Dog and Bone

How to Play

Divide players into two equal teams*.

Assign numbers to the players of each team. For example, if each team has 5 players, they should be numbered 1 to 5.
The players must remember their assigned number.

Each team stands in a straight line at opposing ends of the playing area.
This is each team’s “dog house”.
The players should be facing each other in 2 parallel lines.
Place the “bone” in the middle of the playing area.
The teams should be the same distance away from the “bone”.

The game master starts the game by calling one number.

The players with that assigned number (one from each team) must quickly run to try to grab the bone and run back to their “dog house” without getting tagged by the opponent. Only players holding the “bone” can be tagged.

If both players are not confident of making it back without getting tagged, they can stay in the middle of the field to guard the “bone” from their opponent.

The game master then calls another number, so two additional players can run forward to join in the attempt.

If no player is making any moves on the “bone”, the game master can call more numbers.
The game master can also call back some players if the playing area gets too crowded.

The team that successfully brings the “bone” back to the “dog house” without getting tagged scores one point. If a player gets tagged in an attempt, the opponent scores a point.

The “bone” is then returned to the middle of the playing area for the next round.

* Ideally, each team has about 4 to 10 people. If you have more than 20 players, you may divide into more teams, but only two teams will play against each other at any one time. If you have 3 teams, play Team 1 vs Team 2, Team 2 vs Team 3, and Team 3 vs Team 1. Total up the scores to see which team wins. If you have 4 or more teams, you can follow the same system or use any tournament formats that you like.

Bible Lesson – Faithfulness

Discuss
1. Did you enjoy the game?
2. Were you always quick to respond to your own number? Why or why not?
3. Do you sometimes forget to respond? Or respond to the wrong number?
4. Why do you think this game is called “Dog and Bone”?
5. What are dogs known for?

Say
One of the reasons why dogs are known as man’s best friend is that dogs offer man great companionship and are incredibly faithful to their owners.
Have you read any bible stories about another faithful animal?

Read
John 10:1-6

Discuss
6. How would you describe the relationship between the shepherd and the sheep?
7. In what way is the sheep described as being faithful to the shepherd?
8. In what was is the shepherd described as being faithful to the sheep?

Read
John 10:14-15

Discuss
9. Who does the good shepherd refer to?
10. Who are the sheep?

Read
Deuteronomy 7:9; 2 Timothy 2:13

Discuss
11. What do these verses tell us about God?
12. What does it mean that God is faithful?

Say
God is faithful. He will stay true to his promises to us regardless of our faithfulness to him.
However, we must be careful not to take God for granted, because God wants us to be faithful to him, too. When we read the Bible, we cannot simply pick and choose only those verses that we like and ignore the remaining verses. For instance, we cannot simply read Deuteronomy 7:9 in isolation and ignore the verses just before and after it.

Read
Deuteronomy 7:8-12; Exodus 6:7

Discuss
13. Are you surprised by what you read in Deuteronomy 7:8-12? Why or why not?
14. Exodus 6:7 says “I will take you to be my people, and I will be your God.” What are your thoughts?

Say
God is faithful to his people; he will always be. But if we want enjoy God’s blessings and protection, then we must necessarily acknowledge him as our God and stay faithful to him.

Read
Galatians 5:16,22-23

Discuss
15. What does it mean to walk by the Spirit?
16. If we walk by the Spirit, what will the Spirit produce in our lives?

Conclude
God is and will always be faithful to his people.
When we yield to the leading of the Holy Spirit, the Holy Spirit will produce good fruit in our lives including faithfulness.