Leader Guide
Battle Game
- Paper lunch bags or paper cups, one per child
- Washable markers, crayons, or colored pencils
- Optional: stapler or tape
- Newsprint or scrap paper, about three sheets per child
- Pennies or pebbles, at least five per team
- Two tables
- Optional: masking tape or painters tape
- Optional: paper and pencil for scorekeepers
- Optional: fine-tip marker
Set up two tables to hold bags.
Mark or tape a starting line about 6 feet from the tables.
Make a sample “giant” to show children.
If using paper cups, be sure children can draw on the surface.
If using pebbles instead of pennies, use fine-tip marker to write “Trust God” on each.
Select sixth grade helpers or other volunteers to keep score for each team.
Victory in Christ: Play a game to defeat your giants
We may not have to worry about giants in the Promised Land, but what are some giant fears that we may face today? Heights, darkness, snakes, spiders, speaking in front of people, taking tests, being bullied, being teased for following God’s Word instead of the crowd.
These fears may seem huge to us, and we may think we are small in comparison, but we can do all things with the Lord! He gives us His Holy Spirit to live inside us, so we can overcome every fear and accomplish what we are doing!
Hold up your sample “giant,” then give each child a washable marker and paper bag or cup. They should write their names on the bottom and sketch a mean-looking giant on one side, leaving the top two inches of the bag blank. On the other side, they should write one of the “giant” fears mentioned earlier. Have them crumple the newsprint and stuff the bags, then fold over the top edge and staple or tape shut. There is no need to stuff the cups.
That’s a lot of nasty-looking giants! How can we defeat all of them? With Christ we win; He gives us the victory over everything.
Hold up a penny with the words “In God we trust” on it or a pebble marked “Trust God.” You may think this tiny thing can’t do much, but it has a powerful message that can change your life. Do you know what it says? In God we trust; or, Trust God.
When we trust in the Lord, we can do great things! So let’s use our trust in God to defeat all of these scary-looking giants! Remember—the battle belongs to the Lord.
Divide the class into teams of several children each. Each team should place their “giant” bags on a table or the floor, then stand behind the starting line. Give the first child on each team five pennies or pebbles to try to knock down all of the team’s giants. Other teammates should collect the pennies, give them to the next player, and set up the giants again. Play continues until everyone has an opportunity to throw. The scorekeepers keep a running tally of each team’s downed “giants.” The highest-scoring team wins.
After all children have had a turn and a winning team declared, allow teams to “combine forces” together to defeat all of the giants.
As we experience victory in Christ, we must be willing to help others defeat their giants, too!
Optional: give each child a penny or pebble to take home with his or her giant bag as a reminder to trust God to do great things.
Conclusion: We can defeat our giants because of Christ who loves us. We just need to trust in Him, not our own strength.