01. PACT
(similar to Simon Says)
*MATERIALS: Rubber bands
*HOW TO PLAY:
– Let the players know that you are going to be telling them to do some things in this game.
– But, make a pact with them first, saying that they can only do what you say when you say “I say” first.
– The game starts when you announce, “I say, I say.” Then the players will respond with: “What do you say?” Then you tell them to do something.
– Later as the game progresses, you will without notice tell the class to do something without saying, “I say, I say” first. Whoever does what you say anyway, will have a rubber band tied to their hair as penalty (If their hair is too short, it can be tied to their clothes).
** Another version of this game is you specify a word that isn’t allowed to be used during the game (for example: “I”, “you”, “no, etc.). After that, just let everyone talk with each other. Whoever says the words specified earlier will get a rubber band tied to their hair.
*PURPOSE OF THE GAME:
If there is a pact, there is punishment for whoever doesn’t carry out what they agreed on. The old Covenant includes the laws that God sent down for His people to follow. If they did wrong, they would have to suffer punishment. But in actuality, people don’t have the ability to carry out God’s Law. But God loves His people. Surely He has a plan.
02. EXPELLED FROM THE PACT
(similar to a game called “Let the birds out”)
*MATERIALS:
– Rubber bands
– *HOW TO PLAY:
– Teachers split the class into groups of threes. In each group, two people will stand facing each other with some space in the middle and hold hands to create a “bird cage”. One person will stand in the middle as the “bird”.
– All the groups of three stand in a circle. In the center of this circle there are one or two birds (also players) who are lost and are looking for a cage.
– All of the cages are closed (holding hands, crouched down) until they hear the whistle / signal. Then all the cages open up (hands held above their head) at once to let the birds break loose, fly away, and “steal” a new cage.
– The bird(s) in the middle of the circle also have to “fly” quickly with the other birds in order to nab a cage for themselves.
– Finally, whichever birds weren’t able to grab themselves a cage will get a rubber band tied to their hair or clothes and have to stand in the middle as a lost bird.
*PURPOSE OF THE GAME:
In this game, no matter how many opportunities there are, there will always be birds that will be stuck outside those cages as cast-outs. The old covenant of God was only given to the Israelites, the chosen people, and we were the ones to be cast out of that covenant. But when Jesus came and died on the cross for all people, He gave the whole world the opportunity to enter into the family of God (John 1:12).
03. THE STORY OF THE COVENANT
(Read a story, and when you come to each player’s word, they have to respond in a certain way)
*MATERIALS:
Rubber bands
* HOW TO PLAY:
– Have the class sit in a circle.
– Make a pact with each student and give each of them a word following the same order here: Covenant, law, Israelites.
– Tell the story of the covenant, and when you come to each player’s word, they have to yell out “I’M HERE!” and raise their hands high.
– If anyone forgets or yells out when it’s not their turn, they will get a rubber band tied to their hair or clothes.
*PURPOSE OF THE GAME:
To introduce your class to the story of the old Covenant between God and the Israelites, and the new covenant between God and the whole world. This game also aims to help them become familiar with unique vocabulary from the Bible related to these things.
THE STORY OF THE COVENANT
This is a story about God, the One who chose Israel and established a COVENANT with them. The sign of the start of that COVENANT with the ISRAELITES was circumcision, and the ISRAELITES had to keep the LAW of Moses, especially keeping the Sabbath. If they followed that LAW, the ISRAELITES would receive the promise of becoming a people belonging to God, prosperity, and peace. This COVENANT was sealed by the blood of sacrifices in the Holy of Holies in the tabernacle. Only the high priest was allowed to step into the Holy of Holies each year on the Day of Atonement to offer an atoning sacrifice for the ISRAELITES. This COVENANT also reminded the people of how God delivered The ISRAELITES from the yoke of slavery in Egypt. However, God’s LAW was stringent with the LAW of the Sabbath and 613 other LAWS as well… How could anyone keep them all? Therefore, God send His Son, Jesus, to the world. Jesus established a new COVENANT with mankind by offering up His own life as a sacrifice. Not once a year, but once and for all.
Not to deliver us from the yoke of slavery in Egypt, but from the yoke of slavery to sin. Different from the old COVENANT that was only for the chosen people, the ISRAELITES, the new COVENANT is for all people, all tribes, and all nations. The sign of the start of the new COVENANT is a transformation of the heart that allows us to believe in Jesus and become Christians. Those who believe in Jesus will keep God’s LAW of love, love God first and foremost, and love their neighbor as themselves. The promise for those in the new COVENANT is eternal life. They are able to be with God forever. Because God is in all places, He doesn’t just stay in Israel or in the temple of the ISRAELITES, but He’s also inside the hearts of those who believe in Him. Therefore, Christians are the temple of God, and we can worship Him no matter where we are. That means that we don’t need a priest to be an intermediary to help us talk to God. Each of us can come before God and talk with Him personally. The God of the COVENANT is very just, faithful, and loving, isn’t He?
