Free Games

YOUTH GROUP GAME FOR ST. PATRICK’S DAY

DOWNLOAD THE PDF OF THIS GAME

Bible: 1 Peter 1:18-19 (NLT)

Bottom Line: The price God paid for our sins is more valuable than anything on earth.

SUPPLIES

• 4 Pieces of paper

• 4 Pens

• 4 Clipboards

• 4 Bags of 13 pennies

• 4 Rolls of transparent tape

GAME PREP

Divide students into four teams of equal size. 

Write the letters to the words “St. Patrick’s Day” vertically down the left side of each piece of paper.

Place each piece of paper and a pen on a clipboard and give one to each team.

Also, give each team a bag of pennies and a roll of transparent tape.

HOW TO PLAY THE GAME

Say: Since St. Patrick’s Day is right around the corner, I thought we could play a game that’s all about the holiday.

Each of your teams has been given a clipboard with a pen and a piece of paper that says "St. Patrick's Day" written down one side of the paper.

When I say, GO, your teams will begin to search our room to locate items that start with one of the letters from “St. Patrick’s Day.”  

You can choose any item in the entire room.

You have also been given a bag of pennies and a roll of tape. 

Now, it's not a pot of gold, but in our game, pennies are very valuable.

When you locate an item that begins with one of the letters in “St. Patrick’s Day,” you will tape a penny to it, and write the item down on your paper.

Each item in the room can only be used once.

You cannot choose an item that already has a penny taped to it.

Your teams can score bonus points for each green item that you write down.

You will have 3 minutes to find all the items, tape a penny to each item, and write the name of the item on your team’s paper.

You will receive one point for each item and an extra point for any item that is green.

The team with the most points at the end of the game wins!

TEACH

Ask: When you think of St. Patrick’s Day, what types of things come to mind?

Allow a few responses from students.

Undoubtedly, you think of shamrocks, leprechauns, and a giant pot of gold.

I want to share some quick facts about the origins of St. Patrick’s Day with you:

• Patrick is referred to as a Christian missionary and the Apostle of Ireland – although He was originally from Britain.

• He was brought to Ireland as a slave, but escaped six years later and became a priest.

• St. Patrick’s Day was first celebrated in the U.S. in 1737.

• Shamrocks are the national flower/emblem of Ireland.

• Patrick used the shamrock to explain the three persons of the Holy Trinity.

Although St. Patrick was originally associated with the color blue (He wore a blue robe), when wearing green clovers on your lapel to support Ireland became popular in the 1700s.

Soon after green became the national color.

As far as leprechauns and their pots of gold go, there is no connection to the faith or story of St. Patrick, but because both represent Ireland, they have become recognized together in popular culture.

I think it would be awesome if we could find a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, but that will probably never happen to any of us.

Did you know that gold is mentioned over 400 times in the Bible? 

Sometimes on extraordinary occasions—including one of the gifts that were brought by the wise men to Jesus.   

Gold is also referred to when speaking about idols and in warnings about the dangers of greed.

Let's read what the Bible has to say about the real value of gold.

Read 1 Peter 1:18-19.

For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors.

And it was not paid with mere gold or silver, which lose their value.  It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God.

Gold, silver, and any precious metal or jewel that is found on this earth can lose its value.

Gold doesn't corrode like other metals, and it has a unique and beautiful color, but it fluctuates in its value.

• In 2011 an ounce of gold was valued at $1,900.

• By 2015, the price of gold had dropped to $1,100.

The Bible verses we read refer to the “ransom” that God paid to save us.

Most of us have seen movie scenes where someone is held captive, and a ransom is required to set them free. 

Usually, the ransom has a high value and the person that is being required to pay it can come up with the money, plane, or getaway car being demanded.

Ask: When this scripture talks about the “ransom” that God paid, what do you think it means?

Allow a few responses from students.

When sin entered the world, it became our captor.

There is no way to escape sin’s grasp on our own. 

Sin in our lives can keep us from having a restored relationship with God and living and functioning with His peace in our lives.

That was never God’s plan for us.

He desires that we would be free from the effects of sin in our lives. 

To do this, a ransom was required to set us free.

That ransom was paid when Jesus died on the cross and was raised from the dead.

Only God could pay such a high ransom.  

He’s the only one who could do it.

When someone is held captive, he or she may try to escape, but the captor has carefully planned to make sure that there is no way out.

There was no way for us to escape sin in our lives until God paid the ransom for us.

Ask: Can you name some things people do to try to escape from sin in their lives?

Allow a few responses from students.

Sometimes people try to do good deeds or give a lot of money to the church to make things right with God.

They might attempt to quit sinning on their own or try to forget about the sin in their lives by drinking or doing drugs.

But the only way to be saved from an empty life is by accepting the ransom that has already been paid for you.

Today, I encourage you to accept the gift of God in your life.

You can’t earn it or come up with your own plan.

God has already given the most precious thing He has: His Son Jesus.

The next time you see a pot of gold or think about St. Patrick's Day, let it be a reminder of the significant value of the sacrifice Jesus made for each of us.

YOUTH GROUP GAME ON SALVATION

DOWNLOAD THE PDF OF THIS GAME

Bible: John 14:6 (NLT)

Bottom Line: God has provided the only solution to sin and separation from Himself - Jesus.

SUPPLIES

• Painter’s tape

GAME PREP

Use painter’s tape to create a line across the floor.

Also, use the tape to create an “F” on one side of the tape, and a “T” on the other side of the tape, on the floor.

Students will play this game as individuals. 

HOW TO PLAY THE GAME

Say: Laws are created to establish standards and maintain order in our society.

In the history of the United States, there have been some fascinating laws. 

In the game we are about to play, I will read a law, or something that is similar to an actual law.

You will have to decide if what I’m reading is true or false.

On the floor, I have created a “T” for True and an “F” for False. 

When I read the law, you will have five seconds to choose whether you believe the statement is true or false, and then, stand on that side of the room.

When I reveal the answer, whichever side is incorrect, is out of the game.

The players who have chosen the correct answer will remain in the game.

We will play until there is only one player left, or until I run out of True or False statements.

Whenever there are less than five students left, only three or fewer people can be on each side – you will have to choose your answer quickly before there are too many people on your side.

Are you ready? Let’s play!

TRUE OR FALSE STATEMENTS

• You cannot use silly string in Southington, Connecticut unless it’s in the privacy of your home. TRUE

• In Illinois, you cannot fall asleep in a cheese shop. TRUE

• In Kansas, you cannot swim in a public fountain unless you are wearing a swimming suit. FALSE 

• If you disturb a church service in Missouri, you can be arrested. TRUE

• In some counties in New Hampshire, you can have a picnic in a cemetery. FALSE

• In New York, you cannot take a selfie with a tiger. TRUE

• In Oklahoma, it’s against the law to make glue from a dead skunk. TRUE

• In Tennessee, it’s against the law to use someone else’s Netflix account. TRUE

• In Vermont, it’s against the law to put up a clothesline. FALSE

• In Kansas, you can use a mule to go duck hunting. FALSE

• In Texas, it is against the law to sell your eyeball. TRUE

• In Ohio, you can legally fish for whales on Sundays. FALSE

TEACH

Say: Today, our topic is “salvation” – the deliverance from sin and its consequences.

In our game, we learned about some rare, and funny laws that might not make sense to us, but were somehow created out of necessity.

There might be a good reason why you can’t take a selfie with a tiger, or sell your eyeball.

And whether or not you agree with the law, you will suffer consequences if you choose not to obey it.

Like I mentioned before, laws are formed when there is a need to maintain order.

For example, the practice of staking claim to a piece of property began with the first gold rush in the 1800s.

A mining claim would give you the ability to extract minerals from a piece of public land.

During the gold rush, it was a race to be the first to claim a piece of land, with the hope of finding gold.

Ask: What do you think it would have been like to live during the California gold rush?

Allow a few responses from students.

Although it was an exciting time in American history, men, women, and children sacrificed everything for the opportunity to “strike it rich!”

There’s a story about a man who left his wife and son in New England and headed to San Francisco to mine for gold.

His plan was when he became successful, he would send for his family, but it took longer than he had expected.

Finally, he had enough money, so he sent for them.

His wife and son boarded a boat and sailed away.

Not long after the boat set sail, people started yelling, "Fire! Fire!" as the ship became engulfed in flames.

Not only was there the danger of fire, but the boat was carrying a shipment of gun powder.

Once the fire hit the gun powder, destruction was inevitable.

The crew hustled to get out the lifeboats but there weren't enough, and they were too small to handle the passengers.

Just as the last boat was pushing away, this mother begged the crew to take her and her son.

But, there was no room – the boats were filled.

She cried and pleaded until they agreed to take one more person.

Do you think this mother jumped into the boat and left her son to die?

Of course not.

As she hugged and kissed her boy before dropping him into the lifeboat, she said, "My boy, if you live to see your father, tell him that I died in your place."

This story is parallel to the sacrifice that God made in sending Jesus to die for us – He died in our place.

Read John 14:6.

Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.

This scripture reminds us that there is no other way to God than through Jesus.

Ask: What does that mean? How do we “come to the Father”?

Allow a few responses from students.

In the Old Testament, we read how the Jewish people tried to obey the Law, and they couldn't do it.

So, they gave sacrifices to God, to gain His approval and cover their sin.

Then, God sent Jesus as the ultimate sacrifice for our sin.

Because of His sacrifice, not only will we not suffer the eternal consequences of our sin, but we will receive an eternal reward for following God.

All He asks of us is that we believe and confess Jesus as Lord and Savior.

We can’t earn salvation – it’s impossible.

We can’t be good enough or do enough good things – sin still separates us from God.

God has provided the only solution to sin and separation from Himself, and that is Jesus.

You have the opportunity to come to the Father, God, and accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior.

Salvation is free – freely accept it.

YOUTH GROUP GAME ON CREATION

DOWNLOAD THE PDF OF THIS GAME

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

DOWNLOAD THE PDF OF THIS GAME

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

DOWNLOAD THE PDF OF THIS GAME

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

DOWNLOAD THE PDF OF THIS GAME

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

DOWNLOAD THE PDF OF THIS GAME

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

DOWNLOAD THE PDF OF THIS GAME

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

DOWNLOAD THE PDF OF THIS GAME

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

DOWNLOAD THE PDF OF THIS GAME

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.

SAVE 41% ON 80 YOUTH GROUP GAMES!

We wanted to let you know we just released an awesome GAME PACK BUNDLE.

You receive all 4 of our BRAND NEW  youth group game packs!

Every single game includes a Biblical lesson.  

Games are a great addition to your youth service planning!

They can be added to an upcoming lesson, event, small group time, mid-week service, message, etc..

Our games are easy-to-use, require little prep, and are followed up by a quick lesson based on a Bible verse. 

Here’s what you get in the GAME PACK BUNDLE:

20 INDOOR GAMES includes 20 games written especially for indoor use. These games aren’t messy and can be cleaned up quickly. So, when the game is finished you can move right into the lesson.

20 SMALL GROUP GAMES includes 20 games written especially for small groups. These brand new games are written for groups of 6-8 students but are also perfect for groups of as little as 2-3 students.

20 NO PREP GAMES includes 20 “no prep” games. Each game is based on a topic and followed up with a lesson. These games require no prep time. You can even read them 10 minutes before a service or event, and you’ll be ready to go. Most of them require no supplies. But when supplies are required, they’re common items that you most likely have on hand.

FALL & WINTER GAME PACK includes 10 Fall Games and 10 Winter Games. Each game is based on a topic and followed up with a lesson. These games have easy-to-read instructions and the lessons are in “script” format and require little to no prep.

YOUTH GROUP GAME ON JUDGING OTHERS

DOWNLOAD THE PDF OF THIS GAME

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.