3 Holiday Bible Games for Elementary
‘Tis the season for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Engage elementary-age kids with these 3 Bible games. They’re sure to teach kids Bible truths—through fun!
Holiday Bible Game #1: Got What You Need
Use this game to help kids reflect on how they can show thankfulness as described in Psalm 126.
You’ll Need:
Play the Game
Say: On one card, draw a living thing, such as a kitten, a garden, or a fish. On a second card, draw something the living thing needs. For instance, kittens need love. A garden needs sunshine. Fish need water.
Tape the “living things” cards to the wall, and put the “needs” cards in a pile. Have preteens take turns drawing from the needs pile, matching cards to those on the wall and telling why the living things need what they chose.
Ask:
- Why is it so important that these living things get what they need?
- What do you really need?
- How do you thank God?
Read aloud Psalm 126. Ask:
- Explain whether you thank God like the writer of this psalm did.
- What difference does it make that our thanks is genuine?
Steve Case
Holiday Bible Game #2: Celebration Bingo!
Play a game of Bingo to help kids learn the words in Luke 1:39-45 and celebrate the births of Jesus and John the Baptist.
You’ll Need:
Play the Game
Say: As I read, you’ll play bingo. Listen for the words, and mark them on your cards when you hear me read them. When you get five words in a row, jump up and yell “Bingo!”
Read aloud Luke 1:39-45. As you read, emphasize the words you entered into the bingo card generator. Congratulate all kids for playing—including those who didn’t get five words in a row.
Ask:
- How did you feel in this game?
- How was that like or unlike how baby John reacted while he was still in Elizabeth’s belly?
Say: Mary and Elizabeth were excited because God had kept his promises.
Read aloud Luke 1:46-56.
Ask:
- Tell about a time you were excited to share good news.
- Why is the news of Jesus so exciting to share?
Emily Snider
Holiday Bible Game #3: Bringing Our Gifts
Encourage kids to use their talents for God in this game.
You’ll Need:
- Bible
- 2 bags filled with 12 random objects each, such as a spoon, a paperclip, a hairbrush, and so on. The bags shouldn’t contain identical objects.
Play the Game
Form two teams, and give each team one of the bags.
Say: In our game, I’ll announce a need. With your team, you’ll look through your bag to find the object you think would be most helpful. Your team can come up with an explanation for why the object would help in the given situation.
Play the game as time allows and as kids stay engaged. Examples of needs you could announce are…
- Your mom got a flat tire she needs fixed.
- Your dad needs help making dinner.
- You need to cheer up a sad friend.
Explain how in Exodus 35–36, the Israelites brought different gifts to help build the Tabernacle.
Say: In the same way, we can use the things we have for God’s glory—money, service, or abilities.
Ask:
- Tell about a time you did something special for God.
- What do you like about using your abilities for Jesus?
Christina Schofield
Want daily posts of inspiration? Follow us on Facebook!
