Sermons for Youth: The Olympic Torch Relay

The Olympic Games was a significant competitive sporting event in the life and times of Jesus, carrying right on through the life of the early church and the ministry of the apostles. It's no surprise then that the writers in the New Testamant make so many athletic references to "running races", "training", "prizes", "crowns", all of which were part of the tradition of the Games.

In a few months time, we'll be celebrating the 2012 Olympics in London. Although the location, scale, format, participating countries, events, and well, practically everything has changed over the years, one tradition has persisted through the ages -- the Olympic Torch Relay.

The traditional Lighting Ceremony recently took place on 10 May 2012 at the Temple of Hera, 

Olympia, home of the Ancient Olympic Games. The torch will travel around Greece, and will arrive in Athens in 2 days time and then arrive in the United Kingdom the next day.

The relay will last 70 days, with 66 evening celebrations, six Island Visits with about 8,000 people carrying the torch a total distance of about 8,000 miles (12,800 km), starting from Land's End in Cornwall.

This year, the Olympic Torch is perforated by 8,000 circles representing the inspirational stories of the 8,000 Torchbearers who will carry the Olympic Flame.

Our Christian journey of faith reminds me a lot of this relay. It's not the torch that bore the mark of their testimony, but the Bible. The writer of Hebrews in Chapter 11 talks about the many "inspirational heroes" of faith that came before us. Each of them with their own story about how God delivered them and how His promises were fulfilled in their lives through their faith in Him.

After they carried the "torch", pressing on in spite of their struggles to take hold of what God had in store for them, they passed their legacy on to the next generation of "torchbearers" who would stand as a lighthouse and witness to the world around them. Their names are familiar to us. Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Rahab, Gideon, Samson, David, Samuel, and the prophets. The writer doesn't always tell each of their stories but the very mention of their names makes us recall their great exploits, their journeys, their stories, and sometimes, cautionary tales.

They weren't perfect people and the Bible did nothing to sugarcoat or hide their flaws. They were murderers, thieves, adulterers, and prostitutes. They were proud, greedy, lustful, and selfish. Yet there they are -- the ones we look up to. They were human in their failings but the one common thread running through their lives was that they looked to God in faith. And that's what set them apart from the rest. They weren't focused on their insignificant lives, they were focused on an all-powerful God.

They finished their part of the relay and God saw that their faith in Him was well placed. And now they pass their torch to us. The writer of Hebrews says, "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us." (Heb 12:1)

They haven't disappeared, they're there in the stands cheering us on. Saying as it were, "This faith journey of yours is not going to be easy, it sure wasn't for me either. But I made it. So, don't let your sin hinder you. Keep on going. Don't give up. You can do it."

There's always going to be times when we want to just give up. To say it's too hard and drop the torch. But we're reminded that we're not alone in this journey of faith. All those who came before us, even God Himself is cheering us on. Our place in this journey of ours is just to keep running. To be faithful to what God has called us to do and be an example, not even a perfect one, but a very real and human hero to the next generation of believers and faithful followers of Christ!

Take It to the Next Level

What do you feel God has called you to do? It could be something that requires a lot of faith, something that you have to persevere through, it could be a struggle you have to overcome. Whatever it is, he intends to make your hopes, dreams and experiences help others find meaning through their own lives. Your big dream can ignite that same passion in others, your persistence can encourage others to find strength, and your experiences can inspire the world. God can make your story like he used the stories of the faith giants in the Bible - the good, the bad, and the ugly - to be a testimony of His grace working through our faith.

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Go for the Gold
Need an evangelistic Youth Camp/ Bible Study Series with an Olympic Theme?

What is salvation all about? What does it mean to be saved? This sports themed Bible Study / Camp Curriculum uses the Olympic Flag to introduce the concepts of sin (black circle), forgiveness (red circle), purity (white background), spiritual growth (green circle), heaven (Yellow Circle) and (Baptism) blue circle.
-> Tell me about "Go for the Gold"

Destined to Win
Need a Youth Camp/ Bible Study Series on "Running the Christian Race"?

The race as a metaphor for the Christian life is used in several places in the Bible. This series is a great follow up for new Christians or to re-emphasize the basics of our spiritual Journey in the Faith. This Bible Study / Camp Curriculum has a sports theme and is great for athletes as well as a tie in to the youth Olympic Games.
->Tell me about "Destined to Win"

Sermon 4 Kids: Best Prayer

Rev. Warren J. Keating, Pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Yuma, Arizona, USA, says that the best prayer he ever heard was: "Lord, please make me the kind of person my dog thinks I am."

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Children's Sermons: Jesus is Greater than Religion

Love this look at the difference between being religious and being a Christian.

Here's the words for those interested...

What if I told you Jesus came to abolish religion?
What if I told you voting Republican really wasn’t his mission?
What if I told you Republican doesn’t automatically mean Christian,
and just because you call some people blind doesn’t automatically give you vision.
I mean if religion is so great, why is it starting so many wars?
Why does it build huge churches but fails to feed the poor?
Tells single moms God doesn’t love them if they’d ever had a divorce,
but in the Old Testament, God actually calls religious people whores.
Religion might preach grace, but another thing they practice,
tend to ridicule God’s people, they did it to John the Baptist.
They can’t fix their problems and so they just mask it,
not realizing religion is like spraying perfume on a casket.
See the problem with religion is that it never gets to the core.
It’s just behavior modification like a long list of chores.
Like let’s dress up the outside make it look nice and neat,
but it’s funny – that’s what they used to do to mummies, while the corpse rots underneath
Now I ain’t judging, I’m just saying quit putting on a fake look,
because there’s a problem if people only know that you’re a Christian by your Facebook
I mean in every other aspect of your life you know that logics not worthy.
It’s like saying you play for the Lakers just because you bought a jersey.
See this was me too, but no one seemed to be on to me.
Acting like a church kid while addicted to pornography.
You see on Sunday I’d go to church but Saturday getting faded,
acting if I was simply created to just have sex and get wasted.
See I’ve spent my whole life building this façade of neatness
But now that I know Jesus, I boast in my weakness.
Because if grace is water, then the church should be an ocean.
It’s not a museum for good people; it’s a hospital for the broken.
Which means I don’t have to hide my failure, I don’t have to hide my sin.
Because it doesn’t depend on me, it depends on Him.
See because when I was God’s enemy, and certainly not a fan,
He looked down and said I want that man.
Which was why Jesus hated religion, and for it he called them fools.
Don’t you see so much better than just following some rules?
Now let me clarify, I love the church, I love the bible, and yes I believe in sin.
But if Jesus came to your church, would they actually let Him in?
See remember He was called a glutton and a drunkard by religious men,
but the Son of God never supports self-righteousness, not now, not then.
Now back to the point, one thing is vital to mention,
how Jesus and religion are on opposite spectrums.
See one’s the work of God, but one’s a man made invention,
see one is the cure, but the other’s the infection.
See because, religion says do, Jesus says done,
religion says slave, Jesus says son.
Religion puts you in bondage, while Jesus sets you free.
Religion makes you blind, but Jesus makes you see.
And that’s why religion and Jesus are two different claims.
Religion is man searching for God.
Christianity is God searching for man,
which is why salvation is freely mine,
and forgiveness is my own,
not based on my merits, but Jesus’s obedience alone.
Because He took the crown of thorns and the blood dripped down His face,
He took what we all deserved, I guess that’s why you call it grace.
And while being murdered, He yelled “Father forgive them. They know not what they do.”
Because while He was dangling on that cross, He was thinking of you.
And He absorbed all your sin and He buried it in the tomb.
Which is why I’m kneeling at the cross saying “C’mon, there’s room.”
So for religion, no I hate it, in fact I literally resent it,
because when Jesus said, “It is finished,” I believe He meant it.

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Youth Ideas: Find the Leader

Materials
Optional: Chairs for each participant arranged in a circle. (Participants may also simply sit on the ground.)

Icebreaker Description
Participants try to discover the leader who is initiating actions for the group.

Preparation
No preparation is needed.

Icebreaker Activity

1. Have the youth sit in a circle.
2. Chose someone to be "It" who must identify "the leader" who is initiating actions for the group.
3. Send the person you have chosen out of the room or have the person closes his eyes.
4. Silently point to the leader so that everyone else knows who the leader is.
5. The leader will initiate actions and change body positions.
6. Everyone must copy the body position and actions of the leader.
7. The person you have chosen as "it" stands in the center of the circle and tries to discover the identity of the leader.
8. When the leader is identified, choose a new leader and someone new to be "it" and repeat the game.

Optional Debrief

• How do you recognise a leader in real life?
• Name some of the leaders you know?
• What leaders do you admire? Why?
• What are the qualities of a good leader?

Alternative: Have you ever done anything in secret and hoped you would not get caught?

Conclusion
One of the most important qualities of an effective leader is that he sets an example for others to follow. A true leader doesn't just tell others what to do, but also leads the way. A leader is only a leader to the extent that he/she inspires others to follow him/her.

Application
What are some of the areas of your life where you need to set an example for others to follow?

Scripture
1 Corinthians 11:1

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Youth Leadership Lessons: Easter Forward and Backwards

Materials
List of actions, Chairs in a circle, one chair per person.

Game Play
1. Sit everyone in a chair and then give instructions for participants to follow. Instructions should be related to Easter.

2. If someone is in the chair you move to, just sit on his or her lap. You can stack people three or four high.

3. The first person to make it all the way around the circle wins. Have youth to take note of the chair they start in before you begin calling out situations.

Sample Phrases
"If you have on a cross, move forward 1 chair"
"If you ate an egg today move back 3 chairs"
"If you have been on an Easter Egg Hunt, move forward 2 chairs"
"If you have been to a sunrise service move forward 2 chairs."
"If you have 30 silver coins in your pocket, move back 3 chairs."
"If you have ridden a donkey move forward 1 chair."
"if you have heard a live rooster crow move backward 3 chairs."
"If you are wearing perfume move forward 1 chair."
"If you are wearing purple move forward 1 chair."
"If you have accepted Christ move forward 1 chair."
"If you are wearing a pastel color move backward 1 chair."
"If you eat the ears first from chocolate Easter Bunnies move backward 1 chair."
"If you have eaten a Hot Cross Bun move forward 1 chair."
"If you are wearing new clothes move forward 1 chair."
"If you have read the Easter Story in your Bible today move forward 2 chairs."
"If you gave someone here an Easter Card move forward 1 chair."
"If you attended a Good Friday Service move forward 1 chair."
"If you are wearing ribbons move backward 1 chair."
"If you have eaten Jelly Beans today move forward 1 chair."
"If you have thanked God today for his sacrifice on the Cross move forward 1 chair."
ADD your own...

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Youth Ideas: Connected

This icebreaker game is often called “spider web” because at the end of the icebreaker, a large web of interconnected strong or yarn will be created. You can use this icebreaker to discuss interdependence on one another, picking up the slack for another person, uplifting others, and teamwork.

Description
Sitting in a circle, youth toss a ball of string to someone else in the circle. The person receiving the string must name a quality, item, or something else related to the topic or keyword.

Resources
Ball of string or yarn

Preparation
None

What to Do
In the classic variation of this icebreaker, students introduce their name and one characteristic about themselves before tossing it to another person in the circle. Here’s how it works:

1. Sit the group on the floor in a circle with everyone facing inward toward the center of the circle.
2. Tell everyone your name and one characteristics about yourself. You could also have everyone answer the same a common question like “What is your favorite ice-cream?”
3. Holding firmly to the end of the string, toss the ball of string to someone in the circle who has not yet received the string.
4. The person receiving the string gives his/her name and one characteristic.
5. Then, holding firmly onto the string, he or she tosses the ball on to another person.
6. The string should be held tightly and above the ground at all times.
7. Continue until everyone has received the string at least once and told the group their name and one characteristic.

Variations:

• Use this icebreaker to discuss how the members all depend on each other.
  The first person who receives the string introduces him/herself and role in the organization or group. Then before tossing the ball to another person, tells how he or she is dependent upon that person.

Taking it to the Next Level

1. Have someone in the group pull the string – What happens?
2. Have everyone pull the string tight then cut the string in the middle – What happens?
3. In what ways does this string represent various relationships in the group?

• Our relationships are intertwined and connected.
• If a single person pulls the string it affects everyone in the group to varying degrees, depending on how closely they are connected.
• If one person’s string is cut – the relationship is broken, it affects all.
• We need to support each other and not let others down

Action Point
What is one thing you will commit to do in order to support others in the group?

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Youth Leadership Lessons: Barnyard

Materials
A list of animals that are easily characterised by their sounds.

Crowdbreaker Description
Youth make the sounds of animals and follow the sounds to find the rest of their teammates

Preparation
Make a list of animals that are easily characterised by their sounds. Some Possibilities are:
Cows or Bulls, Tigers or Lions, Pigs, Chickens or Roosters, Donkeys, Sheep, Dogs or Wolves, Turkeys, Owls, Ducks, Snakes, Dolphins, Seals, Monkeys or Gorillas or Apes, Frogs or Toads, Elephants

Crowdbreaker Activity
Assign an animal to every person in the room making sure that the animals assigned are scattered around the room. Then shut out the lights (or have participants close their eyes) and have the participants make the animal sound assigned to them. They must then mingle around the room (in the dark) listening for the other animals of their kind and group together.

Variation
Number people off as they enter the room. Later assign animals to the numbers. Great for splitting up participants into random groups.

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Youth Ideas: A Little About Yourself

Choose one of the following questions or statements, then have kids introduce themselves by stating their names and responses to the question or statement.

* What is the loudest noise you've ever heard?
* What is your earliest memory?
* What is one thing you hope will happen in this group?
* Name all of the places you have lived.
* What is the funniest movie scene you've seen?
* Tell about a nickname you had as a child.
* Describe the most extreme weather condition you've been in.
* Name one good thing that has happened in another group you have been in.
* Where is your favorite place in nature?
* What is your middle name, or what do you think it should have been?
* Describe the best meal you've ever eaten.
* What's your favorite song? (To add some risk, ask kids to sing a few bars.)
* Describe the most unusual thing that's happened to you.
* What's the best thing a friend ever told you?
* What's the worse chore you've ever had?

Select a new question or statement each time you meet with kids.

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Youth Leadership Lessons: Types of Scavenger Hunts

Scavenger hunts have been popular with youth, adults, and children throughout the ages. With the recent popularity of "The Amazing Race" and reality TV shows, scavenger hunts are just as popular today as they have ever been. They can take a variety of forms, be modified with different rules, and be tailored to a variety of themes, locations, and age groups. They are great for building community, fostering team work, and generating lots of fun and excitement.

Here are some of the more common types of Scavenger Hunts.

Classic Scavenger Hunt
This is the traditional scavenger hunt where participants are given a list of items to retrieve and bring back within a designated time limit. Examples include both common and hard to find items like: a basketball, an 8 track tape, a spork, a coin with a specific date, or a postage stamp. The scavenger hunt consists of a list of the selected objects and some rules. Variations may allow photos of an object to replace the actual object or creative substitutions. The rules may forbid the purchase of items or restrict the participants from going to their own homes or malls to collect items. Various points are assigned to the objects based upon the difficulty necessary to obtain them. Themes can focus the items and add fun to the hunt. For example, a superhero scavenger hunt may require them to bring costumes, comics and other collectibles related to specific superheroes.

Destination Unknown
In this scavenger hunt, clues lead participants to a specific destination where they find a clue to the next location. Successive clues will ultimately lead them to a specific location where there is a party. Clues may be in the form of riddles or directions to follow and serve to guide participants to famous landmarks and other locations. Sometimes helpers are positioned at the various locations to hand out the next clue. In other places the clues may be hidden under a park bench or other inconspicuous locations where the public is not likely to remove them.

Find the Pieces Scavenger Hunt
Hide pieces of a jigsaw puzzle around the designated game area. This could be a school, a church, or even a local park. Instead of a puzzle you can use any machine or object that has multiple pieces. As an Example, for a Halloween party you could purchase plastic skeletons and disassemble them, hiding the bones before the party starts. Let the participants search for them and then reassemble the skeleton. Hide batteries, a tape recorder, and a cassette tape with a pre-recorded message describing the next clue. Hide chess pieces, ingredients for a meal, or even clothes and accessories. One of the activities may be to dress up as superman, but to do so they must collect several pieces of the costume which have been strategically hidden around the game area.

Information Scavenger Hunt
Instead of retrieving objects, or taking pictures, participants in this scavenger hunt must find information. It could be the date on a tombstone, the last item on a restaurant menu, the inscription on a cornerstone, or any other factual information that requires participants to visit a specific location. Victory goes to the first team to correctly collect the most answers or to the team with the most answers in the time limit.

Mystery Photo Hunt
In this scavenger hunt you scout out the location in advance with a digital camera. Take photos of textures, objects, landmarks, unspecified locations, and items from around the venue. Tightly crop them so that they are not easily identifiable. The images should be tightly cropped to a small square that only shows a portion of the object. Examples: The last few letters on a street sign, a small portion of a painting n the wall, a statue from a local park, the nose of a sculpture, the number 8 from an elevator, the intricately carved frame of a wooden door, the hose of a fire extinguisher, the handle on a cabinet, and others. Participants are then given a printout of all the photos and must identify each object and where it is located within the time limit. Online examples of this can be found at:
What in the World
Mystery Photos
Close-Up

People Scavenger Hunts
In various incarnations, these scavenger hunts have groups search for people rather than objects. These could be people that participants know or total strangers. Participants can be required to get autographs, business cards, or photographs with the persons in order to prove they found them. Targets may be in disguise, dressed as certain characters from famous books, or simply roaming about a large mall.

Photo Scavenger Hunt
In this scavenger hunt, participants must take photos of their group with objects or in specific situations. The scavenger hunt format is a list of situations and objects to be included in the photos. One common variation is to include an object that must be present in every photograph such as a school mascot, a flag, a teddy bear or even something as outrageous as a couch. Participants may be given an instant 35mm camera or a digital camera. Boundaries and time limits can be used to limit the scope and duration of the game. Pictures are variously awarded points based upon meeting the stipulations of the photos and the creativity of the teams.

Pre-Arranged Scavenger Hunt
This is similar to the classic scavenger hunt, but the items are placed in the designated playing area in advance. A traditional Easter Egg is a common version of this hunt. Participants may be given a general instruction to "Find all the wrapped Christmas packages" or be given a list of specific items to find. In one variation, participants are to leave the item in place and merely note the exact location of the item. Alternatively the first team to locate the item and retrieve it will get the points. There may be more than one item hidden about the play area. You can even hide an item for each team to find. Simply color code the items with a piece of colored yard or thread. Disqualify any team that interferes with another team's items.

Sound Scavenger Hunt
Instead of retrieving objects, students are given a tape recorder or other audio recording device and given a list of sounds to record. Sounds may include those made by objects, such as a ticking clock, ringing church bell, something announced on the radio or a radio commercial, a message from a person, animal sounds, and many others. The team that collects the most sounds from the list in the designated time is declared the winner.

Treasure Hunt
In a treasure hunt there is one final thing to search for rather than a list of items. Successive clues lead to a final destination where the treasure can be found. Teams compete against each other to solve the clues, and follow them to the treasure.

Video Scavenger Hunts
In this scavenger hunt, participants are given a list of actions and situations that must be filmed on video. Teams film video footage of themselves or other people in certain places and performing challenging and sometimes ridiculous tasks. Video is usually 30-45 seconds for each situation otherwise the time to view entries will be too long. This can be combined with community service so that some of the items might include the team raking leaves, helping someone take groceries to their car, etc.

Combination Scavenger Hunts
Combine various types of scavenger hunts together and tailor them to your theme. In this case the list will have situations to video or photograph as well as objects to retrieve, people to find, clues to solve, and facts to discover. Various items will appeal to various personalities so that everyone has fun.

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Youth Ideas: Thanksgiving Twister

Materials
Instead of a twister game sheet, cut Thanksgiving shapes from construction paper and use sticky-tack to adhere them to the floor. Make a twister spinner that includes right hand, left hand, right foot, left foot and another that contains the various Thanksgiving symbols.

Need a source for Thanksgiving images? Use a thanksgving font like this one:
Download file

Some optional symbols are:
Autumn Leaf, Corn, Cornucopia, Cranberries, Family, Mayflower ship, Pie, Pilgrim, Plymouth Rock, Pumpkin, Puritans, Turkey, Indian

Activity
Play a game of Twister, but instead of colored dots use pictures of Thanksgiving items taped to the floor. Change the spinner to reflect the pictures. If you don't have a spinner you can easily make one.

Variation
Instead of playing on an individual basis, divide the group into teams. The team with the last remaining members in the game wins.

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Youth Leadership Lessons: SuperBowl Charades

American Football is a national past-time and it doesn't get any better than the Superbowl. When the Superbowl comes around, why not take the opportunity to tackle a few games with your youth while you score a few goals for the kingdom of God. This is the first, of several ideas to take advantage of all the Superbowl hype to reach out the youth!

Introduction
In this classic variation of charades participants must act out phrases or words in order for team members to guess the correct phrase. The essence of Charades is pantomimes: you must act out a word or phrase without speaking or making any sound effects. For a Superbowl Party you can use the names of teams or football terms as items for the charades game.

Teams
Ravens, Bills, Bengals, Browns, Broncos, Texans, Colts, Jaguars, Chiefs, Dolphins, Patriots, Jets, Raiders, Steelers, Chargers, Titans, Cardinals, Falcons, Panthers, Bears, Cowboys, Lions, Packers, Vikings, Saints, Giants, Eagles, 49ers, Seahawks, Rams, Buccaneers, Redskins

Terms
Backfield, Bench, Block, Blitz, Catch, Center, Champion, Cheerleader, Clipping, Clock, Coach, Coin toss, Conversion, Cornerback, Defense, Defensive line, Drive, End zone, Extra point, Facemask, Fans, Field, Field Goal, First Down, Flag, Flanker, Football, Football field, Formation, Free kick, Fumble, Game, Goal line, Goal post, Grounding, Guard, H-Back, Hail Mary, Half time, Halfback, Handoff, Hash mark, Helmet, Hike, Holder, Holding, Huddle, Inbounds, Injury, Interception, Kick, Kickoff, Knee pad, Linebacker, Lineman, Locker-room, Noseguard, Offense, Offensive line, Option, Offsides, Out-of-Bounds, Overtime, Pass, Pass interference, Penalty, Pile up, Placekicker, Play, Player, Playbook, Punt, Punter, Quarter, Quarterback, Recovery, Referee, Return (kickoff), Run, Running Back, Rushing, Sack, Safety, Score, Scramble, Scrimmage line, Season, Secondary, Shoulder pads, Sideline, Slotback, Snap, Sneak, Spectators, Spike, Split end, Starter, Superbowl, Sweep, Tackle, Tailback, Team, Tight ends, Time out, Touchback, Touchdown, Trap, Turnover, Water-boy, Wide receiver, Wingback, Winning Team, Yard line, Yardage

Game Description
Participants split into teams of 6 or more members and try to guess the Superbowl / American Football items from the person acting them out.

Game Materials
The key words / teams list

Game Preparation
You will need to create a list of items relating to American Football or the superbowl. Print them on slips of paper and put them in a bag to be drawn from when you play the game. In place of the half-time show and the possibility of "Wardrobe malfunctions"... have a Charades competition! How many items can your team guess during the halftime show?

Game Play

1. Divide players into two teams.
2. High die roll decides which team will play first.
3. The first team selects a person to mime the phrase; all other first team players are then the Guessers. The mime must rotate so that everyone is required to mime a clue before someone can go again.
4. Each time a new mime begins, he must draw a new name or phrase.
5. A timer is used... an hourglass can be used or a 2 minute timer. (The opposing team keeps track of the time limit.)
6. As one team mimes and guesses a name or phrase, the opposing team watches.
7. As the mime pantomimes the words his teammates start shouting out what they think is being portrayed. Players can guess as many times as they want. Guessing is NOT done in turn!
8. First, indicate to your team through motions (no words allowed) some indication of what you want to mime - a team, a football term, etc.
9. Indicate how many words are in the title by holding up the same number of fingers as words. You might also indicate which word you are miming first by holding up a finger for that word. Usually you put the number of fingers flat against your arm to indicate the number of syllables in a word.
10. Use clues along the way to guide the answers:
    • "sounds like" --cup your hand around your ear
    • "little word": bring your thumb and index fingers close together.
    • "Longer version of the word": pretend to stretch an elastic.
    • "Shorter version of the word": chop with your hand.
    • "close, keep guessing!": frantically wave hands to keep the guesses coming.
    • "Knows": Point to you nose to indicate that someone "knows" the word and is correct.
11. Continue until all the words in the phrase are correct.
12. If the Mime's team guesses correctly before the timer is emptied, the Mime's team gets one point and marks the score on a piece of paper. It is now the opposing team’s turn to mime and guess a new name or phrase from a new slip of paper.
13. If the Mime's team does not guess correctly before the timer is emptied, they do not win the point. The opposing team then gets ten seconds to make one guess to win the point. If the opposing team guesses correctly, they win the point and mark the score on a separate sheet of paper. It is then their turn to mime and guess a new name or phrase. If the opposing team does not guess correctly, no one wins the point. It is now the opposing team’s turn to mime and guess a new name or phrase.
14. Play alternates between teams with each phrase to be mimed.
15. At the end of game play or the end of your clues, the team with the most correct guesses wins!

Discussion

• How much do you know about football? Who's the football expert?
• Do you have to know everything about the game to enjoy the football game?
• Are there people who don't really care about football but get caught up in the excitement of the event? Why?
• Do you need to know everything about the team players to enjoy the game?
• What is it about the superbowl that gets people excited?
• Are you as excited about God as you are about the Superbowl? Why or why not?
• In what ways is the church (or this group) similar to a football team?
  (We are united as a team, we have a goal (the great commission), we work together to achieve a goal, there is opposition, sometimes unexpected things happen, sometimes we fumble in our tasks, sometimes we gain ground, while other times we lose ground, We have a coach (God), sometimes we have to defend against the opposition, time is short, there are people watching us (spectators), not everyone plays fair, there are penalties for mistakes, we must wear protective gear (armor of God), we have different positions on the team, there are people who are playing and there are people on the sidelines, we need a game plan, etc.)

Closing Application

• Are you part of the team (A Christian?) Why or why not?
• If you are, what is your position(role) in the team?
• Are you on the sidelines or playing the game?
• Are you a team player?
• Are you focused on the goal?
• What can you begin doing to help the team more effectively overcome the opposition and achieve the goals ahead?

Keep watch for more SuperBowl / American Football Ideas in the next couple of days!

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Youth Ideas: Sleepy Hollow

Introduction
Can you play the wacky game without losing your head?

Game Description
How quickly can you pass the hat around the circle? While you may not lose your head playing this game, the head to head play is wild and fun!

Game Materials
1 hat for each team -- Use cowboy hats for a western theme, baseball hats for a sports theme, etc., or simply find two of the wackiest hats you can.

Game Preparation
None

Game Play

1. Divide the group into two evenly numbered circles all holding hands.
2. Place a hat on the head of one player in each circle.
3. The objective is to pass the hat round the circle from head to head without releasing your hands.
4. The team which passes the hat round the circle first wins the game.

Variations
For a more difficult variation, play it with only right hands, or do not allow the use of hands at all!
For Halloween or a fall festival, use your favourite mask or hat from a costume!

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