A brother said to an old man, “I do not know of any warfare in my heart.” The old man said to him, “Then you are a building open on all four sides. Whatever wishes to, goes in and out, and you do not notice. If you had windows and a door, and shut them so as to bar certain thoughts, you would soon realize how many there are outside, waiting to slip in and attack you.”
Name my City
Materials
Get enough chairs to have one for each participant then remove one chair.
Icebreaker Description
In this icebreaker / crowdbreaker, youth will learn the names of others in the group.
Preparation
Arrange the chairs in a circle.
Icebreaker Activity
- One person starts by introducing themselves by their first name and then naming a city with the same first letter as their name (Hi, I’m Bob and I’m from Boston).
- The next person in the group starts by repeating the name and city of the first person in the group and then introducing themselves and a city that has the same first letter as their name (This is Bob from Boston, and I’m Pete from Pittsburg).
- This continues around the circle with each person repeating the names and cities of the previous youth in the circle, working successively around the circle and then giving their own name and a city.
Optional Debrief
- If you could choose to be from a Biblical City, which city would you choose? Why?
Conclusion
Many people in the Bible have their birth place mentioned. But it is not so much where we are from that determines who we are. Cain and Abel were from the same place but their lives were very different. Abraham and Lot settled in the same place, but because of Abraham’s Faithfulness and the blessings of God, their lives were very different. It was said of Jesus, “How can anything good come from Nazareth. This place is not our home. Heaven is the home that God has prepared for us. We are of God’s household. Regardless of where we are from, it is our choices that determine who we are. Let’s make choices that show our heavenly citizenship.
Application
What choices can you make this week to show yourself as a citizen of heaven?
Scripture
Ephesians 2:19-22
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Shadrach Meshach Abednego
Materials
Get enough chairs to have one for each participant then remove one chair.
Icebreaker Description
In this icebreaker / crowdbreaker, youth will learn the names of others in the group.
Preparation
Arrange the chairs in a circle.
Icebreaker Activity
- Each participant is called Shadrach. The one sitting on his right is Meshach. The one sitting on his left is Abed-nego. Someone who is “It” stands in the center.
- There are three possible scenarios:
- If “It” calls, “Meshach!”, before everyone can count to ten (vary time for faster groups) you must give the real name of the person on your left.
- If “It” calls, “Abednego!”, before everyone can count to ten (vary time for faster groups) you must give the real name of the person on your left.
- Now and then the person in the center may try to fool participants by calling out “Shadrach”. When he points to you and calls “Shadrach” you must give your OWN NAME.
- Any mistakes or failure to call out the correct name in the indicated time and you forfeit your seat to the person in the center and you become “it.”
Optional Debrief
- Who were Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego?
- What are some of the things society today asks you to bow down to?
- What are some of the fiery trials you have needed to face in life?
- How would you describe your life at this time: a spring breeze, Warm, Hot, or Fiery?
Conclusion
Shadrach, Mechach, and Abednego were three Jewish friends of Daniel that were taken into captivity by the Babylonians. It was a difficult time. If you dared to say what you really believed or to stand up for what you thought to be true, it might literally be the last time you ever stood or the last words you ever spoke. But they were not afraid to stand for God. They refused to bow to anyone or anything else, even when their life was on the line.
Application
In what situation is it most difficult for you to take a stand for what you believe? What will you do the next time you are faced with this situation?
Scripture
Daniel 3
Icebreakers Ahead: Take It To the Next Level
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Each Act
When the eagle soars in the endless blue,
its shadow races after, far below.
Yet space does not divide; bird and shadow are linked.
So too each act — each choice and consequence.
-Jigme Lingpa
Letting Go
There was once a lonely girl who longed desperately for love. One day while she was walking in the woods she found two starving song birds. She took them home and put them in a small glided cage. She nurtured them with love and the birds grew strong. Every morning they greeted her with a marvellous song. The girl felt great love for the birds. She wanted their singing to last forever.
One day the girl left the door to the cage open. The larger and stronger of the two birds flew from the cage. The girl watched anxiously as he circled high above her. She was so frightened that he would fly away and she would never see him again that as he flew close, she grasped at him wildly. She caught him in her fist. She clutched him tightly within her hand. Her heart gladened at her sucess in capturing him. Suddenly she felt the bird go limp. She opened her hand stared in horror at the dead bird. Her desperate clutching love had killed him.
She noticed the other bird teteering on the edge of the cage. She could feel his great need for freedom. His need to soar into the clear, blue sky. She lifted him from the cage and tossed him softly into the air. The bird circled once, twice, three times.
The girl watched delighted at the bird’s enjoyment. Her heart was no longer concerned with her loss. She wanted the bird to be happy. Suddenly the bird flew closer and landed softly on her shoulder. It sang the sweetest melody, she had ever heard.
The fastest way to lose love is to hold on too tight, the best way to keep love is to give it — WINGS!
Author: Dee Edgett
Source: Unknown
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.
Rhyme Time
Materials
None
Icebreaker Description
Youth will ask and answer questions in rhyme
Preparation
None
Icebreaker Activity
- Seat the youth in a circle.
- Ask someone to ask the person on his/her right a question. He might ask, for example, ‘What color is my shoe”
- The youth questioned must answer with a response that rhymes with the question. He might say, for example, “It’s any color but blue.”
- He/she then turns to the person to his/her right and asks a question which must again be answered in rhyme.
- Do this until every person in the circle has answered.
Optional Debrief
Has it ever seemed that your questions in life go unanswered or that the answers don’t really make sense?
What are some of the questions you would like to ask God?
Conclusion
Everyone has questions and doubts. Doubts alone are not a cause for concern. Its what we do with our doubts that makes a difference. Even though we may not understand the reasons for things, we must take our doubts to God and place them in his hands. Thomas had doubts about the resurrection of Christ, but Jesus did not condemn him for them. In fact he gave Thomas the evidence he needed to remove his doubts and live by faith.
Application
What are some of your doubts that you need to place in God’s hands?
Scripture
John 20:24-29
Icebreakers 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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Discipline
God does not waste suffering, nor does He discipline out of caprice. If He ploughs, it is because He purposes a crop.
— J. Oswald Sanders
Scruples Shuffle
Materials
None
Icebreaker Description
Youth will answer questions of scruples in this group icebreaker.
Preparation
Create a list of questions that test the integrity of a person but do not have easy black and white answers?
- A fellow student offers to sell you the answers to last years test for $20. You know the test is different each year. Do you buy them?
- Is it OK for a Christian man to wear earrings?
- Is it OK to have devotions in the evening instead of the morning?
- Is it OK to hunt for sport?
- Is it OK to screen my telephone calls and not answer, even though I’m really home?
- You e-mail your picture to a gorgeous person you met on the Internet. Do you mention you gained 30 pounds since the picture was taken?
- You know your best friend and fellow employee is stealing from the cash drawer. After a year the owner makes you a manager. Do you fire your friend?
- You made personal Christmas Cards on the company copier. Do you pay for the copies even though no one knows?
- You work in a store and catch a fifteen-year-old shoplifter. He says it’s his first time. Do you give him a chance or prosecute?
- You work in a video store. You’re out of stock on a particular item. Do you send your customer to your competitor?
- Someone drops a $20 bill on the floor. Do you try to find the owner or do you keep the $20?
- Your friend helped get you a job at a music store. After three months you find out that he’s been stealing CDs. Do you report him?
- You’re a waiter in a restaurant. You see the cook drop a steak on the floor. He cooked it well over a fire. Do you serve it to the customer?
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Icebreaker Activity
- Have youth form two circles, one within the other. The students should be facing one another.
- The inner circle of students move counter-clockwise while the outer circle moves clockwise.
- When you call “Stop!” each youth should face a new partner.
- Ask a question and the youth should discuss the answer with the partner they face.
- Go from easy questions like “What’s the best ice cream” to hard ones that involve scruples.
- Keep rotating and asking new questions for discussion.
Optional Debrief
What was the most interesting answer you heard during the icebreaker?
Conclusion
Scruples are personal principles about practices that are essentially neutral in themselves, and are not shown to be morally wrong or black-and-white in Scripture. Sometimes there may be conflicting principles at work. For example, “smuggling Bibles” into a country where Bibles are illegal is seen as wrong by some believers, based on the clear Scriptures that deal with deception and lying. Other Christians see Bible-smuggling as morally right, fulfilling the Great Commission, and obeying the clear teaching of Scripture that “we must obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29). Romans 14 gives us some principles for dealing with such situations.
Application
A morally neutral practice can become morally wrong for us if we disregard the teachings of Romans 14 and fail to “act in love” towards others! So let’s show love and patience with each other as we seek to sort out lifestyle and behavior matters in the light of Scripture. Let’s make sure we apply the principles of Romans 14 when it comes to scruples!
Scripture
Romans 14:1-3
Icebreakers 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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Orchestra
Materials
None
Icebreaker Description
In the icebreaker, youth will mime particular instruments and learn a little about the musical tastes of others.
Preparation
No preparation is needed for this icebreaker. You may need to suggest some instruments for those that need help:
Common Instruments: Accordion, Bagpipes, Banjo, Bass drum, Bass guitar, Bassoon, Bell, Bongo drum, Bugle, Castanets, Cello, Chimes, Clarinets, Cornet, Cowbell, Cymbals, Didgeridoo, Fiddle, Flute, Gong, Guitars, Handbells, Harmonica, Harp, Harpsichord, Lyre, Mandolin, Maracas, Marimba, Oboe, Organ, Pan pipes, Piano, Piccolo, Recorder, Saxophone, Snare, Synthesizer, Tambourine, Timpani, Triangle, Trombone, Trumpet, Tuba, Ukulele, Viola, Violin, Xylophone, Zither
Icebreaker Activity
- Everyone is part of the orchestra.
- Each youth must choose an instrument with the exception of a violin. They should announce their instrument and the demonstrate the action of playing the instrument to the group.
- Choose one person to be “It”. Whoever is “it” plays the violin.
- They must mime playing their instruments while roaming about the room.
- At any time, the person playing the violin may change from playing the violin to that of another instrument in the orchestra. When he/she does, the one playing that instrument must immediately change to playing the violin.
- If the person does not change to the violin before the leader counts to 5, then that person becomes “it” and now plays the violin. The one who was previously “it” takes over the instrument and joins the orchestra. Whenever a person becomes it they should give their name and a favorite song and who sings it.
Optional Debrief
-
-
- What are some of your favorite instruments?
- What are some of your favorite bands?
- How often do you listen to music?
- How is the body of Christ, like instruments in an orchestra?
-
Conclusion
Just as there are many instruments in an orchestra, there are many gifts in the body of Christ. When we are united and work together we can make a beautiful sound. When this is discord and lack of harmony we can be an unpleasant noise to the world. Different instruments make different contributions to the melody. No one is more important than another. In fact, at times, one instruments may carry the melody while others support. At other times another instrument will carry the melody. Its the variety that makes it pleasant to the ears. In the same way the Body of Christ is made up of many members, united in harmony, to bring God’s love and grace to the world.
Application
-
-
- What are some of your uniques contributions to the harmony of the church?
- What can you do this week to be more in harmony and unity this week?
- How can you use your gifts to create harmony rather than discord?
-
Scripture
I Corinthians 12:4-28
Icebreakers 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!
I Love You, Honey
They have been married for a long time. As usual they have their ups and downs. One day they had a big fight over his long working hours and things are falling apart. He was disappointed and she was angry.
After one week of silence treatment from her wife, he approached her with papers and pencils. He suggested that both of them sit down on the dining table and write down on paper what they are not happy about each other. They will then exchange the papers and discuss.
So the wife started to write without looking up because she has a lot to write about her frustration. The husband took a long look at the wife and he too started to write. After fifteen minutes of writing, they look at each other and exchange the papers.
The husband looked at the paper full of complaints. She was angry. When the wife looked at his paper, she was embarrassed and quickly tears away her own paper. On his paper, he wrote for two full pages:
“I love you, honey”
Author: Unknown
Source: Unknown
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.