Tag Archives: youth ideas

A Christian Response to Halloween?

October 16, 2006 kensapp Leave a comment

Arguments AGAINST Halloween

Halloween originated as a pagan holiday, and it’s still considered the most sacred night for those involved in the occult. Much evil is committed on that night by people who delve into the evil side of the spiritual world.
Halloween customs are derived from pagan practices and carry with them all the symbolism that points to those dangerous practices. Children who carve Jack-o-lanterns, dress up in costumes, go trick or treating and tell ghost stories are unwittingly identifying themselves with the pagan practices from which those customs were derived.
Halloween encourages people’s interest in the occult, promoting its values subtly and not-so-subtly. As Scripture says, everything is permissible, but not necessarily beneficial.

The argument for Halloween ALTERNATIVES
Whether we like it or not- Halloween is happening on the 31st of October. Question is . . . “Can we use it for ministry?” In Acts 17 the Apostle Paul used the culture and foreign gods of the day to introduce his presentation of the Gospel. While we have to be careful of the Halloween practices we participate in, we can also use the occasion to reach out with the Gospel and provide Christian alternatives for our youth to participate in and even invite their friends.

A couple of great articles on the issue of a Christian response to Halloween can be found at:
http://www.probe.org/history/special-days-quizzes/a-probe-mom-looks-at-halloween.html
http://www.cbn.com/spirituallife/OnlineDiscipleship/Halloween/halloween_Watt05.aspx
http://www.spiritwatch.org/occhallow.htm

Holiday Collection
Games and Activities in Celebration of common Holidays.

Creative Holiday Ideas has over 300 pages of ideas to help you plan your next New Year’s Day, Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Halloween or Fall Festival, and Thanksgiving event. If you’ve ever wondered what you’re going to do for all these holidays and how you’re going to do it, this resource is for you.

=> Tell me more about the Holiday Collection

Game Ideas

Trick or Treat Relay Game

October 15, 2006 kensapp

Game Description
Messy game based upon the common Halloween adage :
“Trick-or-treat, smell my feet, give me something good to eat.”

Game Materials

Any kind of wrapped candy. Choclates get a little messy, but sometimes that is the intention. Use miniature candy bars if your youths are game for something a little messy and gross.
Damp towels for cleaning up

Game Preparation
Break the group into teams. Team members must pair up with a partner for the relay.

Game Play

One person of each pair takes off their shoes.
Give each pair a wrapped candy bar.
The object of the game is for the first person to unwrap the candy with your toes and hands behind your back and then feed it to the next person with your feet.
The person eating the candy bar must chew and swallow it before the next pair on the team can start.
The first team finish all their candy bars wins.

Discussion
As a Halloween alternative, use this game as an introduction to Adam and Eve’s Fall in the garden of Eden. They thought they were getting a treat, but instead they were tricked by Satan. Sin often seems a treat. It may even be pleasurable, but there is always a trick involved.

Looking for some icebreakers for your party or event? My eBook, “IceBreakers Ahead: Take It to the Next Level” found at http://www.creativeicebreakers.com
not only provides 52 of the most world’s popular group icebreaker activities, but also includes life changing lesson ideas and questions to smoothly transition into discussions about issues common to most groups.

Holiday Collection
Games and Activities in Celebration of common Holidays.

=> Tell me more about the Holiday Collection

Evangelism Ideas

Eternal Life Insurance

October 9, 2006 kensapp Leave a comment

THE ETERNAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY, the largest, oldest, and most reliable fire and life insurance company, offers a policy which is strictly equitable; it operates all over the world (John 3:16), and its management has never changed. It insures a man for more than he is worth.

The only insurance against loss in the great Judgment Day fire (Rev 20:15).
The policy is non-forfeitable and never expires (John 10:28).
The dividends are most liberal, being 100% in this life and in the world to come life everlasting; therefore, there are immediate as well as future advantages (1 Tim 4:8).
Each member personally gets the benefits, being made immediate possessor of immense wealth and the inheritance is entered into later (1 Pet 1:4).
The distribution of profits will shortly take place and a bonus will be paid for the manner and spirit in which the instructions have been carried out, whether the person has been a long or short time insured (Rev 22:12).
Premiums are much lower than elsewhere (Isaiah 55:1). There is no extra charge for bad lives (Matt 9:13), and no reduction for good lives (Rom 3:22). This insurance is within the reach of all, as the premium has been fully paid in advance by a gracious, rich Person (2 Cor 8:9).
There is only one Medical Officer and He is continually looking out for individuals wishing to be insured. He accepts all who apply, whether healthy or sick, even the diseased and dying and those who have been refused by other companies (John 6:37). However, people who “have no souls” can not apply.

OFFICE HOURS: Today (2 Cor 6:2, Heb 3:7). Tomorrow may be too late (Prov27:1). Companies offering policies after death are not reliable (Heb 9:27).
PAID UP CAPITAL: Unsearchable riches (Eph 3:8).
REAL ESTATE: An inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that fadeth not away (1 Pet 1:4).
ACCUMULATED FUNDS: Inexhaustible (1 Cor 2:9).
CASH IN BANK: Gold trieth in the fire (Rev 3:18).
SURPLUS: Able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think (Eph 3:20).
BURIAL EXPENSES AND CARE OF DEPENDENTS: After one is gone to heaven they need not trouble anyone who is insured in this Company (Mat 6:24-34, Deut 34:6, Jer 49:11).
CONDITIONS OF POLICY: Repentance toward God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

All applications must be made to the President through the Adjuster (John 14:6).
President–King of Kings (1 Tim 6:15).
Adjuster–The King’s Son (John 3:35).
Solicitor–The Holy Spirit (John 16:8).
Agents are wanted. Each member is commissioned as an agent and none but members are authorized.

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…

Object Lessons

Pumpkin Prayer

October 8, 2006 kensapp Leave a comment

Materials
Large pumpkin and a carving knife.

Object Lesson on Prayer

{cut off top of pumpkin}
Lord, open my mind so I can learn new things about you.

{remove innards}
Remove the things in my life that don’t please you.
Forgive the wrong things I do and help me to forgive others.

{cut open eyes}
Open my eyes to see the beauty you’ve made in the world around me.

{cut out nose}
I’m sorry for the times I’ve turned my nose at the good food you provide.

{cut out mouth}
Let everything I say please You.

{light the candle}
Lord, help me show your light to others through the things I do. Amen

By: Liz Curtis Higgs
Source: http://www.sunday-school-lessons.com/pumpkin.html

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…

Icebreakers 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!

Holiday Collection
Games and Activities in Celebration of common Holidays.

=> Tell me more about the Holiday Collection

Object Lessons

Peter Pumpkin

October 8, 2006 kensapp Leave a comment

Theme
When the light of Jesus, shining through us flickers and goes out because of sin in our life, Jesus’ death can restore that light.

Materials
One pumpkin, ready to carve, sharp knife, candle for inside of pumpkin, matches

Procedure
Have children offer their suggestions on how to carve a face in the pumpkin. Proceed to carve a mouth, nose, and two eyes. Insert the candle and light.

Story
“Now let’s pretend that this pumpkin is one of our friends. Let’s name him Peter Pumpkin. Pete Pumpkin is in (pick a grade or class that matches your group) like us.”

Peter woke up one morning bright and happy and ready for the day. His light was shining and he felt good. Let’s see what happens Peter’s day.

“Oh, Peter!” cried his mother, “Did you remember to brush your teeth this morning?” “Yes, Mother,” Peter lied. He really hadn’t brushed his teeth, but if he stopped to do it now, he’d be late for school! So Peter lied. Peter’s mouth wasn’t shining quite so brightly any more. (Put the mouth piece from the pumpkin back in the mouth hole)

So Peter went on his way to school. He felt kind of bad lying to his mother, but he wasn’t going to let it spoil his day. When he got to school, some of his friends were playing with the toys already. Peter went over, too, but they had already started using the ones he wanted. (you can adapt this to be art supplies or whatever matches your group) Peter wanted the toys too. When one of the boys left, to go talk to his teacher, Peter took the toy. Oops, there goes part of Peter’s happy face. (insert eye piece)

Continue with similar stories for the remaining parts of the pumpkin face, each time, inserting another piece until the whole face is back in place. Watch what happens to the light.

“Peter’s light has gone out. His face is all dark and sad now.”
(Relate this to sin in our lives.)

“There is a way for Peter’s face to get bright and happy again. It’s the same way that our sin can get taken care of. Do you know who helps our sin?”

With the answer of “Jesus” –carve a cross into the other side of the pumpkin. Pop out the face pieces again, and light the candle.

“With Jesus in your life, your light will never go out. The Bible tells us that Jesus is our light and that when He shines through us, our sins are forgiven and His love shines through instead!”

Relate how we may still sin (at this point put the pieces back into the face, except the cross) but with Jesus, the light will not go out–He is with us always!

Use your “Christian Jack-O-Lantern” at home and shine the cross out the window on October 31st. A witness for all the passers-by!

(originally from *Karen Schuster, Redeemer Lutheran–Flint, MI)
Source: http://www.sunday-school-lessons.com/pumpkin.html

Looking for some icebreakers for your party or event? My eBook, “IceBreakers Ahead: Take It to the Next Level” found at http://www.creativeicebreakers.com
not only provides 52 of the most world’s popular group icebreaker activities, but also includes life changing lesson ideas and questions to smoothly transition into discussions about issues common to most groups.

Holiday Collection
Games and Activities in Celebration of common Holidays.

=> Tell me more about the Holiday Collection

Children's Sermon

Perky the Orange Pumpkin

October 8, 2006 kensapp Leave a comment

Once upon a time, there was a little orange pumpkin named Perky. One day he looked around in the pumpkin patch and saw that all his friends were orange. He thought he would like to be some other color. So he sat up proud and said, “I’m a pumpkin round and fat, (make a round shape with hands) and I can change my color (point to self) just like that!” (on that, snap your fingers)

All of a sudden, at the snap of his fingers, he was a green pumpkin. Green as the grass. Perky went to play with the other pumpkins, but what do you think happened? His friends did not see him because he was the same color as the grass. He was disappointed. He didn’t think it was fun to be a green pumpkin. So he said, (encourage the children to join in and repeat motions as above) “I’m a pumpkin round and fat, and I can change my color just like that!”

And then what color was he? He was blue, all over! Blue like the water and blue like the sky. Perky was so proud of his pretty new color that he decided to go for a walk and let everyone admire him.

He came to a little pond of water. But do you know what happened? Perky leaned over to look at himself and kerplop! Splash, he went into the water. Poor little Perky did not know how to swim. He was scared. He called for help. He called so loudly, his friends came rolling over to help him. They looked in the water but they could not see him because he was blue like the water.

Luckily, his friend, Timothy Turtle came swimming by. He told Perky to climb on his back. Timothy Turtle gave him a safe ride back to the shore. Perky thanked his friend for helping him. Right there he decided he didn’t want to be blue anymore. So he said, “I’m a pumpkin round and fat, and I can change my color just like that!”

And what color was he then? He was yellow like the sun. He was so proud of his new color. He decided to go back to the pumpkin patch and show his friends. Well, when his friends saw him they laughed and said, “You look silly.” How do you think that made Perky feel? He felt embarrassed and sad. He decided to show them and make himself into a better color. So he said, “I’m a pumpkin, round and fat, and I can change my color, just like that!”

And what color was he then? He was red, red like an apple. He began to go back and show his friends, when he saw people coming to pick a special pumpkin to take home. He thought for sure that he would get chosen because he was such a beautiful color red. But the people walked right past him. They looked at all the others and said “This one is nice and round and fat, AND such a beautiful ORANGE color.” Many of Perky’s friends found new homes that day. But not Perky.

Perky decided he didn’t want to be a red pumpkin anymore. He decided he didn’t want to be yellow, or blue, or green either. Do you know what he thought? He thought he would just like to be himself, round and fat and a beautiful orange color – maybe he would find a nice home like his friends. So Perky said, “I’m a pumpkin round and fat, and I can change my color just like that!” And what color do you suppose he was now? A beautiful orange!

Just then a family came to the pumpkin patch. The children got out and ran to Perky. “This is the best one we’ve seen all day.” Said the little girl. “Can we take him home, please?” Said the little boy. And they scooped Perky up in their arms and took him home. Now Perky was a very happy pumpkin just being himself. Just the way God made him – an orange pumpkin.

Source: http://www.sunday-school-lessons.com/pumpkin.html

Holiday Collection
Games and Activities in Celebration of common Holidays.

=> Tell me more about the Holiday Collection

Object Lessons

Jack O’ Lantern

October 8, 2006 kensapp Leave a comment

Create a Halloween lantern with stars for eyes, the Christian fish symbol for a mouth, and a cross for its nose. Then pass out the following poem (source unknown)

Jack O’ Lantern

I am a Jack O’ Lantern
My lights will shine so bright
For I’m a Christian pumpkin
My symbols tell what’s right

My nose is like the cross
On which our Savior died
To set us free from sin
We need no longer hide

My mouth is like a fish
The whole wide world to show
That Christians live in this house
And love their Savior so!

The story starts at Christmas
My eyes are like the star
That shone on Baby Jesus
And wise men saw from far

My color, it is orange
Just like the big bright sun
That rose on Easter Day
Along with God’s own Son

And so on Halloween
Let’s set our pumpkins out
And tell the trick or treaters
What God’s love is all about!

Holiday Collection
Games and Activities in Celebration of common Holidays.

=> Tell me more about the Holiday Collection

Creative Teaching Ideas

In Everything Give Thanks

August 10, 2006 kensapp 1 Comment

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:17-18
“Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”

Materials

Several pairs of scissors
newspapers and magazines
blank thank you notes
pens or pencils

Preparation

Set the scissors and the pile of newspapers and magazines in the center of the room / table.

What to Do

“Search through the newspapers and magazines and find one story about someone experiencing either good or bad circumstances. Cut out the story using the scissors for easy reference.”
Once everyone has a story, collect them into a pile and shuffle them up. Walk around the room and ask each youth to take the story on the top of the pile.
Give each person a blank thank you note and a pen or pencil.
“Read through the story you’ve been given and write a thank you note to God. Express how you would be thankful in the circumstances your story describes.”
When youth have finished writing their Thank You notes, have each youth, in turn, read his or her thank you note aloud. (You cab do this in pairs or small groups if you have many youth group members).
Then youth to respond to each circumstance: “In the circumstance you read about, how would being thankful affect your perspective?”

Take it to the Next Level
God wants us to be thankful in all circumstances — in both good situations and bad ones. Being thankful changes our perspective. It helps us take our eyes off ourselves and the circumstances and look to God instead.

Closing
Finish the meeting by having a time of prayer where each youth can have an opportunity to express prayerful thanks to God for the events in their lives.

Holiday Collection
Games and Activities in Celebration of common Holidays.

=> Tell me more about the Holiday Collection

Game Ideas

Christmas Taboo

December 18, 2005 kensapp 2 Comments

Materials
1. Taboo Words List. The Taboo word, in all caps is the word that the teams will try to guess. Also included are are five supporting words that the clue giver is not allowed to say. Print them out and then cut them apart and place them in a bag for participants to draw from.
2. Timer. It can be an hourglass from a board game, or simply an egg timer that you can set for a minute and let it go.

Game Objective
The point of the game is to have your teammates guess the word that is on your card without saying the word itself, or several other key words that are listed on the card.

Game Play
1. Split the youth into at least two teams.
2. One person on each team gives the clues to a person on THEIR OWN team who tries to guess the “taboo word” within a time limit.
3. The other team must be shown the card and insure that the clue giver doesn’t say either the “taboo word” or any form of the supporting words for that clue. (e.g. If ‘Christian’ is a supporting word, to use the word ‘Christianity’ is also a violation.) If the clue giver uses one of the “taboo” words, the opposing team gets a point. If the person guessing the word doesn’t guess the word within the time limit, the opposing team gets the point.
4. If the word is correctly guessed the team guessing the word gets the point and continues to draw cards until the time elapses.
5. When the time elapses, the timer is reset and it’s the opposing team’s turn to guess words.

The Words
ADVENT: Christmas, holiday, December, date, celebrate
ANGEL: Sky, Heaven, Gabriel, wings, halo
BETHLEHEM: born, city, stable, birth, place
BIBLE: scriptures, read, testament, book, God
BELLS: ring, metal, cup, sleigh, jingle
CANDY: stocking, cane, chocolate, sweet, dessert
CANDLE: light, burn, wick, wax, melt
CAROLS: songs, sing, house, knock, music
CHRIST: Jesus, Lord, Redeemer, Savior, baby
CHRISTMAS TREE: lights, ornaments, star, decorate, evergreen
CHRISTMAS: tree, Santa Claus, holiday, December, 25
CHRISTMAS EVE: 24, night, presents, Santa, evening
CHURCH: Christian, service, mass, worship, sunday
DECEMBER: cold, Christmas, winter, Hannukah, month
ELVES: Santa, helpers, toys, workshop, small
EGG NOG: drink, milk, rum, glass, celebrate
FRANKINCENCE: wisemen, magi, gift, myrrh, gold
GABRIEL: Angel, Mary, visit, messenger, birth
GENEALOGY: ancestor, family, tree, relative, Luke
GIFTS: presents, surprises, give, Christmas, children
GINGERBREAD: man, cookie, sweet, house, dough
GOLD: wisemen, gift, frankincense, myrrh, metal
HALLELUJAH CHORUS: song, sing, praise, worship, Handel
HEROD: king, wisemen, Magi, ruler, baby
HOLLY: Plant, red, berries, green, leaves
INN: hotel, room, stay, stable, innkeeper
IMMANUEL: name, Jesus, God, Christ, baby
JESUS: baby, manger, Mary, God, Savior
JOSEPH: Jesus, father, carpenter, Mary, betrothed
JOY: feeling, emotion, happiness, delight, tidings
MANGER: Jesus, stable, hay, baby, animals
MARY: mother, Joseph, Jesus, Bethlehem, baby
MISTLETOE: Kiss, tree, plant, tree, berries
NATIVITY: manger, animals, shepherd, baby, Jesus
NAZARETH: Christ, Jesus, Joseph, city, childhood
NORTH POLE: Santa, home, elves, snow, cold
NUTCRACKER: nuts, suite, dance, music, ballet
ORNAMENT: tree, decorate, round, branch, Christmas
PEACE: war, calm, still, hate, earth
PLUM PUDDING: plum, dessert, Christmas, baked, food
POINSETTIA: Christmas, flower, red, leaf, Mexico
REINDEER: Rudolph, sleigh, Santa, red-nosed, antlers
SANTA: sleigh, reindeer, Kris Kringle, Saint Nicholas, toys
SAVIOR: born, city, David, Christ, Jesus
SHEEP: shepherd, wool, lamb, flocks, field
SHEPHERD: field, flocks, sheep, angels, Bethlehem
SLEIGH: ride, Santa, reindeer, toys, fly
SNOW: cold, frozen, flakes, winter, white
SNOWMAN: Frosty, ice, snow, water, round
STABLE: inn, innkeeper, room, barn, animals
STAR: wisemen, sky, night, moon, heavens
STOCKING: hung, chimney, fruit, gifts, candy
SWADDLING: clothes, wrapping, cloth, material, baby
TAX: Joseph, pay, government, city, journey
TOYS: Santa, elves, Christmas, children, gifts
WINTER: season, cold, snow, Christmas, December
WISEMEN: star, gifts, gold, frankincense, myrrh
WREATH: green, round, ribbon, circle, decoration

Christmas Collection
Games and Activities helping youth discover the Reason for the Season.

Get more than 200 creative ideas for planning a Youth Christmas celebration or Christmas Party party. You can immediately download my best Christmas Icebreakers, games, illustrations, Christmas activity ideas AND MUCH MORE in a useful ebook!

=> Tell me more about the Christmas Collection

Game Ideas

Find Jesus

December 17, 2005 kensapp Leave a comment

Materials
None

Activity
The Wisemen are looking for Jesus.
1. Everyone sits in a circle. 1-3 participants (depending on the size of the group are chosen as wisemen and asked to leave the room. While they are away, one person is chosen to be “Jesus.” The person chosen as “Jesus” will secretly wink at others in the circle. His objective is to not get caught by the wisemen. Anyone in the circle who sees that they have been winked at by “Jesus” sings the first line of a Christmas Carol and continues to play. (Alternatively they can shout, “Behold, I bring you tidings of great joy!”

The wisemen are then called back into the room and asked to find “Jesus.” Once the wisemen are able to identify “Jesus”, start the game again with a new set of wisemen and a new “Jesus.”

This game is a great lead in to the story of the wisemen.

Variation 1
Add a Herod. Herod, like the wisemen is trying to find Jesus. But if Herod finds “Jesus” first everyone loses.

Variation 2
Rudolph is waiting for Santa so that all the presents can be delivered. Rudolph needs to find Santa. One participant is selected to be Rudolph and leaves the room while Santa is selected from those remaining. Once Rudolph returns Santa begins to secretly wink at people in the circle. If a person is winked at the let out a loud, “HO! HO! HO! –Merry Christmas. Once Rudolph identifies Santa, start again with a new Santa and a new Rudolph.

Christmas Collection
Games and Activities helping youth discover the Reason for the Season.

=> Tell me more about the Christmas Collection

Creative Youth ideas: 1700+ Resources for youth leaders, pastors, ministers to help plan camps, retreats, and meetings using games, illustrations, Children's Worship, Bible Studies, object lessons, sermons, creative ideas,creative activities