| This little flip card ‘match up’ game is perfect for highlighting the elements from the story of Manoah and his wife. Includes a character picture of Manoah, his wife, an angel (without wings), a goat, a flame, cooking pots, wine goblets, and a plait of hair. |
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Blind Bartimaeus is a fantastic story because it holds many layers of meaning without reverting to complex or Jewish symbolism. For younger children Bartimaeus is a sick man who wants to be healed. As they get older the idea that he had listened and waited and was making a fool of himself for shouting at the air, hoping to be heard by Jesus, highlights both his faith and the importance of listening. As we move into the teens the significance of his cloak becomes more apparent, that this one form of shelter and identification can be so bravely abandoned, challenges them to move their faith beyond their own security.
Blind mans bluff – This traditional game is a great introduction for younger children to the concept of blindness and a good for older children to reinforce the faith it took for Bartimaeus to move towards Jesus.
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The Magi, also known as the wise men or even the kings have such a great back story. By calling them Magi we distinguish them as different from the other learned men and kings of scripture. A Magus (plural Magi) is literally a Persian priest, a priest whose knowledge came from magic and stargazing. They were holy men whose lives search for divinity. The great hope they hold is that even when you are looking in the wrong places God can reach you. These games focus more on the search and less on Herod and his part played in the narrative.
I see God in that – Lay the following objects on the floor, also print or write out the statements. The children then need to match the object to the statement. End by saying that sometimes God can be found in unusual places. Alternatively, while this is a bit of a gag game, getting the youngsters to make up their own reasons is a great way to stretch older children.
Bottle of water – He washes our sins away
Egg box – Jesus chose 12 disciples we don’t have to do things alone
Pushpins – Jesus was held on the cross
Hairbrush – God loves us so much he knows how many hairs are on our head
Sunglasses – When Moses saw God his face shone
Fan – The Holy spirit comes like the wind
Circle – God’s love is eternal, it will never end
Key – Becoming a Christian is like giving God the key to your heart
Feel free to add your own!
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The apostle Philip (not to be mistaken for the Deacon who meets the Ethiopian) is an interesting character. He only seems to have 3 events recorded in the bible, two of which are about introducing people to Jesus. These games focus on the idea of introduction and community building.
Wipe that smile off your face – The first person pulls their silliest smile and directs it at each child in the circle, trying to make someone giggle or laugh. On the leaders mark they uses one hand to literally “wipe” the smile off their face, and hand it to the next person, and on it goes. This can get silly really quickly but shows how much infectious smiles and excitement can be.
Apostle Memory Match – This match 2 cards game is really as simple as printing out 2 sets of cards and turning them over. It’s a lovely way of introducing the different apostles or recapping part way through a series. Download the image by clicking on it and saving the picture that loads – I’ve left it as a picture so you can resize to whatever most suits your needs.
James and John are the cheeky rogues of the disciples, brash and outspoken they don’t always say the most loving and inclusive things but their proximity to Jesus means they get a front row seat to almost everything in his 3 years of ministry. The games are therefore tying into the big and bold and yet also trying to highlight servant-hood over greatness.
Supper time balance– This is a silly servant theme game where you give each child a tray and get them to walk across the room balancing the things you put on it. Start with simple things but add more and more paper plates, plastic cups, and random pieces of cutlery. When they drop something they are excluded. This game can be done in teams or individually.
Tall towers and small pieces – This game is about getting the highest tower built. Give each child/team a set time to use whatever you have available. Either in advance, or as an unpleasant twist at the end, measure each tower and divide the number by the number of pieces used. The winner is the one with the highest resulting number. Link into individual serving pieces are sometimes more important than the resulting structure.
For centuries Thomas has been synonymous with doubting, within this lesson we look at both the doubter and the declarations he makes showing his deep, if sometimes over enthusiastic, faith. These games play on those 2 ideas of questioning and making statements.
Feel bags– In a story where the real action is all to do with touch feel bags are a great activity to lead into a discussion of how we use our senses to prove / verify what is real. Fill some small non-transparent bags with various objects and have the kids identify the contents through touch alone.
Replace the missing piece – Print some photo images. Remove one or more small sections from each image and stick it onto a piece of card. Write a letter on the cards with sections and number each large image. The object of the game is to match the letters and numbers. if you want to give your children a reason to move stick these around the room and make it a timed activity, this will encourage movement. Featured originally in the attributes of God lesson. (pictured)
Ishmael and Hagar are two rather bit characters that seem to show a deviation from God’s plan, but God is a god of second chances, a God who provides and a God who will guide even the most lost of characters onto a life of great meaning. These games look at these 3 ideas and try and illustrate one or more of them
Specific hunt– This is a basic treasure hunt game with a slight twist. Hide lots and lots of coloured papers around the room and get the children to hunt for them. Hide one last piece of paper, with the word ‘water’ written on it, in a very difficult place. When the game has finished tell the children that the winner of the game is the one with the paper that says water. It’s probable that no child has this piece, if so give them detailed instructions to find it. Link it into the idea that Ishmael and Hagar wandered a long time but needed God’s Angel to help them find water.
Blind man’s buff– little children love this game, as do some older ones too! It links well to the idea of Ishmael and Hagar wandering in the wilderness.
Andrew’s lesson has 2 main symbols, that of fishing for men, and the idea of discipleship. The lessons emphasis can be bolstered with the choice of games and craft activities, as long as at the end of each game you take a moment to highlight the teaching point.
Magnet men – this is a traditional and a good one. Make up fishing poles using dowel, string, and a magnet hook. Then cut out some small man shapes and slide a paper-clip around their waist. A quick time-saver is to cut a people paper chain and then divide it up. Add a twist by writing a task for the child to fulfil on each paper man.
Imitation – this game is as simple as it’s title. Choose someone to copy and for 30 seconds copy everything they do or say. Use a timer so it can be ended easily, older children will pick up more delicate expressions and mannerisms. You can make it more silly by having the person move about the room.
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