Bible Nouns
You can do this exercise like a Sword drill but instead of finding a reference the first person that thinks of a verse can stand and quote it. You can also let the second and third persons quote a verse. Whether or not they quote the reference with the verse will be up to you. You may want to have a good concordance handy.
Name a person, place or thing from the Bible and let your group quote a verse with that word or some form of that word in the verse. Example - fruit (could use fruit or apples, figs, etc.), peace (peaceable, peacemaker).
Search the Scriptures
Here are some references that can either be read by the leader or used as a Sword Drill before playing this game.
John 5:39 2 Tim. 3:16 Psa. 119:11 1 Pet. 2:2 1 Kg. 8:56
Divide into two teams and decide who will go first. The youth leader will read the Bible verse but not the reference and the team must tell where it is found. There are 4 points possible for each reference: 1 for the Testament, 1 for the book, 1 for the chapter, and 1 for the verse. If the first team doesn’t get all 4 points then the other team can try before taking their regular turn.
Example: The teacher reads- “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” If the student knows this verse came from the New Testament, he would write down “NT”. For the book line he would write “John”. But if he could not remember the chapter and verse he would receive a score of 2 points for that verse..
Below are some references to get started but the leader should choose verses that are appropriate for the age and knowledge of his particular group.
John 3:16
Rom. 3:23
Gen. 1:1
Psa. 119:11
John 1:1
Matt. 5:6
1 Cor. 10:13
Psa. 23:1
Gen. 37:3
Acts 16:25
1 John 1:9
Click this link for 6 more sets of verses that you can use.
Bible Hangman
This is similar to regular hangman but using Bible nouns instead. You will need either a chalk board or one that uses erasable markers. If those are not available use some large sheets of paper.
Have a number of Biblical persons, places and things on slips of paper and put in a sack or offering plate. Divide into two teams and choose a team to go first. Have them look at one of the pieces of paper and draw a line on the board for each letter on the paper. Have a gallows drawn and then have the other team start guessing letters to see what the word is. Proceed as in regular hangman till the team either guesses the word or is “hung”. Then it is their turn to draw out a paper. Keep score as to which side guesses the most words correctly.
What’s his Address?
Many Bible stories are familiar but we don’t always know where they are found at in the Bible. This exercise will help your group get familiar with finding where some of the people are located in the Bible. Read the name of the character and let the person or team tell which book it is found in. Also please note that the books listed here are where the main incidents took placed, there may be references to the character mentioned in other places; use your own judgment.
Here are some more ideas on variations of this game. Try making flash cards with the Bible character instead of just saying the name. You could also incorperate this into the game above called "Search the Scriptures". Read a verse about the Bible character and let them guess where it was from.
David- I & II Samuel, I Kings, I Chronicles
Joseph of Arimathea- Matthew, Mark, Luke, John
Enoch- Genesis
Deborah- Judges
Joseph, son of Jacob- Genesis
Balaam- Numbers
Noah- Genesis
Dorcas- Acts
Naomi- Ruth
Priscilla- Acts
Lot- Genesis
Jacob- Genesis
Miriam- Exodus, Numbers
Rahab- Joshua
Sarah- Genesis
Esua—Genesis
Naaman—2 Kings
Rachel—Genesis
Stephen—Acts
Paul—Acts
Abraham—Genesis
Abednego—Daniel
Agrippa—Acts
Gideon—Judges
Martha—Luke, John
Felix—Acts
Ruth—Ruth
Elijah—1 & 2 Kings
Elisha—1 & 2 Kings
Peter—4 Gospels, Acts
Nebuchadnezzar—Daniel
Naomi—Ruth
Silas—Acts
Esther—Esther
Hamaan—Esther
Isaac—Genesis
Rebekah—Genesis
Meshach—Daniel
Abel—Genesis
Shadrach—Daniel
Moses—Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy
Solomon—2 Samuel, 1 Kings, 1 & 2 Chronicles
Joshua—Joshua, Exodus, Numbers, Deuteronomy
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Incidents
Here is a variation to the above game. Only this time you give an incident that happened and the person or team can guess what book it is found in.
The fiery furnace—Daniel
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The prophet fed by birds—1 Kings
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Someone who told a lie and died for it—Acts
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A young man thrown to the lions—Daniel
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The faith chapter—Hebrews
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The borrowed axe that floated—2 Kings
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Noah and the ark—Genesis
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A man waited 38 years beside a pool but never made it in—John
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Jesus’ crucifixion—Matthew, Mark, Luke, John
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The man who used a mantle to get across a river—2 Kings
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The birth of John the Baptist—Luke
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The visit of the wise men—Matthew
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The boy captive who became ruler—Genesis
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The creation—Genesis
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The visit of the shepherds—Luke
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The fellow who traded his inheritance for a bowl of pottage—Genesis
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The man swallowed by a fish—Jonah
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David & Goliath—1 Samuel The coat of many colors—Genesis
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The boy who ran away from home—Luke
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Name Chain
Start at the back or front of the room and go around and have each student name a Bible character. The first student names a character then the next student has to name a character that starts with the last letter of the character given by the first student. Also you could just randomly call on students that had their hands up.
Example: The first student says Abraham. The next student then would give a character that started with the letter “M” like Michael. The next student would use “L” maybe Luke, then Ezekiel and so on. If the class is doing it as a group, see how long they can go without repeating a name or getting stuck. Another idea is to divide into two groups. One side would start with a name then the other side would name a character and back and forth till one side gets stumped.
You may want to set a time limit on thinking of a name.
Matching Game
Match the character with the incident or place, etc. You can put these on index cards in 2 columns. Try fastening them with yarn to a sheet so you can turn them over easy. Have them numbered on one side with the name or incident on the other. The player or team would then call out a number on both sides and if they matched they would get a point.
Moses—burning bush
Noah—ark
Achan—Babylonish garment
Rahab—scarlet cord
Elijah—chariot of fire
Esther—queen
Haman—gallows
Solomon—Proverbs
Judas—betrayed Jesus
Felix—Roman governor
Samson—300 foxes
NT—27 books
Daniel—lions’ den
Naaman—leprosy
Zaachaeus—Sycamore tree
David—sling
Joshua—Moses’ successor
Paul—missionary
Shadrach—fiery furnace
Jonah—whale
Joseph—coat of many colors
Esau—bowl of pottage
OT—39 books
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Drawings
Have different Bible scenes or concepts written on pieces of paper and put them in a sack or basket. You will need something to draw on; large pieces of paper, a chalk board, etc. Also a timer or watch.
Divide your group into 2 teams. Take turns having someone reach in the sack and draw out a piece of paper. The person then draws that scene on the board while their teammates try to guess the answer. The one drawing the scene is not allowed to talk . There should be a time limit for each round.
Fruit of the Spirit
Adam names the animals
Baptism
Noah’s ark
Fiery furnace
Joseph’s colorful coat
Elisha floats the axe head
Love of money
Jesus’ return to earth
Daniel in the lion’s den
Paul’s shipwreck
Mountain moving faith
3 wisemen
The shepherds
3 Hebrew boys in the fiery furnace
Mother’s Day Matching Game
Match the mother and her child. You can put these on index cards in 2 columns. Try fastening them with yarn to a sheet so you can turn them over easy. Have them numbered on one side with the name on the other. The player or team would then call out a number on both sides and if they matched they would get a point.
Hannah—Samuel
Rachel—Joseph
Eve—Cain
Leah—Reuben
Rebekah—Esau
Ruth—Obed
Bathsheba—Solomon
Leah—Judah
Eunice—Timothy
Rebekah—Jacob
Elisabeth—John Baptist
Eve—Abel
Mary—Jesus
Sarah—Isaac
Salome—James
Leah—Levi
Mary—John Mark
Hagar—Ishmael
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Panel of Experts
Have three adults (or you could use some young people) seated at the front; have a small tray or table there to hold the objects.
Have the young people bring an object from home that a lesson could be given from. The “panel of experts” will take turns giving short lessons from the things brought.
Some variations: Have all the objects displayed at the beginning and allow each panel member to choose which object they want to talk on.
The leader can call on a young person to bring their object up and give it to one of the panel members.
Guess That Character
Get some adults to cooperate on this one. A few days before time give each one a name of a Bible character and possibly the reference in the Bible. Have them read over the story and be prepared to give clues about who they are.
When it’s time have them sit in front facing your group. They can dress to match the character if they want. The young people can then ask questions and try to guess who the characters are.
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Bible Charades
Items needed: A basket with different Bible incidents (such as David & Goliath, etc.) written on pieces of paper.
Choose someone to go first. That person draws out a folded piece of paper and acts out the story written on it. Whoever guesses the charade then takes their turn.
Note: If your group is reluctant to answer because they don’t want to act out a charade: try having them take turns acting, and keep score on who answers the most.
Here are a few suggestions to get you started.
Fruit of the Spirit
Baptism
Peter and the prison doors opening
Daniel in the lion’s den
Elisha floating the axe head
Jesus’ return to earth
3 wisemen
Baby Moses and the ark
Joseph sold as a slave
Balaam and the talking donkey
Birth of Jesus
Elijah and the fiery chariot
Feeding of the 5000
Jonah and the whale
Samson ties the foxes’ tails together
The broad way and the strait way
Abraham offers Isaac as a sacrifice
Noah’s ark
Christ the Light of the world
Adam names the animals
Fiery furnace
Love of money
Joseph’s coat of many colors
Paul’s shipwreck
Mountain moving faith
The shepherds
3 Hebrew boys in the fiery furnace
The disciples in the ship
Water into wine
Jesus at the pool of Bethesda
David and Goliath
Christ ascending to heaven
Baby Moses in a basket on the river
Gideon’s battle
Walls of Jericho
Christ knocking at our heart’s door
Elijah and the fiery chariot
Rahab letting down the spies
A variation of this game could be for the teacher or leader to act out each one and let the group or teams guess what it is.
Bible Memorization
If your class is into memorization try this exercise: See how many different books of the Bible your group can memorize a verse from, you could have different students do different books.
Guess Who
Read a Bible story with the names left out and see who can guess the character or characters.
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Bible Verse Bee
This can be played individually or can be adapted to teams. If teams are chosen be sure each individual participates.
Start out with each one (or team) quoting a Bible verse. When a person can no longer think of one he has to drop out. They must be whole verses and no verse may be repeated. Keep going around till just one person is left.
Trivia Question
Try asking your group a fairly difficult Bible question and let them find the answer and bring it next time you meet.
Bible Tic-Tac-Toe
This is an easy game that can be put together on short notice. Draw the lines for tic-tac-toe and divide the group into two teams. Determine which side goes first and ask them a Bible question; if they give the correct answer they can tell you where to put their “x”.
Continue until one side wins or the game is a draw. Keep score of the number of games each side wins.
A variation of this would be to have three different categories or types of questions for the three tic-tac-toe columns. (Ex.- Old Testament, New Testament, Animals, Parables, etc.) The team would pick which category they wanted and if they gave the correct answer they would put their “mark” in one of the squares in that column.
Bible Scavenger Hunt
This exercise is to encourage your students to search the Scriptures. They should put down a Bible reference for each “item” they are hunting for. There is more then one answer possible for some of the items.
If you want to divide up into teams try giving the “even” number items to one side and the “odd” number items to the other.
1. A shepherd.
2. A verse with only 2 words.
3. Two men who did not die.
4. Roll call of the heroes of faith.
5. A verse with 90 words in it.
6. A man with no parents.
7. A chapter with 176 verses.
8. A tax collector.
9. A lightweight axe.
10. A cupbearer.
11. A harp player.
12. A chapter with only 2 verses.
13. A slave.
14. Heart attack victim.
15. A woman with make-up.
16. Two people involving coats.
17. A leper.
18. A fisherman.
19. A snake-bitten man.
20. A snake on a stick.
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Couple Matching Game
This game can be played around Valentine’s Day. The group can be on teams but each one must guess individually. No writing anything down or giving hints. You can put these on index cards in 2 columns. Try fastening them with yarn to a sheet so you can turn them over easily.
Abraham- Sarah
Moses- Zipporah
David- Michal
Jacob- Rachel
Isaac- Rebekah
Boaz- Ruth
Zacharias- Elisabeth
Aquila- Priscilla
Joseph- Mary
Ahab- Jezebel
Adam- Eve
Ahasuerus- Esther
Elimelech- Naomi
Joseph- Asenath
Lapidoth- Deborah
Lot- Lot’s Wife
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Animals of the Bible
Call out a name of the animal and let your class answer true or false if it is found in the Bible. You can do this for a few minutes before a regular lesson or divide up into 2 teams and go back and forth. Here is a partial list of strange animals found in the Bible. Be sure to check with a concordance on animals not found in the Bible.
Chameleon- Lev. 11:30
Ferret- Lev. 11:30
Lizard- Lev. 11:30
Coney- Lev. 11:5
Pelican- Lev. 11:18
Cuckow- Lev. 11:16
Deer- Duet. 14:5
Dragon- Psa. 91:13
Apes- I Kgs. 10:22
Greyhound- Prov. 30:31
Mouse- Lev. 11:29
Question for the Experts
This just takes a few minutes and I like to do it before I begin teaching the Sunday school lesson. Simply ask them a Bible related question, usually a person, place or thing. Have everyone who thinks they know the answer raise their hands and then call on someone to answer. Those who knew the correct answer are experts for that day.
This is a good way to teach your class little tidbits from the Bible as well as getting them "loosened" up for the lesson.
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