Category Archives: Creative Teaching Ideas

Ken’s ideas to add a little spark to your youth ministry lessons, improve your teaching, and add lots of fun and excitement to your teaching.

Creative Teaching Ideas, Game Ideas

Newspaper Madness – United in Christ

March 12, 2014 kensapp Leave a comment

There are lots of games that can be played using only newspapers, but a few have been selected to illustrate the idea of unity and working together. In most of these games the players are designated as penguins and the newspaper is an iceberg.

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What You Need

Lots of newspapers

A Few Newspaper Games

Penguin Wacko – All the youth sit in a circle on chairs with one less chair than people in the group. Give a rolled up newspaper to one person in the middle of the circle who must call out a name. The person whose name is called must quickly call out another name before the person in the middle hits him or her with the rolled up newspaper. If someone gets hit with the newspaper they must take the place of the person in the center. Variation: no names are allowed to be repeated so that every name is called.
Penguin Iceberg Race – Each youth is a penguin. Each team has two icebergs (sheets of newspaper) Each group of penguins must race to a destination by stepping on one sheet of newspaper, placing the next one down in front and hopping onto the next sheet of paper. The person then picks up the previous sheet of paper and places it in front. Once a player reaches the finish line, he picks up both sheets of paper and races back to the team and the next penguin repeats the process.
Penguin Dance – 2 youth (Penguins) do a penguin dance with music on a sheet of newspaper (icebergs). When the music stops, the iceberg melts (The newspaper is folded in half). The music begins again and they dance again until the music stops. Each time the music stops, the the iceberg melts again (Is folded in half). The pair that dances on the iceberg the longest, without touching the floor wins.
Iceberg Melt – Which team can fold a newspaper the smallest?
Penguin Colony – How many penguins can stand on one iceberg (page of newspaper).
Penguin Shuffle – Divide the youth into pairs, give each pair one sheet of newspaper, and get them to stand in two circles, one circle inside the other. While you play music, the inner circle walks like a penguin counter-clockwise and the outer one walks clockwise. When the music stops, each pair must find their partner, place the sheet of newspaper on the floor and stand on it. The last pair to stand on their iceberg is removed from the game. The process is repeated but now every time the music stops the newspaper must be first be folded in half so it gets smaller and smaller each round. The last pair of penguins in the game is the winner.

FINAL GAME AND DEBRIEF

Ice Melt – Place sheets of newsprint on the floor with space between them. Explain that penguins love to go fishing in the ocean, but once in a while, when orca whales come near, they must hop on icebergs for safety. When the music is playing, the penguins need to swim in the ocean and look for fish to eat. But when the music stops it means an orca is near and the penguins have to hop on an iceberg for safety. But the icebergs are melting and every round one melts away. The goal is to work together to keep all the penguins alive. Repeat this process until only one sheet of newspaper remains for all the penguins to share.

TAKE IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL

DEBRIEF

Ask the youth what they did in order to save everyone.
What were the strategies they used to make sure everyone survived?

MAKE IT SPIRITUAL

In this game, everyone started out on their own, and over time they all joined together into one colony. In some ways this is like the journey we take as believers. We are all separated, both from God, and in some ways from others. But Christ’s sacrifice on the cross removed the distance between us and God. God brings us together into one family, one church, one body of Christ.

MAKE IT PRACTICAL

What do the following verse say about us coming together as one, about the unity God desires from us as Christians?

Ephesians 4:1-6
Romans 15:5-7
Romans 12:4-5
I Corinthians 8:6
Ephesians 4:11-16
Hebrews 2:6-11;17
1 Timothy 2:5
I Corinthians 12:4-10
Philippians 1:27
Ephesians 4:2-6

What are some ways we need to grow together?
What are the benefits of unity?
What are the things that separate us and how can we overcome them?
How can we grow closer?

MAKE IT PERSONAL

How can you contribute to unity in the church? In the youth group?
In what are do you find unity most difficult? Why?
What is something you can personally do this week to being greater unity?

KEY SCRIPTURE VERSES

1 Timothy 2:5 – “For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,”
Ephesians 4:1-6 – “I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, With all lowliness and meekness, with long-suffering, forbearing one another in love; Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.”

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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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Creative Teaching Ideas, Game Ideas

Valentine’s Day – Candy Hearts

February 11, 2014 kensapp Leave a comment

Candy Conversation Hearts, commonly available near to Valentine’s Day, have been around for close to 150 years. In this youth idea, you’ll get several games to play using the candy hearts as well as ideas to use the messages written on the hearts to tell about God’s Love.

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What You Need

A lot of candy hearts

A Brief History

An american named Oliver Chase invented a candy machine that cut candy lozenges in 1847 and 3 years later a machine to pulverise sugar to make the candy. Then in 1866 his brother, Daniel Chase invented a machine to press food dye letters onto the hearts and other shapes to create short messages. They were first shared at weddings, birthday parties, and other celebrations, but over the years became synonymous with Valentine’s Day.

Games using Candy Conversation Hearts

Valentine’s Candy Hearts Toss: Place some saucers on top of cups to elevate them at different heights. You may also designate different saucers as having higher point values than others. The youth are given 5 heart candies, and from a designated distance, must toss the candy hearts onto the saucer. Highest score wins.
Candy Hearts Pick Up: The youth or who transfers the most hearts from the saucer to a bowl in one minute, using only chopsticks wins the game. Variation: Instead of chopsticks youth must create suction through a straw to transfer the hearts.
Conversational Hearts Story Game: Youth are given 10-12 candy hearts with various messages and must use them to create a story of God’s love for us. Variation: allow any story and award prizes for the most serious, the most mushy, the grossest, the funniest and the silliest stories.
Candy Hearts Icebreaker: Fill a bowl with Candy hearts and pass it around the group. Each youth takes as much or as little candy as they want. Make sure that no one eats their candy right away. For each candy heart they take, they have to share one fact about themselves. To make it a little more interesting, assign something specific for each color: favorite hobby, food, song, place to visit, most embarrassing moment, greatest fear, etc.
Heart Match: Separate several boxes of conversation hearts into pairs of identical words / colors. Give each youth one as he/she arrives. They must mingle and pair up with the person who has the same phrase, but cannot speak any of the words on the heart in the search to find their partner.
Candy Heart Charades: Play a game of charades using candy conversation hearts as the messages.
Valentine Heart Tower: Have a competition to see who can make the tallest tower of candy hearts, by stacking them one on top of the other. When the time runs out, the team with the tallest standing tower is awarded a prize.

Candy Heart Messages
Over the years, the hearts have contained a variety of creative and touching ways to say “I love you.” They rotate the saying from year to year as well as add new ones.

Some of the more well known ones are:
I Love You, Be Mine, Call Me, Cupid, Dream, Flirt, Friend 4Ever, Heart Throb, I Do, Love Me, Miss You, Soul Mate, Too Cool

They’ve also used:
All Mine, Amore, Angel, Ask Me, Awesome, Be Good, Be My Hero, Be My Icon, Be True, Cool, Cutie Pie, Dear, Dear One, Dig Me, Dream On, Email Me, Fax Me, First Kiss, For You, Get Real, Girl Power, Go Girl, Go Home, Got Love, Heart Of Gold, Hello, Love, Home Sick, Honey Bun, How Sweet, Hug Me, I Heart You, I Hope, I Will, I Wish, I’m Sure, I’m Yours, It’s Love, It’s True, Kiss Me, Let’s Kiss, LOL, Love, Love Ya, Love You, Lover Boy, Marry Me, Miss Me, Moon Beam, My Baby, My Girl, My Hero, My Love, My Man, My Pal, Neat, New Love, Nice Girl, Oh Boy, One I Love, Only You, Page Me, Real Love, Rising Star, Sexy Baby, Smile, So Fine, Sure Dear, Sure Love, Sweet Talk, Thank You, TLC, Too Hot, Too Sweet, True Love, Ura Star, Ura10, Venus, What Ever, Why Not, Yes Dear, You + Me?, You Bet, You Rule, You’re Tops

TAKE IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL

Discussion

What 1 to 3 word message would you put on candy hearts if you had a chance?

MAKE IT SPIRITUAL

“This is the covenant I will make with the people of Israel after that time,” declares the Lord. “I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.” – Jeremiah 31:33

BE MINE – God wants us to accept His love; God calls us to be His. James 1:18; Isaiah 43:1; John 3:16; John 10:27-30; Exodus 19:5-6; Deuteronomy 7:6; Romans 8:38-39; Romans 8:28
TRUE LOVE – God loves us with true love – unconditional love. Jeremiah 31:3; 1 John 3:1; 1 John 3:16; Romans 5:8; Lamentations 3:22-25
LOVE ME – God wants us to love Him. Luke 10:27; 1 John 4:7-12
SWEET TALK – God’s Word is His love letter to us. Psalm 119:103
CALL ME – God wants us to communicate with Him. Jeremiah 33:3

MAKE IT PRACTICAL

What words are written on people’s hearts? How do words get written on our hearts?
What 1 to 3 word messages do you believe God would want to write on a person’s heart?
If a person had the words of God written on their hearts, how would it change them? How would it change their thoughts, attitudes, words, and actions?

MAKE IT PERSONAL

If you were to describe your own heart in 1 to 3 words what words would characterise your heart?
What will the keywords will you choose to be on your heart this week as you reveal your heart to God? to others? In your family? In school?

OTHER SCRIPTURE VERSES

James 1:18 (NLT) – “He chose to give birth to us by giving us his true word. And we, out of all creation, became his prized possession.”
2 Chronicles 17:4 (NIV) – “if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”
Jeremiah 31:3 (NIV) – “I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.”
Jeremiah 31:33 (NIV) – “This is the covenant I will make with the people of Israel after that time, declares the Lord. “I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.”
Proverbs 3:3 – “Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.”

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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 Valentine’s Day activity as well as other familiar holidays. If you’ve ever wondered what you’re going to do in celebration of the holidays and how you’re going to do it, this resource is for you.

=> Tell me more about the Holiday Collection

Creative Teaching Ideas

Thanksgiving: Count Your Blessings

November 26, 2013 kensapp Leave a comment

Count your blessings, name them one by one,
Count your many blessings, see what God hath done.
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.

Not once a year, but every day, we need to count the blessings God has sent us.
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What You Need

A blank sheet of paper and something to write with for each person
A timer

What to do – Game

On your signal to begin, everyone should write down everything they are thankful for that can be described in two words or less.
Set a timer, for two minutes (or less) and tell them to begin.
When the timer goes off each youth must count how many items they have.
The person with the most items should read their list and if anyone else has those items on their list also, then everyone who has the items must cross them off the list. Only unique items remain.
The next person continues in the same way, calling out the items that remain on his/ her list. If the item is unique it remains. If someone else has the same item, then all who have it cross the item off their lists.
Continue until everyone has gone, then each person must count up the unique items he or she has on the list.
Award a prize for the person with the highest number of unique answers.

TAKE IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL

Make it Spiritual

* What was the most surprising thing that someone was thankful for?
* How did creating your list affect you?
* Did you have more or less items than you thought you would have?
* How did it make you feel when you discovered that others felt blessed for the same things as you?
* Of all the things on your list, which is most significant for you? Why?

Make it Personal

CREATE A BLESSINGS JAR

Give each youth a blessings jar. While a small jar is nice, any container with a lid will work. Place a label on it “Blessings Jar.” And maybe tie a ribbon on it. You can just as easily decorate a Pringles can or another container. Or even better, have materials for the youth to decorate their own jar.
Give each youth 30-40 small slips of paper. You can also buy a small notepad.
Encourage the youth to start today and for each day from now until the end of the year, at the beginning of each day, to write something down they are thankful for, or that was a blessing for them on the previous day. Place it in the jar each day. Then at the end of the year, encourage them to open the jar and recall the blessings of God for the last few weeks of the year.

SCRIPTURES

Ephesians 5:19-21
“Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.”

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

Colossians 3:17
“And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”

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 Thanksgiving 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.

=> Tell me more about the Holiday Collection

Creative Teaching Ideas

Fright Night

October 30, 2013 kensapp Leave a comment

How do we deal with fear? If you think about it, the Bible has quite a few scary stories suitable for any fright night. In this one, God takes Ezekiel to a valley filled with hundreds, maybe even thousands of dry human bones, they grow flesh and skin and then come back to life as a vast army. Zombie Apocalypse or an all powerful God who has power over life and death?

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What You Need

No supplies are needed for this lesson, but if you want to decorate the meeting room with a lot of skeletons which are easy to find during the Halloween Season. Scatter them about the room and also bone shaped pieces of paper covering the floor.

Discussion Starters

Divide the groups into teams and ask them to make a list of everything that comes to mind when you think about Halloween?
Most of the things on the list are probably things that are scary or that are related to death.
What are some things you are afraid of?
What are some of the things that frighten you?

What to do

Turn off the lights and read this scary Bible story.

Read Ezekiel 37:1-10

If you think about it, the Bible has quite a few scary stories suitable for any fright night. In this one, God takes Ezekiel to a valley filled with hundreds, maybe even thousands of dry human bones. God tells Ezekiel to command the bones and the and suddenly the bones begin to move. The legs, arms, ribs, come together. They form skeletons. They grow new tendons and skin. And army of dead men rises up. Then God tells him to speak again and those bones, now covered in flesh, come back to life. Imagine how you would feel to simple stand in a valley filled with dry bones. How would you feel? Then to see them begin to grow flesh back on the bones, yet still be dead. Then come to life?

If we admit it, most of us would be pretty afraid.

COMMON FEARS

What are some other things that people are afraid of all year long?

There are hundreds of things that people are afraid of and there are even names for many of these fears. They are called phobias.

GAME #1

One fun idea is to have teams of youth write what they think the definition is. Then each team votes on the definitions. The team whose definition gets the most votes wins 1 point. Any team with the correct definition wins 2 points. Any team that votes on the correct definition gets 1 point.

Top 10 Fears

Arachnophobia – The fear of spiders.
Ophidiophobia – The fear of snakes.
Acrophobia – The fear of heights.
Agoraphobia – The fear of public places
Cynophobia – The fear of dogs.
Astraphobia – The fear of thunder and lightening.
Trypanophobia – The fear of injections.
Social Phobias – The fear of social situations.
Pteromerhanophobia – The fear of flying.
Mysophobia – The fear of germs or dirt.

Here’s some others from the hundreds of fears

Demophobia – The fear of crowds.
Musophobia – The Fear of mice.
Arachibutyrobphobia – The fear of peanut butter sticking to the roof of your mouth.
Gephyrophobia – The fear of crossing a bridge.
Belonephobia – The fear of needles.
Claustrophobia – The fear of confinement in closed places.
Lyssophobia – The fear of insanity.
Hydrophobia – The fear of water.
Climacophobia – The fear of stairs, elevators, or escalators.
Ailurophobia – The fear of cats.
Hypengyophobia – The fear of responsibility.
Thalassophobia – The fear of the sea or ocean.
Panphobia – The fear of everything.

Game #2

Point to one side of the room as you call out each situation. Youth must go to the side which is MORE frightening to them.

A room full of spiders – or full of snakes
Stand on the edge of a cliff – or crawl through a dark narrow cave
Flying in a plane – or Crossing a bridge
Dogs – or Cats
Swimming in the Ocean – or taking the Elevator / escalator
Getting an injection – or going to the dentist
A white mouse – or blue cheese
Speaking in Public – or People speaking behind your back
Thunder and Lightning – or a completely dark night
Germs – or hospitals
Brussel Sprouts – Liver and onions
In a room with a wasp buzzing around – or eat a chocolate-covered ant.
Roller skate – or ice skate
Walk through a cemetery in the middle of the night – or ask someone for a date for the first time.
Take a difficult test – Witness to someone at school

TAKE IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL

Tell us about a time when you were the most afraid you have ever been?
What happened? What was the end of the story?

MAKE IT SPIRITUAL

But what does the Bible Say about Fear?

I’ve been told there are 365 “Fear Nots” in the Bible – one for each day of the year. Regardless of how many there are, it is obviously something that is common to all of us. That’s why God mentions it so often.

Here are some Bible verses about fear. What lessons can we learn from them?

“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
Isaiah 41:10

“For I am the LORD, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.”
Isaiah 41:13

“For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, ‘Abba, Father.'”
Romans 8:15

“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”
Psalm 23:4

“Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.’ So we say with confidence, ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?'”
Hebrews 13:5-6

“The LORD is my light and my salvation– whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life– of whom shall I be afraid?”
Psalm 27:1

“The LORD is with me; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?”
Psalm 118:6

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” – Deuteronomy 31:6

“When I am afraid, I will trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can mortal man do to me?”
Psalm 56:3-4

“I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.”
Psalm 34:4

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus” Philippians 4:6-7

“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.”
Romans 8:28

What do you do when your fears seem to be stronger than your faith?
Have you ever allowed fear to stop you from doing something?
Are there any areas in your life that are being limited because of fear?

“I sought the Lord, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears”
Psalm 34:4

“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
1 Peter 5:7

“Be still and know that I am God”
Psalm 46:10

“You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world” (1 John 4:4).

“When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.”
Psalms 56:3

“Praise the LORD. Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, who finds great delight in his commands. He will have no fear of bad news; his heart is steadfast, trusting in the LORD. His heart is secure, he will have no fear; in the end he will look in triumph on his foes’
Psalm 112:1, 7-8

MAKE IT PRACTICAL

What understandings about fear do you get from these verses?
How can you deal with fear based on what you have learned?

MAKE IT PERSONAL

Have you ever been afraid to do something that God would want you do? Explain.
How can you live life more courageously for God, know what you have learned about fear?
How can you put these verses into practice?

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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.

=> Tell me more about the Holiday Collection

Creative Teaching Ideas

The Fear of Failure

September 11, 2013 kensapp Leave a comment

One of the key issues that everyone faces in life is the “fear of failure”. We all face this fear when we are forced to step out from what is familiar to us and try something new. This creative Bible Study lesson for youth begins with a taste test and then looks at the very real example of Moses when God called him to serve him in Egypt.

What you need

Blindfolds for each youth
Various unusual foods cut into small pieces and placed in separate bowls (You’ll want unusual textures and flavors)

Here are some you might consider:

90% chocolate, anchovies, any herb or spice, avocado, beef jerky, black liquorice, bitter gourd, black olive, brussel sprouts, candied ginger, candy sprinkles, carrot, celery, century egg, dried fruits, graham cracker, green olive, green olives, green pepper, herring, jelly, jelly beans, jicama, kiwi, kohlrabi, lima beans, m&m’s, mango, maraschino cherries, marshmallows, melba toast, pear, peeled grapes, peppercorns, pickles, pig skin, pineapple, pomegranate, popcorn, raw potato, prawn crackers, prunes, radish, raisins, raw onion, reese’s peanut butter cup, rhubarb, rice cakes, skittles, sliced ginger, sauerkraut, sweet potato, tomato, vanilla wafers, vegemite, wasabe snacks, water chestnut

What to do

Seat the youth, blindfolded, in a circle of chairs.
Explain that you are going to pass around various bowls of food and youth are to take a small piece of food from the bowl, eat it and then pass the bowl on to the next person.
The youth are not allowed to say anything that might reveal the contents to others.
After everyone has had a chance to taste all the foods, display and identify the various foods that were in the bowls.

Debrief

How did you feel doing this taste test?
What were some of the thoughts that went through your head?
What fears and worries did you have? What were some of the risks?
How many of you tasted something good? How many of you tried something that tasted bad to you?
How do you feel when someone forces you to try something new?

Take it to the Next Level

Make it Spiritual

Read Exodus 3:7-4:6
Why did moses make so many excuses?
What were the fears that Moses had?
At the root of these things was the “Fear of failure.” How did God help Moses over come each of his fears?
Do we still have these same fears today when asked to try something new?

Make it Practical

What excuses do you make when asked to try something that is new to you?
What are some of your fears today?
What are some of the things you are afraid of trying? Doing?
Someone has said that “courage is the absence of fear, but doing the very thing you fear.” What does that mean for you?
How can God’s responses to Moses help us in facing our own fears?

Make it Personal
Someone said it this way, I would rather attempt to do something great for God and fail, than to plan to do nothing and succeed.

What is God asking you to do today that you are afraid of doing?
Stepping out in faith, what are some God honoring risks you can take this week?
What is something you need to trust God for in your life this week?
What is something you have been putting off in fear that God has called you to do?
Pray for God to replace the fear with faith and help you to take action this week? “God, I’m going to trust You in this area!”

SUMMARY
We face a lot of different fears in life. One of the most common fears is this fear of failure. No one wants to fail. We don’t want to fail our family, our friends, ourselves, and God. God almost always ask us to do things that are beyond our comfort zone, that force us to trust Him. Like Moses, one of the first things people do when they fear failure is to make excuses to why they can not do something. But God is with us. He will teach us. He has made us who we are. He is our strength. And he will take us through to the end. You can’t play it safe and please God. If you are controlled by your fears, you will miss many of God’s blessings in your life.

Additional Scripture

Psalm 27:1, 3, 5 “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? Though a host encamp against me, my heart will not fear; though war arise against me, in spite of this I shall be confident. For in the day of trouble He will conceal me in His tabernacle; In the secret place of His tent He will hide me; He will lift me up on a rock.”

Psalm 91:2-4 “I will say to the Lord, ‘My refuge and my fortress, my God in whom I trust!’ For it is He who delivers you from the snare of the trapper and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with His pinions, and under His wings you may seek refuge; His faithfulness is a shield and bulwark.”

Galatians 1:10 “For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a bond-servant of Christ.”

Ephesians 2:10 “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.”

Psalm 119:103-104 “How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! I gain understanding from your precepts; therefore I hate every wrong path.”

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Creative Teaching Ideas

True Greatness

July 16, 2013 kensapp Leave a comment

We are obsessed with competition. We want to be the best, the fastest, the richest, the strongest, the greatest. But what does it really mean to be the greatest? As Christians aren’t we supposed to strive for perfection? How does God define greatness?

Icebreaker Activity – Who Am I?

Make some Identity cards for famous Biblical or historical characters on them.
Put the person’s name and one or more characteristics that made them great or famous.
Place these cards on the back of people as they arrive and let them go around asking yes or no questions of each other until they learn the identity of the person on the card.

Additional Game Activity (Option #1) – Towels

Have a couple sample size bars of soap and a bucket of water for each team and a towel. Have a relay where each person goes down, washes his/her hands with the bar of soap, dries their hands on the towel and returns. First group to wear down the bar of soap until it is gone wins (if time is an issue, at a specific time, the group with the smallest bar of soap wins. Ask if anyone knows the ancient Latin name for “towel”. Jesus took a towel and wiped the disciples feet to show that it was not the greatest that was important but service to others. Jesus took a “stola” (towel) and wiped the disciples feet to teach them to serve. From this “stola” we get the word “stole”, the cloth that many ministers and choir members wear over their shoulders.

Additional Game Activity ( Option #2) – Opposite

Opposites: In today’s lesson Christ teaches us the opposite of greatness is humility. Play a game or have activity where all the rules are opposite of what they normally are.

Additional Game Activity ( Option #3) – Waiter Relay

Using paper cups and plates etc have them stack cups on a paper plate as on a tray and have relays. If they drop the cups they return to start. Ties in to the lesson by saying that intodays lesson we will learn that we are not to seek greatness but to be servants.

Additional Game Activity ( Option #4) – Shoe Relay

Shoe relay with a twist. Divide into teams. All members take their shoes off and place them in a large pile at the other end of the room. The first in each team runs down, and finds the shoes that belong to the NEXT person in line,
brings them back and puts them on the next person. Shoe laces, etc must all be tied. They then repeat until the entire team is wearing their correct shoes. Award the team that loses. Talk about how it may be a bit degrading to put shoes on for another person, but in today’s lesson we will discover that Christ said the “greatest must be the servant of all!”

Looking at the Scriptures

Mark 9:33-37 Mark 10:35-45

As we begin, I would like each of you to share your name and the name of one person you admire. Why? Whom do you consider to be a great person?
As we read these two passages, look for what they teach us about ourselves.
Can anyone explain everyone’s preoccupation with greatness? Why are people so hung up on who is greatest?
What are some examples that show the obsession people have with greatness?
Do you think men or women are more concerned with greatness? Or, is there a difference?
Is this concept of striving to be the best really all that bad? Explain?
Is there any good that comes out of striving to be the greatest?
What is wrong with our obsession with greatness? What harm does it do?
How have you seen people harmed by someone’s obsession with greatness? Be specific.
As Christians, we are immune from this tendency, true or false? Explain.
How have you seen the obsession to be the greatest in the church?
How has the tendency to strive for greatness demonstrated itself in your life? In what way have you been preoccupied with greatness?
When Jesus said, “the first shall be last,” what was he saying? What does it mean to be the servant of all?
What would it take to be great in God’s eyes? How does a person become great in God’s eyes?
How can you become a servant of all in your daily actions, words, and attitudes?
What is one practical way you can serve others you meet this week?

Look at the Mark 10 passage. How does this relate to the first passage?

What did Jesus mean by, “Can you drink the cup I drink. . .”?
Why did the ten become indignant?
Look at vers 42. What was the sin of the “those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles”?
What are some examples of the way people try to control or “Lord it over” others?
What are some respectable ways that “good” people try to control or “Lord it over” others?
Do we have the power to break this tendency to control? Do we have the power to abandon our preoccupation with greatness?
What can we do to break the preoccupation with greatness?
What is in it for us? How does the preoccupation with greatness hurt us? How would we be benefited by breaking the preoccupation with greatness? Be specific? Would it help you be a student, child, better what? How would it help you?
Who would join me in admitting, at least to God, if not yet to another person that you still have a tendency toward preoccupation with greatness?
Is admitting to God enough? Someone look up James 5:16 What can you do?

Take it to the Next Level

Step 1: Buy a couple of packs of baseball cards or another type of sports related cards. These cards are collected by many and have pictures of the athlete on the front and stats on the back. Certain cards such as those of Michael Jordan are VERY valuable because of the rarity and because many feel he was the best basketball players. Give youth a few minutes to trade cards then give them an opportunity to explain why they have the best player.

Step 2: Paste white paper over photo’s on the cards or just give youth blank white cards. Have youth make cards for the disciples.. What stats would be important for each? Would their acts of greatness such as miracles or their acts of servanthood be most important?

Step 3: Have youth make a baseball card on themselves. On the back they should write stats for themselves related to humility and service. Also have them list as accomplishments “acts of service” they have performed. They might also create a “heavenly team” name and logo for their team.

Step 4: Have youth Create a Future Baseball Card. What things do they want to be known for as a Christian? What would they Like God / Christ to say about them? What can they do to start living that life today?

Icebreakers Ahead: Take It To the Next Level

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Creative Teaching Ideas

Jesus, My Rock

July 9, 2013 kensapp Leave a comment

You’ve heard the hymn:

My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus Christ, my righteousness;
I dare not trust the sweetest frame but wholly lean on Jesus’ name.
On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand; All other ground is sinking sand,
All other ground is sinking sand.

It’s a familiar Hymn, but what does it mean for Christ to be My Rock?

Introduction Activity

Materials: Stones of assorted sizes and shapes..

Preparation
Collect a variety of stones of different shapes and sizes. For the first activity you can place all the stones in a common pile, or split them into two separate piles with an equal number of stones.

STAGE 1: Divide into two teams and see which can build the highest tower. The key to doing this will be to make the bottom stable and continue to build the tower as stable as possible.

STAGE 2: In this activity everyone competes again everyone else. Each person in turn places one of the stones on the tower. The first person to place a stone is the only one allowed to place a stone touching the ground. The objective of this stage is for each youth to choose one of the remaining stones and place it on top the already existing stones to build the tower a tower without it falling down. Subsequent stones can rest on any already existing stone, but cannot touch the ground. Any player who knocks the tower down or causes a stone to fall off while placing his/ her stone on the tower is out of the game. Continue until only one player is left. The key to this stage is to try to make it difficult for the next person to place a stone without knocking the tower over.

Debrief
Discuss the strategies of the two games, noting that if you want something to last, you must build on a solid foundation.

Digging into the Word

Read Luke 6:46-49 in your Bible

Jesus asks,
“Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?”

In other words, “Why do you say I am Lord of your life and yet you do not listen to me and obey me.” He then gives us a parable of two houses that teaches us four things.

1. The houses looked the same.

Both men in the story built a house. They looked the same, but there was a major difference not noticed by those who passed by. One house had a solid foundation and the other did not. A solid foundation in Biblical times consisted of two things – the actual foundation and a cornerstone.

1A. The Foundation (Reference verses: 2 Tim. 2:19; I Tim. 6:19)

A foundation was a whole substructure of a building. It was something put down to stabilize a building before construction started.

What are some of the things people have as the foundation for life?
What things do people base their lives upon?

(You may wish to give the stones back to the group members and have each write an answer to the above question on it. Another option may be to play a game of “Jenga” or “Uno Stacko” and have each youth name something people base their lives upon before pulling out a block and replacing it on top. Continue until the stack is toppled. You may wish to destabilise the stack from the onset to speed up the game)

Some of the common answers are:
Wealth, success, fame, acceptance, pleasure, logic, principles, fairness, justice, pleasing others, family, relationships, treasures, accomplishments, and specific goals are all possible answers. Your goal in life, your reason for living, is the foundation of your life.

In I Corinthians 3:10-11 (verses 12-15 are talked about later) Paul talks of building on the foundation of Christ. Christ is the only foundation. To build on anything less than Christ is to build on no foundation at all.

In Ephesians 2:20 Paul tells us that we are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets and even Christ Himself. We have a heritage (a foundation), portrayed for us in the biblical examples by the godly men and women who lived before us. But in order to know the Bible and it•s characters I must spend time in the Word. The stories and testimonies of the people in that great Book give us a first hand example of how to encounter life as Christians.

What does your life reveal about your personal foundation?
Is Christ your foundation?
Do you spend time in the Word studying the character examples of His people? Why or why not?

1B. The CORNERSTONE (Reference verses: I Peter 2:6; Acts 4:11, 12; Matthew 21:42; Isaiah 28:16, Matthew 7:24;1Corinthians 3:11; I Tim. 6:19; 2 Tim. 2:19; Eph. 2:20)

The cornerstone was the basis of a building in the days of Christ. The cornerstone kept the building’s walls lined up correctly. It kept things straight. If the cornerstone was no good, the building crumbled. It’s the same with our lives today. We choose what we want to base our lives on or build them around. When we choose Christ we have chosen what God’s Word says is the most precious cornerstone of all. We can use Christ and his example to line up our lives, to keep things straight. When Peter wrote about Jesus as the corner stone he had a good literal definition from life in Bible times of a corner stone. It was a huge rock large enough to mill wheat or grain that became the huge stone that whole large buildings were built upon. Yet even more importantly he saw first hand, the life of Christ, and could build his life in line with the example and teachings he saw.

In I Peter 2:6, Peter writes that when we believe in, trust in, adhere to and rely on Jesus we will never be disappointed or put to shame, disgraced, made to blush or be dis-honored. Our lives will not crumble as long as we build them according to His blueprints. Peter really believed that life with Jesus Christ was never disappointing.

What do you think Peter means that we won’t be dishonored or disappointed if we trust in and rely on Christ?
Have you ever been really put to shame or disgraced because of your belief in Christ?

In Acts 4:11, Luke tells us that this cornerstone is the basis of our faith and that it is only through relationship with Jesus Christ that we can have eternal life. Matthew 21:42 says that this was God’s plan and He finds it marvelous! (also refer to Psalms 118:22, 23) God planned for me to base my life on His Son Jesus!

What or Who is my cornerstone?
Have I rejected Christ in some areas of my life?
If I am rejecting Christ, is my ENTIRE building founded on Christ?
Is my building, my life, crumbling from poor construction?

Many people in the church are like these two houses. They may profess to be Christians and look like Christians in all their actions, but they are not Christians. Their life in not really built upon Christ. Actions and works do not determine if a person is a Christian. Ephesians 2:8-10 says that we are not saved by good works, but we are reborn or recreated in Christ Jesus for the purpose of doing good works. In John 14:6, John 17:3, and John 5:24 Jesus tells us he is the only way one can go to heaven. In I John 5:11-12 we are told that he who has Christ has eternal life. He who does not, does not have life. There is only one way to be a Christian and that is through Christ as the foundation of your life. A non-Christian can go through the actions of a Christian, and yet still not be a Christian. The house is there for all to see, but there is no foundation.

There are also those who are Christians, and have Christ as a foundation, but choose not to build on that foundation. Having Christ as the foundation is the initial step, but building on that foundation is something done daily, in the everyday decisions of life. How silly it would be if we saw a construction company lay a large solid foundation and then build on the ground instead of the foundation. They could even build with good materials and good works, but without building on the foundation everything built will be swept away. In Luke 14:25-30, 33 Christ speaks of the cost of being a disciple. He uses the parable of a man who wished to build a great tower, but the cost is too great for him to finish it. He is ridiculed because of his folly. To follow Christ is to give up everything for Christ, to surrender all to Him. We too, like the man in the parable, will be ridiculed and seen as a fool if we claim to be a Christian yet build our life upon other things. We need to clear away the rubble and build on the foundation!

1C. Clearing away the rubble.
As you read the focal passage you see that one man dug down deep, to the rock. He cleared away the rubble, removing that which would make his house unstable and building on the rock.

What rubble in your life do you need to clear away in order for Christ to be your foundation?

2. The time it took to build the house does not matter.

The time it took to build the house is not mentioned. It doesn’t matter. One may have been going to church and doing good things all his life, but unless Christ is the foundation, the house still will fall. It is never too late to begin building your life with Christ as the foundation.

3. The storms are the same.

A life without storms is not promised to Christians. The storm that hit the house with the solid foundation was no different than the one that hit the house without a foundation. The end result was different, but the storms were not. What is promised Christians is a foundation to weather the storms.

Why does God allow storms in our lives?
a. to teach us.
b. to test us, reveal our character
c. to toughen us up so we are stronger

I Corinthians 3:10-13 talks about the foundation of our lives being revealed IN our lives. God’s Word says there that the trials of life will reveal just what our foundations are made of! It continues on to say that those same experiences will reveal our character and the worth of the work each person has done.

Often it is the response to storms that really differentiates people. Through storms our foundations are shaken. Through storms we discover what areas in our lives have leaks and cracks and need repair. Through storms we may even discover that we never had a foundation. What storms have shaken your foundation?

4. Ultimately, the house without the foundation will fall.

The house will completely collapse that does not have Christ as a foundation. There is no option of a house half standing. What ever is built on the foundation will survive. What is not built on the foundation will be swept away. All things built will one day be judged. It is possible to be a Christian and do the right things, but for the wrong reasons. I Corinthians 3:10-15 says that our works will be judged and us rewarded accordingly. It is possible for us to get to heaven, having only the foundation with everything we have done being burnt up. As a friend once said, we would make it to heaven, but only in our underwear and those likely would be scorched. There would be no rewards. In Matthew 6: 1-8 we are told that God judges not only our actions, but our motives.

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Take It To The Next Level
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“Building Plans” Activity

Materials: Stones, paper

Have youth build something with the stones to represent what they want their life to be like. Encourage them to share the commitments they are making for building their life upon Christ.

My building plans…

1. Is my life the same on the outside as everyone else’s, but without a foundation? The foundation, my reason for living, right now is:

I need to make Christ the foundation of my life by:

2. What areas of my life am I not building on the foundation of Christ?

I can surrender these areas to Christ by:

3. Will the faith I profess stand the storms of life? Is Christ a temporary thought, a momentary decision, or a continuing commitment in my life? Explain.

4. Christ isn’t looking for an emotional experience, but commitment and total surrender to Him. I am committed to making my decision more than a mountain top experience, an emotional high. I am surrendering my life to Christ in all areas and truly committed to making Christ the foundation of all I do.

(Signature) __________________________________

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Scripture
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Luke 6:46-49

“Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say? As for everyone who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice, I will show you what they are like. They are like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete.”

“Who Do You Say that I Am?” Youth Bible Study Series

Looking for a Bible Study Series for the summer that is both evangelistic and also faith building for your Christian youth at almost any level of maturity?

There are 7 Primary Bible study Sessions in the series:

Jesus the Life Saver – Matthew 14:22-33
Jesus, My Friend – John 15:9-15
Jesus, Fear Slayer – Luke 8:22-25 or Mark 4:35-41 or Matthew 8:23-27
Jesus, the Healer – Mark 5:22-34 or Luke 8:40-48 or Matthew 9:18-26
Jesus, The Obedient – Luke 7:1-10 or Matthew 8:5-13
Jesus, The Spirit-Powered Man – Luke 4:14-30 (Luke 4:18)
Jesus, The Cleanser – Romans 8:29; Selected Passages

Find out more here:
“Who Do You Say that I Am?” Youth Bible Study Series

Creative Teaching Ideas

Lessons from “Father May I?”

June 11, 2013 kensapp Leave a comment

Father May I?

This is a paternal variation of the classic children’s game: Mother, May I? Use it for Father’s Day or simply to talk about our relationship with the Heavenly Father.

What to do

If you have played the classic game you know that everyone starts out across the room, at an equal distance from mother. Whoever is mother calls out a person’s name and asks them to take X number of steps forward. If the person steps forward without saying “Mother May I?” he or she is penalised or sent back to the start. However if he or she remembers to say the magic words, mother will reply with directions to take X number of baby steps, ballerina steps, giant steps, scissor steps, spinning steps, crab steps, etc. The first youth to reach mother wins.

Play a variation of the game, where the children or youth don’t ask mother, but instead ask “Father May I?”

Discussion

Who make the decisions in your house? Father or mother?
On what basis do parents make their decisions?
What are the possible consequences of making decisions on our own with guidance from parents?

Take it to the Next Level

Make it Spiritual

How is this game similar to walking with God? In the Bible, the word “walk” is often used to describe our relationship with the Heavenly Father. We don’t stand still nor does God intend for us to go backwards. Sometimes God may ask us to take baby steps, and other times we may need to take a leap of faith. Just like the game, the outcome is a result of our paying attention to God’s instructions and seeking permission before we move.

Make it Practical
In our relationship with the Heavenly Father, if we move without asking first, we may misstep, go in the wrong directions, or experience other unwanted consequences which take us away from the Father. Instead of moving nearer we end up farther away. We draw closer to God when we learn to listen to Him and seek his permission before we move. Then the actions we take will bring us closer to Him!

Make it Personal

What step is God asking you to take today?
Does it feel like a baby or giant step?
Are you seeking God’s voice, in the direction you are taking in life?
How can you become more attentive to his voice and his guidance?
What is an area of your life you need to seek God’s permission and guidance in?

Scripture
My sheep recognize my voice; I know them, and they follow me. – John 10:27 (NIV)

Holiday Collection
Games and Activities in Celebration of common Holidays.

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Creative Teaching Ideas, Object Lessons

God’s Word – A Mirror for Reflection

May 22, 2013 kensapp 1 Comment

James tells us God’s Word is like a mirror (James 1:22-25). Mirrors allow us to see ourselves and to make changes based upon what we see. Unfortunately, many youth not only have a hard time seeing themselves in Scripture, but they also see themselves in a lot of other mirrors which may distort the image they see when they are already struggling to discover who they really are.

What to do

Discussion

Ask: What are the characteristics of a mirror?
You can divide the youth into groups and have a competition between teams to make the biggest list of charateristics and uses of mirrors, or simply ask the question and write all the answers on a whiteboard or newsprint/ flipcharts.
Then read James 1:22-25 and ask the youth to highlight ways the Bible is like a mirror using the list they have already created.

Take it to the Next Level

Make it Spiritual

Here are some thoughts of characteristics and uses of a mirror applied….

We look into the mirror to see how we look and make changes – No one looks into a mirror, sees something he needs to change and then just forgets about it.
The better the mirror, the better the reflection. A poor quality mirror often introduces distortions. We must be aware of looking at ourselves through the eyes of others, what we have, or titles and positions, but must instead see ourselves as God sees us. Look into the perfect Word instead of the polluted world.
Reflective – God’s Word reflects his personality, reflects his attributes, attitudes, and desires. It also shows us how God sees us.
Introspective – Through reading God’s Word, we see Him and we see ourselves and the areas of our lives where we don’t measure up to God’s standards
The mirror isn’t the light, but only reflects it – We are not to worship God’s word, but the God that it reveals to us. God’s Word reveals the Light to us: a. Christ the light of the world; b. personal enlightenment
Shows the outside, not the inside – In contrast, God’s Word and commandments are not for the purpose of making external changes, but internal changes – heart changes.
Reflects the sun (son) or light – God’s Word reflects Christ the Son
Able to see yourself as others do – Through God’s Word, we discover what God sees in us and what others also see in us
If we focus too much we often lose sight of the overall picture – We need to look at the Bible as a whole, not pulling scriptures out of context, and not getting caught up in petty issues, but keeping a balanced Christian life
Can get dirty/ collect dust if not used – Many of our Bibles collect dust throughout the week and our knowledge of God’s Word is forgotten
A magnifying mirror is clear in the center and fuzzy and distorted on the edges. – We must have our lives centered upon God’s word. When we are away from it others won’t see us as clear reflections of Christ, but they will get a fuzzy image of Christianity.
Looking in carnival mirrors give you a distorted image of yourself. – Unless we are looking into the true mirror, God’s Word, we will get a distorted image of ourselves. Also beware of preachers who make you laugh, but never really give you God’s Word or have application to their sermons. They may just be carnival mirror preachers!
A mirror can break – Although a mirror can break, God’s word will stand forever.
The only thing you usually get from a shattered mirror is a cut hand! – Often, when we have shattered families, or other aspects of our lives are shattered, we get wounded because we use these things as our mirrors instead of God’s Word.
You can’t see much in a small mirror – In the same way, you can’t see yourself or God very much in a few Bible verses, but the more of God’s Word you look into, the better you see yourself and God
Usually when we look in the mirror, we only see the obvious things – Often when we read God’s word the things that are most obvious are what we realise. Later when we read these again, other things will be made evident to us by the Holy Spirit.
There are different types of mirrors for different purposes (Periscopes, Rearview mirrors, etc.) – Different verses in God’s word reveal mistakes that are already behind us, and those that are possible in the future
Obstacles in the way of a mirror block out parts of the picture – Obstacles in our lives prevent us from see the whole picture as God sees it.
The further you get from a mirror the less detail you see, the closer you get, the more detail you see. – This is the same effect as getting close or farther from God’s Word.
Quick glances into the mirror don’t help much. – To really see what needs work, you must spend time in God’s word, focusing and concentrating. A quick reading through the word rarely does us much good.
Sometimes it is necessary to look from a different angle to get a better perspective. It is the same with God’s Word. Try approaching scripture from a variety of vantage points.
No one ever looks in a mirror just to see the glass – We look into the Bible not to see the Bible, but to see God and ourselves

Have more ideas to share, please email me as I’d love to hear what your groups come up with! Share in the comments.

Make it Practical
What are some of the things we learn about ourselves from the Bible?

Make it Personal
How should we respond based on the reflection we see?

Scripture

“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.” – James 1:22-25

Creative Teaching Ideas

Appreciate Mothers (Mother’s day Idea)

May 1, 2013 kensapp Leave a comment

We must never underestimate the role that our mothers play in teaching us about God, about His Word, and about salvation. From a very early age, a mother is preparing us for life. Teaching us about our Creator and Redeemer is part of God’s purpose for mothers, and we must appreciate the godly mothers and honor them for taking up the challenge of preparing us for life.

Resources

You’ll need one set of these for every three youth:

Pair of clean (not smelly) socks
Hard boiled egg
Plastic cup

A set of puzzle pieces from a small puzzle or cut out from a postcard or magazine and
a blindfold for each group.

What to do (Option 1)

Divide the youth into groups of three.
Give each group a pair of socks, one hard boiled egg, and a small cup.
One person in each group must wear the pair of socks, one over each hand.
Place the hard boiled egg in the cup and then place the cup is in thecsock-covered hands.
Give the following instructions:

“The person with the socks is a friend who has come to you with a problem. He or she needs to peel the hard boiled egg so that no shell remains on it and place all the shells in the cup. Your friend may not remove the socks from his or her hands. Discuss the problem briefly then take action and help your friend. When your group finishes, remain where you are and quietly observe the other groups still working a their task. No other instructions will be given. Go!”

What to do (Option 2)

Divide the youth into groups of three.
Blindfold one member of each group. This blindfolded youth can talk and use his or her hands.
Assign another youth in each group who can ONLY talk.
The third youth in each group can use hands, but he or she CANNOT talk, and CANNOT touch the puzzle pieces.
Give the following instructions:

“The objective is to be the first group to put the puzzle together. Your friend may not remove the blindfold. Discuss the problem briefly then take action and to help your friend complete the puzzle. When your group finishes, remain where you are and quietly observe the other groups still working a their task.”

Take It to the Next Level

Discussion

What were the instructions given?
What were the rules of the game?
What resources did you have?
What limitations did you experience?
What strategy did you team use to accomplish the task?

Make it Spiritual

In most cases you will find the unhandicapped persons peeling the egg and doing all the work or the blindfolded person being taken through a complicated process to complete the puzzle. The less obvious solution and the point of the task is to enable the individual to become free to help himself or herself. This is best accomplished if the two helpers remove the socks from their friend’s hands, or the person able to use his hands, but not touch the pieces to remove the blindfold thus freeing their friend to complete the task. (The directions only stated that the person with the socks or blindfold could not remove them.)

There were three ways around the problems:

Do it for the person
Instruct the person on how to accomplish the activity or
Enable the person to do it him or herself.

This the role God has given parents. When we are born, we are very dependent on them to do everything for us. But very soon, they will start releasing some of that role and teaching us, then enabling us to do things for ourselves, to overcome our limitations. We gain strength, knowledge, skills, and wisdom to be the person God created us to be. It would be a sad state to never grow and mature and never be able to care for ourselves and someday care for others. But the role of parents is not simply to equip us for life with knowledge, skills and wisdom. We were created as spiritual beings so that role also extends to preparing us for our relationship with our Creator and Redeemer.

Make it Practical

Make a list of things you have learned from your parents – skills and knowledge.
What have you learned from your parents, by example and by their teachings about God?
What is our responsibility related to learning from our parents?

Make it Personal

Thank your mother for sharing with you lessons and skills to prepare you for the purpose God created you for.

Scriptures

“Hear, my son, your father’s instruction and do not forsake your mother•s teaching.”
– Proverbs 1:8

“My son, observe the commandment of your father and do not forsake the teaching of your mother.”
– Proverbs 6:20

King Lemuel in Proverbs 31:1 said that it was his mother who taught him about how to recognize a godly woman who would be a godly mother for his children.

“Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.”
– Proverbs 22:6 ESV

“The rod and reproof give wisdom, but a child left to himself brings shame to his mother.”
– Proverbs 29:15 ESV

“You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.”
– Deuteronomy 6:7 ESV

“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.”
– 2 Timothy 3:16-17 ESV

“A fool despises his father’s instruction, but whoever heeds reproof is prudent.”
– Proverbs 15:5 ESV

“But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.” – 2 Timothy 3:14-17 ESV (Timothy’s godly heritage was a result of his mother and her mother before her (2 Timothy 1:5).

“And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man.”
– Luke 2:52

“He decreed statutes for Jacob and established the law in Israel, which he commanded our ancestors to teach their children, so the next generation would know them, even the children yet to be born, and they in turn would tell their children.”
– Psalm 78:5-6 (See also Deuteronomy 4:10)

Holiday Collection
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 Mother’s Day event, but also 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 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