Materials
Long rope. (Towels or bedsheets can be tied together to make a rope.)
Activity
Don’t tell the youth or children why, but they must send their 10 littlest (smallest) people together for a very special task. Once the kids or youth have selected their smallest, reveal the rope and tell them you are going to having a “Tiny Tug” of war. After a couple of tries and encouragement to the winning team ask the losing team if they think they will win? But this time help them. Of course with the teacher on their side they are sure to win.
Application
While things may seem difficult or impossible to us, when God is on our team we can do anything.
Variation: Mini Olympics
Mini tug-o-war: Get a rope about 1 meter long and make the markings on a table. The catch is the participants may only use one hand to pull the rope and may only use a thumb and index finger to grab the rope. Done in this way, the deciding factor is not the strength or weight of the person, but the strength of their grip with the two fingers.
Mini Javelin Toss: Usw a straw and only two fingers to toss it
Mini Shotput: Use a ball bearing or marble and flip it with your thumb
Mini hockey: Use a tabletop and a carrom seed or checker disc and straws in a person’s mouth to move it the seed through the goals
Thumb wrestling: Gripping fingers so only the thumb is raised extended, participants try to hold the other persons thumb down using their own.
Synchronized Twirling: Dexterity competition twirling a pencil through fingers
Relay race: moving a coin on the top of your hand, from top of thumb to the pinky and back using only once hand;
Marathon race: rolling a coin the farthest distance;
High Jump: Flipping a coin in the air using the thumb and index finger
Application
Many times we think we must be big and powerful to do things. We think we can only help if we are strong. But even if we are not strong enough and powerful enough or big enough we can still help others by pointing them to God who is all strong and powerful.
This creative teaching activity uses games to remind children or youth that the Christian faith is not a “I can’t” religion. It is always a “I can” religion. The assurance is found in Phil 4:13, “I can do everything through him who gives me strength.” In this passage we are promised the strength to deal all adversties of life – trials and temptations. This power is given to us as long as we are in Christ.
Go for the Gold
Need an evangelistic Youth Camp/ Bible Study Series with an Olympic Theme?
What is salvation all about? What does it mean to be saved? This sports themed Bible Study / Camp Curriculum uses the Olympic Flag to introduce the concepts of sin (black circle), forgiveness (red circle), purity (white background), spiritual growth (green circle), heaven (Yellow Circle) and (Baptism) blue circle.
-> Tell me about “Go for the Gold”
Destined to Win
Need a Youth Camp/ Bible Study Series on “Running the Christian Race”?
The race as a metaphor for the Christian life is used in several places in the Bible. This series is a great follow up for new Christians or to re-emphasize the basics of our spiritual Journey in the Faith. This Bible Study / Camp Curriculum has a sports theme and is great for athletes as well as a tie in to the Olympic Games.
->Tell me about “Destined to Win”
So many of the sports we play today involve little round objects which we hit, kick, drive or dribble toward a goal. We have basketballs, golf balls, tennis balls, and soccer balls, just to name a few.