedly
  • Even when they run into walls, the keep going without any change of direction.
  • Eventually the wind down.
  • They perform different actions when wound up.
  • They were designed and created to do different things.
  • They only do what they were created to do
  • They can be easily broken.
  • They sometimes fall over for no apparent reason.
  • They don’t always stick to the intended path.
  • Not all finish the race.
  • Some veer off course.

In what ways are our lives similar / different from those of wind up toys?

Take it to the Next Level

In a way God creates us, sets us on a path, and then lets us go. In time we run down, but the question is what we will do in the time we are given? but unlike the wind-up toys, we can choose our path. and while each of us is created with a purpose, we can choose to deviate from the chosen path and to act contrary to the purpose for which we were created. But like the wind-up toys there are some people who live wind-up mechanical lives without meaning and purpose.

You can also explain the different types of toys found today. Wind up toys used to be very common. Most toys today use batteries. What is the purpose of the wind up mechanism or the battery? The main purpose is to store energy for later use. There are many methods toy makers use to transfer and store energy. A yo-yo or a top uses a piece of string wrapped around an axel. Some toys use small springs that are tightened. Many clocks and musical jewelry boxes work on this same principle. A rubber band wrapped around an axle can also store energy. You might want to disassemble several toys and show students the springs or rubber bands inside that are “squeezed,” “stretched,” or “twisted” to give the toy energy. Ask the students to predict what mechanism is used inside the toy to store and release energy.

Discussion

  • Where do you get your energy?
  • What things give you a push, give you a stretch, or twists your life around causing things to happen?
  • What gets you wound up? What energizes you?
  • What wears you down? What drains your energy?
  • If you had to describe your life as that of a toy, what would it be? Why?
  • What characteristics do the toy and you have in common? In what ways are you different?

Take it to the Next Level

As Christians, we attempt to live each day for the purpose that God created us, glorifying His name, attempting to do as He would do, and following His will and following His guidance. Like the toys there will be times when we run down, when we stray, and when we find ourselves banging against a wall or barrier. But God didn’t just create us and and let us go on our own. He doesn’t look upon us as some sort of wind-up toy that He might set on the ground and then watch as it aimlessly runs into obstacle’s, never heading in the direction in which He pointed it, or falling over…legs still churning in mid air now – going nowhere. Instead God is constantly watching over us, waiting to energize us, and picking us up and pointing us back to the correct path. 

Sometimes the obstacle’s we face are being used to nudge us back on to the right path…like a guardrail. And at times we stubbornly fight the change in our direction until our energy is exhausted. But God does care. He’s simply waiting for you to quit struggling and to call out to Him so that he can re-energize you and set you back on course in the right direction.

Variation
Play a game in which the youth take on the role of wind-up toys in a game of Simon says.

  1. Blindfold the youth (optional)
  2. Have the youth spin around and point in various directions.
  3. Then in the style of Simon Says have them follow the directions you give them to move forward a certain number of steps, turn right, hop, jump, etc

Discussion

  • How was this game similar to the way people live their lives?
  • What did you do when you encountered obstacles?
  • How do you know when you’ve hit a wall in life and need to change direction?
  • In what ways does God guide us?
  • In what ways does God empower us for the journey ahead?
  • What can we do when we run down and are exhausted?

Scripture references
Philippians 3:13-14, Psalm 138:8, Proverbs 16:4, Romans 11:36, Matthew 7:13-14, Proverbs 19:21, Philippians 4:13, Deuteronomy 28, Romans 8:12-13, Ephesians 5:18-21

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…

Get "Go for the Gold" Youth Bible Study Series
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”

Get "Destined to Win" Youth Bible Study Series
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.
->Tell me about “Destined to Win”

Fruit

Materials
A large opaque cloth sack in which you can place fruits (a dark colored pillow case works fine), and a variety of fruits that can be identified by touch (and maybe smell).

Here are some fruits you can use if available in your area:
Apple, Apricot, Atapi, Avocado, Breadfruit, Banana, Blackberry, Blackcurrant, Blueberry, Chempadak, Cranberry, Custard Apple, Cherry, Chiku, Clementine, Coconut, Date, Dragonfruit, Durian, Fig, Grapefruit, Grape, Guava, Jackfruit, Jambu, Kiwi, Kumquat, Lemon, Lime, Loganberry, Longan, Lychee, Mango, Mangosteen, Mulberry, Nectarine, Orange, Papaya, Passion fruit, Peach, Pear, Persimmon, Pineapple, Plum, Pomegranate, Pomelo, Rambutan, Raspberry, Quince, Satsuma, Snakefruit, Soursop, Starfruit, Strawberry, Tangelo, Tomato (yes it is a FRUIT), Wolfberry

Activity
Place all the fruits in a single bag. You should have as many fruits as possible but you can vary the number of fruits depending on the age of your group and the appropriate difficulty. If you wish to expedite this activity you might prepare several bags of identical items. Without looking inside the bag, have youth touch the items in the bag and then go back and write down all the items. Award kids who get them all correct or the most correct.

Variation
Blindfold the participants and ask them to identify and write down the various fruits according to the scent or give them a sample to identify by taste. You could also make a fruit salad and have youth identify the various fruits in the salad.

Application
Just as you identified by touch the presence of items that you could not see, we can identify the presence of God in the ways he touches our lives. Many times he uses other people to touch our lives. Even today, you may not see Jesus, but you know he is there and has other people to take care of you. Sometimes we cannot see, but we can smell or taste. Our spiritual gifts and our relationship with God can serve as a taste or smell to entice others to taste and see that the Lord is Good. (Psalm 34:8) Our lives can be the scent of life to others. (2 Corinthians 2:16)

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…

The Greatest Love was not shown on Valentine’s Day!

Introduction
On valentine’s day, people often show their love to each other. Someone who is special is called a “sweetheart” or a “Valentine.” Chocolates and Flowers, especially roses, are also given to sweethearts on Valentine’s Day. Sweethearts often send little notes to each other with messages of love or with the simple question, “Would you be my Valentine?” But the Greatest Love was not shown on Valentine’s Day, but when Jesus opened the way to heaven for us 2000 years ago!

Description
Use this evangelistic Valentine’s day object lesson as a children’s sermon or teaching activity. Based upon the “wordless book” concept, it uses black, red, white, green, and gold (or yellow) hearts to explain the key points of the gospel message. It is similar to the Jelly Bean Evangelism idea found elsewhere on this website.

Preparation
Create several hearts from colored paper. You will need black, red, white, green, and gold (or yellow)

What to Do
Hearts are the main symbol of love seen on Valentine’s Day. Today I have some special Hearts to tell you a story of a very special love.

Yellow Heart
Our hearts are treasures, which we lay at the feet of God when we get to heaven. The yellow heart also reminds us of Heaven itself. Do you know what Heaven is? Heaven is God’s home. Heaven is filled with the glory, the shining brightness of God. There is no night there. The Bible says, “God is The Light and in Him is no Darkness at all”(I John 1:5). The Bible tells us that in Heaven, the street of the city is pure, clear gold-like glass (Rev.21:21). God tells us many other things about His home. No one is sick there. No one is crippled or blind. No one ever dies. Every person in Heaven will be perfectly happy-always (Rev. 21:4-2Psalm 16:11). The most wonderful thing about Heaven is that God the Father and His Son, the Lord Jesus will be there. God made Heaven. He made you too. He loves you very much. Because he made you and loves you, He wants you to belong to Him and be with Him in Heaven someday. Jesus promised long ago, “I go to prepare a place for you” (John 3:16; John 14:1-3).

Black heart
The black heart is just like our hearts are before Christ comes in to be our Savior. It is black with sin. There is one thing that can never be in Heaven. That is sin. Because you and I are sinners we want to have our own way instead of God’s way. Wanting our own way is sin. Doing, or saying, or thinking bad things is 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). All means every one of us.

This black heart reminds us of our sinful way – that we walk in darkness (Proverbs 4:19). When it is dark, you stumble and cannot find your way. Because of your sin, you cannot find God. Your sin separates you from God, who is holy (I John 1:5). God cannot allow sin where He is. I am sure you can think of a sin which you have done. God has said that sin must be punished. The punishment for your sin is death-to be separated from God forever (Rev. 6:23). The Lord Jesus, God’s Son, said that if you die in your sin, you cannot go to Heaven where He is (John 8:21, 24). God knew there was nothing you could do to get rid of your sin. He knew you could not be good enough to please Him. But He loves you and He made a way for you to be forgiven.

Red heart
The red heart 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). Wicked men nailed the sinless Son of God to the cross, but while He hung there God put all of your sins on Him. The Bible says, “…God bath laid on Him [Jesus] the iniquity of us all” (Isaiah 53:6). (Iniquity is another word for sin). All your bad temper, all your lies, your meaness-all your sin-was laid on the dear Son of God, and He suffered and suffered until He cried out with a loud voice and said, “It is finished.”

When you finish a job, how much is left? Nothing. What did the Lord Jesus come to do? He came to save us from punishment for sin, didn’t He? And He finished the work. When He was nailed to the cross, what came from His hands, and His feet? His blood. God calls it the precious blood of Jesus Christ, and He says “…the blood of Jesus Christ, God’s Son, cleanseth us from all sin” (I John 1:7). There is no other way, for God says, “Without shedding of blood there is no remission [of sin]”-no forgiveness, no payment (Hebrews 9:22). Jesus not only died for you, but He was buried, and He rose again. He is a living Saviour (ICorinthians 15:3, 4). God showed His love for you by sending His own Son to die for you. Now he says there is one way for you to be saved from your sin.

White heart
Tears cannot wash away sin. Prayers cannot wash away sin. Doing good cannot wash away sin. But the blood of the Lord Jesus can wash away all sin (Psalm 51:7; I John 1:7). This white heart reminds us that Jesus has healed our black hearts by washing away the sin with his blood. A white heart is pure again. It is clean again. Did Jesus die for everyone? (YES!) Is everyone going to Heaven? (No, because some do not believe that Jesus died for them. They have not received Him as their Saviour from sin.) God’s word says, “…as many as received Him to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His Name” (John 1:12). God has promised you when you receive the Lord Jesus as your Saviour, you become a child of God. The Lord Jesus Christ died to save you from your sins. He wants to clean your heart and live in your heart and give you power to obey God. Are you sorry for your sin? Do you believe Jesus died for your sin? Would you like to receive Jesus today? You must decide.

(Ask the Holy Spirit for discernment. Question the person to respond carefully. Encourage them to express to you before they pray: why they need to receive the Lord Jesus; what the Lord Jesus has done for them; what they want to tell God. When dealing with a group, emphasize what each person must personally believe and receive the Lord Jesus. Give opportunity for prayer. If possible, question each person individually after the prayer to clarify the meaning of His decision. Where is Jesus now? Where are your sins? What took them away?)

Any one of the following verses can be used effectively in helping to know what God has done: John 1:12; I John 5:13; Rev. 3:20.) God promises to you when you receive Him, “…I will never\leave nor forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5). Ask Him to help you each day to please Him. When you do sin, tell God that you have sinned. He will forgive you right away (I John 1:9). Ask Him and trust Him to help you not to do it again. (Lead the person in offering a prayer of thanks.

Green heart
Green is the color of plants. It is the color of growth, of life. The green heart reminds me of the new life, everlasting life, you have received from God. The color green reminds me of things which are growing outdoors, like leaves, grass, flowers, and trees. When you receive the Lord Jesus as your Saviour from sin, you are like a newborn baby in God’s family. The Bible tells you to “grow in grace in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ” (II Peter 3:18).

(As the time permits, talk with the person about those things which help him grow as a member of God’s family. Explain you are not talking about growing taller or gaining weight, but the kind of growing which will help others know that he loves the Lord Jesus.)

  • Listen to God- Learn God’s Word reading and memorizing it (II Timothy 2:15; Psalm 119: 11).
  • Talk to God. Pray (I Thessalonians 5:17).
  • Talk for God. Witness or tell others (Mark 16:15).
  • Worship God. Go to Sunday School and Church (Hebrews 10:25).

Blue heart (Optional)
Some will add a Blue heart to represent Baptism

Applications

  1. Use the various colors of the hearts to present the plan of salvation.
  2. Use this as a presentation of the plan of salvation for Valentine’s Day.


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Perfect Love…

Resources

  • a sheet of clean, unwrinkled paper.

What to do

  • Give each youth a clean, unwrinkled sheet of paper.
  • Ask the youth to close their eyes, and imagine this piece of paper represents the person in their life they love most.
  • Order them to wrinkle it up into a ball.
  • Then ask the youth smooth it out back to the way it was.
  • “How do you feel?”

Take it to the Next Level

    • Who was the person you thought of when holding the piece of paper?
    • Were you hesitant to wrinkle up the paper? Did you find crumpling up the piece of paper difficult? Why or why not?
    • In what ways does this paper represent relationships in life?
    • Think about a time in your life when you felt like this wrinkled piece of paper? What happened?
    • How did you feel when you tried to restore this piece of paper to its original state?
    • Think about a time when you did something in a relationship and wished you could have set things back to the way they were before. What happened?
    • Why is it so difficult to repair damaged relationships?
    • What lessons does this simple object lesson hold for us when it comes to relationships in our own lives?
  • In what ways do people ruin relationships?
  • What can be done to put things back to the way they were?

The saying says “forgive and forget” but it is rarely that easy. In some relationships, people have greatly suffered physical, sexual and emotional abuse. How can they forgive? Sometimes we wonder, “How can I ever forgive this person for what s/he did to me?” How do we forgive? How do we receive forgiveness? How do we restore things back to the way they were?

It is impossible to smooth everything out when the paper has been damaged. Wrinkles and rough areas will remain. In the same way, when we take the important relationships in life lightly, there is a great potential for us to create rough areas and other areas that are difficult to smooth out. While forgiveness may take place, scars may still remain. Sometimes only God and time can repair the scars.

Things we do can damage our relationship with God AND with people. “Surely the arm of the Lord is not too short to save, or his ear too dull to hear, but your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that He will not hear.” (Isaiah 59:1-2) “He who covers over an offense promotes love, but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends.” (Proverbs 17:9)

But fortunately, God can mend broken hearts and he himself is forgiving and eternally loving. Sin has the same effect on our lives.. especially in the area of sexual purity. But when we go to God seeking forgiveness he restores the relationship with Him completely. We can find NEW life in Christ. In this lifetime there may still me some scars, but in the life to come everything will be made new. When we confess our sin, His blood washes us white as snow, and purifies us. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9) “I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more.” (Isaiah 43:25)

And in the same way God forgives us, we need to forgive others. “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ, God forgave you.” (Ephesians 4:32)


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God Hears

Resources 
Ear Plugs (or Cotton)

Getting Ready
No advance preparations needed.

What to Do

  1. Give each student some cotton or ear plugs.
  2. Ask them to wait until you have demonstrated how to put them in before placing the cotton in their own ears .
  3. Explain that it will be more difficult to hear with cotton in your ears.
  4. Put cotton in your own ears and ask, “Can everybody still hear me now?”
  5. The answer will be yes because they don’t have their cotton in yet, but pretend that you can’t hear them.
  6. Ask other questions & have fun with this.
  7. Take the cotton out of your ears and tell them to put cotton in their own ears.
  8. Ask them to listen carefully because you’re going to say something important. Then ask them a question or two.
  9. Be sure to speak softly so that they cannot hear you or can only barely hear you.
  10. After a few tries (and have lots of fun with them on this) get them to remove the cotton.

Take it to the Next Level
Point out that it’s hard to hear when your ears are stopped up. Then, ask:

  • Do you think God’s ears are ever stopped up?
  • Does God always hear us?
  • Is there anything that might prevent God from hearing us?

Even when it may seem like God is not listening, we can have confidence that He is listening and that He cares. God is not deaf, nor is he ignoring us – we need to keep praying and have faith. Sometimes when we pray we may get the impression that either God is not listening, doesn’t hear or worse, doesn’t care. Assure them that God does hear, He does care. We need to have faith and continue to pray because God will answer in His time in the best way.

Scripture
Luke 18:1-8 – Persistent Prayer

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Pizza Prayer

Resources

  • Order a pizza for your Sunday School Class or group meeting. (you can order it in advance microwave it to control the arrival time..)
  • Alternatively, you can just bring in a pizza box or pizza coupons.

What to do
Enjoy pizza with the youth if you brought one. If not, just show the pizza box and coupons to the group.

Take it to the next level
Have volunteers read aloud Psalm 50:15; Matthew 7:7-11; 21:22; and Mark 11:24.

  • How is prayer like ordering pizza?
  • How is prayer different from ordering a pizza?
  • Do you think of God as a delivery person? Why or why not?
  • Is prayer like the pizza guarantee “Delivery in 30 minutes or your pizza is free”? Why or why not?
  • What’s wrong with calling on God the way we call for Pizza?
  • How do you think God wants us to view prayer?

MORE IDEAS? See “Creative Object Lessons”
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Target Practice

Materials
paper or Styrofoam cups and a rubber / foam dart gun. A ladder with steps at different heights. In place of Nerf darts you can use pink pong balls, small rubber balls or even wads of paper.

What to do

  1. Give each youth a cup and allow them to write their name on the cup.
  2. Line the cups up for target practice from across the room.
  3. If a youth’s cup has been knocked off, they must shoot down another cup in order to place their cup back up.
  4. Each time they shoot another cup down they can raise their cup up one level (step) on the ladder.
  5. When a cup is knocked off, it begins all the way at the bottom again.
  6. Continue for a specified amount of time and then reward the victor(s) at the top of the ladder

Take it to the Next Level

  • How is this activity similar to life and being at the top of the ladder?
  • What are some ways we knock others down in order to raise ourselves up?
  • Is this part of life and acceptable for Christian behavior? Explain.
  • How did you feel at the top? When knocked down?
  • Is it the proper Christian response to knock others down in order to be lifted up, or to simply lift others up?

Scripture
Ephesians 4:29

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Standards

Introduction
Life is filled with standards. We have standards of measurement for time, weight, size, length, distance, etc. Standards make life easier by providing a commonly agreed upon reference for measurement.

Description
By looking at some common standards of measurement in this object lesson, youth will consider the standards we use to measure the life we live.

Materials
Bathroom scale, food scale, measuring cup, ruler, yard stick, tape measure, thermometer, barometric pressure gauge, clock, dictionary, calendar, a teaspoon & tablespoon, a chalk line, a plumb line, a level, One dollar bill, a Bible, etc.

Preparation

  1. Gather as many common “standards” as you can find.
  2. Standards can be pulled from a bag, laid out on display, or incorporated into a game so that the youth identify what each standard is used to measure.
  3. You could add items to the standards that are unusual or maybe don’t even fit at all. Some unusual ones might be a battery (voltage), ring (ring size), t-shirt (small, med large), an egg, a dozen, a street sign, a law book, light bulb, radio (volume), etc.
  4. Make sure a Bible is included among the items.

Demonstration
You can use a variety of methods for this object lesson:

  • Have youth identify which standard of measurement they would use to measure a particular item.
  • Have youth identify what units each standard uses.
  • Have you identify what things can be measured with each standard.
  • Have students identify which items are standards of measurement from a group of items.
  • 5. Reveal and discuss each standard of measurement.

Discussion

  • What are the advantages of having standards?
  • Why are standards necessary?
  • How are standards decided?
  • Who decides the standard?
  • Are there different standards in different countries? Why?
  • Do standards allow you to cheat? (As an example, how can one cheat while using a scale to measure weight?)
  • How do you measure a person’s life? What are some standards people use to evaluate their lives?
  • In what ways is the Bible a standard?
  • What do we measure with the Bible?

Closing Application
When there are no standards everybody thinks they are right and there can be a lot of misunderstanding and arguments. Its hard to compare anything unless you have a standard of comparison. The Bible is a standard to evaluate a person’s life. We can compare ourselves with God’s law, with God, and with Christ. When we look at God’s standard we realize that none of us measure up. Not of us can meet his standards. We learn what is right and wrong and because we can compare ourselves to God’s standard we know we have done things that are wrong. The Bible is a standard for living, for life. But no matter how far we fall short, Jesus has already bridged the gap between where we are and the standard of God. He has filled the different so that God can accept us according to his standard of righteousness.

Application
We need to know God Word, his standard, so that we can live our lives accordingly. We need to look to Christ, seeking forgiveness for our shortfall, so that he will bridge the gap for us.


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Light of the World

This object lesson works well with Placing Lights

Description
A lit candle is easily missed in a bright room. But when the lights go out it is impossible to miss it! Use this creative object lesson to illustrate the importance of being lights in the world, especially in those places where people are living in darkness.

Materials

  • Candle and a room that can be darkened.
  • A water soluble marker and newsprint for each group.

Preparation
Before participants arrive light a candle and place it somewhere in the room where it is not easily noticed. Make sure there is no chance for a fire hazard and that the candle is large enough to last until it it needed. Also make sure that it is away from any air draft or air conditioner / fan so that it doesn’t go out!

What to do

  1. As people arrive, divide them into groups and ask the following discussion question: What are some things in the world that attract people’s attention?
  2. As groups to write the responses on a whiteboard, flipchart, or some newsprint (small print classifieds work best).
  3. After a while have groups share their answers.
  4. Then turn off the lights and note the responses.

Discussion
While the lights are still off and the candle is burning and illuminating the room, ask the following questions for discussion:

  • Did anyone notice the candle before? What did you think? Did you disregard / dismiss its presence in the room?
  • How did things change when the lights went off?
  • How is the candle like Jesus in the world? (When so many other things grab our attention it is easy to miss God!)
  • Why are people in times of tragedy and difficulty more likely to seek and find God?
  • Why is it so difficult to see God in life?
  • Why do the attractions of this world distract us from God?
  • How can we get the attention of the world?
  • What are some of the dark places where life takes you where people need to see the light?
  • Where can you personally shine brightly for Christ?
  • What are some of your personal distractions?
  • How can you avoid the distractions and stay more focused on Christ?

Closing Application
Make a decision to shine for Christ in the world, especially in those dark places. What s something you can do to shine more brightly for Christ?


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Tension in Relationships

Introduction
Relationships often have tense moments. Use this youth object lesson / creative teaching idea to discuss the topic of relationships.

Description
Rubber bands will be used as an object lesson for youth on relationships, stress in relationships, closeness in relationships and the hurt we can experience in broken relationships.

Materials
A thin rubber band for each participant. Additional rubber bands and a few larger, thicker ones.

Preparation
None

What to do

  1. Gather everyone in a circle
  2. Pass around the rubber bands and have each person get one.
  3. Have participants hook a finger inside the rubber band and link them together with the person on the right and left so that they are linked in one big circle by a rubber band on the left and right.
  4. Have group members gradually step back stretching the rubber bands between them as far as possible without breaking them
  5. Observe the responses of the participants as the rubber bands are being stretched.

Discussion

  • What will happen if you continue to step apart?
  • Who will likely be hurt when the rubber bands break?
  • How is the tension like that in relationships with God, parents, family members, friends and others?
  • What are the things that connect us in relationships?
  • Make a list of some of the more significant relationships in your life. Who’s on your list? How are the significant to you?
  • What are the things that draw us closer?
  • What are the things that move us apart?
  • What are the consequences when we move away from God? Parents? Family members? Friends? Others?
  • Throughout life relationships are always changing. At times we draw closer to God and others while at other times we may drift apart or even break the relationships. At times there will be tension and sometimes there will even be hurt. How can we more effectively manage relationships with others? Is it possible to end a relationship without causing hurt? What are some ways we can minimize the pain in relationships? How can we handle things gently?
  • The closer to a person we are, the stronger the bonds that develop and more connections are established. This is similar to adding more rubber bands between a person and thicker rubber bands. How does this increase the risks for hurt if the relationship is broken?
  • What are some of the biblical instructions regarding relationships with other Christians? With God? With family members? With our parents? With the lost? In general?

Closing Application
What are some ways you can manage your relationships better? With God? With your parents? Friends? Various family members? The lost? Significant people in your lives?

A few of the many Scripture References on relationships
James 4:8
Galatians 6:2
Exodus 20:12
Ephesians 4:26
Philippians 2:3-4
Philippians 2:14
Proverbs 4:1-17
Proverbs 6:20-23
Ephesians 6:1-4
1 Timothy 5:1-3
Matthew 7:12


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Thanksgiving Object Lesson – Ten Lepers

Description
Use this Thanksgiving Children’s sermon / Thanksgiving Object lesson to create a situation in the Sunday school classroom or Worship service to illustrate the story in Luke 17 of the healing of ten lepers and the ONE that return to Jesus and thanked him for what he had done.

Resources
10 small gifts. (You can choose any gift as long as the gifts are the same and something the participants would enjoy. A candy bar or individually wrapped piece of candy works well.)

Preparation

  1. Put all the smaller gifts inside a box and wrap it box so that it looks special! (Do no individually wrap the smaller gifts.)
  2. Write instructions on slips of paper for each youth and put them in a bowl.
    • On 1 slip of paper
      “Do not show this to anyone. Do not talk about it to anyone. Congratulations: You are the grand prize winner! Later when I announce the prize, come forward and claim your prize! But before you can claim your prize you must agree to ONE condition. If ANYONE asks you to share, you MUST give them one of the smaller prizes found inside, even if it means you will have none left for yourself!”
    • On 10 of the slips of paper, write the following instructions:
      “Do not show this to anyone. Do not talk about it to anyone. Someone will be announced as a grand prize winner. Once the person has unwrapped his prize, go to him and ask him to share it with you. When he does, do not say ANYTHING. Do NOT say thank you or anything else. Take the candy and return to your seat. If you say anything after he shares his prize with you, you will lose it”
    • On the remaining slips of paper (one for each other person participating) write:
      “Do not show this to anyone. Do not talk about it to anyone. Something interesting is going to happen today. Watch carefully. Do not do make any comments until I announce that “We are going to discuss what just happened.”

Variation
Add an additional instruction to the 10. “Leave the room and stay outside until you hear that someone has received the grand prize. Do not talk to anyone inside the room. Do not touch anyone inside the room.”

Take it to the Next Level 

To the whole group:

  • What was strange about what just happened?

To the grand prize winner:

  • How did it feel to receive the prize?
  • Did you say any words of thanks for it? why or why not?
  • How did it feel to have to give what you received away to everyone else?
  • Were you upset that no one said “thank you”?
  • Would you have felt different if someone has expressed a few words of thanks?

To the 10 who received gifts:

  • Did any of you receiving the candy feel bad about accepting it without expressing your thanks?

To all:

  • Why is thanks important?

Read the story of the ten lepers in Luke 17.

Lepers were required to keep away from people in fear that others would catch their disease. The disease is quite terrible. The cannot feel anything. No pain, nothing. Because of this they get infections and injure themselves without knowing it. Then the infection spreads and they smell like rotting meat. They often lose finger arms feet and other body parts.

Lepers were outcasts. Their condition had made them unclean in the eyes of the public and the authorities. They were not allowed to join in with the rest of society. They had to avoid ANY contact with any other people. They could not touch anyone and no one dared to touch them. They could not touch anything that others would touch. And no one dared touch anything that belonged to them. They could not stay in the same place, they could not worship with others, they could not work, could not drink the same water, could not eat the same food. They were forced to live away from everyone else – completely isolated. They were rejected. Lepers were not allowed to mingle with the public in any way.

If the lepers had tried to approach Jesus there would have been a riot. Instead, they kept their distance and shouted all together as one voice “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” In this way, Jesus was drawn to them.

By what they had heard about Jesus, they knew that had the power to heal them.

Jesus healed them, but then Jesus did something that may seem a little strange. He asked them to go to the Priests? Why? Because even though healed, people would want to have a public validation that they had been healed. Only the Priests could do that. Priests were the ones who could inspect a leper and say, “yes, you are clean now, go free. You don’t have to remain an outcast anymore”. By this, Jesus not only healed the lepers, but also brought them back into fellowship with the community.

  • How do you think the Savior felt as the lepers left?
  • How do they think it felt when the one leper returned to thank Jesus for healing him?
  • What kinds of things should we be grateful for? (Make a list on the board)
  • What are some things that have happened to you for which you should be thankful?

Action Point
Make a list of the things you are personally thankful for, then let’s offer God a prayer of thanks for what he has done in our lives.

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Labeled

Introduction
It’s not the clothes we wear, the house we live in, the cars we drive, or names and titles people give us that determine our identity or our value as a person. It’s what’s inside us that counts.

Description
We often identify things by labels. But are labels the best method for identification? Youth / children will learn that labels are not always correct.

Materials
Three similar sized canned food items but with different contents. Preferably, use two that youth or children would enjoy and another that they may not appreciate much (i.e. something like canned peaches, applesauce and dog food)

Preparation
Carefully remove the labels from the cans and swap the labels and glue them on. Trim the labels to fit if needed.

Demonstration
I brought something today I think you will enjoy – Do you like peaches? I love peaches! Is there anyone here who doesn’t like peaches? What happens if I don’t like peaches? Maybe I like applesauce instead. Take the applesauce label and put it onto the same can. Great! Now I can have applesauce. Anyone want some applesauce with me? What? You mean we can’t just change the label? Why not? It says applesauce. Oh, well… let’s have some peaches then…. anyone want some peaches. Open the can of dogfood. Oops… this is not peaches. This is dogfood…. Looks like sometimes labels can be wrong.

Discussion
It doesn’t matter what label we put on the can. It doesn’t change what is inside. It’s not the label that’s important, but what’s inside that counts.

Sometimes we think that if we wear certain clothes, live is a certain kind of house or go to school in a certain type of car that will change us into something that others like more. But its not the things on the outside that count.

Sometimes someone might label us as stupid, as a nerd, a loser or some other name. But those names don’t change our identity. We are still the same person on the inside.

I can use the can as a hammer, or a football, or as a paperweight. But that doesn’t change the fact that it is a can that was created with something unique inside.

In fact, to God, everyone of us is special. Everyone of us is beautiful. He loves everyone of us! It’s what’s in your heart that counts.

Closing Applications

  • Do you call others names, give them labels? Do you judge others by what is on the outside or do you look at who they really are?
  • Do you try to impress others with the clothes you wear, by the things you say, with the things you own? Instead of trying to impress others with things that are on the outside, why not impress them with what you are on the inside…. by being loving, kind, caring.
  • A peach is a fruit, but for us as Christians, God identifies us by different fruits that we have in our heart…. these are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self control. Make a commitment to bless others this week with one of these fruits of the spirit.

 

Scripture Reference

  • “The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” (1 Sam. 16:7)
  • Galatians 5:22 (Fruits of the Spirit)

 

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Easter Resurrection

Description
Use this Easter object lesson, to talk about death and the resurrection in simple terms.

Materials
Rubber Glove

Preparation
None

Demonstration

  1. Put on the glove.
  2. Demonstrate the incredible things that can be done by a “glove”. It can pick something up. It can squeeze a toy. It can scratch your head. Make a fist. Point a finger at someone. Wave a finger in warning. Cover your mouth. squeeze your nose. Tap on a desk. And do so many other things. Make sure that you explain through out that the “glove” is an incredible creation.
  3. Take your hand out of the glove and then ask it to do the same things you just demonstrated. Look a little puzzled and confused when nothing happens. What’s the problem?

Discussion
The reality is, it is not the “glove” that does these things, but the hand inside. The glove is only a container for the hand. Without the hand the glove is lifeless. God created us also with two parts. There is a body and a spirit. The body is just the container. Your body has to have a spirit inside, or it wouldn’t be alive and able to interact with the physical world around us. When we die, the the spirit leaves the body and the body becomes lifeless. The person that was inside the body still exists, but they are now someplace else. But for Christians, God can put the body and the spirit back together again. That’s exactly what happened on Easter morning. Christ’s spirit was back in his body again. The most exciting thing is that God wants to do the same thing for us. When someone dies their body and the spirit are separated for a time. But some day God will raise us back up in a new body.

Closing Application
Just as Christ raised Christ from the dead and placed him in a resurrected body, God will one day raise us from the dead into a resurrected body to be with him forever.

Variation
Use two different gloves… an old, dirty, worn one and a nice new one. Replace the old glove with the new one explaining that in the resurrection we will have a new resurrected body that will last forever!

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Carrots, Eggs, and Coffee

A daughter complained to her father about her life and how things were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to make it and wanted to give up. She was tired of fighting and struggling. It seemed as one problem was solved a new one arose. Her father, a chef, took her to the kitchen. He filled three pots with water and placed each on a high fire. Soon the pots came to a boil. In one he placed carrots, in the second he placed eggs, and the last he placed ground coffee beans. He let them sit and boil, without saying a word. The daughter sucked her teeth and impatiently waited, wondering what he was doing. In about twenty minutes he turned off the burners. He fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl.

He pulled the eggs out and placed them a bowl. Then he ladled the coffee out and placed it in a bowl. Turning to her he asked. “Darling, what do you see?” “Carrots, eggs, and coffee,” she replied. He brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. She did and noted that they were soft. He then asked her to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard-boiled egg. Finally, he asked her to sip the coffee. She smiled as she tasted its rich aroma. She humbly asked. “What does it mean Father?”

He explained that each of them had faced the same adversity, boiling water, but each reacted differently. The carrot went in strong, hard, and unrelenting. But after being subjected to the boiling water, it softened and became weak. The egg had been fragile. Its thin outer shell had protected its liquid interior. But after sitting through the boiling water, its inside became hardened. The ground coffee beans were unique however. After they were in the boiling water, they had changed the water. “Which are you,” he asked his daughter. “When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg, or a coffee bean?”

How about you? Are you the carrot that seems hard, but with pain and adversity do you wilt and become soft and lose your strength? Are you the egg, which starts off with a malleable heart? Were you a fluid spirit, but after a death, a breakup, a divorce, or a layoff have you become hardened and stiff. Your shell looks the same, but are you bitter and tough with a stiff spirit and heart? Or are you like the coffee bean? The bean changes the hot water, the thing that is bringing the pain, to its peak flavor as it reaches 212 degrees Fahrenheit. When the water gets the hottest, it just tastes better. If you are like the bean, when things are at their worst, you get better and make things better around you.

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Cupcake Faith

halloween_cupcake.jpgDescription
Use this creative object lesson as a surprising illustration to kids that God looks at our heart, not our appearances. It can be used on any occasion or as a children’s sermon, but with a reference to tombs, and masks it also serves as a fun lesson for an alternative to Halloween.

Materials
Cupcake mix, cotton balls, cupcake cups, Cupcake Tin

Preparation

  1. Using a cake mix or any cupcake mix, prepare the batter according to instructions.
  2. Place the paper cupcake liners in the cupcake tin.
  3. For about 50% of the cupcakes, place several cotton balls in the middle of the cup to partially fill them.
  4. Pour the batter into the cups. For those with cotton balls, be sure it seeps into the sides of the cup and covers the cotton balls.
  5. Bake the cupcakes as per directions.
  6. Make enough untainted cupcakes for your entire group.
  7. Decorate the cupcakes containing cotton balls with icing and candly sprinkles etc so they look very enticing. Do not decorate the normal cupcakes in any way i.e. leave them plain.

WARNING: One person who tried this had the batter soak into the cotton balls so that the kids didn’t notice and swallowed one. While they are harmless and will simply pass through the digestive system, to prevent this make sure you fill the bottom of the paper liner full of cotton balls so that you don’t have this problem. An alternative to cotton balls is to slice off the top with a bread knife and then hollow out the center of the cupcake. Put the top back on and frost it for a hollow cupcake? Are some of our pursuits in life a little hollow when we finally get hold of them?

Demonstration

  1. Pass the cupcakes to the youth or children as a group. They must not eat them until everyone has one. Only allow one cupcake per person.
  2. Some will choose the fancy ones while others may choose the plain ones.
  3. When the youth or children begin to eat the cupcakes, some of them are in for a surprise. Beneath the shallow top layer of cupcake there is cotton!
  4. Wait for their responses.
  5. After the lesson have some cupcakes available for everyone who got the tainted ones with the cotton balls inside

Discussion
You can’t always tell how good something is by looking at the outside. Sometimes what seems attractive on the outside hides something far less attractive inside.

While people typically look at the outward appearance, God looks inside – at the heart. It’s difficult to tell what a person is really like simply from their appearance. Some people may be beautiful on the outside, but inside they hide a very mean, selfish, and hateful heart. Some people may seem a little plain or less attractive in appearance, but inside they are loving, gentle, and kind.

Most of us spend lots of time and attention on making ourselves look good. We pay careful attention to the clothes we wear (designer jeans etc), the shoes we wear, our complexion, our hairstyle, etc. Yet, how much time do we spend making sure our heart is right? When our heart is right with God, when our attitudes are Christlike, when we have a loving spirit, then when others get a taste of God in us, they will find Christianity attractive. Christ’s greatest criticism of the pharisees was that they focused on their appearance yet left ugliness in their hearts:

“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 dead men’s bones 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.” (Matthew 23:27-28)

Christ called the Pharisees hypocrites. The Greek word for hypocrite actually refers to someone who is wearing a mask, who is an actor. Halloween isn’t the only time of the year when people dress up and wear masks. Throughout the year we often show a different personality on the outside than the person we are in reality. Jesus also called the pharisees “whitewashed tombstones.” “Rotting graves with whitewashed tombstones” vividly paints for us a picture of hypocrisy. Cemeteries are actually quite tranquil and beautiful on the surface. There are flowers, statues, and beautiful memorials to those that have died. But beneath the surface there are rotting bodies.

Does your icing match your cupcake?

  • How much time do you spend getting ready to leave the house in the morning?
  • Do you take time to shower, comb your hair, and spend a little time in front of the mirror to make sure you are presentable to the world?
  • Do you spend as much time daily nurturing your inner spirit through Bible Study and prayer as you do on your external appearances?
  • Do you sometimes find yourself putting on a facade, a mask, pretending to be more “spiritual” so people will be impressed with you?

It’s not that we should not care about our external appearances. In fact we should be concerned about both our internal and external life that we present to the world. Our lives need to reflect the goodness of God both inwardly and outwardly, in our heart attitudes, and in our actions that everyone sees.

Closing Application
Take a little more time preparing your heart each day to get right with God and reflect his heart. Make sure you spend some time with God so that you reflect the goodness of God inside and out before you ice it for all the world to see?

Scripture References

  • Matthew 23:27-28
  • Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight. (1 Peter 3: 3-4)
  • Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart. (1 Samuel 16: 7)

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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Pumpkin Prayer

pumpkin.jpgMaterials
Large pumpkin and a carving knife.

Object Lesson on Prayer

{cut off top of pumpkin}
Lord, open my mind so I can learn new things about you.

{remove innards}
Remove the things in my life that don’t please you.
Forgive the wrong things I do and help me to forgive others.

{cut open eyes}
Open my eyes to see the beauty you’ve made in the world around me.

{cut out nose}
I’m sorry for the times I’ve turned my nose at the good food you provide.

{cut out mouth}
Let everything I say please You.

{light the candle}
Lord, help me show your light to others through the things I do. Amen

By: Liz Curtis Higgs
Source: http://www.sunday-school-lessons.com/pumpkin.html


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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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!

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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 your next New Year’s Day, Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Halloween or Fall Festival, and Thanksgiving event. If you’ve ever wondered what you’re going to do for all these holidays and how you’re going to do it, this resource is for you.

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Peter Pumpkin

pumpkin2.jpgTheme
When the light of Jesus, shining through us flickers and goes out because of sin in our life, Jesus’ death can restore that light.

Materials
One pumpkin, ready to carve, sharp knife, candle for inside of pumpkin, matches

Procedure
Have children offer their suggestions on how to carve a face in the pumpkin. Proceed to carve a mouth, nose, and two eyes. Insert the candle and light.

Story
“Now let’s pretend that this pumpkin is one of our friends. Let’s name him Peter Pumpkin. Pete Pumpkin is in (pick a grade or class that matches your group) like us.”

Peter woke up one morning bright and happy and ready for the day. His light was shining and he felt good. Let’s see what happens Peter’s day.

“Oh, Peter!” cried his mother, “Did you remember to brush your teeth this morning?” “Yes, Mother,” Peter lied. He really hadn’t brushed his teeth, but if he stopped to do it now, he’d be late for school! So Peter lied. Peter’s mouth wasn’t shining quite so brightly any more. (Put the mouth piece from the pumpkin back in the mouth hole)

So Peter went on his way to school. He felt kind of bad lying to his mother, but he wasn’t going to let it spoil his day. When he got to school, some of his friends were playing with the toys already. Peter went over, too, but they had already started using the ones he wanted. (you can adapt this to be art supplies or whatever matches your group) Peter wanted the toys too. When one of the boys left, to go talk to his teacher, Peter took the toy. Oops, there goes part of Peter’s happy face. (insert eye piece)

Continue with similar stories for the remaining parts of the pumpkin face, each time, inserting another piece until the whole face is back in place. Watch what happens to the light.

“Peter’s light has gone out. His face is all dark and sad now.”
(Relate this to sin in our lives.)

“There is a way for Peter’s face to get bright and happy again. It’s the same way that our sin can get taken care of. Do you know who helps our sin?”

With the answer of “Jesus” –carve a cross into the other side of the pumpkin. Pop out the face pieces again, and light the candle.

“With Jesus in your life, your light will never go out. The Bible tells us that Jesus is our light and that when He shines through us, our sins are forgiven and His love shines through instead!”

Relate how we may still sin (at this point put the pieces back into the face, except the cross) but with Jesus, the light will not go out–He is with us always!

Use your “Christian Jack-O-Lantern” at home and shine the cross out the window on October 31st. A witness for all the passers-by!

(originally from *Karen Schuster, Redeemer Lutheran–Flint, MI)
Source: http://www.sunday-school-lessons.com/pumpkin.html

Looking for some icebreakers for your party or event? My eBook, “IceBreakers Ahead: Take It to the Next Level” found at http://www.creativeicebreakers.com
not only provides 52 of the most world’s popular group icebreaker activities, but also includes life changing lesson ideas and questions to smoothly transition into discussions about issues common to most groups.

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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Games and Activities in Celebration of common Holidays.

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Jack O’ Lantern

pumpkin3.jpgCreate a Halloween lantern with stars for eyes, the Christian fish symbol for a mouth, and a cross for its nose. Then pass out the following poem (source unknown)

Jack O’ Lantern

I am a Jack O’ Lantern
My lights will shine so bright
For I’m a Christian pumpkin
My symbols tell what’s right

My nose is like the cross
On which our Savior died
To set us free from sin
We need no longer hide

My mouth is like a fish
The whole wide world to show
That Christians live in this house
And love their Savior so!

The story starts at Christmas
My eyes are like the star
That shone on Baby Jesus
And wise men saw from far

My color, it is orange
Just like the big bright sun
That rose on Easter Day
Along with God’s own Son

And so on Halloween
Let’s set our pumpkins out
And tell the trick or treaters
What God’s love is all about!

Looking for some icebreakers for your party or event? My eBook, “IceBreakers Ahead: Take It to the Next Level” found at http://www.creativeicebreakers.com
not only provides 52 of the most world’s popular group icebreaker activities, but also includes life changing lesson ideas and questions to smoothly transition into discussions about issues common to most groups.

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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Games and Activities in Celebration of common Holidays.

Creative Holiday Ideas has over 300 pages of ideas to help you plan your next New Year’s Day, Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Halloween or Fall Festival, and Thanksgiving event. If you’ve ever wondered what you’re going to do for all these holidays and how you’re going to do it, this resource is for you.

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Connecting with Friends

yarn.jpgMaterials
Obtain a ball of string or yarn.

Description
In this creative learning activity, the string or yarn serves as an object lesson illustrating the relationships and friendships we have with each other.

Activity

  1. Sit the group on the floor in a circle.
  2. Holding firmly to the string, toss it to a person in the circle.
  3. The person receiving the string must name a quality (of the person who tossed it to him/her) that makes them a good friend.
  4. The person receiving the string, holds firmly onto the string and tosses the ball on to another person. The string should be held above the ground.
  5. Continue until everyone has received the string at least once and said at least one quality of a friend that the person who tosses it to them possesses.
  6. You will have a spiderweb representing our relationships.

 

Discussion
What makes a friend is the connections we make, the events and experiences we share, the discussions we share. Eventually, if we fail to share with each other or if we do things that “break” the relationship the friendship begins to fall apart.

  • “What do you do to be a friend and to have friends?”
  • What kinds of relationships do we make?
  • Using a poster board or whiteboard, make a list of the qualities your group mentions.

 

Application
This list will probably include: time spent together; listening to each other’s problems, sharing joys and sorrows, and sticking together no matter what happens. Most things we include on “how to be a friend” can be an essential part of a developing relationship with Jesus Christ. He’s not just a band-aid for the rough times, but wants to be with us always.

For a variation of this activity see “Hold All Things Together”

 

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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Etch-a-Sketch

etch-a-sketch_magic-slate.jpgDescription
Use an etch-a-sketch as an object lesson or children’s sermon to teach youth or children about things that are temporary or about forgiveness.

Object
Etch A Sketch (http://www.etch-a-sketch.com)
or Magic Slate (wax and plastic sheet tablet that is a low tech version of the etch-a-sketch)

The Lesson

  1. Draw a few simple pictures on an etch a sketch (or Magic Slate)
  2. Demonstrate how an etch-a-sketch works by turning the knobs.
  3. Explain the difficulty of getting the lines and drawing accurate to create a picture – its not easy!
  4. In fact, most of the time you will make mistakes.
  5. But the nice things about an etch-a-sketch is that all it takes is to turn it over and shake it a bit and you can start over with a clean slate.

 

Application

  • Life is not easy. Traveling the straight and narrow way is very difficult. Things often do not turn out as we intended. We make lots of mistakes. Sometimes we get frustrated and want to give up.
  • Fortunately, when we make such mistakes, God can erase them and give us a clean slate. All we need to do is recognize we have messed up (sinned) and confess it to God and ask for his forgiveness.
  • Sometimes God has to shake up our lives and turn them upside down a little bit before we realize we need a fresh start.
  • As we grow and mature in Christ, we make fewer mistakes and our lives begin to conform to the image of Christ.
  • Actually, the key to the successful Christian life, is not to control its direction ourselves, but to let God take control and create the life that he has planned for each us.

 

Scripture
Colossians 2:14, Colossians 3:8-10

Variation
Show some photos of what the experts can do with an etch-a-sketch. Some examples can be found at:
http://www.gvetchedintime.com/set.html

A talented artist can spend hours creating his masterpiece on an etch-a-sketch, but all it takes is a little shake-up and everything is gone. Many people spend their lives creating the image of their perfect life and then something comes along and shakes things up and everything is gone (Job 34:20) Jesus tells us the only things that will not pass away are his words. (Matthew 24:25,35)

Copyright Sept 2006 by Ken Sapp

 

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Coat Hangers

Description
Use this object lesson / children’s sermon as a lesson on how Jesus doesn’t just cover up our sin, but removes our sin.

Materials

  • Lead or tin solder i.e. soft solder WITHOUT a resin core (can be bought from a hardware store)
  • Coat hangers
  • newsprint (old newspaper classifieds work best) or large sheets of paper
  • Broad tip Marker
  • red paper

 

Preparation
Using a typical metal coat hanger as a guide, carefully form one from the solder. The solder will be soft so you must be gentle to avoid distorting the shape prematurely. Add it to your stach of clothes hangers. You may wish to use a variety of clothes hangers just to hide the fact that one is different.

Demonstration

  • Take the bunch of coat hangers out of a bag/briefcase and talk about how messy and troublesome they are.
  • Explain: They are like sin in that they get tangled and are bulky. Drop a few to get the point across that they really mess things up.
  • Ask: “What are some ways that people try to cover or remove their sin?”
  • Hand the coat hangers out.
  • Give the participants the newsprint and have them cover the coat hangers.
  • As the group provides ways we cover sin you label each bundle. You’ll want ideas like: Go to church, Be good, Not hurt people, Prayer, Lie, Pretend it didn’t happen, do something good to make up for it, blame it on someone, give an excuse for it, etc. After you write on the clothes hanger, return it to the participant.
  • Take out your “special” coat hanger made from solder, wrap it in red paper like you wrapped the others.
  • Explain that the red paper represents Jesus’ atoning blood (older children). Note: The concept of blood sacrifice is difficult for young children to grasp but “Jesus’ forgiveness” is a suitable alternative.
  • explain that even though the coat hangers are covered you can still *see* them, they are not gone.
  • Have everyone feel their bundle and the coat hangers (sins) are still there.
  • Squeeze your bundle up into a little ball….Jesus can make it go away (remove / forgive your sin.)

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…