How to Play
Divide into teams of 3 or 4.
The objective of this game is for each team to solve 2 puzzles.
Puzzle 1
Within each team, decide who will play the following roles: Pet Owner, Dog, Rabbit, Bag of Carrots.
For groups with only 3 players, use an object (for example a bag) to represent the bag of carrots.
Have everyone stand on one end of the room. This is the start point.
Explain that it is raining.
How does the pet owner get his/her dog, rabbit and bag of carrots to the other end of the room (end point) without getting anything wet?
Only the start point and the end point are “sheltered”.
Their umbrella is only big enough for the pet owner and either the dog, rabbit or bag of carrots.
The rabbit cannot be left alone with either the dog or bag of carrots.
Solution:
– First, the pet owner brings the rabbit across, leaving the dog and the carrots at the start point.
– The pet owner returns to the start point alone.
– The pet owner brings the dog across, leaving the carrots at the start point.
– The pet owner leaves the dog at the end point but takes the rabbit back to the start point.
– The pet owner leaves the rabbit at the start point and takes the bag of carrots to the end point.
– The pet owner leaves the bag of carrots and the dog at the end point and returns to the start point alone.
– The pet owner brings the rabbit to the end point.
Puzzle 2
Within each team, decide who will play the following roles: Dad, Mum, Child 1, Child 2.
For groups with only 3 players, use an object (for example a bag) to represent one of the children.
Have everyone stand on one end of the room. This is the start point.
Explain that it is raining.
How does everyone get across to the other end of the room (end point) without anyone getting wet?
Only the start point and the end point are “sheltered”.
Their umbrella is only big enough for either one adult or 2 children.
Solution:
– First, Child 1 and Child 2 go across, while Mum and Dad stay at the start point.
– Child 1 stays at the end point while Child 2 returns to the start point with the umbrella.
– Child 2 and Dad stay at the start point; Mum goes across.
– Mum stays at the end point while Child 1 returns to the start point with the umbrella.
– Dad stays in the start point; Child 1 and Child 2 go across once again.
– Child 1 and Mum stay at the end point while Child 2 returns to the start point with the umbrella.
– Child 2 stays in the start point; Dad goes across.
– Mum and Dad stay at the end point; Child 1 returns to the start point with the umbrella.
– Child 1 and Child 2 go across.
Bible Lesson – Kindness
Discuss
1. What do you think of this game? Was it easy? Difficult?
2. Have you ever been caught in the rain without an umbrella? Tell us your experience.
3. Have you ever offered to share an umbrella with someone? Did you get slightly wet as a result of having to share an umbrella? Tell us your experience.
4. Sharing an umbrella just one of the many ways of showing love and kindness to others.
How else can we show love and kindness to others?
5. Have you ever shared some of your clothes or other material possessions with others? Why or why not?
6. Can you think of some Bible verses that talk about sharing our clothes and other material possessions with others?
Read
Luke 3:11; 1 Timothy 6:18
Discuss
7. What does the Bible teach us about sharing our clothes and other material possessions with others?
8. Sharing is only one of the many ways of showing love and kindness to others.
How else can we show love and kindness to others?
Read
1 John 3:17; Hebrews 13:16; Galatians 5:22-23
Discuss
9. Why is it important for us to show love and kindness to others?
10. How can we become a kinder and more loving person?
Conclude
God is loving and kind, and he is pleased when we show love and kindness to others.
God helps us to be loving and kind. When we yield to the Holy Spirit, he, who lives in all of us who believe in Jesus, produces good fruit in our lives that please God.
