Sports Related References in the Bible

August 15, 2008 kensapp Leave a comment

Race

1 Corinthians 9:24-27
Acts 20:24
2 Timothy 4:7
Hebrews 12:1-3
Philippians 3:12-14
Galatians 5:7

Sports related Traits

Endurance – Galatians 6:9
Perseverance – James 1:2-4, Romans 5:3-5, Hebrews 10:36
Training – Ephesians 6:4
Pursuit of the Goal – Philippians 3:14
Strength – Philippians 4:13, Job 17:9
Lose – Luke 9:25
Physical Training – 1 Timothy 4:8
Spur others on – Hebrews 10:24

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”

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”

Icebreakers

Olympic Icebreakers: Olympic Sport Pantomimes

August 14, 2008 kensapp Leave a comment

Description
Use these Olympic Sports related Icebreakers for a sports related or Olympics related meeting.

Use this list of sports as a resource for the next few icebreakers:

Baseball
Basketball
Bobsledding
Bowling
Boxing
Canoeing
Chess
Cross-country Skiing
Darts
Diving
Downhill
Skiing
Fencing
Football
Fencing
Figure skating
Golf
Gymnastics
Horseshoes
Ice Hockey
Kayaking
Luge
Ping-pong
Rappelling
River Rafting
Rock Climbing
Horseshoes
Rugby
Ski Jump
Slalom
Soccer
Speed skating
Swimming
Synchronised swimming
Tennis
Track & Field
Volleyball
Water polo
Wrestling

Olympic Icebreaker Ideas

Give youth different sports to pantomime. Let the rest of the youth guess the sports.
Give youth different items of equipment for various sports to pantomime. Let the rest of the youth guess the items.
Tell us about your most embarrassing moment while participating in a sport.
Tell us about your greatest triumph while participating in a sport.

Take it to the next level

Ask you to name a sports figure they admire and to explain why.
What characteristics of athletes are also admirable in Christians?
In what ways is the Christian life like various sports?

Go for the Gold
Need an evangelistic Youth Camp/ Bible Study Series with an Olympic Theme?

Destined to Win
Need a Youth Camp/ Bible Study Series on “Running the Christian Race”?

Icebreakers

Olympic Icebreaker: Famous Olympic Athletes

August 13, 2008 kensapp Leave a comment

Description
This icebreaker is appropriate during the Olympics or for special sports events.

Preparation
On small slips of paper write down the names of numerous athletes. (Best if they are the more prominent athletes from the Olympic Games or the more famous athletes from a variety of sports.)

What to do

Tape the names of Olympic athletes to the back of students as they arrive.
The task of the students is to discover which Olympic athlete’s name is pinned on their backs by asking only “yes” or “no” questions.
This continues until everyone arrives and has learned the name of the famous Olympic athlete on his/her back.
Then go around the group and ask each youth their name, favorite Olympic sport, and other information you might like to know.

Famous Olympic Athletes

Here’s a few well known Olympic athletes to get you started

Bruce Jenner – Track and Field
Carl Lewis – Track and Field
Dorothy Hamill – Figure Skating
Edwin Moses – Track and Field
Eric Heiden – Speed Skating
Ian Thorpe – Swimming
Jesse Owens – Track and Field
Jim Thorpe – Track and Field
Lance Armstrong – Cycling
Mark Spitz – Swimming
Mary Lou Retton – Gymnastics
Michael Phelps – Swimming
Muhammed Ali – Boxing
Nadia Comaneci – Gymnastics
Usain Bolt – Track and Field

Keen to use some of the most promising Athlete from the 2012 Olympic Games in London?
Here’s a list of the top 2012 Olympic Athletes to Watch

Go for the Gold
Need an evangelistic Youth Camp/ Bible Study Series with an Olympic Theme?

-> Tell me about “Go for the Gold”

Destined to Win
Need a Youth Camp/ Bible Study Series on “Running the Christian Race”?

Icebreakers

Olympic Icebreakers: Spiritual Sports Similies

August 12, 2008 kensapp Leave a comment

Description
Youth will compare thier spiritual life to an Olympic sport.

What to do
Ask each youth what sport best describes his/her spiritual life and why.
“My spiritual life is like ____________ because __________________.”

A list of sports is included below if the youth need help thinking of some.

Baseball
Basketball
Bobsledding
Bowling
Boxing
Canoeing
Chess
Cross-country Skiing
Darts
Diving
Downhill
Skiing
Fencing
Football
Fencing
Figure skating
Golf
Gymnastics
Horseshoes
Ice Hockey
Kayaking
Luge
Ping-pong
Rappelling
River Rafting
Rock Climbing
Horseshoes
Rugby
Ski Jump
Slalom
Soccer
Speed skating
Swimming
Synchronised swimming
Tennis
Track & Field
Volleyball
Water polo
Wrestling

Go for the Gold
Need an evangelistic Youth Camp/ Bible Study Series with an Olympic Theme?

Destined to Win
Need a Youth Camp/ Bible Study Series on “Running the Christian Race”?

Humor

In Perspective

August 11, 2008 kensapp Leave a comment

A college girl wrote home:

Dear Mom & Dad,

I guess you heard by now that the dorm burned down. We were all in the basement smoking marijuana, and I guess somehow we set the dorm on fire. But no one was hurt, and we got most of our belongings out in time. Oh, and I’m getting married soon. You see, I have to, because I’m going to have a baby… you’ll meet Bob soon, he’s got a really swell Harley…

Actually… I’m not pregnant, and I don’t even know anyone named Bob… and I’m not going to get married. There was no fire and wouldn’t know what to do with marijuana… but I did flunk chemistry, and I just wanted you to be able to put it into perspective!

Your daughter

Take it to the Next Level
Perspective plays a big role in how we respond to things. How would we view the circumstances of life differently if we were to have God’s perspective? Would the same things still be important? Would some things suddenly have greater significance?

Isaiah 55:8-9 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

How do we gain God’s perspective:

Prayer
Understand the heart and character of God (Psalms 103:8-12)
The Word of God (2 Timothy 3:16)
The Mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16)
God Spirit within us (1 Corinthians 2:12-13)

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!

Improving Your Teaching

Left Brain vs. Right Brain

August 10, 2008 kensapp Leave a comment

Paul, the apostle said, “I have become all things to all men that by all means I may save some.” ( I Cor. 9:19-23) Paul was a master at learning how to communicate in terms that were most contextually effective. Good teachers and leaders spend as much time considering the needs of their youth as they do in planning the content for their lessons. The best teachers have learned to teach in the way they LEARNERS prefer, rather than according to their PERSONAL learning styles.

Characteristics of Right Brain Oriented Thinkers

Prefer to learn through their emotions (intuitive senses)
Prefer to learn through a problem solving approach (Prefer inductive learning (moving from real-life to theory) rather than a deductive approach (moving from theory to application)
Prefer examples, demonstrations, and case studies rather than studying theories
Respond more to an emotional presentation that provides more inspiration than information
More interested in how ideas are presented and by whom than the content which is given
More contextually dependent in their approach to problem solving (More focused on the situation rather than rules and principles; more experiential in solving problems than abstract)
Prefer to learn by doing rather than listening to others teach
Prefer to follow the examples of people who they feel can be trusted
More interested in relationships than almost any other thing
Willing to follow leaders regardless of their character faults
Need to feel accepted, liked and approved
Skilled in presenting oneself in a socially approved and diplomatic manner
Need attention, recognition and public support (compliments, emotional reinforcement, public affirmation)
Able and willing to compensate for others’ weaknesses, shortcomings or deficiencies because of their emotional empathy
Need positive reinforcement, respect and recognition before cooperation is given
Prefer intuitive, sensory and experiential decision-making that is reinforced by the group
Prefer to look at similarities and comparisons
Prefers open-ended experiments that allow for creativity
Respond best to demonstrated instruction
Draw upon qualitative patterns in people that are not sequential, but are indicative of one’s felt images
Prefer information to be given in verbal and personal presentations
Tend to be subjective
Freely express feelings
Rely mostly on images in thinking and remembering
Prefer the authority of their group rather than of an individual
Solve problems with hunches and previous patterns observed in people or groups

Characteristics of Left Brain Oriented Thinkers

Prefer to learn through the use of principles (deductive) rather than through a problem-solving approach (inductive) or a trial and error method.
Prefer to understand the principles of how and why things work rather than looking at a variety of examples, demonstrations or case studies
Generally more responsive to an analytical presentation of the facts that are supported with solid results
The quality, breadth, depth and relevance of the content is more important than how it is presented
More contextually independent
Prefer to learn from experts in the field
Prefers to explore new ways of improving on old models
More interested in accomplishing tasks
More willing to follow leaders that measure up to their character, mental and productivity standards
Need to feel a sense of accomplishment
Skilled in presenting information in a qualitative and quantitative manner
Craves a sense of empowerment through the accomplishing of set goals
Able and willing to compensate for others’ weakness, shortcoming and deficiencies because of their commitment to the greater goals
Best dealt with through assistance in helping one to complete goals
Need authority, resources and freedom to allow one to carry out goals
Prefer rational, analytical and deductive decision-making that may or may not be supported by the group
Prefers to look at differences and contrasts
Is more theoretical in solving problems
Prefer controlled experiments
Respond best to oral and written instruction
Prefer information to be given in written instruction
Objective tendencies
Control feelings most of the time
Relies on written instruction in thinking and remembering
Prefer hierarchical authority
Solve problems logically, methodically, and sequentially by looking at the parts of people or things

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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Evangelism Ideas

Taste Test

August 9, 2008 kensapp Leave a comment

Materials

2 clear glasses
1 blindfold
salt, pepper, lemon juice, hot sauce, diced onions, food coloring, coke, prune juice, ketchup, mayonnaise, mustard, milk, soy sauce, BBQ sauce and anything else you can find to make he most disgusting concoction you can think of. Also have some sweet additions like honey, candy sprinkles, chocolate syrup, or sugar and some bottled water.

Scripture: Ephesians 2:8-10; 1 Corinthians 10:13, Romans 6:23, Matthew 5:6, Psalm 34:8

Description
Good works doesn’t get you into heaven. But good works are our response to salvation by faith. We are created in Christ Jesus for good works. You can use this as an object lesson or as a children’s sermon!

What to do

As the youth watch, mix the most disgusting concoction of ingredients you can (minus the sweet ingredients)
Ask if anyone wants to volunteer to drink the mixture. (You might have someone willing, if so, just tell them you don’t want to be responsible for them getting sick!)
Now add some of the “good” things to the mixture.
Ask, “Does adding the good things remove the bad things?” (Of course not, it might dilute them or make them a little less disgusting, but they are still there.) Sin is disgusting to God. Even though we can make excuses for ourselves, or do good things to try to make up for them, nothing we can do will ever remove the sin in our lives. Scripture says we are without excuse.
Sin is similar to a very deadly poison. Scripture tells us, even the smallest amount, leads to death. Some people believe that if we do enough good it will take away the bad things we do.
Ask, “Do you want to drink this mixture now that we added good things?” (No.)
We cannot do good things to take away the sin. ONLY trust in Jesus can take away our sin. We must believe and have faith in Christ. When we put our life into his hands, through belief, he cleanses us from all sin and unrighteousness.
Pour clean, fresh water into the second glass and explain that when we ask Jesus, he gives us what the Bible calls living water.
So faith in Christ is the anecdote to the sin that poisons our life and poisons our relationship with God. But what is faith?
Set both glasses in front of the youth and ask for a volunteer that trusts you. Explain, that you are going to blindfold the volunteer and give them a drink. Do they have enough faith in you that you will give them the glass of water rather than the glass with the disgusting contents?
Blindfold the volunteer. Hand him or her the cup of water. Ask if they really, really trust you. Encourage them to take a drink.
As you remove the blindfold, explain that God says those who are thirsty for righteousness will be happy (Matt 5:6). In this experiment, it didn’t matter how much faith they had in you as long as they were willing to act on that faith, to place their trust in you. What really mattered, is how faithful you were to them. The same is true for our faith in Christ. With whatever faith you have, give your life into his hands, and because he is eternally faithful, he will take care of you!

Finish by reading Psalm 34:8 “Taste and see that the Lord is Good!”

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…

Icebreakers

Evaluating Icebreakers

August 3, 2008 kensapp Leave a comment

Were the directions clearly understood by the participants? Were they loud enough?
Was the leader facing the entire group? Did the leader make good eye-contact with everyone?
Was the leader enthusiastic? Did the leader pick up on humorous situations?
Was everyone involved? Were there periods of waiting?
Were the materials prepared and ready-to-go? Was there minimal delay in getting things ready for the icebreaker?
How did the group respond? Did it engage the participants? Did they enjoy the activity? Were they bored? Did the icebreaker get out of control?
Evaluate the length of the icebreaker. Was it too long? Too short? Did it leave people wanting for more?
What was the atmosphere after the icebreaker? Did it lead into the next activity or talk?
9. How could the icebreaker, or the leadership of the icebreaker, have been improved?
Were safety measures maintained?

Looking for some effective icebreakers that smoothly transition into lessons on values, character, and other youth related issues? Find out More!

Icebreakers Ahead: Take It To the Next Level

Click here to find out how to get your hands on this incredible resource!

Creative Teaching Ideas

Understanding the Books of Proverbs

July 29, 2008 kensapp Leave a comment

Many proverbs are “variations on a theme.” What major themes have you noticed in the book of proverbs?
Possible answers are : wisdom / fool; righteous / wicked; tongue/ speech; diligence / sluggard; honesty / dishonesty; Justice; pride / humility.

Proverbs has several ways it gets across a message:

Couplets – a pair of verses that talk about the same thing
Personification – visual personification of the unseen characteristic (e.g. wisdom is personified as a woman)
Simile – A is like B
Antithesis – a second couplet states the opposite of the first (.e. first talks about the righteous and the second the wicked)
Synonymous parallelism – a second couplet states the same as the first but in a different way
Synthetic parallelism – a second couplet adds some new idea or thought to the first line

Ask youth to go through some of the proverbs and identify the couplets and characteristics of each one:

Contradicts
condones an action
condemns an action
compares
combines – adds a thought
characterizes
etc

Some proverbs are simple observations on life, others are advice for living. How do you tell the difference?

MORE IDEAS? See “Creative Object Lessons”

Learn More…

Creative Teaching Ideas

Disciples

July 27, 2008 kensapp Leave a comment

Description
Jesus ends the book of Mark with the disciples going out and doing the things he did…In this ACTIVITY youth will do mirror-image movements to demonstrate discipleship

Materials

a Bible

What to do

Form pairs and have partners sit facing each other.
Tell one person in each pair to mirror the other person’s actions.
After a minute reverse roles.
Ask the pairs to each make up a short skit in which they do mirror-image movements (For example, partners could wave with one hand wave with the other hand shrug their shoulders then fall backward)
Have volunteers share their skits.
Did the skits have any meaning?

Discussion

How did you feel being a mirror?
How did you feel being a model?
In what ways does a Christian disciple mirror Jesus?
How would you define a Christian disciple?
What are some of the things that Christ did?
In what ways is Christ an example for us to follow? Actions? Attitudes?
Did Christ’s actions have a purpose? If so, what was that purpose?

Take it to the Next Level

Read aloud Mark 16:13-20.
What does Jesus say about discipleship?
Being Jesus’ disciple is kind of like the activity we just did.
Just as we mirrored others’ actions by watching them we become a disciple of Jesus by watching and following what we see him doing in the scriptures.

MORE IDEAS? See “Creative Object Lessons”

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