Play, joy, and fun are three words that spring to mind at the mention of children’s ministry. There is great joy in having the privilege to open the Word of God and help children understand His beauty and truth.
Planning and playing games is an integral part of not only connecting kids to one another, but connecting the truths that are being taught.
There is also so much joy in being able to create environments for kids to play. One of the beautiful parts of children’s ministry is how many avenues there are to illustrate the truth of Scripture!
These Bible-themed games can be played at any time of the year to help children experience joy as they’re having fun and learning!
Bible Games
Bible Games from Ministry Spark
- Scripture memorization, like memorizing facts and stories of the Bible, is an incredibly valuable spiritual discipline. This article has 13 ideas for Scripture memorization games! The Bible Blobs idea is my favorite hands-on Scripture memorization game idea!
- If you’re on the hunt for even more games or game ideas, here’s a helpful compilation of some of the best websites and resources to find games for children’s ministry!
12 Awesome Bible Games for Kids of All Ages
Bible learning is serious business, but it doesn’t have to be boring. Choose from games for toddlers to preteens and help kids know that God loves them.
Free Guide
12 Awesome Bible Games for Kids of All Ages
Bible learning is serious business, but it doesn’t have to be boring. Choose from games for toddlers to preteens and help kids know that God loves them.
Free Guide
12 Awesome Bible Games for Kids of All Ages
Bible learning is serious business, but it doesn’t have to be boring. Choose from games for toddlers to preteens and help kids know that God loves them.
Free Guide
More Bible Games for Your Ministry
- Based on Ephesians 6:10-19, this Armor of God Scavenger Hunt can be used to encourage small groups of kids to work together to find all the pieces. These pieces can easily be concealed within one room. Not only does this free printable lead to teamwork, but it also helps kids see what it means to rely on God!
- This Miracles of Jesus Matching Game connects passages of Scripture to miracles that Jesus performed. Learning how Jesus acted during His time on earth, how He expressed His divinity, helps kids learn more about Jesus. This matching activity, featuring a sampling of the miracles Jesus performed, helps kids connect those dots!
- Moving helps cement the memorization process. Books of the Bible Hopscotch is a fun way to get kids moving and memorize the books of the Bible. Kids start at Genesis and keep on hopping! Using a sheet from the thrift store or page-protected paper and painters’ tape are alternatives to the canvas recommended.
- This free Psalm 23 Bingo not only gets everyone engaged, it uses references from the passage in lieu of traditional B.I.N.G.O. squares. Even better—kids can place a little sheep on spots they need to mark!
- Got some hula hoops lying around? Hula Hoop Challenge makes for a fun, engaging, team-oriented game to review the Bible lesson. Split the class into smaller groups and have them take turns answering lesson recap questions, the beanbags that land within the hoops earn that team a point.
One of the beautiful parts about children’s ministry is how many avenues there are to illustrate the truth of Scripture!
- Not only will this Bible Guess Who flex memory muscles, it will also flex smiling muscles! This game can be used to review a series of stories or to review a single lesson. Each player will ask yes or no questions to figure out the name on their card. This game can easily be integrated into a lesson about identity in Christ.
- An active Sunday morning children’s ministry game with Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John? Sounds like fun! This article describes the classic game of Four Corners. Each corner of the room is assigned a number (or in this case, a Gospel) and the child who is it closes their eyes and chooses a corner. All the other children go to a corner they suspect the child will not call out. Whoever is in the corner that is called is out!
- This Exodus-inspired Manna from Heaven Pick-Up Game helps kids envision how the Israelites were being taken care of by God during their 40 years in the wilderness. Players use items like spoons, chopsticks, or maybe even their feet (Just not their hands!) to pick up “Manna pom-poms.”
- This Jesus Calms the Storm Game just requires tape and blue paper. Two kids who are acting as disciples are trying to get the water out of their “boat” while the storm (all of the other kids) keep throwing the water in the boat (not at the kid disciples …). A teacher can read the story aloud, and everyone stops when they read Jesus commanding the storm to cease!
- This game helps to illustrate prayer. Take a phone or an audio recording device and have each child say, “God knows my voice,” then play the recording back and have the children guess who said it! The kids might not guess correctly, but God knows who spoke! It’s a fun game to demonstrate how, no matter what, God hears each child’s prayer!
- This Punch-a-Cup Game can easily be adapted to various age groups with differing incentives or twists! Each child either teams up or goes one at a time to reveal what is inside the cup they choose. There are many options for modifications. For example, the cups can be filled with lesson-related questions or small prizes. (Pick-a-Cup is an alternative title that has a gentler connotation).
- The floor is lava? The floor is lava! All this classic game needs is some tape (or any method to denote the “safe” spot) and a little space. This game can be easily altered to reference a lesson on obeying God.
Have Fun!
We hope these ideas bring joy to your children’s ministry!
The work you do to create an environment where kids can know one another and know God is precious. Always remember to lead by example and dive into these games with the kids.
Your enthusiasm and joy for having fun will lead them to do the exact same. It is a joy to serve and love one another by finding games to play with one another.
