Youth Ministry Games

The purpose of these Youth Ministry Games is to give teens and pre-teens a chance to belong
to a group that wants to have fun, and is also interested in building faith, and a relationship with
Jesus Christ.
These games for youth ministry are set up for both small as well as large groups. Some
adapting will always take place by the group leaders to fit your space, to best fit your youth
ages, and to match your desired outcome and your purpose for playing these games.

Before the youth ministry games are played, be sure to go over the rules and expectations for
each group member:

1. No put-downs or negative things can be said or done to any other person.

2. The goal of these games is for every person to feel a part of the group.
3. Winning is not as important as supporting and encouraging each other to live out their faith in
Jesus Christ.
“Do not let anyone look down upon you because you are young, but set an example for
the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.”

1 Timothy 4:12 (NIV)

Decide before the youth ministry games begin, on a signal that alerts the youth to stop, or to
come together at a specific place. Examples: a train whistle, a cheer that everyone can join in
saying, a clapping pattern, a chant that everyone can quickly learn or already knows, or
anything else that fits your group dynamics.
Don’t be afraid to establish and practice your “stop and listen signal” with your group. I tell my
groups, “When I want you stop and listen, this will be the signal. When you hear the signal I
want you to (sit quietly, move to a certain spot, or to come as a group and be ready to listen to
directions). Let’s practice so that everyone will know what to do. Okay, everyone get up, move
around and talk to each other. ” Give the signal. Most of the youth will move where they were
directed, but several won’t.If the behaviors you are seeing are not what you want, practice it
again. I say something like, (with a big smile), “That was pretty good, but you can do much
better than that!” And, we practice it again.
Let the youth know that any group member whose behavior becomes a problem for other group
members; will be taken aside to be warned about behaviors that need to be changed.
If the problem behavior continues, and becomes a negative force for the youth ministry group or
the leaders; that person will be asked to sit out of the games for a few minutes. When the
person is ready to join the games with a better behavior, he or she may rejoin the games.
 STATION # 1: The Walk of Faith

Game Description
1.Players are put into groups of three with the middle person blindfolded.
2. The three players must stay in a line, in front and in back of the blindfolded person. The
people in front and in back must guide the blind person through an obstacle course or through
rooms in a house.
3. When the three players get back to where they started, the blindfolded player must follow the
same path alone,trying to remember all of their turns and footsteps, while still blindfolded.
4. If the blindfolded player is successful and makes it to the end of the obstacle course, the
team wins. If not, the players come back to the start, and another player is selected to be
blindfolded with a player in the front and back; and they once again go through the obstacle
course or rooms of a house.
Important
Remember to change the obstacle course pattern, or change the course followed in the house
for each new team.
Materials needed
An obstacle course set up with chairs, cushions, and other “obstacles.” Rooms of a house may
also be used if that is easier.

Several blindfolds – one for each team

To make it a greater challenge, use a stopwatch to time each blindfolded person, to see who
can run the course with the fastest time.

Follow-up lesson

Take time at the end of the game to talk with all of the teams about the importance of friendship, and that
with God, nothing is impossible, especially if done with the support of friends or family.

Have the blindfolded team members share the things they learned as they did this youth ministry activity.
There are some powerful lessons to be learned and shared during the playing of this game.

If the blindfolded people have a hard time describing the experience, remind the group how important it
is to have good friends that will help each other make good choices.

STATION # 2: Choose Ye This Day

Game Description:

This is a fun youth ministry game that serves a double purpose:

 To remind the youth players of things that strengthen or weaken their relationship with
God;
 To have fun as a group of young people who are building their faith in Jesus Christ.

1. Leaders will have blown up about 40-50 balloons( Lessen the number of balloons depending
upon the number of players) of various colors and shapes.
2. The leaders will write phrases or words that remind players of some of the ways they can be
closer to God on half of the balloons. On the other half of the balloons, leaders write phrases or
words that pull all of us away from God’s influence. Keep the “good” and “bad” balloons in
separate large garbage bags.
3. Divide the youth into two teams, and divide the playing area with tape on the ground. Leaders
will throw both the good and the bad balloons equally on each side. If the word or phrase on the
balloon is good, players want to hold onto them. If they are bad, and pull away from their
relationship with Jesus Christ, players want to throw those balloons over the line on the other
team’s area.
4. After all of the balloons have been tossed out, give the players a couple of minutes to play the
game. Then call, “Stop!” None of the balloons may be picked up or thrown after stop is called.
5. Each of the “good” balloons that are being held by a player count as a point. Even good
balloons stuffed up the players shirts count. Any “bad” balloons being held by players or bad
balloons on the floor of the team, count as a point against the team’s total points. The team with
the most points is the winner of the round. The balloons can be gathered and play can begin
again.

Materials needed

40-50 balloons blown up and tied; Sharpie-type markers to write on the good and bad balloons.
Use permanent markers so that the ink does not get on the players hands or clothes. Give the
ink from the markers time to dry before using with the youth.

Follow-up lesson:

There are many things that draw us closer to Jesus Christ, and many things that can pull each of us away from
Jesus Christ. It is up to each person to make good choices, and to get rid of bad choices. Remind the players, that
each follower of Jesus Christ, no matter how young or how old, must make these choices every day, and that some
days it is difficult to let go of the bad things that pull us from building a strong relationship with Jesus Christ. We
cannot give up and give in, we must keep building our faith, trust, and love in God each day.

STATION #3: The Back-To-Back Get Up

Game Description

The game begins with two players sitting back-to-back with their arms hooked together, with
their feet flat on the floor in front of them; and knees are up towards their chest. The goal of this
youth ministry game is for the players to stand up without using any hands.

As soon as this is accomplished, add another player to hook arms with the other two players
and to go from sitting to standing. Keep adding a new person each time the group successfully
stands up.

Materials needed

None, just space enough to keep adding new players to the group

Follow-up lesson

Remind the group that doing this activity, (with your feet in front of you flat on the floor and knees bent
and up towards the person’s chest), is close to impossible to do by yourself. Things always seem to work
better with teamwork( esp. with the persons of the same faith) and a positive attitude.

STATION # 4: Buddy, Can You Share A Chair?

Game Description

Chairs will be set up just like regular Musical Chairs, with one less chair than the number of
people. As the music starts, players walk around the chairs, and when the music stops, the
players try to sit on a chair.

The person who does not have a chair is not out. Ask if there is anyone willing to share their
chair with that person. As soon as every player is somehow seated with the new configuration,
play begins again. When the music stops, now there will be two players without chairs.
Hopefully, the players will scoot over and share their chair or their lap.

As more and more chairs are taken out, the players begin to sit on laps, and it gets pretty
crowded, but no one is ever out of the game. As the last chair is sat on when the music stops,
all of the players sit on each other’s laps, so that each person feels a part of the group.

This is one of my favorite games, because it takes caring, sharing, getting squished, and
working as a team to find a place for everyone to sit on another person’s leg or lap. There will
be a lot of smiles and laughter during this game!

Materials needed

Chairs for all of the players, and some type of boom box or MP3 players(cellphones with loud
speakers can also be utilized) that can be played and paused many times.

Follow-up lesson

Ask the players what they learned by playing this game. The lessons taught in this game are powerful!
Remind the youth ministry players, that God cares about everyone of them. He doesn’t want any of His
children to feel like they don’t belong, or that anyone feels like a loser. When any of us take time to
include other people, that leads us to a stronger relationship with Jesus Christ.

STATION # 5: Tangled Up
Game Description
Divide players into small groups of 8-10 people. Everyone grabs the hand of someone not
standing right next to them. Players cannot let go of the other person’s hand, or they have
immediately lost the game. In order to untangle, some players might go under some arms, some
might go over, etc. The first team to get back into a circle wins.

Materials needed: None

Follow-up lesson

Being a part of a group is a team effort, with everyone giving their best. If one or two people don’t try,
the team cannot succeed.

STATION # 6: Listen, Listen

Game Description
Players will be paired up with one other person. One of the players is blindfolded. Using
whatever things are available, (chairs, cushions, bags, etc.) create a simple obstacle course.

The blindfolded person begins at one side of the obstacle course, and has to listen to his or her
partner to successfully make it through the obstacles. Some examples are: “Stop!” “Take three
steps to the left.” or “Take two small steps forward,” etc.

While the blindfolded person is listening to the partner, other players are there trying to distract
the blindfolded person. They might say things like: “That’s not the right way to go!” “Follow me,
and you’ll be safe.” “Big mistake going that way!” “No, take three steps to the right!”

It may be necessary to set up several obstacle courses if your group is large, because every
person will want to experience listening to that one voice of the person that would lead them
safely through the obstacles.

Materials needed

Items such as chairs, tables, blankets, sleeping bags, etc. to create the obstacle course

Follow-up lesson

When God speaks to us, it is with a soft voice, and we have to listen carefully to hear and understand
God’s will for each of us. There will always be people trying to get each of us to make bad decisions, or
wrong choices that will lead us away from God. Remind the players that God will never lead them to
make bad choices, and that He loves each of them with a love that will never end.

FAMILY TIME IDEA

Get To Know You Web

Game Description

Have players sit in a circle on chairs or on the floor. If your group is larger than 20 people, split it
into two groups. Have a leader with each group to keep things moving in a positive way, with
group members listening to each other’s answers.

Have one player hold the end of a ball of yarn or string and toss the ball part to someone at
least two people away. The person catching the ball of yarn or string gets asked a question. He
or she gives their answer and tosses the ball of yarn to another person at least two people
away, and asks him or her a question.

This continues until every person in the circle is holding the yarn or the string and has had a turn
to share their ideas with the group.

Materials needed

A ball of yarn or string for each group of players. It might be helpful to some of the players, if
there are some questions pre-written on a poster in the center of the circle, that they could ask a
person that catches the ball of yarn; such as:

“What is your favorite story in the Bible?”

“Tell us one person that is your hero, and tell why.”
“If you could be more like Jesus Christ in one way, what would it be?”
“If you won a million dollars and could only use it to help other people, how would you use the
money?”
Follow-up lesson

Everyone has good ideas and good things to share, and when we take the time to listen to them
it shows respect, and builds trust and friendship.
 STATION # 7: Win, lose or draw

This is a classical team game, which can be very easily executed.

Materials Needed:

Paper, pen, and a flipchart/whiteboard.

Game Procedure:

1. Think of items that fit into certain categories. These can be generic or specific to the team.
For example, generic categories include food items, places of interest, idioms. Team-specific
categories include computer technologies for computer scientists, business ideas for startups,
school and students for teachers.

2. Split the group into 2 teams.

3. Each team takes turns to play. The team that is playing will nominate an artist, who will draw
a “list” of items to draw. The only hint to his teammates will be the category name. They then
have 1-3 minutes to draw the items on that list, without writing nor speaking.

4. Switch around to another team after the time limit.

5. Swap artists with each round, and repeat for 4-5 rounds.

6. Collate the final results to find the winning team.

Follow-up Lesson
STATION # 8: Human Knot/ Tangled Up
This brain teaser is funny and really works on teambuilding, problem solving and
communication. No materials are needed. Recommended group size includes a wide range of
8-20 people.

Game Procedure:

1.Instruct the participants to stand in a circle, shoulder to shoulder.

2.Tell everyone to put their right hand in the air and grab the hand of someone standing across
the circle from them.

3.Now tell everyone to put their left hand in the air and grab the hand of a different person.
Someone needs to check that everyone is holding the hands of two different people and that no
one is holding the hand of someone who’s standing directly next to them.

4. The objective of the game is to untangle everyone without letting go of their hands. If the
chain is broken, participants will have to start over.

Note: sometimes >1 circle will form. This game requires casual clothing, and is not
recommended for team members with physical limitations. This game will rely heavily on
teamwork and communication.

Follow-up lesson

Being a part of a group is a team effort, with everyone giving their best. If one or two people don’t try,
the team cannot succeed.
 STATION # 9: Talking in Circles

This is a highly challenging game that is only recommended for teams who love challenges.

Game Procedure:

1. Place everyone in a circle around a long piece of string that is tied at its ends to form a circle.

2. Have everyone grasp the string with both hands and hold the string waist high.

3. Without letting go, the team will have to form shapes with the string; a square, a triangle, a
figure eight, a rectangle, etc.

4. Repeat the game but with everyone’s eyes shut! This will require everyone to communicate
clearly and listen well.

5. Make the shapes progressively harder and periodically have them stop and open their eyes
to see their progress…

Follow-up Lesson
 STATION # 10: Salt and Pepper
This activity is fun, excellent for energizing your team, and also great as a quick ice-breaker
exercise. It is simple to set up and suitable for a wide team size of 10-40 people (ideally even
numbered).

Game Procedure:

1. As a facilitator, think of pairs of things such as, salt and pepper, yin and yang, shadow and
light, peanut butter and jelly, Mickey and Minnie mouse, male and female, and so forth.

2. Write each item on a piece of paper (i.e. salt on one piece and pepper on another), and tape
one paper on the back of each person, making sure they can’t see it.

3. When the game starts, everyone must walk around asking yes or no questions in order to find
out what word they have taped to their backs.

4. Once they figure that out, they need to find their other pair. Learning how to ask the right
questions is the key.

(Optional: The two will then sit down and learn three to five interesting facts about one another)

Follow-up Lesson