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Leader Guide

Relay Game


  • Four empty paper towel tubes (rolls); or substitute four sheets of cardstock and masking tape
  • Four Chairs
  • Four shallow boxes or small storage containers—note: these will be targets to throw the scrolls into, so choose a size that will be challenging but not too difficult for children to be successful; and ideally, select multiple sizes for different challenges
  • Painters tape or masking tape
  • Timer, such as a stopwatch, clock or watch with second hand, or timer app
  • Whiteboard and marker to record times

Optional: If substituting cardstock for the cardboard tubes, roll each sheet into a tube lengthwise and tape securely.

Refer to the illustration and set up the game course. Feel free to change the distances or locations of the lines, chairs and boxes in adapting the game to your space and children.    

Tape or mark a starting line near one end of the room.

Place Box #1 several feet from the starting line. Repeat this for Boxes #2, #3, and #4, several feet from the previous box.   

Place a chair a few feet in front of each box (chair back nearest to the box). Tape or mark a line about 2 feet in front each chair. The chair will now be between each line or mark and a box. See the option below to substitute for the chairs. 

Appoint a volunteer to be a runner

Option: substitute four older children to be Roman guards instead of using chairs. These Roman guards will stand a few feet in front of the box and move their arms up and down at their sides like a slow jumping jack motion. Children must toss their scroll at the proper time to avoid the guards’ arms and bodies. 

Special Delivery: Play a game to bring Paul's letters to others.

Let’s imagine you live in Paul’s day. He needs brave believers to deliver his letters to encourage other believers during these difficult times. Hold up the scrolls. 

This is not a mission for the faint hearted! You will encounter obstacles and hardships that you must overcome, maybe even Roman guards! Their mission is to hinder you from delivering the scrolls to the houses where believers meet to pray and study God’s Word.

Walk the course and demonstrate tossing the scrolls toward the boxes.

 

Each box represents a home, and the chairs represent hardships and obstacles we may face.

At each of the four “homes,” you must stand behind the line or mark and toss the scroll around or over the chair (or guard) toward the box. When it goes into the box, you quickly walk toward the next location and do the same thing until you complete the course. Then, the next player takes a turn as soon as he/she receives the scrolls from the “runner.”

Whenever a scroll misses the box, the player immediately moves to the landing spot of the scroll and tosses it from that location until it goes in. The player then moves to the next location. This is a timed game and we are all working together to achieve the fastest time. We will play at least two rounds to see how fast we can complete our important mission. The believers need to be encouraged, so let’s do our best to deliver Paul’s message safely but quickly!   

 

Have children line up at the starting line. Give the four scrolls to the first player. Start the game and the time as the other players will cheer them on! Choose the child at the back of the line to be the first “Runner.” The Runner stands at a safe distance from each box (to not interfere with the current player) and retrieves each scroll after it is successfully tossed into the box. Once all four scrolls are gathered, the Runner brings them quickly to the next player who begins his/her turn around the course. The Runner then takes his/her place in the back of the line. Each player who completes the course becomes the new Runner. The player role transitions should be quick and seamless, so the game doesn’t drag. Once all players have delivered letters, the round ends and the time is recorded on the board.             

 

Close: We may not have to deal with Roman guards, but we definitely will face other kinds of difficulties and hardships as we follow Jesus and share His message with others. Can you name some obstacles or difficulties we may face today in our daily lives? Fear, lack of confidence or timidity, doubt, suffering from ridicule, criticism, teasing, mocking, rejection, disbelief, persecution.

 

Jesus said that we will face many troubles and trials, but through His love and power, we can conquer them all! Let’s learn more about this in today’s teaching.