Have you ever noticed how tangled up relationships can get?  And do you ever hear any of these comments among family and friends? – He said this.  She said that.  I don’t like her?  He makes me crazy!  Relationships can be difficult at times, but as I get older, I am learning that a little kindness and love generously given here and there can untangle some of the worst situations.  Our kids are not immune to the tangled webs of relationships around them either.  So why not try this super Bible school activity that features a portion of Ephesians 4:32, which says: “Be kind and loving to each other…” to help your kids learn that God can use kindness and love to untangle the worst of relationships.

Here’s what you do:

This activity will require some preparation.  Before your children arrive to their class, cut a piece of yarn about 20 to 30 feet long per child.  On one end of the string tie a nametag of a child in the class.  On the other end, attach a small treat such as a lollipop.  Attach the strings to walls or furniture, carefully weaving them in and out among each other.  You are now ready to play the activity.

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Can you list some kindnesses of the Lord?  For example, He is kind enough to surround us with friends.  He is kind enough to take care of all our needs.  He was kind enough to create the beautiful world that we live in.  Of course, those are just to name a few.  There are so many kindnesses that we should proclaim to every one we meet.  In fact, Isaiah 63:7 encourages us to do just that.  It says, “I will tell of the kindnesses of the Lord.”  Pretty simple, but very profound.  Here is a fun Bible school activity you will want to try with your kids to help them memorize this wonderful Bible verse.  I call it “I Will Tell Relay”.

Here’s what you do:

For this Sunday school lesson bible game you will need 2 cans that are the #10 size.  This is usually the can that holds 28 oz.  Cut off both ends with a can opener and make sure that there are no sharp edges anywhere.  You may even want to place tape around the edges.  These cans will be passing from arm to arm, so safety is very important.  Make sure the cans are clean and wrap each can with a different color of construction paper.

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If you’ve got a child in the house, you’ve probably heard the word “whatever” a few too many times.  But the next time your lovely son or daughter rolls their eyes at you and proclaims, “Whatever!” to your next request, simply reply back with your own list of “whatevers” found in Philippians 4:8, which says:  “Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever if pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable, if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things.”  Today I’ve given you a fun Bible school activity you can play with your kids to help them learn these important “whatevers” and to help them “lose the ‘tude!”  It’s called “Whatever! 10 Pin.”

Here’s what you do:

Gather 10 empty and clean soda liter bottles.  On the outside of each attach the following word sections of Philippians 4:8:  Whatever is true/  whatever is noble/ whatever is right/ whatever if pure/ whatever is lovely/ whatever is admirable/ if anything is excellent/ or praiseworthy/ think about such things/ Philippians 4:8.  You might want to laminate the words for long-term use.  Next, lay down 10 circles in the bowling 10 pin form.  Number the circles 1 through 10 in consecutive order beginning with #1 as the first left front circle.  Lastly, grab a ball that will be heavy enough to bowl over the bottles/pins.  Before playing the game, set the pins up in correct verse order as in bowling and place a piece of tape down on the ground about 10 feet away from the pins that the kids will stand behind in order to bowl.  (The reference of Phil. 4:8 will be on circle 10.)  You are now ready to play.

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Isn’t it amazing that God, Maker of Heaven and the Universe, desires that we call out to Him?  Not only that, but when we do call to Him, He promises to show us great things we have no idea about!  If you have your doubts, read Jeremiah 33:3, which says:  “Call to me and I will answer you and I will tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.”  I think your kids will get excited about this verse especially when they play the fun Bible school activity “Call and Catch.”

Here’s what you do:

Before playing the game, you will want to introduce your children to Jeremiah 33:3.  Ask them if they ever would like to ask God a question, but sometimes feel like He wouldn’t answer them.  Let the kids respond, then point out how this verse shows that God wants His children to ask Him anything and to call upon His name.  In fact this verse promises that He will answer us and even tell us great and wondrous things – even things that are too hard for us to understand or fathom.  Tell the children that they are going to memorize this important Bible verse.  Say the verse together as a class several times, then tell them that they are ready to play “Call and Catch.”

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I know you’ve heard of apple pie and peach pie.  You might have even heard of shoo-fly pie.  But have you ever heard of fruit of the spirit pie?  Here is a Bible school activity that will help your kids memorize one of the most loved verses of the Bible, Galatians 5:22, which says: “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.  This Bible game also might make your kids a little hungry.

Here’s what you do:

You will need to make a pie chart that has 10 pieces to it.  You could either draw this outside on pavement with some chalk or you could draw it on a chalkboard or dry erase board or you could construct a colorful one from poster board.  It’s your choice. Next, write one of the fruits of the spirit alongside each pie piece.  There are nine of them: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness and self-control.  Near the tenth piece of pie, write the Bible reference, Galatians 5:22.  Eventually, all of these words will be erased or covered up.  In the corner of each piece of pie, write a number 1 through 10.  Have the number one begin with the word love, 2 – joy, 3 – peace, 4 – patience, 5 – kindness, 6 – goodness, 7 – faithfulness, 8 – gentleness, 9 – self-control and 10 – Gal. 5:22.  After this, make or gather 30 red circles and 30 orange circles big enough so that 6 of each could fit inside a piece of the pie.  The red circles will stand for cherries and the orange circles will stand for oranges.  Finally, grab a bag into which you will put cards that have the numbers 1 through 10 written on them.  You are now ready to play the game.

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Have you ever seen someone go down the wrong path or street?  I bet you wanted to yell, “Stop!”  The truth is, there are millions of people going the wrong way everyday.  Instead, they should be heading toward Jesus who is the only way to the right way.  Do your kids know that they can take part in helping lead their friends away from the wrong way?  James 5:20 says this: “Anyone who brings a sinner back from the wrong way will save that sinner’s soul from death.”  This is a pretty strong verse with a strong message.  But elementary kids are ready to understand that death is real and there is a wrong and right way.  Why not try playing this fun Bible school activity to help your kids understand this important truth and memorize this important Scripture?  I call it, “Wrong Way, Right Way.”

Here’s what you do:

Before playing you will need to put together the following:  Grab 2 ropes about 6 feet long each on which clothespins will easily fit.  On one end of each rope, hang a sign that reads: Wrong Way.  On each of the other ends, hang a sign that reads:  Right Way.  Next, take 2 paper plates and draw a face on each.  You might want one to be a boy and the other a girl.  Tie a loop of string at the top of each plate so that you can easily attach it to the rope with a clothespin.  Now place 6 pieces of colorful tape equidistantly apart on each rope.  These are the spaces on which the “person” will be moved.  Finally, prepare 2 objects that are exactly the same, yet are different colors, such as 2 beanbags and place them inside a bag so that the children cannot see them.  One object will represent the wrong way and the other will represent the right way.  You are now ready to play the game.

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Our bodies are amazing machines, but I think our hands might be two of the most amazing parts we have.  With our hands we do many kinds of work.  We shake hands to say, “Hello!”  And it is said Italians couldn’t talk without them.  But I think the best thing we can do with our hands is praise God.   Psalm 63:4 says this: “I will praise you as long as I live and in Your name I will lift up my hands.”  This is a perfect verse to teach to our little ones along with the names of their five digits:  thumb, pointer, middle, ring and pinky, too!  Try this fun Bible school activity that teaches how God wants them to lift up their hands in honor to His glorious name.

Here’s what you do:

Begin by saying the following to your preschoolers:  Isn’t it wonderful that God gave us hands?  Everybody put your hands way up so I can see all of them.  Wow!  Good job!  Hands are wonderful!  We use them to do lots of important things like color with crayons, bounce a ball, and give our friends high-fives.  But do you know what might be the most important thing we can do with our hands?  (Wait for response.)  The best thing we can do with our hands is praise God with them.

At this point, you will want to read Psalm 63:4.  You actually might just want your class to learn the second part of the verse, which says, “…and in Your name I will lift up my hands.”  It’s shorter and will be easier for them to memorize.  Have the children say the verse several times.  Once you feel they are getting comfortable with it, say the following:

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I know your preschoolers are at the beginning of their lives, but it is never to early to begin teaching them to praise God as long as they live.  Psalm 63:4 says this: “I will praise you as long as I live and in Your name I will lift up my hands.”  For some of us, praising God may last for a long time here on earth and then on into eternity.  Just ask Methusalah!  He was the oldest person in the Bible.  Or better yet, why not play this Bible school activity to help your children understand how important it is to praise God all of their lives.

Bible School Activity: Did You Praise God When You Were 4?

This activity is very simple and only requires 2 things: 1.  an elderly person who came to know the Lord at a young age and 2.  a set of interview questions.  Invite your guest into your preschool class.  Make sure the children make the person feel welcome.  You might want to prep your class with any pertinent information they should know.  For example, if the individual is hard of hearing, show them how to speak loudly.  If the person is in a wheel chair or uses a walker, prepare your children for what they might see.  You

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Have you ever noticed how the elderly often intrigue preschoolers?  I love to watch young children around older people and see them react.  Psalm 63:4 says this: “I will praise you as long as I live and in Your name I will lift up my hands.”  What a great verse to teach to your little ones to show how some of the different Bible characters lived many years here on earth and they chose to praise God as long as they lived.  Try this fun Bible school activity to teach your children this important truth:

Here’s what you do:

Below, I have provided you with a list of 10 different Bible characters that you will want to find pictures of.  You should be able to easily find these pictures in a child’s Bible or even online as coloring pages.  I suggest you use ones that are in color to help keep your class’ interest.  Remember to laminate them for long-term use.

Now say the following to your children:  Boys and girls, do you know someone really, really old?  (Wait for responses.)  Do you know what we should do when we are young and when we are old?  We should praise God!  Our Bible verse today says:  “I will praise you as long as I live…”  That might be a really long time for some us.  Let’s learn about some Bible people who lived a super long time and praised God all of their lives.  Who knows whom this is?  (Hold up one of the pictures and let the children try and guess.  Help them

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Knowing the order of the different stories in the Bible should not just be for seminary scholars.  Our kids should be getting a handle on God’s amazing Word as well.  Try this fun and free Bible activity to help your kids learn the order of the stories in the Bible.  I call it “Order Up!”

Here’s what you do:

This activity will take some preparation, however, you will find that the time you invest will be well worth it.  I have provided you with a list of 12 sets of different Bible stories within the Old Testament beginning with Creation and ending with Nehemiah calling Israel to rebuild the temple.  This game will be most effective and engaging if you can find actual pictures that portray the essence of each story.  You can actually do this quite easily by going online and googling: bible story pictures or even bible story coloring pages.  You could also use a children’s bible and cut out the different pictures.  Within each set of story pictures, place the ordinal number on the back of each.  For example, in the first set of stories, Creation would be first, Adam and Eve Disobey God would be second, Cain and Abel would be third and Noah’s Ark would be fourth.  Make sure, however, that the numbers do not show through to the other side.  Whatever kinds of pictures you choose, make sure you laminate them for long-term use.  This will be a game that you will want to play many times in order for your kids to learn the order of Bible history.  Once you have all your pictures, now make signs from either index cards or another kind of paper that says: first, second, third and fourth.  Laminate these as well.  Finally, you will need a table or a pocket chart upon which you can display your pictures and the ordinal numbers so that the children can place them in the correct order.

Here’s how to play this free Bible activity:

Tell your children the following:  Bible history is very important.  It helps us know God.  In fact, history is His-Story.  God has a beginning and end to this life on earth and each of us plays a part.  The people in the Bible were just as important as we are and it’s crucial that we know what happened in the Bible and when.  So, let’s play “Order Up!”

First, let’s divide the class into two teams.  I am going to place 4 pictures of different Bible stories down on the table.  They are not going to be in order.  It will be your team’s job to put them in order.  For every story you place in the correct order, your team will earn 100 points.  With each set of stories, I will help you get started by asking you a multiple-choice question.  If you get it right, you will automatically earn 100 points for your team and then you will get to pick one of the other story pictures and put it in its proper order.  It will be up to you to make a good guess at what order the other 3 stories belong in.  However, each guess could be your last.  Once you make an incorrect guess, the player who was guessing will have to sit down.  I will reveal the correct order of the stories.  Then it will be the next team’s turn for a new set of stories.  Remember, for each story that is correct, you earn 100 points for your team.  Let’s play!

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