Here’s a game we thought up to allow your youth one more chance to celebrate as they start the school year. You can invite visitors and give a small party gag gift to everyone and generate a few laughs at the same time.
Resources
- Index cards
- Gag gifts
- Bag or Bowl
Preparation
- Write out the “prophecies” below on a card, number them, and place them in the bowl or bag.
- Wrap the response together with the gift and number them to match the “prophecies”.
Prophecy: “Your wisdom will begin to show”
Response: “Black hair dye to cover the grey hairs”
Prophecy: “There will be unexpected revelations in the new year.”
Response: “Safety pins for when you have a busted zipper”
Prophecy: “You will be at a loss for words”
Response: “Here’s a dictionary so you can find some!”
Prophecy: “You’ll need to wipe away the results of your efforts”
Response: “Here’s a roll of toilet paper for a clean break!”
Prophecy: “Things will move a little too slow for comfort”
Response: Here’s some Chocolate Ex-Lax to make things move a little faster”
Prophecy: “You will be a little short of dough”
Response: “Here’s a cookie recipe and cutter”
Prophecy: “Circumstances may be a little bitter”
Response: “Here’s some sugar to sweeten things up”
Prophecy: “You will not quite measure up”
Response: “Here’s a ruler to help”
Prophecy: “With great changes you will need a new yard stick”
Response: “Here’s a stick from my yard to help”
Prophecy: “You will need to clean up a mess!”
Response: “Here’s a dust pan to make it easier”
Prophecy: “You will need to release a little stress”
Response: “Here’s some stress relieving capsules” (Bubble wrap)
Prophecy: “You’ll need a washer and dryer”
Response: “Here’s a dual purpose washer or dryer” (hand towel)
Prophecy: “You will discover a great deal”
Response: “Here’s a deck of cards to help you learn”
Prophecy: “You will want to take a bubble bath”
Response: “Here’s a jar of beans. Boil and eat 1 hour in advance for a natural bubble bath.”
Prophecy: “You will need to make some great calculations”
Response: “Here’s a pencil – use your head!”
Prophecy: “You will make more than a few mistakes.”
Response: “Here’s an eraser for a clean start”
Prophecy: “You will want a bigger paycheck”
Response: “Here’s a magnifying glass to help”
Prophecy: “Everyone will believe you have lost your marbles!”
Response: “Now you have at least a few.” (bag of marbles)
Prophecy: “You will want to pull your hair out in frustration.”
Response: “Here’s a wig to hide the bald spots!”
What to Do
- Say: Can you predict what will happen in the new year? We prepared some predictions for everyone for this year, and something special to help make them a reality!
- Youth draw a numbered clue from a bag and read the “prophecy” about their future in the upcoming year aloud.
- Then they open the matching gift and show it to everyone while reading the attached response.
Take It to the Next Level
- What are some things people predict will happen this year?
- Do you have some predictions you have made for your own life?
- How are you planning to make those predictions a reality?
We often make plans for our lives that we can believe and know are possible and achievable. When we look at our predictions for the year, how much of it is what we know we can accomplish with or without God’s help and how much of it is beyond what we believe is possible? God has called us to live a life that’s bigger than that. We have a God that is able to do exceedingly, abundantly, above all that what we can ask or imagine.
- Maybe there’s someone in your life you feel is impossible to share the love of Christ with.
- Possibly, it’s a subject in school you’re struggling with.
- Could be a situation you feel will never be overcome.
- Maybe an addiction, a habit or attitude you feel you can’t change.
- It could even be a medical condition you’re struggling with.
If we desire to see positive changes in our lives and the lives of those around us to please the One we serve, God will give us the strength to overcome. Jesus Christ has won the victory. We just need to earnestly seek Him and exercise our faith in the One who has made all things possible through His death and resurrection on the cross.
Isn’t it time we challenged ourselves and make a faith prediction for what we want to see this year?
Closing
Have youth write the faith prediction on a piece of paper. Date it. Sign it and then seal it in an envelope for the end of the year.
Variations
In addition for a faith prediction for themselves, encourage them to make some faith predictions for the youth group, for their class, or for their church.
Scripture References
Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.”
– Mark 10:27
“If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”
– Matthew 17:20
“Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”
– Ephesians 3:20-21 (NKJV)
“God says that he has plans for each of us. Plans to prosper us and not to harm us! Plans for a hope and a future. How do we discover these plans? He will bring them to pass when we seek him with all our heart!”
– Jeremiah 29:11-14