Each team will need: 10 Ping-Pong balls, a box or bag to
hold the Ping-Pong balls, and a spoon for each
player.
Set Up: Write one letter from the phrase
"Jesus Saves" on each of the team's Ping-Pong balls (one
letter per ball). Team lines stand shoulder to
shoulder, approximately two feet apart. Team lines stand parallel to one
another. Place the box of balls at one end of each team line.
How To Play:
Before you begin, tell the players the game they're about to play is
called "Pass It On". The object of the game is to pass the
balls from the box to the end of the team lines, then assemble the
balls to form a two word phrase (show one of the balls with a letter
written on it). The
clue for solving the phrase is something Christians should want to pass on to others.
At the go, the first person in each team scoops a ball onto his or her
spoon and passes it on to the next player in line. The next player
receives the ball with his or her spoon and passes it on to the next
player in line, who passes it to the next player, and the next, and so
on until the ball reaches the end of the line. The last player in line
lays the ball down on the floor next to his or her feet. As soon as
the first ball is passed on to the second player in line, the first
player in line may scoop up a second ball from the box and
begin to pass it down the line to the end player. When all the balls
are passed down the line, each team must try to assemble the letters
to form the two word secret phrase written on the balls: J-E-S-U-S
S-A-V-E-S.
How To Win:
The first team to arrange and proclaim the secret phrase, wins!
For younger players: Since it may be difficult for younger
players to solve the phrase, you may either include children on the
teams that know how to read, or write the letters onto poster board
with double-stick tape below each letter. As the Ping-Pong balls are
passed down the line, the person at the end of the line matches each
of the letters on the ball to the letters on the poster board, then
sticks it onto the tape. The first team to complete the match, wins.
Object Lesson:
(Optional: Before playing the game have the students name off good and
bad news events. List them on the board.)
What makes good
news good? If all we ever hear is good news, and there weren't such a
thing as bad news, would good news be good? Good news is good because
there IS such a thing as bad news!
If you knew in advance that something bad was going to happen in
your city, what would your reaction be? (Warn your friends, family,
neighbors.)
Being saved from sin is
what the Bible calls the Good News or the Gospel.
What do you think it means that Jesus saves? Saves us from what? Jesus
saves us from the punishment of sin (sin is doing wrong things). The
Bible says, "The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal
life in Christ Jesus our LORD." (Romans 6:23) The bad news is that
sinners, all of us, have a wage due from us for sinning. A wage is
something we earn. The Bible says we earn a penalty for sinning. This
penalty is called Hell.
Hell is a place of eternal punishment and separation from God. The
good news is that we don't have to go to Hell. Why? Because Jesus died on the cross to
take the punishment we deserve for sinning. The Bible says,
"Everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved."
Romans 10:13. Jesus knew we couldn't save ourselves from going to
Hell. Jesus Saves is the Good News that we need to pass on to
our friends and family. We need to warn them about the bad news! Romans 10:14 says, "How, then,
can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they
believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear
without someone preaching to them? ...As it is written, 'How beautiful
are the feet of those who bring good news!' "
You are never too young to start passing on the Good News
that Jesus Saves!
Pray: Dear Jesus, thank you for dying on the cross to save
us from our sins. Thank you for the gift of eternal life in heaven.
Help us to pass on the Good News that Jesus Saves to our
friends, neighbors, and family members. Amen.
Copyright 2002 Sarah A. Keith
Tell your friends
about this game.
* Pass-It On is from the book,
"Super Heroes of the Bible - The Willing Hearts Who Changed the
Course of History".
Return to the Bible Games section
