Daylight savings and the start of spring mark a time when kids “spring forward” into fun times outdoors. Now that the time is here, this Bible game will help students “spring forward” in their spiritual growth – with reciting scripture verses as the goal.
“Spring has Sprung, Spring Forward” Bible Game
Students will get to combine standing-long-jump skills with Bible memorization in order to “spring forward” from “earth” into “heaven.”
Materials
– Duct Tape
Introduction
Now that spring has sprung, everything is starting to grow again. Let’s grow in spirit! We’re going to memorize some of our favorite scriptures and spring forward toward heaven each time we get one right.
Preparation
Divide class into two teams. Print out the scriptures listed below so that each team has a copy of all of them. The scriptures are short, so they should be able to partially memorize all of them in about five minutes. The game will reinforce the memorization.
Note to all students that the person who seems to be memorizing scripture the best will be called upon the most due to the nature of the game.
Place two long lines on either side of the classroom floor – one as the starting line and one as the finishing line. Write on the one “earth.” Write on the other “heaven.”
Seven Joyful Scriptures:
Psalm 23:4 Yea tho I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil.
Psalm 37:4 Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart.
Psalms 47:1 Clap your hands, all peoples! Shout to God with loud songs of joy!
Psalm 46:1 God is our refuge and strength, an ever present help in trouble.”
John 16:33 Be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
Philippians 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord Always. Again, I say, Rejoice!
1 Thessalonians 5:16 Rejoice always.
Instructions
Easy first round:
1. Have children study the scriptures for about 5-10 minutes.
2. Have all students line up side by side on the starting line. However, one team’s members should be on the left and one team’s members on the right.
3. The student farthest to the right should begin. Say one of the 7 scripture verses and the first word of the scripture.
4. If the student feels he can repeat the whole verse, he may opt to do so. If he gets it right, he springs one step forward (using the standing long jump). If he gets it wrong, he must stay where he is.
5. If the student feels he doesn’t know the verse, he may call on any teammate of his choosing to “assist.”
6. If the assisting teammate gets the verse right, both can spring forward. If the assisting teammate gets it wrong, both must remain where they are. Remind students that if they keep calling on the same teammate to assist, he will most likely win by having the most opportunities to spring forward. It may help to call on the 2nd or 3rd best memorizer, rather than risk losing through duplicate assists. (And this will help all students memorize!)
7. Move to the farthest student on the left. Repeat steps 3-6 for that team.
8. Keep going, moving inward until everyone has been called upon on each team. Then start again with the person outside farthest to the left. The first student to reach “heaven” wins.
Closing
Some very spiritual people say that the more joyous you are, the more good things happen to you. They say that good things don’t only bring joy, but more important, joy in the Lord brings good things! If we get in a foul mood this week, let’s remember that we are growing in Christ, just like the flowers are growing. Let’s remember these verses to bring our joy back, so that we can receive God’s best from heaven!
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