Description
This game provides an opportunity to mix the group up and for them to share information about themselves in a non-threatening way while having fun. In this elimination game, people are grouped into groups of three and then one person in every group which meets a certain characteristic is asked to “Get Lost.” Everyone who had to leave must quickly find another group and form groups of three again. The last group to form is eliminated.

Resources
None

Preparation
Prepare a list of criteria. You can choose from the list below or create your own:
• Name closest to letter “A”
• Name closest to letter “Z”
• Neither the youngest nor the oldest in a group.
• Oldest
• Youngest
• Has the most colorful socks
• Has the oldest living grandparent
• Has the most cousins
• Has the least number of pets
• Has the most pets
• Has the largest pet.
• Is the tallest
• Is the shortest
• Has the longest hair
• Has the shortest hair
• Has the shortest fingernails
• Has the biggest foot.
• Has the smallest foot.
• Has the longest finger
• Has the darkest skin tone.
• Has the smallest nose
• Lives farthest from this meeting place
• Lives on the highest floor
• Born the Farthest away
• Longest last name
• Biggest shoe size
• Lives the closest to this place
• has been on the most vacations in the past year
• Has the most siblings
• Birthday closest to today
• Shortest Person
• Youngest Baby brother/ sister
• Has the most traffic tickets
• Has been a member of this group for the longest time
• Newest member of this group
• Has been to the most foreign countries
• Longest fingernail
• Spent the most money today
• Has played on the most sports teams
• Can do the most one-armed push-ups
• Tallest Person
• Longest eyelashes
• Smallest belt
• Highest numbered Street Address
• Biggest Purse / or wallet
• Highest Serial Number on currency
• Most jewelry
• Least jewelry
• Longest earrings
• Wearing the most blue
• Oldest
• Neatest handwriting
• Messiest handwriting
• Loudest
• Most quiet
• Has darkest color notebook
• Most rings
• Biggest hands
• Has most books
• Whistles the loudest
• Longest Paper Airplane Throw

What to Do

1. Form groups of 3-7 people. It’s ok if groups are not equal as long as there is a minimum of three in each group and they are balanced as closely as possible.
2. Based upon different criteria, at a given signal, one person in each group will be told to “get lost”
3. Ask them to introduce themselves to each person in the group and then determine which person in their group meets the specified characteristic.
4. Allow time for the groups to introduce themselves and determine who best fits the given criteria. You might want to ask the groups to raise their hands when they have identified the person so that you know when everyone is ready.
5. Explain to the groups that on your signal the identified person must move to another group. You will say “One, Two Three!!!” and then all the groups will say “Get Lost!!”
6. Then every group must get ONE new member to replace the one they lost.
7. The last group to reform is eliminated.
8. Continue to play with new criteria for getting lost until only group survives. Then you tell this trio that for being so competitive that they must all “Get Lost!”

Variation 
Give them an additional question to share while introducing themselves such as a favorite ice-cream, a discussion thought, etc.

Taking It to the Next Level
In each round of this game there were a lot of people who were rejected. Among them some were even eliminated. Whenever people form groups this will always be the case. There will also be those group members that are very popular and those that no one seems to want. There will always be selection and rejection when groups are formed. It’s part of life. It’s of great benefit to be around like minded people. It’s good to be surrounded by people that inspire you and challenge you to grow and become your best. Yet it is also good to have people who are different, people with a different perspective, people with skills and gifts you don’t possess. The question is what is the best way to handle the selection process?

• Have you even seen someone get rejected from a group? On what basis were they rejected?
• What are some of the reasons that people get rejected from a group?
• Have you ever been told to “get lost”? Been rejected from a group?
• Why? What was the basis for your rejection?
• How did it make you feel? Did it seem fair? How did you respond?
• Is it wrong to want to choose your friends? Why or why not?
• Does bad company always corrupt good character?
• If everyone were exactly like you, what would the world be like? Would there be anything missing in the world?
• Are there ever legitimate reasons to be selective about a group? When? If so, how can you be selective yet also seek the best for everyone?
• How can you find a balance of putting together the best group for a situation, task, or specific purpose, yet also making sure that no one is rejected? Can it be done? How should it be done?

Action Points

• What is one way that you can become more accepting of others?
• Identify several specific people that you need around you to help you to achieve your goals and dreams in life? What can you offer to them in return? Commit yourself to be that kind of person.
• Find someone in the group whom you don’t know very well, but whom you would like to know and make an effort to reach out to them. You never know what undiscovered gifts you might find in others.
• What is one way you can personally bring out the best in others, even when they may not be part of your chosen group?

Possible Applications / jump off points to spiritual discussions
Tell youth they are all “LOST” but in grace you are going to consider them all the victors and give each a prize. Grace is actually an “undeserved gift.” In the book of Romans we discover that all men are “lost” because of our sinful nature. Like some of the characteristics in the game, part of our sinful nature we have no control over… it was passed down as a result of Adam and Eve’s fall. But other aspects of our sinful nature are due to choices we made so that we are without excuse. But through Grace, God pardons our sin so that we are no longer lost, but saved! Instead of getting lost, let’s “get saved” through God’s grace. Let me tell you how…

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