Tag Archives: olympics

Olympic Icebreakers: Olympic Sport Pantomimes

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

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

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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”

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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”

Olympic Icebreaker: Famous Olympic Athletes

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

  1. Tape the names of Olympic athletes to the back of students as they arrive.
  2. 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.
  3. This continues until everyone arrives and has learned the name of the famous Olympic athlete on his/her back.
  4. 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

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 SeriesDestined 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”

Olympic Icebreakers: Spiritual Sports Similies

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

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”

A Father’s Support

In the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona Derek Redmond of Great Britain was on the way to fulfilling his lifetime dream of winning a gold medal in the Olympics.

He had earned a spot in the semifinals of the 400 meter race, and as the gun sounded to start the race, Derek got off to a great start. He was running the race of his life, and the finish line was in sight, when suddenly he felt a stab of pain in his right leg. He fell face first onto the track with a torn hamstring.

The race was over for Derek. He struggled to his feet before the medical team could reach him. Though every runner had passed him, he began hopping forward, tears of pain and disappointment streaking his face, determined to finish the race.

Suddenly, a man plowed through the security guards on the sidelines and ran onto the track. He raced up to Derek and hugged him, “You don’t have to do this,” Jim Redmond told his weeping son. “Yes I do,” Derek answered. “Well, then,” his father said, “we’re going to finish the race together.”

Derek’s father gripped his son around the shoulders, and they faced the finish line, resolutely waving off the security men who hovered around them. They limped and hopped together, Derek’s head sometimes buried in his father’s shoulder, and stayed in Derek’s lane all the way to the end.

The watching crowd gaped at first at the unusual scene. Then one by one, they rose to their feet, and began cheering and crying at the son’s determination and the father’s support.

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”

Wind in Your Face

There was a period of time, a few years ago, when I had gotten out of a long habit of daily running due to some knee problems.

I hadn’t yet gotten into my present habit of taking long daily walks. As a result, I was getting progressively out of shape–and heavier. My doctor suggested that I try riding a bicycle for exercise.

So, after an approximately fifty-year hiatus from bike riding, I started riding a bicycle ten miles a day on the bike path alongside the lovely blue Pacific Ocean between Marina del Rey and Santa Monica. I was fearful and wobbly at first, but the more I rode, the less my behind hurt, and the more I grew in balance and confidence.

One day, as I headed north toward my turnaround point at Santa Monica, I found myself going along faster and more effortlessly than ever before. What fun it was! I hardly had to push the pedals. Boy, this is great! I never realized that I would get in such good condition so fast. The muscles in my legs must be developing really well, I thought. I sat straight up on my bike and rode along like a conquering hero. King for a day! Then… Realty struck!

It happened when I turned around to come back. Wham! I was hit in the face with a very brisk wind. To make any forward progress at all, I had to almost stand up on the pedals. Now I knew why I had found it so easy going the other way. The strong wind had been at my back, pushing me along. But now I had a decidedly contrary wind. It was hard going. As I struggled along, making precious little progress, I was tempted to get off and walk the bike back home.

Then a though struck me. Hey, you are out here for exercise. Now you are really developing the muscles of your heart, lungs, and legs. It is the wind in your face that brings the most development, not the wind at your back. So I struggled on and made it back home, not feeling nearly as heroic as I had while going downwind earlier.

How true to life. Sooner or later we all learn that the wind is not always at our backs. Many times we face contrary winds that try our souls. We feel like quitting. The winds are just too contrary and too strong. But, thank God, out of the hard and gusty winds of disappointment, suffering, sadness, rejections, adversity, and pain, comes the development of our spiritual muscles.

It’s fun to have the wind at our backs. But growth comes from having the wind in our face.”

Source: Donald Russell Robertson “Dear You” (Word Publishing 1989)

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

Our “Destined to Win” series is a great follow up for youth who are new Christians or to emphasize the basics of our spiritual Journey in the Faith. This Bible Study / Camp Curriculum / Small Group Study has a sports theme and is great for athletes and works well as a tie in to what’s going on in the NBA and the current Linsanity.
->Tell me about “Destined to Win”

Superbowl Party Game Ideas and Activities

American Football is a national past-time for most Americans and the most famous football game is the Superbowl! Just days away, the Superbowl is a great opportunity to tackle a few games with your youth while you score a few goals for the kingdom of God!

Here are some great ideas on the Creative Youth Ideas website to do Just that:

Christian Team
In many ways, the Body of Christ is similar to a football team. Use this Superbowl Teaching Illustration to show that, like a football team, the members of a church each have different positions and they all work together for a common goal.

SuperBowl Teams
Can you name all the football teams represented by these creative descriptions. This makes for a fun icebreaker for your Superbowl Party. You can also put the description on one name tag and a corresponding name for the football team on another name tag. When guests arrive, give them a name tag and have them try to find their match.

The Father’s Eyes
Use this touching football themed illustration for a sermon or talk at your Superbowl Party to teach youth about our Heavenly Father’s love for us.

Football Trivia
Do you know how many cows sacrifice their skins for footballs? The origin of the the football huddle? Check out this entry for fun football Trivia!

Spectator Sport?
Use this Football themed devotional to talk about pressing on toward our goal in life as Christians.

Not Looking Back
Superbowl winners get a gold ring and the team gets a trophy. To simply play in a Superbowl game is an accomplishment. To win is a great achievement. But as the years go by, we often forget who won which Superbowl game. The accomplishments fade. But Paul wasn’t interested in past accomplishments. He was focused on the future! Last year’s game was not as important as what lies ahead. Use this Football themed illustration to talk about giving up everything to pursue our calling in Christ!

SuperBowl Charades
In this classic football themed variation of charades participants must act out phrases or words in order for team members to guess the correct phrase. It’s great for your Superbowl party and has discussion questions and teaching points for living the Christian life. Use it for a half-time game or after game activity at your next Superbowl party!

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

Our “Destined to Win” series is a great follow up for youth who are new Christians or to emphasize the basics of our spiritual Journey in the Faith. This Bible Study / Camp Curriculum / Small Group Study has a sports theme and is great for athletes and works well as a tie in to what’s going on in the NBA and the current Linsanity.
->Tell me about “Destined to Win”

Spectator Sport?

Someone once described a football game as twenty-two men on the field badly in need of rest being watched by seventy-two thousand people in the stands badly in need of exercise.

While football may be a spectator sport for most of us, Christianity certainly should never be. We must get involved in the action. God is the coach and he challenges us to get on the field and play the game.
We don’t have to be the MVP, we just need to play the position God gives us. Everyone makes mistakes on the field. But God gives us the “grace” to make mistakes, while not losing sight of our goal.

There will be opposition, there will be progress and at other times we may lose ground. But we must never give up striving for the Goal God has for us.

Philip. 3:12-17
Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. [13] Brothers, 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, [14] I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

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”

SuperBowl Teams

There are 32 professional football teams. Identify the 31 listed below and then name the 32nd.

1. Army insect
2. Seven squared
3. Streakers are
4. A 747
5. Hostile attackers
6. Iron workers
7. Sun tanned bodies
8. I.O.U.
9. Helpers to relocate
10. Toy baby arms
11. Bird trained to kill
12. Cars
13. Six rulers
14. Opposite of ewe
15. Class of boy scouts
16. American gauchos
17. Fundamental rule
18. Credit card users
19. Indian leaders
20. King of beasts
21. Used to be a girl
22. A dollar for corn
23. Ocean going bird
24. Hot epidermis
25. Louis Armstrong’s favorite song
26. Rodeo horses
27. Ski shooters
28. Edgar Allen Poe’s
29. Lone Stars
30. Halloween cats
31. Jupiter’s Moons
32. Name the 32th

Answers
1. Giants, 2. 49’ers, 3. Bears, 4. Jets, 5. Raiders, 6. Steelers, 7. Browns, 8. Bills, 9. Packers, 10. Dolphins, 11. Falcons, 12. Jaguars, 13. Vikings, 14. Rams, 15. Eagles, 16. Cowboys, 17. Cardinals, 18. Chargers, 19. Chiefs, 20. Lions, 21. Bengals, 22. Buccaneers, 23. Seahawks, 24. Redskins, 25. Saints, 26. Broncos, 27. Colts, 28. Ravens, 29. Texans, 30. Panthers, 31. Titans, 32. Patriots

Variation
Use can also use this idea for a crowdbreaker or icebreaker. Simply write the description on one name tag and the corresponding football team name on another. Mix them up and give one to each guest when they arrive at your Superbowl. One everyone arrives have guests find their partners by matching the descriptions with the names of the football teams. Great fun for your next Superbowl Party or for an after game fellowship!

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

Our “Destined to Win” series is a great follow up for youth who are new Christians or to emphasize the basics of our spiritual Journey in the Faith. This Bible Study / Camp Curriculum / Small Group Study has a sports theme and is great for athletes and works well as a tie in to what’s going on in the NBA and the current Linsanity.
->Tell me about “Destined to Win”

SuperBowl Charades

American Football is a national past-time and it doesn’t get any better than the Superbowl. When the Superbowl comes around, why not take the opportunity to tackle a few games with your youth while you score a few goals for the kingdom of God. This is the first, of several ideas to take advantage of all the Superbowl hype to reach out the youth!

Introduction
In this classic variation of charades participants must act out phrases or words in order for team members to guess the correct phrase. The essence of Charades is pantomimes: you must act out a word or phrase without speaking or making any sound effects. For a Superbowl Party you can use the names of teams or football terms as items for the charades game.

Teams
Ravens, Bills, Bengals, Browns, Broncos, Texans, Colts, Jaguars, Chiefs, Dolphins, Patriots, Jets, Raiders, Steelers, Chargers, Titans, Cardinals, Falcons, Panthers, Bears, Cowboys, Lions, Packers, Vikings, Saints, Giants, Eagles, 49ers, Seahawks, Rams, Buccaneers, Redskins

Terms
Backfield, Bench, Block, Blitz, Catch, Center, Champion, Cheerleader, Clipping, Clock, Coach, Coin toss, Conversion, Cornerback, Defense, Defensive line, Drive, End zone, Extra point, Facemask, Fans, Field, Field Goal, First Down, Flag, Flanker, Football, Football field, Formation, Free kick, Fumble, Game, Goal line, Goal post, Grounding, Guard, H-Back, Hail Mary, Half time, Halfback, Handoff, Hash mark, Helmet, Hike, Holder, Holding, Huddle, Inbounds, Injury, Interception, Kick, Kickoff, Knee pad, Linebacker, Lineman, Locker-room, Noseguard, Offense, Offensive line, Option, Offsides, Out-of-Bounds, Overtime, Pass, Pass interference, Penalty, Pile up, Placekicker, Play, Player, Playbook, Punt, Punter, Quarter, Quarterback, Recovery, Referee, Return (kickoff), Run, Running Back, Rushing, Sack, Safety, Score, Scramble, Scrimmage line, Season, Secondary, Shoulder pads, Sideline, Slotback, Snap, Sneak, Spectators, Spike, Split end, Starter, Superbowl, Sweep, Tackle, Tailback, Team, Tight ends, Time out, Touchback, Touchdown, Trap, Turnover, Water-boy, Wide receiver, Wingback, Winning Team, Yard line, Yardage

Game Description
Participants split into teams of 6 or more members and try to guess the Superbowl / American Football items from the person acting them out.

Game Materials
The key words / teams list

Game Preparation
You will need to create a list of items relating to American Football or the superbowl. Print them on slips of paper and put them in a bag to be drawn from when you play the game. In place of the half-time show and the possibility of “Wardrobe malfunctions”… have a Charades competition! How many items can your team guess during the halftime show?

Game Play

  1. Divide players into two teams.
  2. High die roll decides which team will play first.
  3. The first team selects a person to mime the phrase; all other first team players are then the Guessers. The mime must rotate so that everyone is required to mime a clue before someone can go again.
  4. Each time a new mime begins, he must draw a new name or phrase.
  5. A timer is used… an hourglass can be used or a 2 minute timer. (The opposing team keeps track of the time limit.)
  6. As one team mimes and guesses a name or phrase, the opposing team watches.
  7. As the mime pantomimes the words his teammates start shouting out what they think is being portrayed. Players can guess as many times as they want. Guessing is NOT done in turn!
  8. First, indicate to your team through motions (no words allowed) some indication of what you want to mime – a team, a football term, etc.
  9. Indicate how many words are in the title by holding up the same number of fingers as words. You might also indicate which word you are miming first by holding up a finger for that word. Usually you put the number of fingers flat against your arm to indicate the number of syllables in a word.
  10. Use clues along the way to guide the answers:
    • “sounds like” –cup your hand around your ear
    • “little word”: bring your thumb and index fingers close together.
    • “Longer version of the word”: pretend to stretch an elastic.
    • “Shorter version of the word”: chop with your hand.
    • “close, keep guessing!”: frantically wave hands to keep the guesses coming.
    • “Knows”: Point to you nose to indicate that someone “knows” the word and is correct.
  11. Continue until all the words in the phrase are correct.
  12. If the Mime’s team guesses correctly before the timer is emptied, the Mime’s team gets one point and marks the score on a piece of paper. It is now the opposing team’s turn to mime and guess a new name or phrase from a new slip of paper.
  13. If the Mime’s team does not guess correctly before the timer is emptied, they do not win the point. The opposing team then gets ten seconds to make one guess to win the point. If the opposing team guesses correctly, they win the point and mark the score on a separate sheet of paper. It is then their turn to mime and guess a new name or phrase. If the opposing team does not guess correctly, no one wins the point. It is now the opposing team’s turn to mime and guess a new name or phrase.
  14. Play alternates between teams with each phrase to be mimed.
  15. At the end of game play or the end of your clues, the team with the most correct guesses wins!

Discussion

  • How much do you know about football? Who’s the football expert?
  • Do you have to know everything about the game to enjoy the football game?
  • Are there people who don’t really care about football but get caught up in the excitement of the event? Why?
  • Do you need to know everything about the team players to enjoy the game?
  • What is it about the superbowl that gets people excited?
  • Are you as excited about God as you are about the Superbowl? Why or why not?
  • In what ways is the church (or this group) similar to a football team?
    (We are united as a team, we have a goal (the great commission), we work together to achieve a goal, there is opposition, sometimes unexpected things happen, sometimes we fumble in our tasks, sometimes we gain ground, while other times we lose ground, We have a coach (God), sometimes we have to defend against the opposition, time is short, there are people watching us (spectators), not everyone plays fair, there are penalties for mistakes, we must wear protective gear (armor of God), we have different positions on the team, there are people who are playing and there are people on the sidelines, we need a game plan, etc.)

Closing Application

  • Are you part of the team (A Christian?) Why or why not?
  • If you are, what is your position(role) in the team?
  • Are you on the sidelines or playing the game?
  • Are you a team player?
  • Are you focused on the goal?
  • What can you begin doing to help the team more effectively overcome the opposition and achieve the goals ahead?

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

Our “Destined to Win” series is a great follow up for youth who are new Christians or to emphasize the basics of our spiritual Journey in the Faith. This Bible Study / Camp Curriculum / Small Group Study has a sports theme and is great for athletes and works well as a tie in to what’s going on in the NBA and the current Linsanity.
->Tell me about “Destined to Win”

New Shoes

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I recently bought a new pair of sports sandals. Actually I really needed a new pair quite some time ago but was perfectly content with the old ones. They served me well. We’ve been to a lot of places together. In work and play, we have been constant companions. We’ve been to relaxing tropical beaches and on rigorous hikes. We’ve also gone through a lot of trials and stress together. Imagine supporting a 100kg American on your back for just a few minutes! They’ve been carrying me almost every day for the last couple of years.

Forget the fact that the straps are frazzled, the bottoms are worn smooth, and one sniff by the city sanitation department would leave you with a citation for air pollution.

A pair of shoes becomes something of an old friend. Over time they have personally adapted themselves to my uniqueness. They are worn in all the right places. Wearing them is like a soothing massage rather than necessary equipment for my journeys. Unfortunately, the sole of my sandals became completely detached and there was nothing I could do to repair them.

So now I am wearing a new pair of shoes. I contemplated getting some brand-named Air Jordans. Of course everyone knows if you wear the same basketball shoes as Michael Jordan you will jump just like him. But I went back with the same brand I had before… just a newer, improved model. Even change has its limits sometimes!

Even though I psyched myself up for the new shoes, I wasn’t surprised when they were awkward on my feet and abrasive to my ankles. They have worn blisters on my feet on more than one occasion. They will be uncomfortable for some time, but as my old shoes are forever gone, I couldn’t go back to my old comfortable ones.

In spite of the awkwardness and abrasiveness, I have to press on. The change, though it has its painful moments, is a necessary step in my journey.

No one would consider a change of shoes to be among the most significant events in life. But basic principles seem to be surprisingly similar in any area of change, including those changes that need to occur regularly in our lives and churches. Change rarely, if ever, comes easily or automatically. Often change only occurs when we find ourselves in a situation where we are not given a choice. Its either change or be forever stopped in your tracks. Changes initially tend to be awkward, even abrasive. It always takes a little time to settle into any change.

Several months later, guess what? The new shoes will become increasingly comfortable. And in time change will again be needed. Then the process begins anew.

Is there something in your life that needs to be renewed?
Have you been resisting change because things are comfortable?
Has your soul become detached and stopped you spiritually dead in your tracks?

Maybe its time for you to make that change in life you have been resisting! Things might be a little awkward or even abrasive for a while, but its a necessary step for you to move forward in the journey God has prepared for you!

This devotional on New Shoes and Change could be easily adapted as an object lesson or Children’s sermon.

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 "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”