Leader Guide
Balloon Game
- Nine round balloons, plus extras
- Permanent marker
- Two boxes, large enough to hold five inflated balloons
- Timer, such as a stopwatch, clock or watch with second hand, or timer app
- Nine paper plates
- Bible or Superbook Bible App
Blow up nine balloons and tie them closed.
Using the marker, write one letter of FAITH and WORD on each balloon. Each balloon will have a different letter.
Place nine paper plates in a row near one end of the room. Leave a few inches between each plate.
Place the WORD balloons in one box.
Place the FAITH balloons in the second box.
Place the two boxes several feet away from the plates. The distance is determined by the number of children who will form a row as described in the game instructions.
Our SuperTruth says that it is by faith that we believe in Jesus. One way to build our faith is through prayer. (See Psalm 138:3.) Another way is through hearing or reading the Word of God and the Good News of Christ.
Romans 10:17 says:
The more we hear and read about Jesus’ life, His death on the cross, and His resurrection, the more our faith grows to help us believe without seeing. You could say, the more we know, the more our faith grows.
Our game represents how faith follows God’s Word.
Have the children form one line side by side, facing the same direction, an arm’s length between one another, between the boxes and plates. If possible, place a 5th or 6th grader at each end of the line.
Hold up a balloon. Each balloon has a letter to build the words Faith and Word. You will work as one team to build both WORD and then FAITH. You will do this by passing each WORD and FAITH balloon to the player beside you until each balloon reaches the last player. That player then will take each balloon and place it on a plate in order to form two words: WORD and FAITH.
Now, the challenging part is that each balloon must be passed from player to player on the back of your hand and wrist area. You cannot turn your hand over to use your fingers to help hold a balloon. Balloons will be passed one at a time. As soon as one balloon is passed, the next can be started. If a balloon falls to the floor, it can be picked up by the player who last had it and placed on the next player’s wrist again.
The first player must begin with the W and then follow with each letter in order to spell WORD. Then, follow the same pattern to spell FAITH. The last player must carry each balloon on the back of the hand to the plate and then place it on the proper plate to spell WORD and FAITH. Once the H in FAITH is placed on the last plate, time is stopped and recorded. We will then play another round to try for a faster time.
Conclusion: In this game, the Word came first and then faith followed.
Did you get or receive the WORD or FAITH all at one time? No.
No, as we consistently hear and read God’s Word, our faith builds and grows over time. This is how we can believe without seeing!