Parable of the Banquet Guests (Luke 14) | Games

The parable of the Banquet guests is a strange one! On the one hand, you have the remarkable generosity of the banquet host, or king as he’s referred to in Matthew’s passage, but on the other hand you have the blatant failure of friendship from the invited guests. These games look at the idea of invitation, the roller coaster of emotions, and the idea of a party. Here is a selection of games to suit a wide range of ages and set-ups. Choose the game you would most like playing and your youngsters would respond to best.

Wipe that smile off your face

Age group recommendation icon

All Ages

Any sized group icon

Any size group

No setup-time required icon

No Setup time

Noisy game icon

Noisy game

Suitable for seated groups icon

Can be seated

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 use 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 rapidly but shows how much infectious smiles and excitement can be.

Every spot

Age group recommendation icon

Under 7’s

Smaller groups icon

Small group

Setup time required icon

Requires setup time

Noisy game icon

Noisy game

Space needed icon

Space needed

Lay paper plates out on a table to indicate how many people/cuddly toys you need. Hide the cuddly toys around the room. Make it harder by putting names or colours on the plates, they need to match up.

You are invited…

Age group recommendation icon

Under 7’s

Any sized group icon

Any size group

No setup-time required icon

No Setup time

Noisy game icon

Noisy game

Space needed icon

Space needed

First mark a section of your room as the party area and a section outside where the ‘guests’ (kids) start. This can be played two ways, either as a form of Simon says ‘you are invited if you can jump’- the kids then jump into the party. Once everyone is in the areas, swap and you give a new command. For older groups, each child presents themselves miming an action, the host can invite them in by naming that action by saying “you are invited …. (insert action e.g. doing the washing up!)”

Who am I

Age group recommendation icon

Ages 7+

Smaller groups icon

Small group

Setup time required icon

Requires setup time

Quiet game icon

Quiet game

Suitable for seated groups icon

Can be seated

A traditional game that works well with older groups (sometimes referred to as the post-it note game). Place the name of a famous person on the forehead (or back) of each player. The player must work out who they are by asking yes/no questions of the other players.

Pass the parcel

Age group recommendation icon

All Ages

Smaller groups icon

Small group

Setup time required icon

Requires setup time

Quiet game icon

Quiet game

Space needed icon

Space needed

This classic game involves a parcel with many layers that gets passed around a circle as the music plays. When the music stops, the child removes a single layer and the process begins again. Link to the idea of all these strangers sharing the joy of a party, passing the food, enjoying the undeserved gifts they received.

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