Jesus Without Language

This is a story of inclusivity. It’s a story about people who had always been treated as less, getting to be a full part of God’s work. It’s a story that repeats itself in almost every generation, and our modern-day Cornelius and Peter may not be the people we expect.

This is part of a single lesson pack, all ready to print and go.

Keep it up

All Ages

Any size group

Requires setup time

Noisy game

Space needed

How long can a child keep a balloon in the air? Let them play solo, then in pairs, then 4’s until there is only one group.
Link: We achieve more working together.

Included

All Ages

Any size group

Requires setup time

Quiet game

Can be seated

The aim of the game is to get through as many cards as possible while getting to know the group you are playing with. Click on the image for the link to the full game and instructions.
Link: God’s family thrives by being inclusive.

Many colours

All Ages

Small group

Requires setup time

Quiet game

Can be seated

Split your kids into 3 groups. Give each group one colour of play-dough. Ask them how many colours they can make without leaving their group. Now let the groups mix and set the same challenge.
Link : God’s world is more beautiful when we link our gifts.

Echoes

All Ages

Any size group

No Setup time

Noisy game

Can be seated

A simple mimic game where the first person taps out a small beat and passes it around the group, once it reaches the last person, they change the beat. Add in sound effects as your group gets more confident.
Link : It was time to change the beat of faith for Peter to include the gentiles.

This is a story of a trial, an arrest for an act of kindness, a rough fisherman, filled with God’s spirit to speak eloquent words. These games take the idea of Jesus’s power being the foundation of Peter’s acts even though he was not present.

This is part of a single lesson pack, all ready to print and go.

Hidden Jesus

Under 7’s

Small group

Requires setup time

Noisy game

Space needed

Hide the letters J, E, U, and two S’s around your space. Have the kids find them and piece them together as a word. Play in teams by having each team collect only one colour of letters.
Link: Peter was imitating Jesus, continuing his work, the power did not come from Peter

Foundation

Ages 7+

Any size group

Requires setup time

Noisy game

Can be seated

Use drinking straws and sticky tack to build a tower on the table. Points are scored 1 per cm; however, before they can measure, they must move the table 30 cm across the floor.
Link: It’s not what the top of the tower looks like but how firm it’s foundations are. Jesus is the most solid foundation of them all.

Helping hands

All Ages

Any size group

Requires setup time

Noisy game

Space needed

This classic and silly game involves someone standing behind you and being your hands. Give each pair a task, like eating a closed yogurt.
Link: Peter was acting through Jesus’s power and the Holy Spirit’s words.

Dominoes

Ages 7+

Any size group

Requires setup time

Noisy game

Can be seated

Use dominoes or Jenga blocks to make a fall run.
Link: Peter’s ability to heal came from Jesus even though Jesus was not visibly present.

An important message of the story where Peter heals the lame man, is that the power displayed is not, owned by Peter, but the power of Jesus flowing through his servant. These games use that idea of passing along alongside ideas about the struggles the lame man may have faced to link into the story.

This is part of a single lesson pack, all ready to print and go.

Copy me

Under 7’s

Any size group

No Setup time

Noisy game

Can be seated

Take it in turns to make a pattern that the group follows. This could be as simple as clapping a beat, or could include many silly actions. Repeat a pattern 3–5 times, then move onto the next.
Link: Peter was imitating Jesus, continuing his work, the power did not come from Peter

Dominoes

All Ages

Small group

Requires setup time

Noisy game

Can be seated

Use dominoes or Jenga blocks to make a fall run.
Link: Peter’s ability to heal came from Jesus, even though Jesus was not visibly present.

Relay races

All Ages

Big group

Requires setup time

Noisy game

Space needed

These can be running sections of a course if you have room or passing things down a line like the classic game where you pass a balloon over heads and under legs.
Link: Peter was continuing Jesus’ work, not replacing it.

Pass the parcel

All Ages

Any size group

Requires setup time

Noisy game

Can be seated

The classic, unwrap a layer when the music stops, game.
Link: God’s gifts are for us to pass on.

Interruptions during worship are something we may be far too familiar with. In this passage from Acts 4, the church shares all they have, so nobody is in need, and we see the example of Barnabas giving. These games play on the ideas of gifts, sharing, and working together.

This is part of a single lesson pack, all ready to print and go.

In One Hand

All Ages

Any size group

No Setup time

Noisy game

Space needed

How many coins can you hold in one hand? Stack as many coins in one hand as possible and walk ten steps. Eventually, you won’t be able to hold any more. How many people could have shared this load?
Link: God calls us to share, not hoard.

Controlled Destination

All Ages

Any size group

Requires setup time

Noisy game

Space needed

This simple group ball game uses a parachute or large sheet. The ball must touch each of the 3–5 destinations in order without leaving the parachute sheet. Destinations can be marked by making boxes with tape.
Link: God’s family thrives when it works together.

Three Word Stories

Ages 7+

Small group

No Setup time

Quiet game

Can be seated

Make up a story as a group, taking turns to each say the next three words.
Link : Everyone contributed. (Even if they were not controlling the story)

Divide and share

Ages 7+

Any size group

No Setup time

Quiet game

Can be seated

Sit the children in a circle or round a table and give each child a piece of paper. Ask them to fold it in half as many times as they can. 8 is the limit. Talk about how small we managed to make the piece of paper by keeping it together. Now get them to open their piece of paper up and tear it in half, placing one half in the middle of the circle. Repeat this until you have just a tiny piece of paper. How many times did they tear their paper when they give it away?
Link to : we achieve more together than alone.

Psalm 119 is the longest Psalm in the bible. For many, that makes it daunting, but treating each part of the acrostic as a separate mini poem reveals great depth. Here we look at ‘bet’ or the Hebrew letter ‘b’ and how the author treasures the words of scripture as a guide for life.

This is part of a multi lesson pack, all ready to print and go.

Treasure chest

All Ages

Any size group

Requires setup time

Noisy game

Space needed

Have 2 treasure chests (boxes) and divide your kids into teams. The winning team will be the ones with the most treasure in their box. Use small balls for treasure which are scatted around the area. State clearing if ‘stealing’ is allowed at the beginning of the game.
Link: how do we treasure God’s word?

Hotter and hotter

Under 7’s

Any size group

Requires setup time

Noisy game

Space needed

A find the object game. Those who hid the objects get to call out hot and hotter or cold and colder as you move towards or away from the hiding spots.
Link: verse 10.

Psalm Beat

Ages 7+

Any size group

No Setup time

Noisy game

Can be seated

Using a small section of words from the Psalm as lyrics, have the youngsters make up a tune or a beat to sing the words. Add percussion instruments and work in pairs.
Link: Psalms were songs sung, not read.

Tippy towers

All Ages

Any size group

No Setup time

Noisy game

Space needed

Who can build the tallest tower, use whatever you have available. Give a time limit.
Link: the Old Testament is the foundation to the New Testament.

Psalm 107 is long, but for this lesson we’ve focused on a tiny part of it — what is usually written as the first and fourth paragraph (or pericope for the theology scholars among us). These look at gathering and rescuing God’s people, and these games echo those ideas.

This is part of a single lesson pack, all ready to print and go.

Shouts of Joy

Under 7’s

Any size group

No Setup time

Quiet game

Can be seated

A naming exercise where you take it in turns naming something you are thankful for, assign it a mime or action and then as a group make the action accompanied by a whoop of joy!
Link: verse 22

‘Stuck in the Mud’

All Ages

Any size group

No Setup time

Noisy game

Space needed

A classic game where getting tagged freezes you until another player can rescue you. (Also called freeze tag.)
Link: being rescued.

Psalm Beat

Ages 7+

Any size group

No Setup time

Noisy game

Can be seated

Using a small section of words from the Psalm as lyrics, have the youngsters make up a tune or a beat to sing the words. Add percussion instruments and work in pairs.
Link: Psalms were songs sung, not read.

Faithful Grip

All Ages

Any size group

Requires setup time

Quiet game

Can be seated

Each child has a piece of ice they must pass between their hands, never stopping. They lose when they drop the ice. The winner is the last one holding their ice.
Link: Even with all life’s moving parts God never lets us go.

Psalm 19 starts with the heavens, the sun, and it’s ‘tent’, the creation crying out the glory of God. Then it switches suddenly and looks not out the window but down to the written word, the messages of God wrapped up in feeble letters and wobbly grammar. All these games take their inspiration directly from those ideas and specific verses in the text.

This is part of a single lesson pack, all ready to print and go.

Necessary rules

All Ages

Any size group

No Setup time

Quiet game

Can be seated

There can be multiple winners and losers, everyone has until the count of 10 after each rule is announced before the winner is announced. Read 1 rule and say go! Judge the winner on all 5 rules. Reveal another rule and repeat.
Rules:
1. Look at the leaders.
2. Touch something red.
3. Stand on one leg.
4. Smile.
5. Be silent.
Link: We have the best life when we know all the instructions, seeing the sun was not enough.

Follow the sun

Under 7’s

Small group

No Setup time

Quiet game

Space needed

Dim the room and use a large flashlight on the walls. Have the youngsters stretch their body towards the light.
Link: verse 1 “The heavens declare the glory of God.”

Psalm Beat

Ages 7+

Any size group

No Setup time

Noisy game

Can be seated

Using a small section of words from the Psalm as lyrics, have the youngsters make up a tune or a beat to sing the words. Add percussion instruments and work in pairs.
Link: Psalms were songs sung not read.

Charades

Ages 7+

Any size group

No Setup time

Noisy game

Can be seated

A classic game of no words and lots of mime
Link: Verse 3 “There is no speech; there are no words; their voice is not heard.”