3 Simple Bible Activities for Preteens in Your Children’s Ministry

Looking for new ideas to use with the preteens in your ministry? Try one of these three simple preteen Bible activities!

3 Simple Bible Activities for Preteens in Your Children’s Ministry

Preteen Bible Activity #1: Unlikely Guests

Use this experience to encourage humility and compassion.

You’ll need:

• a Bible
• napkins

Say: Think about a time you attended a wedding or fancy reception. Sometimes even the napkins look fancy! Let’s read about a story that Jesus told. Read aloud Matthew 22:1-14, pausing after each verse so kids can make a fold in a napkin for each verse. (They’ll each fold their own napkins in a unique way.)

After you’ve read all the verses and kids have made 14 folds, let them show their creations. Ask:

• Tell whether your napkin turned out the way you expected. How was that like what happened in Jesus’ story?
• What do you think about Jesus’ invitation to everyone, even people who you might not want to be around?

Say: Jesus invites all of us into his family. We’re all the unlikely guests, and we can welcome anyone and everyone into Jesus’ family, too.

Sharon Carey
Washington, Illinois

Preteen Bible Activity #2: Jesus Says

Use this game to show the significance of Jesus’ predictions.

Read aloud Matthew 16:21.

Say: Let’s play “Jesus says.” I’ll say several predictions Jesus made. When I say something Jesus predicted, imitate me. When I say something Jesus didn’t predict, don’t. If you imitate something Jesus didn’t predict, you’ll sit.

Play several rounds. You might say: Jesus says he’ll die (raise hands out to sides). Jesus says he’ll be raised to life (jump and cheer). For things Jesus didn’t predict: Jesus says he’ll fall asleep on the cross (sleep). Jesus says he’ll start a band (air guitar). Make some of the things Jesus didn’t predict simple and others challenging.

Ask:

• What was easy or difficult about this game? Why?
• How easy do you think it was for Jesus’ friends to believe him when he made predictions?
• What difference does it make to you that Jesus’ predictions came true?

Shawn Vander Lugt
Loveland, Colorado

Preteen Bible Activity #3: Light in the Dark

Use this devotion to show that God lights our lives.

You’ll need:

• a Bible
• a D battery
• 2 alligator clips
• a 2.4-volt light bulb
• a short piece of insulated electrical wire

(Do not use rechargeable batteries for this experiment.)

Ahead of time, connect the two alligator clips with a short piece of insulated electrical wire and practice making a simple circuit.

Clip one of the alligator clips to the positive end of the battery.

Put the butt of the light bulb in the other alligator clip.

Holding the alligator clip with the light bulb, touch the butt of the light bulb to the negative end of the battery.

Dim the lights. Invite preteens to share fear-inducing experiences they’ve had in the dark. As kids share, have them pass around the three separate components (battery, clips, and light bulb).

Make the circuit to light the bulb, and use the light to read aloud Psalm 27:1, 4-5, and 13-14.

Ask:

• What are some ways you can rely on God to light your way when you’re scared?

Jonathan Cliff 
Clarksville, Tennessee

Looking for more preteen ideas? Check out these posts!