Singing the Blues – Scavenger Hunt

blue_crayon.jpgMaterials
List of items related to the word “Blue”

Preparation
Make a list of words that are somehow related to the color blue / or the word ‘blue’

Scavenger Hunt Desription
Are you “Singing the Blues?” In this scavenger hunt you will need to find and retrieve objects that are “Blue!” Be sure to be back at the designated time singing the blues. The team which collects the most items in the list within the designated time limit wins!

Example items you could choose
“Blues Brothers” Movie, Blue balloon, Blue bandana, Blue birthday candle, Blue block, Blue boat, Blue book, Blue bottle, Blue button, Blue candle, Blue cap, Blue car, Blue cheese, Blue collar, Blue comb, Blue crayon, Blue dish, Blue feather Boa, Blue fingernail polish on a team member’s finger, Blue fish, Blue flag, Blue food coloring, Blue game piece, Blue ginger, Blue hair, Blue hyacinth, Blue ink, Blue iris, Blue jacket, Blue jay, Blue jeans, Blue Lego piece, Blue lillipop, Blue M&M, Blue marble, Blue matchbook, Blue neon sign, Blue ocean, Blue paper, Blue party hat, Blue pasta, Blue pencil, Blue plastic fork, Blue plate, Blue primrose, Blue quilt, Blue ribbon, Blue shoelace, Blue sky, Blue soap, Blue socks, Blue spruce twig, Blue stone / gem, Blue string, Blue ticket stub, Blue toothbrush, Blue tortilla chips, Blue truck, Blue water, Bluebeard the Pirate’s picture, Blueberries, Blueberry yogurt, Bluebird, Bluebonnet wildflower, Bluefin tuna, Bluegrass music, Blueing, Bluejeans, Blueprint, Bruise, Candy wrapped in blue Foil, Someone in blue pajamas, Guy wearing blue eyeshadow, Little Boy Blue, Something with NYPD Blue on it, policeman’s autograph, Someone singing the blues

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See Conducting Scavenger Hunts for help, Hints, Safety Considerations, Rules, and other useful information to make your scavenger hunt a wild success!


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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!

=> Tell me more about the Creative Scavenger Hunts

Mother’s Day Ideas

There are quite a few ideas for Mother’s Day on the website. Here is a quick list for those of you looking for ideas:


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Fred

Fred had been a faithful Christian and was in the hospital, near death. The family called their preacher to stand with them.

As the preacher stood next to the bed, Fred’s condition appeared to deteriorate and he motioned frantically for something to write on. The pastor lovingly handed him a pen and a piece of paper, and Fred used his last bit of energy to scribble a note, then he died. The preacher thought it best not to look at the note at that time, so he placed it in his jacket pocket.

At the funeral, as he was finishing the message, he realized that he was wearing the same jacket that he was wearing when Fred died. He said, “You know, Fred handed me a note just before he died. I haven’t looked at it, but knowing Fred, I’m sure there’s a word of inspiration there for us all.”

He opened the note, and read, “Hey, you’re standing on my oxygen tube!”

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Youth Ministry Objectives

  • To prepare youth for a lifelong walk with Christ
  • To help youth become aware of God as revealed in Jesus Christ, to respond to Christ in a personal commitment of faith, and to follow God’s will in the full meaning of church membership and Christian discipleship. This involves such things as new convert classes, mentoring by older Christians, and involvement of youth in church committees.
  • To guide youth to witness about their personal faith in Jesus Christ and to invite others to respond to Him. This can be done through evangelism training, contacts, inviting youth to visit w/ you, etc.
  • To help youth develop a meaningful and devotional prayer life. This can be encouraged through providing quiet time materials, accountability, journals, modeling/example, letting youth know how important it is for you, asking them for prayer requests and following through with them, telling them about your answered prayers and telling them things you learned in your personal prayer time.
  • To help youth experience worship in private and corporate settings. This can be done by letting youth help plan a worship service, having a youth time in the worship service, allowing a youth position on the worship committee, and having a retreat on worship.
  • To guide youth to participate in Christian missions and help them develop the skills these ministries require. Possible activities include establishing a “Food Bank,” special projects, Bible studies, a spiritual gift inventory, a youth swap with another church, back-yard Bible Studies, vacation Bible school, etc.
  • To help youth increase their knowledge and understanding of Bible truths and to apply these truths in every area and relationship of life. This involves discipleship, allowing youth to teach children, being a role model, etc.
  • To help youth grow in understanding and acceptance of self by affirmation, Biblical concepts of self-image, giving them positions of leadership suitable to their gifts, mission/ service projects, affrimation activities, etc.
  • To help youth understand and commit themselves to a Christian perspective of morality through seminars, role-playing, skits, fashion shows on proper dress, parent workshops, guest speakers, a commitment to purity service, role-modeling relationships, etc.
  • To guide youth to explore their abilities and talents and develop a Christian prespective on choosing a vocation. Helpful possibilities include talent shows, Seminar’s on taking aptitude tests, giving them leadership positions, having businessmen talk to youth, having a youth career day with representatives from different vocations in the church.
  • To guide youth in the stewardship of their money, time, and abilities. Use your personal example, a simulation game (ex. give each 1$ then make them keep track of what they spent that dollar on during the week), help run a soup kitchen, case studies, setting goals, making a budget, personal testimonies, seminars
  • To help youth develop a theology and rationale for being Christian in a world of religious pluralism. This involves parental education on cults, seminars on cults, studies on basic beliefs, scripture knowledge, visiting a service of another religion and then having a debrief time, etc.
  • To guide youth to adopt a life-style of Christian response to a world of limited resources and inequitable distribution of resources and power. Possibilities include defining Biblical success, sponsoring needy kids, having an offering for world hunger.
  • To guide youth to develop good habits in constructive use of their pleasure time.
  • To do this we need to hold them accountable for their time, teach them balance and priorities, and teach them about morality.
  • To offer youth opportunities for Christian fellowship and development of social skillss. This can be done by involvement in full church activities, integration, working with home-bound, alternative parties and activities, clique-busting, and serving within the worship service in various capacities.
  • To help youth and parents understand each other’s needs and to build meaningful family relationships. Possibilities include seminars, a parents of youth night, youth/parent retreats, Father/son trips, communications skits, Freeze frame skit with questions and seeking of suggestions, youth created dialogues and parent created dialogues, party with youth handcuffed to parents, Youth and Parent talent show
  • To enlist and equip adult leaders who will work effectively toward the objectives for youth ministry.


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What is Spiritual Leadership?

  • spiritual_leadership.jpg“Leadership is influence, the ability of one person to influence others. One man can lead others only to the extent that he can influence them to follow his lead.”(31)
  • He does this “not by the power of his own personality alone but by that personally irradiated, interpenetrated, and empowered by the Holy Spirit …There is no such thing as a self made spiritual leader. He is able to influence others spiritually only because the Spirit is able to work in and through him to a greater degree than in those he leads.”(33)
  • The person most likely to be successful is one who leads by not merely pointing the way but by having trodden it himself. We are leaders to the extent we inspire others to follow us.”(33)
  • D. E Hoste stated: “When a man… demands obedience of another, irrespective of the latter’s reason and conscience, this is… tyranny. When… by tact and sympathy; by prayer, spiritual power and sound wisdom one is able to influence and enlighten another, so that through the medium of his own reason and conscience is led to alter one course and pursue another, that is true spiritual leadership.” (83)
  • “All are leaders to the extent that they influence others. All of us can… increase our leadership potential. The first step to achieve that end is to discover and correct weaknesses in that area and to cultivate our strengths.” (160)
  • “leadership is the ability to recognize the special abilities and limitations of others, combined with the capacity to fit each one into the job where he will do his best. He who is successful in getting things done through others is exercizing the highest type of leadership.” (202)
  • True leadership is an internal quality of the spirit and requires no external show of force. (44)
  • “Many who take courses in leadership in the hope of attaining it fail because they have never learned to follow.” (72)


MORE IDEAS? See “Creative Object Lessons”

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Why Hath Thou Forsaken Me?

The Mississippi River was flooding its banks and the waters were rising around his house. The waters had gotten to the level of the front porch where the man was standing. Some in a rowboat came by and called to him, “Hop in and I’ll take you to high ground.”

He replied, “No, my God will save me!”

The river continued to rise to the second story windows and looking out, he saw a powerboat come up. The man in the powerboat called to him, “Hop in and I’ll take you to high ground.”

He replied, “No, my God will save me!”

The river had now risen to the roof of the house. The man was sitting on the ridge at the top of the house, with the waters swirling around his feet. He saw a helicoptor fly over and the people inside yelled over a bull horn, “Grab the rope and climb in and we’ll take you to high ground.”

He replied, “No, my God will save me!”

The river continued to rise and finally it engulfed the house and the man was drowned. The next thing he knew, he was standing before his God. In anger, he asked God, “I put my trust in you. Why have you forsaken me?”

And his God replied, “What do you want from me? I sent you a rowboat, a powerboat, and a helicopter!”

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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Buzz

numbers7.jpg

Materials
Optional: Enough chairs for all participants to sit in a circle

Icebreaker Description
In this icebreaker, youth must avoid saying the number seven as part of any number or any multiple of the number 7

Preparation
Seat everyone in a circle- either on the ground or in chairs.

Icebreaker Activity
1. Begin counting. When the number seven or any multiple of seven appears, instead of saying the number, the one whose turn has come is to say, “Buzz.” For example, one, two, three, four, five, six, buzz, eight, nine, ten, eleven, twelve, thirteen, buzz, fifteen, sixteen, buzz and so forth.
2. Try to have the guests count as rapidly as possible and eliminate from the ring all those who make a mistake.

Debrief

  • What makes this game difficult?
  • In this game you had to replace a number with the word “buzz.” What are some of the things that we must replace when we become Christians? How can we replace them?
  • Why is forming new habits so difficult?

Conclusion
This game is difficult because it deviates from what is normal for us. We are accustomed to using the number 7, and to replace it with the word “buzz” is awkward for us. It requires extra concentration and is against what is natural for us. Many things in the Christian walk are also awkward at first. We have to develop new habits that go against the natural man. At first it requires considerable concentration, but as we grow in Christ and allow the power of Christ to work in our lives, we will become accustomed to new habits and new ways of thinking. Forming new ways of thinking is the key to forming new actions and habits. We must set our minds on the things above.

Scripture
Colossians 3:1-15

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!

I want to be possible

The teacher asked her class what each wanted to become when they grew up. A chorus of responses came from all over the room. “A football player,” “A doctor,” “An astronaut,” “The president,” “A fireman,” “A teacher,” “A race car driver.”

Everyone that is, except Tommy. The teacher noticed he was sitting there quiet and still. So she said to him, “Tommy, what do you want to be when you grow up?”

“Possible” Tommy replied.
“Possible?” asked the teacher.

“Yes,” Tommy said. “My mom is always telling me I’m impossible. So when I get to be big, I want to be possible.”


MORE IDEAS? See “Creative Object Lessons”

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How to Build Support from Leaders

Back Your Ideas

e enthusiastic about what you are doing
pproval of your superiors (i.e. pastor, etc) must be obtained
omplete your homework so that you have everything worked out in advance
now where you are going
There are a few who still not follow because:
ncourage you to wait until the time is right
tremely controversial Issue
annot Afford it
nproven that the old program will not work
ets a bad precedent
xplained as another Fad that will pass
ituation is hopeless
Dealing With Objections
irect people towards good ideas and help them see foolish ideas
mploy rationally with objective fact and figures in dealing with other objections
nswering some objections is impossible because you do not know
ine is fine between whether it just doesn’t work or it hasn’t had time to work.


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The Leader and his Reading

I. Reasons to Read

  • “The man who desires to grow spiritually and intellectually will be constantly at his books.”(148)
  • “the spiritual leader must master God’s Word and its principles and know as well what is going on in the minds of those who look to him for guidance. To achieve those ends, he must, hand in hand with personal contacts, engage in a course of selective reading.” (148)
  • “The spiritual leader should read for ‘spiritual quickening’  and profit, and that will strongly influence his selection of books for reading.”(151)
  • “The spiritual leader should read with a view to ‘mental stimulation’.”(151)
  • “He should read for ‘cultivation of style’ in his preaching and teaching and writing.” (151)
  • “The leader should read… with a view to the ‘acquiring of information.” (151)
  • “He should read in order to have ‘fellowship with great minds.’ “(152)
  • “It is for the spiritual leader to cut a channel between what he reads and what he says or writes, so that others may reap its benefits to the full….many more ministers could communicate their appreciation of spiritual books to their congregations by guiding them in a course of selected reading.”(159)

II. The Choice of Books

  • “Some are to be tested, others to be swallowed, and some few to be chewed and digested.” (150)
  • “If it is true a man is known by the company he keeps, it is no less true that his character is reflected in the books he reads, for they are the outward expression of his hungers and aspirations.”(152)
  • “Our reading should be regulated largely by what we are and what we do or intend to do.” (153)
  • Biographies- “One cannot read the lives of great and consecrated men and women without having inspiration and kindled and aspiration aroused….It provides him with numberless illustrations for use in his own service.” (154)
  • “It is better that we should always tackle something a but beyond us.”(155)
  • “The leader should immerse himself in books that will further equip him for a higher quality of service and leadership in the kingdom of God.” (156)

III. How to read

  • “It is easy to read. It is much more difficult to secure effectually the fruit of reading in the mind.” (156)
  • “We cannot profit from what we read unless we think”(156)
  • “Master those books you have.”(156)
  • “Read little that is to be forgotten.” (157)
  • “Read with pencil and notebook in hand.” (157)
  • “Have… a book in which to put what is striking, interesting, and worthy of permanent record.” (157)
  • “Verify as far as possible historical, scientific and other data, and let no word slip past until its meaning is understood.”
  • “Let the reading be varied, because the mind so easily runs into ruts.” (157)
  • “Reading should be correlated where possible”. (157)
  • “He suggests that evey solid book requires three readings.  The first reading should be rapid and continuous.  The subconscious mind will then go to work on it and link it up with what you already know on the subject.  Then take time to think what contribution it has made to your knowledge.  The second reading should be careful, slow and detailed, as you think out each new point and make notes for later use.  After an interval, the third reading should be fairly rapid and continuous, and a brief analysis should be written in the back of the book, with page   references to subjects and illustrations.” (158)

Source: J. Oswald Sanders “Spiritual Leadership”


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…

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