Youth Ministry Object Lesson - Spiritual Hoopla

Is the excitement of serving God a whole lot of Hoopla – unnecessary excitement and fuss? These games using Hula Hoops are sure to create excitement but can also be used to create discussion on living as a Christian youth within God’s boundaries.

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Games using Hula Hoops

NOTE: If you can’t find hula hoops, plastic tubing can be shaped into a circle and secured with duct tape. For some of the games a circle of rope will also work.

• Antigravity Hula Hoops – 5-10 youth form a circle, putting their hands out in front of them parallel to the floor – index finger extended (as in a kid making a gun). Tell them you will be placing a hula hoop on their fingers and everyone’s index fingers must stay in contact with the hula hoop. The task is to lower the hula hoop to the floor. It will inevitably go up immediately. The only way this works is if they remain calm and there is no blame.
• Hula Hoop Hand Tag – Choose one player to be “It” and 4 additional players for each hoop. Have “It” stand in the center of the Hula-Hoop and the other players outside the circle. The players alternate holding the Hula-Hoop first with one hand and then the other while “It” tries to tap a hand. Those on the outside try to avoid being tapped. The game is over if players drop the hoop. Three rules: 1) the holders must each have one hand on the hoop at all times, 2)the person who is “It” cannot tag a hand that has been lifted from the hoop, and 3) whenever a person is tagged, he or she becomes “It.”
• Hula Hoop Stuff – How many youth can get at least part of their bodies into a Hula Hoop? Count fingers, toes, ears-whatever. Better yet, how many youth can fit inside a Hula Hoop so that their bodies don’t touch the ground outside the hoop?
• Hula Hoop Tag – Spread a few Hula hoops around the ground. The hoops are safe zones where youth cannot be tagged. The idea is to run between the safe havens without getting tagged. Set a time limit on how long people can stay in the safe zones, and make sure you have plenty of space between the hoops.
• Hula Relay – Each youth on a team must take a Hula Hoop and hula while walking or running to a certain point 20 feet or so from the team and back. If the Hula Hoop drops, the player must stop, get the hoop going again, and continue. First team to finish wins.
• Hula Slide Relay – Put the youth in groups of up to four and have each group step inside a Hula Hoop. The youth must move their hoop on the ground from one point to the other. If someone trips and steps out of the hoop, the team has to start over from the beginning.
• Hula Tangled – Gather the participants in a circle and make them hold hands right at the center. Let one person wear the hula hoop on the arm. Without letting go, youth must pass the ring to one another, until it comes back to the person who first had it. Variation: do it without talking.
• Keep the Hula Hoops Up – Every youth needs their own hula hoop. The goal is to keep the hula hoops spinning as possible using the traditional method of swinging it around the waist. A youth is out of the game when their hula hoop completely hits the floor. The last person with their hula hoop moving wins the game. This can also be played in teams.
• Lava Flow – Scatter hula hoops around in a large open space. Everyone playing has found out that the floor has become covered in lava, but only when the leader calls out “lava flow.” In the meantime, the youth are supposed to wander around the room. When “lava flow, 3-2-1” is called, the players need to find shelter inside a hula hoop before the countdown ends. As time goes on, the leader removes hula hoops and the game gets more and more difficult as there are more people per hoop. Feet must touch the ground inside the hoops to be safe and everyone must be safe in order for anyone to win.
• Lion tamer – Youth step through a hoop that get’s progressively higher off the ground – It is similar to limbo but keeps getting higher rather than lower.
• Musical Hoops – This has the same basic rules as the traditional game of musical chairs except no one is ever out. Spread hula-hoops on the floor and play lively, fun music. As you remove the hoops, let the group know that no one is out. Let them figure out that they may share the hoops in order to remain playing. It’s fun to see how many people can share a hoop.
• Sharks – Hula Hoops represent islands. Everyone mills around the sea until SHARKS is called out – then everyone has to get onto an island (in a hoop) to be safe, anyone not on the island is eaten by a shark and so out of the game. Remove islands at your pleasure forcing more and more people out of the game until you have a champ!
• Simon Says – Play traditional Simon Says, but using the hula hoop as a prop. “Simon says• jump in/out of the hula hoop, lift it over your head, put your hand in the hoop, balance it on your foot, etc..”
• Shoes in a Hula-Hoop – You’ll need 4 or more hula-hoops depending on the number of groups you want to have. Each group is given one Hula Hoop. The 4th hula-hoop is placed in the middle of the room and all of the participant’s shoes are placed inside of it. Announce: “The purpose of the game is to have ALL of the ping pong balls in your hula-hoop.” On “go” all the youth will scramble to collect as many shoes as possible. In the midst of the chaos, the leader will stop the game and send people back to their groups to deliberate on how to better capture all the shoes. Continue the game as before. After a while, stop the game again and mention teamwork, and the need to join forces in order to have all the shoes in one’s hoop. The answer to the game is that all of the teams put their hula-hoops together, on top of the Shoe filled hula hoop in the middle of the room.
• Up, Down, Under, Over – This hula hoop game is also for a group of players. Have three or four youth stand inside a large hoop, holding it up at waist level without using their hands. Challenge them to lift the hoop up to their necks or down to their ankles – hands-free. Or, see if they can get the whole group from inside the hoop to outside, without grabbing the hoop or letting it touch the floor.

Main Game – Hula Hoop Circle
Ask the youth to stand in a big circle, slip a hula hoop onto one youth’s arm, and have them all join hands. They then must find a way to move the hula hoop all the way around the circle without letting go of each other’s hands.
Basic rules:

1. The object of the game is to pass he hoop around the circle as quickly as possible.
2. Youth may not let go of the hands they are holding at any time. If they lose their grip or let go, the hula Hoop must start back at the beginning again.
3. Fingers cannot be used to grip or move the Hula Hoop
4. The youth must remain in a circle. Players bend and twist their bodies through the hoop to get it around the circle.
5. The fastest group wins.

Important Notes:

1. Glasses may sometimes fall off and break so those youth wearing glasses need to remove them before the game starts.
2. Make sure the hula hoop you use is big enough for everyone in the group to fit through so that there are no awkward moments for larger sized youth.
3. Youth should be in generally good shape as some flexibility and balance will be needed to complete the task.

Youth may question whether this challenge is possible, but assure them that it can be done. Repeat the process until the team is satisfied with their time and their system. Generally, groups get it down to less than 2 minutes. The people directly involved work together to fit their body into the hoop and those waiting for the hoop to get to them, watch, give suggestions and encourage. Once it has made it around the circle, the task is complete.
Variations:

1. Provide two Hoops for each team. Start the Hoops in the same location but ask the group to pass one in a clockwise direction and the other in a counterclockwise direction. When they get to the midway point there is usually some confusion.
2. Time the group as they pass the hoop to see how long it takes them to get it all the way around. Allow another attempt to break the “record”.
3. Try to do it as one big group.
4. Ask players to stand with their back toward center of the circle.
5. Ask the youth to complete the task without talking or while blindfolded.
6. Do it sitting down
7. They have to pass it 2 persons at a time, 3 at a time?

TAKE IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL

MAKE IT SPIRITUAL

Have you ever heard of the phrase “Jumping through Hoops”? Know what it means?
“Jumping though hoops” has typically meant “going to great lengths” or “much effort” in order to accomplish something.

People jump through hoops on a regular basis. Either to fulfill some kind of requirement to gain acceptance into a group, to meet some kind of standard to satisfy others, to follow some set of rules.

1. What are some of the hoops in your life that you have had to jump through?
2. Are there hoops we jump through as Christians? In the church? In the youth group?
3. What are the expectations for each of these groups?
4. Are these hoops good or bad? Explain.
5. Do some people have more to deal with than others? If so, why?
6. Are hoops necessary? What hoops would you add/remove from/to your life if you could?
7. What is the purpose of rules and expectations? How are they useful / harmful?

MAKE IT PRACTICAL

In the Old Testament, the people of God went to great lengths to be accepted by God. To be accepted by God required jumping through a lot of hoops – following a long list of God given laws, and requirements in order to be accepted by God. To make matters worse, by human standards, it was impossible to be accepted by God, because the hoops were beyond the ability of the people. And on top of that, tradition added even more rules and expectations so that by the time Christ had his encounters with the Pharisees, it was an even more impossible burden.

“They tie up heavy, cumbersome loads and put them on other people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them.” (Matthew 23:4)

I wonder if any of these hoops sound familiar? Christians must not drink. They must not smoke. They must dress appropriately (according to a myriad of opinions of what is proper). They must be timid, and peaceful and submit when others want to walk over them. Youth cannot have tattoos, or earrings, or unnatural colors in their hair. You must be in church every time the doors are open. You must give to every cause. You must put on a smile even though you are deeply hurting and tired and weary. The list goes on… We sing about grace, yet are quick to condemn, proclaim the blood of Christ in forgiveness, yet hold grudges, preach of freedom in Christ, but add a plethora of rules and expectations. The Bible is full of imperfect people resting in the loving care of a perfect God, many of which would never be allowed in any kind of public position in the church of today. But is a list of rules what defines the Christian? What does define a person as a Christian?

A look at Ephesians 2:1-10 and Romans 5:6-8 makes it clear that Christ loved us and died for us even though we were ungodly, sinful, and dead in our trespasses. We were unworthy, yet God reached out to us.

“Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.” (Luke 9:23)

MAKE IT PERSONAL

1. What are some of the things that you do simply for show?
2. In what ways do you conform to expectations?
3. How can you personally focus more on the relationships rather than the rules and expectations?

Most people would prefer to follow a bunch of rules, to “jump through hoops” as it were, than to actually give up their own lives and follow Christ. Yet Jesus did not call us to a set of rules, but to a relationship. He asked people to take up their cross and follow Him. But it’s so much easier to carry a hoop than a cross.

“Come to Me, all you who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30)
More Spiritual Lessons from Hula Hoops:

• A circle is a symbol of eternity. It has no beginning and no end.
• Staying in your hula hoop can represent minding your own business and protecting your boundaries.
• We are only responsible for the things God places in our circle of influence.
• When we are properly focused on our own lives, our energy is used to keep our hula-hoop spinning. When we drop it and step out to try to control someone else’s life, our life suffers.
• Will you trust God to take care of the stuff that is outside of your hula-hoop?
• God is inside with us at all times
• In hula hoop you have to find a rhythm to keep it going. We must understand that God has a perfect rhythm set up for our lives. Pushing ahead too fast or lazily moving breaks that rhythm and things fall apart.
• It takes energy to get started
• Momentum helps it keep it going

SCRIPTURE

• “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” – Matthew 11:28-30
• “Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.”- Luke 9:2
• “They tie up heavy, cumbersome loads and put them on other people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them.” – Matthew 23:4
• “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”- Ephesians 2:8-10
• “You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” – Romans 5:6-8

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Youth Ministry Object Lesson - Spiritual Tag

Our spiritual walk is in many ways like a game of tag. There are three key components to any game of tag: 1) You chase or pursue 2) You flee or run away 3) People get tagged. Spiritually, because of our disobedience to God we are tagged as sinners. And like those in the game we are stuck in our current position and unable to break ourselves free. Only when Jesus frees us are we able to be truly free. Unfortunately, sin often touches our lives again and we find ourselves back in the same condition. Because of this the Bible gives us a number of things we should flee. But at the same time it gives us things we should chase after, things we must pursue. So are you ready for a game of tag?

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Games of Tag

• Amoeba Tag – Begin with two youth who hold hands and chase the rest of the participants. Any person they catch joins the chain by linking hands to form a bigger circle. When another person is caught the whole group can stay together as one or split into two circles with 2 youth in each circle. Amoeba’s can only split on on even numbers and can link together back together any time. Play the game until no one is left or award the last person as the greatest survivor!
• Back to Back Tag – Two youth hold join one set of hands and then try to tag any other player using only their free hands. When they tag someone, that person joins onto them by holding hands. You’ll eventually have a long line of youth holding hands with a person on each end with a free hand. Remember, they can only tag someone with the free hands on each end. Players can make themselves safe from being tagged by finding another youth and standing back to back with them. The maximum time they can stand back to back is 10 seconds and then they can be tagged again. The game continues until everyone is tagged.
• Bandage Tag – When tagged you must cover your “wound” with one of your hands. When you get tagged a second time, you must cover your “wound with your remaining hand. The third time you are tagged, you are out. In another variation, whatever limb is tagged becomes numb and you cannot use it and must keep it straight. If you ran out of forearms, shoulders, and legs, you have to lie there, until someone tags you and then you are completely out of the game. Variation: Two other people come over to a person who is injured and “operate.” The two other people need to tag the frozen person at the same time and count to five and the other person is fully healed.
• Bump Tag – Have each youth buddy up with a partner and spread out in pairs. One person is it and another is the runner. While being chased, the runner can go up to another pair of buddies, and “bump” one person by grabbing an arm on either side of the pair who is holding hands. The other buddy then is released from that pair, and becomes the new person being chased. If the person who is IT tags the RUNNER, they immediately switch roles, and the original runner now tries to catch the original “it.”
• Bumper Tag – You can play any variation of tag, but instead of tagging other youth with your hands, you must tag with your hips. Only a small bump is allowed to avoid injuries.
• Cooperation Tag – In this variation of tag, whoever is it, chases people and tries to tag them. But a person is safe from being tagged if they are holding a special object (one or more rubber chickens or some other unusual object works great!) if anyone is tagged and is not holding the special object they become it and the game continues.
• Cyclops tag – Everyone has to play tag with one hand covering an eye.
• Dead Ant – When someone is tagged, that youth must lay down with both hands and feet sticking straight up, like a dead ant. But the youth can bring a dead ant back to life by have four people each taggin one of the outstretched limbs. Once someone has been a dead ant 3 times they become “it”. It is possible to have multiple people become “it” which adds another dimension to the game because it becomes confusing who you need to run from.
• Dragons Tail – Split the youth into teams of six to eight persons who will form a dragon by hanging on to the waist of the person in front of them. The object of the game is for the head on one dragon who has his.her hands free to tag the tail of another dragon. The rest of the people in the team try to protect the tail without letting go of the person’s waist in front of them. If a dragon breaks they are out. if a tail is tagged that team is out.
• Everybody’s it – Proclaim, “everybody’s it!” in an open space and the participants begin trying to tag others, while avoiding getting tagged. If someone is tagged they must sit down where they are. Once sitting down, they can extend their arms and try to tag those left running around. If they manage to do so they can join back in the game. If two person’s tag another person at the same time, they both must sit down.
• Freeze Tag – This common game of tag, forces a person to freeze in place, when tagged. Other people who are not frozen can unfreeze a person by tagging them.
• Giants, Wizards and Elves – Split the youth group up into 2 teams. You will also need a safe area for each team with a no man’s zone in the middle. Each team huddles up and picks what they want to be as a team, a giant, a wizard or an elf. Giants put their hands up over their heads making them taller, wizards put their hands our straight in front of them wiggling their fingers, and elves make pointy ears on their head with their pointer fingers. One a team has decided, they line up face to face with the other team in the middle area, then on a count of 3, everyone does whatever action their team picked. Giants beat elves, elves beat wizards and wizards beat giants. The winning team chases the other and tries to tag as many members on the other team as possible before they reach the safety zone. Anyone who is tagged becomes a part of the other team until everyone is on one team.
• Heads and Tails – Make a Giant coin from a frisbee, paper plane or garbage can lid. mark it so that it is clear which side is heads and which side is tails. This is played like Giants Wizards and Elves but one team is heads and the other is tails. Whoever wins the toss chases the other team to tag them.
• Hug Tag – This is your classic tag game with one exception, people are only safe if they are hugging someone else. You can only remain in a hugged position for 5 seconds.
• Loose Caboose – Split the class into teams of 3 or 4 youth. Select 1-3 players to each be a “Loose Caboose.” (these players will be playing as individuals and do not have a team at the start of the game). The teams of four form a train by placing their hands on the hips of the player in front of them. On the signal, each “Loose Caboose” will attempt to run and latch on the back of another train (the trains are trying to keep this from happening). If a “Loose Caboose” is successful in latching on to a train, the engine (front person) must leave the train and become the new “Loose Caboose” and attempt to join onto a new train. You can play this game for a given time period and not worry about winners.
• Meltdown Tag – Whenever a youth is tagged, they must begin to “melt down” by slowly lowering themselves to the ground over the time period of ten seconds. If they are touched by another player before they reach the ground they are free. If they melt all the way to the ground then they become another “it”. Play continues until only one person is left.
• Secret Tag – Call three youth to the front and whisper a position in the ear of each person. One person is “It”, another is “normal”, and another person is “the doctor” who can rescue those who are tagged to put them back into the game.
• Slow Motion Tag – Ask each player in the group to find their own personal space within the boundary area. Make sure there is enough room so no one is able to take one step towards someone and tag them. Every time you call out “step” every player moves ONE of their feet in any direction they want. The objective here is to tag other players any where below the neck. When tagged, you must sit down right where you are to become an “ankle biter.” Ankle biters can only tag others below the knee. Play down to the last two players.
• Toilet Tag – When someone is tagged, they must squat down to form the “toilet” and hold one hand out to the side, like the “handle”. To get back into the game, someone must “flush” the frozen person and make a loud “Woooooosh” sound.
• Triangle Tag – Begin with groups of four to five people in small groups and one person alone who is “it.” Within each group one person is chosen to be in the center and the others hold hands and form a circle around the chosen one. When play begins, the person who is “it” will try to identify and tag the person inside a circle. The other players will twist and turn to try to protect the person in the middle from being tagged. The circle must always remain intact. If the protected person gets tagged, everyone changes groups and the tagged person becomes it.
• Tunnel Tag – Whenever someone gets tagged, they become frozen until someone, who has not been tagged, crawls through their legs.
• Watch-Your-Back – The object of the game is to tag as many people as you can without getting tagged yourself. When tagged drop one knee and freeze. But if the youth who tagged you gets tagged you can get up and start tagging again.

TAKE IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL

There are three key components to any game of tag:

1. You chase or pursue
2. You flee or run away
3. People get tagged

MAKE IT SPIRITUAL
In life, we may sometimes be pursued or chased and at other times we may be doing the pursuing.

• What are some things that we pursue in life?
• What are some things we flee?
• What are some things that we get tagged with?

Verses

• In 2 Timothy 2:22 we read “Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.”
• 1 Timothy 6:9-11 – “Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness.”

Tagged – In many tag games, once you are tagged you are either out of the game or stuck until someone frees you. As God’s creation we’ve also been tagged – not by a person, but by our actions. Because of our disobedience to God we are tagged as sinners. And like those in the game we are stuck in our current position and unable to break ourselves free from the oppressions in our lives. Only when Jesus frees us are we able to be truly free. Unfortunately, sin often touches our lives again and we find ourselves back in the same condition. Jesus says, “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” (John 8:31-36) True freedom comes from being set free by Jesus Christ. True freedom is freedom to be myself as God made me and meant me to be. This freedom comes only when we completely surrender ourselves to Jesus and invite Him to be our Lord and Master of our life.

• I John 5:8 – “We know that no one who is born of God sins; but He who was born of God keeps him, and the evil one does not touch him.”

Flee – In tag games, you must flee. In these games we flee from someone who is “it”. James 4:7 says “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” So when we pursue God and resist the devil we need not flee. In fact he will flee from us. But the scriptures are also full of things we should flee from so we are not touched again by sin.
Here are some of the things the Bible says we should flee

• Fornication (1 Corinthians 6:18)
• Idolatry (1 Corinthians 10:14)
• Love of money (Mammon) (1 Timothy 6:11)
• Youthful lusts (2 Timothy 2:22)
• All appearances of evil (I Thessalonians 5:22 TLB)

Pursue – Another aspect of tag, is that when you are chosen to be it, you must chase after others. Scripture also gives us some things we should pursue.
Here are some of the things the Bible says we should pursue.

• Love – 1 Corinthians 14:1
• Peace – 1 Peter 3:11; Psalms 34:14
• Righteousness, piety, faith, love, endurance, meekness – 1 Timothy 6:11
• Righteousness, faith, love, and peace – 2 Timothy 2:22
• Peace, Holiness – Hebrews 12:14
• Prize – Philippians 3:12-14
• Righteousness – Proverbs 15:9; Romans 9:30-32; Isaiah 51:1
• Peace, Things that build others up – Romans 14:19
• To Know God – Hosea 6:3

MAKE IT PRACTICAL

• Which of those things we are told to pursue do people find difficult? Why?
• What stops people from pursuing these things of God?
• When you think about your relationship with God – faith, endurance, righteousness, piety and holiness, how do you think you measure up?

MAKE IT PERSONAL

• What are you currently pursuing?
• How can you direct that pursuit in a way that is honoring to God?
• In what areas does your life – thoughts, attitudes, actions – need improvement?

SCRIPTURE

• “Pursue love, yet desire earnestly spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.” – 1 Corinthians 14:1 (NASB)
• “They must turn from evil and do good; they must seek peace and pursue it.” – 1 Peter 3:11 (NIV)
• “But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness.” – 1 Timothy 6:11 (NIV)
• “Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.” – 2 Timothy 2:22
• “Pursue peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord.” – Hebrews 12:14 (NASB)
• “Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” – Philippians 3:12-14 (NIV)
• “What then shall we say? That the Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have obtained it, a righteousness that is by faith; but the people of Israel, who pursued the law as the way of righteousness, have not attained their goal. Why not? Because they pursued it not by faith but as if it were by works. They stumbled over the stumbling stone.” – Romans 9:30-32 (NIV)
• “So then we pursue the things which make for peace and the building up of one another.” – Romans 14:19 (NASB)
• “Let us know, Let us pursue the knowledge of the Lord. His going forth is established as the morning; He will come to us like the rain, Like the latter and former rain to the earth.” – Hosea 6:3 (NKJV)

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Youth Ministry Object Lesson - Volleyball Christians

A common summer game is beach volley. But you don’t have to be at the beach to enjoy the sport. You don’t even have to be outside. Besides the official rules, there are also an infinite number of variations and other games that use the volleyball net, ball and court. And after you have played a game, there’s a lesson on what it means to be filled with the things of God so he can use you for the purpose he created you for.

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Volleyball variations
NOTE: If you want to make these games a little less intimidating and a bit easier, use a beach ball to replace the volleyball.

• All Hit Volleyball – This game follows the rules of volleyball, except; every group member must hit the ball before it goes back over the net to the other team.
• Ball Over – Divide the playing area in half with a line in the sand, a piece of string, or with markers on the side of the field. Teams are placed on each side and are not allowed to cross over to the other team’s side. Blindfold one youth and provide him with a whistle. When the whistle is blown play begins. The blindfolded youth can blow the whistle whenever he pleases. The object of the game is to keep the ball in the opposing team’s territory. One point is counted against the side that has the ball whenever the whistle is blown. The lowest score wins. For variation, have four or five players touch the ball before it can be returned to the other side. Or create a ‘no-man’s land’ along the dividing line. Teams, in getting the ball over, must bounce it into ‘no-man’s land’.
• Double Dipped Volleyball – Start with two teams each on a side. These teams begin hitting the ball back and forth over the net. when they are ready to begin, they yell “start”. from that point on, when a player from one side hits the ball to the other, she must dash under the net to the other side. Every time a player hits the volleyball over the net they must dash under the net to the other team.
• Battle Ships – This is like the board Game ‘Battle ships’ where you have to try and sink all the opposing team’s boats. First, you need a divider of sorts, about the height or a volleyball net or higher, so that each side cannot see the other (eg. a rope tied at each side of the hall and a large sheet draped over it or big boards put up in between). Next, have each side find a spot where they are not allowed to move from. When the game starts, each side is given a volleyball and then proceeds to try and hit the other team with the ‘bomb shells'(balls). If someone is hit with the ball, catches it or moves from their spot, then they sit to the side until the game is over. Note: each side needs people (runners) to fetch the ball once it has bounced and give it back to the Ships.
• Bounce Volleyball – This is played just like normal volleyball, but the ball is allowed to bounce on the ground once before it is returned to the other side.
• Chair Pass Ball – Divide the youth into two teams. A firm chair is placed at either end of the room or a designated outdoor playing area as a goal for each team. A person from each team stands on a chair as goalkeeper. The volleyball may only be passed from hand to hand. To score a goal, it must be thrown to the team member on the chair and caught by him. No running with the ball is allowed. Players are also not allowed to snatch the ball from other players. Change the goalkeeper after each goal is scored.
• Challenge Volleyball – Allow the team who is serving to call a name of a person on the other team who would be out if the serving team won a point. Upon winning the point on a serve the person called is out. The team continues to call names and knock out players until the serve is lost. The other team upon gaining the serve may call back the lost players or knock out some of the other teams. This brings great intensity to a game, and a team may get down to one player and come back to win. We still play to 15. The players picked on are the athletic players and the less athletic can become the heroes. To play a quick game don’t allow knocked out players to be called back in.
• Crazy Volleyball – Play Volleyball with four hits per side and a bounce on the ground considered a hit (it cannot hit the ground two times in a row). This makes it so anyone can have a chance of doing well with the added one bounce.
• Island Volleyball – The objective of this game is to keep the ball in the air and off the ground for as long as possible. All players must have at least one foot inside a hoop at all times. Once a player has put a foot inside a hoop, he/she cannot change hoops until the next round. Any player within a hoop may hit the ball, but two players from the same hoop may not hit the ball consecutively. If players from the same hoop make consecutive hits, the score returns to zero. If a player steps out of a hoop during play, the score returns to zero. You may not hit the ball back to the hoop from which it came. Penalty – Score returns to zero. Scoring: Total number of consecutive hits before the ball hits the ground. If you don’t have a hoop, you can use circles of rope.
• Maximum Score Volleyball – Instead of scoring a single point as with normal volleyball, the score is determined by the number of times the ball goes across the net to the other team. The normal rules of volleyball still apply.
• No Jump Volleyball – Play a normal game of volleyball, but no one is allowed to jump before hitting the ball.
• One Sided Volleyball – In this volleyball variation, all the youth start on one side of the volleyball net and no one is on the other side. The objective is to get everyone to the other side. Someone on the team hits the ball up to another player and then crosses under the net to the the other side. Every time someone hits the ball, they move to the other side. The last person hits the ball over the next and then the game begins again on the other side. Each time the team entirely crosses over they get a point. Anytime the ball hits the ground, play must start over, with people who haven’t touched the ball yet going first.
• Sitting Volleyball – Using the rules and set up for volleyball along with a net set up inside. Place chairs in volleyball layout on each side of net. Have people sit in the chairs and using belts or some rope tie each person into the chair (going under the chair and over the persons lap). Then play volleyball.
• Switch Sides Volleyball – This game follows the same rules as volleyball except that players rotate to the other team rather than to their same team. People become much less concerned about the score and more concerned about having fun, which is the entire point anyway.
• Walleyball – In this indoor version of volleyball, set up volleyball net or a rope across the room so the top of the net is about 5 feet above the floor. (Choose a room with nothing breakable. Teams should be 20-25 youth per team as they must sit on the floor with their legs crossed in front of them. Because they cant’t move, you need to fill the play area with as many people as possible. Don’t worry about how many hits per side. For safety you may wish to use a beach ball instead of a volleyball. Variation: Hang a sheet so they cannot see what is happening on the other side of the net.
• Watch the Net – Don’t have a a volleyball net to play this version of volleyball. Instead of two teams, split your youth into 3 equal teams, at least 4 per team. Choose 2 of the teams to play against one another just as you would in normal volleyball. With one team left, you add the twist. Have the last team stand within arm length of each other representing the net. The “nets” can only take 1 step forward or backward. The “net” can hit the ball anywhere on the court. If the “net” hits the ball out of bounds, re-serve. Now, when it comes down to game point and the ball is in motion, watch the net!

TAKE IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL

Flat Volleyball – This should be the last game or the last round of one of the above games. Play the game with a volleyball that is flat – only partially inflated.

• When this ball was created what was it’s purpose?
• What was the ball expected to do?
• What was it created to contain?
• Why can’t can’t this ball fulfil that purpose at this time?
• How could the ball get in such a situation?
• What needs to happen for this ball to fulfil it’s purpose?
• Could a volleyball be filled with water? Is water a bad thing? But would it then fulfil its purpose?

MAKE IT SPIRITUAL

• As Christians we are also created with a purpose. For what purpose are we created?
• What things do we fill the emptiness in our lives with?
• When we were created, what did God intend for us?
• What needs to be in our life for that purpose to be fulfilled?
• What happens when we fill our lives with the wrong things (not necessarily bad things)?
• Just like the volleyball, we may be empty, or we may fill our lives with other things, but this prevents us from being used to our full capacity for which we were created.

Blaise Pascal said that we have all been created with a God-shaped vacuum that only he can fill. We will only find true meaning and purpose when we let God fill our lives to accomplish his will here on earth.

MAKE IT PRACTICAL

• What are some of the purposes that God has for Christians?
• How can we be filled with the things of God?
• How do we get God in our Lives?

MAKE IT PERSONAL

• The easiest way to find that purpose, is to yield to God. What is an area of your life that God has been speaking to you about yielding to him?
• Ask God to use you this week in a way that glorifies him and gives you a clearer understanding of his purpose for your life.

ADDITIONAL LESSONS

• When we think of volleyball there are a few keys to scoring: set, dig, block, serve, and rotation. When you think of each of these terms, how do they apply to us spiritually?

When the ball is hit over the net, three shots are expected for a team to score a point. The first is called the dig. Digging is grunt work. It usually involves getting on your knees and absorbing a spike from the other team.

DIG – I compare digging to the unpleasant, often painful, formation of a person’s character. A good dig puts the ball in play and allows a team to go on the offensive. So it is with a godly character. The youth who is sincere, honest, loving, and faithful puts himself in a position to influence others for Christ.

SET – The second shot is called the set. Setting is a strategic move, requiring precision and finesse, and it sets the stage for the spike. Time spent in God’s word is like this strategic set. We must train and discipline ourselves in the way of godliness.

SPIKE – After the dig and set and only then are we ready for the spike. The spike is an aggressive, powerful play to score for your team. It drives home our purpose with unmistakable certainty. A score could be victory over a habit, the start of a new habit, winning someone for Christ, or simply being God’s salt and light in the world.

SCRIPTURE

PURPOSE

• Ephesians 2:8-10 – “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith, and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
• Romans 12:1-6 – “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God•this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is•his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
• Philippians 4:13 – “I can do all this through him who gives me strength.”
• Colossians 1:27 – “To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.”
• Philippians 2:13 – “for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.”
• 1 Peter 3:15 (NIV)- “But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,”

FILLED

• Ephesians 3:16-20 – I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us,”
• Ephesians 5:18 “Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit,”
• Philippians 1:11 “filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ to the glory and praise of God.”

SET

• Galatians 5:1 – “For freedom Christ has SET us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.”
• Colossians 3:1 “Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, SET your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.”
• 1 Peter 1:13 – “Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, SET your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming.”
• Galatians 5:1 – “It is for freedom that Christ has SET us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.”

SERVE

• Matthew 20:25-28 – “Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave – just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
• Hebrews 6:10 – “God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them.”
• 1 Peter 4:10-11 – “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.”

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Youth Ministry Object Lesson - Beach Ball Goals

Beach balls are great for the beach, but you don’t need to be at the beach to play these games. The final game explores both personal spiritual goals and goals for the church youth group.

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Games Using Beach Balls

• Beach Ball Balloon Basketball – Use laundry baskets or large waste baskets as the “goal”. Divide into teams and play like regular basketball. Balloons must stay in the container for points to be scored.
• Beach Ball Dodge ball – Use one or more beach balls to play a game of dodge ball. Whoever is hit is out. The Goal of this game is to be the last person standing.
• Beach Ball Icebreaker – A beach ball with icebreaker questions written on the ball. In a large circle, someone tosses the ball to another person to catch. The person that catches the ball calls out the question closest to their right thumb. The youth then answers the question and throws the ball to another participant. Continue until everyone has had a chance to answer a question.
• Beach Ball Relay – Create a relay course with start and finish lines indicated by tape or chalk. Players must remove their shoes and then stand at the starting line in teams. One member of each team must wear a pair of sunglasses and hold a beach ball between his/her knees. Team members race to the goal line and back without dropping the beach ball. The players then pass both items to the next team member, and the team to finish the relay first wins the game.
• Dragon Dodgeball – Have the entire group make a circle. Pick four to five people for each team. The first team goes into the center of the circle and forms a line by attaching their hands to the waist of the person in front of them. The people who make up the circle throw the beach ball at the “dragon”, trying to hit the last person below the waist. Once hit, the last person returns to the outside circle and players continue to hit the new person at the end of the dragon until there in only one person left and they too are hit. A new team then goes into the middle. Time each team. The Goal is to see which team can last the longest.
• Hunter Ball – A hunter tries to shoot other players by tossing a beach ball at them. The player who is shot is out if hit. If the player catches it or if the beach ball hits the ground first there is no kill. He may then throw the ball wherever he wishes. Goal is to be the last person standing.
• Moonball – Teams compete with the goal to hit a beach ball up in the air as many times as possible before it hits the ground with the following rule: a player may not hit the ball twice in succession. Count 1 point for each hit. To make it more difficult you can add additional rules: 1) a group’s score does not count until everyone has hit the ball once 2) Players can only hit the ball with their hands or head and 3) players cannot “punch” the ball.
• Rabbit and hunter – A player (rabbit) is in the middle of the circle. The hunter on the outside of the player must try to hit the rabbit with a ball. The time is recorded how long it takes before a rabbit is hit. The goal is to be the rabbit who held out the longest.
• Scatterball – In this version of dodgeball no one ever really gets out. Throw the ball in the air, and someone grabs it. They have 5 seconds and can take 3 steps before throwing the ball. If you get hit, you sit down. If you are sitting down and a ball comes near you, you can pick it up and throw it at someone standing up. If they get hit, they sit down, and you are back in.
• Speed Ball – Divide the group into 2 equal circles. Give each group 3 beach balls. The object is to pass the balls around the circle at the highest speed possible. Whenever someone drops a ball, they leave the circle. At the allotted time, the team with the most players left wins.
• Steal the Bacon – Divide the youth in half and line them up on either side of the room. Have them number themselves off starting at one and going up. Each side will have one of each number. Put the beach ball in the middle. Call out a number, for instance, 3. The number three from team one and the number three from team 2 go toward the beach ball. Points are awarded in 3 ways. They can either pick up the beach ball and run it back to their team for one point. They can tag the other person as they try to run it back, one point. If they pick it up and drop the beach ball, one point goes to the other team.
• Tunnel ball – The team makes a tunnel with their legs spread apart. A beach ball must be rolled through the tunnel. The last player collects the beach ball and runs to the front to roll the ball through the tunnel again. You can either have 3-4 rounds where the fastest team wins or the teams must complete a certain distance. The first group to reach the goal line has won.
• Ultimate Ball – divide the youth group into two teams. Find something you can use on either side of your room for a goal. This can be basketball goals, chairs, a spot on the walls, or the walls themselves. The goal for each team is to pass the ball to their team mates and work the ball down the room until someone can throw it and hit the goal. Play just like ultimate frisbee. A player cannot dribble, or run with the ball, they must pass it to their team mates. If the ball hits the ground, the other team takes possession and try for their goal.

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If you are limited on time, just use this game…
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Life-Size Foosball – This game can be played in any open space and some indication or marking of a goal at each end. You can use stakes and string to mark any field. Indoors you can use masking tape to tape the string to the floor. If you are at the beach, just draw your lines in the sand!

Played like foosball (also known as table soccer) this game is a less strenuous form of soccer that almost anyone can play.

Preparation

If the field is not marked off into lines do so in such a way that there is one goalie for each team and the other players are evenly distributed across the field. Players must stay within their marked off boundary. The more narrow the field, the less they will have to run from side to side. If you have a small space, you can even play sitting down.

How to Play

1. Divide the group into two teams.
2. Allocate the area between lines on the field so that the players are evenly distributed across the field with 2 or three players inside each area. Alternate areas between teams.
3. All of the members of one team face toward the opposing team’s goal. Rows can be very close or several feet apart, depending on the size of the chosen field area.
4. Players may move freely to the right or to the left, but they may not move forward or backward at any time. Players must remain inside their designated area between the two lines.
5. Play and score the game just like regular foosball. A point is scored for each time the beach ball goes over the opposing team’s goal-line or hits the opposite wall.
6. If the beach ball is kicked out of bounds, it is tossed back into the game by any player.
7. A coin toss decides the 1st serve.
8. The goalie on the serving team tosses the ball into play with his hands.
9. Other players try to kick the ball into the opponents goal.
10. If a player steps out of his boundary box, the ball goes to the opposing team.
11. If a goal is scored, the team last scored upon gets the serve.
12. The opposing team also gets to serve after a ball is out of play, or after a neutral dead ball.
13. You can decide whether the goalie can use hands or not to block goals. Use of hands makes it much easier to block.
14. The first team to score 10 goals wins.

TAKE IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL

MAKE IT SPIRITUAL

What is our goal as a church (or youth group / cell group)

In our group, each of us has areas of responsibility. Sometimes these areas are shared. Our area of responsibility will be based on God’s calling, his gifts, and even our personal interests. Whenever something falls into our area, we are responsible for handling it.

What is the result of someone not handling their area in this game? How does it affect others on the team? How is this similar or different to the body of Christ?

In our own group, do we ever step into other people’s areas of responsibility? Why do we do so? What are some of the possible consequences of stepping into other people’s areas of responsibility?

(They don’t have the opportunities to develop their own gifts and skills for ministry, we may neglect our own area, we burn out, we lose focus)

MAKE IT PRACTICAL

What are some of the areas we need to cover in order to achieve our goal or goals as a group?

MAKE IT PERSONAL

What do you see as an area you can take responsibility for in our group? Why do you see yourself in this area? How will serving in this area help you to grow and develop your own gifts?

Action Point
Find your area and commit to covering that so that as a group we can achieve our goals!

SCRIPTURE

I Corinthians 12 – The Body of Christ

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