Preparation
Make Paper Targets
– Use a red washable marker to draw a big heart on a large paper plate (or letter-sized paper). You want the ink to be water-soluble so that it will smudge when the paper plate is wet. (Make sure the ink is fully washable and will not leave permanent stains on clothing.)
– Punch holes at the top or each paper plate and attach a loop of yarn. The loop must be long enough to go over a person’s head. Using sticky tapes over the holes will minimize tearing during the game.
– You will need 1 target for each player, plus extras
Fill all water pistols.
Prepare extra buckets of water for players to refill their water pistols during the game.
Advise players in advance to come dressed for water play. They should also bring towels and extra change of clothes.
How to Play
Give each player one water pistol and a paper target to hang around the neck.
The objective of the game is to keep their target dry.
All players with un-smudged hearts wins.
At “go”, everyone goes around shooting the other players’ targets while trying to stay dry.
Tip
The best way to stay dry is for everyone not to shoot at one another. Then everyone will be perfectly dry and everybody wins.
Bible Lesson – Fighting, Fruit of the Spirit vs Sinful Nature
Discuss
1. Did you enjoy this game? Why or why not?
2. What was the goal of this game? Did you manage to keep your target dry? How did you manage to do that?
3. What do you think is the best way to everyone’s targets dry?
4. If nobody shoots at one another, then everybody’s targets will be dry and everybody wins!
Did you think of this before the game started? Why or why not?
5. Have you ever had a “fight” (or quarrel) with someone? What was the fight or quarrel about? Tell us more.
6. Is God pleased when we fight or quarrel?
Read
Galatians 5:15-26
Discuss
7. According to this passage, what causes us to fight or quarrel?
8. What will happen to us if we continue to gratify our sinful nature?
9. What should we do instead of gratifying our sinful nature?
10. What will happen if we yield to the Holy Spirit instead of our sinful nature?
Conclude
The Bible tells us that if we yield to our sinful desires, it will result in sinful acts that displease God, like fighting or quarreling.
But for those who believe in Jesus, we have the Holy Spirit living inside us. And when we follow and yield to the Holy Spirit, the Holy Spirit produces these nine attributes in our lives – love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
Bible Lesson – Peace
Discuss
1. Did you enjoy this game? Why or why not?
2. What was the goal of this game? Did you manage to keep your target dry? How did you manage to do that?
3. What do you think is the best way to everyone’s targets dry?
4. If nobody shoots at one another, then everybody’s targets will be dry and everybody wins!
Did you think of this before the game started? Why or why not?
5. Have you ever had a “fight” (or quarrel) with someone? What was the fight or quarrel about? Tell us more.
6. Is God pleased when we fight or quarrel?
Read (Peace with one another)
Romans 12:18; Hebrews 12:14; Colossians 3:8-10,15
Discuss
7. According to these passages, what does God want us to do?
Say
God wants us to live in peace with one another.
But more importantly, God also wants us to live in peace with him.
Read (Peace with God)
Romans 5:1,8
Discuss
8. How can we have peace with God?
Say
The Bible tells us that we are separated from God because we have all sinned. (Isaiah 59:2, Romans 6:23)
But Jesus died on the cross so that all our sins can be forgiven. (Romans 5:8) And on the third day, he became alive again! (Acts 13:30,31)
If we believe in Jesus, we can be cleansed from sin and have peace with God.
Read (Peace of God)
Philippians 4:6-7; Isaiah 9:6
Discuss
9. What does these verses tell us about the peace of God?
Conclude
Through Jesus, we can have the peace of God; God is with us and we do not have to be anxious anything.
Through Jesus, we can be reconciled to God and have peace with God.
Through Jesus, we can be at peace with one another, since we are all members of one body and called to peace.
