Jesus Without Language

Psalm 22 is usually quoted nearer Easter than the second week of lent, but in the readings for year B we see the other end of the Psalm. Here is not the opening, where the cross bound Jesus cries the first verse about ‘God forsaking him’, but the place the psalm ends. Like the first line of a hymn, I wonder if people couldn’t help sing the whole song in their heads as they walked away from the cross. It’s a song of torment that lifts at the end into a song of praise not just by the psalmist but by all the families of nations. These games concentrate on the idea of families uniting in praise.

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

Wipe that smile off your face

All Ages

Any size group

No Setup time

Noisy game

Can be seated

The first person pulls their silliest smile and directs it at each child in the circle, trying to make someone giggle or laugh. On the leaders’ mark, they use one hand to literally “wipe” the smile off their face, and hand it to the next person, and on it goes. This can get silly rapidly.
Link: passing on God’s praise to the next generation

Praising family traits

All Ages

Any size group

No Setup time

Noisy game

Can be seated

A simple identity game where whomever is speaking names a trait and all those it applies to shout “Praise God!” Wearing a colour, rolling your tongue, liking ice-cream, any trait qualifies.
Link: all will eventually praise him

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.

The big band

All Ages

Small group

Requires setup time

Quiet game

Can be seated

Turn your group into a band, if you have no instruments, use pots pans, plastic bottles, containers to shake.
Link: This Psalm/song ends in praise.

The psalms have been a source of not only lyrics but inspiration for millennia. There are some games and activities you could do when teaching the beginning of Psalm 25.

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

Dominoes

All Ages

Small group

Requires setup time

Quiet game

Can be seated

Use a real dominoes set(s) if you can access them, or find the craft for this lesson as your game that forms a journey across the table. Print multiple sets if needed.
Link: Following God’s path.

Pass the Parcel

All Ages

Any size group

Requires setup time

Noisy game

Can be seated

Use this classic game of passing a multi-layered parcel around and opening each layer when the music stops.
Link: parcel following a path & what gift we give to 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.

Blind Directions

All Ages

Big group

No Setup time

Noisy game

Space needed

A blindfolded child is whispered some instructions (e.g. take 3 steps, turn any direction and repeat). The other children don’t know the instructions and need to stand around the space, not moving. The first person reached by the blindfolded participant swaps places
Link: Following God’s path.

Interruptions during worship are something we may be far too familiar with. In this passage from Mark 1, where a man with an impure spirit interrupts, Jesus is very much to the point commanding him to ‘be quiet’. These games play on the ideas of interruptions, sounds, identity, and authority.

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

What’s that noise

All Ages

Any size group

Requires setup time

Noisy game

Can be seated

Have your child(ren) identify various sounds. Keep it simple and make the sounds yourself, farm animals, vehicles, sirens etc. Alternatively, search online for “guess the sound” videos.
Link to : Jesus saying “Be quiet!”

That looks like a…

All Ages

Small group

Requires setup time

Quiet game

Can be seated

Take a large envelope and cut a small hole in the face (a hole punch will do this neatly, don’t worry about having holes on both sides). Slip a picture into the envelope and give it to the children to identify. The children can move the picture about but not open the envelope
Link to : The impure spirit recognised Jesus

Authority says

Under 7’s

Any size group

No Setup time

Noisy game

Can be seated

Play the traditional game of ‘Simon says’ where the child copies the direction as long as ‘Simon’ gave it. Use the term ‘authority’ in place of the name Simon.
Link to : other teachers told people about God, but Jesus had authority to his teaching.

Interrupted

Ages 7+

Small group

No Setup time

Quiet game

Can be seated

A simple storytelling activity where you start a story and stop in the middle of a sentence, the next person then needs to complete your sentence and let their next sentence be interrupted. With younger children, you can give each child 7 words each.
Link to : the man interrupting the gathering with his message instead of Jesus’ teachings.

The four men were called to follow, to walk in the dust of a rabbi, becoming like him and learning to fish for men. These games all hang on the ideas of calling, imitating and fishing.

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

Magnet men

All Ages

Small group

Requires setup time

Quiet game

Can be seated

Make up fishing poles using a dowel, string, and a magnet hook. Then cut out some small man shapes and slide a paper-clip around their waist. A quick time-saver is to cut a people paper chain and then divide it up. Add a twist by writing a task for the child to fulfil on each paper man.

Mirror Mirror

All Ages

Any size group

No Setup time

Noisy game

Space needed

Stand opposite your partner. Copy your partner’s gestures. E.g. lift your right arm and your partner will lift his left, smile and your partner will smile, etc

Fishing for…

Under 7’s

Small group

Requires setup time

Noisy game

Space needed

You’ll need plenty of items, small multicolour balls/beanbags work well in a group, or if you are at home, any item from around the house. In this gathering game, you gather things that share an attribute, perhaps a colour or a shape etc.

Follow the leader

Under 7’s

Any size group

No Setup time

Noisy game

Space needed

A classic copying game that takes you on a journey around your space.

Tag or catch

Under 7’s

Any size group

No Setup time

Noisy game

Space needed

Another classic but perfect to get the wriggles out and still links well.

This lesson is all about 3 things, shoes, water, and humility. The first two are games idea gifts, if you have a favourite game that in some ways involves either, then do use that.

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

The big shoe dash

All Ages

Big group

Requires setup time

Noisy game

Space needed

This is great if you have a big enough group. Throw a third of the left shoes into a massive pile under a large sheet or parachute. Lift the cover a couple of times and then hold it at waist height, and those missing a shoe race to get back to their places with the missing shoe replaced.

Broken Man

All Ages

Any size group

Requires setup time

Quiet game

Space needed

A character recognition tool, basically a simple puzzle game for any age but perfect for small groups and younger children. Find a bold cartoon picture of the character depicted in the lesson (you can use the image that I’ll provide with the lesson) and cut it out along the black lines. You’ll be left with many odd shapes and colours, which you pin round the room and reassemble as a group.

Drowning men

Ages 7+

Big group

Requires setup time

Noisy game

Space needed

This is a variation of tug of rope. You mark out two areas of water and use a rope with 3 knots. The middle knot is the ‘man’ and the other two must be held at all times by one team member. If any of your team, or the ‘man’ reaches the water, they drown. The aim is to drown the other team, for every team member you drown you score 2 points, and lose 1 point if you drown the ‘man’! The game ends when 1 team score a score -/+5.

Shoe removal

Ages 7+

Small group

Requires setup time

Noisy game

Space needed

It can be a tricky game when played with the original bucket of water, but can be made easier by varying the objects, perhaps an empty cardboard box would be better for a first attempt. The idea is that 4 youngsters of similar height, lay on their backs with their feet in the air forming a table on which a bucket of water is balanced. They must each remove their shoes without either standing up or spilling the water.

3 legged races

All Ages

Any size group

No Setup time

Noisy game

Space needed

The old ones are always popular and so simple to work. Using shoelaces is a good way into the lesson as well.

This passage in John 1 lends itself to word games, hunts for letters, light, and order. John was beginning, but he was aware that he wasn’t starting the story, it was already alive. Choose the game or games that suit your group and setup best.

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

Beginning

All Ages

Any size group

No Setup time

Quiet game

Can be seated

Have you ever turned a doodle into a picture? Give each child a sheet of paper and a pencil. Have them draw a circle. They then have 1 minute to turn it into a picture of something. Repeat with other shapes: triangle, square, zigzag, spiral, etc.
Link : How to start a gospel.

Find a word

Ages 7+

Small group

Requires setup time

Quiet game

Can be seated

Grab a letter-based game and put out the letters. Explain that the kids have to make a word using the letters that link to the word you give them. This can be against the clock or against another team. Words to give : sport, food, family, write, Jesus.
Link : John trying to describe Jesus

Light hunt

Under 7’s

Any size group

Requires setup time

Noisy game

Space needed

Crack a bunch of glow-sticks and then hide them around the room, drop the lights and challenge the kids to find them. If you have many colours, you can hide different colours according to age group or have kids only collect one of each colour.
Link : Darkness can’t stop the light.

Order

Ages 7+

Any size group

Requires setup time

Quiet game

Can be seated

Grab a selection of random objects and give them to the youngsters. Tell them they have to put them in ‘order’. Let them decide of what that order will be. Talk about how when we put something together, we send messages about the order we see. Challenge them to choose another way of ordering them: how many can they do? If they are stuck, try size, colour, usefulness, beauty, or purpose.
Link : John was sending the message that Jesus’ story was part of the big story from the beginning.

Echoes

All Ages

Any size group

Requires 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 : John was echoing something familiar — Genesis 1.

The least of these passage talks about an act of sorting. Sorting is something we learn from an early age and so lends itself well to games. The other element of the sorting is the revelation of truth. For very young children, any sorting game, toddler toys, wrapped boxes, or even just coloured scarfs can be a helpful way in. Here are some simple ideas for games and activities.

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

Sheep & Goat separation

All Ages

Small group

Requires setup time

Quiet game

Can be seated

A printable game. Click on the image for the 2-page PDF download with instructions. Cut out a board and counters per player. The counters are mixed and placed in a bag. Players take it in turns to pull one counter. The counter is given to the right player. If you pull out your own counter, then go again. Sort your sheep and goats first to win. (For younger kids use counters, buttons, glass beads etc)

All about us

All Ages

Big group

No Setup time

Noisy game

Space needed

The children can sort themselves into groups according to age, colour of clothes, eye colour, types of shoes, or other obvious physical features. Trying to avoid boy/girl splits, where possible, will help mix the group.

Truth or half-truth

All Ages

Any size group

No Setup time

Noisy game

Space needed

Read two statements and get the children to move from one side of the room to the other according to which statement is true. Including some religious statements like “Jesus loves me vs Jesus loves everybody” can lead well into the teaching.

Water dash

Ages 7+

Big group

Requires setup time

Noisy game

Space needed

This works well outside and in hot weather. Half fill plastic cups with water, drop food colouring into about half the cups, so a quarter of the cups end up one colour and a quarter another. The children then have to fill their team’s bucket with just one colour. They should have to use at least some clear liquid to show how our actions spread.

Shape Recognition

Under 7’s

Small group

Requires setup time

Quiet game

Can be seated

Draw around some objects and then get the youngsters to replace the right object in the empty gap. Any household item will do, but shapes with thin parts like scissors are especially effective.

This passage is a wonderful chance to get counting, hiding and talking about your gifts. Here is a selection of games that tie into various elements of the story, choose the one that would best suit your group, age range and setup.

Buried talent

Under 7’s

Small group

Requires setup time

Noisy game

Space needed

Oh dear the servant forgot where he buried his talent and the master is on the way! Burry a ‘talent’ – in cushions, in a sandpit, in play dough, and have the child ‘dig’ to find it.

I have talents…

Ages 7+

Any size group

No Setup time

Quiet game

Can be seated

Each child/group has one minute to write down how many ways they can make someone smile. Dependent on time, have the kids demonstrate some of their suggestions, and /or challenge them to do at least 5 before they go to bed tonight.

Double it!

Ages 7+

Any size group

Requires setup time

Noisy game

Can be seated

This is a copy and multiply game where each round something must be doubled. The starting factor can be anything – a number, a gesture, an effect.
Examples:
The number 4 – answer find 8 objects, 8 fingers.
A smile – 2 people smiling or a mirror.
A sound – an echo or an increase in volume.

Spinning coins

All Ages

Any size group

Requires setup time

Noisy game

Can be seated

The idea of this game is to double up, just as the servants doubled their masters’ money. The challenge is to spin pairs of coins, how many pairs can you spin at once? Talk about how much hard work the servants who doubled the money must have done and compared to the one who buried his talent.

Different Abilities Obstacle course

All Ages

Any size group

Requires setup time

Noisy game

Space needed

Set up an obstacle course that feeds to your individual kid’s strengths. The aim is that some parts of the course will be crazily easy and other parts really tough. Examples: If one of your kids is tall, you could have a really high item or a really low limbo bar. If a kid is musical, you could have a challenge to play a tune. If the kid is really into dinosaurs, they must identify a certain dinosaur. A sporty kid may add a physical challenge. Don’t worry about trying to represent all the kids, just a handful. The idea is to celebrate how we are all gifted with different talents.