Leader Guide

Balloon Game

Let’s shout our SuperTruth together. “I will not give up!”

We have learned how Paul did not give up, even when he faced tremendous hardships and uncertainties.

Read Acts 20:22–24:

"And now I am bound by the Spirit to go to Jerusalem. I don’t know what awaits me, except that the Holy Spirit tells me in city after city that jail and suffering lie ahead. But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus—the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God.”

This is amazing. Paul never knew where he would be sent, how long he would be in jail, or how he would suffer. Despite all of that, Paul kept going so he could accomplish God’s will and finish his journey to reap his reward. 

Let’s play a game where you will do a good thing by obeying your leader. You will be told different ways to bounce a balloon in the air. You don’t know how long you will need to do it; the important thing is that you must continue to do a good thing and don’t give up! At that point, at the right time, you will receive a reward. 

Give each player a balloon. Players do not volley the balloon between them—they each play with their own balloon individually. The balloon cannot be caught or held in hands or against the body. If it touches the floor, the player must pick it up and continue until you shout, “Time is up!” It is important that the children do not know the length of time that they must continue doing each exercise.   

Instructions:

• Bat the balloon in the air with both hands. 15 seconds.
• Bat the balloon in the air with your right hand. 30 seconds.
• Bat the balloon in the air with your left hand. 30 seconds.
• Bat the balloon in the air with your head. 15 seconds.
• Bat the balloon in the air with your shoulders. 30 seconds.
• Bat the balloon in the air with your knees. 60 seconds.
• Bat the balloon in the air with your feet. 30 seconds. 

Scoring:

• One point is given to each player in each round, regardless of how many times the balloon hits the ground.
• Two points are awarded to any player who does not allow the balloon to touch the floor at all during one round.  

Record the points on the board after each turn, then give instructions for the next round.

Optional: Divide the children into several teams, with a different leader giving different instructions with different times for each team to obey. Afterward, ask: Was it difficult to see that others did not have to do a good thing as long as you? 

Conclusion: Great job not giving up - no matter how long your time was to obey the instructions! How did it feel to not know how long you must do the good thing?

Did it help to know you would be rewarded at the end of the time?

Our SuperVerse tells us at just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. God’s timing is not always the same as our timing, but He is never slow or late! At just the right time, God will release the blessings and we will reap a harvest!