Use this medium-energy Bible game to help elementary and preteen kids in your children’s church learn how to handle conflict. It’s based on Romans 12:17-18!

Medium-Energy Game for Children’s Church

You’ll Need:

• Bible (check out this kid-friendly version!)
• beach ball
• masking tape
• large empty trash can

Play Conflict Belly Ball

Using masking tape, create a line on the floor for participants to stand behind. Place a large, empty trash can several feet in front of this line. Have kids form two teams. Explain that each player will stand behind the line and try to make a basket in the trash can by bouncing the beach ball off his or her belly. The team with the most baskets will win.

After teams have played the game once, tell kids they’ll play again.

This time, create a conflict by allowing half the class to shoot the basket in the typical way with hands while the other half has to continue bouncing the ball off their stomachs.

At the end of the game, discuss these questions:

• How did you feel when I said only some of you were allowed to make baskets normally? What did you want to do about it?
• What are conflicts—or things you don’t agree with—that you face in life? How do you handle them?

Read aloud Romans 12:17-18, and ask:

• The next time you face a conflict, how could you handle it to “live at peace with everyone”?

Play the game again, this time letting everyone make baskets with their hands.

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Looking for more ministry games? Check out these ideas!