Action Game

Jesus said that Mary discovered the one thing worth being concerned about; what was that? Spending time with Jesus and listening to what He taught.

Read Luke 10:41–42:

But the Lord said to her, “My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her.”

While Mary had discovered the most important thing, Martha was struggling to do many things at one time. This caused her to become upset with Mary and to ask Jesus why He didn’t send Mary to help her! To represent Martha’s big meal, we will stay with the theme of plates, cups and spoons. Our game consists of two parts. I will reveal one part at a time. In the first part, a player will toss paper balls to a teammate to catch. Does that sound simple? Well, not as easy as you may think; like Martha, you will be distracted by many things at one time.

Divide the class into even teams of 4–6 children. One child may need to take two turns if necessary.

Divide each team in half. Each half will stand at opposite ends behind the lines directly across from each other. Explain that one half of each team will be the catchers and the other half of each team will be the throwers.

Give a cooking pan or paper grocery bag to the first player on the catchers’ side of each team.

Give a paper plate, cup, and spoon to that same player on the catchers’ side of each team.

With one hand, the player holds the plate with a cup and spoon on it.

With the other hand, the player holds the paper bag or cooking pot.

Give two sheets of scrap paper to each player on the throwers’ side. Have themwad the paper into balls.

Start the game. All teams play at once.

The first thrower tries to toss the two paper balls, one at a time, into the bag or pot held by the team’s first catcher.

The catcher tries to catch the ball in the bag or pot without dropping the plate, cup or spoon. If any item from the plate falls to the floor, the catcher must return it to the plate before another ball is tossed.

Optional for Grades 4–6: for an even greater challenge, the catchers must also walk or jog in place as they attempt to catch the balls.

Balls must remain where they land for the entire round: in the pot or bag, or on the floor.

After the first thrower tosses two balls, that player goes to the end of the throwers’ line, while the first catcher gives the next player in the catchers’ line the bag or pot, along with the plate, cup and spoon.

Play commences with the next set of players.

Play until all throwers have tossed their balls.

Count the balls in the pots or bags and mark each team’s score on the board.

Retrieve all balls and give them to the players on the opposite side so the catchers are now the throwers. Play again and record each team’s points.

Next, play two more rounds—with both sides acting as throwers and catchers—except do not use the plates, cups and spoons. Each catcher may hold the bag or pot with both hands.

Tally all points and declare a winner.

Conclusion: Was it difficult to do so many things at one time in the first part of the game?

Were the scores higher for the first way we played the game or the second way we played? Why? It’s easier to focus on doing just one thing at a time.

How does this apply to our Bible story today? Martha was busy trying to do too much, while Mary chose to spend time with Jesus and focus completely on Him.