This popular icebreaker game is a great discussion starter for Valentines Day and introducing the concept of God's unmerited love for us. As people, we often place conditions on our love. "I will love you if" "If you love me you will" "I love you because.." We usually love people because of who they are or what they do. But God's love for you completely transcends who you are and what you do. He, who knows you best, in all of your sinful actions, unclean thoughts, and hurtful words, loves you most.
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.
We are attracted by extravagantly wrapped gifts with red bows and colorful paper. In this game, participants will try to guess the objects that have been wrapped up as Christmas gifts. But the gifts are probably not what they will expect - they are simply things that are very ordinary. The gift of the first Christmas was not wrapped the way the world expected either. The Jews wanted a mighty warrior with a sword in one hand and King's crown in the other. But instead, God sent an innocent, defenceless, vulnerable baby - just a seemingly ordinary baby boy.
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
Count your many blessings, see what God hath done.
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.
Not once a year, but every day, we need to count the blessings God has sent us.
Thanksgiving is an American Holiday when people come together, treasure the relationships with those close to them, and thank God for his blessings over the past year. While the New Year celebrates new opportunities and a chance to start over, Thanksgiving reminds us how far we have come and how God and others have helped us to get where we are.
This Thanksgiving Activity encourages youth to remember things for which they are thankful and also reminds us that we are also connect to those around us and need to be thankful for them as well. Being Thankful isn't just for Americans and Canadians. It's something all of us should take time to do!
Thanksgiving is an American Holiday where people set aside a day to remember what God has done for them over the past one year and praise Him and give Him thanks for the works He has done in heir lives. This game plays on the idea of looking forward yet being able to recognise and picture what is behind. It serves as a metaphor for us, also looking forward to the future, but taking some time to picture and recognise what God has done in the past.
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.
How do we deal with fear? If you think about it, the Bible has quite a few scary stories suitable for any fright night. In this one, God takes Ezekiel to a valley filled with hundreds, maybe even thousands of dry human bones, they grow flesh and skin and then come back to life as a vast army. Zombie Apocalypse or an all powerful God who has power over life and death?
This youth activity uses a relay race with Candy Bars in various colored wrappers to present the Gospel. You can find lots of mini candy bars around the Halloween season. Similar to the wordless bracelet, the colors yellow, black, red, white and Green are used to explain the gospel message.
It is said a person has three names: the one given at birth, the one other people give, and the one (s)he gives him/herself. Names have meaning. Sometimes names are changed to reflect a new direction in a person's life. In his icebreaker game, youth not only learn each other's names, but they also explore what it means to be called a Christian, a disciple, a saint, a believer.
Creative Youth ideas: 1700+ Resources for youth leaders, pastors, ministers to help plan camps, retreats, and meetings using games, illustrations, Children's Worship, Bible Studies, object lessons, sermons, creative ideas,creative activities
