Free Youth Group Games

YOUTH GROUP GAME ON EASTER

Bible: John 11:25-26 (NLT)

Bottom Line: Easter is an opportunity to reflect on the sacrifice Jesus made and to celebrate His resurrection.

SUPPLIES 

• Two stopwatches
• Peeps marshmallow bunnies or chicks (one per student)
• Bowl
• Small table
• A piece of paper and pen

GAME PREP

Have two leaders with stopwatches stand at the front of the room.

Divide students into two teams of equal size.

Have each team form a straight line and sit down, facing the front of the room.

Open the packs of Peeps and place them in a bowl, on a small table, at the front of the room.

Have the pen and paper on hand to record each team’s scores throughout the game.

HOW TO PLAY THE GAME

Say: The game we are about to play is all about time.

I’m going to ask the first person in each team’s line to come and stand in front of this table.

I've asked two leaders (one for each team) to hold stopwatches throughout the game.  They have a super important job.

After each team has sent a representative to the front, I will call out a specific amount of time and say GO!   For example, I will say “15 seconds!”

The leaders will begin timing on the stopwatches, and you will wait until you think that 15 seconds have passed, stick a Peep in your mouth, and say, "STOP!"

Your team’s stopwatch will be stopped immediately.

After each person has made their time guess, we will see which team is the closest and award a point to that team.

Then, everyone on each team will take a turn, we will tally the scores, and declare a winner!

Note: You can choose any amount of time that you wish but try to keep it under a minute for each round, so the game is not too long.

TEACH

Say: You all have a great sense of time – that was awesome!

During this season, of every year, we recognize a specific holiday – Easter. 

All around the world, Easter is celebrated with candy, hiding, and hunting eggs, and of course, the Easter bunny. 

It is celebrated by Christians and non-believers alike. 

But at its core, Easter is a Christian holiday that celebrates the belief in the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. 

It’s a Day of Remembrance for the sacrifice Jesus made on the cross and a celebration of His resurrection from the dead. 

Days of remembrance are important.  

We remember birthdays because we are grateful for someone’s life. 

We celebrate graduations to recognize the academic accomplishments and achievements that someone has made. 

Remembering a day or event helps us appreciate what has happened and take time to reflect on what it means to us.

That is the purpose of Easter – to reflect on the sacrifice Jesus made and the benefits we enjoy because of His resurrection.

Read John 11:25-26.

Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life. 

Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying. Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die. Do you believe this, Martha?”

Let’s talk about this story…

Martha’s encounter with Jesus took place after her brother, Lazarus, died. 

Mary and Martha had sent for Jesus when Lazarus was ill. 

They had asked Jesus to come and heal their brother, but He didn’t. 

Instead, Lazarus died.

Now, Jesus has arrived four days after Lazarus’ death to visit Mary and Martha.

In our scripture passage, Jesus asked Martha if she believes that anyone who believes in Him will never die.  

Martha responded and told Jesus that she does believe. 

Several verses later, we read that Jesus had the stone of the tomb rolled away, He called to Lazarus who was dead inside of the tomb, and Lazarus was raised back to life.

This was an incredible miracle and word of what Jesus had done traveled quickly.

Ask: If someone you knew was raised from the dead, who would you tell?

Allow a few responses from students.

The story of Lazarus is important for several different reasons.

First, Lazarus and those who loved him experienced an incredible miracle. 

But as the news of this miracle traveled throughout the land, a series of events came into play that resulted in Jesus’ death on the cross.

The Pharisees and Jewish leaders were not thrilled when they heard what had happened.

John 11:53 says, ^“So from that time on, the Jewish leaders began to plot Jesus’ death.” 

At this point, Jesus stopped his public ministry and went into the wilderness with His disciples to pray, followed by His triumphant entry into Jerusalem on a donkey when the crowds waved palm branches and celebrated Him as the “King.”

If Jesus had healed Lazarus from his sickness the way He had healed many others that had called upon Him, the Jewish leaders would have most likely remained simply annoyed with Jesus for the time being. 

But this miracle was different, and it had a significant impact on the community.

We also know from Jesus’ encounter with Martha that He was predicting His death.

How could Jesus be the “Resurrection” if He was never resurrected?

Not only did Jesus ask Martha if she believed, but Martha's sister Mary was one of the women who saw Jesus first when He rose from the dead.

If Jesus had not come back to life, we would not have the assurance that He would also be able to bring us back to life. 

Jesus’ resurrection confirms everything He ever said about life in and through Him.

More than just eggs, candy, and the Easter bunny, Easter provides the opportunity for each of us to reflect on what we believe about Jesus’ death and resurrection.

Do you believe?

Do you have assurance and peace in your life that Jesus is who He said He was and that includes giving you eternal life?

Take a moment this Easter to reflect on your relationship with God and to examine the areas of life where perhaps you don’t believe.

Ask God to strengthen your faith and help you trust in Him like never before.

YOUTH GROUP GAME ON CREATION

Bible: Colossians1:15-16; Romans 8:20-21; 2 Peter 3:13

Bottom Line: Everything was created by God and finds its purpose in Him.

SUPPLIES 

• Balloons (one per person)
• 16 Solo Cups
• 2 Tables
• 16 Slips of paper and a pen

GAME PREP

Divide students into two teams of equal size and give each person a balloon.

Set up two tables at the front of your youth space and place 8 Solo cups on each table.

Divide the slips of paper into two stacks of eight. 

Write the individual letters of the word CREATION on each slip of paper in the stack (one stack for each team). 

Fold the slips of paper in half and place one piece in each team’s cups.

Now, each team has one letter to the word CREATION on individual slips of paper in each cup.

Make sure the letters are mixed up and not in order of the spelling of the word.

Have teams form single file lines, with the first person in line standing directly in front of his team’s table.

Note: Don’t share the subject of today’s lesson before the game, or you will give away the word the teams will be unscrambling. 

HOW TO PLAY THE GAME 

Say: As we jump into this game, I need each of you to blow up your balloon, but don’t tie it. Just hold the end tightly in your hands.

This game will be played as a relay. You will take your turn after the person in front of you takes his turn. 

When I say GO, the first person in the front of each line will use the air in his or her balloon to try to shoot down or knock over a Solo cup. 

When the air in your balloon is gone, you will run to the back of your line and the next person in line will take his turn.

While you are waiting in line to take another turn, you will re-inflate your balloon and hold it in your hand. 

At no point throughout the game can you touch your Solo cups or attempt to knock them over in any way other than with the air in your balloon. 

There will be a 10 second penalty for your team if a team member touches a cup. 

In each Solo cup is a piece of paper with a letter on it. 

Once all of your team’s cups are knocked over or knocked off of your table, your team will quickly grab all of the pieces of paper and unscramble the letters to reveal the topic of today’s lesson. 

The first team to knock down all their cups and unscramble the words WINS! 

TEACH

Say: We really went through a lot to discover the topic for today’s lesson, but you got it right! We’re talking about CREATION.

By this time in your life, you have probably heard the story of how God created the heavens and the earth dozens of times, if not more.

Today, I want us to talk about something you may have never thought of before now. 

Read Colossians1:15-16. 

Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. 

He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation, for through him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth. 

Raise your hand if you already knew that Jesus was present with God at the time the world was created. 

Ask: Okay. If you didn’t raise your hand, where do you think Jesus was when the world was created?

Allow a few responses from students.

If you didn’t raise your hand, maybe it’s because you’ve never thought about it or you have never read this portion of scripture in the Bible.

Maybe some of you thought that Jesus didn’t exist until He was born on the earth.

But throughout the Bible, we read repeatedly that God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit have always existed. 

That’s one of those things that, no matter how long you sit and think about it, your mind simply cannot grasp: that God has always been and will always be.

Everything in our lives has a beginning and an end—a time when it was created and when it will no longer exist.

Ask: List some things that have been around forever that we can’t imagine living life without.

Allow a few responses from students. Share a couple of things you couldn’t live without.

Every single thing you mentioned was created, either by God Himself, or by the wisdom He has given man.

We know that because we just read it: “…God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth.”

Each of us have a beginning and an end. We were born and someday our bodies will die.

But, listen to this:

Read Romans 8:20-21.

Against its will, all creation was subjected to God’s curse. But with eager hope, the creation looks forward to the day when it will join God’s children in glorious freedom from death and decay.  

Did you know that it was never God’s plan for any of His creation to die?

When sin entered the world through man’s disobedience to God, not only did we become subject to the effects of sin, but all of creation was now under its curse. 

Jesus was present when the world was created, He was there when mankind sinned against God, and He came to the earth to redeem it all back to God.

In these verses in Romans we read that “with eager hope, the creation looks forward to the day when it will join God’s children in glorious freedom…”

In the Bible we read that all of creation (trees, rocks, flowers, animals, mountains, oceans, etc.) worships God. Right now, it suffers the effects of sin: death.

But there is hope.

Read 2 Peter 3:13. 

But we are looking forward to the new heavens and new earth He has promised, a world filled with God’s righteousness.

One day, God will restore all of creation back to the way He intended it to be.

Everything was created by God and finds its purpose in Him.

Right now, we have the opportunity, as part of His creation, to willingly love God and fulfill the purposes He has for our lives. 

Not everyone responds to this opportunity; it’s a choice that God gives to us.

Without God as the center of who you are and what you do, you will never live the life He has for you… and it’s a pretty amazing life. 

The next time you look at your phone and think, I could never live without this, I want you to remember the great lengths that God went to in sending Jesus because He doesn’t want you to live without Him.

You’re a really important part of His creation.

YOUTH GROUP GAME ON HUMILITY

Bible: James 3:13

Bottom Line: Live well, live wisely, live humbly.

SUPPLIES 

• Timer
• Ball 

GAME PREP

Divide students into two teams of equal size and have them form single file lines.

Have a copy of this on hand: Z Y X W V U T S R Q P O N M L K J I H G F E D C B A

You will need a timer or stopwatch to use throughout the game.

HOW TO PLAY THE GAME

Say: Raise your hand if you have learned your alphabet.

Great! You should have no problem playing this game.

This is one of those games that sounds much easier to play than it actually is. 

I will choose one of your teams to go first and give the first person in line a ball.

The goal of this game is to say the alphabet as fast as you can while passing the ball to the person standing behind you. 

So, you will say a letter, pass the ball backwards, then the next person will say a letter, and pass the ball backwards, and on and on.

When the person at the end of the line receives the ball, he or she will turn around and so will everyone else on their team. 

Now, the last person is the first person, the ball will begin to be passed backwards again, and the alphabet will continue.

Your teams will play one-at-a-time because we are going to time each team to see who is able to complete the alphabet the fastest.

If, at any point, someone on your team drops the ball, you will return the ball to the beginning of your line and start over—while the timer is still going. 

When you have explained the rules, you will choose a team to start, and the game will begin.

After both teams have taken a turn, announce which team was the fastest and who won the game. 

Great job!

I know you’re wondering why I thought that was going to be a difficult game because it was pretty easy. 

I forgot to mention… that was just the practice round.

Now, we will play the actual game.

We’re going to do the same thing we just did, but here’s the twist: you’re going to say the alphabet backwards! 

Trust me. It’s much harder than it sounds.

The first person in line will start with “Z,” the next person will say “Y,” and so on.

Do you think it will take your team the same amount of time to complete the alphabet this time?

We will see!

You can play the game best two out of three, or as many times as you would like as long as the students are interested. 

You can also mix the students up in their lines so that their letter changes for every round of the game you play.

TEACH

Say: You guys and gals are really smart, but that doesn’t mean it was easy.

This was probably something you have never done before, unless you have actually practiced saying the alphabet backwards.

Some of you were the weakest link because you weren’t ready when it was your turn or couldn’t think fast enough on your feet—and that’s okay because it was just a game. 

Ask: Have you ever known someone who wasn’t good at something but wanted everyone to think that he was? No names, please.

Allow a few responses from students.

Be careful that they don’t use each other as examples.

It can be tough to admit when we aren’t good at something.

In fact, it can require humility on our part, and that isn’t part of our human nature.

Read James 3:13.

If you are wise and understand God’s ways, prove it by living an honorable life, doing good works with the humility that comes from wisdom.

This verse points out that there is a humility that comes from wisdom.

Ask: Think about the people you would consider to be “wise.” Are they also humble?

Allow a few responses from students.

Jesus was all-knowing when He was on the earth, but He didn’t act like a know-it-all.

He was humble.

Truly wise people are always humble because they realize their wisdom isn’t their own but comes from God.

When we live with love and respect for each other, following God’s commands and living for him, humility will be part of our character.

It is impossible to be boastful, full of pride, or rude when you are living with wisdom that comes from God.

Ask: What are some reasons that people would act like know-it-alls or try to present themselves as wise, when they really aren’t?

Allow a few responses from students.

Any time we try to live in our own strength, we end up failing, but we don’t want to look like we are failing. No one does! 

So, we try to come across like we have it all together when we’re really falling apart.

Ask: How can God help us realize that we are trying to live in our own strength?

Allow a few responses from students.  

Share a personal experience of when you tried to do something in your own strength and failed.

Many times, we believe that, in order for God to help us, we must be perfect and have it all together.

But that’s a lie we believe that can keep us from turning to God in the times when we are weakest. 

God is always willing to help us when we come to Him in humility, admitting our weaknesses and our desire for Him.

It takes courage to admit your faults and the areas where you need God’s help.

But the truth is that all of us have faults and we all need God, even when it seems like things are going really well.

Watch out for those areas in your life where you think you don’t need God’s help.

At the root of that attitude is pride, which is the opposite of humility.

You will find that the less you think you need God, the more you actually do.

God’s wisdom is always available. If you ask, He will give it to you.

The only way to learn wisdom is by going through situations requiring that you rely on God and not yourself.

I want to leave you with these closing words: Live well, live wisely, live humbly.

YOUTH GROUP GAME ON GOD’S LOVE

Bible: Ephesians 3:16-17

Bottom Line: As you are rooted in your faith, you will experience the fullness of God’s love.

SUPPLIES

• 2 Packs of 10-inch flour tortillas
• 2 Bags of whole carrots
• 2 Large plates
• Painter’s tape

GAME PREP

Divide students into two teams of equal size and have them form single file lines.

Use painter’s tape to create a line for each team to line up behind. This will be the “start line." 

Then, use the painter’s tape to make a line about 5 feet in front of the line you already created. This will be the “goal line.”

Give each team a pack of tortillas, a bag of carrots, and a large plate.

HOW TO PLAY THE GAME

Say: How many of you enjoy a good ol’ carrot burrito every once in a while?

Okay, I know it’s not really a thing, but it is for the game we’re about to play.

Each of your teams have been given a bag of tortillas, a bag of carrots, and a large plate. 

Go ahead and place your team’s plate on the start line in front of your team. 

The goal of this game is to create five “carrot burritos.”

Here’s how you will do that:

The first person in line will toss a tortilla, like a frisbee, past the goal line.

If you don’t make it that far, then you will fetch it and bring it back to the next teammate who will try to throw it past the goal line. 

Once your team has landed a tortilla over the goal line, the next person will grab a carrot and either toss, roll, or toss it and hope it rolls on top of your team’s tortilla.

If you are successful in landing your team’s carrot somewhere onto your team’s tortilla, you will run down, create a carrot burrito, and place it on your team’s plate.

You will take turns in line tossing tortillas and carrots. 

The first team to successfully create 5 carrot burritos wins!

TEACH

Say: I don’t know about you, but I really love a good burrito.

Ask: Does anyone have a favorite kind of burrito or Mexican food that you really love? 

Allow a few responses from students.

The “World’s Largest Burrito” was created in 2010 and is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records.

It was made of one single tortilla and was filled with fish, onions, chile peppers, and refried beans. 

And it took over 3,000 volunteers to make it.

Ask: Does anyone want to guess how much it weighed?

Allow a few guesses from students. 

Believe it or not, it weighed 12,785 pounds!

When I hear interesting things that people have achieved, I always think, why would anyone take the time to do that?

Why would someone set out to create the world’s largest burrito?

Maybe it comes down to how much they really love whatever that thing is and are willing to go to great lengths to show the world.

That’s what we’re talking about today—love.

Specifically, God’s love. 

Throughout time, people have written songs, poems, books, and stories proclaiming God’s love for us and trying to express their own love for God.

As humans, it’s difficult to understand the great and unending love that God has for us, which He has gone to great lengths to show.

But, let’s take a look at what the Bible has to say about experiencing this love.

Read Ephesians 3:16-17.

I pray that from His glorious, unlimited resources He will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit.  

Then Christ will make His home in your hearts as you trust in Him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. 

These verses tell us that, as we are rooted in our faith, we will experience the fullness of God’s love. 

So, let’s break these verses down a little bit. 

At the beginning of verse 16, we read that God has unlimited resources that can provide us with His strength and power. 

He’s never going to run out or get tired of giving us His strength.

Next, the apostle Paul, author of Ephesians, writes that “Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in Him.”

Ask: What does that mean that “Christ will make His home” in our hearts?

Allow a few responses from students.

Well, think about this: what makes being at home so much different than being any other place?

At home, we are comfortable, we feel welcomed and like people want us there, and we can be ourselves, with people who understand us and love us.

Christ can only make Himself at home in a heart that truly wants Him there.

Ask: How do we demonstrate that we want Christ to dwell in our hearts?

Allow a few responses from students. 

We invite Him in and welcome Him in the form of asking Him to be the center of what we say and do.

If we don’t ask Him in, He won’t be there.

Then, we talk to Him, include Him in everything, and ask Him to help us live the way He desires us to live. 

The verse says He will make His home in our hearts as we “trust in Him.”

Ask: How do we learn to trust in Jesus?

Allow a few responses from students. Share how you have come to trust God in your own life.

Have you ever told your parents you would do something and then you either forget or just choose not do to it? 

Like your homework or cleaning your room?

God never does that. Ever.

When we read God’s promises in the Bible, we can know that He will do exactly what He said He will do.

So, as we live our lives for God and see His faithfulness to us, we can trust Him more because He will never let us down.

When God answers prayer, gives us strength, or comforts us during tough times, we know He’s with us. 

Next, the verse says, “Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong.”

Ask: How can you become rooted in God’s love?

Allow a few responses from students.

We become rooted in God’s love by talking with and praying to God, reading the Bible, and asking God to lead you so you do what He wants and not just what you want to do.

Then, we can fully experience God’s love.

Have you ever tried to love someone who won’t love you back?

Or maybe someone tried to show love to you, but you rejected them?

People experience genuine love in neither of those situations because it must come from both people. 

God loves us no matter what. He loves everyone, even when we don’t love Him.

But when we welcome God’s love into our lives because He dwells in our heart and we are living according to His will and not our own, then we can experience the fullness of His love.

I want to encourage you to take a look at your heart and see if you are welcoming God’s love in your life.

God’s love is always there.

Accept it and welcome Him into your life today.

YOUTH GROUP GAME ON ARMOR OF GOD

Bible: Ephesians 6:11

Bottom Line: Get dressed. Stand Firm. Fight!

SUPPLIES

• Cell Phones
• List of challenges (see below) 

GAME PREP

Divide students into groups of 2-3 students.

Each group will need a cell phone for the game.

Have a copy of this list of challenges on hand:

• Text a family member, "I love you." The first team to get a reply and read it out loud will get a point. 

• Take a picture of your entire group pretending to fly. The first person to take the photo, run up front and show it to me will get a point. 

• Create a slow-motion video of your group that isn't actually in slow motion. The first team to create the video, run up front and show it to me will get a point.

• Take a picture of your group and upload it to social media. The first team to get a “like” from someone who isn’t on their team will win a point.

• Look up this verse in the Bible in the New Living Translation. The first team to find it and read it out loud will win a point: Ephesians 6:11 (Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil.)

• Take a picture of your youth pastor and edit it to make it the "perfect pic." The first person to show me their "perfect pic" (and I like it) will win a point.

• Who has the most unread emails in their inbox? Find it on your phone and tell me the number. The team who has the highest number will get a point.

• Who has the lowest battery percentage on their phone? Run up here and show me. The team with the lowest percentage will get a point. 

HOW TO PLAY THE GAME

Say: You’re going to really like this game. 

How do I know? Because most of you really like your phones.

You have been divided into teams and each team has a phone they are using for the game.

I’m going to read a “challenge” and give your team the opportunity to win a point.

At the end of our game, the team with the most points will win the game.

Begin the game by reading the list of challenges.

If the game goes by too quickly, feel free to add extra challenges.

At the end of the game, declare the winning team.
TEACH

Say: I’m so glad all of you got dressed before you came today.

Most of us could never imagine leaving our homes without being fully clothed. 

Imagine someone showing up to school half-dressed—do you think anyone would notice?

I’m pretty sure someone would stop them before they even got on the bus or entered the school. 

Ask: I’m going to ask a silly question: Why do we wear clothing? I’m expecting your answers to be appropriate for our group.

Allow a few responses from students

Clothes protect us from the effects of weather—hot and cold temperatures.

We wear clothes to look good; it’s part of how our culture expresses themselves.

And mostly, we don’t want to walk around naked—I know I don’t!

As followers of Jesus, we clothe ourselves with other things besides jeans and t-shirts.

And even though we're talking about wearing spiritual clothing we physically can't see, it's pretty evident to those around us whether or not we are clothed.

Read Ephesians 6:11.

Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. 

Let’s take a look at what this Scripture is talking about.

In this verse, Paul tells us to “put on all of God’s armor.”

We understand that battle armor is meant to protect someone when they are in combat or fighting in a war. 

Throughout history, armor has traditionally been made of metal, iron, leather, or some other type of weapon-resistant material. 

If a soldier went into battle only wearing parts of their armor, it would be ineffective because the enemy would see the vulnerable parts that weren’t protected and target those areas.

Just like your friends would tell you if you were half-dressed, a fellow soldier would most likely say, “Hey! You forgot to put on your helmet.” Or, “Where is your shield?” 

Why? Because they wouldn’t want another soldier to get hurt. 

Ask: So, what is the “armor of God?”

Obviously, it’s not something we physically wear, so what is it?

Allow a few responses from students.

In the verses that come before the one we read, the Apostle Paul talks about the Sword of the Spirit, Helmet of Salvation, Shield of Faith, Breastplate of Righteousness, Belt of Truth, and more.

These are the pieces of spiritual armor we wear as Christians. 

We wear them by reading the Bible, praying, allowing our faith in God to grow, living God-honoring lives, etc.

Every piece of the armor is essential.

The Belt of Truth stands for God’s truth, and knowing God’s truth protects us from the lies of the world and the devil.

As you study each piece of the “armor of God” you understand that each one plays a vital part and without one, you are vulnerable to the enemy.

The scripture says that the armor helps us to stand firm and not waver or be shaken in our faith, no matter what type of battle we face.

Ask: It also says that it helps us to stand firm against the “strategies of the devil.”

What are the strategies of the devil?

Allow a few responses from students. 

Share a personal story that sheds light on a time when you could have given in to one of those strategies, but God gave you the strength to overcome. 

God does not want you to be defeated in your walk with Him, but it’s your choice of whether or not you go “to battle” in His strength and protection, or try to do it on your own. 

Without God’s protection, you will lose every time because we were never meant to live in our own strength.

When you put on the armor of God, you are completely covered with everything God knows you need to fight against the devil. 

And when you see a fellow “soldier” without some of their armor, you should remind them to put it on. 

If you go to school tomorrow and see someone telling lies or listening to gossip about someone, you can say, “Hey! You’re not wearing your armor.” 

When we participate in lying or even listening to lies, we have just made ourselves vulnerable to attacks from the devil. 

How?

Because those actions do not demonstrate a desire to stand firm in God’s Truth. 

Instead, you are willing to settle for the lies of the enemy.

So, today, I want you to choose to wear the armor of God—and don’t just put part of it on and walk around half-dressed, but ask God to give you everything you need to stand firm in who He has called you to be.

Get dressed. Stand firm. Fight! 

YOUTH GROUP GAME ON DISCIPLINE

Bible: Matthew 6:34; Hebrews 5:8 

Bottom Line: Discipline helps us grow in our relationship with God and others.

SUPPLIES

• Chairs (one per student)
• Slips of paper
• Bucket
• Marker

GAME PREP

Arrange chairs in a large circle, except for one chair that will be placed in the middle of the circle.

On each slip of paper, use a marker to write one of the following phrases:

• Name starts with “M”
• Birthday in June
• Has blue eyes
• Wearing a black shirt
• 15 years old
• Is a girl
• Has a sibling in this group
• Goes to ­­­_______ School (you fill it in)
• Brought their Bible
• Owns a pet cat
• Has flown in a plane
• Can speak two languages
• Made their bed today
• Is a boy
• Wearing socks

Next, fold each slip of paper in half, put the paper in the bucket, and put the bucket beside the chair in the middle.

HOW TO PLAY THE GAME

Ask: How many of you have played the game, Musical Chairs?

This game is very similar, except there is no music and we aren’t walking around the chairs.

Okay. It's entirely different, except we are using chairs.

I will choose one person to sit in the chair in the middle.

They will choose a slip of paper out of the bucket and read what is written out loud.

It will say something like, “Has brown hair.”

If that phrase applies to you, then you will stand up and switch places with someone else who stood up.

The goal is for the person in the middle to take one of your seats before everyone else has found a different chair.

If you are left without a chair, you have to take a chair in the middle, pick a piece of paper from the bucket, and read it out loud.

The winners of the game are the people who never have to sit in a chair in the middle.

You can award a prize if you want to, but they will have so much fun playing the game, they probably won’t be expecting a prize.

TEACH

Some of you really had to move around a lot in that game!

As players, you had no control over what would be called out; next, you just had to do what you were told to do.

Raise your hand if you like being told what to do.

Ask: How many of you enjoy being disciplined by your parents or teachers? Tell me what you think “being disciplined” means?

Allow a few responses from students.

Share a personal story of a time when you were punished as a child for doing something you should not have done.

None of us enjoy punishment for our actions.

Some of you may have even been punished unfairly when you didn’t deserve it. 

But when the Bible talks about God's discipline, it's always fair and is meant to help us grow in our relationship with God and into a better person.

Let’s see what the Bible has to say about discipline.

Read Matthew 6:34.

People who accept discipline are on the pathway to life, but those who ignore correction will go astray.

Raise your hand if you have ever ridden a horse.

Have you ever ridden a horse wearing a bridle or a bit in its mouth?

A bridle helps direct a horse,

It includes both the headstall that holds a bit that goes in the mouth of a horse, and the reins that are attached to the bit.

Would you ever jump on a wild horse that isn’t wearing a bridle and has never been ridden before? 

That would be a little insane—you would have no control over the horse’s actions and who knows what could happen.

The purpose of a rein is to control the direction the horse is going, and a bit puts enough pressure on the tongue so the horse will respond to what the rider is wanting them to do. 

They are both essential when it comes to successfully riding a horse, and without them, it's more dangerous and unpredictable.

Ask: What are the “bits and reins” in your life that help control your actions? Why are they important? 

Allow a few responses from students.

There will be times that you receive discipline from parents, and those in authority, and others when God is trying to teach you something. 

Ask: How does being disciplined help you grow as a person and in your relationship with God? Is it necessary? 

Allow a few responses from students.

If you've ever interacted with a toddler, you know discipline is necessary—they do whatever they want!

They destroy things, make messes, bite people, and if never told that it’s wrong, they will continue in their destructive behavior.

We know that’s true, because they grow into adults who don’t clean up after themselves or take care of what they own.

Sometimes, people are left to teach themselves right and wrong because they don’t have godly influences in their lives.

But if you ask Him, God will show you the right things to do, and when He does, don’t fight it.

God’s discipline comes in the form of letting us suffer the consequences of our bad choices, but He’s with us through it all.

God also disciplines us when He wants to teach us something because He loves us.

Jesus was disciplined, and He never sinned, so it's not always a result of something we have done.

Hebrews 5:8 says, “[Jesus] learned obedience through what he suffered.”

We learn obedience when we do what God wants us to do, even though we’re experiencing a difficult time.

He will allow us to suffer to make us closer to Him.

Ask: Do you think you can learn to trust God if you are never put in situations that test your faith?

Do you think it’s fair for God to allow suffering to draw us closer to Him? Why or why not?

Allow a few responses from students.

There have been times that your parents have let you suffer a little because they loved you and knew that’s how you would learn. 

How many times have they reminded you to do your homework and you still don't do it?

So, they stop reminding you so that you will learn from your own choices. 

Maybe you want to date someone who is not right for you, and they let you learn that on your own instead of telling you not to date them. 

As a teenager, if you can learn the value of discipline and living a disciplined life, then you will save yourself some heartache and pain as you grow older. 

It takes some people an entire lifetime to learn that there are consequences to their actions. 

You can make the choice today to allow the people God has placed in your life to discipline you and teach you how to live for God. 

And when God disciplines you, know that He loves you and is helping you become the person He wants you to be—the best version of you.

YOUTH GROUP GAME ON WORRY

Bible: Matthew 6:34

Bottom Line: Instead of worrying about tomorrow, trust God today. 

SUPPLIES

• Cell phone
• Potato
• Music playlist

GAME PREP

Have your entire group form a circle and sit down.

As the leader, allow the group to use your cell phone for the game—make sure you have a good case and screen protector on the phone that is used. 

Give both the potato and the cell phone to one person in the group.

HOW TO PLAY THE GAME

Say: Now that we have everything we need, let’s talk about how to play the game.

We will call this game, “Cell Phone Selfie Hot Potato.”

Now, you had probably played hot potato when you were a child, so you know how to do that part of the game.

While the music is being played, we’re going to pass a potato around the circle.

But, there's a twist…because that would be too easy and you're too old just to play a game of hot potato.

At the same time the potato is going around our circle, we will also pass a cell phone from person to person. 

When the game starts, the person holding the cell phone and the potato will pass the cell phone to their left and the potato to the person on their right.

At the beginning of each round, the person holding the phone will set the 10-second timer on the camera.

Make sure the camera is set in selfie mode so you can see your face on the screen. 

You will pass the phone from person to person with your arms extended away from you, like you’re taking a selfie.

If the timer goes off and you’re holding the phone, remember to smile, because you’re going to see that picture again in the future.

But, unfortunately, if you’re holding the phone when the timer goes off, you’re also out of the game. 

If you’re just holding the potato when the timer goes off, nothing happens. 

Then, start the next round.

The potato and cell phone will continue to be passed around the circle, beginning with the last person that was holding each item.

There’s another twist.

If you happen to be holding the potato AND the cell phone when it takes the picture, then you are saved by the potato, and you can stay in the game.

Option: You can do a double elimination where people are out if they are holding the potato or the cell phone for each round. 

For extra fun, upload all of the funny photos that are taken to your youth group’s social media page—it could be hilarious.
TEACH

Say: Who would have thought you could have so much fun with a potato and a cell phone?

Some of you looked a little panicked when the phone was passed to you or even when you thought one of your friends would be out. 

It’s okay to feel panicked in a game, but if you’ve ever felt that way in real life, it’s not so fun. 

Panic and worry are often a part of our everyday lives.

In fact, a recent study found that 38 percent of us struggle with worry every single day.

Ask: What are some common things we worry about? What do you worry about?

Allow a few responses from students.

Share what you worried about when you were the age of the students.

We could write a very, very, long list about what people worry about because it’s different for each person. 

Some of you might struggle with your grades in school and worry if you will even pass your classes. 

Our families can provide a source of worry—maybe your parents don’t get along, or a relative is sick, and you're nervous about what could happen. 

Many of us have had the experience of going to bed, and suddenly our minds are racing with worst case scenarios.

If you’ve had any of those experiences, then you might be struggling with worry.

There's an anxiety disorder called the "what-if disease."

That’s when you really let your mind think about all of those things that could happen.

There was a study conducted where they had people write down everything they were worried about for two weeks, and asked them to try and guess what might happen with the things they were worried about.

Here’s what they found: Instead of the things the people worried about being bad or negative, 85% of the things they worried about were positive!

The things they worried about not only didn’t happen, but in the end, they turned out okay. (According to the book, The Worry Cure by Robert L. Leahy, Ph.D.)

So, let’s take a look at what the Bible has to say about how we should handle worry.

Read Matthew 6:34.

“So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.” 

This Bible verse is part of the “Sermon on the Mount.”

At this point in Jesus’ ministry, crowds gathered wherever He went.

One day, when Jesus saw the people coming, He went up to a mountainside, sat down, and started talking.

Right before the verse we just read, Jesus talks about having a healthy view of money (don’t love it), he talks about our possessions (realize that God has given us everything), and that we should store up treasures in Heaven (the things we do for the glory of God). 

Ask: Do you think there’s a connection between the things I just read and the verse we read earlier about worry?

Allow a few responses from students.

Worry can stem from putting our eyes on other things (such as money, the stuff we have, our problems, etc.) instead of focusing on God.

God wants us to focus on Him.

While Jesus was on earth, He had plenty of things He could have worried about: people didn’t like Him, they called Him names and talked about Him, and eventually killed Him.

Jesus never lost focus of His mission or took His eyes off of God, His Father—but that wasn’t easy.

Jesus was still human, so when He says, “Today’s trouble is enough for today,” He knew what He was talking about because He had trouble in His life.

So, here are three things you can do when you start to worry: 

1. Think about something else.

 When you find yourself thinking about the same things over and over, find something else to dwell on.

You can pray or write down prayers to God.

Make a list of the things that are bothering you and then ask God to help you put your eyes on Him and not the things you have written down.

As long as you dwell on the things you’re worried about, you will continue to worry.

2. Read the Bible.

Of course, you should read your Bible, but there are several reasons why it will help you when you are filled with worry. 

Although the people that are mentioned in the Bible lived a long time ago, you might be surprised to know that they struggled with the same areas you do, just a little differently.

The Bible is relevant, and because we believe it's the Word of God, it still speaks to us today. 

Find a scripture passage you can study that will remind you of God’s faithfulness and let it soak into your heart and mind.

3. Talk about what you worry about. 

Worry can eat you up inside if you let it.

Talk to a friend, parent, sibling, or pastor and ask them to pray for you.

We were never meant to live our lives by ourselves. 

You might find they have worried about similar situations and God has helped them in their situations. 

Today, I want you to remember that worrying is a choice.

A better choice to make would be to focus on God and learn to depend on Him.

So, instead of worrying about tomorrow, trust God today.

YOUTH GROUP GAME ON BETRAYAL

Bible: Psalm 41:9-10; Matthew 26:16, 20

Bottom Line: When you feel betrayed, choose to take your hurt to God, instead of getting revenge. 

SUPPLIES

• Large bag of M & M’s—enough for each student to have 2 pieces of candy
• Small bag of M & M’s—to give as a prize

GAME PREP

Students will play this game individually.

 Give each student two M & M’s.

 HOW TO PLAY THE GAME

Say: Each of you have been given two M & M’s—don’t eat them, and you won’t want to by the time we have finished this game!

Go ahead and put your M & M’s inside of your hands and make a fist.

You can put one in each hand, or both in one hand—it’s totally up to you.

When I say, “Go,” you will walk around this room, holding your hands in front of you.

You will walk up to someone, decide which hand you think they are holding an M & M in, and say, “Show me your right hand” or “Show me your left hand.”

You only get to ask them to show you one hand. 

If that hand is holding an M & M, then they have to give it to you, and they don’t get to challenge you back.

 If it is not, then you don’t get anything and that person can challenge you by saying “Show me your ____ hand.”

 If you run out of M & M’s, then you’re out of the game.

It will become more challenging with the more M & M’s you get!

The goal is to be the person at the end of the game who has the most M & M’s.

Hopefully, the candy will melt in their hands, making for a fun twist!

Award the bag of M & M’s to the person with the most at the end of the game.

TEACH

Say: Some of you were really good at convincing other people which hand you did or didn’t have your M & M’s in!

I’m sure it’s not because any of you have practiced your skills of betrayal.

Ask: What would you consider to be the ultimate betrayal?

For some people, an example would be if your best friend cheered for your favorite football team’s rival; or, if you broke up with your boyfriend/girlfriend and one of your friends started dating them.

So, tell me, what does a betrayal feel like to you?

Allow a few responses from students.

Share a story of your own, but keep it light-hearted because this is a pretty heavy subject.

Read Psalm 41:9.

“Even my best friend, the one I trusted completely, the one who shared my food, has turned against me." 

This is from a Psalm, a sacred song or poem, written by King David.

In the Book of Psalms, we read stories about David’s greatest triumphs and his personal times of weakness.

David just lays his heart and emotions out there for all of humanity to see—times of great joy, sadness (even depression), love, trust in God, and loss of faith in what God can do.

David experienced it all and shared it with all of us! 

So, in this verse, we read that David’s best friend, someone that he has shared his life with, has turned against him, and he’s hurting.

In a moment of complete honesty, in verse 10, David asks God to “Make me well again, so I can pay them back!”

Wow! Most of us have probably felt like that at one time or another, but maybe we haven’t said it out loud. 

And I think most of us realize that’s not a plan that God could agree with. 

After all, if anyone experienced betrayal and had the opportunity to get revenge, it was Jesus.

He was betrayed by one of His disciples—someone He spent an enormous amount of time with during His final years on earth. 

After traveling with Jesus, watching Him perform miracles, and hearing it proclaimed that He was the Messiah, Judas went to the chief priests (who did not believe Jesus was the Messiah) and asked them what they would give him if he handed Jesus over to them. 

The priests agreed to give him 30 pieces of silver.

Matthew 26:16 says, “From that time on, Judas began looking for an opportunity to betray Jesus.”

It didn’t just happen, it was methodically planned and executed.

Ask: How would you feel if you knew one of your friends was plotting to betray you?

Allow a few responses from students. 

The Bible says that Jesus knew Judas was going to betray Him.

Matthew 26:20 says, “When it was evening, Jesus sat down at the table with the Twelve. While they were eating, he said, “I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me.”

And when Judas asked Jesus if he was the one, Jesus replied, “You have said it.”

When I read this story, I wonder why Judas asked if he was the one who would betray Jesus when he knew it was him!

He knew the plans in his own heart, why did he ask Jesus if he was the one who would betray Him?

We don’t know, but maybe he wondered if Jesus knew.

Maybe he thought that somehow, Jesus didn’t know.

But, Judas’ betrayal led to the death of Jesus.

So, Jesus knew about Judas’ betrayal, did not stop him, and set the ultimate example for us to follow.

In the next few verses, we see Jesus praying and spending time with God.

God can remove our pain and replace it with love and forgiveness; that’s not human nature—it’s something only He can do.

When people you love turn their backs on you, realize that many times it doesn’t have anything to do with you, but rather a personal battle they are fighting within themselves. 

Each of us will work through personal struggles at some point in our lives, and sometimes those around us suffer as a result of the situations we are working through.

Knowing this enables you to look at those who hurt you with compassion because they need God’s help as much as you do.

So, when you are betrayed, choose to take your hurt to God, instead of getting revenge.

God will help you, even when you can't see a path to healing, and will teach you how to help others when they feel betrayed.

YOUTH GROUP GAME ON OBEDIENCE

Bible: Psalm 119:35

Bottom Line: We have joy when we obey God.

SUPPLIES 

• List of commands
• Slips of paper, each with a number from one to twelve
• 12 full sheets of copy paper, each with a number from one to twelve
• Masking tape
• Bucket

GAME PREP

Place the twelve numbered slips of paper into the bucket.

Before students arrive, use the masking tape to attach the sheets of copy paper to the ground.

Place the sheets of paper in a straight line across the front of your youth space, where you (the leader) will stand to give instructions for the game.

Divide students into groups of two and ask them to spread out all over your youth space.

Have each pair stand facing each other.

HOW TO PLAY THE GAME

Say: We’re going to play a game that will see how well you obey commands.

If you’ve ever said, “You can’t tell me what to do,” you might have a little trouble with this game because that’s what it’s all about!

You have been given a partner.

I will read a command.

In your groups, each person will decide if you want to do the command or pass.

If you want to do it, raise your hand.

If you want to pass, point to your partner.

Only one of you can choose to do the command or pass, so you will want to choose quickly—and be honest about who said what first.

Got it?

Next, I will say, “Come!”

The person who raised their hand will quickly join me up front and stand on one of these numbers across the front, facing everyone else left standing without a partner.

More than one person can stand on each number if you have more than twelve pairs of students.

Next, I will say, “Go!”

Everyone up front will do what I commanded, but one of you will be eliminated.

How?

After I say, “Stop,” and everyone up front is standing still, I will draw a number from this bucket.

If I draw the number you are standing on, you will be eliminated from the game.

At that point, your partner can choose another partner from the people that are not standing upfront.

If your partner is chosen as someone’s new partner, you are also out of the game.

The people left in the game after all the commands have been given are the winners!

List of Commands

• Pat your head and rub your belly.
• Pretend like you’re jumping rope.
• Do jumping jacks.
• Stare at the ceiling and spin in circles.
• Whistle.
• Stand on one foot.
• Clap your hands as fast as you can.
• Put your hands on your hips and nod your head up and down.

TEACH

Say: That was a lot of fun to watch!

Sometimes, it’s easier to watch people do what they’re told than to actually do it yourself.

Ask: Have you ever heard the phrase, “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks?”

Have any of you actually ever tried?

Why does/doesn’t it work?

Allow a few responses from students.

On the TV show, “Mythbusters,” they actually proved that you can teach an old dog new tricks.

After just one week, they taught two seven-year-old dogs to sit, stay, lie down, heel, and even shake hands [source: Discovery].

So, what’s the trick and how did they do it?

Time and patience.

Their experiment found that as long as the dog was healthy, felt loved, and was treated well, it was happy to do exactly what it was asked to do.

That didn’t mean it was easy.

It took a lot of repetition and patience as they were training the dogs.

So, there’s some good news—you can still teach Fido something new, even if you’ve never tried to teach him anything before now.

Ask: What about you—is it easy or hard for you to do what you’ve been told to do?

Would you consider yourself to be obedient?

Allow a few responses from students.

Most of us don’t mind doing what we’re told if we like what we’re being told to do.

If you have a chore you enjoy doing, then it’s not a big deal when your parents ask you to do it.

But, the other chores—the ones you don’t like—that’s a different story.

The truth is, sometimes we just have to be obedient, whether or not it’s what we want to do.

Read Psalm 119:35.

Make me walk along the path of your commands, for that is where my happiness is found.

The Bible is full of God’s commands.

The world tends to view these commands as rules that take all the fun out of life, but that’s not the case at all.

I’d like us to take a look at this verse in The Message.

If you’ve ever read The Message version of the Bible, sometimes, it’s a little easier to understand.

It’s not a word-for-word translation, but it paraphrases the verses into modern-day English.

Here’s Psalm 119:35 in The Message version:

God, teach me lessons for living so I can stay the course.

Give me insight so I can do what you tell me—my whole life one long, obedient response.

Guide me down the road of your commandments; I love traveling this freeway!

In this version of the scripture, you can really see the heart behind what King David has written.

He’s not being forced to follow God’s commands, it’s his desire—what he truly wants to do with his life.

Why? Because God’s commands aren’t written to control us, but to help us live the best life God has for us.

As people get older, sometimes, they think, “I’ve done too many wrong things and made too many bad choices to start following God now.”

But, it’s never too late!

Even at your age, you may think you’ve messed up too many times to start being obedient to what God has said.

No matter what you’ve done, you can have a fresh start and begin with a clean slate in God’s eyes.

There’s nothing any of us can do that makes it impossible for us to live a life that follows God.

That doesn’t mean there aren’t consequences for things we’ve already done, but God will be with us even if we have to face things we’ve done in our past.

So, if you are new to following Christ, then start right where you are and take a look at what the Bible says about how you should live.

If you have a relationship with God, ask Him to give you wisdom and insight into what His commands are saying.

God’s commands play a vital role in the life of a believer.

God is wiser than we are—I’m pretty sure that we already knew that.

His commands protect us from making decisions that could hurt us.

For example: In the Ten Commandments, we read, “Do not kill.”

Most of us understand what happens if we murder someone—you go to prison, live with guilt and regret, and hurt others.

If we follow this command, then we are protected from the consequences that we would face if we committed murder.

But, the “big sins” aren’t the only types of things God warns us about.

The Bible is full of words of wisdom that lead us down a path that will bring us joy and contentment.

Just think, if you refuse to gossip about others, you don’t lie or act deceitfully, and you put the needs of others before yourself, you are setting yourself up to have great friendships and amazing relationships with others.

The wisdom we find in God’s commands helps us understand His heart and love for each of us.

No matter where you are in your relationship with God, you can begin to be obedient to God’s commands—not the rules of a dictator or someone who just wants to boss us around, but of a loving Father who has given us wisdom and knowledge to live a life that will be full of His joy.

YOUTH GROUP GAME ON JUDGING OTHERS

Bible: Romans 2:1-3

Bottom Line: You will be judged by how you judge others.

SUPPLIES

• A soft ball (kickball, dodgeball, foam ball, etc.)
• Stopwatch

GAME PREP

Have students form a circle by standing shoulder width apart and facing outwards.

Next, instruct them to stand with their legs apart so that their left foot is touching the right foot of their neighbor, and the only gaps are through their legs.

Now, have everyone bend down, with their hands clasped together swinging like a pendulum.

Have a leader on hand that can keep time on the stopwatch.

HOW TO PLAY THE GAME

Say: It looks like we are ready to play the game, but you probably still can’t guess what we’re doing – we look kind of funny!

Choose one person who will stand in the middle of the circle.

I am going to ask _______ to stand in the middle of the circle.

And I’m going to put this ball in the middle of our circle.

The object of the game is to hit the ball with your hands (and remember that you have to remain bent over with your hands clasped together) and try to hit the person in the middle with the ball.

You will get one minute to hit the person with the ball.

If you are unsuccessful, the person in the middle will join back into the circle and I will choose someone to take their place.

If the person in the middle is hit by the ball, they are out of the game and will have to sit down.

The person that hit them with the ball will take their place in the middle of the circle.

During each minute of game play, the ball should always be moving and the person in the middle can move all around inside of the circle to avoid being hit by the ball.

The game is over when there are only three people remaining – because you can’t make a circle out of two people.

Or when you decide that you’ve played enough rounds of the game.

Congratulate the winners for a job well done.

TEACH

Say: Our game was kind of like a real-live version of a pinball machine.

Raise your hand if you’ve ever played on a pinball machine before.

Once the marble starts moving, you have to keep hitting it to keep it going, or the game is over.

The modern-day pinball machine was invented by a man named, David Gottlieb back in the 1930’s.

Before Gottlieb’s creation, there were several mechanisms that had to be invented that make the pinball machine possible.

Even after Gottlieb invented the game, soon after, coin-operated games were invented, and games that used electrical outlets became popular.

When you look at a pinball machine it might be easy to just assume that the entire machine was created at once, but it is actually made up of a series of inventions that give us the game we see today.

The pinball machine reminds me a lot of each of you.

When I look at you, I just see who you are right now.

I know some of you better than others, but it would be impossible for me to know everything that has led up to this point in your life.

So, it would also be wrong for me to make any judgements about you.

And that’s what we’re talking about today – judging others.

Immediately, some of you may have thought, “you can’t judge me!”

It’s almost our instant reaction because no one, and I mean no one, likes to be judged.

Ask: What does it mean to “judge” someone?

Allow a few responses from students.

Have you ever been judged unfairly by someone else?

As students share their experiences, encourage them to keep their answers as short as possible – some students might express some frustration in their responses.

Some of you shared some pretty hurtful experiences.

What if I asked: Have you ever unfairly judged someone else?

All of us would have to raise our hands because we’ve all done it.

A “first impression” is the seven-second window of time when we meet someone.

We make judgements about people all the time!

Ask: Have you ever gotten the wrong first impression of someone? Tell me about it.

Allow a few responses. Share a story about a time when you got a first impression totally wrong.

Scientists say that we actually make judgements about someone’s character in .01 seconds.

Wow! Can you imagine someone judging your character that quickly?

It almost seems unfair – that’s because it is.

Let’s see what the Bible has to say about judging other people.

Read Romans 2:1-3.

You may think you can condemn such people, but you are just as bad, and you have no excuse! When you say they are wicked and should be punished, you are condemning yourself, for you who judge others do these very same things.

And we know that God, in his justice, will punish anyone who does such things.

Since you judge others for doing these things, why do you think you can avoid God’s judgment when you do the same things?

The Book of Romans is a letter written by Paul to the Christians in Rome.

Leading up to the verses we just read, Paul is explaining that ALL of us have sinned against God.

Sometimes it’s easy for us to look at other people and see everything they have done wrong, but it’s important for us to remember that we are not perfect either.

 And that is what Paul is telling these Christians – “You’re looking at people and wanting them to be punished for what they have done, when you’ve done the same things!” 

Ask: Why do you think we want justice when other people do wrong?

Allow a few responses from students. 

Some of our strong feelings may be influenced by our culture’s desire for things to be just, but there’s another part of our desire to judge that is just our human nature.

We want things to be fair.

Someone does something wrong, they should be punished.

The problem is that we don’t feel the same way when we are on the receiving end of the punishment – we want mercy!

These verses in Romans serve as a reminder that God is the ultimate judge.

Because He is the only being who has never sinned, He is the only one who can judge humanity.

We will be judged in the same way we judge others.

If we desire God to show us mercy in His judgement towards us, shouldn’t we want the same for others?

That way of thinking changes our point of view.

Instead of judging others, what if we showed them the benefit of the doubt, by remembering that we aren’t perfect either?

Choose to show mercy when it comes to how you judge others.

Ask God to examine your heart and show you the people you have judged too harshly.

And then, choose mercy instead of judgement.

YOUTH GROUP GAME ON COMPASSION

Bible: Psalm 145:8; John 13:34-35

Bottom Line: Genuine compassion always leads to action.

SUPPLIES 

• Index cards (enough for each group of students to have 5 pieces)
• Pens/pencils (one for each group of students)
• A bucket
• Index cards with the answers (provided below)

GAME PREP

Divide students into five groups of equal size and have them form huddles.

Give each group five index cards and a pen/pencil.

Place the bucket up front.

Write the following, one word on each index card:

1. H.H.M.H. (Helping Hands Monkey Helpers)
2. T.C.I.F. (Tall Clubs International Foundation)
3. B.B.I. (Best Buddies International)
4. S.O.I. (Sports Outreach Institute)
5. W.B.P. (Women’s Bean Project)

Have a leader on hand that can keep score for all the teams.

HOW TO PLAY THE GAME

Say: How many of you enjoy helping other people?

I’m glad to see that you think it’s important, because it is!

All over the world, there are groups and organizations that help others.

In our game today, we’re going to learn the names of a few of them.

I will read the initials of an organization out loud.

With your huddle, you will come up with a word for each letter of the initials, write them down on your team’s index card, and place them in the bucket.

You will want to come up with something that is super convincing because it will help you win.

For example: If I read the letters “H.F.C.,” you might guess something like, Help Feed Children.

The real answer is: Heroes for Children.

But, if you came up with a convincing answer, then you would get points for every team that chooses your answer—I will tell you more about that in a minute.

I will also place a card with the actual answer in the bucket with everyone else’s answers.

Next, I will read each card out loud.

When I read you team’s answer, don’t make it obvious.

The goal is to write down an answer that is so convincing that the other teams will think it is correct.

Then, we will go around the room and hear which answer your team thinks is the correct one.

After everyone has chosen an answer, I will reveal the real answer.

If your team guessed correctly, you will get two points.

You will also get a point for every team that thought your answer was correct.

The team with the most points after all five rounds, wins!

TEACH

Say: Winning team, how did you feel about that game?

Did you feel bad for the teams that lost the game?

Allow a few responses from students.

Ask: Have you ever felt genuinely sorry for someone?

What situation occurred that made you feel sorry for them?

Allow a few responses from students.

Share a personal story of a time you felt sorry for someone and how you responded with your actions.

Other situations that make us feel sorry, or sad, for someone might be:

If you see someone trip and fall—hopefully, you don’t laugh, but instead, you feel bad for them.

Or when someone tries to do something and they don’t do as well as they had hoped—like being the last runner to finish in a race.

How about when someone is rejected by a friend who turns their back on them or betrays them?

Not only do those types of situations make us feel sorry for the people involved, but they can also produce compassion for others and their situation.

Today, that’s what we’re talking about: compassion.

The meaning of compassion is, “to suffer together.”

It goes beyond just feeling and emotion, and leads to action.

For example: the person that trips and falls while carrying all of their school books—you see them fall, run to them, help them stand, and pick up their books.

Genuine compassion always leads to action.

A person could not say they had compassion if they only watched the person struggle to stand back up, dust themselves off, and keep going without any help.

Compassion is demonstrated in how we act towards others.

In the United States, there are over 1.5 MILLION charities.

I said MILLION.

Typically, a charity is founded out of a desire to help a group of people or a cause.

Most of us are familiar with charities that help kids with cancer, homeless people, or animals who need to be adopted.

But, there are also charities that I’ve never heard of, and maybe you haven’t either, that are one-of-a-kind.

For example, “Shaving Away the Eyebrows” was a charity fundraiser by a man named Si Burgher in Indiana.

Si had to brush his 3-inch eyebrows every day to keep them out of his eyes—wow!

He decided to raise money for a polio foundation by allowing people to trim his eyebrows.

He raised over $1600 for trimming his eyebrows!

Or, there’s this one: “The Association for Pet Obesity Prevention.”

Worried about your dog or cat becoming too chubby?

You can give to this foundation that is researching healthy ways to keep our pets from becoming obese. 

Here’s one more—a man named Matt Jones allowed himself to be hit by 21,000 paintballs to demonstrate how many children die from poverty every single day.

He allowed himself to feel pain in order to help others see the number of children who are dying from not having enough food and water.

Each of those stories, although they might seem strange or extreme, represent people who were moved to compassion because they believed in a cause and wanted to make a difference.

As followers of Jesus, we should feel compassion towards others.

Why? Because God has shown compassion for us.

Read Psalm 145:8.

The Lord is merciful and compassionate, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love.

When we look at the people and situations all around us, sometimes it can be difficult to show compassion.

Maybe you get frustrated seeing the situations that people allow themselves to live in.

Why don’t they just change how they live?

Or, it might be difficult to have mercy towards people who don’t show mercy to others.

God could feel the same way about us, but instead, He shows compassion.

He isn’t impatient when we make bad decisions—He loves us.

And God demonstrated the ultimate form of compassion when He sent Jesus to earth.

Ask: How does God show love and compassion to us every day?

Allow a few responses from students.

Ask: Has anyone ever shown compassion to you when you didn’t feel like you deserved it?

How did that affect you?

Allow a few more responses from students.

When we show compassion and mercy to others, whether we feel like they deserve it or not, we are demonstrating the heart of God.

Compassion isn’t based on what we’ve done, deserve, or even what we need.

If compassion was based on whether or not someone deserved it, God would have never shown compassion to us.

Each of us have disobeyed God’s commands and sinned against Him, but God’s compassion is founded in mercy and love.

So, we should be so full of the same mercy and love that God pours into our lives that it flows into the lives of others.

When we do this, we are following what God tells us in His Word:

John 13:34-35 says, “So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.”

We show that we are disciples of Jesus when we show love to others.

Ask: When you think about the world around you, how can you demonstrate compassion in how you live?

Is there something that you could do to show compassion?

Allow a few responses from students.

You might want to write down the things the students suggest and consider starting a compassion initiative together as a youth group.

I’m really proud of the ideas you have and the love you have for other people.

Sometimes, when we step out and do something new or out of our comfort zone, it isn’t easy, and sometimes it isn’t even well received.

Just like the compassion God has shown for us, what you do isn’t based on whether or not people appreciate or accept it.

Don’t let the way others respond stop or discourage you from demonstrating compassion.

God sees your heart and He knows the motives behind your actions.

When you show compassion, you are a walking example of God’s love for others, just like Jesus.

And in the end, that’s all that really matters.

YOUTH GROUP GAME ON FORGIVENESS

Bible: Matthew 6:14-15 (NLT)

Bottom Line: We should forgive others because God has forgiven us.

SUPPLIES

• 50 Sheets of copy paper—Draw a large heart in the middle of each sheet of paper
• 2 Buckets of water
• 20 Foam dishwashing sponges cut into halves 

GAME PREP

This is an outdoor water game and you will need a fairly large playing space. 

Divide students into two teams of equal size.

Then, instruct each team to split into two equal-sized groups.

Have each team choose a captain.

Give each team a bucket of water containing 20 foam sponge halves.

Also, give each team captain 25 sheets of copy paper.

HOW TO PLAY THE GAME

Say: Today, you are going to do your best to break each other’s hearts.

Now, I know that’s not something we typically encourage, but it’s how you will win our game today. 

I need one group from each team to stand at each end of our game space.

Have one group from each team stand with the buckets of sponges at one end of the space.

Each of these groups will form a single file line. 

Have the other group stand at the other end of the space with the team captain and the pieces of paper with hearts drawn on them.

All of the those with the team captain will form a line by standing side-by-side.

The team captain will give each of those people a piece of paper to hold in front of them.

When I say, “Go,” one person from each team will throw 10 sponges, one at a time, at the pieces of paper being held by your teammates at the other end. 

Your goal is to soak up as much water as you can and hit the pieces of paper so that they eventually rip because of the water. 

You cannot just rip your piece of paper; it has to break because of the water.

After you take your turn and throw your sponges, the next person on your team will take their turn while you are picking up the sponges and returning them to your bucket.

If your piece of paper rips, you will trade places with the person that threw the sponge at your paper—even if they didn’t get to finish throwing all of their sponges on their turn—and you will pick up the sponges they had thrown.

The team captain will be responsible for giving their teammates a new piece of paper when a piece rips.

The first team to break 10 of their hearts (or however many you choose) wins! 

TEACH

Say: You might not want to, but you really should forgive each other for being so brutal in our game. 

It was all in good fun! 

Here, however, is an example of someone who was not quite so willing to move on from the pain someone caused in her life.

When Leslie Ray 'Popeye' Charping passed away, his daughter submitted an obituary in the local newspaper that expressed her feelings about her father—and she held nothing back.

Here’s what she wrote:

 "At a young age, Leslie quickly became a model example of bad parenting combined with mental illness and a complete commitment to drinking, drugs, womanizing, and being generally offensive. Leslie enlisted to serve in the Navy, but not so much in a brave & patriotic way, but more so as part of a plea deal to escape sentencing on criminal charges.

Leslie's hobbies included being abusive to his family, expediting trips to heaven for the beloved family pets, and fishing, which he was less skilled with than the previously mentioned. Leslie's life served no other obvious purpose, he did not contribute to society or serve his community and he possessed no redeeming qualities besides quick-witted sarcasm which was amusing during his sober days.

With Leslie's passing, he will be missed only for what he never did; being a loving husband, father, and good friend.

Leslie's passing proves that evil does in fact die and hopefully marks a time of healing and safety for all.”

Leslie’s daughter had a lot to say, but what she didn’t say spoke the loudest—she did not forgive her father for the pain he had caused her, and she wanted to make sure no one else did either.

Forgiveness is often difficult to choose, especially when you have to overcome feelings of disappointment, resentment, or the desire for revenge. 

Let’s read what Jesus told His followers and the crowd that was gathered around Him, as part of what we call, “The Sermon on the Mount.”

Read Matthew 6:14-15.

“If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.”

Once our eyes have been opened to how much God has forgiven us, we no longer have the option to allow bitterness and un-forgiveness to be part of our lives.

If we choose not to forgive someone, we are saying they are less deserving of forgiveness than we are.

Ask: Why is it more difficult to forgive some things more than others? Or some people?

Allow a few responses from students. Share a time when it was difficult to forgive someone in your own life.

Ask: Have you witnessed the long-time results of unforgiveness in your life, or in the lives of those you love? 

Allow a few responses from students.

Forgiveness is pretty important in the life of a believer because without it, we cannot have a restored relationship with God.

Unforgiveness will separate us from God.

Here are a couple of reasons why those who desire a relationship with God should forgive others and themselves.

1. When you are focused on the hurt and pain of the past, you can’t move into a future that is free of those things. 

It’s like carrying a heavy weight around your neck that you can’t remove on your own.

God will forgive us of the things that separate us from Him if we simply ask, allowing us to move forward in life with a clean slate and the heaviness removed.

When you forgive others for the things they have done to cause you pain, you are allowing them to experience that same gift in their own lives.

2. Unforgiveness isn’t healthy.

Bitterness can affect your body.

It can actually make you sick, causing ulcers, depression, anxiety, heart problems, and more.

Maybe it’s because our bodies were not created to live with those feelings; it is not part of God’s plan for us.

Unforgiveness will also affect the healthy relationships in our lives.

Feelings of bitterness and resentment can be difficult to turn off and on, so it’s not unimaginable that those who love you would get the brunt of your harsh feelings towards others.

3. If we don’t forgive others, God won’t forgive us. 

It’s cut and dry, “But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.”

God loves us so much and He knows we can’t serve Him with a forgiven heart that is holding unforgiveness against someone else. 

Unforgiveness clouds our vision from seeing a picture of God’s love because it’s actually the opposite of who God is.

Today, you can begin to take steps towards healing in even the most difficult relationships of your life.

You might not be able to work on forgiving someone on your own—you might need someone to walk through it with you.

Share your feelings with a pastor, parent, or a godly friend.

And then, ask God to help you show to others the same forgiveness you have received from Him.