Bible Games For Kids - Playing With Purpose
Let's not play games here or maybe we should! Let me clear this up. The games I like to play are Bible games with a purpose. If someone looks into my classroom during a kids Bible lesson they might think we are just playing around. This is only partly true. We are playing... but this playing has a definite purpose. Kids Bible games are part of the learning process. This process uses Bible games and activities that hit the Bible lesson from different angles and perspectives. Games and activities hit various learning styles too. The cool thing is that kids learn while having fun!
Games Teach That Church Is Fun
Do we really need to teach that? I mean, the church is a place to be quiet. You need to at all times be reverent and look pious. Uh, no... you don't, and especially not in the kids ministry area. I like noisy churches with lots of laughter and learning going on. It needs to be alive and on fire with the living, breathing, powerful word of God. I've seen a lot of churches over the years and this is one thing I don't compromise on. Kids Bible lessons should be exciting, captivating, encouraging and here is that word again...fun! They need to be full of Bible games, joy and laughter! Kids learn through play with a purpose. Bible games teach that even though you are in church, you can have fun too.
Lesson Review
I use Bible games for kids to reinforce what was taught in the Bible story. Here are some ideas that have been kid tested and found fun and effective:
* Play a card matching game similar to concentration using images from your Bible lesson. Make two cards of each image and turn the cards so the image can't be seen. Kids try to make matches from the cards. For instance a Bible lesson on creation would have images of trees, animals, fruit, etc. Yeah this isn't new but kids really like it. A simple game like this works even for the youngest kids so it is perfect for multiage groups.
* Turn over the letter card. Kids take turns guessing and turning over the letters to reveal the name of a character in the Bible story, a main point or the Bible memory verse. The idea is to guess the proper letters to reveal the word. This is an example of another tried and true Bible game that works great.
* Use a deck of cards with questions to quiz the kids on the Bible lesson. Take it up a notch and display the questions using PowerPoint. Play as teams or as a large group. My experience is that kids pay attention for a longer period of time when they know the information will be used in a Bible game for review.
Kids Apply the Lesson
Application is one of the most important benefits of Bible games for kids. Take some creativity liberty, explore the kids Bible lesson and choose an important aspect of it to apply. Let's say your Bible story is about being filled with God's love, compassion or the fruit of the Spirit. Make a masking tape heart on the floor. Kids roll marbles or pitch paper wads into the heart to fill it up.
I did a lesson on water baptism. I put toy figures on a plastic plate and floated the plate in a pan of water. The kids pitched coins into the plate to immerse or baptize the figures. They still talk about this one and ask to play it again. I found out later that some kids had anxieties about being immersed in baptism. This simple, fun Bible game eased their anxiety about baptism. Bible games for kids are playing with purpose. Pray and ask the Holy Spirit to help you create games that apply the kids Bible lesson.
Fun for the Fun of It
Kids are being forced to grow up fast, sometimes too fast. 4th and 5th graders are like 7th and 8th graders a few years ago. Often kids are pressured to act older and be cool. Kids need a time to relax, have fun and act like kids! Yeah, I believe in Bible games for kids and playing with purpose. But, I also believe that just allowing kids to be kids serves an important purpose too!
Questions and Answers
Do you remember when you were a kid? How did it feel to walk into a new Sunday School class for the first time? It's not fun, especially for shy or very young children who aren't used to separating from their parents. Separation isn't easy and it's sure not fun for the kids, parents or teachers. Children's church lesson icebreakers can ease a kid into the flow of the class. A simple fun game or activity can engage kids and help them to relax.
I will be honest with you. I was not a big fan of Bible memory verses when I first began to create and teach children's church lessons. I resisted adding memory verse activities into lessons I created. Don't misunderstand me, Bible memorization is absolutely important for kids. My only stipulation is that kids need to have fun while they learn the Bible verses!
What's involved in creating fun Bible lessons for kids? Can you do it yourself? Yes, but don't! You'll find out why in the 3 keys that I share with you in this article. Let's get started!
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What's involved in creating fun Bible lessons for kids? Can you do it yourself? Yes, but don't! You'll find out why in the 3 keys that I share with you in this article. Let's get started!
Yeah, it happens all too often. People are just way over booked and stretched to the limit. They've worked all week and they're spent. The reality is that there isn't much you can do about it. Volunteers are the heart of the church. These aren't paid workers and you have to live with that fact. So... how do you deal with a teacher who can't make it? And to make things worse, you don't even know it until Sunday morning!
Yes, at one time felt boards and overhead projectors were all the rage when presenting your Bible lessons for children. But, unless you have a toddler, preschool, or kindergarten class, I recommend you take a look at some other methods. Believe me, I worked for years with little to no budget in kids ministry. Work technology in as you can. Use what you have to the fullest. But, as I am about to show you, it isn't always expensive and sometimes it's even free!
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