Category Archives: Icebreakers

Activities intended to help a group to begin the process of forming themselves into a team. Youth icebreakers are commonly presented as a game to warm up the group by helping the members to get to know each other.

Christmas – Across the Line

Christmas - Across the Line
Location
Anywhere a line can be drawn across the meeting area.

Energy level: Medium

Description
Which side are you on? Do you know where you stand? Find out in this Christmas icebreaker where participants move back and forth to opposite sides of the room depending on their Christmas related preferences.

Resources
If you have time, use string or tape to make a line down the center of the room. Alternatively, just use chairs or stand in the center as a reference point.

Preparation
Come up with a list of Christmas related choices. You will want to choose those ideas that are a little crazy and fun
as well as lead into the topic of your discussion. It’s best to end with the one that is most closely related to your Christmas discussion topic. Here is a partial Christmas list. Highlight those or put a tick mark beside those you wish to use for your Christmas Bible study / lesson.

You can also add your own ideas! Don’t use them all… about 10 to 15 is a good number… after that it gets boring! Always leave them wanting for more… as soon as interest starts to decrease a little, it’s time to move on to the next debrief!

Here’s a list of ideas

  • Shepherd – Wise man
  • Mary – Joseph
  • Candy Canes – Chocolates
  • Give a gift – Receive a Gift
  • Gingerbread Man – Plum Pudding
  • Rudolph – Frosty
  • Poinsettia – Mistletoe
  • Nuts – Fruits
  • Live Tree – Artificial Tree
  • Silent Night – Jingle Bells
  • Snow – Sunshine
  • PSP – Wii
  • Cinnamon – Nutmeg
  • Eggnog – Hot Chocolate
  • Christmas Eve – Christmas Day
  • Nutcracker Suite – Handel’s Messiah
  • Matthew – Luke
  • Wreath – Holly
  • Star – Angel
  • Homemade Card – Store Bought card
  • Snowflake – Snowball
  • Red – Green
  • Tinsel – Garland
  • Turkey – Ham
  • Apple Pie – Pecan Pie

 

What to Do

  1. Divide the room in half and put a line down the middle. You will be giving the participants TWO Christmas options, one for each side of the room.
  2. Stand on the line in the middle of the room. As you call out each Christmas related preference point to the corresponding side of the room.
  3. Everyone must then move to the side of the room based on his/ her Christmas related preference. If both options apply then they must choose the one which is true more often.

 

For example. I may call out Eggnog (point to left side) and Hot Chocolate (point to right)… If someone prefers eggnog rather than hot chocolate he /she will move to the left side of the room. If they prefer hot Chocolate they should move to the right side of the room.

Breaking into Groups
As you play, take note of those options where the groups were almost equal in size. Later if you want to break the participants up into two groups, use those identifiers to split them up.

Take It to the Next Level
General discussion questions:

  • Which Christmas related choice was easiest for you to make?
  • Which Christmas related choice was most difficult for you? Why?
  • Where there any surprises? (Example: People with the same choice as you that you didn’t expect?)
  • In what ways is the group most alike?
  • In which choices were you in the minority? Does being in the minority make you more bold or more uncertain?
  • Have you ever felt that you were all alone in certain beliefs, attitudes, habits, or characteristics? How can knowing others are just like you help?

 

Take It Spiritual

  • Did you choose Mary or Joseph? Why?
  • Mary and Joseph had some difficult choices to make. What were some of the issues they faced? Whose choice was more difficult? Why?
  • Did you choose shepherd or wise man? Why? What did the birth of Christ mean for each?

 

Action Point

  • You probably shared something in common with almost everyone in the group during one choice or another. What is one way you can you build on the things you have in common to form positive relationships with everyone.
  • This Christmas you will need to make a lot of choices… Make sure all of your choices bring glory to God and proclaim the good news to all people!

 

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Connected Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is an American Holiday when people come together, treasure the relationships with those close to them, and thank God for his blessings over the past year. While the New Year celebrates new opportunities and a chance to start over, Thanksgiving reminds us how far we have come and how God and others have helped us to get where we are.

This Thanksgiving Activity encourages youth to remember things for which they are thankful and also reminds us that we are also connect to those around us and need to be thankful for them as well. Being Thankful isn’t just for Americans and Canadians. It’s something all of us should take time to do!

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What You Need

  • Ball of string or yarn

What to do

  1. Sit the youth group on the floor in a circle with everyone facing inward toward the center of the circle.
  2. Ask the youth to think about the past one year. What have been some of the best times, the highlights, the celebrations? What are some things from the past year that they are thankful for? Give them a few moments to think and then ask them all to think of one thing each and to hold it in their thoughts.
  3. Then choose one youth to begin and hand them the ball of string. The chosen youth must tell everyone in the circle ONE THING they are thankful for.
  4. Then, holding firmly to the end of the string, he or she must toss the ball of string to someone else in the circle who has not yet received the string.
  5. The person receiving the string gives ONE THING he or she is thankful and does the same — holding firmly onto the string, he or she tosses the ball on to another person who has not received it yet.
  6. The string should be held tightly and above the ground at all times.
  7. Continue until everyone has received the string once and has told the group one thing they are thankful for.

VARIATION: In addition to the one thing they are thankful for, have youth to think about one person in the circle they are thankful for and one characteristic of that person that they appreciate. For example: “I am thankful for my family and I am also thankful for Bob, because he makes me laugh all the time.”

TAKE IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL

Just as in this game, many of the blessings of the past year are shared and connect us together. When one person is blessed, the joy is shared and we often bless others as a result. Smiles are contagious. Joy is shared. And a heart of gratitude reminds not only us, but others of the source of our blessings which is God.

There are a lot of things in life to be thankful for.  James 1:17 reminds us “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” Ephesians 1:3 reminds us “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.”

  • What are some of the other things you are thankful for from the past one year?
  • What are some of the things you have been blessed with in the past 1 year?
  • What are you most thankful for? Why?

MAKE IT SPIRITUAL

Read Psalm 145:1-21
This psalm gives many reasons we should praise God and be thankful to Him. Some of those things listed describe who God is, what he is like. Others describe what he has done or will do. List all the reasons to thank God and praise Him as found in this psalm.

  • Why should we be thankful to God and praise Him?
  • What are some of the things that will happen when we praise God according to this psalm?
  • What does thanksgiving do for us? How does our thanks affect others?

Read Psalm 95:1-7a
“Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song. For the Lord is the great God, the great King above all gods. In his hand are the depths of the earth, and the mountain peaks belong to him. The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land. Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker; for he is our God and we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care.”

  • What reasons do these verses give for being thankful and singing for Joy to God?
  • Why should these things make us thankful?
  • What are some practical benefits of each?

Read Psalm 100
Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth. Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. Know that the LORD is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.

  • In psalm 100, what are the 6 reasons given to be thankful to God and to praise Him?
  • Who does the psalm say should be thankful?
  • Which of the 6 reasons makes you most thankful?

MAKE IT PRACTICAL

  • What lessons can we learn about Thanksgiving and Gratitude from these Bible passages?
  • Why should we be more thankful each day of our lives, and not just once a year?
  • What effect could it have on us and others if we always had a grateful heart?

MAKE IT PERSONAL

  • How can you be a more grateful person with God and others?
  • Take some time in prayer to thank God for his blessings over the past year.
  • This week, set aside some time each day to thank God for all the blessings in your life.

ADDITIONAL SCRIPTURE

Ephesians 5:19-21
“Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.”

Philippians 4:6
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”

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.”

2 Corinthians 9:10-11
“Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.”

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Pass Your Name Icebreaker

It is said a person has three names: the one given at birth, the one other people give, and the one (s)he gives him/herself. Names have meaning. Sometimes names are changed to reflect a new direction in a person’s life. In his icebreaker game, youth not only learn each other’s names, but they also explore what it means to be called a Christian, a disciple, a saint, a believer.

What you need
No resources are needed for this icebreaker

What to do

Round ONE

  1. Form the youth into several circles, with everyone faced toward the center of the circle with their arms to their side.
  2. Choose someone to start”Everyone put your right hand in the air. Hand in the air!””On the count of three, everyone point to the happiest person in the circle.”

    The person that the most people are pointing to will go first in this game.

  3. He or she must choose someone in the group and use his entire arm to point at them and while pointing to this person call out his or her OWN name. They do not call out the name of the person they are pointing to, but call out their own name. He or she than crosses his or her arms.
  4. The person who was just pointed to, repeats the action, pointing to someone in the circle whose arms are not crossed and calling out his or her own name.
  5. Continue until everyone has been pointed to in the circle. It’s not as easy as it seems.

Round TWO

  1. Repeat the activity, but this round, time make it a competition between groups to see which circle will complete the activity in the quickest time.

TAKE IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL

Debrief

  • When you played this activity, what happened?
  • Why was this game difficult?
  • Is a person’s name significant?
  • It is said a person has three names: the one (s)he is given at birth, the one other people give him/her, and the one (s)he gives him/herself. What does this mean?
  • What does your name say about you?
  • Do you feel that your birth name adequately expresses who you are? Why or why not?

Teaching Point: Names are often given in reference to: aspects of a person’s birth, hopes the parent has for his or her child, something a parent likes, a connection the parent wants to draw attention to, family ties

  • What name would your mentor or the person you most look up to in life give to you?
  • If you had to choose a name to express your essence, what would it be?
  • If you were to choose a new name for yourself today, what would you choose and why?

MAKE IT SPIRITUAL

  • What significance do people’s names in the Bible have?

Share a few of the familiar ones if not mentioned by the youth.
– Abram -> Abraham “Father of a multitude”
– Simon -> Peter “Peter” or “Rock”
– Saul -> Paul
– Jacob “supplanter” -> Israel “Prince of God” “He who struggles with God”
– Sarai -> Sarah “Princess” “mother of nations”

In the Bible’s most famous name change situations, God is making a statement about the person.
– spiritual accomplishments
– spiritual potential
– a promise or blessing
– change or new direction in life
– new identity
– Indication of God’s plan for them

The name “Christians was first used at Antioch (Acts 11:19-26)
As Christians
– We are called Christians – new identity / nature
– We are given a new name (Revelation 2:17, 21:12, 21:7; Philippians 4:4)
– Our life takes a change of direction
– The disciples called each other, “brethren”, “disciples”, “apostles”, “servants”, “believers”, “followers”, “the faithful”, “the elect”, “the called”, and “saints.” We can also identify ourselves as “bondservants” of Christ.

MAKE IT PERSONAL

  • What name do you think God would give to you? Why
  • How can you live according to the name “Christian” “Disciple” “servant” “Believer” or “Saint” this week?

Additional Scriptures

Here are some interesting scriptures related to becoming “Christ”-like

1 Corinthians 1:3-15 – “Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus, that in every way you were enriched in him in all speech and all knowledge, even as the testimony about Christ was confirmed among you, so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ, …”

1 Corinthians 11:1 – “Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ.”

1 John 2:29 – “If you know that he is righteous, you may be sure that everyone who practices righteousness has been born of him.”

1 John 2:6 – “Whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.”

1 John 3:2-3 – “Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is. And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.”

1 John 4:17 – “By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world.”

1 Peter 2:21 – “For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.”

1 Thessalonians 1:6 – “You also became imitators of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much tribulation with the joy of the Holy Spirit,”

2 Corinthians 2:14 – “But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere.”

2 Corinthians 3:18 – “But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.”

2 Corinthians 5:17 – “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.”

Ephesians 4:11-13 – “And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.”

Ephesians 4:22-24 – “To put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.”

Ephesians 5:1-2 – “Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.”

Galatians 3:27 – “For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.”

Galatians 4:19 – “My little children, for whom I am again in the anguish of childbirth until Christ is formed in you!”

John 13:14-15 – “If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. “For I gave you an example that you also should do as I did to you.”

John 13:34 – “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another.

John 15:10 – “If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.

John 15:12 – “This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you.

Luke 6:40 – “A pupil is not above his teacher; but everyone, after he has been fully trained, will be like his teacher.”

Luke 6:46 – “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you?”

Matthew 10:25 – “It is enough for the disciple that he become like his teacher, and the slave like his master. If they have called the head of the house Beelzebub, how much more will they malign the members of his household!”

Matthew 5:48 – “You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

Philippians 2:4-5 – “do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus,”

Romans 12:2 – “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.”

Romans 6:11 – “Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus.”

Romans 6:4 – “We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.”

Romans 8:2-8 – “For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. …”

Romans 8:28-29 – “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.”

Titus 3:1-8 – “Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people. For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, …

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This 170 page resource not only provides 52 of the world’s most popular group icebreaker activities and games, but also includes lesson ideas and discussion questions to smoothly transition into conversations about the issues common to most groups.

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“Ice” Breakers and Forgiveness

Below is a collection of youth icebreaker games using ice cubes. The primary game leads into a discussion on mistakes and forgiveness.

Optional Ice Games

Ice Sculptures
Make a lot of icecubes using standard ice cube trays. (Note: If you Use hot water you get clearer ice cubes.) If you sprinkle them with salt the youth can stick them together to create ice sculptures of people and other fun shapes.

Ice Cube Musical Chairs
Play musical chairs with a large block of ice. Teams of youth pass the ice while the music plays and whoever is holding the ice when the music stops is eliminated from the game. As a variation, give those eliminated a small ice cube. If any youth who was eliminated can use their hands to get the ice to melt before the game finishes they can join back into the game.

Ice Melt
In this game the objective is to melt the ice cubes given as quickly as possible. Teams may only use their hands to melt the ice. The first team to melt all the given ice cubes wins.

Ice Melt II
In this game, the objective is for the youth to fill a glass with water to the top using only the dropping water from melted ice. Again they may only use their hands to melt the ice. Only one ice cube can be melted at a time.

T-Shirt Melt
Freeze a large soaked cotton t-shirt for each youth team in a zip lock baggie. Ring it out just a little so there is enough water for it to freeze solid, but not enough so that it is inside large block of ice. Scrunch up the t-shirt rather than fold it. Remove the t-shirts from the freezer 15-20 minutes before the game to let them thaw just a bit. Team members must somehow thaw the t-shirt using only their hands and bodies until they can open it up and on team member puts it on and wears it. No liquids or sharp objects are allowed to be used. (Note: Try this once for yourself. It can take quite some time to thaw the shirt enough to wear it, depending on the weather and the amount of water in the shirt)

Primary Game

Ice Pass

What you need

  • You’ll need two buckets or large containers and two ice cube trays worth of ice for each team.
  • Teams then form lines and race to pass all the ice cubes from the front bucket to the back bucket for each team.

Rules of the game

  1. Team members must always look forward at all times and cannot look back, even for a moment.
  2. Each youth in the line must pass the ice cubes one at a time over his or her back to the person immediately behind them in line.
  3. If an ice cube is dropped, it must be passed forward, one person at a time under the legs of the person in front until it reaches the beginning of the line. It then is passed back as per the normal rules.

Debrief
Award the winning team then ask the losing teams the following questions:

  1. What happened during the game?
  2. What were the difficulties encountered?
  3. What could you do differently to be more successful if you played again?
  4. If you personally dropped the ice how did you feel? How did you feel toward your team? How did you respond?
  5. If someone on your team dropped the ice, how did you honestly feel toward them? How did you respond when someone dropped the ice?

Take it to the Next Level

Make it Spiritual
Read Matthew 18:21-35

  1. Are some mistakes easier to forgive than others? Explain?
  2. Why is it sometimes difficult to forgive others?
  3. What can we learn about forgiveness from this parable and the response of Jesus to Peter?

Make it Practical

  • What lessons can we learn from this activity as a group of believers, as the body of Christ?
  • In what ways do your actions affect others, either positively or negatively?
  • How do mistakes and setbacks affect others?
  • How do we recover?
  • How does forgiveness fit in?

Make it Personal

  • What do you find it personally, hardest to forgive?
  • What are some ways you can be more forgiving?

Scripture

“Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, ‘Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?’ Jesus answered, ‘I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.'” – Matthew 18:21-22

Get Icebreakers ebookIcebreakers Ahead: Take It To the Next Level

 

This 170 page resource not only provides 52 of the world’s most popular group icebreaker activities and games, but also includes lesson ideas and discussion questions to smoothly transition into conversations about the issues common to most groups.

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

Christ Calls Us Friends

Summer is a time of friendships. The time away from school is a welcome break and provides the freedom to spend time with friends doing the things you enjoy. Friends will come and go but all will teach you something about who you are and who you want to be. But Jesus also calls us friends. So what does that teach us?

What to do
Place a tag/ sticker with each name on the back of people as they enter the meeting. Do not tell them that these are pairs of friends. Their task is to mingle around asking “yes” or “no” questions to discover the character on the tag. After a brief time of mingling have each person find his or her “friend” and share a quality they look for in a friend! (The three stooges are included in case you have an odd number of people.) If the group is small you might give out only one of each pair and then once everyone has discovered his/her identity have them name the friend associated with the person on the tag they have been given.

Here’s a sample list of famous friendships.

Be sure to add any famous friendships from recent television shows or youth culture.

Take It to the Next Level

Put the following questions up on posters around the room – taped to the walls or to the floor. Have youth wander around the room and to add their thoughts and answers for each question. Then discuss them as a group!

  • A friend is…?
  • Real Friends always…?
  • Real Friends never…?
  • One of my friends is ________ because…?
  • What do you do to be a friend and to have friends?
  • What is one of the qualities you look for in a friend?
  • What is one of your best qualities as a friend?
  • What is one of the qualities you look for in a friend?

Take It Spiritual

John 15:13 calls us to look to the interests of others for the sake of the common good. Jesus’ whole life is an incarnation of the ideal of friendship. What Jesus teaches he is already living. Jesus gave everything to his friends—his knowledge of God and his own life. Jesus is our model for friendship—because he loved without limits—and he makes it possible for us to live a life of friendship—because we have been transformed by everything he shared with us. Through friendship we come to know God and through friendship we express the love of God. We can risk being friends because Jesus has been a friend to us.

Make it Practical

  • How can we be better friends to those around us?
  • How can we express the love of God in our friendships?

Make it Personal

  • What is something you will do this week to be more Christlike in your friendships?

Scripture

“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. I do not call you servants any longer, because the servant does not know what the master is doing; but I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father.” – John 15:12-15

This idea is adapted from a similar idea in our ebook “Icebreakers Ahead: Take it to the Next Level”

Get Icebreakers ebookIcebreakers Ahead: Take It To the Next Level

This 170 page resource not only provides 52 of the world’s most popular group icebreaker activities and games, but also includes lesson ideas and discussion questions to smoothly transition into conversations about the issues common to most groups.

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

Interview Icebreaker for Youth

Interview Icebreaker

  • Pair the youth up as they come into the room.
  • Give everyone a few minutes to interview each other. (3 Minutes is usually enough)
  • During the three minutes, the youth must discover 3 “new” interesting facts about their partner. Let the youth know that later they will need to introduce the partner to the group as if the group has never met them before, using the 3 facts.
  • After the three minutes has passed, bring everyone back to together.
  • Each youth introduces his or her partner to the rest of the group, including the three new facts they learned.

Take it to the Next Level

Once they have introduced their partners, Ask the youth to meet someone else and ask the following questions:

  • Out of all the people in the Bible, who would you visit, and why?
  • And if you had the opportunity to ask some questions, what would you ask?

The Bible is full of stories of people just like us.  The only perfect person in the Bible is Jesus.  The rest were ordinary people used by an extraordinary God.  Though the men and women were flawed, a perfect God used them in his perfect purpose.  We can learn much from their victories and their mistakes.

  • What lessons can we learn from the characters you chose?
  • How can we apply those lessons to life today?

Get Icebreakers ebookIcebreakers Ahead: Take It To the Next Level

This 170 page resource not only provides 52 of the world’s most popular group icebreaker activities and games, but also includes lesson ideas and discussion questions to smoothly transition into conversations about the issues common to most groups.

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

Knock Down, or Build Up

Description

There are times when we have fun, draw closer to one another, talk about all kinds of things, and experience the joy of being together. Other times though it seems that the things we say, or things that are said to us seem to hurt even more when it involves our families.

We often hear it said that the people we hurt the most are often the ones that are closest to us. There are times I wish I could have taken back the words the moment I’ve said them, but it’s often too late; damage done.

In all our relationships the things we do can say can either build up or tear down. This wacky youth group game presents the same choice to teams of youth.

 

STACKERS

 

Resources

  1. Plates and cups – You want an even number of plates and cups so they can be stacked. Don’t use breakables ones as they will be knocked over and dropped. Plastic works great, but you can also use disposable ones. Be warned that if they are too light, they can be easily blown over.
  2. Balls – Tennis balls work well but you can use a smaller ball to make the game more difficult or a bigger one to make it easier.
  3. Instead of cups and saucers you can use other objects but must take into account the weight of objects and the ball used. A light ball won’t be able to knock down heavy objects. Other options include using just cups, jenga blocks, shoe boxes, empty food cans (beware of sharp edges), Pringles cans, cereal boxes, wooden blocks, etc. The only requirement is that the objects must be easily stackable by the youth.

Preparation

  • Create an open space in the middle of a room or of an outdoor area.
  • Place the cups and saucers in a pile for each team.
  • Set up teams an equal distance from the piles in the center. The further away, the more difficult the game becomes.
  • Give each team a ball.

What to Do

  1. The first person on each team must run to the pile in the center for his or her team in the play area and stack all the plates and cups. The cups and saucers must be stacked so that each cup rests on a saucer, then the next cup and saucer is placed on top, continuing until a tower of cups and saucers is built.
  2. After the tower is built, the youth runs back to his or her team and tags the next person.
  3. The next person has a choice. EITHER run straight to their own team’s tower in the center and unstack and re-stack the cups and saucers OR
  4. Toss the ball to knock down another team’s tower. If the ball is tossed, the next person in line must retrieve the ball and bring it back to the group before the person who tossed it can run to their tower in the center and unstack and re-stack the plates and saucers.
  5. If a team’s tower is knocked down by another team, the person who originally stacked that particular tower must run to the center and stack them again before the next person can go to the center and unstack and re-stack the plates and saucers.
  6. The first team to have everyone on the team finish unstacking and re-stacking their tower wins.
  7. Strategically, a team has a choice to focus on building their own towers or taking time to knock down other towers so that they slow others down. Bear in mind that they could knock down more than one tower with one throw – including their own!

 

Take It to the Next Level

 

In all our relationships the things we do and say can either build up or tear down. It always seems easier to tear someone down rather than build them up. It takes a long time to build someone up with positive words, words of life, words of blessing, but only a moment to tear them down. And often, all the positive that was done before is wiped out in an instant.

We can all remember occassions when we have personally been torn down by someone’s hurtful words. Most of us have been intentionally, or unintentionally torn someone down with our words or actions.

  • Paul tells the Christians to let no “unwholesome talk” come out of their mouths. What are some things that might be called “unwholesome talk”? Words that tear down?
  • Why do people speak to others with hurtful words?
  • What are some examples of words that build up?
  • Before we do or say things to others, we need to ask ourselves, will this build up or tear down? Will it benefit, or harm?
  • How should we respond when we have been hurt by words?
  • How should we respond if we have hurt others? What can we do to make it right?
  • How can we build up others who have been hurt?

Closing

Give each youth some adhesive address labels and a something to write with. They must write down encouraging remarks on the stickers and place them on the backs of other youth with a personal comment to encourage them. Be sure to let the youth know this is a time to be serious and if they can not do it in a meaningful, caring way you’d rather them not participate. You might want to have some soft music playing while they do this. Tell them to go build each other up.

Then ask for volunteers to come to the front and read the words on their back. Let the youth keep them and ask them to place them some place at home where they will be reminded of the encouraging words.

Action Point

Issue the youth a challenge to speak positive words to at least 2 persons everyday for the next week and then in the next meeting ask them to share their experiences.

Scripture References

“Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there be any virtue, and if there is anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things” (Philippians 4:8)

“Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.” (Ephesians 4:29)

 

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Tee Freeze Icebreaker

Description

Beat the hot days of summer with a frozen T-shirt contest for your youth. The objective is simple – Unfold a frozen t-shirt and wear it. But it’s not quite as easy as it sounds. It can be played as a team effort or you can have one frozen tee for each youth.

Resources

  • Gallon Freezer Bags
  • You’ll need one t-shirt for each team or participant. Larger shirts are best and if possible you want them all to be the same size. Sometimes t-Shirts can be torn or stretched in the process.
  • Water
  • Freezer

Preparation

  1. Soak each t-shirt in about 2 cups of water then wring it out. If there is too much water it will take too long to thaw.
  2. Once the shirt has been wrung out, nicely fold each one into a square that will fit inside the freezer bag. Once you have folded it flat, press it down again to try to remove even more water.
  3. Seal each bag, and place each t-shirt in the freezer so that each lies flat.
  4. Let them freeze for a couple of days for best results.
  5. If you need to transport the shirts to another venue, place them in a cooler filled with ice so they stay frozen.
  6. Want to play on the theme a little? Have “Iced Tea” for refreshments.

What to do

  1. Tell the youth you are going to have a real icebreaker game.
  2. If you play by teams, don’t tell the youth what you are going to do and instead ask for a volunteer from each team. (You don’t want more than 4 or 5 on a team or it gets too crowded and some youth end up sitting on the sideline and watching.)
  3. Give each youth (or team) a frozen tee.
  4. The objective is to use whatever means possible to thaw the t-shirt enough so that it they can put it on. (They’ll sit on them like hatching an egg, throw them on the ground, rub them with hands, roll them, stick them on bare arms and legs to use their body heat to warm them up enough to unfold them and put them on.) They’ll be worn out trying to get them unfolded enough to wear.
  5. The first person to get the t-shirt on wins! Heads and arms must be completely in the t-shirt for normal wear to be declared the winner.

Rules of the Game

You might want to set some rules such as:

  • You cannot place the t-shirt in water or any other liquids
  • You cannot microwave it or use any appliance or machinery to heat it up.
  • You cannot leave the game area
  • You are not allowed to use any sharp object on the t-shirt

Take It to the Next Level

Like many things in life, this game takes a lot of effort. It’s the same with building relationships. If you want to have relationships that aren’t so cold and are more warm and friendly, it takes work. “Cold hearted” and “Hard – hearted” are terms we commonly use to describe how youth relate to others. We also often talk about the warmth of friendship.

Take It Spiritual

In the Bible, Cold and Hot are used to describe the relationship of a person with God. But God’s greatest criticism is not to a person is either hot or cold, but to someone that is lukewarm. In Revelation, God refers to the church of Laodicia in the same terms.

“I know your works; you are neither cold nor hot”. “Would that you were cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, neither cold nor hot, I will spew you out of my mouth” (Revelation 3:15-16).

Laodicia had no water supply of its own, so an aqueduct was built to bring water to the city from hot springs. By the time the water reached Laodicia is was neither therapeutically hot nor refreshingly cold. And because of it, one of the strongest words in Revelation is used, emesai, meaning to vomit.

Take it Personal

  • What actions of a Christian might be described as Hot? Cold? Lukewarm?
  • How does a lukewarm Christian behave?
  • Why is lukewarm worse than being either hot or cold?
  • What is an area of your devotion to God that could be described as Lukewarm?
  • If we are cold or lukewarm, how can we become “On Fire” in our devotion for God?

Take Action

  • What can you do this week to become more fired up about your relationship with God?
  • What can you do this week to share the warmth of Christ with someone?

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Ducks in a Row

Description


In this icebreaker game, youth must arrange their group in order according to specific criteria.


Number of Youth


Unlimited (in groups of at least 8 teens)


How to Play


  1. Youth are told they may not talk.
  2. Teens are then told to line up their group in order of height (shortest to tallest).
  3. Once everyone is lined up the team must shout “Ducks in a Row” and Quack loudly while flapping their arms as wings.
  4. The first team of youth to do so wins the round.

Additional optional rounds


  • Alphabetical order by first name
  • Alphabetical order by mother’s or father’s first name
  • In order of their birthday
  • According to shoe size
  • According to phone number
  • According to the number of letters in their full name.
  • According to their house number or address block
  • According to length of hair
  • Others?

Take it to the Next Level


bowling-pin.jpgThe phrase “Ducks in a row” is a common English idiom meaning that things are well-organized – that all the small details are accounted for and are in their proper positions before moving on to something else. At first thought, the sight of a mother duck followed by all the little ducklings seems the logical source for this idiom. But the most popular theory is that it comes from bowling as a sport. Early bowling pins were shorter and thicker than modern pins and were commonly referred to as “ducks.” Before the invention of automatic resetting machines for the pins, after each round they would be manually placed back into position by a person. So to “have all your ducks in a row” was to make sure all the pins were properly placed in position before sending the next bowling ball down the lane.

A lot of people put off making various decisions until everything seems to be in place and perfect. Older people might use the idiom “When I get all my ducks in order I will…” Youth may not use the phrase much, but they use similar expressions. “When I get my life (or act) together, THEN I’ll make that commitment.” “When I grow up, then I will…” “When I finish my education, then I will…” “When I am successful in my career then i will…” In fact, people of all ages make similar excuses.

The truth of the matter is that becoming and living as a Christian is a step of faith. You will never on this earth fully understand the scriptures. You will never fully understand the ways and mind of God. (Isaiah 55:8) You will never even truly understand yourself. While it is good to use your mind and plan ahead, we must also trust and depend completely upon God.


Focal Scripture


“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.” – Proverbs 3:5-6


Practical Application


  • What are some of the choices and decisions that God calls us to make as Christians?
  • How do we know when God is calling us to do do something?
  • How do we know when the timing is right to step out in faith?
  • What are some things in your life that God might be calling you to get in order before he calls you to a position or task?
  • Don’t wait till you undestand everything. If God is calling you to something make a decision today to yield to that calling and trust him for the results. Simply step out in faith and trust him and he will make your way sure.

 

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Draw the Names of God

Game Description
This icebreaker activity makes a great creative learning activity to help introduce youth to some of the many names of God. If you use the names of God and Christ related to the Christmas Story it also serves as a great icebreaker or Bible Study discussion starter for Christmas.

Game Materials
Whiteboard, chalkboard, or simply paper

Game Preparation
None

Game Play
Youth attempt to get their partner or team to guess a name of God using only drawings. This can be done one at a time before the group or in pairs. For simple names like “The Door” this may be easily done by drawing a door. But for more difficult names it make require several words in the form of a rebus. Numbers and letters are not allowed to be used.

Variation
Place the names of God on a peice of paper and tape them on to the back of youth as they arrive. Give each youth sheet of paper and a pencil and have them help each other to discover the names on their backs by merely drawing them. Numbers and letters are not allowed to be used. Also, to keep the youth mingling, have them write down all the names of God they see on other people’s backs.

Optional Discussion

  • Which name do you think was most difficult to communicate? Why?
  • Would you prefer to see a photograph or hear the story?
  • Do you find it easier to express yourself in words or through images?
  • Have you ever felt handicapped in trying to communicate God to others?
  • In what ways is this activity similar to sharing your faith?
  • What concepts in sharing your faith are most difficult to communicate?
  • How does God communicate himself to us in a way we can understand.
  • How is Christmas a means by which God communicates to us?

 

Here are a few of the many names of God

  • Abba – Romans 8:15
  • Advocate – Job 16:19; I John 2:1
  • Alpha – Revelation 1:8; 21:6; Revelation 22:13
  • Ancient of Days, Ancient One – Daniel 7:9, 22; 13:21-22
  • Author of life – Acts 3:15
  • Author of our Faith – Hebrews 12:2
  • Banner – Exodus 17:15, Isaiah 11:10
  • Branch – Jeremiah 33:15, Isaiah 4:2
  • Bread of Life – John 6:33-35
  • Bridegroom – Isaiah 62:56; Matthew 9:15
  • Chosen One – Isaiah 42:1; Luke 23:35
  • Comforter, Consolation of Israel – II Corinthians 1:4; John 14:26, Luke 2:25
  • Cornerstone – Isaiah 28:16
  • Counselor – Isaiah 9:6
  • Creator – Genesis 14:19 -22; Dt 32:6; Eccl 12:1; Isaiah 27:11; 40:28; 43:15; 45:18; 1 Peter 4:19
  • Defender – Psalm 68:5
  • Deliverer – II Samuel 22:2; Psalm 18:2; Romans 11:26
  • Door – John 10:7
  • Father – Matthew 6:9; Matthew 11:25
  • Gardner – John 15:1
  • God of all Comfort – II Corinthians 1:3
  • God of Heaven and Earth – Deuteronomy 4:39; Ezra 5:11
  • God of Peace – Romans 16:20; I Thessalonians 5:23
  • God With Us – Isaiah 7:14; 8:8
  • Good Shepherd – John 10:11
  • Great High Priest – Hebrews 4:14; Hebrews 3:1; Hebrews 6:20; 2:17; Hebrews 5:6
  • Guide – Psalm 48:14
  • Healer – Exodus 15:26; Psalm 103:3; Isaiah 30:26; 61:1; Jeremiah 3:22; 30:17
  • Hiding place – Psalm 32:7
  • High Tower – 2 Samuel 22:3; Psalm 18:2; Psalm 59
  • Immanuel, God with Us – Matthew 1:23
  • Intercessor – Job 16:20; Isaiah 53:12; Romans 8:26
  • Judge – Genesis 18:25; Psalm 7:18; 96:13; Isaiah 33:22; Acts 10:42; Acts 10:42; Psalm 94:12; II Lawgiver – Isaiah 33:22; James 4:12
  • Lily of the Valley – Song of Songs 2:1
  • Name above all names – Philippians 2:9&10
  • Omega – Revelation 1:8; Revelation 22:13
  • Physician – Luke 4:23
  • Redeemer – Genesis 48:16; Job 19:25; Psalm 19:14; 78:35; Proverbs 23:11; Isaiah 41:14; 43:14; 44:6; 24; 47:4; 48:17; 49:7; 26; Isaiah 54:5; 8; 59:20; 60:16; 63:16; Jeremiah 50:34; Job 19:25;Psalm 19:14
  • Refuge; Refuge from the storm – Psalm 14:6; 46:1; 62:7-8; 71:7; 91:2,9; 9:9 94:22; 142:5; Proverbs 14:26; Isaiah 25:4
  • Rock – Deuteronomy 32:18; Psalm 18:2; 42:9; 144:1; Isaiah 30:29; 1 Cor.10:4; I Peter 2:8
  • Salvation, Savior – Psalm 62:1; Isaiah 12:2; Psalm 38:22; Exodus 15:2; Psalm 27:1; John 4:42; Acts 13:23; I Timothy 4:14; Luke 2:11; Isaiah 43:3; 49:26
  • Shepherd – Genesis 48:15; 49:24; Psalm 23:1; 79:13; 80:1; 95:7; 100:3; Isaiah 40:11; I Peter 2:25; John 10:11; Hebrews 13:20
  • Stronghold – II Samuel 22:3; Psalm 9:9; 27:1; 84:11; Psalm 43:2
  • Sustainer – Psalm 55:22; Isaiah 46:4
  • Vine – John 15:5
  • Way – John 14:6

 

Christmas Variation
Use the names and titles of God related to Christmas and this becomes a nice icebreaker for your Christmas Party or introduction to a Christmas related Bible Study.

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