Tag Archives: competition

SuperBowl Charades

American Football is a national past-time and it doesn’t get any better than the Superbowl. When the Superbowl comes around, why not take the opportunity to tackle a few games with your youth while you score a few goals for the kingdom of God. This is the first, of several ideas to take advantage of all the Superbowl hype to reach out the youth!

Introduction
In this classic variation of charades participants must act out phrases or words in order for team members to guess the correct phrase. The essence of Charades is pantomimes: you must act out a word or phrase without speaking or making any sound effects. For a Superbowl Party you can use the names of teams or football terms as items for the charades game.

Teams
Ravens, Bills, Bengals, Browns, Broncos, Texans, Colts, Jaguars, Chiefs, Dolphins, Patriots, Jets, Raiders, Steelers, Chargers, Titans, Cardinals, Falcons, Panthers, Bears, Cowboys, Lions, Packers, Vikings, Saints, Giants, Eagles, 49ers, Seahawks, Rams, Buccaneers, Redskins

Terms
Backfield, Bench, Block, Blitz, Catch, Center, Champion, Cheerleader, Clipping, Clock, Coach, Coin toss, Conversion, Cornerback, Defense, Defensive line, Drive, End zone, Extra point, Facemask, Fans, Field, Field Goal, First Down, Flag, Flanker, Football, Football field, Formation, Free kick, Fumble, Game, Goal line, Goal post, Grounding, Guard, H-Back, Hail Mary, Half time, Halfback, Handoff, Hash mark, Helmet, Hike, Holder, Holding, Huddle, Inbounds, Injury, Interception, Kick, Kickoff, Knee pad, Linebacker, Lineman, Locker-room, Noseguard, Offense, Offensive line, Option, Offsides, Out-of-Bounds, Overtime, Pass, Pass interference, Penalty, Pile up, Placekicker, Play, Player, Playbook, Punt, Punter, Quarter, Quarterback, Recovery, Referee, Return (kickoff), Run, Running Back, Rushing, Sack, Safety, Score, Scramble, Scrimmage line, Season, Secondary, Shoulder pads, Sideline, Slotback, Snap, Sneak, Spectators, Spike, Split end, Starter, Superbowl, Sweep, Tackle, Tailback, Team, Tight ends, Time out, Touchback, Touchdown, Trap, Turnover, Water-boy, Wide receiver, Wingback, Winning Team, Yard line, Yardage

Game Description
Participants split into teams of 6 or more members and try to guess the Superbowl / American Football items from the person acting them out.

Game Materials
The key words / teams list

Game Preparation
You will need to create a list of items relating to American Football or the superbowl. Print them on slips of paper and put them in a bag to be drawn from when you play the game. In place of the half-time show and the possibility of “Wardrobe malfunctions”… have a Charades competition! How many items can your team guess during the halftime show?

Game Play

  1. Divide players into two teams.
  2. High die roll decides which team will play first.
  3. The first team selects a person to mime the phrase; all other first team players are then the Guessers. The mime must rotate so that everyone is required to mime a clue before someone can go again.
  4. Each time a new mime begins, he must draw a new name or phrase.
  5. A timer is used… an hourglass can be used or a 2 minute timer. (The opposing team keeps track of the time limit.)
  6. As one team mimes and guesses a name or phrase, the opposing team watches.
  7. As the mime pantomimes the words his teammates start shouting out what they think is being portrayed. Players can guess as many times as they want. Guessing is NOT done in turn!
  8. First, indicate to your team through motions (no words allowed) some indication of what you want to mime – a team, a football term, etc.
  9. Indicate how many words are in the title by holding up the same number of fingers as words. You might also indicate which word you are miming first by holding up a finger for that word. Usually you put the number of fingers flat against your arm to indicate the number of syllables in a word.
  10. Use clues along the way to guide the answers:
    • “sounds like” –cup your hand around your ear
    • “little word”: bring your thumb and index fingers close together.
    • “Longer version of the word”: pretend to stretch an elastic.
    • “Shorter version of the word”: chop with your hand.
    • “close, keep guessing!”: frantically wave hands to keep the guesses coming.
    • “Knows”: Point to you nose to indicate that someone “knows” the word and is correct.
  11. Continue until all the words in the phrase are correct.
  12. If the Mime’s team guesses correctly before the timer is emptied, the Mime’s team gets one point and marks the score on a piece of paper. It is now the opposing team’s turn to mime and guess a new name or phrase from a new slip of paper.
  13. If the Mime’s team does not guess correctly before the timer is emptied, they do not win the point. The opposing team then gets ten seconds to make one guess to win the point. If the opposing team guesses correctly, they win the point and mark the score on a separate sheet of paper. It is then their turn to mime and guess a new name or phrase. If the opposing team does not guess correctly, no one wins the point. It is now the opposing team’s turn to mime and guess a new name or phrase.
  14. Play alternates between teams with each phrase to be mimed.
  15. At the end of game play or the end of your clues, the team with the most correct guesses wins!

Discussion

  • How much do you know about football? Who’s the football expert?
  • Do you have to know everything about the game to enjoy the football game?
  • Are there people who don’t really care about football but get caught up in the excitement of the event? Why?
  • Do you need to know everything about the team players to enjoy the game?
  • What is it about the superbowl that gets people excited?
  • Are you as excited about God as you are about the Superbowl? Why or why not?
  • In what ways is the church (or this group) similar to a football team?
    (We are united as a team, we have a goal (the great commission), we work together to achieve a goal, there is opposition, sometimes unexpected things happen, sometimes we fumble in our tasks, sometimes we gain ground, while other times we lose ground, We have a coach (God), sometimes we have to defend against the opposition, time is short, there are people watching us (spectators), not everyone plays fair, there are penalties for mistakes, we must wear protective gear (armor of God), we have different positions on the team, there are people who are playing and there are people on the sidelines, we need a game plan, etc.)

Closing Application

  • Are you part of the team (A Christian?) Why or why not?
  • If you are, what is your position(role) in the team?
  • Are you on the sidelines or playing the game?
  • Are you a team player?
  • Are you focused on the goal?
  • What can you begin doing to help the team more effectively overcome the opposition and achieve the goals ahead?

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New Shoes

tevas.jpg

I recently bought a new pair of sports sandals. Actually I really needed a new pair quite some time ago but was perfectly content with the old ones. They served me well. We’ve been to a lot of places together. In work and play, we have been constant companions. We’ve been to relaxing tropical beaches and on rigorous hikes. We’ve also gone through a lot of trials and stress together. Imagine supporting a 100kg American on your back for just a few minutes! They’ve been carrying me almost every day for the last couple of years.

Forget the fact that the straps are frazzled, the bottoms are worn smooth, and one sniff by the city sanitation department would leave you with a citation for air pollution.

A pair of shoes becomes something of an old friend. Over time they have personally adapted themselves to my uniqueness. They are worn in all the right places. Wearing them is like a soothing massage rather than necessary equipment for my journeys. Unfortunately, the sole of my sandals became completely detached and there was nothing I could do to repair them.

So now I am wearing a new pair of shoes. I contemplated getting some brand-named Air Jordans. Of course everyone knows if you wear the same basketball shoes as Michael Jordan you will jump just like him. But I went back with the same brand I had before… just a newer, improved model. Even change has its limits sometimes!

Even though I psyched myself up for the new shoes, I wasn’t surprised when they were awkward on my feet and abrasive to my ankles. They have worn blisters on my feet on more than one occasion. They will be uncomfortable for some time, but as my old shoes are forever gone, I couldn’t go back to my old comfortable ones.

In spite of the awkwardness and abrasiveness, I have to press on. The change, though it has its painful moments, is a necessary step in my journey.

No one would consider a change of shoes to be among the most significant events in life. But basic principles seem to be surprisingly similar in any area of change, including those changes that need to occur regularly in our lives and churches. Change rarely, if ever, comes easily or automatically. Often change only occurs when we find ourselves in a situation where we are not given a choice. Its either change or be forever stopped in your tracks. Changes initially tend to be awkward, even abrasive. It always takes a little time to settle into any change.

Several months later, guess what? The new shoes will become increasingly comfortable. And in time change will again be needed. Then the process begins anew.

Is there something in your life that needs to be renewed?
Have you been resisting change because things are comfortable?
Has your soul become detached and stopped you spiritually dead in your tracks?

Maybe its time for you to make that change in life you have been resisting! Things might be a little awkward or even abrasive for a while, but its a necessary step for you to move forward in the journey God has prepared for you!

This devotional on New Shoes and Change could be easily adapted as an object lesson or Children’s sermon.

MORE IDEAS? See “Creative Object Lessons”
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The Lord’s Baseball Game

Bob and the Lord stood by to observe a baseball game. The Lord’s team was playing Satan’s team. The Lord’s team was at bat, the score was tied zero to zero, and it was the bottom of the 9th inning with two outs.

They continued to watch as a batter stepped up to the plate whose name was Love. Love swung at the first pitch and hit a single, because Love never fails.

The next batter was named Faith, who also got a single because Faith works with Love.

The next batter up was named Godly wisdom. Satan wound up and threw the first pitch. Godly Wisdom looked it over and let it pass: Ball one. Three more pitches and Godly Wisdom walked, because Godly wisdom never swings at what Satan throws. The bases were loaded.

The Lord then turned to Bob and told him He was now going to bring in His star player. Up to the plate stepped Grace. Bob said, “He sure doesn’t look like much!” Satan’s whole team relaxed when they saw Grace. Thinking he had won the game, Satan wound up and fired his first pitch. To the shock of everyone, Grace hit the ball harder than anyone had ever seen.

But Satan was not worried; his center fielder let very few get by. He went up for the ball, but it went right through his glove, hit him on the head and sent him crashing on the ground; then it continued over the fence for a home run! The Lord’s team won.

The Lord then asked Bob if he knew why Love, Faith, and Godly Wisdom could get on base but could not win the game. Bob answered that he did not know why.

The Lord explained,” If your love, faith and wisdom had won the game you would think you had done it by yourself. Love, faith and wisdom will get you on base, but only My Grace can get you home.”


MORE IDEAS? See “Creative Object Lessons”

200 page e-book that explains everything you need to know when planning your very own object lessons. It contains 90 fully developed object lesson ideas and another 200 object lesson starter ideas based on Biblical idioms and Names / Descriptions of God.

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The Character of a Champion

Of the many Olympic events, to win the Marathon is one of the most prestigious. Yet in the 1968 Olympic Marathon, it is not the winner, the one who finished first, who is most remembered, but the runner who finished last.

Darkness was falling. Only a few thousand spectators remained in the stadium. The Marathon had been won over an hour earlier. Now, as the last of the spectators were leaving, their attention was suddenly drawn to the sound of police sirens and whistles at the marathon gates.

Out of the cold darkness, John Stephen Akhwari, wearing the colors of Tanzania, entered at the far end of the stadium, painfully hobbling, his leg bloody and bandaged.

Earlier, several miles into the race, Akhwari had found himself trapped in the middle of some runners. Unable to see well, he fell and severely injured his knee and ankle. He watched in anguish as the other racers continued. But he didn’t give up there.

Grimacing with every step, he now painfully hobbles around the 400 meter track, eventually crosses the finish line and collapses–the last man to finish the marathon.

The spectators rise and applaud him – saluting the man’s determination. Without looking back, Akhwari quietly walked off the field. Later, when asked why he did not quit, he replied, “My country did not send me 7000 miles away to start the race. They sent me 7000 miles to finish it.”

Akhwari was never awarded a medal. They don’t hand out awards for perseverance at the Olympics. Yet few remember who won the gold in the 1968 Marathon. Instead they remember John Stephen Awkwari — the runner whose determination and perseverance represented the true character of a Champion.

Anyone can start something

but true Champions finish what they start!

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.”
-Hebrews 12:1

Copyright 2003 by Ken Sapp

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The Impossible Dream

Doctors and scientists said it was impossible!
Man could not run a mile in less than 4 minutes!
He would die in the foolish attempt.
It was an Impossible Dream.

Our bone structure was wrong.
Wind resistance was too great.
We had inadequate lung power.
Our heart could not take the strain.

25 year-old Roger Bannister wasn’t listening.
He endured thousands of monotonous laps,
Around the same university track,
Determined to shape his body and his mind.

May 6, 1954, at Oxford University in England,
Was viewed as simply another attempt,
In a history of foolish attempts,
To achieve the Impossible Dream.

Yet at the end of the race the stop-watches held a different view.
The results were announced.
‘Result of one mile… time, 3 minutes…’
The rest was lost in the roar of the crowd.

Roger Bannister blazed across the finish line,
In a time of 3 minutes, 59.4 seconds.
The Impossible Dream was now an event for the history books,
Considered one of the greatest feats in sports history.

46 days after Bannister’s breakthrough,
The record was broken again by a different runner.
By the end of 1957,
16 runners had achieved the Impossible.

Runners did not suddenly get “better” in those few short years.
They simply began to believe.
Running a mile in less than four minutes was not only possible,
It had been achieved!

To date, 955 runners have achieved the Impossible Dream
Accomplishing the feat an incredible 4700+ times.

Many of life’s barriers and obstacles come from within.
We create limits for ourselves.
But once those barriers are broken,
We realise the biggest barriers are our beliefs.

What beliefs are keeping you from achieving your dreams?
Don’t accept them. Don’t listen to the voices of doubt.

Forge ahead in faith and you too
Can achieve Impossible Dreams!

“Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
-Matthew 19:26

“But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord…”
– James 1:6-7

Copyright 2005 by Ken Sapp

Take it to the Next Level

Belief plays a significant part in the life of believers.  We believe in Christ for salvation.  And through our faith in Him, God does the impossible.  As William Carey, pioneer missionary of the modern missions movement, said, “Expect great things from God, attempt great things for God.”

And like Roger Bannister we may have seemingly impossible dreams. As William Carey, pioneer missionary of the modern missions movement, said, “Expect great things from God, attempt great things for God.” Unlike Roger Bannister, we don’t do things for earthly accolades, but for the rewards of heaven, that one day we might stand before God and hear, ‘Behold my servant, in whom I am well pleased.”

Applying it to life

  • What are some of the things the world sees as impossible that God does in the lives of youth today?
  • What barriers and doubts do youth face in the Christian journey?
  • What is something you need to believe God for in your life?

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Running to Win

racecar.jpgMaterials
1. You’ll need a flag sized piece of cloth.
2. Mark starting and finish lines in your room using the masking tape. You can also mark out an entire race course if you have the space. For an outdoor use cones or stake some brightly colored string or yarn to the ground to define the track. Ensure there is enough room for cars to pass each other on the track!
3. You’ll also need Bibles.

Activity
1. Form “race-car teams” of five students
2. Each of teams is to be an Indy-style race car. One person will be chassis, and the other four will be the wheels. The wheels must carry the chassis.
3. When I shout, “Racers, start your engines!” all race cars should line up, side by side. Let me hear the roar of your engines!
4. When I drop my flag, your race car should race along the outside edge of our meeting room. The first race car to make five laps around the track wins. Ready? Racers, start your engines! Pause, then quickly lower the flag.

Application
When the race is finished, have youth / children sit together with their teams. Give each team a Bible. Ask a volunteer from each team to read aloud 1 Corinthians 9:24-27, then have teams each discuss the following questions to debrief their experience:

What does it mean to “run to win”?
Did your team run to win? Why or why not?
What does it mean to run to win in life?
What’s one thing you can do that will help you run to win in your life?

Additional Scriptures: Hebrews 12:1-2; I Cor 9:24-27

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Our “Destined to Win” series is a great follow up for youth who are new Christians or to emphasize the basics of our spiritual Journey in the Faith. This Bible Study / Camp Curriculum / Small Group Study has a sports theme and is great for athletes and works well as a tie in to the Olympics.
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Broken Down Car Race

checkeredflag.jpgMaterials
A large open space

Activity
In the broken-car relay, each team runs several consecutive races.
1. In each race they will pretend that they’re part of a car with a problem, such as a stuck horn that’s blaring incessantly or windshield wipers that won’t stop moving. The children run the race acting out what’s broken. For example, if the car is stuck in reverse, the children will run backwards.
2. Before each race begins, tell the runners what problems their car will have.
3. Choose a starting point and a turnaround line that are about 20 feet apart and then divide the children into two teams, or have them pick which team they want to be in. Each team should line up single file behind the starting line.
4. At your signal, (dropping a checkered flag?) the race begins.
5. One by one the children run to the turnaround line and back while pretending to be the car with the first problem.
6. After all the children on one team have had the first problem, they run again, this time with the second problem and then the third, etc. The first team that completes all of the relays wins the race.

Hints
Young children may have a hard time figuring out what motions to use while they run. You can always give them ideas or help them to come up with their own.

Application
Paul compares the Christian life, not to a car race, but to a human race where the runners press toward the prize. But sometimes we have problems running the race God has given us. We don’t live up to our potential.

Discussion
1. What are some of our problems that prevent us from running the Christian race at our best?
2. How can we get our lives tuned up for victory?
3. What do you need to change this week to become more victorious in your Christian life?

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Our “Destined to Win” series is a great follow up for youth who are new Christians or to emphasize the basics of our spiritual Journey in the Faith. This Bible Study / Camp Curriculum / Small Group Study has a sports theme and is great for athletes and works well as a tie in to the Olympics.
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Running the Race?

Description
This activity can be used as an icebreaker or discussion starter on living the Christian life.  In the Bible, Paul frequently illustrated the Christian lifestyle as being similar to running in a race.  It’s ties in nicely to an Olympics theme as well a general sports related theme.

Materials
None

Activity
Give youth / kids different sports below to pantomime. Let the rest of the group guess the sports.

Baseball Basketball Bobsledding
Bowling Boxing Canoeing
Chess Cross-country Skiing Darts
Diving Downhill Skiing
Football Figure Skating Golf
Gymnastics Horseshoes Ice Hockey
Kayaking Luge Ping-pong
Rapelling River Rafting Rock Climbing
Horseshoes Rugby Ski Jump
Slalom Soccer Speedskating
Swimming Tennis Track & Field
Volleyball Waterpolo Wrestling
Others?

Discussion
Ask each youth what sport best describes his/her spiritual life and why.

Application
Paul compared his life to that of a race. He leaves everything behind and presses toward the goal, the finish line. (Phil 3:12 – 16 )


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Our “Destined to Win” series is a great follow up for youth who are new Christians or to emphasize the basics of our spiritual Journey in the Faith. This Bible Study / Camp Curriculum / Small Group Study has a sports theme and is great for athletes and works well as a tie in to the Olympics.
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Rudy Tomjanovich

rudy_tomjanovich.jpgRudy Tomjanovich, the former basketball coach of the Houston Rockets and more recently the Los Angeles Lakers experienced an unusual event in 1973. As a robust twenty-five-year old, Rudy was playing for the Rockets.

In the middle of a close game, a fight broke out at center court. Rudy rushed over to the unfolding conflict, running at full speed, to try to break it up. Just as he arrived, a player whipped around and without looking, swung as hard as he could.

Unfortunately, the punch landed right in Rudy’s face. It was labeled the “punch heard around the world”. The blow fractured Rudy’s skull, broke his nose and cheekbones, and nearly killed him. Although Rudy was sidelined for months following the devastating punch, he eventually recovered.

One day after Rudy recuperated, a reporter asked him, “Rudy, have you ever forgiven the player who wounded you so badly?” Without hesitation, Rudy said immediately, “Absolutely, I’ve totally forgiven him.”

The reporter shook as his head as though he was perplexed. “Come on, Rudy, that guy nearly killed you. He caused you all that pain. He stole part of your career. Do you mean to tell me you don’t have any anger, any hatred or bitterness toward him?”

Rudy smiled, “I don’t have any at all.” The reporter stared at him in disbelief. He finally asked, “Rudy, tell me, how do you do it? How could you possibly forgive that man who hurt you so badly?”

Rudy replied, “I knew if I wanted to move on with my life, I had to let it go. I didn’t do it for him. I did it so I can be free.”

We often fail to consider the residual effects of unresolved conflict in our lives.

Ephesians 4:31, “Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice”.

From Your Best Life Now by Joel Osteen, pp. 160-161.

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Our “Destined to Win” series is a great follow up for youth who are new Christians or to emphasize the basics of our spiritual Journey in the Faith. This Bible Study / Camp Curriculum / Small Group Study has a sports theme and is great for athletes and works well as a tie in to the Olympics.
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Sports Equipment

Materials
A variety of sports equipment. Possibilities include: (a baseball mitt, baseball, bat, and baseball cap), (soccerball, soccer shoe, shin guard), (golf club, golf ball, putter, golf tee), (table tennis table, ping-pong ball, racket, net), (basketball, basketball net), (chessboard, chess pieces), (Chinese chess pieces and board), (tennis ball, tennis racket), (croquet set), (swimming fins, goggles, swimsuit, skull cap), (bowling ball, shoes, and glove) and various balls and equipments from other sports. While using actual equipment will make the lesson more exciting, if you can’t obtain the different sports equipment you can write the names of the items on note cards.

Activity
Have children or youth group the items together. As a children’s sermon make believe you are playing the different sports, but use the wrong equipment. For a fun youth lesson, actually play a sport with the wrong equipment.)

Debrief
While we may be able to play with the wrong equipment, we are NOT going to break any records. If I hit a basketball with a golf club it will take me forever to reach the hole and when I reach the hole the ball won’t fit! While some small items like a baseball cap may not make a difference, other equipment may be impossible to use for the wrong game. Imagine running a race in flippers. If you want to be successful and victorious you need to use the right equipment.

Application
Solomon tried a lot of things in life. While some of them worked for a while, his relationship with God was the only thing that could let him be successful and victorious spiritually.

Alternate Application
Applied to Spiritual gifts, God gives us each gifts with a purpose. Like a piece of sports equipment, We each have our own role to play in this game called life. We are not all called to play the same game or even to use the same gifts and skills. If we try to serve God in ways for which we were not created or for which he did not intend for us to serve, we may be able to function, but we will be far from our potential in Christ.

Alternate Application
While some of the wrong equipment may work for a while, you won’t realise your true potential until you use the right equipment for the right task and are pursuing the right goal. For Paul, (Phil 3:12 – 16 ) there was only one goal that mattered. His relationship with God was the only thing that could let him be successful and victorious spiritually. We have to make sure that in life we are playing the right game and pursuing the right goals.

MORE IDEAS? See “Creative Object Lessons”
200 page e-book that explains everything you need to know when planning your very own object lessons. It contains 90 fully developed object lesson ideas and another 200 object lesson starter ideas based on Biblical idioms and Names / Descriptions of God.
Learn More…

Get "Destined to Win" Youth Bible Study SeriesDestined to Win
Need a Youth Camp/ Bible Study Series on “Running the Christian Race”?

Our “Destined to Win” series is a great follow up for youth who are new Christians or to emphasize the basics of our spiritual Journey in the Faith. This Bible Study / Camp Curriculum / Small Group Study has a sports theme and is great for athletes and works well as a tie in to the Olympics.
->Tell me about “Destined to Win”