Youth group
Christian youth group games
Healthy, Christ-centered fun for students: a youth group game or activity for every Bible lesson, from quick icebreakers to full-room games, each with what you need, how to play and the Bible truth it points to.
High-energy games
Nothing Is Impossible
Each team must stack the cups into a pyramid without touching them with their hands. Each player holds one string, and together they stretch the band to grab a cup.
Need: For each team: six plastic cups, a rubber band with four strings tied to it
Glow Star Hunt
Hide glow sticks around the area, each with a question about the wise men.
Need: Glow sticks, a question tied to each one, flashlights, an outdoor area at dusk
About-Face
Everyone walks around the room. One whistle: turn around and walk the other way. Two whistles: freeze. Three: high-five the nearest person.
Need: A whistle
Water Balloon Toss
Partners stand facing each other a few steps apart and toss a water balloon.
Need: Water balloons, towels
Sword Drill
Everyone holds a closed Bible by the spine. The leader calls “Draw swords!”, then a reference, such as Deuteronomy 8:3.
Need: A Bible for each person, a list of references
Six Waterpots Challenge
Teams take turns bouncing a ping-pong ball into the cups from behind a line.
Need: Six cups set in a triangle, ping-pong balls, a question card under each cup
Flashlight Tag
The taggers count to 30 while everyone hides.
Need: Two or three flashlights, an outdoor area at dusk with clear boundaries
Blanket Pull Relay
Teams of four: one sits on the blanket, three pull them around the cone and back.
Need: Old blankets or sheets, a smooth floor, cones
Thirty-Eight Seconds
Set up quick challenges, each one done in 38 seconds: stack 10 cups and unstack them, bounce a ball into a cup, say the books of the New Testament, find Psalm 23.
Need: A timer, cups, ping-pong balls, a Bible
Good Ground Service Day
Pick a garden bed at church or the yard of an older neighbor.
Need: Gloves, garden tools, flowers or seeds
Eyes on the Guide
One teen walks the tape line carrying a full cup of water.
Need: Full cups of water, tape for a line on the floor
Shepherd’s Call
Teams pick a shepherd and agree on a secret sound, like a whistle or a click. The rest are blindfolded sheep.
Need: Blindfolds, a taped “pen” on the floor
Lost and Found Hunt
Give teams a set of close-up photos taken around the church.
Need: Photos of odd corners of the building, taken close up, one list for each team
Robe, Ring and Shoes Relay
One at a time, each player runs to the end, puts on the robe and shoes, and tosses the ring onto the cone until it lands.
Need: For each team: a big robe or bathrobe, a ring toss (a ring and a cone), a pair of oversized shoes
Graveclothes Wrap Race
Teams pick one person to be Lazarus and have two minutes to wrap them from shoulders to ankles. No covering the face.
Need: Rolls of toilet paper, a timer
Lead the Little Ones
Pick a game from this lesson or another and practice leading it.
Need: Time with the younger kids’ class, games from this page
Over the Noise
One player on each team gets a message card and must get it across the room to a teammate who writes it down.
Need: Short messages on cards, paper, pens
Hosanna Cheer-Off
Teams have eight minutes to write a cheer that praises Jesus, using “Hosanna” and at least one true fact about who He is.
Need: Paper, markers, anything for props
Feed the Flock
Serve a meal at church or a shelter, or pack snack bags for kids in your town.
Need: A church meal, a shelter kitchen or snack bags to pack
Serve Team Tryouts
Leaders each explain their team in two minutes.
Need: Leaders from different church teams (greeters, tech, kids, setup)
Lyric Showdown
Play a few seconds of a song, then stop it.
Need: Hymns and worship songs the group knows, played from a phone
Tent Race
Teams race to set up their tent with no instructions.
Need: Camping tents (one per team)
Noodle Knights
Two knights face off in the circle with a pool-noodle sword and a shield.
Need: Pool noodles, paper-plate or cardboard shields, a taped circle
Do It Now
Teams get the task list and twenty minutes.
Need: A list of real tasks around the church (stack chairs, tidy the kids’ rooms, write thank-you notes, pick up the parking lot)
Taboo Bible Words
A player describes the word to their team without saying any of the forbidden words.
Need: Cards with a Bible word and four forbidden words (ARK: boat, Noah, flood, animals), a timer
Worry Snowball Fight
Everyone writes one worry on paper, with no name, and crumples it into a snowball.
Need: Paper, pens
Love in Action Hunt
Teams have thirty minutes to complete as many acts of love as they can around the church.
Need: A list of kind acts (encourage a greeter, write a note to the pastor, clean a table), phones for photos
Door Hanger Invites
Design door hangers inviting neighbors to church or a youth event.
Need: Cardstock door hangers, markers, event details, adult leaders
Creation Photo Hunt
Teams must photograph something from each of the six days: light, sky, water, plants, the sun or moon, birds, animals and people.
Need: Phones, the list of creation days
Creation Care Cleanup
God put Adam in the garden to dress it and keep it.
Need: Gloves, trash bags, a park or creek nearby
Trade Up
Each team starts with one paper clip.
Need: One paper clip for each team, a building full of willing people (warn them first!)
Bricks Without Straw
Teams build the tallest free-standing tower they can in three minutes.
Need: 50 paper cups for each team, a timer
Leapfrog Relay
Teams line up crouched low.
Need: Grass or mats
Egyptians and Israelites
A few “Egyptians” stand in the middle. Everyone else lines up on one side as the Israelites.
Need: A field with two safe lines
Praise Band
Teams make instruments in ten minutes, like Miriam’s timbrels.
Need: Recycled materials for instruments (cans, rice, rubber bands, boxes)
Cold Water Service
Hand out free cold water at a park, a ballgame or a busy corner (with permission).
Need: Cold water bottles, a cooler, a short note with your youth group’s name
Ark Sardines
One person hides: they are the ark.
Need: A darkened building with safe hiding places
Tower of Gibberish
Teams race to build the tallest cup tower in four minutes.
Need: 40 paper cups for each team
Mystery Trip
Tell everyone what to wear and bring, but not where you are going.
Need: A planned outing with a secret destination, permission slips
Four Directions Hunt
Teams get their first clue: “Walk 40 steps north…”
Need: A compass app, clues hidden north, south, east and west of the church
Host a Meal
Plan, cook and serve a simple meal for guests.
Need: Food, a kitchen, tables, guests (parents, seniors or your church staff)
Improv Night
Play clean improv games: a scene with three words from the audience, an expert interview, a story told one word at a time.
Need: Suggestion cards
Lemonade Stand
Set up a free lemonade stand in a busy spot (with permission).
Need: Lemonade, cups, a table, a sign: “Free, because God loves you”
Costume Swap
Teams have sixty seconds to dress a teammate as someone else in the room.
Need: A box of old clothes, hats and wigs for each team
Tug of War
Split into two teams and mark the middle of the rope.
Need: A long, thick rope, a soft field
Food Pantry Day
Volunteer together: sort cans, pack boxes, serve families.
Need: A local food pantry that welcomes youth volunteers
Giant Grape Carry
Pairs carry the “cluster of grapes” on a pole between them through a course.
Need: A broomstick and a big bag of balls (or a watermelon) for each pair, cones
Snake Tail Tag
Everyone tucks a “tail” into the back of their waistband.
Need: Scarves or strips of cloth tucked in as tails
Talking Animals Improv
Small groups draw two animal cards and act out a two-minute scene where the animals talk about a lesson from the Bible.
Need: Animal cards
Baton Pass Relay
Run a relay where the handoff is everything: a dropped baton costs ten seconds.
Need: A baton (or a rolled-up paper), a track or field
Scarlet Thread Trail
Run a red string through the building, with clue cards tied along it.
Need: A long red string or yarn, clue cards, a final message
River Crossing
The whole team must cross the “river” using only the stepping squares.
Need: Carpet squares or paper plates (fewer than the team), two lines for the riverbanks
Wall Smash
Each team builds a wall of boxes on its side.
Need: Cardboard boxes, foam balls
Caleb’s Hike
Take a real hike with a summit or lookout.
Need: A trail, water, snacks, adult leaders, permission slips
Glow Capture the Flag
Two teams, each with a glowing flag on its side.
Need: Glow sticks to mark teams and boundaries, two glowing flags, a field at night
Strength Test
Hold friendly contests: the longest plank, the longest wall sit, the most push-ups in thirty seconds.
Need: A timer, mats
Glean for Good
Arrange a gleaning day: gather leftover produce after a harvest or market.
Need: A farm, orchard or farmers market willing to donate leftover produce, boxes
Giant Dodgeball
Play foam dodgeball: hits below the shoulders only.
Need: Foam balls, a gym
Clothespin Sneak
Everyone clips three clothespins on their clothes at the start of youth group.
Need: Three clothespins for each person
Joy Night
Play group dance games and line dances, where nobody is a spectator.
Need: A speaker, clean line-dance or game songs
Halfway Line
The leader reads two choices; everyone jumps to a side of the line. Nobody can stand on the line!
Need: A line of tape down the middle of the room
Glow Baton Relay
Run a relay at dusk with a glow-stick baton.
Need: A glow stick as a baton, a field at dusk
Yard Help Day
Rake leaves, mow or clean up yards for widows and older neighbors.
Need: Rakes, gloves, bags, a list of widows or older neighbors who need help
Humble Service
Naaman almost missed God’s healing because of pride.
Need: Cleaning supplies, gloves
Backwards Race
Race the course running backwards.
Need: A field, cones
Build Day
Spend a morning building or repairing something real.
Need: A building project with a ministry like Habitat for Humanity, or repairs around the church
Calm games and activities
Prophecy Match-Up
Shuffle the cards and give each team a set.
Need: Bibles; cards with promises (Isaiah 7:14, Micah 5:2, Isaiah 9:6, Zechariah 9:9, Isaiah 53:5) and fulfillments (Matthew 1:23, Matthew 2:6, Luke 2:11, Matthew 21:5, 1 Peter 2:24)
Silent Line-Up
Without talking, the group lines up in order of birthdays, January 1 to December 31, using only hand signals.
Need: Nothing
Magnificat Remix
In small groups, read Mary’s song in Luke 1:46–55 and list everything Mary praises God for.
Need: Bibles, paper, pens
Name That Name
The leader reads a meaning, and teams race to name the person: “God is gracious” (John), “The LORD saves” (Jesus), “God with us” (Emmanuel), “Rock” (Peter), “Laughter” (Isaac), “Drawn out” (Moses).
Need: A list of Bible names and their meanings
Read Every Word
Hand out the test face down. Say “Go!” and time them.
Need: A printed “directions test”: twelve silly instructions, the first saying “Read everything before you begin” and the last saying “Now do only number 2”
Count-Off Chaos
Stand in a circle with eyes closed. The group must count to 20, one voice at a time, in no set order.
Need: Nothing
Bible or Tradition?
Read out details one at a time: “There was an innkeeper”, “There were three wise men”, “Mary rode a donkey”, “The baby was laid in a manger”, “Angels said ‘Glory to God in the highest’”.
Need: Bibles; cards with Christmas details
Telephone Pictionary
Everyone writes a sentence from the story on the top sheet, such as “Anna gave thanks in the temple.”
Need: A small stack of paper and a pen for each person
Pack in Sixty Seconds
Tell the group they must leave home tonight and can take only ten things. They have sixty seconds.
Need: A list of 30 items (phone, water, blanket, photos, snacks, a Bible, a pillow, shoes…), pens
Ask Anything Box
Everyone writes a real question about God, the Bible or faith, with no names.
Need: Slips of paper, pens, a box
Who Brought You?
Share in small groups: who first told you about Jesus, or brought you to church?
Need: Cards, pens, envelopes
Common Ground
Pair up with someone you don’t usually talk to.
Need: A timer
Mission Statement
Read Luke 4:18–19 together: Jesus’ own mission statement.
Need: Bibles, paper, markers
Leave the Boat
At the start of youth group, everyone puts their phone in the boat. First to touch theirs helps clean up.
Need: A basket for a “boat”
Plan a Matthew Party
Matthew threw a feast so his friends could meet Jesus. Plan one: a game night or cookout to invite friends who don’t go to church.
Need: Paper, pens, a calendar
Salt and Light Cards
Everyone draws a card and keeps it secret.
Need: Cards with kind acts on them (eat lunch with someone alone, encourage a teacher, help at home without being asked)
Prayer Walk
Go out in small groups, walking slowly.
Need: A safe route around the church or neighborhood, a leader for each group
Marshmallow Storm Towers
Teams have ten minutes to build the tallest tower they can.
Need: Uncooked spaghetti, mini marshmallows, tape, a fan
Build It Blind
A leader builds a secret shape behind the screen.
Need: Two identical sets of building blocks or cups, a screen or wall to hide one build
Comfort Cards
Talk about how Jesus noticed the widow and had compassion on her.
Need: Card stock, markers, the names of widows or grieving families in your church
Unsinkable Boats
Each team gets one sheet of foil to build a boat in five minutes.
Need: Aluminum foil, a tub of water, pennies
Who Touched Me?
One person, the detective, leaves the room. The leader taps one person secretly to be the “toucher”.
Need: Chairs in a circle
Five-and-Two Cook-Off
Teams create the best snack they can with only what they’re given.
Need: For each team the same five snack ingredients and two “wildcards”, plates, plastic knives
Names of Jesus Speed Round
Teams have two minutes to write as many names and titles of Jesus from the Bible as they can: the Lamb of God, the Good Shepherd, the Bread of Life…
Need: Paper, pens, Bibles, a timer
Mountaintop Moment
Turn off the lights and crack the glow sticks. Spend a few minutes in worship and quiet.
Need: Glow sticks, a dark room, worship music
Neighbor Kits
Set up an assembly line and pack care kits for people in need.
Need: Zip bags, socks, snacks, water, toothbrushes, encouraging notes
Distraction Challenge
Read Luke 10:38–42 together, slowly, twice.
Need: Bibles, a timer
One Thing I Know
Read John 9:24–25 together.
Need: Index cards, pens
Gratitude Wall
Everyone writes as many things as they can thank God for in five minutes, big and small.
Need: A roll of butcher paper on the wall, markers
Make It Right
Read Luke 19:8 together: Zacchaeus gave half to the poor and paid back four times over.
Need: Index cards, pens
Secret Blessing
Everyone draws a name and keeps it secret.
Need: Everyone’s names on slips of paper in a bowl
Shoe Shine Service
After a service, set up a free shoe shine for church members.
Need: Shoe polish, cloths, chairs, a sign
Stations of the Story
Walk the stations quietly in small groups, reading the passage at each one.
Need: Six stations, each with a Bible passage and a question: Gethsemane, the trial, the cross, the tomb, the stone rolled away, the risen Lord
Walk and Talk
Pair up and take a slow walk, like the two on the road to Emmaus.
Need: Question cards, a safe walking route
Evidence Room
Teams study the evidence cards like detectives.
Need: Evidence cards: the empty tomb, more than 500 witnesses (1 Corinthians 15:6), the disciples changed from afraid to bold, Thomas’s doubt
Shore Breakfast
Meet early, or for breakfast-for-dinner, and cook together outside.
Need: A fire pit or grill and a safe adult in charge, breakfast food
Pray Around the World
Toss the globe around the circle.
Need: An inflatable globe beach ball
Until He Comes
Read Acts 1:9–11.
Need: Paper, envelopes, pens
Prayer Chain
Everyone writes prayer requests on paper strips, one per strip.
Need: Strips of colored paper, tape, pens
Language Challenge
Teams get phrase cards in languages like Spanish, Swahili, Korean and Portuguese.
Need: Cards with simple phrases in other languages (written the way they sound), answer key
Potluck and Praise
Plan a potluck where everyone brings something.
Need: Everyone brings a dish to share
Such As I Have
Each person lists three things they can give that don’t cost money: a skill, time, encouragement.
Need: Paper, pens
Sixty-Second Story
Each person writes their story of following Jesus in three parts: before, how, and since.
Need: A timer
Masks Off
Each person decorates the front of a plate as a “mask”: how they want people to see them.
Need: Paper plates, markers
Break Out
Lock a prize in the box.
Need: A lockbox with a three-digit lock, three clue cards that send teams to verses in Acts 5
Pray for the Persecuted
Read the story together.
Need: A short story of a Christian persecuted today (from a ministry such as The Voice of the Martyrs), cards
Explain It Simply
A teen draws a verse card and has thirty seconds to explain it as if to a six-year-old.
Need: Verse cards (John 3:16, Romans 6:23, Ephesians 2:8–9), a timer
Before and After
Show the baby photos one at a time.
Need: Baby photos of youth leaders (collected ahead of time), a screen or printouts
Barnabas Hot Seat
One person sits in the “hot seat”.
Need: A chair
Blanket Tying Night
Cut fringe around two layers of fleece and tie the strips together: no sewing needed.
Need: Fleece fabric, scissors, a sample no-sew blanket
Speed Friending
Sit facing a partner and answer a question card together for ninety seconds.
Need: Two rows of chairs facing each other, question cards
Prayer Board
Everyone writes prayer requests on sticky notes and puts them on the board.
Need: A whiteboard or corkboard, sticky notes
Send-Off
Each teen names their “mission field”: their school, team or job.
Need: Nothing
Unsung Heroes
List the people who serve behind the scenes at church: custodians, nursery workers, the sound team.
Need: Cards, pens
Grace or Works?
Read statements and decide as a group: “I’m good enough for God.” “Jesus plus church attendance saves me.” “Saved by grace through faith.”
Need: Bibles, statement cards
Kingdom Shark Tank
Lydia was a businesswoman. Teams invent a small business idea that also helps people in your town.
Need: Paper, markers
Fact-Check Challenge
Read sayings people think are in the Bible: “God helps those who help themselves.” “Money is the root of all evil.” “Cleanliness is next to godliness.”
Need: Bibles, a list of famous sayings
Culture Connect
Paul quoted the Athenians’ own poets. Pick a movie theme or song that asks a big question: about meaning, love or hope.
Need: Clean clips or lyrics the group knows, chosen by a leader
Just a Minute
A player draws a topic (pizza, Noah’s ark, socks) and must talk for sixty seconds without “um”, repeating a word, or pausing.
Need: Topic cards, a timer
Letters of Thanks
Think of a mentor, teacher or older believer who helped you grow.
Need: Paper, envelopes, pens
Speak Up
In small groups, read a scenario.
Need: Short scenario cards (a friend being bullied, an unsafe dare, someone talking about hurting themselves)
Courtroom
Assign roles: Paul, King Agrippa, Festus, Bernice and the court.
Need: Bibles open to Acts 26, simple costumes
Shipwreck Survival
Your ship has sunk. Each person ranks the items for survival, alone.
Need: A list of 15 items (rope, a flashlight, a mirror, chocolate, a Bible, a tarp…)
Welcome Crew
The people of Malta showed “no little kindness” to strangers.
Need: Paper, markers, snacks
Letters of Hope
Paul wrote letters from prison that still encourage people today.
Need: Cards, the address of a prison ministry or a missionary family
Human Knot
Stand in a tight circle and reach in. Take the hands of two different people across from you.
Need: Groups of eight to ten
The Love Chapter Challenge
Each day this week, practice one quality of love: patience on Monday, kindness on Tuesday…
Need: Index cards with the qualities from 1 Corinthians 13:4–7
Fruit Salad Social
Give each fruit a name from Galatians 5:22–23.
Need: Nine kinds of fruit, knives and boards for older teens, a big bowl
No-Complaining Challenge
Everyone wears a rubber band on one wrist for a week.
Need: A rubber band for each person
Interview an Elder
In pairs, interview an older believer: how they came to faith, a hard season, a verse that carried them.
Need: Older believers from your church who agree to be interviewed, question lists
Bridge Builders
Teams have ten minutes to build a paper bridge between the chairs.
Need: Paper, tape, two chairs a foot apart, a paperback book
Hall of Faith Draft
Teams take turns “drafting” heroes from Hebrews 11 for their team, like a sports draft.
Need: Bibles open to Hebrews 11, paper
Draw What John Saw
Read Revelation 1:12–16 slowly while everyone draws exactly what they hear.
Need: Paper, colored pencils, Bibles
Lead the Worship
In teams, plan a ten-minute worship time: a song, a Scripture reading (Revelation 5:11–13) and a prayer.
Need: Bibles, a speaker or instruments
Heaven’s Design Brief
Teams read Revelation 21:1–7 and 22:1–5 and list every detail.
Need: Bibles, big paper, markers
Time Capsule
Each person writes a letter about their life and faith right now, and a prayer for the future.
Need: A box, paper, pens, a few small items
The Blame Game
Small groups act out a quick scene where everyone blames someone else, like Adam blamed Eve and Eve blamed the serpent.
Need: Scenario cards
Deep Roots Challenge
Everyone agrees to read one psalm a day for a week (Psalms 1, 15, 19, 23, 27, 46, 121).
Need: A seven-day Bible reading plan, a group chat
Worry or Wonder Walk
Walk outside and photograph five things that show God’s care for creation.
Need: Phones for photos
Yarn Web
Stand in a circle. The first person holds the end of the yarn and tosses the ball to someone, saying one way that person helps them grow.
Need: A ball of yarn
Not My Will
Read Luke 22:39–46 together.
Need: Paper, pens, a shredder or a trash bag
Sunrise Gathering
Plan an early-morning meeting outside, like the women going to the tomb.
Need: A place to watch the sunrise, breakfast, a Bible
Straw Boat Race
Teams build a small boat in ten minutes that can carry a coin.
Need: Straws, tape, foil, a coin for the “baby”, a long tub of water
Excuses, Excuses
Teams get a scenario and sixty seconds to come up with the most creative excuse.
Need: Silly scenario cards (“You forgot to feed the class goldfish”)
Behold the Lamb
Match each Passover detail with Jesus: a lamb without blemish (1 Peter 1:19), not a bone broken (John 19:36), the blood that saves (Romans 5:9).
Need: Bibles, cards with Exodus 12 details
Daily Bread Bake
Bake bread together.
Need: Simple flatbread or quick-bread ingredients, a kitchen, an adult cook
Commandment Charades
Teams act out a commandment, showing what keeping it looks like today.
Need: Cards with the ten commandments
What’s Your Golden Calf?
Brainstorm modern “golden calves”: things people trust or love more than God (phones, popularity, money, sports).
Need: Paper, pens
Tabernacle Model
Using the measurements in Exodus, build a small scale model of the tabernacle and its courtyard.
Need: Bricks or cardboard, cloth, measurements from Exodus 26–27
At the Door
Read Genesis 4:6–7: sin lies at the door, but you must rule over it.
Need: Scenario cards about anger and jealousy
Rainmakers
Stand in a circle. The leader starts a motion and it passes around: rub hands, then snap, then pat legs, then stomp.
Need: A group of any size
Promise Wall
Teams search the Bible for God’s promises and write each one with its verse on a colored strip.
Need: Bibles, paper strips in rainbow colors, tape
Stargazing Night
Lie on blankets and find constellations with the app.
Need: A dark place, blankets, a star-map app
Pray for Your Town
Read Genesis 18:23–33: Abraham prayed for the city.
Need: A printed map of your town, sticky notes, pens
Jehovah-Jireh Wall
Each person writes a time God provided for them or their family.
Need: Cards, tape
Now or Later?
At the start, offer everyone one candy now, or three if they wait until the end of youth group.
Need: Wrapped candy
Peacemaker Practice
In pairs, read a scenario and act out two endings: one where you fight back, and one where you respond like Isaac.
Need: Scenario cards (someone takes credit for your work, a group chat turns mean)
Bethel Stones
Read Genesis 28:16–22: Jacob set up a stone to remember where God met him.
Need: Smooth stones, permanent markers
Peace Notes
Read Genesis 33:1–4.
Need: Paper, envelopes
Tie-Dye Night
Make tie-dye shirts: your own coat of many colors.
Need: White shirts, tie-dye kits, gloves, rubber bands, trash bags
Brothers’ Choices
Read Genesis 37:18–28 and list each brother’s choice: the plotters, Reuben, Judah.
Need: Bibles open to Genesis 37
Integrity Tower
Write integrity questions on the blocks: “When is it hardest to be honest?” “What would you do if no one would ever find out?”
Need: A stacking-block tower game with questions written on the blocks
Remember Them
Talk about people who feel forgotten.
Need: Cards, the names of shut-ins or nursing home residents from your church
Plenty and Famine
Each teen gets a weekly “income” for seven rounds, then seven rounds of lower income with surprise expenses.
Need: Play money, a simple “life events” card deck
Mystery Guest
The guest answers yes-or-no questions in a disguised voice.
Need: A guest from your church hidden behind a screen
Take Their Place
Read Genesis 44:33: Judah offered himself instead of Benjamin.
Need: Index cards
Mystery Puzzle
Teams race to finish the puzzle without knowing what it shows.
Need: A jigsaw puzzle for each team with no box picture; the finished puzzle shows Genesis 50:20 (print it and cut it up)
Blessing Night
Ahead of time, ask a parent or mentor of each teen to write them a blessing.
Need: Blessings written ahead of time by parents or mentors, sealed in envelopes
Pause Button
Read Exodus 2:11–15: Moses tried to help, but in his own way and in anger.
Need: Scenario cards
Courage Cards
Each person writes one fear on one side of a card: a class, a conversation, a decision.
Need: Index cards, pens
Pray Big
Read Joshua 10:12–14: “there was no day like that… that the LORD hearkened unto the voice of a man.”
Need: Paper, pens
Would You Rather
Play would-you-rather: everyone moves to a side of the room for each choice and one person from each side explains.
Need: A list of clean would-you-rather questions
Minefield
Pairs: one is blindfolded, the other guides them through the minefield by voice only.
Need: Blindfolds, soft objects scattered as “mines”
Guess the Sign
Show a sign; teams race to say what it means.
Need: Pictures of road signs, sign-language words and emojis
Friendship Bracelets
Make a bracelet for a friend, family member or someone who needs to know they matter.
Need: Embroidery thread, beads, tape
Prayer Journals
Decorate a notebook as a prayer journal.
Need: Notebooks, decorating supplies
Listening Lab
Phones away. Read 1 Samuel 3:1–10 slowly.
Need: Bibles, journals
Like Everybody Else
Play follow-the-leader with a weird pose, and watch how fast everyone copies.
Need: Nothing
Hidden Talents
List a few surprising talents and facts about leaders (juggling, a state championship, speaks three languages).
Need: Leaders with surprising talents, prepared ahead
Playlist Swap
Each person shares one worship song that has helped them in a hard time, and why.
Need: Phones, a speaker
Arrow Signals
Jonathan used arrows as a secret signal. Teams invent a set of secret signals.
Need: Paper, pens
Who Sits Alone?
Talk about who gets left out at your schools.
Need: Nothing
Proverbs Match
Shuffle the halves.
Need: Cards with the first and second halves of ten proverbs
Card Temple
Teams build the tallest “temple” they can out of cards.
Need: Decks of playing cards or index cards
Solo by the Brook
Spread out so everyone is alone.
Need: Journals, a quiet outdoor space
Give-First Bake
Bake together, but before anyone eats, bag up the first batch to give away.
Need: Simple cookie or muffin ingredients, a kitchen, bags and tags
Rest Night
Elijah was worn out, and God gave him food and sleep first.
Need: Snacks, blankets, soft music, Bibles
It Is Well
Tell the true story of Horatio Spafford, who wrote the hymn after losing his children at sea.
Need: The story of the hymn “It Is Well with My Soul”, a recording of it
Illusions Night
Show optical illusions one at a time and vote on what people see.
Need: Optical illusions on a screen or printed
Second-Chance Cornhole
Play cornhole where every player gets a second chance on any missed throw.
Need: Cornhole boards or buckets, bean bags
Ten-Day Challenge
Each person picks a ten-day challenge that honors God: no soda, Bible before phone, a kind word every day.
Need: Challenge cards
But If Not
Read Daniel 3:16–18 together.
Need: Index cards
Decode the Wall
Teams race to decode three messages written in a cipher.
Need: Messages in a simple cipher (letters shifted, symbols for letters), pens
Three-a-Day Prayer
Daniel prayed three times a day, even when it was against the law.
Need: Phones for alarms
For Such a Time
Read Esther 4:13–16.
Need: Paper, pens