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Throw Away Your Sins Idea by Jonathan Miller A different spin on an old children’s game with a Christian life application Preparation: Crumple the sheets of paper into balls according to the number of children in the room. Then divide the children in to two teams, and have them stand at opposite sides of the room. Mark the center of the floor with masking tape to separate each team. Then have each child pick up one paper ball. What you will do: In this game, the paper balls represent sin, and the kids will pretend to throw these sins away. However, as they throw them away, the kids on the other side of the room are throwing more back. Each team will throw the balls (sins) to the opposite side and keep throwing any that come back. After about 30 seconds of throwing, the team that has the least number of balls on their side will be the winner. Then switch the teams around and play again. What you will say: When we accept Jesus in our lives, he gives us the strength and help we need to get rid of all our sins. However, being a Christian does not mean we are completely free of sins. Sometimes there are temptations, such as envy, anger, disobedience, and other garbage of which we need to be aware. These come in different forms and ways, to turn our eyes away from Jesus. We know what these sins are and when they come our way, we need to throw them away.

The Price is Right? by Craig Children guess the price of several items and discover the real price for Heaven. Preparation: Purchase 8 items, or find inexpensive items from around the house, like a bottle of lotion, mirror, sponge, candy bar, box of soap, etc. Give each item a value (price) close to the actual cost and write it down in black ink on one side of a large index card. On the other side in red ink, write down an estimated amount that is either slightly higher or slightly lower than the actual price. Try to have about half of the estimated amounts higher, and half lower. Fold the index cards into tents so the red estimated amounts are showing. Make a card for the Bible also, with the actual value being what the Bible may have actually cost, and the estimated amount slightly higher. Then make a card for the heaven poster, with the actual value being $0 and the estimated amount $10,000. Display all 10 items in a row on a table with the Bible in the 9th spot and Heaven in the 10th spot as shown in the following example: What you will do: Pair up the kids, or make small teams and give each team a tally sheet. (You can also do this individually, but the kids will have more fun working together) As you point to the first item, have the kids decide if the price shown is higher or lower than the actual price. Have them check the box accordingly on their tally sheet. Once they have made their choice, turn over the card to show the actual price and see if they got it right. Do the same for the rest of the items, one by one, as the kids keep score. Ham it up as a game show host might do, describing each item, etc. Have the kids guess if the actual price of the Bible is higher or lower, but before revealing the actual price, stop to see how well the kids are doing so far. Ask if any team got eight correct, seven, six, etc. Then turn over the Bible price. Whether the kids said the actual price is higher or lower doesn’t really matter. Explain that even a Bible has a price, and can be bought. Last, have them guess if the actual price for Heaven is higher or lower than $10,000. The price of Heaven is important. Tell the children not to consider only the poster, but Heaven being the real thing. Most likely, some of the teams will guess that the price of heaven is higher, much higher than $10,000. Some adults may too. As you turn over the card to reveal the actual price of $0, explain how Heaven is absolutely free. Not even one hundred thousand million dollars can buy heaven. Did anyone get that right? Give a special treat to anyone who did.

The Missing Commandment by Len This memory challenge will test the children's skills by having them identify a missing commandment.When they finally do, it will be a real treat. Preparation: Before class, print out the Ten Commandments Sheet and make enough copies for each child in the class. Cut these copies into strips with one commandment on each strip and put the sets into separate envelops. Then remove one of the strips from each envelope and glue or fasten one end to a piece of candy or a treat. This is the Missing Commandment. What you will do: At the end of the day's lesson, show the children all the treats. Tell them the only way to get their treat is to complete a little challenge. Give each child an envelope with the nine remaining commandments, a piece of colored construction paper and a glue stick. Instruct them to glue the commandments down in order on the construction paper, but to make sure and leave a space for the missing commandments. After they have glued on the nine commandments, they can come to you and identify the missing commandment. If they can find this missing commandment among the treats, which they will, then the treat is theirs. They can take the treat, and glue the missing commandment on to their project. This challenge can be completed with or without referring to their Bibles, depending on their knowledge of the Ten Commandments.

The Great Book Challenge by Mike Game of wits, skill and maybe just a little luck. (Team play) Materials: A list of the books of the Bible, Candy bar Certificate or ribbons What you will do: Have a standing challenge to each member of the class, that if they can recite the books of the bible in order they will win a candy bar and a certificate. As time permits through out the year, allow any child wanting to try the challenge a few moments to complete the challenge. You can create a certificate on a computer or you can buy them relatively cheaply at a stationary store. Or you can award a ribbon for doing a great job. What you will say: Today I offer up a challenge to every individual in this class. It is the "Great Book Challenge." This offer will be good through out the entire year. You can try as many times as you like to complete this challenge, but you may complete it only once. To win the "Great Book Challenge" you must be able to recite, from memory, all the books of the Bible in order. If you win this challenge, I will give you a candy bar, and a certificate (or ribbon) to show that you were indeed up to the challenge. You will also win a prize that is far more valuable. You see, by studying God's word you are on your way to storing up knowledge and wisdom that will last for eternity.

Quick Change Artist by Craig A game of fashion, speed, and spiritual renewal. Materials: 2 Old large shirts 2 sock hats 2 pairs large gloves What you will do: Form two teams with an even number of kids. If you have an odd number of kids, one can be the referee. Otherwise, the teacher can be the referee. Line up the teams at one end of the room and place a set of clothing for each team at the other end of the room. This is a race where each member of the team first puts on all the clothes, then quickly takes them off so the next person in the team can put them on. The team with the last person putting on the clothes first is the winner. The referee is also important, because they will decide if the player has successfully put on the articles of clothing. Until the referee says OK, the next player in the team cannot begin. What you will say: You all did a great job at being quick-change artists. However, what you wear outside is not nearly as important as what you are like inside. Jesus is our Spiritual quick-change artist. He can change us on the inside and in no time at all. The Bible points the way to salvation in Jesus Christ. When we receive Jesus into our heart, He changes us immediately into new beings. We are born again to walk a new and changed, Spirit filled life.