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Creative Teaching Ideas, Game Ideas

Coin Toss – Dangers of Temptations and How to Deal with Them

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INTRODUCTION TO THE OBJECT LESSON ON TEMPTATION

This simple game serves as a Creative Teaching Idea and discussion starter and Object Lesson on the topic of temptation. Youth will learn how to handle the temptations that are a normal part of life.

A. TRIVIA

The is a variation of a game commonly known as “Pitching Pennies.” In the traditional version of the game, players take turns to throw a coin at a wall. The coin which lands closest to the wall is the winner. The winner collects all the losing players’ tossed coins. Ancient Greek children played a similar game using bronze coins. In modern Israel a version of the game is played with Apricot kernels, and called “Gogoim”. This game is also known by other names: Pigeon Toss, Britain Pap, Penny Up, Keeley, Pitch and Toss, Chucks, Tinks or Jingies.

B. WHAT YOU NEED

  • Coins for each youth
  • Prize for the winner.
  • Tape to mark the boundaries.

C. GAME PLAY

  1. Put a line across the floor on each side of the room.
  2. Give each youth a coin and ask them to line them up on one side of the room.
  3. Demonstrate from a specific distance a toss of a coin toward the goal. Do not give them any strategy. Do not tell them how to play. Only demonstrate the game.
  4. Hype up the prize for the person who can toss the coin closest to the line without going over it.
  5. Then let everyone have an opportunity to try. If there is time, you can let them try more than once.
  6. Award the prize to the winner

D. SAFETY PRECAUTIONS

If playing with younger children, there is a danger of children swallowing a coin. For safety reasons, you play the game with a golf ball, a tennis ball or another object. Older youth can play with marbles, checkers, washers, buttons or any other objects available.

TAKE IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL

DEBRIEF

As you were playing this game,

  1. What was your goal or objective?
  2. What was your strategy?
  3. What are the possible risks with your strategy?
  4. Did you follow your own strategy or learn from others?
  5. What is the best way to guarantee you will not cross over the line (i.e. the boundary)?

MAKE IT SPIRITUAL

  1. Starting in Genesis 1 and continuing throughout Scripture, God gave us boundaries for what we should and should not do. What are some of those boundaries?
    – Related to our thoughts
    – Related to our feelings
    – Related to our bodies
    – Related to our words
    – Related to our decisions
    – Related to our actions
  2. What is temptation?
  3. What are some things that tempt youth today?
  4. In this game, the objective was to get as close to the line as possible without crossing over? Sometimes, youth, adults, and even children have a similar mindset when dealing with temptations. We want to get as close to the boundary as possible without crossing over. Why is this strategy dangerous?

MAKE IT PRACTICAL

How do we manage our boundaries and temptations and avoid crossing the line into sin?

THREE PRINCIPLES (I CORINTHIANS 6)

  1. The Help Principle (6:12a). Some things, even if they are within the boundaries of the law of God, are to be avoided simply because they do not build up the individual toward spiritual maturity or because they do not help others.
  2. The Habit Principle (6:12b). Some things are wrong because they are habit-forming. They take control over a person’s life. [II PETER 2:19 – “a man is a slave to whatever has mastered him”] ROMANS 6:16 – “Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone to obey him as slaves, you are slaves to the one whom you obey–whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness?”
  3. The Holiness Principle (6:15-20). – Some things are wrong for the believer simply because they do not honor or please God.

SEVEN QUESTIONS

  1. Would Jesus put his name on this for a stamp of approval? (Colossians 3:17)
  2. Does this fall into the classification of good thinking? (Philippians 4:8)
  3. Will this degrade or defile the temple of the Holy Spirit? (I Corinthians 6:19) Does this have the “smell” of evil on it? (1 Thessalonians 5:22)
  4. Will this sooner or later make a slave out of me? (I Corinthians 9:27)
  5. Is it spiritually beneficial or does it have the potential to control me? (1 Corinthians 6:12)
  6. Does it benefit others? (Romans 15:1-2; Philippians 2:3)
  7. Will my indulgence in this prevent someone from accepting Christ as Savior or tend to weaken someone’s faith? (I Cor. 8:9-13)

Remember what Paul says in Romans 14:22 “Happy is he that condemns not himself in that thing that he allows.”

MAKE IT PERSONAL

  1. Of those temptations of youth we mentioned previously, which are most difficult for you?
  2. What steps can you learn from this lesson to avoid crossing the line from temptation into sin?
  3. Say a prayer for God to show you a) ways to FLEE from your personal temptations, b) show you holy things on which you can FOCUS your thoughts, energy and time in pursuit, and c) to give you good Christian friends who are also seeking purity in their relationship with God.

TOUCH POINTS

  1. We often imitate what we see others do rather than seek guidance from God and God’s Word.
  2. If we don’t set our own goals, someone will set our goals for us. Satan’s goal for us is self-destruction.
  3. In temptation we often want to clearly know the boundaries so that we can get as close to the boundary as possible. God’s goal in setting boundaries is not so that we can get as close to those boundaries as possible, but so that we know where they are and can keep a safe distance.
  4. Sometimes things do not turn out as we planned. When we are trying to get so close to the boundaries the chances of us crossing over are very high. (e.g. In this game sometimes the coin lands on the edge and rolls, sometimes we underestimate distance, strength, or how slippery the floor is.)
  5. To get as close to the boundary as possible is the wrong objective. We should seek to stay as far from temptation as possible to avoid crossing over into sin.
  6. The hype of temptation may be greater than what we actually receive. It may be enjoyable but it is fleeting and the more we get of it, the less satisfying it becomes.
  7. No one said you had to toss the coin. You just followed an example. The way to ensure we do not cross the boundary is to remain in control and set our own boundaries a safe distance away from sin.
  8. We need to recognize that we are drawn toward sin. (James 1:14)
  9. A key to handling temptation is mention by Paul to Timothy in 2 Timothy 2:22:
    A) Flee – Flee the evil desires of youth
    B) Focus – pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace and
    C) Fellowship – along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

ILLUSTRATIONS

  1. In the comic strip “Cathy”, Cathy loves candy. In one story line, Cathy is trying to avoid the temptation of eating candy:

Cathy goes for a drive to get her mind off the temptation of eating candy.
She thinks, “I’ll go for a drive, but I won’t stop at the grocery store.
Next frame, “I’ll drive past, but I won’t stop.”
Next frame, “I’ll stop, but I won’t go inside.”
Then, “I’ll go inside, but I won’t go down the candy aisle.”
“I’ll go down the candy aisle, but I’ll just look. I won’t pick up any candy.”
“I’ll pick up the candy, but I won’t buy it.”
“I’ll buy it but I won’t open it.”
“I’ll open it, but I won’t smell it.”
“I’ll smell it but not taste it.”
“I’ll taste it but not eat it.”
Then in the last frame “EAT EAT EAT EAT”
So much for avoiding temptation.

Too often, we deal with temptation in the same way as Cathy… getting closer and closer until we can no longer resist and yield to the temptation.

a. If you were to design a similar comic strip with one of those temptations we mentioned that youth of today face, what might be some of the steps in the process of a youth being lured to indulging in the temptation?
b. In each of these real-life scenarios that youth of today face, what could be done differently? How could we break the cycle at different stages in the temptation?

  1. The boy was standing near an open box of peanut butter cookies.
    “Now then, young man,” said the grocer as he approached the young boy.
    “What are you up to?”
    “Nothing,” replied the boy: “Nothing.”
    “Well it looks to me like you were trying to take a cookie.”
    “Oh you’re so wrong, mister, …. I’m trying not to!”

SCRIPTURE

  • 2 Timothy 2:22 – “Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lordd out of a pure heart.”
  • 1 Corinthians 6:12 – “I have the right to do anything,” you say–but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”–but I will not be mastered by anything.”
  • 1 Corinthians 8:9-13 – “Be careful, however, that the exercise of your rights does not become a stumbling block to the weak. For if someone with a weak conscience sees you, with all your knowledge, eating in an idol’s temple, won’t that person be emboldened to eat what is sacrificed to idols? So this weak brother or sister, for whom Christ died, is destroyed by your knowledge. When you sin against them in this way and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. Therefore, if what I eat causes my brother or sister to fall into sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause them to fall.””
  • 1 Corinthians 9:27 – “No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.”
  • 1 Corinthians 10:13 – “No temptation[a] has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted,[c] he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.”
  • 1 Thessalonians 5:22 – “reject every kind of evil.”
  • Colossians 3:17 – “And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”
  • Galatians 5:1 – “Stand fast therefore in the liberty with which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.
  • James 1:13-16 – “When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters.”
  • James 4:7 – “Therefore, submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.”
  • James 4:17 – “If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.”
  • Philippians 2:3 – “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.”
  • Philippians 4:8 – “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”
  • Proverbs 17:27 – “The one who has knowledge uses words with restraint, and whoever has understanding is even-tempered.”
  • Romans 6:12-14, 22 – “Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey its lusts. And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.” “But now having been set free from sin, and having become servants to God, you have your fruit of holiness, and the end, everlasting life.”
  • Romans 13:14 – “Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.”
  • Romans 14:22-23 – “So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who does not condemn himself by what he approves. But whoever has doubts is condemned if they eat, because their eating is not from faith; and everything that does not come from faith is sin.”
  • Romans 15:1-2 – “We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. Each of us should please our neighbors for their good, to build them up.”

INTERESTING QUOTES RELATED TO TEMPTATION

  • “If thou wouldst conquer thy weakness, thou must never gratify it. No man is compelled to evil: his consent only makes it his. It is no sin to be tempted, but to be overcome.” – William Penn
  • “Our minds are mental greenhouses where unlawful thoughts, once planted, are nurtured and watered before being transplanted into the real world of unlawful actions… These actions are savored in the mind long before they are enjoyed in reality. The thought life, then, is our first line of defense in the battle of self-control.” – Jerry Bridges
  • “Every time I say ‘no’ to a small temptation, I strengthen my will to say ‘no’ to a greater one.” – Mother Angelica
  • “He who chooses the beginning of the road chooses the place it leads to. It is the means that determines the end.” – Harry Emerson Fosdick
  • “He who chooses the beginning of the road chooses the place it leads to. It is the means that determines the end.” – Harry Emerson Fosdick
  • “In the last analysis it is not the temptations that meet us on the streets that determine our conduct; it is the heart of the man who faces them. Two men may face the same conditions; one falls, the other stands. The difference is not in the temptation but in the heart of the man.” – Martyn Lloyd-Jones
  • “The first degree [of temptation] relates to the mind – it is dragged away from its duties by the deceit of sin. The second aims at the affections – they are enticed and entangled. The third overcomes the will – the consent of the will is the conception of actual sin. The fourth degree disrupts our way of life as sin is born into it. The fifth is the flesh’s goal, a hardened life of sin, which leads to eternal death (James 1:14-15).” – Kris Lundgaard
  • “Temptations, of course, cannot be avoided, but because we cannot prevent the birds from flying over our heads, there is no need that we should let them nest in our hair.” – Martin Luther
  • “It’s easier to avoid temptation then to resist it.” – Bill Shannon
  • “It’s easier to resist temptation at a distance than when it is near.” – Unknown

MORE IDEAS? See “Creative Object Lessons”

A 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…

Game Ideas

Virtual Scavenger Hunts

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Virtual Scavenger Hunts
(aka a Video Conferencing Scavenger Hunt)

CreativeYouthIdeas.com focuses on youth and those who work with youth. But scavenger hunts have been popular with youth, adults, and children for decades. They became more popular with “The Amazing Race” and reality TV shows a few years ago. And today scavenger hunts are as popular as they have ever been. So it doesn’t matter whether you are a youth leader in a church, a leader of a team, or manager of a group of employees. This is something you can use.

Scavenger Hunts take a variety of forms. They have a variety of rules, and you can adjust them for different themes, locations, and age groups. They are great for building community and fostering teamwork. They also allow everyone to exercise a little bit of creativity. They are proven to generate lots of fun and excitement.

Video Conference Scavenger Hunt

I’ve adapted this for the current Covid-19 quarantine conditions present in countries. Play it on a Zoom Call or using any other video conference facility. It works as long as you can see individual participants on the call. You’ll also want to take screenshots so you can share the pictures of this fun activity for later. If you don’t have a video conferencing tool, you can play it using other tools. Simply have everyone take a selfie fulfilling the criteria for each item on the list and send it to you.

CONSIDERATIONS

How do you play the video conference scavenger hunt?

  1. Individual or Team? Everyone on the call can play as individuals with individual scores. Or you can choose to divide everyone into teams and use an accumulated team score instead.
  2. All items at Once or One item at a Time?
    a. All at Once – Give everyone the entire “numbered” list and have them report back within the allocated time. Fulfilled items on the list contribute to the score. Number the list so you can know which item on the list they are trying to fulfill.
    b. One Item at a Time – Give everyone ONE item at a time and have them report back within the allocated time.
  3. Timed?
    a. How long? – Is 1 minute enough time to scavenge for the items? 5 minutes? Impose penalty points for each second/minute they are late appearing on camera.
    b. Early Bonus? – One variation is to provide bonuses for whoever is back on camera early or for the first person back. This speeds up the game.
  4. Unique to Score?
    This is a variation in how you score the scavenger hunt when you encourage multiple items. If anyone else has the same item, then that item does not contribute to the score. In other words, the items displayed must be unique and not shown by anyone else to get the points. For example, imagine if they must collect as many colors of socks as possible. If more than one team has “Black” socks, then no team gets a point for black socks. If only one participant or team has red socks then that scores the point.
  5. Substitutions Allowed?
    I usually do not allow a picture, written words, drawing, or model, of an item as a replacement for the actual item. Can they substitute a photograph of an object for the actual object at 50% of the point value? Can a map wadded up into a ball of paper serve as a creative substitute for a globe and get full credit?

SCORING
How will you Calculating the Score for the Video Scavenger Hunt?

  1. Known or Unknown? Set a specific point value for each item on the list. The score may be known to participants or unknown. You can set a specific point value for simply fulfilling each item on the list. More difficult items could be worth more points than simple items.
  2. One Item, One score? – For most options, each item on the list counts only once for its point value. For example, if the item is a baby picture. Three pictures of you as a baby do not get you extra points. Some items may specify multiples such as “The most buttons.” Then you need to decide, if two buttons are exactly the same, are they counted. Or is it 1 point for each unique type of button?
  3. Bonuses? – Are there bonus points for creativity and quality? You can give Bonus points to the most creative / best entry per item.
  4. Judges – All decisions of judges and facilitators are final.
  5. Tie Breaker? – In the case of a tie, the person or team which was back on camera first is declared the winner.

RULES
What are the Rules for the Video Conference Scavenger Hunt?

  1. One picture, object, situation per item on the list. You don’t get points for duplicates of the same thing.
  2. Get permission if you need an item that belongs to someone else. You don’t want to get in trouble for rummaging through someone else’s possessions. Be sure to return anything borrowed!
  3. Always number your submissions. This helps the judges know which item on the list you are trying to fulfill.
  4. Crude language, inappropriate behavior, and offensive actions are not allowed.

CREATIVE IDEAS FOR THE
VIDEO CONFERENCE SCAVENGER HUNT LIST

Here are some suggested Ideas for the Video Conference Scavenger Hunt. (Be Creative and adjust as needed or create your own ideas)

1. Acting on Camera

  1. Dance Moves – 15 Seconds of Best Dance moves – Best dancer scores the most points
  2. Impersonation – famous or imaginary
  3. Best Standup Comedian Joke
  4. Karaoke Song
  5. Machine sounds with your mouth
  6. Best animal Impersonation

2. Alphabet

  1. One item collected from around the house beginning with each letter of the alphabet. How many can you get in 60 seconds?

3. Animals (Stuffed or Pets)

  1. Display as many animals as possible. Each type of animal is one point.
  2. Biggest stuffed animal
  3. Most unusual animal

4. Buttons

  1. Who has the most loose buttons?
  2. Most buttons of a specific color
  3. Most unusual buttons
  4. Biggest Button

5. Dress Up

  1. As a child, we all dreamed of what we would be when we grow up. Some examples are astronauts, doctors, a chef, a policeman or policewoman, a prince or princess, a movie star. You have 5 minutes to gather your props and appear on camera as the person you wanted to be when you grow up. Creativity counts.
  2. Best Beach outfit
  3. Best Sports Attire
  4. Dress as a Biblical Person
  5. Dress as someone else on this call
  6. Dress up as your favorite superhero
  7. Best Disney Character
  8. Best Traditional costume
  9. Best Halloween costume

6. Books

  1. One point for each book by a specific author
    (Example: Books by Dr. Seuss)
  2. Oldest book
    (According to copyright)
  3. Most books’s in a series

7. Coins

  1. Most coins from other countries. Each country gets one point
  2. Oldest coin
  3. Coin with the year of your birth

8. Colors

  1. How many items can you display of a specific color.
    – Something Lime Green
    – Something turquoise
    – Something Neon Pink
    – Etc

9. Deck of Cards

  1. Who can build the tallest house of cards in 1 minute?
  2. Most decks of Cards – 1 point for each deck
  3. Most unusual deck of cards
  4. Fastest to put them in numerical order and by suit
  5. Fastest to sort them into stacks by number (4 cards of each)

10. Entertainment

  1. Official merchandise of favorite superheroes. 1 point for each superhero represented
  2. Each item from a Disney movie or story counts as one point.
  3. 1 Point for each Disney Cartoon on DVD
  4. 1 point for each DVD with a specific actor in the movie
    (E.g. DVDs with Tom Hanks or DVDs with Robin Williams)
  5. The oldest movie on DVD
  6. Most DVD’s in a series

11. Faces

  1. Happiest Face
  2. Saddest face
  3. Strangest Face
  4. Funniest Face
  5. Most face masks – 1 point for each unique color/ style

12. Food

  1. Most Fast food containers from local take out orders
  2. Most fruits. 1 Point for each type of fruit.
  3. Chips – 1 Point for each brand of chips
  4. Breakfast Cereal. Most types of breakfast cereal. Must be shown in the original boxes.
  5. Candy Crazy – Who has the most candy lying around? 1 Point for each brand or type of candy.
  6. Canned Food – Most unique items of canned food – 1 point for each unique item no one else displays
  7. Longest Expiration Date
  8. Most Unusual Food
  9. Most types of drinks

13. Hats

  1. Wildest Hat
  2. Most hats
  3. Oldest Hat
  4. Ugliest Hat

14. Holiday Decorations

  1. How many types of Holiday Decorations can you round up? Easter. Christmas, etc. 1 Point for each holiday represented.
  2. Christmas Decorations – How many different types of Christmas decorations can you show.
  3. Best dressed up for Christmas
  4. Birthday Party Favors

15. Home

  1. Most house plants
  2. Prettiest house plant
  3. Most unusual house plant
  4. Neatest storeroom
  5. Biggest Sofa
  6. Biggest TV
  7. Cleanest bedroom
  8. Most interesting piece of furniture
  9. Most unusual coffee cup or tea cup
  10. Most Useless Item
  11. Funniest Sign, Poster or Painting

16. Measurements

  1. Most items used to measure something (i.e. ruler, etc)
  2. Something of a specific length
    1. Something that is 1 meter long
    1. Something that is 1 cm thick
    1. Something that holds 1 liter
    1. Something that weighs 1 kilogram

17. Music

  1. Most CD’s by a Specific musical group or artist
  2. Most Musical Instruments. 1 point for each type of musical instrument
  3. Extra points if you can play a song
  4. Biggest speaker system

18. Oldest

  1. Oldest Antique
  2. Oldest Newspaper
  3. Oldest Coin
  4. Oldest Book
  5. Oldest Photo

19. Photographs

  1. Cheesiest Photo of you with someone else
  2. Earliest Photo of you as a baby
  3. Old Photo with the most people in it who are on this call. Cannot be taken today.
  4. Oldest Family Photo

20. Random Items

  1. Beach – Each Item found or used at a beach counts as 1 point
  2. How many inflated balloons can you display in 1 minute?
  3. Baby Items – Each type of item used by a baby is counted as one point
  4. Biblical Items – Most items found in the Bible.

21. Shoes

  1. Most Shoes
  2. Most unusual shoes
  3. Biggest sized shoe
  4. Most worn out shoe

22. Shopping

  1. Largest Shopping bag
  2. Most name brand shopping bags
  3. Highest Priced item – Must clearly show the original price tag
  4. Most shopping receipts
  5. Who has the largest Cardboard Box?
  6. Strangest shaped box
  7. Highest stack of boxes
  8. Highest receipt Amount

23. Shirts

  1. Ugliest Shirt
  2. Funniest slogan on a shirt
  3. Most worn out shirt
  4. Most outdated fashion

24. Socks

  1. Most colors – 1 Point for each color
  2. Most Unusual socks
  3. Ugliest socks

25. Souvenirs

  1. Most souvenirs from places you have travelled with the name of the location printed on it
  2. Most unusual souvenir
  3. Cheesiest souvenir

26. Time

  1. How many clocks do you have? 1 point for each clock.
  2. Most Unusual clock
  3. Oldest clock
  4. Biggest clock

27. Umbrellas

  1. Most umbrellas
  2. Biggest Umbrella
  3. Worst Umbrella
  4. Most Unusual Umbrella

I adapted this idea from my ebook, Creative Scavenger Hunts

Game Ideas

Video Charades

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Charades is a popular party game for a reason. It’s fun. It gives participants a chance to be creative. Everyone loves solving a mystery. And it gives you a chance to be a little crazy. Fortunately, with a few little tweaks, it is also easy to play on a video conference.

Charades can be played, simply for fun, but it can also be used as a teaching tool. When you combine actions with a phrase or keyword, you make it more memorable. You can create categories based on key objects, key characters in a story, important places, or key events.

Introduction
The essence of Charades is pantomimes: you must act out a word or phrase without speaking or making sound effects. This is usually done in person, but it can also be done in an online video meeting.

Adapting for Online Video

Video
The first requirement is a video platform which allows everyone to connect by video. Each participant will need a camera and will need to connect by video. They can connect using a computer, a mobile phone, or even a tablet. Ideally, they will need to have a hands-free video setup. This can be accomplished with a tripod, or by propping the video camera up against a book.

Chat
The second requirement is the ability to group chat via text. Most video platforms will have a text chat option built-in. You can give group instructions via group chat and give the secret phrases to the mime using private chat.

Game Description
In this version, participants all can compete as individuals or as teams.

Game Materials
A numbered list of keywords or phrases. These can be created simply for fun, or they can be extracted from a lesson.

Game Preparation
You will need to create a list of items relating to your lesson. Number the list so that participants can randomly choose one using numbers. You can privately text them the clue so that only they know the next phrase.

Game Play

  1. Divide players into two teams or have them play as individuals.
  2. Choose who will mime first.
  3. In teams, or as individuals, the other players must guess what is being acted out. 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 choose a number for the next phrase to act out.
  5. A timer can be used or simply set an alarm on your phone or watch. It must be something everyone can hear. You can also simply ring a bell or bang a pan to let people know time is up.
  6. As one person mimes his teammates watch and try to guess the word. In the case of team play, 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!
  7. The mime usually starts by indicating through motions (no words allowed) some indication of what they want to mime
  8. They will indicate how many words are in the phrase by holding up the same number of fingers as words. They might also indicate which word they are miming first by holding up a finger for that word. Usually, they will put the number of fingers flat against their arm to indicate the number of syllables in a word.
  9. They can also use other clues along the way to guide the answers:
    • “sounds like”: cup your hand around your ear
    • “little word”: bring your thumb and index fingers closely together.
    • “Longer version of the word”: pretend to stretch an elastic band.
    • “Shorter version of the word”: chop with your hand.
    • “close, keep guessing!”: frantically wave hands to keep the guesses coming.
    • “Knows”: Point to your nose to indicate that someone “knows” the word and is correct.
  10. Continue until all the words in the phrase are correct.
  11. If the Mime’s team guesses correctly before the timer is emptied, the Mime’s team gets one point and post the score in the group chat. It is now the opposing team’s turn to mime and guess a new name or phrase from a new slip of paper.
  12. 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. 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.
  13. Play then alternates between teams with each phrase to be mimed.
  14. In the case of individual play, everyone else tries to guess and the first person to get the complete correct phrase wins a point. If time runs out no one gets a point.
  15. At the end of gameplay or the end of your clues, the team with the most correct guesses wins!
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Game Ideas

Christmas – So you think you can dance

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This is probably more appropriate for children rather than youth, but I have included it on the website anyway as we have a lot of children’s workers who visit.

GAME DESCRIPTION

  • In this Christmas Party Game, participants must dance to the Christmas Holiday Music until it stops. When the Christmas Music stops, everyone must freeze in place.

GAME MATERIALS

  • A good selection of Christmas Music that is upbeat and suitable for dancing.
    Optional: A good camera to take photos of the dancers in various fun poses after the music stops.

GAME PREPARATION

  • – Set up a CD player or stereo system to play the music.

GAME PLAY

  • Everyone must dance as long as the Christmas music is playing.
  • As soon as the music stops, everyone must freeze.
  • Anyone who moves after the music stops is eliminated.
  • The last player left wins!

 

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Game Ideas

Superbowl Challenge – A Football themed game for Church Youth

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A Christian Superbowl Challenge
Use this Superbowl themed game with youth as an introduction to the idea of the game of football as a metaphor for living the victorious Christian life.

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Superbowl / Football Games

What You Need

  • Newsprint or long strip of paper – Classified ads work great
  • A marker for writing on the paper
  • Football themed decorations

Preparation

Create a miniature football field in the center of the room.

  • Cut some newsprint into 11 long strips 3 or four inches wide (small print classified ads work best. Cut from a double newspaper spread so that you get the longest strips possible.)
  • Masking tape can be used to replace the paper strips, but be sure to check it first to make sure it does no damage on carpet or floor tiles.
  • In the center of each strip of paper or stretch of masking tape, label the yard lines. You should have one strip for each of the following:

—– GOAL —–
—– 10 —–
—– 20 —–
—– 30 —–
—– 40 —–
—– 50 —–
—– 40 —–
—– 30 —–
—– 20 —–
—– 10 —–
—– GOAL —–

  • Lay the strips of paper out on the floor to create a miniature football field as shown above.

Create a football

  • Cut a brown paper bag, or piece of brown cardboard into the shape of a football. Use a marker to draw the laces onto the football shape so it looks more like a football.
  • You can also use a small football easily found in a toy store. They are usually about the size of a large orange.

What to do

Bible Quiz

  1. Choose a quiz of at least 50 questions. It can be questions from recent Bible lessons or simply Bible Trivia.
  2. Split the youth into two different teams and sit them on opposite at opposite ends of the football field.
  3. Flip a coin to see which team plays first
  4. Start off on the 50 yard line
  5. Each “Play” involves asking a youth from the team a question to be answered. You may wish to limit each youth on the team to answering only one question to insure that all youth participate.
  6. A correct answer advances the team 10 yards. An incorrect answer causes the team to lose 5 yards. If the student is unsure of the answer they may “pass” to another player on the team that has not answered a question yet. One pass per question is allowed.
  7. The winner is the first team to reach the opponent’s endzone (A touchdown). If the game is taking too long, the team closest to the endzone wins.
  8. For more fun, decorate the room with football logos and come dresses as the referee with a whistle.

VARIATIONS

Instead of a quiz you could use the following ideas:

  • Football Charades

Place a bunch of football related words on folded slips of paper and put them in a bowl. Divide into two teams. A player from the team pics a slip from the bowl, takes a peak at it, then must act out the word for his or her team. If the team hasn’t guessed the word in one minute, the opposing team can make one guess and try to steal the ball. When a charade is correctly guessed the team advances 5 yards. There is an attached list of Superbowl / Football related words you can use for the Charades. Get more details on how to play charades here

You can also play charades using the names of various football teams. You can find some of the football teams here

  • Forbidden Word

Divide into two teams and Every time someone from the opposing team says the word football the ball is advanced for your team.

Football / Superbowl terms (for Charades)

AFL, announcer, arm guard, arm pad, artificial turf, assistant coach, astroturf, audible, back, backfield, ball boy, ballcarrier, bench, blitz, block, bomb, bowl game, carries, center, cheerleader, chest protector, cleats, clipping, clock, clothesline, coach, coin toss, completion, conferences, cornerback, count, cup, dead ball, defense, defensive back, defensive end, defensive halfback, defensive holding, defensive line, defensive lineman, defensive tackle, delay of game, dime back, double team, down, draft, draw, drive, drop kick, elbow pad, eleven, eligible receiver, end, end zone, extra point, face guard, face mask, fair catch, fake, false start, fan, field, field goal, field of play, field position, first and ten, first down, flag, flanker, football, football helmet, football player, football tee, formation, forward pass, foul, four-point stance, free kick, free safety, freeze, fullback, fumble, goal line, goalpost, gridiron, grounding, guard, hail mary, half time, halfback, handoff, hang time, hash marks, head coach, Heisman trophy, hike, hip pad, holding, home-field advantage, huddle, i formation, illegal motion, incomplete pass, instant replay, intentional grounding, interception, interference, jersey, kick, kick return, kicker, kickoff, knee pad, laces, lateral pass, line, line judge, line of scrimmage, linebacker, lineman, live ball, lob, loose ball, man-to-man coverage, mascot, middle guard, midfield, NFL, nickel back, nose guard, nose tackle, off sides, off-season, offense, offensive backfield, offensive holding, offensive line, officials, offside, onside kick, open receiver, overtime, pass, pass defender, pass interference, pass pattern, pass protection, passing game, penalty, personal foul, pick, pigskin, piling on, pistol formation, placekick, placekicker, play, play clock, playbook, playoffs, point spread, possession, post-season, preseason, punt, punt return, punter, quarter, quarterback, quarterback sneak, receiver, reception, red flag, redshirt, referee, regular season, return, reverse, roll, rookie, roster, roughing the kicker, roughing the passer, running back, running game, running into the kicker, rush, rushing, sack, safety, score, scramble, screen, screen pass, scrimmage, scrimmage line, season, set, shotgun, shoulder pad, sideline, snap, special teams, spike, spiral, split end, spot, stadium, stance, starter, steal, stiff arm, straight arm, strong safety, substitution, super bowl, superbowl, sweep, t-formation, tackle, tailback, take a knee, TD, team, thigh pad, three-point conversion, three-point stance, tie, tight end, time out, too many men on the field, touchback, touchdown, trap, trick play, turnover, umpire, uniforms, unnecessary roughness, unsportsmanlike conduct, uprights, wide receiver, wing back, wishbone, formation, wrist pad, yard line, yellow flag

TAKE IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL

DISCUSSION

  • How much do you know about football? Whos 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?

MAKE IT SPIRITUAL

  • Equipment – Ephesians 6:10-18 – In football terms, Paul, the team coach gives his team a pre-game pep talk, reminding them to put on their gear – the hip pads of truth, shoulder pads of righteousness, cleats of preparation, the face mask of faith, the helmet of salvation, and play according to the rules of the Playbook.” Then they have a team huddle to seek perseverance and strength to achieve victory over their opponent.
  • Fans – Some people are in the game and others are simply watching. Some are wearing the uniform, merely to be seen by others, but not on the field. They are watching, yet not doing. (James 1:22; Matthew 23:1-25)
  • Rules – We must compete according to the rules so that we are not disqualified for the prize (2 Tim. 2:5; 1 John 2:3-4; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 1 Corinthians 10:23)
  • Goals – Philippians 3:14 – Press on toward the Goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward.
  • Perseverance – James 1:2-4 – You’ll go up against many tests and when you persevere through these tests you will emerge victorious. (Ephesians 6:13; Hebrews 10:36)
  • Cheering – We must cheer one another on. (I Thessalonians 5:11; Hebrews 10:23-25; Hebrews 12:1-2)
  • The Clock is ticking down – Are you ready? Make the most of your time. (Ephesians 5:15-16; Colossians 4:5-6; 1 Corinthians 9:26-27; 1 Peter 3:15; 2 Timothy 4:2)

For more in depth scriptural applications check out last year’s superbowl lesson here:

MAKE IT PRACTICAL

  • 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.)

MAKE IT PERSONAL

  • 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?
  • Do you consider yourself a team player? Why or why not?
  • 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?

SCRIPTURE

1 Corinthians 1:25-27

“Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.”

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Game Ideas, Object Lessons

Chopsticks Christian Living – An Object Lesson

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Chopsticks Christian Living
We just celebrated Chinese New Year here in Asia, which gave me the idea of games using chopsticks. Chopsticks always come in pairs and work together to pick up items. It reminds me of the Helper, the Holy spirit, who always works along side us to accomplish God’s purpose in our lives and the world.

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Games Using Chopsticks

NOTE: For these games you will need Chinese chopsticks (kebab sticks or even a couple of pencils could be used if you have a hard time finding chopsticks). You could also try your local Chinese takeout to grab some chopsticks. As awards you can use martial arts designations like “Blackbelt in Chopsticks.” (Yellow Belt, Orange Belt, Green Belt, Brown Belt, Black Belt)

  • Chopsticks & ping pong ball relay – give every team member a pair of chopsticks and line them up in a row. With one hand behind their backs, team members must pass a ping pong ball down the line. The first team to pass the ball to the end of the line wins.
  • Chopstick Transfer – For this game you will need a pair of Chopsticks, a bowl & Plate for each team. You will also need some items to pick up with chopsticks. Marshmallows or cotton balls are easy, but you can also use peanuts, uncooked rice grains, peas, beans, jelly means, M&ms, ice cubes, small candies, popcorn, peanuts, and even marbles. Set a timer or stopwatch for 1 Minute. See how many Items can be transferred from the Bowl to the plate in 1 Minute using the chopsticks in one hand only. Who ever can transfer the most in that time Wins. Alternatively put different items in the bowl with more difficult items being with more points.
  • On the Hook – In this game, contestants must hold a chopstick in their mouth, attached to a piece of string and an open paper clip. The contestant has to fish 4 keys off a stand (or stool) within 60 seconds. Alternatively, the Team to get all four in the fastest time wins.
  • Chopstick Pickup Dash – Played like “chopstick transfer”, place the bowl and plate about eight feet apart. Some objects are easier to carry than others. Each youth’s bowl should contain the same number of items. Using only their chopsticks, the participants carry the items from the bowl to the plate. Each team member takes a turn carrying an item before handing the chopsticks off to the next player.
  • Chopstick in the Hole – You need at least two youth to play this game. Give each player a single chopstick. Tie a string around the end of the chopstick. For youth, tie the other end of the string around the waist. Younger children can play with the string tied to their wrist. The object of this game is to get the chopstick into a glass bottle (or any other object with a small hole at the top) without using hands. Have the participants lean over the bottle and try to lower the chopstick through the hole. The first one to get it in wins. This game works as a relay as well. Choose teams. Time the rounds instead of stopping when the first player succeeds. The team with the most chopsticks in the hole wins.
  • Chicken Wok – Youth line up in two teams with the first person from each team standing
    on a starting line. Give the first youth in line two chopsticks. On the signal to begin, the first student will pick up the rubber chicken from inside a hula hoop using only chopsticks. (They may not use hands or stick the chopstick inside the chicken). If you can’t get rubber chickens you can also use bean bags, or a blown up rubber glove. They will have to bring the chicken down to their wok or stir fry pan, then give the sticks to the next youth in line, who then repeats the process. The process continues until everyone has had a turn. First team to have every person go wins.
  • Chopstick M&m Sort – For each team, put a bag of m&m’s in a bowl. Team members must hold one hand behind their backs and use chopsticks to seperate the colors into different bowls. The team to correctly separate the most M&ms in 1 minute wins.
  • Balance Pasta With Chopstick – For each team, you will need 7-8 Mezze Penne uncooked pasta pieces and a pair of chopsticks. As the time starts, the participants have to grab the chopstick and place it into their mouth. Once the chopstick is placed in their mouth, the participants are not allowed to use their hands. They have to keep them behind their backs. The participants must pick up the pennes one by one using the chopstick in their mouth. The participants should be careful while picking up the pennes so that the pennes already on the chopstick do not fall off. If they fall on the ground they can not be picked up, but if they fall on the table they can pick them up again. Penne can touch a participant’s lips, but they should not enter their mouth. The participant who is able to hold the maximum penne pasta on his/her chopstick in one minute wins.
  • Chocolate and chopsticks – Place a chocolate block in the center of the table. The candy should stay in its wrapper and, to make the game last longer, you could wrap the chocolate block in layers of gift-wrapping paper as well. Each person sitting around the table takes a turn at rolling the dice. The 1st person who rolls a six gets to start eating the chocolate block — but only with one hand behind his or her back and using only a pair of chopsticks. While they are getting ready to eat the chocolate block, the group keeps taking turns rolling the dice. If someone rolls a six, then the person who rolled the six before him relinquishes his right to the chocolate block, and the 2nd person must try to eat the chocolate before someone else rolls six. The game is over when the block of chocolate is finished. This can also be played with packages of M&ms.
  • “Pick-up Sticks” with wooden chopsticks – Split a class into small groups. One youth on each team starts the game by dropping a handful of chopsticks on a table or floor. The chopsticks will end up in a pile. Each participant on the team must remove a chopstick from the pile without touching or moving any of the other sticks. If a youth fails, he or she loses their turn. The student(s) with the most chopsticks at the end of the game is the winner. To add an interesting twist, Roll a slip of paper with a scripture verse around some of them. A piece of tape or glue will help hold the paper in place.
  • Tallest Tower – Have students work in teams to construct towers out of wooden chopsticks. You can add rubber bands or only permit participants to use the plastic or paper wrapper that pairs of chopsticks usually come with to tie their towers together. The team that builds the tallest tower in a designated amount of time wins.
  • Lemon Roll – You will need a pair of chopsticks, One lemon and a timer. The objective is to get the lemon from you to the next person on your team, and eventually all the way to the end of the line. participants may only use the chopsticks to manipulate the lemon.
  • Pass the Object – Arrange the youth in a circle and give them each a pair of chopsticks. Choose an object such as a marshmallow, a peanut, a walnut, a gummy bear or a marble. Give the item to one youth to start the game. The youth should pass the item around the circle using their chopsticks. If someone drops the item, he is out. Move the circle in and continue the game until there is only one player left standing.
  • Chop Stack – In one minute or less, use a standard pair of chopsticks to grab and stack four tubes of lip balm, creating a vertical tower. Place the chopsticks on the table, as well as the four tubes of lip balm. The lip balms should be resting horizontally (on their sides) rather than standing up. The contestant starts off by standing in front of the table, facing the laid-out supplies. Start the timer. The player can now pick up the chopsticks and arrange them in one hand, using them in the traditional manner. Then, he or she picks up the tubes of lip balm, one at a time, and stacks them. The tubes must stand straight up (with the lid facing upwards), and the completed tower of four lip balm tubes must be free-standing. The tower of tubes must remain standing, without any support, for three seconds to qualify. Complete this task in one minute or less and you win the game. As a team competition you can do the fastest time or the the team member who gets the most in one minute.
  • Chopsticks On A Jar – You will need one wide-mouthed container, such as a peanut butter jar and several pairs of chopsticks. The group’s goal is to have all of the chopsticks successfully balanced on top of the jar simultaneously. Each youth takes a turn placing one of the chopsticks on the mouth of the container. The youth attempts to place his/her chopsticks without spilling any of the previously placed chopsticks. At the end of one minute, the team with the most chopsticks balanced on the jar wins.
  • Jacks – Divide the youth into groups of three. Give each group a rubber ball or tennis ball and ten chopsticks. Each youth in the group will have a turn. The first youth in the group will take the bundle of 10 chopsticks and spread them on the ground. Sitting down in front of the group of sticks, throw the ball up (not too high). Quickly pick up one chopstick and then catch the ball, allowing the ball to bounce just once. Continue the game until all the sticks are retrieved one at a time. If the person cannot pick up the chopstick or misses the ball, his/her turn is ended. If the person successfully picks up the ten sticks he/she goes on to the next step. The next step is picking up chopsticks by two’s. Then picking up chopsticks by three’s, then by four’s, five’s, sixes, seven’s, eight’s nine’s, and all ten. After all these steps have been completed, the player will hold all ten chopsticks in one hand and tap them on the ground three times while the ball bounces once. The first player to complete all these steps wins the game!
  • Jelly Feast – Most jelly eaten with chopsticks in one minute wins.
  • Crossed or uncrossed – Take a couple of chopsticks.. sit in a circle and explain to the Youth that they have to figure out the secret to this game. Key a few youth in before you start. Pass the chopsticks to your right asking, “Are they crossed or uncrossed?” The key to this game has nothing to do with the chopsticks being passed. The answer depends on the legs of the person doing the passing, if the legs, ankles, feet of the passer are crossed, the answer is “Crossed”, if they are uncrossed, the answer is “uncrossed.” Again, as the game goes on, make the crossing of the legs more obvious. These games are fun when you exaggerate the motion or positioning of the objects they are trying to figure out because the key has nothing to do with the object.
  • Jolly Javelin – Use individual chopsticks as a javelin. The youth who tosses it the furthest wins.
  • Nut Job – Arrange 8 iron nuts in a row at the end of a table and provide the contestant with a chopstick. The contestant has to string the nuts into the chopsticks without using his hands. All 8 nuts have to be on the chopstick at the end of the minute.

TAKE IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL

MAKE IT SPIRITUAL

Lessons from Chopsticks

  • Chopsticks Only Work in Pairs – Since chopsticks must be used in pairs, in Chinese culture, it stands for “close cooperation”.
  • Patience – It takes patience and care. Sometimes instead of rushing we need to wait on God and His timing.
  • Only pick up one thing at a time – We often try to do too much at once, but sometimes we need to fully focus on only one task at a time and seek God’s direction for what he wants us to focus on at the time.
  • Don’t hold on too tight – Sometimes God chooses a delicate and gentle touch, a quiet whisper, to accomplish mighty things.
  • No matter how careful you are, sometimes you’ll drop something. God chooses to use us even though he knows we will fail him. But he is always merciful and redemptive and will pick us back up and use in might ways for His glory.

After Jesus announced to His disciples that He would be leaving them soon, He encouraged them: “And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Counselor to be with you forever – the Spirit of Truth” (John 14:16=17). The Greek word translated “Comforter” or “Counselor” or “advocate” (as found in John 14:16, 26; 15:26; and 16:7) is parakletos. It is made up of the preposition para, “beside,” and the adjective kle-tos, “called.” It means “to come alongside to help”, “one called to the side of another,” with the secondary idea of counseling or supporting him or her. A paraklete is someone who can do something for you that you cannot by yourself.

MAKE IT PRACTICAL

  • In John 14, how does Jesus say the Holy Spirit will help the disciples?
  • What does it mean that the Holy Spirit is our Paraklete? Our Helper?
  • What are the benefits of having the Holy Spirit as a helper alongside us?
  • What roles does the Holy Spirit have in our lives and in the world? What does he help us with?

MAKE IT PERSONAL

  • What choices do you have to make this week that you need the Holy Spirit’s help with?
  • What thing do you need to do this week that you need the Holy Spirit’s help with?

SCRIPTURES RELATED TO THE ROLES OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

  • Conviction – John 16:8 “And when he comes, he will convict the world of its sin, and of God’s righteousness, and of the coming judgment.”
  • Baptism – Matthew 3:11 – “I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” Mark 1:8 – “I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
  • Regeneration – Titus 3:5 – “he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit,” John 3:5-8 – “Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”
  • Indwelling – John 14:17 – “the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.” I Corinthians 3:16 – “Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst?” (See also 6:19)
  • Sealing – Ephesians 4:30 – “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.” II Corinthians 1:22 – “set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.”
  • Filling – Ephesians 5:18 – “Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit,”
  • Guiding – Galatians 5:25 – “Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.” Galatians 5:16 – “So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.” Romans 8:14 – “For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.”
  • Development of Christian fruit – Galatians 5:22-23 – “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”
  • Teaching – Jesus promised that when the Spirit came he would lead believers into truth. The Spirit illuminates the mind of the believer to the revelation of God’s will through his Word. – John 14:26 – “But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” John 16:13 – “But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.” 2 Tim 3:16-17 “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” 1 John 2:27 – “As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit – just as it has taught you, remain in him.”
  • Gives us spiritual gifts – I Corinthians 12, Romans 12:3-8, and 1 Peter 4:10-11 reveal the names of many gifts God’s Spirit provides to believers. Each believer has at least one (1 Corinthians 12:7), and each person is specifically gifted for the acts of service God has prepared for him or her (Ephesians 2:10).
  • Assists in evangelism – Acts 1:8 – “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 4:31 – “After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.”
  • Prayer – Romans 8:26 – “In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words”
  • Empowers us for all aspects of the Christian Life and transformation – Ephesians 3:14-19 – “For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge – that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.”

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Game Ideas, Object Lessons

Reflecting Christ’s Image – Object Lesson Using Foil

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Reflecting Christ’s Image

Aluminum foil is one of those things we often take for granted. It has so many uses. But this week’s lesson uses foil to remind us that as Christians we are destined to be conformed to the image of Christ, reflecting Him in all that we do. It’s not just being seen as Christlike, but God moulding us and shaping us into the image of His Perfect Son.

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Aluminum Foil Games

  • Mirror Maze – Make a maze on the floor using masking tape. Make mirrors for teams by wrapping a piece of aluminum foil, shiny side out, around a small square of cardboard. Youth must walk through the maze by looking into the foil mirror held straight out from their eyebrows so that the mirror reflects the ground at their feet. Youth are only allowed to look in their mirror to navigate. The youth who completes the maze in the quickest time wins. To make it a little more difficult, assign time penalties for each time a person steps on a line or touches an obstacle. Variation: Everyone must walk backwards from one side of the area to the other using only foil mirrors to see.
  • Mirror Scavenger Hunt – Place a variety of items inside a designated area that youth must collect and deliver to their team. They must look toward the ceiling, holding a foil mirror above their head so that it reflects the ground at the feet to navigate and retrieve the objects. if they look down at any time they are disqualified. The team that picks up all the items the fastest wins. Variations: Youth must pick up the items according to size or place some items that incur penalties when touched.
  • Walk the Line – Make a zig-zag and single maze like line of masking tape or using chalk that winds around the room and ends on the opposite side of the room. While looking into a foil mirror placed above their heads youth are to walk the line to the end of the room then return. If they miss stepping on the line they must return to the start. Using a stop watch, time the team in getting all members to walk the line (relay style). Team with the quickest time wins.
  • Mirror Dodge Ball – Make balls of foil from discarded aluminum foil. Place a line or divider down the center of the room. While looking AWAY from the supposing team and into a mirror so they can see the team behind them, youth must toss the balls of foil and try to hit people in the other team. if someone is hit they are out of the game. Team with the most remaining members after a given time period is declared the winner.
  • Capture the Flag – Divide your youth group in two teams and the room into two territories so that each team has one territory. Give each team a flag they can place anywhere in their territory. (It must be visible when you are next to it and the other team must be able to directly access it) Teams can place tables, chairs, or other “defense objects” in their territory. Supply each team with as many aluminum foil balls as possible. The object is to get the other team’s flag to your side without getting hit by an aluminum foil ball thrown from the other team. If a person is hit with a foil ball, he/she must sit out until the next round. When the team members begin to dwindle, raids can be made on the other team’s flag. The first team to capture the other team’s flag is declared the winner. Everyone re-supplies with the aluminum foil balls and another round can be played.
  • Foil wars – For this game you’ll need a dark room, a strobe light, and several rolls of aluminum foil. Make as many balls of aluminum foil as possible. Divide the room in half and have a line down the middle of the room. Place an equal number of foil balls on each side of the room, shut off the lights and start the strobe light. When the lights come back on the team with the fewest number of foul balls on their side wins the game. If you want to reduce the amount of foil used you can also cover ping pong balls with foil.
  • Aluminum Foil Sculptures – Give each youth small sheet of aluminum foil. When the clock starts, they will have one minute to create an aluminum sculpture. When finished, display the Sculptures on a table in the front of the room and have the youth group vote on winners for various categories.
  • Tallest Tower – Give each team a roll of aluminum foil and using only the foil teams must create the tallest free-standing tower possible in 10 minutes. For an extra challenge, give all the teams less time.
  • Spot the Difference – Find some “spot the difference puzzles” – Two images that are mirror reflections of each other but with changes. Award points to teams of youth for correctly identifying the differences in the two mirror images.

NOTE: You can also replace the ping pong ball in many games with a ball of aluminum foil or use the wrapping paper ideas I sent at Christmas and use foil instead.

Final Game for Key Application

  • Foil Faces – Give each youth a piece of aluminum foil big enough to cover his/ her face. Have each find a partner who will make an image of his/her face by placing the foil up to the person’s face and carefully molding the foil sheet to the face. If they wear glasses, a hat, earrings or other peculiar identifiable items ask them to leave them on during the mold making process. With a marker put the owners name on the inside of each. If you have a very large group you can reduce the time required by recruiting several representatives in advance. Place the masks in random order in front of the volunteers. The youth have to try to match the face with the mask. The player with the most correct wins.

TAKE IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL

KEY TRUTHS

  • We are created in the image of God – We are created in God’s image to reflect his light in our lives. Image – “a physical likeness or representation of a person, animal, or thing, photographed, painted, sculptured, or otherwise made visible.” Our lives are moulded to him and we reflect him in our actions and thoughts.
  • Sin corrupted God’s image in us – However when man fell he became a distorted, corrupted image of God. Like a piece of foil, wadded up and then used as a mirror, the reflection is shattered. When we sin, we choose to be moulded not into the image of God, but into the image of other things. We replace God with those things and they shape our lives, corrupting it and destroying the image of God in us.
  • God redeems us – You’ve made an impression of your face in foil, but the foil isn’t really you. It looks a little like you, but It’s not you. It’s just an impression of who you are. In the same way, we are created in the “image of God.” We are NOT God, but created to be like Him and reflect what He is like. After our fall, God sent His perfect image, Jesus Christ, to restore God’s image in us as we accept Him as our Savior and Lord. Each of us was created, shaped, loved, redeemed, and called by God to be transformed into His Perfect You, reflecting the best of God in everything.
  • God wants to Mould us into the image of His Son – God’s also want to leave His impression on us, specifically the impression of Christ – to be Christlike. We still look like ourselves, but God wants us to look like him in the ways we live and think. It’s not the reflection of our face, but the reflection of our heart God wants to change.
  • Moulding requires pressure – It take pressure to mould the foil to your face. In the same way God may use pressure to mould us into the image of His Son. It may be through health, trials, temptations, challenges, tests of our faith. Whatever circumstances God allows in our lives are for the purpose of making us more Christlike. [Quite a personal application for me as I continue my chemotherapy]

MAKE IT SPIRITUAL

  • What is an image? What is a mould?
  • When you look at your reflection in a mirror, how does the quality of the mirror affect how you see yourself?

MAKE IT PRACTICAL

  • Is it possible to not see a problem in yourself, even if the mirror is in front of you?
  • What are some ways that a Christian begins to look like Christ in his or her actions, deeds, values, thoughts, habits, and words?
  • What are some examples of Christlike characteristics?
  • In what ways does a Christian mirror Jesus?

MAKE IT PERSONAL

  • Do you spend most of your time looking into physical mirror or the mirror of God’s Word? What does this say about you?
  • Does your life reflect Christ? Actions? Thoughts? Habits? Your Heart?
  • In what ways is God moulding you into the image of His Son?
  • In what ways is God still conforming you to his image?
  • What Christlike characteristics would others describe in your life?
  • What’s one thing that would change in your life if you were more Christlike?

SCRIPTURES

  • Genesis 1:27 – “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.”
  • 1 Peter 1:13-16 – “Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.”
  • Psalm 139:13-16 – “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.”
  • Galatians 3: 26-29 – “You are all sons (and daughters) of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.”
  • Peter 3:3-4 – “You should be known for the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God.”
  • Romans 12:1-2 – “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”
  • 1 Corinthians 13:12 – “Now we see a dim reflection, as if we were looking into a mirror, but then we shall see clearly. Now I know only a part, but then I will know fully, as God has known me”
  • James 1:22-25 – “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it – not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it – they will be blessed in what they do.”

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Game Ideas, Object Lessons

Chewing on God’s Word – A bubble gum object lesson

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Chewing on God's Word
NOTE: As I write this week’s idea of the week, I’m sitting in the hospital while they do the preparation for chemotherapy for lymphoma. It’s been an eventful past couple of weeks since I was diagnosed and I missed last week’s idea of the week.

This week’s lesson is centered around bubble gum. When I think of bubble gum there are a couple of things that come to mind. First, when you unwrap it and first place it in your mouth, it’s kind of hard and not very flexible. But when you chew on it a while it becomes not only flexible, but you can then fill it with air and expand it to make huge bubbles. Chewing the bubble gum for me is a lot like meditation on God’s Word. I’ve had a lot of time to do that in the hospital as they run all the tests to decide the chemo regiment and make sure I will be able to tolerate it. Like bubble gum, you have to chew on God’s Word a while to get the full flavor and experience it more fully. At first it may seem kind of HARD to understand but you just need to chew on it awhile. God’s Word, unlike Bubble Gum, never loses it flavor. And once we’ve meditated or chewed on it a while, we become more flexible and useful to God. He can stretch us and fill us and use us.

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Bubble Gum Games

Bubble Gum Blowing Contest – You can play this game as individuals, or with representatives from multiple teams. Give each youth 2 pieces of gum. On your signal, they must unwrap the bubble gum, chew it, and blow a large bubble. The largest bubble wins. Give the youth 60 seconds to blow their best bubble. The easiest way to time the game is to play some upbeat energetic music and then stop the music after 60 seconds as a timer. (NOTES: You might want to have a ruler for measurement. Also, if you add a little peanut butter to bubble gum you can blow even bigger bubbles. Peanut butter also works wonders for getting bubble gum out of hair.)

Bubble Gum Blow-Out – Tape a piece of paper to the wall at an easily reached height for your youth. You’ll need one for each team. On “go”, each player has to race to a table on the other side of the room to get a piece of bubble gum. They must then. They then unwrap it and start chewing it to get it flexible enough to blow a bubble. A once they blow the bubble they must stick it to the paper on the wall for their team, using only their mouth. No hands are allowed. The first team to have every member stick a bubble to the paper wins. (Note: Some brands of bubble gum are easier to stick to the paper than others)

Bubble Gum Matchup – You will want to buy several different flavors or colors of bubble gum. Give everyone about 5-10 pieces of different bubble gum flavors or different colored individually wrapped bubblegum balls. (Be sure to tell them not to eat it yet.) Tell them they have about 1 to 2 minutes to get all the same color of Bubble Gum. To do so they need to trade with other youth. The first person to trade and get all of one color wins.

Bubble Gum Swing – Youth pair up for this game, and it can be played with the entire group or a representative from each team. For each pair, tie a piece of bubble gum to a string so that when the end of the string is placed in a person’s mouth, the bubble gum is about 6 inches from the floor. One youth in each pair holds the string in his or her mouth and swings the bubble gum to their partner. The partner must catch the piece of bubble gum into their mouth while standing up straight and at no time can either person use hands. They must then chew the bubble gum as quickly as possible and blow a bubble. The first pair to do so wins, but you might want to continue the game until several more are successful.

Bubble Gum Art – Give each youth one or more pieces of bubble gum to chew, a toothpick and an index card. Allow them a few minutes to chew the bubble gum, place it on the index card and then create a sculpture of something on the index card using only the toothpick as a tool – no hands. You can either give them a specific object to sculpt or you can let them come up with their own sculpture. If you allow them free reign with their creations, give each person an opportunity to show off their creation. You can also give other youth an opportunity to guess what the scultpture is. The person with the best and most creative design, as determined by the peer group is the winner. You can have several categories of winners, like “Most ingenious,” “Most Creative,” etc.

Bubble Blow Up – Give a representative from each team a Blow Pop sucker. The first one to unwrap it, and bite into it, to the gum, and blow a bubble wins.

Bubble Gum Treasure Hunt – Young Life Twist: Bury a piece of bubble gum in plate of flour. Without using their hands, youth have to find the gum and blow a bubble. First to do so wins.

Bubble Race – First person in a pair to blow and pop ten bubbles in a row wins. Face your opponent (this is important, it means you can cheat by making your rival laugh and they won’t be able to blow a bubble) and on the count of three start blowing. Bubbles have to make a pop or they don’t count and you can’t make your bubble pop by sucking it backwards. It has to pop while it’s being blown outwards. The first one to ten wins.

TAKE IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL

Discussion:

  • What is your favorite kind of bubble gum? Why?
  • Why do you choose to chew bubble gum? The flavor, to blow bubbles, or simple to have something to chew on or pass the time?
  • What does it mean to chew on something?
  • What is the benefit of chewing something for a long time?

MAKE IT SPIRITUAL

* In what way is meditation in God’s Word similar to chewing gum?

In many of these games, we rushed to chew the gum quickly so that we could simply blow a bubble. We didn’t take it slowly or take time to enjoy it and fully experience the flavor, but we simply chewed it just enough to get something done. Unfortunately this is the same way many of us treat our Bible reading. We read just enough to get the job done, but we don’t really meditate on it or or take time to really enjoy it. In the Bible, we are often commanded to meditate on scripture. We are also told to taste and see that God is good.

* When given a piece of gum, do you quickly chew it and swallow it, or do you chew it for a while and enjoy it?
What is your favorite food? Have you ever chewed your favorite food very slowly so that you can taste every nuance of the flavor and truly enjoy it? This is a lot like meditation.

MAKE IT PRACTICAL

Meditate means to take your time to think long and hard about something, to focus on something or someone in order to get the most out of it.
What are some ways we can meditate on scripture?

Here three of my favorites:
Look up key words in the verse in an English Dictionary. How does the full meaning of the words expand your understanding of the scripture?
Read a verse emphasizing a different word each time. For example, John 3:16
FOR God so loved the World….
For GOD so loved the world….
For God SO loved the world…
For God so LOVED the world….
ETC… How does each emphasis bring more depth to the meaning of the verse?
3. Read it in various translations.

MAKE IT PERSONAL

  • Make sure you have a personal bible reading plan or devotional book you use to mediate on scriptures.
  • Set aside some time each day to meditate on Scripture.
  • Keep a journal of your insights as you meditate on God’s Word each day.

SCRIPTURES

1 Corinthians 3:1-3 – “And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual men, but as to men of flesh, as to infants in Christ. I gave you milk to drink, not solid food; for you were not yet able to receive it. Indeed, even now you are not yet able, for you are still fleshly. For since there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not fleshly, and are you not walking like mere men?”

John 16:12 – “I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear.”

Hebrews 5:12 – “In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food!”

1 Peter 2:2 – “Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation,”

Joshua 1:8 – “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.”

Psalm 1:1-6 – “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous; ”

Psalm 119:9-11 – “How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word. With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments! I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.”
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Game Ideas, Object Lessons

Stretched by God – Games and an Object Lesson

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Stretched by God

There is going to be a tug-of-war in our spiritual life because God is always in the process of transforming us. Change causes tension and we are stretched. This week’s lesson uses rubber bands for games and as an object lesson on the topic of being stretched by God.

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Rubber Band Games

  • Rubber Band Face – Youth compete by stretching a rubber band over their heads and open their mouths so that the rubber band is stretched between their teeth and below their ears. Without using their hands, they must move the rubber band down their faces so that it ends up around their neck. They will need to use their tongue, lips and teeth and lots of chin wriggling to make this happen. be sure to have a camera because the distorted faces are hilarious. (You can also place the rubber band on the upper lip just below the nose for a different variation)
  • Rubber Band Face – Youth compete by stretching a rubber band over their heads and open their mouths so that the rubber band is stretched between their teeth and below their ears. Without using their hands, they must move the rubber band down their faces so that it ends up around their neck. They will need to use their tongue, lips and teeth and lots of chin wriggling to make this happen. be sure to have a camera because the distorted faces are hilarious. (You can also place the rubber band on the upper lip just below the nose for a different variation)
  • Rubber Band War – Set up two fortresses in a classroom using folding tables turned on their sides about 8-10 feet apart. Put a line of masking tape down the middle of the playing field between the two tables. Give two teams tons of rubber bands (you can buy them by the bag at office supply stores). Teams try to hide behind the fortress, but can jump out and run around as long as they stay on their side of the dividing line. If anyone gets shot by a rubber band, even from their own team, they are out of the game. The last team standing (or crawling around the floor) wins. Rubber bands must be shot directly in order to get a person out. Simply tossing them over the table doesn’t count. Stress the importance of honesty. Try different configurations with your tables to keep it interesting. Use thin rubber bands so they don’t hurt too much or cause injuries.
  • Rubber Band Targets – Hang aluminum pie tins from string across one end of the room. Use a marker to label them with different point values. When hit with a rubber band they will make a definite sound. Give each youth 5 to 10 rubber bands to shoot from the other side of the room. Highest score wins.
  • Rubber Band Pass – The objective of this youth group game is to pass the most rubber bands to the end of your team’s line as possible in a given amount of time. Divide into teams and give every team member a plastic drinking straw to place in his or her mouth. (You can also use dried spaghetti in place of a straw) Once the straw is in the mouth you cannot adjust it or touch it with your hands. The first person on each team places a rubber band on his or her straw, then using the straws only must pass it to the second person in line, and continue until it reaches the end of the line. Only one rubber band can be on a straw at a time.
  • Rubber Band Man – You’ll need a lot of rubber bands for each team. Give each team 1 minute to place as many rubber bands as possible on their rubber band man (or woman). A rubber band on the rubber band man’s hands or arms is worth 1 point. The feet and legs are two points. Face is 3 points. Hanging it on the ears doesn’t count. The neck is not allowed. The team with the most points wins. Use different size rubber bands to make the game more interesting. Be prepared for some outrageous photos.
  • Rubber Band Rope Jumping – Loop a number of rubber bands together tightly until you have a larger one (You can select the length you want). Teams then compete to see who can make the most jumps using the rubber band.
  • Loop Groups – Tie a number of rubber bands together to form a big loop about the size of a hula hoop. Ask the youth to stand in a circle and hold hands. Then have one pair of youth release their hands and reach through the loop circle and then re-connect hands. The ring of rubber bands must travel in a clockwise direction and return to the initial starting position without anyone letting go of the hands on either side of them. The youth must stay in one location while the rubber band loop moves around the circle. Fastest time wins.
  • Rubber Band Limbo – This game, is like the traditional game of limbo, except that the string of rubber bands replaces the pole. The rubber bands are stretched at progressively lower levels and the youth try to pass under it.
  • Rubber band wrestling – This game is played between pairs of youths. They must sit at a table facing each other, and resting their right hands on the table. They then hook their fingers together with their thumbs raised up in the air. A rubber band is then placed around the two thumbs. On “go” they each try to capture the rubber band without dropping it by wiggling their thumbs. The side with the most winners can be the winning team or you can have successive play off until you have a single winner.
  • Elastic Bull’s Eye – You will need loop of rubber bands tied together into a circle and one “target” (non-elastic string loop) for each group. The group must release the stretched out rubber band in such a way that the elastic falls inside the target (inside the bulls eye). Divide the youth group into teams of 4-8 and supply each group with one loop of rubber bands and one “target” (non-elastic string). Each person in the group holds onto the elastic with two fingers and then the group backs up so the elastic is stretched out in a big circle (people are spaced evenly from each other). Place the target in the center of the circle. The group must now release the elastic simultaneously and in such a way that the elastic falls into the target. Most number of success in a given time wins. Rules: The group must keep the loop stretched just before the release. The group must release the loop simultaneously. The stretched loop must be kept parallel to the ground. The target must stay in the center of the circle. The loop can only land inside the target as a result of the simultaneous release of the loop by the group (example: the elastic cannot be thrown by one person)
  • Focus Ring – You’ll need a large thick rubber band that is a bit smaller than a tennis ball for each team. Each team will also need two empty plastic soda bottles. Finally you will need about 3 ft or 1 meter of string for each team member. Tie the strings to the rubber band in a radiating pattern so that the rubber band is in the center of all the strings. Place the tennis ball on top of one of the empty soda bottles as a pedestal. The objective it to pull on the strings and use the rubber band to move the tennis ball on top of the other. Each person in the group holds on to at least one string (depending on the size of the group, some will have more than one string). The participants spread out like spokes of a wheel, holding on to the end of their string. Rules: Each participant gets to operate at least one string. Participants must hold onto the end of the string and no other place. Participants must stay at a distance of at least the length of a stretched out string (very important). If the ball falls the group must start again. If the pedestal falls over the group must start again. The group is successful when the ball is balanced on the pedestal.

TAKE IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL

One of the key characteristics of a rubber band is that it is stretched. In fact, a rubber band isn’t much use unless it is stretched.

  • What are some things that we use rubber bands for?
  • Why are the rubber bands ideal for such tasks?
  • What happens to a rubber band after it is stretched many times?

MAKE IT SPIRITUAL

Just as a rubber band becomes more useful when stretched, God also stretches us to make us more effective and use us more fully for his glory. When stretched you expand your usefulness to God. See the scripture section below for verses that talk about us being stretched in the Christian walk. Stretching means trusting God in moments of stress, tension, pressure, and discomfort. Sometimes it is painful and sometimes merely uncomfortable.

MAKE IT PRACTICAL

There is going to be a tug-of-war in our spiritual life because God is always in the process of transforming us. Change causes tension and we are stretched. But in these times God is moving us forward into the likeness of Christ. When God stretches us, He is not making us somebody we do not want to be. He is actually stretching us to be the person He created us to be.

  • When a muscle is regularly stretched it becomes more flexible, versatile, efficient, strong, and growing. What difference would it make in your Christian walk if these characteristics were also true of you spiritual life?
  • Consider also the opposites of those qualities. How would your spiritual life be different if it was characterized by inflexible, limited, ineffective, atrophied, weak and brittle?
  • When a muscle is not regularly stretched it atrophies or shrinks. How does this relate to spiritually exercising our faith?
  • There is always a purpose to being stretched. How do we cooperate with God and grow in the stretch?

MAKE IT PERSONAL

  • How is God growing and stretching you right now?
  • Do you tend to cooperate and hear what God is doing, or pull away when you are being stretched
  • How can you personally cooperate with God when he is stretching you?

SCRIPTURES

  • Philippians 3:14 – “I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”
  • Isaiah 54:2 – “Enlarge the place of your tent, And let them stretch out the curtains of your dwellings; Do not spare; Lengthen your cords, and strengthen your stakes.”
  • Philippians 3:13 and 14 – “forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”
  • Matthew 12:13 – “Then He said to the man, “Stretch out your hand!” He stretched it out, and it was restored to normal, like the other.”
  • James 1:2-4 – “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials; knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”
  • 1 Corinthians 10:13 – “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.”
  • Philippians 4:13 – “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me”

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Game Ideas, Object Lessons

Babies in Christ – An Object Lesson for the New Year

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Babies in Christ
The new year is often represented by a new born baby because a baby represents a fresh beginning. Jesus described Salvation to Nicodemus in John 3 as being “born” again. Both physically and spiritually, we begin as babies. But we don’t stay as babies – we must grow. The Bible tells us to “grow in grace in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ” (II Peter 3:18).

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Baby Games

  • Baby Bottle Guzzlers – The first to drain a baby bottle filled with soda and then burp wins. (You might want to enlarge the hole in the nipples.)
  • Baby Bottle Knockover – Get a pair of old pantie hose and put a potato in the stocking and let it slide to the foot of one of the legs. Tie the other leg around the youth’s head. You’ll need one for each team. Place a baby bottle on the floor for each team. First person to knock the baby bottle over with the potato in the stocking wins.
  • Baby Food Roulette – Label several gross baby food flavors with numbers stuck on with a piece of tape then play a game of hot potato with a plastic spoon. When the music stops, the person holding the spoon picks a number and must eat a big spoon of baby food from the jar of baby food with that number on it and the person is out of the game. Rearrange the numbers so youth don’t know what they are getting for the next round and repeat. Continue until there is only one person left in the game.
  • Baby Items in the Bag – Put at least ten common baby items inside a diaper bag: a bib, cotton buds, cotton balls, baby powder, teething ring, rattle, bottle, baby brish, baby lotion, baby shampoo, diaper, wet wipes, diaper pin, sock, onesie, and baby blanket are just a few ideas that are also fairly inexpensive. Give each youth a pen and paper before passing the diaper bag around. Without looking, each youth should stick a hand inside the diaper bag and try to identify as many items as possible. Give each youth 60 seconds to make their guesses before moving the bag to the next person. Once everyone has had a turn, whoever has the most correct answers wins. (Variation: put them on a tray and cover it. Uncover it for 60 seconds then cover it back up before they youth are allowed to write down the contents of the tray.)
  • Baby Relay – A person from each team must put on the diaper, tuck the bib in the shirt, place their thumb in their mouth, and waddle to the other end of the room (or if outside, a designated place) where they will get on their hands and knees (like a crawling baby) and have a fellow team member squirt a bit of water from the baby bottle into the mouth of the baby. The baby then returns and the next person repeats the same tasks. First team to have all members go through the tasks wins.
  • Baby Sketch Artists – Each youth is given a paper plate and a marker. With the paper plate no top of her or his head, each person draws a picture of a baby. Best sketch wins.
  • Baby Stroller F1 Race – You need at least one baby stroller and a doll to put inside. You might also want a stopwatch. Use cones, flags, are anything else to mark out a race course. Representatives from each team will have a turn at racing the stroller through the race course as fast as possible. Add penalty seconds for hitting any object, for the baby falling out of the stroller,or other infractions of your rules. Fastest time wins.
  • Blind Diaper Relay – Give each team a baby doll, and a blindfold. First person in line dons the blindfold, takes off the current disposable diaper, and replaces it with another diaper. when finished, the baby, extra diaper, and blindfold is passed to the next person on the team. First team to all complete the task wins.
  • Bowling Baby Bottles – Arrange 10 baby bottles in a triangle shape, and have each youth “bowl” with a small ball. Highest score wins.
  • Diaper Danger – Blindfold a representative from each team who must diaper a blown up balloon with a good amount of baby powder added inside. First person to diaper the balloon to the best of their ability and without popping the balloon with the safety pins wins.
  • Diaper Derby – Split the youth into teams and provide each team with a roll of toilet paper. They have five minutes to wrap a team member up in a diaper made of toilet paper. The team with the most creatively diapered ‘baby’ wins.
  • Diapers in the Dark – You’ll need several safety pins, a blindfold, and a large doll for each team. You also nned a cloth diaper that fits on the doll. Blindfolded representatives from each team must put the diaper on the “baby.” Quickest and best diapered ‘baby’ wins a prize.
  • Dirty Diapers – (Gross game warning) – Place a different types of chocolate candy bar in several newborn-sized diapers (or folded napkins) then microwave each a few seconds until melted. You will want those that are creamy, nutty, caramel-filled, milky, chunky, etc. Pass the diapers around and have each person smell (or taste) the ‘poo’ in the diapers to try and guess which brand of candy bar is in each diaper. The person with the most correct guesses wins.
  • Feed The Baby – Give everyone a large bib and a small spoon. In teams of two, the pairs must feed a jar of applesauce to one another at the same time. The fastest pair to finish their applesauce wins. (Messier Variation: Do it with blindfolds)
  • Guess the Baby Food – Buy several unique flavors of baby food in jars and number each lid and tear off the labels. Ask each youth to sample each and write down the flavor. The most correct guesses wins.
  • Pacifier Pass – Give each youth a straw to place in his or her mouth. Using only the straws to touch it, each team must pass a pacifier to end of the line. First team to the end without dropping it wins. If it is dropped the team must start over.
  • Pin Drop – Youth compete to hold diaper pins at nose level and drop them into a baby bottle. The most diaper pins in the bottle after 60 seconds wins.
  • Ring Toss – Spread a series of bottle nipples on a flat surface, with several inches between each and labeled with a score based on distance. Youth must stand behind a throw line and try to toss the bottle rings that hold the nipple on a bottle onto a nipple. Highest score wins.
  • Siamese Diaper Relay – In teams of two, each pair stands side by side with the center hands behind their backs and quickly and neatly puts a cloth diaper on a baby doll with safety pins. Each person in the pair can only use the outside hand. Quickest and best diapered baby wins.
  • Spit the Pacifier – Youth line up and are each given one pacifier to put in his or her mouth. The youth that spits out the pacifier so it lands the farthest away wins.

TAKE IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL

MAKE IT SPIRITUAL

New Christians and new babies have a lot in common. One of the first things a baby learns to do is to drink from a bottle. Soon a baby will learn to feed him/herself. Yet the parent is very careful about what a baby eats. As a matter of fact, a baby will stick almost anything it can find in its mouth thinking it is food. A parent is careful that a baby does live on junk food or place anything in his mouth that might harm him. As Christians, especially as babes in Christ, we need to learn to feed ourselves on God’s Word and avoid those things that are unhealthy or even harmful to us.

  • What are some habits and actions you often see in babies and children that would not be acceptable in adults?
  • What are some of the marks of maturity as a baby grows into an adult?

MAKE IT PRACTICAL

  • Read Hebrews 5:11-6:1. In verse 11, the phrase “slow to learn” could be translated “too lazy to learn.” What are some ways that we are too lazy to learn?
  • What might “milk” and “solid food” represent? (See 6:1)
  • What differentiates a mature Christian from a spiritual baby (vs 14)?
  • What attitudes actions and behavior would you expect from a mature Christian?

MAKE IT PERSONAL

  • In what areas have you grown a lot? In what areas is your spiritual growth been stagnant? How would you describe yourself as a Babe in Christ / Child of God?

One way to discover what you eat is to look at the way you spend your time, especially your free time. On another piece of paper, make a list of all the things that you spend your time doing, all your hobbies, all your favorite pastimes? After you have made the list circle any items that are spiritually healthy- health food. Cross out any items that are spiritually harmful or unhealthy – junk food. Leave blank any items which are neutral.

  • What does this tell you about your spiritual diet?
  • In what ways would you like to grow in the coming year?
  • What do you need to have more of in your spiritual diet to grow more mature as a Christian for the next year?

SCRIPTURES

  • Psalm 139:15-16 – God planned all your days, all your life, before you were ever even born. He had a plan for you before you even existed.
  • Hebrews 5:11-6:1
  • II Peter 3:18

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