Preparation
You will need a bag to hold various mystery objects.
An opaque drawstring bag that is slightly stiff (so as not to show the shape of the object inside) works well.
You will also need a variety of objects to be placed inside the bag.
Choose objects that you can connect to as many Bible stories or passages as possible.
If you are playing with younger children, select only those objects that have direct association with the Bible stories and passages.
But if you are playing with youths or adults, you may also include other objects that are representative or have an indirect association.
Here are some examples:
| Object | Direct Association | Representative / Indirect Association |
| Stone | David & Goliath (1 Samuel 17:40) Tomb of Jesus (Matthew 27:60) Wise and Foolish Builders (Matthew 7:24-29) | Jesus is the Rock (Psalm 118:22, Matthew 21:24, etc.) Peter the Rock (Matthew 16:18) |
| Coin | Parable of the Lost Coin (Luke 15:8-10) The Widow’s Offering (Luke 21:1-4) Paying the Imperial Tax to Caesar (Mark 12:16) The Temple Tax (Matthew 17:27) | The coin can be representative of money or treasures: For example, The Rich and the Kingdom of God (Matthew 19:21). |
| Nail | Jesus was nailed to a cross (Matthew 27:31, etc.) | |
| Small bun or bread roll | Temptation of Jesus (Matthew 4:3-4) The Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:11) Jesus Feeds the 5000 (Matthew 14:13-21) The Last Supper (Luke 22:19-20, etc.) | Jesus is the bread of life (John 6:35) |
| Some seed | Parable of the Sower (Matthew 13:1-23) Parable of the Mustard Seed (Matthew 13:31-32) | Enmity Between the Seed of the Serpent and that of Eve (Genesis 3:15) Seed of Abraham (Galatians 3:29) |
| Any fruit | Fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) Adam and Eve ate from tree of the knowledge of good and evil (Genesis 3:6) | Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. (Matthew 3:8) |
| Star (Christmas ornament/ beads/ origami/ card cutout) | God made stars God’s promise to Abraham Magi followed the star | |
| Toy boat | Noah and the Flood Jesus Calms the Storm Jesus Walks on Water Jesus Calls the Disciples Jonah | |
| Toy fish or some Goldfish Fish Crackers | Jonah Jesus Feeds the 5000 (Matthew 14:13-21) The Temple Tax (Matthew 17:27) | |
| Toy sheep | The Lost Sheep | Jesus is the Shepherd Psalm 23 |
| Toy donkey | Balaam’s donkey The Triumphal Entry | |
| Baby or doll’s Jacket | Joseph and the Colorful Coat Do Not Worry (Matthew 6:25) Faith and Good Deeds (James 2:15-16) The soldiers mocked Jesus and put a robe on him (Matthew 27:28; Mark 15:17; Luke 23:11; John 19:2) | |
| Pearl necklace | Parable of the Pearl (Matthew 13:45) The twelve gates were twelve pearls (Revelation 21:21) Do not throw your pearls to pigs (Matthew 7:6) | |
| Lego brick | Tower of Babel Battle of Jericho Nehemiah rebuilds the Walls Wise and Foolish Builders | |
| Flashlight | Creation (Genesis 1:3) Parable of the Ten Virgins (Matthew 25:1-13) Conversion of Saul (light from heaven) (Acts 9:3) Light of the World | |
| Scissors | Delilah cut the hair of Samson Any passage about pruning | |
| Aquarium fish net | Fishers of men | |
| Small bottle of water | Jesus turned water to wine Jesus washed the feet of the disciples Jesus walked on water | |
| Feather | Any story or passage about doves, sparrows or any bird | |
| Bandage / Band-aid | The Good Samaritan | |
| Any small musical instrument (e.g. harmonica, castanets, maracas, ankle bells, tambourine, triangle) | Any story or passage that mentions any musical instrument or singing | |
| Sock | Jesus washes the disciples’ feet “Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.” (Psalm 119:105) At the Home of Martha and Mary (Luke 10:39) Armor of God (Ephesians 6:15) Jesus healed the paralytic (Mark 2:1-12) | |
| Baby’s milk bottle or a small carton of milk | God describes the Promised Land as “a land flowing with milk and honey” (Exodus 3:8, etc.) Spiritual milk (1 Peter 2:2, 1 Corinthians 3:2, Hebrews 5:12-13) Baby Moses Birth of Jesus | |
| Salt shaker | Salt and Light (Matthew 5:13-16) Taming the Tongue (James 3:11) Lot’s wife looked back, and she became a pillar of salt (Genesis 19:26) Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. (Colossians 4:6) | |
| Mobile phone | Any story or passage about prayer |
How to Play
If you are playing with kids, we recommend playing as a cooperative game, where all players work as a team to achieve a common goal. This is more fun and encouraging especially for young children and it avoids any unnecessary tension that competitive games sometimes create.
If you are playing with youths or adults, the variation for competitive play works well (see below).
Have everyone sit in a circle.
Before you begin, set an achievable goal. For example, the goal can be to collectively recall at least 1 Bible story or passage for each object. If the group collectively achieves this goal, then everyone wins.
Hand the mystery bag (with only 1 object inside) to the youngest player.
The player must not look inside the bag but just put one hand in to feel the object inside.
The player will try to guess the object or pass the mystery bag to the left if they need help.
Once any player guesses correctly, show the object to everyone.
Anyone who can think of any Bible story or passage related to the object can tell it to the class.
Place the next object in the mystery bag and hand it to next player.
Continue playing until all the objects are identified and linked to various Bible stories or passages.
Variation: Competitive Play (Recommended for Youths and Adults)
Divide into teams of 2-6 players.
Give each team paper and a pen.
Place 1 object in the mystery bag.
Ensure that none of the players can see what is in the mystery bag.
Stage 1: Guess the Object (Teams take turns to play)
Teams take turns to send one player to feel the object inside the mystery bag.
The player must not look inside the bag and cannot say what that object is.
The player must describe the object to their teammates, who must correctly guess the object in 3 minutes.
Award 10 points if the team guesses correctly.
Stage 2: List Bible Stories or Passages related to the Object (All teams play together)
Show the object to all teams.
Each team has 3 minutes to list down as many Bible stories or passages associated with the object as they can.
When the time is up, teams take turns to tell everyone the Bible stories or passages from their list.
They must explain the connection between the Bible story/passage and the object in the mystery bag.
Award 10 points to each team for every Bible story or passage that is appropriately related to the object.
Play for a pre-determined number of rounds or period of time.
Bible Lesson – What is the Bible?
Discuss
1. Did you enjoy this game?
2. Which part of the game is more fun for you? Guessing the object or thinking of the Bible stories or passages?
Say
In this game, we recalled many stories and passages from the Bible.
Discuss
3. Are you familiar with all these stories and people?
4. How often do you read the Bible?
5. Do you know who wrote the Bible?
Read
2 Timothy 3:16-17
Discuss
6. What is another name for the Bible?
7. Who wrote the Bible?
Say
The Bible is sometimes referred to as Scripture.
Different human authors wrote different books of the Bible.
There are altogether more than 40 human authors who took about 1500 years to write all 66 books of the Bible.
However, the entire Bible tells one unified story because God is the real author behind these human authors.
God’s Spirit worked within the human authors to inspire them to write the Bible.
Discuss
8. Why is the Bible important?
Conclusion
The Bible tells us all about God and his relentless love for us.
It tells us how we can have a relationship with God and how we can fulfill God’s plans for our lives.
It teaches us to distinguish between what is right and wrong in God’s eyes, and trains and equips us to do God’s work.
