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Game Ideas

Flee Sin, Pursue God – Rock, Scissors, Paper – Tag

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Most youth have played the game “Rock, Scissors, Paper”. This well known game serves as an introduction to 2 Timothy 2:22 and what the Bible teaches about fleeing from sin and pursuing godliness.

What You Need

This activity requires a large empty room or two well defined boundary lines. It is idea for a gym, an outdoor basketball court, or even a large field.

What to Do

In the standard version of “rock, paper, scissors”, two youth face each other, count to three and then put their hand into one of three positions:

  • A clenched fist represents a rock.
  • A flat hand represents paper.
  • The index and middle finger outstretched and separated like a pair of scissors represents scissors.

The winner is determined by the following system:

  • Rock smashes scissors.
  • Scissors cover paper.
  • Paper covers rock.

How to play

  1. For this activity the same rules apply but instead of two youth facing each other, it is two teams.
  2. Each team chooses a leader who will choose rock, paper, or scissors for the entire team.
  3. Once chosen, the teams face off across the center of the room, field or court.
  4. Count one, two three and everyone shows their hands according to the leader’s choice.
  5. The winning team chases the other team back to the wall, or boundary line, attempting to tag as many members as possible.
  6. Any youth tagged before reach the safety zone or before touching the wall, becomes a member of the winning team.
  7. If the two teams make the same choice, both teams retreat to the wall and no one is tagged.
  8. The process is then repeated, with leaders making a choice, lining up along the center, then everyone revealing the choice made by their leader.
  9. Usually, you can play several round or for a certain amount of time.

Take it to the Next Level

DEBRIEF

In this game, there are times you need to flee and time you need to pursue.

  • What are some things in life that people flee from? Why?
  • What are some things in life that people pursue? Why?

MAKE IT SPIRITUAL

  • Read 2 Timothy 2:22; 1 Timothy 6:6-11; Matthew 6:1; 2 Peter 1:3; Eph. 5:15-17

MAKE IT PRACTICAL

  • What was Timothy encouraged to flee from?
  • What was Timothy encouraged to pursue?
  • What are some of the evil desires of youth?
  • How do our pursuits affect us for good or bad?

MAKE IT PERSONAL

  • What are some things you need be more determined to flee this week?
  • What are some godly characteristics you need to pursue this week?

Scriptures

“Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.” – 2 Timothy 2:22

“Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil. So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is” – Ephesians 5:15-17

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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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Icebreakers

Tee Freeze Icebreaker

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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?

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!