Tag Archives: choices

A New Year: New Priorities

December 30, 2015 kensapp Leave a comment

A New Year - New Priorities
With the New Year we typically evaluate the past year and set new priorities for the upcoming year. Sometimes we call these new priorities or renewed priorities New Year’s Resolutions. New Year’s Resolutions may be focused around family, personal goals, money, jobs, and many other things. While these things are not necessarily wrong, when they take precedence over our relationship with God they become a problem.

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What You Need

Large sheets of paper or newsprint
Whiteboard markers (that will not bleed through the paper)

Preparation

Put a Poster or large sheet of paper in each corner of the room for each of the following labels:
- Possessions or Provision
- Power or Position
- Popularity
- Others
Place a chair in the exact center of the room as a marker.

What to Do

Explain:
- Possessions refer to the material things we seek in life.
- Power refers to positions we want to obtain in life.
- Popularity refers to social recognition and fame that people seek in life.
- Explain that the center of the room represents living for God.
Allow youth to brainstorm about the things that people have as priorities in their lives. Examples might be good grades, a good job, a marriage partner, a house, to serve God, to have lots of money, etc.
Then have youth write the priority on the poster that represents that priority. Some items might fit into more than one category (i.e. good grades might be a priority but the reason could be for popularity or for the purpose of getting a job with more money and a higher position – power.)
After the posters have been filled with examples of each priority, have youth stand somewhere in the room that reflects their most important priorities in life. (For example, if someones priority is to make lots of money they might stand in the possessions corner.)

TAKE IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL

MAKE IT SPIRITUAL

Read Matthew 4:1-10

How does this passage relate to the posters in the corners of the room?
Which poster represents each of the temptations?
How did Christs understanding of his purpose in life reflect his priorities?

Jesus was tempted with popularity, power, and possessions (material needs). But because Jesus understood his purpose in the world he did not give into temptation. There is nothing wrong with material possessions, power or popularity. But when they replace God as a priority in our lives they become a problem. In fact, later in Jesus ministry we would see him providing for the physical needs of people, he would demonstrate the power of God, and he would be popular. Yet his priority was to do the will of God, to accomplish the purpose for which he had been sent into the world. God has brought each of us into the world for a purpose. The better we understand our purpose, the better we will be able to balance our priorities to fulfill that purpose in the new year.

MAKE IT PRACTICAL

What are some things that are part of Gods plan for every persons life?
How can a person discover and trust Gods plan for his or her life? (See Proverbs 3:5-6; Philippians 4:6; Romans 8:28)

MAKE IT PERSONAL

What do you believe is part of Gods purpose for bringing YOU into the world? (You may not know all the details yet, but you might have some ideas.)
Each of you has positioned yourself in a specific corner of the room based on your own priorities. How can someone in your position move closer to Gods Purpose for your life and away from the wrong priorities?
What are some of the practical steps you can take this year that would move you closer to Gods ideal plan for your life?
Commit to one of the steps you can start this week!

————————————————–
ADDITIONAL SCRIPTURES
————————————————–

Proverbs 3:5-6
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will direct your paths.”

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

Romans 8:28
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

1 Thessalonians 5:18
“in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

Philippians 3:8
“What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ.”

Creative Holiday Ideas
Games and Activities in Celebration of common Holidays.

Creative Holiday Ideas has over 300 pages of ideas to help you plan not only your next New Year’s Celebration, but also most of the other common holidays. If you’ve ever wondered what you’re going to do for the holidays and how you’re going to do it, this resource is for you.

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Game Ideas, Object Lessons

Step up in the New Year

December 30, 2014 kensapp Leave a comment

A person’s feet tell us two very important facts about someone: where one’s standing and which way someone is going. A firm stand and a consistent walk are both traits we admire in others. During the New Year we often look back at the journey that has brought us to where we are now as well as make decisions about where we want to go in the upcoming year.

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Games using Feet

Identify the Footprint – As the youth arrive, collect their footprints. My personal preference is to have sheets of colored paper – the type that does not leave a stain when wet. (Test it first so you don’t have permanent footprints across your carpet!). Have the participants remove their shooes and socks, then step on a damp towel and then finally step on the paper. A wet footprint will be left behind. Quickly trace it with a dark colored marker and let it dry! You might also want to number the prints and have a numbered name list so that you can correctly identify the prints later. Go through the numbered prints and have youth match the print with the person who made it. Can you even identify your own footprint? Award the person who correctly identifies the most feet! With the Incredible FEAT award!
Foot Tag – Two players hold hands with both hands. On “go” both players try and tap the top of their opponents foot with their own foot. First to do so wins. Winners then play winners until there is a top winner.
Whose feet – 5-8 members of the group sit behind a curtain. Only the bare feet are peeking out from under the curtain. Can a player (or the rest of the group) work out whose feet they are?
Fewest feet – Each team tries to stand on as few feet as possible. For example, 5 players have 10 feet and try to only have 3-4 feet on the ground.
Coaster discus – A coaster or plastic lid is clamped between the toes and is thrown like a Frisbee as far as possible. Farthest throw wins.
Foot relay – Divide your group into teams of 6-8. Each team then lines up and sits on the floor. The object of the game is to pass a lemon along the line and back again using only their feet. If the lemon touches the floor the team have to start again at the beginning.
Footsies – This game is similar to twister but without the game props. Begin the game with all players standing in a circle about a shoulder-width apart. Select one youth to be the first striker and have him or her start the game by moving one of his or her feet (this foot is called the striking foot) to touch one of the feet of the person to the left of them. Once the striker decides which foot he or she wants to move while striking foot the other foot becomes the pivot foot. The pivot foot cannot be lifted off the ground. Once the first striker has made his or her move, he or she has to freeze both feet in the position in which he or she came in contact with the other person and must remain frozen until his or her next turn. The foot of the person who was struck becomes the next person’s striking foot for his or her turn. The game progresses by going around the circle in a clockwise motion (to the left), having each player take his or her striking foot and striking the next player. As the game progresses, players will begin to find themselves in positions that make it hard to remain balanced so people will begin to be eliminated. Players are eliminated if they touch the ground with anything other than their feet, if they lose their balance, if they try to catch their balance by grabbing another person, if it is their turn and by mistake move the foot that was not touched by the previous striker’s foot or if they move their feet out of turn. If someone is eliminated, the next person in the circle continues on with the game choosing which ever foot he or she wishes to use as the striking foot. As youth are eliminated, there will be gaps in the circle making it harder for strikers to reach the foot of the person next in the circle. If while attempting to reach the foot of the person next in the circle the strikers loses his or her balance or breaks any of the other rules, he or she is eliminated. Note that strikers don’t necessarily have to lift their striking foot when striking, but also can scoot a foot across the ground in order to remain balanced; once contact is made with the other person’s foot, the striker’s feet must freeze. As the game goes on, players will find they are getting very close to each other and it becomes harder to remain balanced. Players are allowed to touch each other, but they cannot grab, push, bump or brace other players to try and make them loose their balance.
Foot Pictionary – This is like standard pictionary but the artist instead of drawing with their hands will draw with their feet, by having the marker tied to one of their feet with the bandana. On “Go” the player will try their best to draw the assigned picture, while the rest of their team tries to guess the picture. Keep the assigned pictures simple, as it will be difficult to even draw the simplest things and make them recognizable. Maybe even purchase and use “Junior Pictionary” for suggested words and categories.
Banana Foot Peel – Bring up about 4 students, have them take off their shoes and socks, and hand each of them a banana. When the leader says go, the contestants are supposed to peel the banana with their feet as quickly as they can. They can use both feet to do so. Judge the winner by speed and final condition of the banana.
Foot Signing Contest – Have 5 students come to the front of the room and remove their shoes and socks. Give each a felt-tipped or ball point pen. On the signal, they run out into the crowd and see who can get the most signatures on the bottom of their feet in the time limit. No one person can sign more than three feet. Can use both feet. Signatures must be legible.
Balancing foot balloons – Only using the feet, one or more balloons must be kept up in the air without the balloon touching the ground. This can also be timed.
Spell My Feet – Take 5 people and have them take off their shoes and socks. Take a marker and write a large letter on the bottom of each of their feet so if they sit facing you and hold their feet in the air, you can read the letters. On the first person put an A and an N (one letter on each foot), on the next an E and a T, then GR, OM, and SP. You will call out different words for them to spell and they have to cross legs, stretch, and situate themselves in a position so that the bottom of their feet spell the word you called. You can do this with two teams of five if you want and see who spells the word first. Use these words: master, roast, smear, togas, snore, ten proms, get spam, great son

TAKE IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL

Today’s games all involved feet. A lot of our English idioms and common sayings refer to “feet”. Share a few appropriate idioms or the entire list of idoms with the group. Which of these idioms best describes you? Why?

Idioms referring to feet
back on your feet again
dip your toes in the water
drag one’s feet
fall at his feet
find your feet
fleet of foot
foot the bill
get a foot in the door
get cold feet
get off on the wrong foot
get to one’s feet
get your feet wet
has two left feet
have a foot in both camps
have feet of clay
have one foot in the grave
have your feet on the ground
hold someone’s feet to the fire
hot foot out of here
land on your feet
make an about face
My foot!
on foot
on your back foot
pussyfoot around
put a foot wrong
put your best foot forward
put your feet up
put your foot down
put your foot in it
put your foot in your mouth
shoot yourself in the foot
sit at the foot of a teacher
stand on your own two feet
step on another person’s foot
step on the gas
stop dead in your tracks
sweep someone off his/her feet
take a load off your feet
take a stand
take steps toward something
the ball is at your feet
thinking on your feet
throw yourself at someone’s feet
tiptoe through it
to get under foot
vote with your feet
watch your step
world’s at your feet

MAKE IT SPIRITUAL

Sure footed – Many of the proverbs talk about making our paths straight, about stumbling, about watching our step, about our walk with God. Proverbs 4:26 – “Watch the path of your feet And all your ways will be established.”
God’s Protection – “. . . unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy” (Jude 24, KJV).
Hab 3:19; 2 Sam 22:34; Ps 18:33 – “The Lord God [is] my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds’ feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places.”
Evangelism – Romans 10:15 – “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”
Ephesians 6:15 – “And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace”
Servanthood – John 13 – Jesus washing the disciples’ feet.

MAKE IT PRACTICAL

What is something that you have taken a stand for in the past year? What are some things that you need to take a stronger stand on in the upcoming year?
What are some steps that you have taken in the right direction with your life? The wrong direction?
What are some areas in which you have stumbled along the way in your journey?
What are some ways that we can make our walk sure? How can you get back on your feet and take a new step in the right direction with your life? In what areas do you need to watch your step?
Taking a stand and finding your footing in life isn’t always easy – especially when you might need to step on a few toes to do so. How can you find the balance between taking a stand on things that are important to you without stepping on too many toes? Should you worry about stepping on toes? Why or why not?

MAKE IT PERSONAL

As a footnote to this lesson, identify at least one area of your life where you need to get back on your feet! How can you take a new step in the right direction with your life beginning today? In what areas do you need to watch your step in the journey ahead?

(As a meaningful reminder, give the participants the piece of paper with their footprint on it to write the answer to the questions above. Encourage them to place it on the door of their room as a reminder that every day they step outside that door they need to also take a step in the right direction for their life in the New Year!)

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Game Ideas, Object Lessons

Candy Corn Choices

October 22, 2014 kensapp Leave a comment

Candy corn is the top-selling Halloween candy and the most talked about candy during Halloween, but it is also talked about as the worst candy for you. Candy Corn isn’t real corn. It is almost pure sugar – a sweet imitation of the real thing which isn’t good for us in any way. So it’s good, but it’s bad. How do we decide what things are good for us in our Christian life? The most difficult decisions are often not between what is good and bad, but between what is permissible and what is beneficial to us.

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Candy Corn Games

Candy Corn Cluckers – Fill a bowl with dried corn kernels or peanuts and add several pieces of candy corn. Blindfolded youth must retrieve the candy corn from the bowl within a designate amount of time without eating the dried corn kernels / nuts. The teen that retrieves the most candy corn in the designated time limit wins.
Candy Corn Pitching – Youth take turns pitching ten to twenty candy corn kernels, one at a time, into a bowl from a set distance. You might choose to have various bowls of different sizes and at different distances. Display the points based upon difficulty. Keep score of how many kernels end up in the various bowls. The winner is the youth with the highest score after three rounds.
Odds or Evens – Each player starts out with the same number of candy corn kernels. Players rotate about the room pairing up with others. When they find a partner, one youth hides a few kernels of candy corn in his hand. The other youth must guess if the number of corn kernels is odd or even. If guessed correctly, the player can add the kernels to his own collection. Youth take turns hiding and guessing, until one player has all the corn or until a specified time limit! [With this game the candy corn can get a little messy 🙂 to avoid the mess use individually wrapped mints or other candy.]
Candy Corn Drop – Have the youth stand on a sturdy chair or other safe elevation and drop the pieces down into a person’s mouth who is lying on the floor. The youth who gets the most candy corn into the person’s mouth in a given time frame wins.
Candy Corn Toss – Place the pieces of candy corn into a small sealed sandwich bag or similar cellophane bag and have a “candy corn bag” toss. Number pails, bowls, or plastic pumpkins, placing them in a row perpendicular to A start line, pail number one being closest. youth stand behind the line and throw candy cord bags into each consecutive bucket. Keep score or issue prizes for hitting each target.
Candy Corn Bocce – On a smooth surface like a table, one youth acts as the referee, sliding out the first piece of candy corn. He then marks this piece with a toothpick. Contestants take turns sliding 4 different pieces as close to the referee’s mark as they can. The referee determines which piece is the closest, awarding that youth or team a point. Play until someone gets ten points.
Candy Corn Hunt – Fill small plastic bags with candy corn and hide them throughout the yard. Send players out into the yard to find the bags until every bag has been claimed. You may also divide the players up into groups and see which group can find the most bags. This game can also be played inside, or at night with flashlights.
Corny Scramble – Toss handfuls of candy corn onto a large table clear of obstacles. Give each youth a treat bag and make the scramblers wait until you say “Boo!” On the signal, the players must run forward and collect as many pieces of candy corn as possible. Once all the kernels have been picked up, see who has the most candy in his bag.
Guess the Kernels – Fill a decorated jar or Halloween treat pail with pieces of candy corn, making sure you count how many pieces you put into the container. Set the container up on a table supplied with slips of paper, pencils and a bucket to put the paper slips into. Each participant may take one guess at how many pieces of candy are inside the container. The player who guesses the closest to the actual amount wins all the candy corn.
Kernel Relay – Mark a starting line and a finish line with masking tape on the floor roughly 15 feet apart. Set an empty bowl for each player at the finish line and a bag of candy corn and a spoon at the starting line. Have each player stand at a bag of corn and take the spoon in hand, placing a single kernel on the spoon. The youth will then carefully race a piece of corn to an empty bowl at the finish line, trying not to let the candy fall off the spoon. Each player will continue to race from the bag of corn to the bowl to see how many pieces of candy she or he can get into the bowl within the allotted time of one minute. If a player drops a kernel from the spoon, that youth must then run back to the bag of candy corn and get another piece to start over again.
Candy Corn and Straws Relay – Divide the youth into teams and give every person on a team a plastic straw and a paper cup. Place a piece of candy corn in the first team member’s cup. The youth must create a vacuum in the straw to pick up the candy corn and place it into the next person’s cup. First team to get the candy corn into the last person’s cup wins. If the candy corn is dropped on the floor, the team must start completely over at the beginning.
Where’s the Corn? – Line up three plastic cups out on a tabletop in front of a youth. Place a single piece of candy corn under one of the cups, allowing the player to see which cup the corn is under. Begin to change the cups’ formation around for five to ten seconds. The youth then must try to remember which cup is hiding the candy and will continue to play and collect candy corn until he or she chooses the wrong cup. Give the earned candy corn to that player, and continue on with the next player until every youth has won pieces of candy.
Candy Corn and Spoons – Divide into teams, have each team to line up single file, and have a cup with one or more pieces of candy corn for each team. Give each player a spoon. The first player on each team picks up a piece of candy corn with the spoon, spins around in place 3 times, then passes the candy to the next person on the team. Candy Corn can only be touched with the spoon. If the candy is dropped the team must start over again from the beginning. First team to get all the marbles down the line wins.
Chopsticks and Candy Corn – Using a pair of chopsticks and a couple shallow bowls or saucers, each youth is given one minute to move candy corn from one bowl to the other using only the chopsticks. Only one hand can be used to hold the chopsticks. The youth to transfer the most candy corn wins.
Tick-Tack-Corn – Pair the youth up into groups of two and sit them down at a table across from each other. Give the pair a tick-tack-toe board, and one player a handful of regular candy corn pieces. The other youth will receive a handful of the chocolate variety of candy corn, making one player the yellow team and the other player the brown team. Have the players play tick-tack-toe using their corn until one player wins, or until there is a draw. This may continue for as many rounds as desired.
Musical Candy Corn – Fill treat bags with candy corn for as many youth as are playing, minus one. Set the bags up in a circle on a tabletop or floor. Have the players circle around the bags at a steady walking pace while some music plays. Stop the music at random, at which point each player tries to grab the bag closest to him. Whoever fails to grab a bag or candy corn in time is out of the game, and the players still in must set the bags back up in the circle. Remove one of the bags from the circle, then start the music up again. Continue this until the game is down between two players and one treat bag. Whoever snatches up the last bag is the game winner.
Candy Corn Foosball – Have two youth stand at either end of a large table. One youth throws candy corn (or a plastic bag of it) to the other end of the table, and the other youth must block it from going through and making a goal. Use a dry sponge for blocking making sure it is one that will not scratch your table.
Candy Corn Straw Relay – Race to see who could move the most candy corn from the table into a bowl in sixty seconds using only a single straw.
Candy Corn Catch – You’ll need one plastic pumpkin with a handle for each team, one bag of candy corn per team, and a belt or length of rope for each team. Use the rope or belt to secure the pumpkin around the waist of one player per team. Have the team member who is wearing the pumpkin stand about 7 to 10 feet away from the players who will be throwing the candy corn. The player wearing the pumpkin may move around to try and catch the candy corn as it is thrown without using their hands to deflect the candy corn in any way. Once everyone has thrown the candy corn, take the pumpkin and count the candy corn inside. The youth with the most candy corn wins.

TAKE IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL

MAKE IT SPIRITUAL

What are some of the differences between real corn and candy corn?
Which is good for you? Bad for you?
What other things in life are good for you? Bad for you?
How do you know the difference?

Candy corn may not kill you, but it most certainly is not the best for you. It may taste sweet, but the sugar rush doesn’t last and it really isn’t something that is good for you. Corn is healthy and good for us, but candy corn, is really just sugar. It’s a sweet imitation of something good. In life there are many things which may seem good, but are not good for us. BUT how can we decide what is good for us and what is not?

MAKE IT PRACTICAL

Some decisions are not simply a matter of right and wrong, but a choice between what is permissable, what is good, and what is best. These are often the toughest decisions.

Here are some guidelines:

Is this action Scripturally based–does Scripture support or condemn it (Matthew 4:4, 7, 10; I Timothy 3:16-17)?
How would this affect my witness for Christ if others knew about it (Matthew 5:13-16; I Thessalonians 5:21-22)?
Would Jesus put his name on this for a stamp of approval? (Colossians 3:17)
Does this fall into the classification of good thinking? (Philippians 4:8)
Will this degrade or defile my body (the temple of the Holy Spirit)? (I Corinthians 6:19)
Will this sooner or later make a slave out of me? (I Corinthians 9:27, 2 Peter 2:19)
Does this have the “smell” of evil on it? (1 Thessalonians 5:22)
Will my indulgence in this tend to weaken someone’s faith? (I Corinthians 8:13)
Does it benefit us or others? (I Corinthians 6:12a, 10:23)
Can you do it with a clear conscience? (Romans 14:22)
Does it bring Glory to God, meet his approval? (1 Corinthians 6:19-20; 10:31-33; 2 Corinthians 5:9)
Does it help lead others to Christ? (1 Corinthians 10:33)
Would I be ashamed to be doing this thing when Christ returns (Matthew 24:42-46)?
Does this action hurt others (Romans 14:20-21; Galatians 5:13-15)?

MAKE IT PERSONAL

What are some of the things I allow as substitutes in my life for the real things?
Which of the above considerations is new to me?
Which of the above considerations is most difficult for me?
What can I do this week to be more Christlike?
How can I allow Christ to have more influence in the daily decisions of my life?

SCRIPTURE

1 Corinthians 10:31-11:1 – “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God – even as I try to please everyone in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved. Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.”

ROMANS 12:2 – “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – His good, pleasing and perfect will.”

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Creative Holiday Ideas
Games and Activities in Celebration of common Holidays.

Creative Holiday Ideas has over 300 pages of ideas to help you plan not only your next Fall Festival or Halloween Alternative event, but also most of the other common holidays. If you’ve ever wondered what you’re going to do for the holidays and how you’re going to do it, this resource is for you.

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Creative Teaching Ideas, Game Ideas, Object Lessons

Card Sharks – Playing the hand you are dealt in life

May 27, 2014 kensapp Leave a comment

Decks of cards are easy to find. And everyone knows a card game or two. With this icebreaker, cards are used to sort people into different groups as well as discover a little about each other! They can also be used to explore integrity, doubts, honesty, and personal character.

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What You Need

Deck of normal playing cards. Add additional decks for larger groups. I have found boxes of enormously sized cards at novelty shops that add even more fun to the games. I’ve even found them as large as an 8-1/2 x 11 sheet of paper.

Using Playing cards to Breaking into Groups

Shuffle cards and let each youth choose one. (You can reduce the size of a deck to your group side by removing some of the numbers of each suit. Once youth have chosen cards, you can force specific combinations of youth by telling them to group themselves in the following ways:

* Red vs Black – Two Teams according to the color of the cards
* Odds & Evens – Two teams according to the value of cards (Face cards have the values Jack-11, Queen – 12, and King – 13)
* Suits – Four teams (Spades, Hearts, Diamonds, Clubs)
* Call out any number and they must form groups that add up to that number.
* BlackJack – Add up to 21
* Poker Hands – Groups of 5 cards (Which group has the highest hand?)
– Four of a Kind – All four cards of each number (groups of four)
– Straight Flush – 5 Cards Grouped by Colors and lined up according to number.
– Full House – 3 of one card and two of another
– 3 of a kind – 3 cards of same number, 2 additional cards
– 4 of a kind – 4 cards of same number, 1 additional card
– Straight – 5 cards in order
– Flush – 5 cards of the same color
– Two Pairs – 2 sets of two plus another card

Games using Playing Cards

Build a Tower – Give groups of youth a deck or two of playing cards, inside a box, and ask them to build the tallest tower in a given period of time. Do not say it is a competition between groups. Just that in X minutes the tallest tower wins. The tallest tower could actually be built when they put all their resources together. What lessons can we learn from this?
Card elimination – When you call out specific groupings of cards (or poker hands), The youth must scramble to form them. If groups do not meet the specified criteria or are the last group to form, they are eliminated from the game. The last remaining group is the winner.
Card Identity – Ask students to pick cards from the deck that represent something about themselves. These representations can be as shallow or deep as the students’ imaginations. Have youth mingle and share with one another their names and the cards they have chosen and why. One might choose a two because they have “2 parents” or “two feet” etc. Another student might choose an ace because they strive to “be an ‘ace’ at everything they do… The opportunities are limitless.
Card Mixer – Before the activity, write a question on each card to be shared when the youth are mixing together. (e.g. what is your favorite ice cream, most embarrassing moment, favorite musician, favorite scripture, etc.) Match these questions to a future discussion!
Go Fish! – 5 cards are dealt to each player. In turn, players ask another player for his/her cards of a specific rank. (Example: “Ken, do you have threes?”) A player may only ask for a card of which he already holds at least 1 card.The person asked must hand over all cards of that rank. If the call was successful, the player has another turn. But if the player asked has no cards of that rank, he says “Go fish”, and the asking player draws the top card from the deck and it’s the next player’s turn. When a player has all 4 cards of a rank they are placed face up on the table. The game ends when all sets are formed, and the player with the most cards wins.
Playing Card LIne-up – Instruct the youth to not peek at their cards, then pass out one playing card to each member of the group (you may need a few decks …). On your signal, each youth places the card on their forehead so that others can see the card. Without talking, all youth then group by suit, and then in numerical order (Is Ace high or low? ) Instead of placing them on their forehead where they can fall off, you can also punch a hole in each card and hand them on a strong around the youth’s necks so that it hangs in the back where they cannot see it but others can. What worked or didn’t? Who were the leaders? What are some lessons?
Stratego – Play a variation of “stratego” between two teams. Remove cards from the deck so that there is 1-ace, 2-two’s, 3 three’s, etc. Designate jokers as bombs. Leave only one king. The king can be captured by any card. Use the jack with the sword to his head as the spy. Play the game just as you would “stratego”, but have teams send representatives to a person on the opposing team to do battle. Do not reveal the card numbers to teams, but merely who is the victor of the battle. Those who lose battle cannot reveal the victors total to their teams and are removed to a graveyard area. First team to kill the king wins.
Team Sit – Give each team a suit of cards, shuffled and one chair. On your signal, players look at their cards and without talking the ace takes the chair. 2 sits on their knees. 3 sits on the next person’s knees. First team to sit in a line wins.
Ten – Remove 10s and all face cards. Have students choose a partner whose card added to theirs will result in a sum of 10… the combinations are numerous (1-9, 2-8, 3-7, 4-6, 5-5) Last cuple to pair up is eliminated. Blindly exchange cards with at least 3 people then have then go again , repeating until you have a winner.

A Card Game and a Lesson

Play a game of “I Doubt It” it with the cards.

Divide into 2 to 4 teams.
In this game the objective is to be the first team to discard all of their cards. The team who goes first must discard their aces face down, the second two’s, third, three’s… through King’s. Each time play comes back to the team, a new player must place the cards down, rotating through team members.
As the team places the cards down they must announce the quantity of cards being played (i.e. 2 aces, 1 two, 3 threes, 1 jack, 4 queens, etc.) If a team doesn’t have a card of the value they are supposed to play, then they must bluff.
A team may also bluff at any time by including additional cards of another value in with the cards of the correct value they are playing. For example a person may only have two aces, but includes a six and calls out “three aces.”
At any time another team may shout “I doubt it.” The team that just played cards must turn them over and reveal them. If the revealed cards were a bluff and not 100% what they were claimed to be, the team picks up the entire discard pile. If they were telling the truth, then the team who yelled “I doubt it” must pick up the entire discard pile.
The game continues until one team runs out of cards.

TAKE IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL

Discussion

What is the primary objective of the card game “I doubt it”? What are some of our objectives in life? What does winning mean to you?
What type of person is best at this game? Did anyone in this game get a reputation for dishonesty or for integrity? What reputation do you have with others? How did you get that reputation?
What elements of this game caused you to lie, misrepresent the truth, or stretch the truth? What things tempt you to be less than honest in real life? What things tempt you to act against your normal character?
Are you known for your honesty, for your integrity? What actions in life build / destroy a person’s character / reputation? Why is a good reputation important? How does our reputation affect how others respond to us?
Is TRUTH flexible? Why or why not? Is there such a thing as absolute truth? Why or why not?

MAKE IT SPIRITUAL

INTEGRITY: How often in life do we try to gain – benefit by either stretching the truth or by an outright lie? How many times do we sacrifice honesty and integrity to get ahead of others in the game of life? While in this game we might get away with it do people get away with it in life? Is integrity really important? Honesty?

Why is integrity important to God? (1 Kings 9:4, 1 Chronicles 29:17, Job 2:2-4, Titus 2:7, Proverbs 10:9)
Instances of integrity in the Bible:

Jacob, in the care of Laban’s property (Genesis 31:39)
Joseph, in resisting Potiphar’s wife (Genesis 39:8-12, 40:15)
Moses, took nothing from the Israelites for his services (Numbers 16:15)
Samuel, in took nothing from the people for his services (1 Samuel 12:4)
David, in self-reproach for the cutting of Saul’s robe (1 Samuel 24:5)
Daniel, in staying pure and upright (Daniel 1:8-20; Daniel 6:4)
Nathanael, in whom was no guile (John 1:47)
Peter, when offered money by Simon Magus (Acts 8:18-23)

DOUBTS: All of us have doubts at one time or another, but that doesn’t mean we give up. We make choices the best we can not knowing what the next card in life holds for us.

What are some of your doubts related to the Bible and your faith?
Divided the youth into groups to write a short monologues of doubts that the following Biblical characters might have had:

The disciples when caught on the sea in storm (Mark 4:26-40)
Noah when he was asked to build the ark (Genesis 6,7)
Abraham when asked to sacrifice Isaac (Genesis 22:1-10)
Moses when God asked him to go to Pharoah (Ex. 4:1-13)
David when he faced Goliath (I Samuel 17,18)
Daniel when he was thrown to the lion’s den (Daniel 6)

What options did the above people have in responding to their doubts? Why do you think they acted as they did?
How could you rewrite the above passages as modern situations which might create similar doubts.
What was the time of greatest doubt in your life, and why? Was it similar to any of the characters above?
How are your doubts different or similar? Explain.

MAKE IT PERSONAL

Make a commitment to live a life of integrity, to face your doubts and keep playing the game regardless of the cards you have been dealt in life!

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Object Lessons

Setting Priorities for the New Year

January 7, 2014 kensapp Leave a comment

The beginning of the year is often the time when people set new goals and priorities for the year ahead. This lesson is adapted from an object lesson on priorities in our Creative Object Lessons ebook.

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You can find this as an illustration here.

An Object Lesson

What You Need

Marker than can write on plastic
Transparent plastic or glass jar
Ping pong balls (or golf balls)
Bag of rice
Two small plastic bags – You can use more but I prefer two.
Large sheet of paper, newspaper classified ads, or whiteboard

Advance Preparation

Place as many ping pong balls in the jar as will fit
Add as much rise as possible to fill the rest of the space
Empty the jar and place the rice into the plastic bags
Discard the ping balls that were not in the jar so that you only have those that fit.

What to Do

Ask the youth to list goals people might have for this new year?
List them on the newsprint or whiteboard so that all can see.
Pass out the ping pong balls and ask the students to write one of the goals for the new year on each Ping Pong Ball
Ask the students to choose three other things to write on the bags of rice.
Pour the bags of rice into the jar, reading each goals as you pour its contents into the jar.
Then do the same with each of the ping pong balls. These will not all fit.
Explain that if you do the small things first, you won’t have time for the important things.
Ask youth to decide which things on the ping pong balls are the most important and place them in the jar first. You might need to replace the labels on some of them or replace them with the leftover ping pong balls.
Then when you put the items for the rice in they will all fall into place and everything will fit.

TAKE IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL

MAKE IT SPIRITUAL

When it comes to setting goals, I sometimes hear two different opinions. I’ve heard people say we should not plan but should be led by the spirit in everything we do. I’ve heard others say that God gave us brains and wisdom to plan in advance and we must make concrete plans. The truth lies somewhere in the middle. We must make plans and be wise with our time, but at the same time our plans must not be so fixed that there is no room for God to add, change, or interrupt those plans for his will to be done.

1. Men of God make plans based upon the wisdom they have

Proverbs 6 affirms wise planning and working toward those plans.
Proverbs 13:16 “A wise man thinks ahead; a fool doesn’t and even brags about it!”
Proverbs 15:22 “Plans go wrong with too few counselors; many counselors bring success.”
Proverbs 21:5 “The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty.”
Paul made plans (see Acts 15:36; Rom 1:13)
The disciples made plans (Acts 6:1-3)
Jesus made plans (Matt 10:5-15; 16:21; 26:17-19)
Jesus used plans as an illustration in his teachings (Luke 14:28-31)

2. God’s Word must be a guide for our plans (Psalm 119:9-16; Matthew 4:4; 2 Timothy 3:15-17; Matthew 6:33-34)

3. Our plans must be sensitive and allow room for God to change those plans. (See Acts 16:6-7) James 4:13-14 reminds us that our plans are secondary to God’s. “Instead, you ought to to say, ‘If the Lord wills, we shall live and also do this or that'” (v. 15). Proverbs 16:9, “In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps.”

MAKE IT PRACTICAL

Ultimately, God has one primary goal for each of our lives – to become more like Christ – Romans 8:29; 2 Corinthians 3:18; Galatians 4:19; Ephesians 4:13; 22-24

What are some of the goals we should have as Christians in this regard.
What goals can we set that will help us to become more and more Christlike?

MAKE IT PERSONAL

What are some of your personal goals?
If you accomplish each goal, how will Jesus Christ be glorified?
How does each goal help you and/or others become more like Jesus Christ?

ADDITIONAL SCRIPTURES

Matthew 6:33

“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”

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Icebreakers

Shadrach Meshach Abednego

May 16, 2006 kensapp Leave a comment

Materials
Get enough chairs to have one for each participant then remove one chair.

Icebreaker Description
In this icebreaker / crowdbreaker, youth will learn the names of others in the group.

Preparation
Arrange the chairs in a circle.

Icebreaker Activity

Each participant is called Shadrach. The one sitting on his right is Meshach. The one sitting on his left is Abed-nego. Someone who is “It” stands in the center.
There are three possible scenarios:
- If “It” calls, “Meshach!”, before everyone can count to ten (vary time for faster groups) you must give the real name of the person on your left.
- If “It” calls, “Abednego!”, before everyone can count to ten (vary time for faster groups) you must give the real name of the person on your left.
- Now and then the person in the center may try to fool participants by calling out “Shadrach”. When he points to you and calls “Shadrach” you must give your OWN NAME.
Any mistakes or failure to call out the correct name in the indicated time and you forfeit your seat to the person in the center and you become “it.”

Optional Debrief

Who were Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego?
What are some of the things society today asks you to bow down to?
What are some of the fiery trials you have needed to face in life?
How would you describe your life at this time: a spring breeze, Warm, Hot, or Fiery?

Conclusion
Shadrach, Mechach, and Abednego were three Jewish friends of Daniel that were taken into captivity by the Babylonians. It was a difficult time. If you dared to say what you really believed or to stand up for what you thought to be true, it might literally be the last time you ever stood or the last words you ever spoke. But they were not afraid to stand for God. They refused to bow to anyone or anything else, even when their life was on the line.

Application
In what situation is it most difficult for you to take a stand for what you believe? What will you do the next time you are faced with this situation?

Scripture
Daniel 3

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Icebreakers

Scruples Shuffle

May 11, 2006 kensapp Leave a comment

Materials
None

Icebreaker Description
Youth will answer questions of scruples in this group icebreaker.

Preparation
Create a list of questions that test the integrity of a person but do not have easy black and white answers?

A fellow student offers to sell you the answers to last years test for $20. You know the test is different each year. Do you buy them?
Is it OK for a Christian man to wear earrings?
Is it OK to have devotions in the evening instead of the morning?
Is it OK to hunt for sport?
Is it OK to screen my telephone calls and not answer, even though I’m really home?
You e-mail your picture to a gorgeous person you met on the Internet. Do you mention you gained 30 pounds since the picture was taken?
You know your best friend and fellow employee is stealing from the cash drawer. After a year the owner makes you a manager. Do you fire your friend?
You made personal Christmas Cards on the company copier. Do you pay for the copies even though no one knows?
You work in a store and catch a fifteen-year-old shoplifter. He says it’s his first time. Do you give him a chance or prosecute?
You work in a video store. You’re out of stock on a particular item. Do you send your customer to your competitor?
Someone drops a $20 bill on the floor. Do you try to find the owner or do you keep the $20?
Your friend helped get you a job at a music store. After three months you find out that he’s been stealing CDs. Do you report him?
You’re a waiter in a restaurant. You see the cook drop a steak on the floor. He cooked it well over a fire. Do you serve it to the customer?

Click on the word “comments” in the box below this idea to share your own great questions!

Icebreaker Activity

Have youth form two circles, one within the other. The students should be facing one another.
The inner circle of students move counter-clockwise while the outer circle moves clockwise.
When you call “Stop!” each youth should face a new partner.
Ask a question and the youth should discuss the answer with the partner they face.
Go from easy questions like “What’s the best ice cream” to hard ones that involve scruples.
Keep rotating and asking new questions for discussion.

Optional Debrief
What was the most interesting answer you heard during the icebreaker?

Conclusion
Scruples are personal principles about practices that are essentially neutral in themselves, and are not shown to be morally wrong or black-and-white in Scripture. Sometimes there may be conflicting principles at work. For example, “smuggling Bibles” into a country where Bibles are illegal is seen as wrong by some believers, based on the clear Scriptures that deal with deception and lying. Other Christians see Bible-smuggling as morally right, fulfilling the Great Commission, and obeying the clear teaching of Scripture that “we must obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29). Romans 14 gives us some principles for dealing with such situations.

Application
A morally neutral practice can become morally wrong for us if we disregard the teachings of Romans 14 and fail to “act in love” towards others! So let’s show love and patience with each other as we seek to sort out lifestyle and behavior matters in the light of Scripture. Let’s make sure we apply the principles of Romans 14 when it comes to scruples!

Scripture
Romans 14:1-3

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