Leader Guide
Choosing Game
- Bag of 100 multi-color pompoms 1/2-1 inch in diameter; or you may substitute other colored objects such as skittles, M&Ms, or jellybeans
- Two spoons
- Four large plastic bowls
- Table and two chairs
- Whiteboard and marker or chalkboard and chalk, to keep score
- Timer, such as a stopwatch, clock or watch with a second hand, or timer app
- Sixth grade helper to keep score
Place half of the pompoms (about 50) in one plastic bowl and the other half in a second bowl. There should be a mixture of all colors in both bowls.
Choose 2 colors of pompoms to represent God’s wisdom, such as red and blue. All the other colors will represent the world’s wisdom.
Place two chairs at the table facing the class. Place a bowl of pompoms plus an empty bowl on the table in front of each chair.
Sit down at the table facing the children. Hold up the spoon and tilt the bowl a bit so children can see the pompoms inside it.
Paul observed that there was no shortage of worldly wisdom in Athens and Corinth. However, just knowing things is not the same as true wisdom, which comes from God. In all of their knowledge, the people of Athens still worshiped an unknown god.
In some cases, worldly wisdom is not harmful, but it will not deepen your relationship with God or help you make choices that will please God.
Other times, however, worldly wisdom actually opposes true wisdom and can be evil, prideful and selfish. If we are filled with the world’s wisdom, we can even believe that we have no need for anyone’s guidance, including God!
These pompoms represent both true wisdom from God and the world’s wisdom. We cannot grow strong spiritually with a foundation of worldly wisdom. In this game, you will need to choose true wisdom instead of the world’s wisdom.
Place an empty plastic bowl right-side-up on the top of your head and hold it in place with one hand. Hold a spoon in your other hand and demonstrate as you speak.
The players will have one minute to use a spoon to pick up God’s wisdom which is represented by the {color} and {color} pompoms and place them in their bowls. This represents believing God’s wisdom and filling our minds and hearts with what is true. All of the other colors are the wisdom of the world. You must leave them in the bowl.
Each pompom of God’s wisdom successfully placed in the bowl on your head scores five points. If you accidentally place a false wisdom pompom into the bowl, you lose five points. Pompoms that fall to the floor don’t count.
Divide the children into two equal teams; one player may need to play twice.
If any players are colorblind, pair them with teammates who can coach them on what colors to pick.
Have teams form two lines a few feet away from the front of the table so they can all watch and cheer for their teammates.
Have the first player on each team sit in the chair directly across from their team.
The players will each hold an empty bowl with one hand on top of their heads.
Shout, “Choose true wisdom!” and start the timer for 60 seconds (or a time that you choose).
Players try to put as many true wisdom pompoms into the bowls on top of their heads.
After time expires, players and teams count the pompoms that were picked. Score five points for each pompom representing God’s wisdom; subtract five points for each of the world’s wisdom pompoms. Record the scores on the board for each team.
Return all of the pompoms to the original bowls and mix them up again.
Repeat for each set of players. The team with the most points wins.
Alternative play to save time: do not count the pompoms until each entire team has played and then count the pompoms and record the scores.
Conclusion: Great job choosing true wisdom! Remember, not all wisdom from the world is bad or evil. However, only true wisdom will build a sure foundation in God where we can grow spiritually and make wise choices. We can always trust God’s wisdom to lead us on the right path so we can grow strong in Christ!