Contests can be both fun for the student and informative for the teacher. Some work out best as individual afforts, others are geared towards team work. Be sure to have appropriate awards for the winners. You could put their names on a poster and hang it on the wall, recognition in their newsletter would be an attactive incentive. For a big contest you might even consider a small plaque.
5-5-5 Contest
Goes for 5 weeks, each week have a Sword Drill using 5 verses about the lesson, at the end name the 5 top contestants.
All Saints Treasure Hunt
Every week during the month of October put up a new list of questions in the Sunday school room. The answer to each question will be a saint from the Bible. There may be more then one question about the same saint.
The object is to “find” as many saints as possible.
Decide if you want them to work individually or divide up into pairs.
Encourage them to use just their Bibles and not to ask for outside help.
All answer sheets should be turned in to you at a set time each week. Or you could just have them turned in at the end of the month.
Award the top contenders.
Week 1
1. What 3 boys would not bend, budge or burn?
2. Who made an axe head float?
3. I conquered a mountain when I was 85.
4. Which prophet talked about wearing tires on your head?
5. Of whom was it said that too much learning had made him crazy?
6. My marriage was sealed with a shoe.
7. The giant killer.
Week 2
1. I once used rocks for my pillow.
2. I have a Bible book named after me but God is not mentioned in that book.
3. I was a cattleman and fruit gatherer but God called me to preach.
4. My singing opened a jail door.
5. Wet wool, dry wool; I knew God wanted me to go.
6. Paul once told me not to let anyone despise my youth but to be a good example.
7. My mother-in-law was healed by Jesus.
Week 3
1. I was a carpenter, captain, and cultivator.
2. If I perish, I perish!
3. I had a wonderful posthumous influence.
4. I was to be executed for eating honey.
5. I was an Old Testament saint that was talked about more in the New Testament then in the Old.
6. A prophetess that dwelt under a palm tree.
7. Because of my disobedience, God gave me a choice of three punishments.
Week 4
1. I wrote more Bible books then any other one person.
2. I once ran faster then a chariot.
3. I got the honor of victory because of a nail.
4. From sad cupbearer to stern governor.
5. Though a man, I wore a vail.
6. A Jewish tentmaker banished from Rome, I helped Paul.
7. I saved David from the giant.
Week 5
1. A seller of purple.
2. Because of my rash vow my only child had to die.
3. I said, “The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.”
4. God once told me that man looked on the outward appearance but He looked on the heart.
5. The longest verse in the Bible is found in the book named after me.
6. I was 75 years old when God called me to another country.
7. I had the longest burial procession recorded in the Bible.
Link to the PDF file with the answers
Here is are links to PDF files for each set of clues.
Week 1 - Week 2 - Week 3 - Week 4 - Week 5
Points Contest
You can set this one up to fit your particular class and situation.
Make up a chart and give 1 point each for any completed activity or task that you assign.
Being there on time
Reading so many chapters each week
Inviting someone to the class
Memorizing a new verse each week
Etc.
Mystery Contest
For this contest you will have 4 mysteries and each mystery will have 4 clues. The clues should get a little easier each week. On the bulletin board or a wall have columns labeled Mystery 1, Mystery 2, etc. Under each mystery place the first week's clues- one for each mystery. Your class will have until next week's class time to guess the clues. They receive 4 points for each correct answer the first week.
The second week post the next 4 clues- one for each mystery. Again they have a week to come up with the answers. This time they would get 3 points for each correct answer.
Here is an example: Tom guessed Mysteries 1 and 3 correctly the first week. He received 8 points- 4 for each mystery. The next week he was able to figure out Mystery 4, so that week he received 3 points. Finally on week 4 he got the answer to Mystery 2 so he received 1 point for that one. So Tom's total score would be 12 points.
Here are some rules you might want to post:
Work on your own. No outside help.
You may use your concordance, computer, etc. just do not ask anyone for the answer.
One guess per week. Your answer must be turned in by midnight Saturday.
You will receive 4 points per clue that you guess right the 1st week, 3 points per clue the 2nd week, etc.
Here are links to the mystery clues that I used. Again, remember to use clues that are in keeping with the age and knowledge level of your group.
If any of this is confusing feel free to ask about it in our blog.
Mystery 1- Clues 1 & 2 | Mystery 1- Clues 3 & 4 | Mystery 2- Clues 1 & 2 | Mystery 2- Clues 3 & 4
Mystery 3- Clues 1 & 2 | Mystery 3- Clues 3 & 4 | Mystery 4- Clues 1 & 2 | Mystery 4- Clues 3 & 4